"Do not address me as such peasant girl!" Azula stated as she lifted her head. "For you do not even know whom you are speaking to!"
"I cannot deny that this is true my lord." Mai-Lin spoke. "For all I see in front of me is a man. Lost in the wilderness and in need of aid."
"As expected for a mere mortal woman!" Azula stated. "You do not even see what is right in front of you. I am here and yet you do not see me. How I would soar the skies! Breath the great fire of life. Mortal man knew very well why they ought to bow to me! Bow I say!" she asked. "Bow to my might!"
"Very well then my lord. Look I am bowing." Mai-Lin bowed. "Though now I may have to ask you a question. Who is truly blind my lord? Perhaps you are the one not seeing what is right in front of you."
"Nonsense!" Azula held up a hand. "For I see all and I know all!"
"And yet you fell prey to the dark water spirit who trapped you in this mortal body." Mai-Lin said.
"Do not mock me peasant girl!" Azula exclaimed.
"Forgive me my lord." Mai-Lin bowed again. "I shall take my leave of you then. Surely such a great man do not need the help of a peasant girl." and then she walked away.
"That is correct! A dragon doesn't need the help of mere mortals!" Azula stated. Then she frowned. "How though. Could this woman know of my predicament. She was not there as the cursed water spirit tricked me." she looked to where Mai-Lin had exited. "I shall get the answers from her yet!" and she exited too.
Raiku and Makoto both clapped their hands and Azula couldn't help but smile as she did a small bow then she turned to Mai-Lin who returned to their little stage.
"You're doing better." Azula said. "You act a little more natural. And that playful smile is a nice touch. Remember! She is the dragon empress in mortal form, and the irony is that the dragon emperor is accusing her for not seeing what is in front of her while he is the actually blind one. She's the one with the real knowledge!"
Mai-Lin chuckled into her hand. "Okay! I'll keep that in mind!"
"Wow it's a shame that Zara can't play the dragon emperor in the actual play." Makoto stated. "She's better than the last three men who had the lead."
"It always kind of sucks." Raiku sighed. "Each and every year there is a ton of women who wants to be in the play, so most has to be turned down. But there are rarely enough men so they has to go out and actively find them."
"Well if that is the issue. Why don't we just take over?" Azula asked. "You are talented girls! Makoto would be suitable for the dark water spirit!"
The girls blinked.
"You mean… Like an all female cast production?" Makoto asked.
"Duh!" Azula exclaimed. "Why not! We make our own version and it'll be superior to Norens stupid play! We'll crush them!"
"You know…" Raiku blinked. "That actually sounds like fun."
"I would like to be the dark water spirit!" Makoto exclaimed. "That role always seemed the most fun out of all of them!"
"Then who is the dragon empress?" Raiku asked. "Me or Mai-Lin?"
"I would really want the part." Mai-Lin admitted. "Sorry."
"It's okay… I really want it too." Raiku admitted.
"Then you both have it!" Azula stated. "We'll just alternate! Every second performance Mai-Lin plays the dragon empress and every second performance Raiku does it! And when you don't play the empress you play towns mayor!"
"Oh my Agni that's brilliant!" Makoto gasped.
"See that's why you should stick to me. I am brilliant." Azula stated.
"But…" Mai-Lin hesitated. "Wouldn't we be competing with the annual production? And we don't have any costumes or sets or…."
"Who cares?!" Azula asked. "We'll just make our own. Make sure it'll be better! And then we'll crush them under our heels!"
"We could also…" Makoto hesitated. "Ask Norens production team if they will help us. You live with them right Zara? Why don't we just ask?"
"Urgh. Fine. If you want to do it the easy way." Azula snorted. "Come on lets go find Noren then."
"What? Now?" Makoto asked.
"Is there any better time?" Azula asked. The three girls looked at each other then shrugged.
Wide-eyed Noren looked at the four girls standing in front of him. Noriko standing beside him as they listened.
"An all female production you make yourself?" Noren asked.
"Noren that's brilliant!" Noriko beamed as she grabbed his arm. "Lets help them out! They can borrow our costumes when we don't use them!"
Noren looked at Noriko. "How would that work?" he asked. "We would both perform love among the dragons at the same time?" He asked.
"You can schedule it so it alternates!" Noriko exclaimed. "Perhaps they can do it in the afternoon and you can do it in the evening! People can watch both performances and decide for themselves which one they like better!"
"You do realize they would become our direct competition right?" Noren asked.
"It's an opportunity dear!" Noriko said. "Most of our money comes from selling masks not the performances themselves! Maybe more people will come for the all female performance and we can sell more masks! And beside…. Noren." she leaned closer so she could whisper. "Zara looks so happy. Please."
That made Noren freeze, then finally he softened. "Okay." he said then he smiled at the group of girls. "You know. I think encouraging new talent is great!" he said. "The next generation of directors, writers and actors right in front of me! Let's work together okay?" he asked. "Maybe next year then, you can make a different all female production while we keep doing love among dragons!"
The three girls eyes widened and then they jumped in the air as they shouted. "YAAAAAY!"
Azula smirked. "You were clever sticking to me." she said only to suddenly get hugged.
"You're the best Zara!" Makoto cried.
"I know!" Raiku said. "Let's go celebrating! I could go for some sticky buns!"
"Me too!" Mai-Lin beamed. "Come on Zara!" she grabbed Azulas hand and pulled her out. "I know the best desert and tea place! You can order what-ever you want it's on me!"
"Huh? What?" Azula asked bewildered as all the girls were grinning and cheering very genuinely.
As they left Noriko was smiling all over her face. Her eyes soft.
Noren looked down at Noriko and then he smiled too, putting an arm around her shoulder.
"I'm so glad she made friends." Noriko sighed. "I was worried."
"I know." Noren said. "You done good love."
"I want her to be happy Noren." Noriko said. "It's… important."
"I know." Noren replied again. "And I'm going to help you. As much as I can."
Noriko smiled as she turned and kissed Noren on the cheek. "Thank you dear. I love you."
Noren smiled softly at her, he reached up and held her cheek. "I love you too." he said warmly.
"Now. I should probably get started on dinner." Noriko chuckled. "Sounds like we'll be busy this year with two productions! I need to sew in some of the old costumes, they'll be to big for the girls!"
Noren smiled amused. "That's true."
Noriko smiled and then finally went into the kitchen as Noren sighed, then looked towards the sky… He still hadn't found out how to tell her and it made his heart twist.
Clearly deep down Noriko knew… Noren could tell. Whether it was conscious or subconscious. Noriko knew… And he needed to tell her! It was the only right thing to do! … But how?
How do you tell your wife. That the girl they had taken in really was her daughter?