The Princess and the Peasant - (An Azula Epic)

by grither55

Princess Azula believes that she was born to rule, and bringing glory to her nation through conquest is her only purpose. Until, a peasant girl enters her life by giving her a fire lily. Through this act, Azula finds herself undertaking a life-changing journey with her new companion to win the throne, discover love and find her humanity. Femslash. Slow romance.

138. She Dreamed of Doom

Hi everyone. Here is another update.

As always, I want to thank everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed since the last update. And if you find the story worthy, please consider giving it a favorite or follow if you have not already.

If there are any spelling errors in the recent chapters, it is because I am too ill right now to proof read the chapters.

Anyway, I hope that you all enjoy the chapter.

She Dreamed of Doom - Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Two

In the early morning hours of the Royal Palace.

Azula, Zoi and Ty Lee were sitting in the princess's private study.

While a newly added sofa was now sitting in the corner of the room that Zoi and Ty Lee strongly suspected had been added for their adopted sister's sake.

Before they all turned towards the door to see their young companion step in and close the door behind her.

Only for all three of them to gaze on with concern in their eyes when they saw that the girl's face expression conveyed horrible distress.

"What's wrong? I thought that the visit with Mai made you feel better." Azula commented in a stony voice as she scowled while she set down her tea cup.

Only for her brows to furrow when she noticed that the girl was almost behaving as if she was in a frenzy.

"I-it's not that Azula-sama. I had a horrible dream last night. Last night I dreamed that an overwhelming doom and destruction had befallen on the Fire Nation." Elle confessed in a distraught voice as she stumbled in while her three highborn friends stared at her with widened eyes.

And that was all it took for the acrobat to stand up as she quickly moved to help the troubled girl take a seat on the sofa.

"Your aura doesn't feel pink right now little sister. Please sit down, and take a deep breath." Ty Lee instructed in a sisterly voice with a frown on her lips as she led the young girl to sit down.

While the captain and the princess now gazed at the teenager with worried expressions in their stoic eyes.

Only for all three highborn women to look even more concerned when they saw how deeply disturbed the girl was over her dream.

"A-Azula-sama. That man that you spoke with in Shung Wu…J-Joza. In my nightmare he was screaming as he was torn apart by a violent crowd." The handmaid stammered as she shivered while her princess's ruthless eyes widened in alarm.

While Ty Lee and Zoi stared on with their mouths falling open in unease.

As all three of them gazed back at one another with shocked looks in their eyes.

"A-and his wife and daughter…I heard them screaming as their clothes were taken off. While a cacophony of enraged people roared all around them. And…and throughout it all I heard a wicked voice laughing throughout it all." Elle blurted out with a pale complexion while her friend listened in a chilling silence.

And just like that the three Fire Nation women were staring back at their companion with alert expressions in their eyes.

As they began to fear more and more that it had been more than just a simple nightmare.

"What did the wicked voice say Elle?" Zoi inquired in a taken aback voice as she gazed on with a bad feeling in her eyes.

"S-she said that the judgement of all humankind has begun. T-that she is going to kill every last human being. And…that when she's done…there won't be a-anything left but ash and rubble." The handmaid explained in a shaken voice while her three highborn friends stared at her with speechless looks in their eyes.

"T-the judgement of all humankind…" The acrobat trailed off in a frightened voice as she sat back in her seat beside the girl.

While even the princess stared at the teenager with a disbelieving expression in her frigid amber golden eyes.

"And this…nightmare kept you up all night?" The princess pondered with a small break of concern in her stony voice while she watched her pet numbly nod her head

While she pursed her regal lips into a tight scowl with her amber golden eyes trying to decipher the ominous nightmare.

"I…I have never heard a voice that was so haunting! It was a voice so dark and joyless that it makes Mai sound cheerful. A-and I can't…get it out of my head." Elle stated in an exhausted voice as she held her hands in her hair while the acrobat sat in shock with her hand on her shoulder.

While the two firebenders stared on with unsettled looks in their eyes.

Before the captain turned to gaze seriously back at her princess's unusually bewildered face.

"After you stormed out princess…Mava told young Elle to watch out for Vega. She said that this…Vega has already started tearing the Fire Nation apart. And that she will soon come for Elle." The captain commented in an urgent voice while another chill swept over the lounge.

While Azula stared on with murderously possessive amber golden eyes as she hissed out flames from her pursed lips.

"W-what am I supposed to do? I'm not ready to face someone like that. I-I barely even know how to turn my power on and Felix is still in possession of the other half." The handmaid asked in a troubled voice while her big sister braced her shoulder.

All the while as the three highborn women once again found themselves silently cursing Felix's existence.

"Then I will squash her for you!" Azula snarled in a beyond forceful voice with the flames of war burning in her callous amber golden eyes.

While she gripped her fists on the sides of her throne as she stared dominantly back at her trembling pet.

"Which then brings us to the question princess. Is this voice…Vega?" Zoi queried in a stolidly focused voice as she gazed back at the faces of her fellow pensive aristocrats.

While the teenager still quivered in worry beside the unnerved acrobat.

"We'll protect you Elle. No one is going to hurt you." Ty Lee assured in a tender voice as she resolutely nodded her head while the girl shook under her arm.

"Yes, Elle. We will and that's a promise." The captain stated as she turned to face the teenager while the girl still looked haunted by what she heard.

All the while as the powerful princess gazed on with her amber golden eyes reflecting her royal fury.

As she vowed that she would teach this woman the consequences of anyone who dares to come after her pet.

"A-Azula-sama? This dream really unsettles me. Will you take command over me to make it go away?" Elle requested in a mousy voice as she peered hopefully back at her princess's beautiful face as anger in the woman's eyes gave way to delight.

"You desire for me to take control of you right now?" The princess questioned in an eager voice as she turned to stare back at her pet with domineering amber golden eyes.

While she felt her fury momentarily ebb away as she savored watching the small girl tremble under her possessive stare.

All the while as the captain and the acrobat just gazed back at the two as they had since learned to take their odd ways of interacting in stride.

"T-that's so. Please give me a command. I…I would very much appreciate it if you did so." The handmaid asked in a timid voice as she averted her eyes from the older woman's spellbinding gaze.

While the princess's lips began to curve into a refined smile as she stood up from her chair.

As she began to saunter forward with her beautiful lips still adorning an all too enthused smile.

"Ty Lee. Move. My girlfriend wishes for me to take command." Azula remarked in a beyond overbearing voice with a finger underneath her lip.

"But you're already in command Azula…" The acrobat stated in a cheerier voice than before only to find herself shoved away from the girl by the princess's hip.

While she fell down onto the further end of the sofa as she sighed with a returning smile as she watched the princess come to a stop towering over the small girl.

All the while as the powerful princess crossed her arms over her breasts in an assertive manner as she gazed down at her handmaid's adorably worried face.

"I order you to cease worrying about this dream at once or I will burn you to ashes in the wake of my flames!" The princess bellowed in an unfathomably strict voice as blue fire lit up in her hands while she pointed a domineering finger down in her pet's gulping face.

While Zoi and Ty Lee observed with comical expressions in their eyes over their leader's tyrannical behavior.

Only for the two to gaze on astonishment when the young girl already began to visibly cheer up under the princess's controlling glare.

"Y-yes Azula-sama! I am so relieved that you are here to guide me with your leadership." Elle answered in a calmed voice as she smiled up at her princess's authoritative face.

While the woman released an arrogant scoff as she gazed dominantly back down at her trembling face.

"Yes, well. Consider yourself fortunate that I am here to do so peasant. It couldn't be more obvious that you wouldn't survive without my leadership." Azula scoffed with her finger thrust in her handmaid's blushing face while a conceited smirk graced her lips.

All the while as the acrobat and the captain exchanged an amused glance as they observed the couple's interactions.

While the teenager smiled gracefully up at the older girl's incredibly intimidating face as she blushed under her princess's stern stare.

"That's so! I am so lucky to have such a wonderful princess charming to protect me…" The handmaid trailed off with a flush on her cheeks while she felt the woman's fingertips reach out to stroke her cheek.

"On that we can agree dear." The princess purred with her fingertip momentarily gliding against the girl's bashful cheek.

Before she quickly retracted it with a smile still adorning her lips.

And then she turned around to seat herself on the sofa beside her serving girl.

While her butt sunk into the cushion as she turned once more to gaze down at the shorter girl's still reddened face.

"P-Princess? Will you tell me about your rule? I need to hear it. It…it would make me feel so much safer if you would." Elle questioned in a lovably soft-spoken voice as she smiled shyly while she twiddled her thumbs before her face.

While the princess's lips curved into the largest possible smirk as she held a contemplative fingertip under her chin.

"Now isn't that just adorable Ty Lee? She wants to hear about my rule." Azula commented in a supremely gratified voice as she turned to smirk in her smiling childhood friend's direction.

"I suppose it is Azula." Ty Lee replied with a grin returning to her lips once more while Zoi chuckled in mutual amusement.

While the young girl still sat adorably avoiding meeting the smirking princess's gaze as the taller woman leaned down to loom in her line of vision.

Only for Elle to let out a delighted gasp when two strong hands cupped her cheeks while Azula stooped down to peer directly into her eyes.

All the while as the two sat so close to one another that they could each feel the other's breath gently tickling their skin.

"My rule over you is absolute and my reign over you is infinite. You are mine. I own you…all of you. Everything from your little mind to your body right down to even the power running through your veins. It's all mine. And do you know what that means my pet?" The princess whispered in an all-encompassing voice with her breath sweeping against her small girlfriend's trembling ear.

While the two noblewomen sat in a taken aback silence as they marveled over how effortlessly the princess was able to calm the young girl's woes.

While the acrobat stared at the two with a smile still on her lips as she watched the two girls gaze back into one another's eyes.

She knew without doubt that if Azula had told those words to any other palace servant that the unfortunate girl would start crying in despair.

And yet…

Somehow Elle was smiling even more brightly than before!

"N-no? What does that mean it mean Azula-sama?" The handmaid inquired in a submissive voice as she smiled in adoration back into her princess's smiling face.

While she sat there with her heart racing rapidly as she felt herself fall even further under the beautiful woman's dominating spell.

"It means that if anyone tries to hurt you…that I will crush them without hesitation! I will lay siege to their battlements and burn them into oblivion on my pyre!" Azula hissed in an indescribably ruthless voice with her amber golden eyes taking on a truly murderous glare.

As she gazed authoritatively back into her girlfriend's stunned face while she felt the girl quiver between her hands.

While the two noblewomen sat gazing back at the two with awestruck expressions in their eyes.

And just like that their young friend was beaming as bright as the sun once again!

"A-Azula-sama…" Elle stuttered in a lovelorn riddled voice as she sat smiling in appreciation back into Azula's divine scowling face while the mighty woman still sat above her.

And then she let out another gasp when she found herself falling forward until their foreheads touched skin to skin.

While her cheeks heated up as she gazed dreamily back into conquering amber golden eyes as she once again felt the older woman's warm breath brush against her skin.

"Now fear this dream no more. Today…I command you to smile. Leave all of your little worries to me and your big sisters. Is that understood Elle?" The princess grumbled in a harsh voice as she glared back into her young girlfriend's obedient amber eyes.

And not a second later Azula found herself letting out a soft sigh when she felt two arms seize her around the neck.

While Zoi and Ty Lee stared on with relieved expressions of their own in their eyes.

"Yes, my princess! Any command that you give I will gladly obey." The handmaid assured in a sweet voice as she hugged the older woman around the neck as her head sunk into her princess's shoulder.

While she felt her master gingerly pat a hand on her back as she smiled even more widely than before.

"Good girl. Now listen well. I have…one last order for you. Take the morning off. Get some extra rest." Azula spoke in a voice of smooth regal authority as she gently pushed the girl off her shoulder while she gazed back down into her handmaid's appalled amber eyes.

While the two nobles once again gazed at their leader with impressed gazes in their eyes.

It was a courtesy that they were certain would never be extended to any other handmaid.

"B-but what about your breakfast?" Elle protested in a cutely uncertain voice while Azula smiled momentarily back down at her.

Only for the woman to wave an elegant hand over her shoulder as she sighed once more.

"I will have one of the other servants fetch me my food this morning." The princess remarked in a cold voice once more as she stared back at her girlfriend's reluctant face with approving amber golden eyes.

"O-one of the other servants…feeding my queen? But it's my job to cook for you. I don't know if I feel comfortable with that Azula-sama." Elle mumbled with jealously briefly seeping into her innocent voice while Azula's lips pulled into a pleased smirk.

"You should take the princess up on her offer Elle. You look like you barely slept last night." Zoi advised with a supportive edge to her stoic voice while she gazed fondly back at the girl's apprehensive face.

"Zoi has a point Elle. I know that you love serving Azula. But realistically you are going to have leave some duties to the other servants. Otherwise, how are you going to attend to your studies if you are working over a hot stove all day?" The acrobat agreed in a gentle voice while the teenager looked even more appalled than before.

While the princess's lips sunk back into a regal scowl as she turned to gaze down at her handmaid's now once again troubled face.

And as much as she enjoyed having her girlfriend wait on her hand and foot.

She knew that the girl wouldn't get anywhere with her studies if all of her time was spent on servant duties.

"Her Highness's needs come first…always. What sort of servant would I be if I wasn't there to tend to her?" The handmaid asked in turn as she bit her lip while her princess smiled in approval over her once more.

Only for the young girl to turn red once more when the older girl reached out to brush her fingernails against her lovestruck cheek.

"While your enthusiasm to serve me in the kitchens and the royal spa pleases me. I also expect you to serve me in your studies." Azula commented in a honeyed voice as she gazed down into adorably devoted amber eyes.

"S-serve you…in my studies?" Elle pondered in a loyal voice as she gazed up at Azula's looming face while the woman smiled down at her.

"That's right Elle. I need you to learn to read and write in our language. And I also need you to learn Fire Nation culture. So, that you will be well learned in all of our customs and traditions once I take the throne." The princess explained in a silken voice with her callous amber golden eyes gazing back down at her girlfriend's cutely contemplative face.

Only for her smirk to grow when the girl beamed back up at her.

As she expected.

Once she framed it as another way for her girlfriend to serve her the girl was more than happy to comply.

"Okay! I won't let you down Your Highness. I'll learn all that I can about the Fire Nation!" The handmaid exclaimed in a proud voice as she puffed out her chest while her princess smiled above her.

While the acrobat and the captain's eyes momentarily flashed with a glummer stare.

They both knew that the girl's enthusiasm about their nation wasn't going to last forever.

The only one that seemed to have difficulty accepting that reality was the Fire Princess herself.

"Good. Now go sleep for a few hours. After you've gotten your rest, we'll go over some of your lessons together later on." Azula ordered in a controlling voice as she stood up from her seat on the sofa while she stared down at her handmaid's exhausted face.

Only for her ruthless eyes to narrow when she saw a spark of fear return to the girl's eyes.

"B-but…I'm scared to fall asleep alone." Elle admitted in a quiet voice once more while her three highborn friends gazed back at her in bewilderment.

"This woman scares you that much Elle?" The captain questioned with her golden eyes taking on a focused stare while the young girl swallowed as she nodded her head.

While the princess and the acrobat exchanged an uneasy look once more as they watched the girl hold onto her head in fear.

"All night long all I heard was I am going to kill them all! Over and over for hours on end! It was…it was like she was in my mind!" The handmaid spoke as she gazed frightfully back at her three friends astonished faces.

While a drop of sweat ran down her cheek as she once again remembered the mysterious woman's foreboding words.

"A-and that's what terrifies me! I don't know if I am losing my mind or if she actually has some kind of powers of telepathy!" Elle declared in an unusually serious voice as her hands fell to her lap while she swallowed grimly.

While the three aristocrats were staring on with looks of tremendous alarm in their eyes as they share a look with one another.

"T-telepathy? Azula do you really think that she has the power of telepathy? Not even the Avatar has the power to read minds!" Ty Lee queried in an unnerved voice as she turned to stare back at the princess's unusually confounded countenance.

All the while as the princess's lips pursed into a frustrated glower as she clenched her fists at her womanly hips.

An enemy…that could read their minds?

Is that really possible?

"It would be extremely difficult to face an opponent that could read our minds. That would mean…that she would know what we are going to do before we do it." Zoi remarked in a low voice with her golden eyes glaring on ahead.

While the teenager still sat in anxiety in her seat with her three highborn friends turning to gaze back at her in worry.

"I don't know. But we'll figure it out. In the meantime, Elle. You can nap here in my study on the sofa for a couple hours. I'm sure that Ty Lee would be more than happy to join you." The princess stated in a strict voice as she turned to face her girlfriend's moved face.

While the worry in the acrobat's eyes lessened as she turned to smile comfortingly back at her adopted sister.

"R-really Azula-sama? You'll let me rest in your study?" The handmaid stammered in a beyond grateful voice as she smiled shyly up at the callous woman's face.

"Naïve girl. Why else would I put a sofa in here if it wasn't for you?" Azula snorted as she folded her arms over her breasts while she scowled back at her young companion's smiling face.

While the two noblewomen exchanged a knowing look as they realized that their suspicions were right after all.

"Aw Azula! It would be my pleasure to snuggle with my little sister!" The acrobat cooed as she slid over to slide an arm around the girl's shoulder while the teenager blushed beside her.

"I would love to snuggle with you too oneesan!" Elle chirped as she hugged the noblewoman back while Ty Lee grinned back at her.

All the while as the princess just scowled in the direction of the two as she buried the sliver of jealousy in her amber golden eyes.

Before she turned to gaze strictly back at her captain's face as she gestured for the woman to follow her.

"And you Zoi…I want you to come to the Royal Palace gardens with me." The princess commanded in a stony voice while her soldier nodded her head as she stood up from her seat.

"Are you sure that you won't want to make it a group snuggle Azula-sama?" The handmaid asked in a lovable voice while the acrobat giggled over her shoulder.

And just like that the princess whipped around to glare daggers back at the two of them with her nose scrunched up in disgust.

"Don't push me peasant or I really will punish you." Azula stated in a callous voice as she glared back at her girlfriend's sweetly smiling face.

Only for a scowl to instantly form on her lips when she felt her captain place her hand on her shoulder.

While she turned to glare back at the older woman's smirking visage.

"Yes, princess. Don't you want to cuddle with me?" The captain taunted in a teasing voice while her princess's amber golden eyes narrowed dangerously back at her.

All the while as the acrobat and the handmaid giggled at the proud royal woman's expense.

Only for the princess to release a sound of contempt as she slapped the other woman's hand off her shoulder.

"Just shut up and do as you are told Zoi!" The princess snapped in a venomous voice as she marched ahead of her smirking subordinate.

"As you say, princess." Zoi responded with a chuckle as she followed after the woman that she already saw as her Fire Lord.

And with that Azula glanced back at Elle's tired face one final time as the handmaiden smiled back at her.

While she watched with callous amber golden eyes as the two girls laid down on the sofa beside each other.

And then she wordlessly turned off her lamps while the lights in the room went dark.

All the while as the acrobat smiled in gratitude back at the darkened visage of her friend's face.

Before Azula departed through the doors of her study with her soldier following after her as they closed the doors behind them.

While Elle smiled shyly back at Ty Lee's warm countenance as the noblewoman grinned back at her as she pulled her into her arms.

As the smaller girl pushed her face into the older girl's bosom as she felt two arms wrap around her back.

"It will be okay little sister. I'll protect you." Ty Lee assured in a tender voice as she lay her head down on the sofa while Elle yawned in her arms.

"I-I know you will oneesan." Elle murmured as she hugged the noblewoman back while Ty Lee cuddled up beside her as she began to close her eyes.

And with that the two sisters soon fell asleep together in the princess's study.

Meanwhile, in the Royal Palace gardens.

Zoi sat before a lake gazing down at the turtle ducks while she tossed treats into the pond.

Only for the turtle ducks to swim away when Azula's shadow fell over them.

While the princess rose a regal brow as she sat down beside her subordinate.

"I hadn't taken you to be one to feed turtle ducks Zoi like my brother." Azula commented with a snort while she watched the other woman shrug her shoulders.

"Sia adores them and that is all the reason in the world that I need to feed them." Zoi remarked as she lounged in the grass against a tree while the princess arched a brow.

"Ah yes Zoi. The sister who doesn't want to talk to you." The princess stated in a refined voice as she elegantly sat down with her legs folded underneath her.

"To the contrary princess. Sia and I spoke for quite a while two nights ago. Which is more than I can say for you and your brother." The captain retorted with her golden eyes turning to gaze back at her princess's ruthless face as the younger woman glared back at her.

Only for the two to be torn from their small talk when they saw the turtle ducks come swimming rapidly back in their direction.

While they gazed on in slight confusion.

Just as the princess's frigid amber golden eyes to narrow in annoyance when she saw the former chancellor approaching in the distance.

'What is he doing here? Can't I go anywhere without that infernal man pestering me?' Azula thought as she glared back at Terak's face as he approached from the other side of the lake.

Only to turn to glance at her captain when she felt the noblewoman lightly nudge her shoulder as she gestured to the turtle ducks swimming towards them.

"Do you see that princess? How the they are more afraid of him than they are you?" Zoi asked in a hushed voice as her princess glared at her through the corner of her eye.

All the while as the politician strode in with an urgent expression on his face as he paid no mind to the two women staring coldly back at him.

"Animals are skilled at sensing a person's true nature. He may be able to mask his true intentions from those in the royal court. But he cannot hide his true nature from the turtle ducks." The captain stated in a quiet voice while the princess listened with her icy amber golden eyes watching the man stride towards them.

And then not even a minute later the man came to a stop before the two seated firebenders as he momentarily bowed before the scowling princess.

While they stared stoically back at his oddly elated face as the politician looked as if he was in on a joke that they were unaware of.

"Former chancellor Terak…I don't recall inviting you to join us. For your sake. You had better have a valid reason for coming here." The princess greeted in a rigid voice as she stared back at the politician's smiling face.

"Pardon my interruption princess. I came to see if you had received the news. Judging by how you haven't exploded in anger yet…I can only wage that you haven't." Terak replied in a cryptic voice as he stood gazing back at the princess's glaring face.

"What news? Does this have something to do with that little pawn of yours?" Azula inquired in a frozen voice while she coldly studied the man's face.

Only to find herself furrowing her regal brows when the man shook his head.

While Zoi also stared back at the conniving politician in distrust as she watched the turtle ducks swim away in the opposite direction once more.

All the while as they then watched the man slide a scroll out from under his sleeve as he stepped closer.

"You haven't heard? The Fire Army suffered a devastating defeat last night." The former chancellor began in an enigmatic voice as the two highborn women turned to stare back at him with bewilderment in their eyes.

"Our army was defeated? Are you referring to Princess Ling and the Avatar?" Zoi asked in a searching voice only for her golden eyes to gaze on in confusion when the man chuckled as he shook his head.

While the princess's callous amber golden eyes began to wane in patience as she watched the man shook his head with a knowing expression still on his face.

"And now there are only six." Terak stated in a puzzling voice while both women stared hard back at him as they tried to decipher his words.

Only for the princess's flames to launch forward not a second later as the former chancellor leaped back in a brief show of fright.

"Out with it! No more riddles!" The princess barked with her frozen amber golden eyes already taking on a beyond foul mood as she exhaled fire from her scowling elegant lips.

"Clan Zanoda is gone. Wiped out! Off the map!" The former chancellor announced as he tipped his head back as he swung his hand before his face while the two highborn women fell back in disbelief.

While the captain and the princess now turned to gaze back at each other with widened eyes as they processed the announcement in shock.

All the while as they began to realize that the girl had dreamed of the clan's destruction!

"How?" The captain inquired in a stunned back as her princess sat seething in fury beside her while the man strode closer.

"Thanks to the general's foolish actions…. last night a far larger rebellion of over five times greater than the one you faced arose up in Shung Wu." Terak continued in a seemingly unbothered voice as he stared back at the stunned faces of the two women.

While Azula's expression contorted into an outraged glower as she ground her teeth together in unfathomable rage.

All the while as she clenched her fists in her imposing lap.

While Zoi still sat in a speechless shock beside her leader with her golden eyes widening in understanding.

"Thousands of Fire Nation citizens swarmed Castle Zanoda. The guards were overwhelmed. Former Governor Joza and his family were dragged out and paraded through the streets." The former chancellor explained as he stood with his hands held before him while a sense of true disbelief overcame the air.

While both Zoi and Azula were staring on with widening expressions in their eyes.

"One of the seven great noble clans was actually destroyed by mere peasants?" Azula repeated in a beyond livid voice as she exhaled fire through her furious lips.

This was…an absolute disgrace!

While her amber golden eyes continued to boil over as she caught the gleam in the man's eyes that he had yet to tell the full story.

"Much more than destroyed my princess. Old Joza was brutally beaten to death in the very spot where General Meram slew the townspeople." Terak informed in a calm voice as Azula's amber golden eyes widened in even further rage.

While the captain began to grit her teeth in her own fury over how it had been pushed to this.

"And that's not all…poor Lady Zanoda…" The former chancellor sighed as he shook his head in a feigned sadness while the two highborn women glared back at him.

"What happened to her Terak?" Zoi queried in a stony voice as the man hung his head in faux sorrow.

"Stripped of her clothes…and traipsed through the streets…and savaged to death." Terak answered with a forlorn sigh as he hung his head while the captain's golden eyes grew wide in disbelief.

And even a woman as cruel as Azula was stricken into silence over hearing that their own Fire Nation commoners had stooped to such depravity.

"And their sweet daughter…. suffered a similar fate." The former chancellor remarked as he gazed over his shoulder at the lake before he turned back to the speechless highborn women.

While both Zoi and Azula had yet to even form a word of response as they considered what that meant.

It meant that they now had to combat a large-scale rebellion in the Fire Nation while they were fighting the Earth Kingdom rebels!

"But there's more. Countless city guards were beaten to death by rocks. According to reports the surviving soldiers were seen fleeing the hills in droves." Terak spoke in a composed voice as he faced the two shocked women.

While the Fire Princess continued to shake in rage like never before with fire spewing from her lips.

"Castle Zanoda was pillaged…their gold raided. Pictures of the Fire Lord from every house smashed. His banner burned and fires lit all throughout the city. Those that weren't a part of the rebellion hid in their houses in terror of being associated as supporting the Royal Family and the noble clans." The former chancellor stated in an unfazed voice as blue flames began to burn from the princess's enraged fists.

All the while as the princess still sat with her teeth clenched in her royal fury in rage towards both the commoners and towards the inept general for throwing fuel over the rebellion that she quelled!

While the captain still sat in a speechless silence as she gazed on with outrage in her eyes.

But not for the same reasons as her princess.

It was fury that their own people in the rural islands had been treated so horribly that they felt that they felt that this was the only way for their voices to be heard.

"According to my reports shouts of 'death to the monarchy' and 'death to the nobility' could be heard all the way in the surrounding towns." Terak commented in an almost casual voice as he gazed back at Azula's face while the princess now looked as if she were a volcano about to erupt.

While the mighty woman continued to breath fire through her infuriated lips as she smashed her fists on the ground beside her hips.

"I…can't believe that Elle dreamed of this. She…saw it all happen in her dream." The captain stated in a still stunned voice as her princess sat glowering with her amber golden eyes glaring on in comprehension beside her.

While Terak tilted his head in curiosity at the captain over the meaning of her words.

'Rural Fire Nation commoners couldn't have done all of that on their own accord! Someone…must have manipulated the event behind the scenes! But who?' The princess thought as she sat glaring on with seething amber golden eyes as fire poured from her lips.

There was no way that this was the work of her uncle.

Old Iroh may be able to accept a loss or two but she knew full well that her uncle was far too sanctimonious l to ever even consider causing such chaos.

'Was it Silah?' Azula thought with her lips sinking into a glower as she thought back to the demented puppeteer's masked face.

All the while as she once again felt fury rise up from within her belly over the woman having the gall to view her as her prey!

Or…if not her…

Was it this Vega?

Or was it someone else?

"The anti-monarchy movement has risen from a mere trickle to a raging maelstrom. The Fire Nation is no longer unified. And this is going to have a profound impact on the Earth Kingdom war front." The former chancellor purred as he stared back at his princess's boiling face as steam was exuded from her nostrils.

"This cannot go unpunished." The princess hissed under her breath while she glared on with ruthless amber golden eyes.

Only to catch a cold stare from her captain while she turned to scowl imposingly back at the older woman's own glaring face.

"Punish them? If you or your father respond with even more brutality it will only inspire even further dissent. The proper way to respond to this is with kindness and compassion." Terak advised in a completely serious voice while the princess's amber golden eyes spun around to glare a hole through his head.

"Kindness and compassion! They just massacred an entire noble clan and murdered a slew of our soldiers! If we allow such disrespect to stand it will only weaken the image of the Royal Family in the eyes of the peasants!" Azula snapped in a seething voice with her amber golden eyes forming a beyond murderous glare.

While the captain sat with her bangs shadowing her eyes as she clenched her jaw in her anger.

"Be that as it may my princess. You might want to reconsider how you treat commoners from this moment forward. The people that you view as helpless are only defenseless when they are divided. If enough commoners band together no number of guards will be able to keep them out of these city walls." The former chancellor cautioned in a dire voice as the princess's amber golden eyes widened with ever rising paranoia.

"Terak…why do you look so happy about this?" Zoi demanded as she turned to glare back at the man while her princess did the same.

While the two highborn women were quick to take note of the delighted gleam in the man's golden eyes.

Only for the politician to hold a hand over his heart as he feigned another expression of grief.

"Happy? I am not happy. I am…sad…so very sad. I am…just in shock. I simply haven't quite come to terms with how to process the news…" Terak responded in a forlorn voice as he frowned in sorrow as he sighed heavily while he closed his eyes in contemplation.

While the two firebenders glared back at the man as they both saw through his false sadness.

And that was all it took for the princess to start to see what her captain meant when she had told her that the politician had no sentimentality to their nation.

"Cut the hippocow shit Terak. I am may not be as politically astute as the princess but I can see through your false sorrow." The captain declared as she stared stonily back at the former chancellor's sighing face.

"Does it really matter how I feel captain? You can't say that I didn't try to warn the court. Alas, it's not my fault that the royal court was too brutish to listen to reason." Terak replied with his hand clasped together while he gazed back at the two women.

While the princess rose a regal brow as she caught the veiled insult towards her father.

All the while as she glared back at the politician's face from where she sat in the grass.

There was a time when that would have enraged her.

But now?

Did she truly even hold any affection for her own father anymore?

"In any case…. I have one more report to make and then I will leave you two ladies back to your lakeside viewing." The former chancellor stated while he gazed back at the seated princess's glowering ace.

Before he extended his hand with the scroll as he held out it for his princess to take.

Which the royal woman swiftly reached out to grab from the man's open palm.

"In that scroll you will find all of the information that I just told you. As well as details about the mysterious leader of the original cause of the revolutionary movement." Terak purred as he gazed back at Azula's utterly incensed countenance.

While Azula and Zoi exchanged a cautious glance as they both considered the meaning in the man's words.

"So, there truly is a revolutionary movement of rebellion in our nation. I will crush it like an ant beneath my boot." The princess snarled in a terrifying voice as she sat glaring on with livid amber golden eyes.

There were no words to describe how furious it made her that there was not only a revolutionary movement of rebellion in her nation.

But that a portion of its followers had the gall to think that they could purge all nobles in the Fire Nation!

"So…it's just as mother said…" Zoi trailed off in a thoughtful voice with her golden eyes taking on a focused stare.

"Indeed, my captain. According to my information the revolutionary movement has been around for over two years now." The former chancellor informed as he stared back at the two guarded faces of the highborn women.

While the princess's amber golden eyes widened as her gaze bubbled over in volcanic wrath.

Over hearing that a movement for a revolution has been operating in their nation for two years without their knowledge!

While the paranoia in her veins began to soar to new heights as she ground her teeth in anger.

"The peasants have been conspiring behind our back!" Azula growled with fire spewing from her nostrils while she clenched her fists in her fury.

If this were Earth Kingdom citizens, she wouldn't even blink.

But to face this from Fire Nation citizens!

"Of course, they have. These revolting peasants hate us. Did you think that we were actually genuinely loved by the people? Did you think they loved your father? They may fear the Fire Lord but fear does not equate to love." Terak asked in a seemingly unbothered voice while Azula's amber golden eyes glared back at him.

While Zoi gazed on with a flash of emotion in her golden eyes as she swallowed as she turned to gaze away in remorse.

While even Azula's eyes briefly flickered with something akin to hurt.

Do her own people truly hate her?

"It didn't matter if they held no true love for us. Because they are indoctrinated and raised with the belief that they should obey the Fire Lord under any and all circumstances. That is…until they found a different leader who seems to be having success telling them otherwise." The former chancellor quipped as he waved his hand to gesture to the scroll while the enraged woman opened it up.

Only for the powerful princess to find herself staring down with her amber golden eyes widening in shock.

While the captain stood up to glance over her leader's shoulder only for her golden eyes to also reflect her surprise.

The revolutionary!

"The founder of the revolution movement is an unidentified figure that they refer to only as the revolutionary." Terak declared in a knowledgeable voice while Azula still sat glaring down at the scroll.

"Is that right? Well, then we just have to kill this 'revolutionary' and that should put an end to this peasant defiance." The princess stated in a callous voice as she glared on with ruthless amber golden eyes.

"The revolutionary…." The captain remarked in a pensive voice as she stared down with grudgingly impressed golden eyes.

To think that this person was capable of operating for so long without their knowledge.

This could only mean that they were dealing with a highly skilled individual.

"That's easier said than done. Apparently, the Fire Lord's decision to fund the extended Earth Kingdom occupation by doubling the wartime tax has had a disastrous effect on the peasants. The prosperity that our commoners once knew vanished and many Fire Nation citizens in the outlying islands have fallen into poverty as a result. And it would seem that this…leader has been actively directing support to peasants in need." The former chancellor explained in a sly voice while the two highborn women stared down at the scroll in surprise.

While Azula's amber golden eyes reflected very little emotion as she considered the man's words.

Only to find herself turning to gaze at her captain's angered face as she tried not to sigh over the woman's tendency to mother the peasants.

"Because of this many Fire Nation citizens are unwilling to divulge if they do or do not know anything about this revolutionary. Whenever my sources ask around, they turn up nothing. One can only gather that this figure is much beloved among the people." Terak replied in a smooth voice as Azula still glared on with boiling amber golden eyes.

"Then I'll just order my Dai Li to scour the entire Fire Nation for this…revolutionary. Sooner or later, they will find this person and then they will bring this traitor back to me." Azula snapped in a voice of true imposing royalty as she stared on with imperial amber golden eyes.

While she still scowled at her captain through the corner of her eye as the older woman turned to glare off into the skies.

"You could do that princess. But in the meantime, this leader is already using this information to pull even more people to their cause." The former chancellor answered as he straightened to leave.

While he gazed back at Azula's beyond aggravated face as she exhaled flames once more.

Only for the princess to turn back to her captain when the older firebender let out a scathing scoff of disgust.

"What a shock. So, it turns out if you ignore the plights of your own people, they betray you." Zoi commented in a disdainful voice while her princess turned to glare at her back.

"Do you have something to say Zoi?" The princess questioned in a sharp voice of a true ruler while she stared hard at the woman that she regards as a sister.

While the noblewoman stood with her back turned to her leader as she scowled down at her feet.

Before the two momentarily glanced at the former chancellor as he bowed to the princess in parting.

"I suppose I will get going now. I hope you two ladies have a pleasant morning." Terak remarked as he turned to walk away while the two highborn women glared at his back.

And with that the politician glided away as quickly as he came.

While his golden eyes took on an overjoyed snake like stare as he finally allowed himself to smile widely.

Now, all he has to do is take the proper steps to salvage the situation.

And then the rest of the court will look like fools.

Including the Fire Lord.

And he will finally be given the respect that he deserved.

While the two women were now finally alone once more as Azula still stared harshly at her subordinate's back.

All the while as they still both still struggled to process that the carnage that they had been told truly happened last night.

"Let me ask you something princess. You believe in the divine right to rule, don't you?" The captain responded with her back still turned to her leader while Azula let out a fiery snort.

"Of course, I do. You already know that. The divine right to rule is something that you are born with and I was born with it." Azula replied as she stood up to her feet while she stared at her captain's back as she walked towards her subordinate.

"I see. So, following that line of logic. If the Fire Lord decides to make his own people suffer for his never-ending war, then it is divine right that they suffer. They have no right to anything else. Even if the tax is so inhumane that the rural citizens are struggling to feed themselves. Is that right? Is it a crime to help the people of the Fire Nation?" Zoi asked as she turned to stare back at her princess's now angered face.

"Don't you put words in my mouth. I never said that and I wasn't the one who raised the wartime tax. It was my father." The princess stated in an impassive voice only for her amber golden eyes to convey even greater annoyance when the woman had the gall to glare at her.

"Yes, you did. That's what the divine right to rule means. And I don't agree with that." The captain spoke in a stoic voice while her leader's amber golden eyes narrowed into a dominating stare.

"You disagree with my divine right to rule? If that's the case then you aren't as loyal to me as you claim!" Azula exclaimed with a margin of anger in her regal voice while she clenched her fist over the scroll.

"Don't you even attempt to question my loyalty! I agree that you have a birthright to rule! But I do not agree that you or any other ruler should have the right to make your own people go hungry!" Zoi retorted with noticeable anger in her voice as she stepped forward while the princess glared back at her.

"It is not your place to give me orders Zoi. And in case you've forgotten I fed the commoners." The princess spoke in a sophisticated voice as she scowled back at her captain's angry visage.

"I also believe that the peasants are entitled to rights." The captain declared as she strode towards her princess while the younger woman scrunched up her nose in contempt.

"Rights? Peasants don't have rights. If they did then a ruler wouldn't have any power. I am starting to think that you have been around that little peasant for far too long." Azula snorted with a roll of her callous amber golden eyes only for her anger to return when the warrior's golden eyes narrowed back at her.

"So, are you saying that Elle has no rights? That after all that she has done for us that she is lesser?" Zoi inquired with an edge to her voice while her princess's amber golden eyes began to bubble over in narrowing fury.

"Of course, the girl has rights. She has rights because I have bestowed them upon her courtesy of my divine right to rule in recognition of her unrivaled devotion." The princess scoffed in a frigid voice while the noblewoman still scowled at her.

"But she is a peasant. Just like the others." The captain countered as she watched calmly as her leader began to stomp towards her.

"She is not like the others. Elle is better than the other peasants. Though still is still a peasant, she is cut from a superior cloth." Azula insisted in a glacial voice with a glower on her regal lips as she held out her hand before her stony face while the warrior's eyes flickered with anger yet again.

"She is not better! They are all the same!" Zoi shouted without warning as her golden eyes brimmed with anger while her princess's amber golden eyes burned through her skull.

While the princess now stomped towards the other woman as she reached out to seized the captain by the collar of her shirt.

All the while as the noblewoman stared rebelliously back at her with a newfound passion in her golden eyes that baffled her.

"Don't you get it! If you had never met Elle, she could be out there struggling to survive! And you would be saying that she isn't entitled to rights! Any one of those people could have been Elle or her mother!" The captain declared as she fearlessly stared back into now unfathomably enraged amber golden eyes while Azula snarled in her face.

While the proud Fire Princess stood with her fists clenched at her womanly hips.

All the while as she tried to squash the faintest sign of emotion in her chest and not to let it show how much those words unnerved her.

"How dare you say those words to me after all I have done for that girl!" The princess hissed as she tried her hardest to control her temper so as not to shout out her secrets to the entire world.

"They were revolting for food and they were slaughtered in turn! They would have never descended into such madness if their voices had been heard in the first place!" Zoi yelled in a livid voice as steam began to burn from her enraged body while her princess stared daggers back into her enraged eyes.

"Don't you take that tone with me Zoi! I was more than generous with those peasants and I wasn't the one who butchered them! And, need I remind you that they slew an entire noble clan and slaughtered a whole host of guards!" Azula barked in an infuriated voice as her fist began to burn with blue fire in her captain's defiant face.

"And you wonder why they hate the aristocracy." The captain snorted as she stared unwavering back at Azula's glowering fac while amber golden eyes shook in outrage.

"My people do not hate me. I am their prodigy princess and they look forward to the day when I ascend the throne as their rightful ruler." The princess spoke in a beyond prideful voice as she glared hard back into her captain's golden eyes.

While she found herself trying to convince herself that she really believed those words.

"Well, princess. I can't say for certain if they do or do not hate you. But I do know that if you ascend that throne and don't better their lives on some meaningful level that they will hate you." Zoi stated in a stoic voice as she met her princess's volcanic glare.

All the while as the two mighty firebenders looked as if they were each about to go for the other's throat.

While they gazed back into one another's eyes as the princess still clenched her jaw in her royal anger.

"If you want them to love you…you'll take a different approach. I can guarantee you that they will adore you if you cut that wartime tax. And if you send proper food and provisions to the poor, and protect them from bloodthirsty generals than they will love you even more." The captain advised in a calmer voice as she was shoved back by her princess's furious hand.

"It isn't for you to tell me how to rule Zoi. No matter how high of a nobility you happen to be, you are still a class below me. You are not royalty. I suggest you remember that." Azula responded in an icy voice as she exhaled flames through her enraged nostrils.

While she still glared back at her captain's gratingly incensed countenance.

"After the war ends…I am considering becoming an advocate for Elle's peace." Zoi announced without warning in a deadly serious voice while her princess stared back at her in disbelief.

"You what!" The princess blurted out with a rare feeling of shock seeping through her ruthless voice while her warrior stared unflinching back at her.

"You heard me Your Highness. I said that after the war is over, I am giving heavy consideration to extending all of my might and wealth into helping Elle change things for the better." The captain stated in a voice that was devoid of shame while Azula stared gazed back at her as if she had grown a second head.

And not a second later the princess held up a first before her face while she began to snort with laughter.

While her captain stared stonily back at her as she tried to contain her amusement beneath her elegant hand.

Only for her merciless amber golden eyes to gaze back at the other woman in bewilderment when she realized that she was serious.

"You're…actually serious?" Azula questioned with another regal snort as she furrowed her graceful brows.

While aggravation flashed before her callous amber golden eyes once more as she glared at her subordinate in annoyance.

"Of course, I'm serious. Are you honestly going to tell me that you watched the genocide of her childhood home and that it didn't affect you in the least?" Zoi pondered in an absolutely genuine voice while the princess's lips curved into a refined scowl once more.

Only for the mighty princess to sigh underneath her curled fingers as she tried her hardest not to roll her eyes.

It would seem as if her subordinate has truly been spending too much time around the girl after all.

"You for peace? Zoi. You've killed more people than me. Are you forgetting all of the rebels that you have killed in my name as my captain?" The princess asked in a stately voice as she stepped forward towards her warrior once more.

"I'm not forgetting that. I did what I did to defend my country from what I felt would be a disastrous overthrow by foreign powers. I have never once killed a single civilian. Every life that I have taken has been against another combatant. And I have no remorse for any of that." The captain stated as she stared back at the royal woman's taken aback visage.

While Azula arched her brows in frustration as she stepped closer towards her strongest soldier.

All the while as she tried to resist the urge to groan.

The last thing that she needs is for her best soldier to become a pacifist!

"Are you saying that you are considering becoming a pacifist like the tiger monkey?" Azula questioned in a dry voice as she gazed back at her soldier in annoyance.

Only for her captain to chuckle as she shook her head while she stared back at her in bewilderment.

"No. I will always be a soldier and soldiers kill." Zoi responded in a still serious voice while her princess gazed at her with even more aggravation than before.

"Then what are you saying?" The princess queried in a still baffled voice while her amber golden eyes studied her subordinate in curiosity.

"I am saying maybe I can use my strength for a more noble cause than just my pursuit of the battlefield. Maybe I can kill for Elle so that she doesn't have to. So, that she can keep her hands clean and fight to honor her mother's legacy." The captain explained in a respectful voice as she stared back at her leader's puzzled face.

Until the disbelieving royal woman came to a halt standing before her subordinate once more.

While the princess gazed back into the warrior's eyes with her lipstick covered lips expressing her surprise.

It was strange.

On one part she was annoyed if the woman was serious that this could result in her losing the commitment of her best soldier.

And yet…oddly on the other hand.

She couldn't help but feel a little pleased that her second in command placed such value in her little beloved's wellbeing.

"This is unlike you Zoi. I can only hope that these weak thoughts don't mean that you intend to abandon the war effort." Azula commented in a beyond cold voice with her domineering amber golden eyes gazing back at the other woman's face.

"Don't be absurd Your Highness. I would never permit a hostile foreign takeover of my country. And besides…you mean too much for me to ever abandon you like that." Zoi assured in a calmer voice than before she stepped up to gaze back into her princess's marginally widening amber golden eyes.

"Do you really mean that soldier?" The princess inquired with just a sliver of a break from her ruthless voice while her warrior offered her a small smile as she nodded her head.

And for reasons that she couldn't explain she felt a bewildering emotion bubble up forth from the pit of her belly.

Only for her amber golden eyes to stare strictly back at the older woman when she reached her palm out to set it on her shoulder.

"Don't tell your father I said this but…I don't believe in him anymore. I believe in you and I believe in Elle." The captain spoke in a voice of boundless gravity as she stared back into her leader's astonished amber golden eyes.

While the powerful princess stood in a state of speechlessness as she processed what the woman had just told her.

"You believe in me…and Elle?" Azula pondered in an unusually reserved voice as she gazed back at the other woman's passionately nodding face.

"I believe in the both of you equally and if you are truly serious about being with her. I believe that if you allow her to stand by your side and give her a respectable speaking role in your cabinet. That the two of you will make for an unstoppable team." Zoi answered in a faithful voice as her princess listened in captivation.

While the princess soon found herself unable to resist allowing her lips to pull into the slightest sign of a smile.

Only to gaze back into her warrior's eyes once more while she strangely allowed the woman to touch her shoulder as she smiled back at her.

"It doesn't matter if you haven't been coronated yet. You already are my Fire Lord. If we should lose this war and you are banished into exile. You will still be my Fire Lord. You will always be my Fire Lord and I will follow you until my dying breath." The captain announced with a small break of emotion making it through her stoic voice while Azula's amber golden eyes stared back at hers in shock.

While the princess's lips began to form into a supremely pleased smile.

And even after all of the horrible news that she had been told.

She couldn't stop herself from smiling.

"Zoi…I…don't know what to say." The princess replied in a pleasantly surprised voice as her warrior smiled back at her.

And not a moment later Azula stood there in a state of speechlessness when she felt the noblewoman wrap her arms around her neck.

"Fire Lord Azula, you and I are more just leader and subordinate. We are kin." Zoi declared in a dedicated voice while the princess stood speechless in her embrace.

And then not a second after that the princess gingerly wrapped her arms around her warrior's back.

"Yes, we are, aren't we? My warrior. Know that your Fire Lord will never forget your loyalty." Azula spoke in a smoothly charismatic voice as she allowed a graceful smile to adorn her confident lips.

While she patted the older woman's back as she gazed at her with just a sliver of extra newfound fondness.

All the while as she found herself curiously enough permitting the woman to refrain latched onto her than she would have normally allowed anyone but her girlfriend.

And then the princess and her warrior parted from their embrace as they both smiled back at one another.

And just like that their earlier argument was forgotten.

"Fire Lord Azula. I have endless confidence in you. I know from the bottom of my heart that if you listen to those that care about you and if you hear the needs of your people. That you will be the sort of ruler who will vastly surpass all who came before you and you will go down in history as a legend." The captain informed in a hushed voice with her deadly serious eyes gazing back into her princess's astounded amber golden gaze.

While a sanguine smile began to curve back onto the princess's lips as she held her head high with aura of endless pride about her.

"I am well aware Zoi. As if I would ever go down in history as anything less." The princess remarked in a conceited voice with a pleased smirk on her lips as her warrior smirked back at her.

Only for her brows to furrow when the captain's gaze became stonier once more.

"But it goes without saying that I have to warn you. If my adopted sister feels that there are any problems that you won't hear her out on. I'll be the annoying fly that buzzes in your ear until you do." Zoi informed with a slight smirk on her lips while she stared back into her princess's momentary narrowed amber golden eyes.

'They're not going to let the damn slaves go…are they?' Azula thought with her callous amber golden eyes gazing imperiously back into her captain's golden eyes.

Only to cross her arms over her breasts as she let out a cold scoff as she stared fearlessly back at the noblewoman's face.

"I wouldn't recommend you buzz in my ear for too long Zoi. Otherwise, I might squash you." The princess commented with a regal smile on her lips while a small smile formed on the warrior's lips.

"Please. Even if you squash me Elle will be buzzing in your other ear. And we all know that you would never squash your little lady." The captain retorted with just a hint of smugness in her voice while Azula now glared callously back at her.

"Then I will just have to cage her in the palm of my hand." Azula spoke in a beyond domineering voice with a possessive smile making its way onto her lips while her captain smirked back at her.

And with that the two highborn women gazed back at one another for a final time before they turned to walk back towards the palace together.

While the princess strode with her hands clasped behind her back as her loyal captain walked alongside her.

And once more.

Despite the furious news that she had received today she help but feel glad that she had such a devoted warrior by her side.

Not long after that in the throne room of the Royal Palace.

Azula sat on her throne beside her father while she watched his face contort in rage as he read the contents of the scroll.

While the flames throughout the throne room reared up to towering heights.

All the while as Ozai's amber eyes stared down at the scroll as he crushed it in the palm of his furious hand.

While his furious amber eyes widened with even greater rage with every word that he read.

Until it reached a point where it almost appeared as if his eyes were about to explode from his eye sockets in his unfathomable anger.

'This is outrageous! How can this be possible! One of the seven clans decimated! Soldiers slaughtered! My banner burned! And all by the hands of Fire Nation commoners!' Ozai thought as he stared down at the contents of the scroll with his eyes agape in violent rage.

And not a second later the scroll burst into flames in his clenched fist before he turned his wrathful gaze to the individual bowing in fear on the floor below.

While the princess also turned to stare imperiously down with infuriated amber golden eyes at the man bowing on the throne room floor.

The two royals gazed down at the intimidated high general in judgement while sweat dripped down Meram's forehead.

"General Meram. Tell me why I shouldn't have you executed for this disgrace!" The Fire Lord demanded in a terrifying voice that resonated throughout the throne room.

While the general swallowed down his fright as he raised his eyes to gaze back up at the two royals looming above him.

"I-I swear to you Fire Lord! My intent was to send a message that disrespect to the Royal Family would not be tolerated! The actions that I took! I took for you! And I took for the princess!" Meram shouted in a fearful voice while Ozai's frightening amber eyes glared down at him through his flames.

Only for the sound of Azula scoffing to resound into the air as she waved an elegant hand before her glacial face.

"And yet here we are. One noble clan down and a large-scale revolt on one of our outlying islands!" The princess snapped in a venomous voice as she glared murderously down at the young man's recoiling countenance.

Not only was she enraged over his decision to rekindle a revolt that she had already stopped out underfoot.

She was just as furious that this…fool seemed to have the notion that he was worthy of her attention!

"In recognition of your decorated military accomplishments, I will give you one chance to rectify this failure." Ozai stated in a rigid voice as he stared harshly down at his subject's rapidly nodding head.

While Azula stared down at the man with icy amber golden eyes as her lips still formed a tight scowl.

"Thank you, Fire Lord! I will not fail you!" The young general replied in a hastened voice as he bowed his head while his Fire Lord gazed authoritatively down at him.

"Fail me again and I will not be so merciful next time. You are dismissed." The Fire Lord spoke in a merciless voice as he watched the young man bow once more.

"I understand Fire Lord. I give you my word that I will mend the situation." Meram assured as he rose from his bow while the flames still rose up high in the throne room.

And then he turned to quickly walk out while the two royals stared after his back.

"You have already done more than enough. Just do us a favor and stay out of the way." Azula remarked in a scathing voice as she sneered down at the general's humiliated back.

While Meram's golden eyes briefly flashed with a sliver of hurt before he turned around to rapidly depart the throne room.

And not even seconds later the doors of the great throne room closed shut with a resounding rumble once more.

While Meram now marched down the halls of the palace with his gaze agape with aggravation.

'There has to be something that I can do to recover this situation! I must not lose my chance with the princess!' The young general thought as he scowled while he clenched his frustrated fists at his hips.

While back in the throne room.

Father and daughter found themselves alone once more.

"If I may speak freely Father…" The princess trailed off in a sophisticated voice while her father turned to gaze back at her.

"Go on Azula." Ozai answered in a stoic voice as he eyed his daughter's emotionless face carefully while he tried to ascertain what was on her mind.

It had not escaped his notice that it had grown more difficult to read his daughter as of late.

"Perhaps it might be prudent to keep General Meram on the war front and leave this delicate domestic situation to more refined hands. While he may be a talented wartime general. He is hardly qualified to handle such fragile internal affairs. Which is why I would suggest that you leave the matter to me." Azula commented in a composed voice as she held an elegant hand before her stony face while her father studied her in contemplation.

"And if I were to leave the matter to you Azula. What actions would you take to resolve this rebellion?" The Fire Lord questioned in a strict voice as he stared back at his daughter's impassive visage as she sat with her hands in her lap.

"I believe that someone manipulated the rural commoners in descending into the carnage that happened last night. I would find this person and eliminate them." The princess replied in a flawlessly poised voice while her father arched a brow in curiosity.

"You believe that an outside force is promoting dissent in the Fire Nation?" Ozai asked in a coldly focused voice while his amber eyes still gleamed with anger.

"I do Father. You see…this morning when my servant girl brought me my breakfast. She confessed to me that last night she had a dream about the destruction of Clan Zanoda." Azula admitted in a smooth voice as her intelligent amber golden eyes stared back at her father's taken aback face.

While Ozai's amber eyes were staring back at his daughter in bewilderment.

Of all of the answers that he had been prepared for Azula to give him.

He hadn't been expecting her to say that.

"And she dreamed of this on the same night that it occurred?" The Fire Lord pondered with a trace of puzzlement making its way into his hardened voice while his daughter nodded her head.

"In her dream she told me that heard a wicked female voice announce that she was going to destroy humanity." The princess responded in an impassive manner as if she was discussing the weather while the Fire Lord furrowed his brows in intrigue.

"Are you suggesting that a supernatural force is behind this rebellion?" Ozai inquired in a callous voice as he rubbed his goatee with a contemplative finger.

Under most circumstances it was a prospect that he would have considered laughable.

And yet he couldn't discount that it was strange for the girl to dream of the chaos while it was happening.

"I consider it a possibility." Azula answered aloofly as her cold amber golden eyes gazed back at her father's stony face as he processed the revelation.

'It is just as I thought…I can use this rebellion to keep his attentions distracted.' The princess thought with an emotionless expression on her composed face.

All she had to do was occasionally provide him a detail or two to keep him content.

After all, the less her father knew the greater her advantage.

"And you would base this notion all on one servant's dream?" The Fire Lord queried in a glacially composed voice while his amber eyes flickered with curiosity.

"If it was any other servant no. But this girl seems to have an affinity for the supernatural." Azula explained in just as cold of a voice as her father.

While the Fire Lord scowled as he considered his daughter's words.

As his amber eyes still brimming with fury over the events that happened the previous night.

"I would also caution that we take great care as to how we respond to this revolt. Another mass butchery of the peasants would simply give those behind the revolt even more fuel to their cause." The princess stated in a stony voice while her father's scowl deepened into that of one of even greater fury.

"Are you proposing that I show mercy to such a blatant defiance towards my rule?" Ozai almost snarled in a cruel voice with his fires rising up throughout his throne room.

"No. I am proposing that we show prudence. You once told me that it is a Fire Lord's duty to protect his people even if it is simply because they are a living extension of his divine right to rule. And that an attack on the people is an attack on the Fire Lord himself. The manipulator behind this dissent has disrespected your name by using our own people to attack us." Azula reasoned in an expertly smooth voice while Ozai's amber eyes narrowed in rage.

"It was the people that attacked my name last night." The Fire Lord hissed with his amber eyes boiling over in great rage while the princess sat calmly in her seat.

"I do not dispute that and the peasants should be punished accordingly for their rebellion. The enemy is most likely expecting to provoke us into another mass slaughter. After all it was General Meram's actions that caused this to blow up in the first place. I am just stating that we should be careful not to play into their hands." The princess responded in an unfeeling voice as she gazed stonily back at her father's glowering ace.

While the Fire Lord considered his daughter's words.

And while he hated to admit it.

He knew that his daughter was making a valid point.

"What would you have us do to quell this revolt Azula?" Ozai replied in a pensive voice as he stared in curiosity back at his daughter's thoughtful face.

"I would have us send in a larger military force to restore order to the city and serve to deter any further disobedience. I would also send food and provisions to silence the peasants' grievances. At the same time…I would exercise profound efficiency to avoid any further public fatalities. Therefore, allowing us to put all of our focus into defeating this Earth Kingdom Princess instead of warring with our own peasants." Azula remarked in an astute voice as she folded her arms over her breasts.

While her father held a palm underneath his chin as he thought the matter over.

"Very well Azula. I will permit you to oversee the squashing of this rebellion. But know this. I want every major instigator in this revolt captured and sent for execution at Boiling Rock." The Fire Lord ordered in a beyond unforgiving voice while the princess smiled cruelly.

"Understood Father. As if I would ever deliver you anything less." The princess agreed in an ever-confident voice as she held herself with an aura of pride.

While her father eyed her for another moment before he turned away seeming to accept her answer.

About an hour later in Azula's study.

Ty Lee sat against the sofa in a state of shock with Elle snoring in her lap.

While she gazed back at the serious expressions on both Azula and Zoi's faces as they stood staring back at her.

"N-no way. Elle dreamed of the massacre of Clan Zanoda." The acrobat muttered in a quiet voice as she sunk back in her disbelief.

"Not only that. But it would appear as if the voice that she heard in her mind had something to do with it." The captain stated in a focused voice as she frowned with her arms folded over her chest.

"This…this is madness Azula. The people are now actively trying to kill us. What are we going to do to ease their anger so that this doesn't explode even further?" Ty Lee asked in a rightfully worried voice as she stared back at her friend's cold face.

And she couldn't help but now fear for her family's safety.

She tried to tell herself that it was unlike that anything would happen to her family.

As her father has never once mistreated the people under his jurisdiction.

And yet…. the fear was still there.

"We are going to bloodlessly quell the revolt. I have sent food to the island and troops to calm city with the order that they are not to engage in any further massacre." Azula remarked in a dignified voice as she stepped forward with her callous amber golden eyes gazing down at her snoring pet.

"W-will it really be that easy to quell it? This is unprecedented Azula. I don't recall the Fire Nation ever experiencing a rebellion of this magnitude before." The acrobat commented in an uneasy voice as she stared warily back at the princess's scowling face.

"We will resolve it by addressing the peasants' complaints Ty Lee. Our great nation will not fall so easily to one incident of rebellion." The princess answered in an ever-stoic voice while she stared possessively down at her slumbering pet.

"I…I get that Azula. It…just sounds like we might be past that." Ty Lee insisted in an anxious voice while Azula glanced down at her once more.

"I have done all that I could for the time being Ty Lee. Father is still Fire Lord. Every action that I take must be done with his explicit approval. We simply have to wait and see how it plays out." Azula responded in a callous voice while her amber golden eyes peered back down at her snoring girlfriend.

Before she turned around to seat her bottom down on the cushion beside her friend.

While her gaze took on a greedy stare as a regal frown graced her lips.

Even with the destruction of an entire noble clan and an even larger revolt on their hands.

Not to mention the possibility of a mysterious threat to humanity looming in the distant future.

Somehow as long as she had Elle to return to.

She felt…as if her world was still in balance.

"And speaking of peasants. I want mine back." The princess demanded in a beyond spoiled voice while the acrobat sighed as she nodded her head.

And then the acrobat gently moved the girl's head out of her lap as she stood up.

While she watched the princess take the small teenager's hand in her hands as she carefully moved the girl's head into her lap.

And not a moment later little Elle slept snoring on her back with the back of her head resting upon the princess's robed belly.

While her mouth hung open as she let out an adorable sound in her sleep that prompted all three highborn women to gaze down at her fondly.

All the while as Ty Lee sat back down on the other end of the sofa with a smile returning to her lips once more.

No matter how stressful things became.

They always had Elle to lighten the mood.

And even Zoi found herself unable to fight the small smile from forming onto her lips.

"Sleepy commoner…" Azula snorted in a seemingly uncaring voice with her strict eyes gazing down at the small girl snoring against her belly.

While she lowered a hand into the girl's hair as she found herself unable to resist caressing her drowsing girlfriend's golden head.

Before she let out a sigh as she sunk back against the sofa with her young girlfriend dozing over her belly.

All the while as she gazed down at the slumbering girl with a callous amber golden stare as she watched her companion cutely sprawl out over her belly.

And that was all it took for her expression to take on a far more unforgiving stare.

While she stared possessively down at her snoring beloved with her elegant lips creasing into a cold glower.

'I will find the voice that she heard in her dream. And when I do…I will burn her alive in my fire for daring to threaten what is mine.' The princess thought with an unbelievably brutal glare coming over her narrowing amber golden eyes.

And that was yet another promise that she intended to keep.

In an undisclosed location outside the caldera.

Sia sat wearing a hood that masked her face while she watched from under her disguise as a woman sat down opposite of her.

"I-I am sorry for coming to you like this leader. I just…" The woman began in an apprehensive voice as she lost her nerve to say anything further.

Only to find herself gazing on with astonished eyes when a compassionate hand reached out to touch her own.

While she stared back at the shadowed visage of the revolutionary with her eyes widening in realization.

The leader was just like everyone said.

She…truly cares about them!

"Do not ever be ashamed for coming to me sister. Tell what I can do to help you." Sia spoke in a soft voice with her golden eyes surveying the woman's emotional face from underneath her hood.

"T-the wartime tax is crippling my family financially. I…I don't know what to do." The commoner confessed in a distraught voice as her leader silently listened to her concerns.

While Sia quietly gazed out from underneath her hood with disgust for her fellow aristocrats flashing before her golden eyes.

'This is just sickening. Don't they have enough gold? Aren't they rich enough already?' The revolutionary thought as she gritted her teeth in her fury beneath her shadowed hood.

This so-called greatness that their government frequently espoused that they were sharing with the rest of the world.

Was in all actuality just enrichment of the Royal Family and the Fire Nation nobility at the cost of everyone else's suffering.

Before she forced herself to steel her temper as she turned to stare back at the woman's overwhelmed face.

While she gently took hold of the astounded woman's hand in her own.

"I will arrange financial support for you and your family. I will have it delivered to your house by tomorrow." Sia declared in a resolute voice as she stared back at the woman's overjoyed countenance.

And that was all it took for the woman to throw her arms around her hooded leader's neck in a show of gratitude.

"Thank you, leader! I thank you from the bottom of my heart! You truly are a blessing from Agni!" The woman exclaimed in a voice of limitless appreciation as tears of joy streamed from her eyes.

Just as her eyes widened when she felt two arms wrap around her neck as her head fell into the hooded woman's shoulder.

While she silently wept as a hand compassionately patted her back.

"No, my sister. I am not. I am just one person doing her duty." The revolutionary stated in a hushed voice as she held the weeping woman in her arms with her lips forming a scowl.

Once more the greed of her fellow aristocracy has left her with no other alternative but to take action.

Especially, after the carnage that had taken place in Shung Wu.

If they didn't step up now…

It may be entire decades before they get another chance for true change.

It was now or never.

AN:

Jigoku-kage, thank you again for your kind words of support. I appreciate it.

So, in this chapter Team Azula learned about Elle's horrifying dream that kept her up all night long. And we also saw the terrible effect that the dream had on Elle.

And while Team Azula wonder if Vega is the one who instigated the carnage in Shung Wu, they were forced to consider the most frightening question of all.

Is Vega truly able to get into their minds?

We got to see Terak bring the news to Azula and Zoi about the destruction of Clan Zanoda.

And the little bit about the turtle ducks being more afraid of Terak than Azula is a telling sign that he is much more dangerous than he lets on.

Zoi's previous statements about Terak not caring about their nation was demonstrated by his lack of any genuine sadness upon delivering the gruesome news of the events of the prior night.

Ultimately, Terak doesn't care about the lives of the people of the Fire Nation, even that of his fellow nobles in any moral sense. He just doesn't want his position of power in the caldera to be disturbed by the rising chaos.

And really, all that he cares about is that this will provide him with an opportunity to regain his former status and get back at the rest of the court for humiliating him.

Azula and Zoi both had differing reactions to the news of the violence in Shung Wu. Azula is furious over how this will affect the image of her Royal Family. And Zoi is more enraged that the people of Shung Wu felt so neglected by their government that they would descend into such madness.

And also, Azula's difficulty in accepting the possibility of peasants having rights, shows that while Elle is having a positive effect on her. That she still has a ways to go before she can truly distinguish herself from her father as a ruler.

And we also saw how Elle is starting to have a powerful effect on Zoi, and how she is starting to influence her that there may be more to making her nation great than finding glory on the battlefield.

This is important, because in a way Zoi is shaping up to be a body guard figure of sorts for Elle and we will see more of that as her relationship with Elle develops.

Ozai's arrogance and narrow-mindedness is showcased by how he is not able to empathize with the plight of his own people, and that all he is able to think about is how they dared to defy his rule in such an audacious manner.

Azula showed more prudence than her father when she advised that it would be wise if they avoided spilling any further blood in Shung Wu.

And even though Vega was not seen in this chapter, her presence was felt by all through the terror that she inflicted on Elle all night long and the carnage that she inspired in Shung Wu.

This reinforces that Vega is an unspeakably dangerous individual and that she knows how to take advantage of the fear that the people in Shung Wu felt after Meram's brutal public execution.

She was able to speak poisonous words to the people and manipulate them into descending into a savage riot against Clan Zanoda.

If it wasn't for Vega, the townspeople would not have descended into such carnage. There likely would still have been a larger revolt in retribution for the deaths of Shozak and the others, but they wouldn't have dared to go that far.

The city wouldn't have become consumed with chaos if not for her.

And it shows that she doesn't have any morals and that when it comes to Vega, anything goes.

And lastly, Sia's scene at the end of the chapter shows hardships that Ozai has put on the commoners with his extremely high tax rate to fund his extended occupation of the Earth Kingdom.

It showed us just that Sia is so dedicated to helping people that she will personally take gold out of her own pocket to negate the hardship caused by Ozai's tax on struggling families that come to her.

And it also gave us a glimpse of how she is able to inspire whole crowds to come to see her speak in secret underground rallies.

Sia is completely unlike her fellow nobles, whereas the other nobles at best rarely consider the situations of those poorer than them. Sia's loyalty is not to the Fire Lord, or her fellow aristocracy, or even her own family.

Her loyalty is to the commoners, and every step that she takes is to better their lives. Which is the total opposite of that of most of her fellow aristocrats.

On another note, because of my illness the chapters will continue to be released at a slower rate. Next week I am traveling to the Mayo Clinic, as I have been told that they may have a surgeon there who has experience with my condition.

I am crossing my fingers and hoping that they do.

Anyhow, that will be all for now.

Stay tuned for next time.

For chapter one hundred thirty-three! The Ways of Fire!