Avatar Chapter 21
I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender
Azula did not completely understand why her father accepted her unorthodox relationship so easily but he seemed more than pleased with it, if this week late birthday gift was any indication.
"Awww it's so cute Zula…well sort of, half of it I guess." Ty Lee was looking at her present with a look of adoration and trepidation. "It is not supposed to be cute Ty, it may be small and fluffy now but he will grow up quickly and won't be so gentle when he's matured.
"But what if he doesn't want to be big and mean?!"
"Its bred for battle Ty Lee, and his species can grow to be the size of a komodo-rhino so he's going to want to eat above all else"
"Oh ok, what does he like to eat"
"People"
"Ok let me ge… WHAT!"
"Her highness is correct my Lady, this is a powerful beast that is a noted man-eater." The trainer that brought her gift chimed in.
"So it only eats men?"
"Uh" The man with a short beard on his chin, thin mustache and bizarre clothing seemed unsure how to answer that.
"It's just a phase Ty, he'll find you just as tasty especially of you smell enticing."
"Ahhh thank you Zula, it's a perfume I got for my birthday."
"Well of course, it's a very alluring fragrance." Azula mentally congratulated herself for not missing a beat and inadvertently reveling her surprise "Oh flame it, I'm supposed to notice stuff like that aren't I, but she always smells nice I can't be expected to determine if it's slightly different each day."
Azula shook her head and looked at her father's gift, she admitted he knew her well. He had sent her a Liger-Serpent, a truly terrifying animal. It had been bread through selective breeding and sacred rites by the some of the world's best breeders and sages, several hundred years had perfected the born killer in front of her.
They were extremely rare, originally a combination of a Lion-Gator and Tiger-Snake it had been bred with number of other creatures over the years. Fully grown it would be nearly the size of a male Komodo-Rhino, could keep pace with an Eel-Hound over short distances and was, theoretically, capable of leaping to the top of the Palace wall in a single bound.
They had missive jaws that crush solid rock, long retractable claws that could shred through metal armor and both contained a venom that could paralyze and even kill.
"Meow"
"Ah you're just a little fuzzy, scaly bundle of joy aren't you?"
The image of such a terrible beast was humbled slightly as Ty Lee rubbed the animal's belly, it purring all the while.
"I assure you Princess, when Arkrez grows larger in size he will live up to expectations, it is simply a necessity to have them meet their masters when they are young, so you can imprint yourself on his senses." The trainer was sweating, his and his family's reputation was on the line at the moment.
"I am positive you are telling the truth Jazar, Ty Lee simply has a way with animals and is incapable of denying anything that gives her a pleading look." Azula said the last part directly at Ty Lee, who had the good decency to look embarrassed.
Azula examined her new 'pet', it looked more like its feline heritage from the top. The front half was striped orange and black but faded into a dark yellow with black spots as one looked towards its hind quarters. But looking underneath revealed its other nature, the beast's entire underside from head to tail was covered in shimmering scales, as were the back of its legs.
The tail itself resembled the body of a snake and was much thicker than a feline's tail should be, longer in length than the rest of its body it was strong and flexible enough to wrap around and crush a man, when it was bigger of course. Right now the beast only came up to her knee, but from head to tail he would reached her waist.
"Thank you for the trust your highness, Arkrez is a fine specimen and he is one of a new breed that has perfected their ancestors camouflage and swimming attributes."
She raised an eyebrow, "It's like a living utility knife."
But she supposed it that was to be expected, though named liger she suspected it had many different big cats in its blood line and serpent was simply a copout for including all the different reptiles.
Animal breeders were a peculiar bunch who had two choices from what she understood, they either tried to produce a clean breed such a pure bear, pure dog, or what have you. Or they tried to combine as many different animals together as they could, which resulted in the cat eyes she was looking right now having two sets of eyelids.
"And though I cannot personally attest, the sages have worked with my ancestors on many creatures and their results are extraordinary." Azula did not know much about spiritual matters, though Ty Lee was always talking about them, but the fact that there was a cadre of sages dedicated to the beasts of the world intrigued her.
She supposed that if each element had its mystics than other parts of their world must have them as well. They were a secretive lot, most groups of weird old people were, but their objective matched that of the breeders. They used elaborate rituals and detailed symbols to imbue beasts with spiritual energy; the details of how and why were a closely guarded secret, even to expert breeding clans. But if rumors were true the ultimate goal was to grant the gift of bending to an animal, something that as of now only nature had accomplished.
Azula was very interested in the idea of actually giving the ability to bend, from what she knew only three animals had that ability. "Well, one now." The sky-bisons had been eradicated along with their Air Nomad masters and the last dragon had been killed by her own uncle, allegedly as no body was found.
Now only the badger-moles, who lived deep beneath the earth still existed, a waste really as dragons would be extremely helpful in the war effort. "Oh well, no use crying over what no longer is, but when I am Fire Lord I will order a scouring of the globe, I have always wanted to see a dragon."
She looked at her pet, though it could not bend the sages had sought to bring out the traits of warfare and unless Jazar was lying to her, doubtful, or had been lied to, slightly less doubtful, they had succeeded.
Arkrez as he was named had fur that spears and arrows would break upon, healed quickly and was extremely intelligent, disciplined and loyal, though he was still young and seemed content stretching while Ty Lee pampered him.
"Who's a good boy, that's right you are." Ty Lee was nuzzling him now for Agni's sake and Jazar looked as if he expected Azula to vaporize him for giving her a house pet instead of an attack animal.
Azula looked at Jazar and decided to relieve him for now, he would return to the large carriage his clan used as homes while on the move. He would remain in the Capital for a number of months to insure his 'product' would grow into the killer it was bred to be.
As the man left, Azula stepped forward and looked down her newest asset. She could see potential and envisioned all the fun she could have with such a creature. She also saw that it was still being smothered in Ty Lee's loving embrace, "Hmmm a dangerous beast tamed by an energetic airhead, it sounds like you and I have something in common."
Azula frowned and felt her eye twitch at her own comparison "It may be true but if anyone ever makes that comparison I will fry them from the inside out." Putting aside the embarrassing contrast Azula looked into the eyes of little Arkrez, they were the same shade of gold hers were, the Princess smirked with satisfaction.