Avatar Chapter 22

I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender

"So Zula, how many islands are part of the Fire Nation?" Ty Lee was ashamed to admit she had no idea. "That depends Ty Lee, most agree there are elven but that's only if you include the large ones, there are countless smaller islands that can be included depending on the map."

The slacker in geography frowned, "Are we going to have time to visit the colonies? I don't think we can visit a countless number of islands."

The Princess let out a gentle laugh "Don't you worry Ty, we will follow the archipelago which will bring us fairly close to the colonies." Azula brought over her atlas and opened it up to the Fire Nation.

Ty Lee looked in awe at the incredible detail put into each map, "As you can see, we will leave the harbor, pass through the gates of Azulon and then travel up the western or northern side of each island." The page was turned and it now showed a map of the colonies in the western Earth Kingdom.

"We will make a surprise visit to a few colonies that are in need of an… evaluation, and yes will go to your circus, which should be around here." Ty Lee smiled and kissed her love "Thanks Azula, you're the best!"

"Well of course I am, and besides you are going to be my consort one day so I have to lavish you with gifts."

Ty Lee gave Azula another kiss, she looked at the planner Azula had set out and suddenly had a revelation "Oh wow Azula, do you know what today is."

Azula looked over to the calendar and smiled "How interesting, this is the day you snuck onto my balcony and came into my service a year ago." Azula walked over to the balcony doors and opened them up before stepping out, Ty Lee followed.

Ty Lee looked at the view, it was early morning and the city was just coming to life. She thought about what today meant and found that fate was an odd thing. By tonight she would be on the ocean, eventually on her way to the circus just like she had planned a year ago today.

But this time she would be traveling on the royal barge with what she knew was her soul-mate for a series of official visits, she was not running away from anything this time.

Ty Lee wrapped her arms around Azula and nuzzled her face into her love's shoulder "I'm so glad I came to see you that night, I'm happy you stopped me from leaving."

Azula reached back and stroked Ty Lee's hair "As am I, this whole thing had turned out reasonably well, much better than I had hoped."

"Totally, I bet you had no idea you would have me as a girlfriend."

"I didn't even know I liked girls back then, but you have always had that odd way of convincing me of the strangest things."

"I still do, don't you think?"

"Yes, to my eternal shame I seem incapable of saying no to you, tell be again why you are bringing that stuffed dragon on the trip, it's the size of a grown man for Agni's sake."

"Lord Fire Snout is really comfy, plus you said I could."

"I know I did, that's what concerns me" Azula turned around and gave Ty Lee a kiss, "But I suppose I can live with your suggestions, you haven't convened me to do anything too drastic yet."

"Well I did seduce you." The rumors were abounding that Ty Lee had used some sort of potion or spell on the Princess, it was the only explanation some people could think of as to why someone with Azula's temperament would fall for someone like Ty Lee.

"Ha! Those bags of hot air are just jealous I'm no longer a ticket to the throne, besides I'm the one courting you and I feel have done a very good job of it." Ty Lee had to agree, Azula was trying really hard to win her over in very proper and traditional ways.

Azula had written her love letters, poems, taken her on dates and picnics, Azula even promised that when they got back from this trip she would go hunting and bring back a Boar-Bear pelt.

Ty Lee wondered if she needed, or wanted, a large boar-bear pelt but like all of Azula's romantic endeavours it had good intentions behind it, even if the results were hit and miss. A trip to a famous play down in Plaza City was a hit, a love letter that started off with "Shall I compare thee to a searing infantry spear" was a miss.

She obviously did not need to be wooed, Ty Lee loved Azula with all her heart but now that their relationship was public Azula felt the need to do everything proper customs demanded. The Princess also felt it was necessary to make it very clear that Ty Lee was to be treated with as much respect as she was, if Ty Lee asked for something she got it, or else.

Ty Lee found it somewhat amusing when a servant would come to her, often in terror, and then leave baffled at her overly friendly attitude. She did not want to be treated any differently but she came to realize that was not an option, being a royal meant being symbol that was the main reason for this tour to begin with.

Her girlfriend explained that even if the Fire Lord had not said as such, Azula traveling in her own ship to every island was to get her out in the public eye. And now that they were a couple it had the added objective of informing the people that she was Azula's future consort.

Ty Lee suddenly felt a lot of extra weight on her head, she looked up and saw Arkrez perched on the top of her skull. "Arky! You ruined the tender moment."

"Do you have to call him that, it's bad enough you pamper him so much." Azula seemed serious but was happily scratching the scales on her pet's chin.

"I can't help it, he looks at me with those big golden eyes and I just have to cuddle him… kind of like I do with you."

The Princess blushed and Ty Lee smiled, she then winced "Of course also like you, he has very sharp claws." She reached up and picked the animal off her head, he whined and leaped to a smirking Azula's shoulder, where he wrapped his long tail around her neck.

Azula sighed "You just require constant attention don't you, either that or you're hungry." At the mention of food Arkrez purred and started to nuzzle his master's face.

"Stop that, what kind of vicious beast are you."

"He's the gentle and cuddly type Zula, and he has the right idea." Ty Lee walked up and nuzzled against the unoccupied side of Azula's face.

Azula started mumbling "You're both unbelievable… and why am I tolerating this."

Arkrez whined again and Azula shook herself free of both of them "Alright fine let's get you something to eat, Ty see what we have in the bowl."

Ty Lee nodded and skipped over to a big silver bowl, it was a large and highly ornamental sphere connected to a square base by a long tube. She undid the clasps around the middle and opened up the top, a chill passed over Ty Lee that made her shiver. The square bottom held a solid block of ice, it was insulated in such a way that whatever was kept in the sphere was kept fresh, important for thick chunks of meat.

"Hmmm, Pig-Cow is always good." Ty Lee tossed the meat high into the air, Arkrez growled before leaping almost to the ceiling and grabbing the tasty morsel in his jaws. As he hit the floor the hungry animal tore into his meal with truly savage ferocity.

So far it was only when he ate that either of them saw the violence bred into him, Ty Lee was unnerved at the thought of a person being subjected to such a thing, Azula found it marvellous.

"I hope he likes lots of fish, he's eating a lot these days."

"He likes anything that has blood flowing through it."

"That's a gross way to put it Zula."

"It's a cruel truth Ty Lee, just be thankful he doesn't swallow things whole despite his heritage."

"I know I know… Hey you don't think he'll start seeing our training mounts as food do you?"

Azula thought about it, as it was Arkrez was still small and no match for the much larger animals she and Ty lee had been training on. She would hate for Ty Lee to be right, both of them had found riding to be an enjoyable experience, for different reasons.

Ty Lee simply loved animals and the mounts appeared to love her back, while Azula enjoyed the feeling of controlling such powerful beasts. "Hmmm, I doubt it, as long as he is well fed he should be smart enough not to attack things he shouldn't."

"I hope so, all our animal friends have to get along" Azula rolled her eyes, that was by far the least appropriate way to refer to them.

"Yes, well, thankfully we won't have to worry about that for a while, now let's do a final check, I want to be on our way by noon."

"Arighty, I bet you just want to see your new toy."

Azula blushed "It is most certainly not a toy, it's the most advanced ship in the world and I simply want to inspect it."

"Uh huh, sure Zula, why you just admit you're excited to see your own ship."

Azula crossed her arms and sulked, sometimes she hated when Ty Lee could read her so well "Flame it all, why did I have to fall for the one person who can read me like a coloring book… probably because she's so burning cute… I can't believe I just thought that."

Azula sighed, she was becoming a big pile of soft mush and she needed to see something explode, or lit on fire, both together would be preferable. A knock sounded on the door, Azula bade the person enter and a messenger stepped in. "Greetings Princess, all is ready for the trip down to harbour, we can leave at your leisure."

Azula nodded "Excellent, come on Ty Lee, let's go see my new toy."

The ship was massive, ornate, and it was all hers. An elated Princess had studied the diagrams and the model, but seeing the real thing offered so much more. The 'Royal Barge' was a stupid name for it though, she would have to come up with something a bit more appropriate.

"Wow Zula, it's HUGE!" Her girlfriend was even more impressed.

Azula smiled, they were traveling in a palanquin and even from Plaza tower they could both tell the ship was bigger and more detailed than most military ships. Of course it was not meant for frontline combat, this was a command vessel, personal transport and pleasure craft.

"Indeed it is, and despite that it is supposed to be one of the fastest vessels in the fleet"

"Yeah that's thanks to Gaz right... the ships safe to be on right" Ty Lee had read a number of reports along with her and knew of Gaz's many mishaps.

"I believe so, none the less we will go on a thorough tour and examine its major systems before we leave"

"Ok, hear that Arky, we get to go on a tour." The fearsome creature was curled up between the two of them, nestled in a bundle of cushions.

Azula shook her head, she noticed they were nearly at the ship and saw a familiar face. As the palanquin made its way onto the ship, Lady Iza came to the side and bowed "Your Highness, my Lady, it is my pleasure to welcome you to this vessel."

Azula spoke "Hello Lady Iza, I give you my thanks for attending this departure."

"The pleasure is mine Princess, I hope you do not mind but I will be accompanying you on this journey"

Azula was intrigued "Is Gaz on the vessel as well?"

"He is not Princess, he is recovering from an… incident."

"Oh is he okay." Ty Lee threw open the curtain and poked her head out, completely disregarding proper decorum.

"He is quite alright Lady Ty Lee, he will simply have a bit more metal embedded in his body from now on, but even though he is absent his modifications are aboard this vessel and I wish to make sure they work properly."

"Thanks Iza, Gaz is lucky to have a friend like you." Ty Lee beamed.

"Indeed he is, now if you would like I can show you to your quarters, I took the liberty of designing them myself to suit your needs."

Azula smiled, Iza was the highest example of a Fire Nation citizen; she would have to remember to reward her family generously one day. "Come on Zula, Arky is already roaming around." Ty Lee was outside and bouncing in place, overly excited about… everything it would seem.

Azula shook her head and climbed out of the palanquin, Ty Lee was not an example of the perfect Fire Nation citizen, but Azula would have it no other way.

"Ah they have arrived."

"Wonderful, there is so much to see on the open ocean."

"We must make haste and set sail."

"I wonder if that is still the proper saying."

"Hmmm most likely not, but what would be a good replacement."

Azula was startled and stared at the twins, they were dressed in what's she could only assume was their vacation wear, it was much too informal to be anything else. "How do they do that? It's as if they appear out if thin air."

"Hi Li, hi Lo are you coming on out official visit trip to." Ty Lee spoke.

"Why of course dear.", "The art of traversing the ocean.", "Is an important part of Fire Nation identity.", "There is much to learn.", "And much to teach."

Azula spoke "So you have some lessons planned for our journey." Surprisingly they shook their heads.

"On the contrary.", "It is the two of you who will decide the lessons you will learn.", "Out at sea the mind can wander.", "When you wish to learn, come speak to us."

Azula did not quite know what to think of that, but she had been around them long enough to accept their cryptic advice. "Hopefully when I'm that old I won't start talking in riddles, my elders all seem to have great knowledge but are incapable of getting to the point."

"Very well, if I have an important inquiry I will come find you two."

"Yeah me to, though I'll probably ask a lot more questions." Ty Lee was still looking at everything awe, while Arkrez was snuggled up in her arms.

"Excellent now let us begin the tour.", "Yes indeed, the engine room must have some fine male specimens.", "The wonders of steam power.", "What an incredible time to be alive."

Iza looked noticeably baffled by the twins behavior, Azula pinched the bridge if her nose. "Agni strengthen my inner flame, I wish to never grow that old and bizarre."