Avatar Chapter 24
I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender
Azula loved intimidating people, especially pompous fools who thought they could scrape by on substandard service to the nation. And unannounced visits were a very good way to catch these pompous fools before they could cover up their… deficiencies.
Nothing to serious, she had visited three colonies so far and the worst thing she had to correct was some oaf's idiotic ideas on waste disposal "Who dumps their garbage into the sea when colony relies on fishing! And that maggot-worm had the gall to wonder why the catch wasn't coming in."
She had fixed the problem for him and hopefully the town would prosper in a few months. But though nothing was critically wrong with the places she had visited, they weren't all that impressive either. They were nothing compared to the homeland or the more established colonies, but then again these colonies were relatively new, a decade or two tops, so she could not expect too much.
But there were exceptions to every rule, and the colony she was visiting today was that exception. The colony of Sezun Meiyo was a sprawling, wealthy, extravagant city, which had come to be known as the City of Vice. Gambling, pleasure, narcotics, and a number of other morally questionable activities Azula could not even begin to understand were found here. There was a massive market where anything and everything could be bought and sold, as well as a multitude of stadiums where sporting events, both legal and illegal, were held and bet on.
Most impressive was the fact that it had been transformed from a shoddy Earth Kingdom town with nothing but excessive space and hordes of refugees to this, in only ten years. Azula had been reading up on its short history, it had originally been annexed simply because it controlled a vast section of land and coastline. The soil was bad and there were few natural resources so not many people took interest, save the current ruler.
Lord Xizan was a child prodigy like her and had taken control of this dump when he was just fifteen, with nothing but a bank loan and a vision. He was now one of the richest and most influential men in the world, a commoner being awarded noble status was proof of that.
But that was also the reason she was here, the colony itself was doing extraordinarily well and did not interest her much, but the man behind it had rumors about him. It was said he had deep connections to crime syndicates, pirates, assassins and other questionable groups.
Also, rumors said he had a large spy network, with informants not only in the Fire Nation Capital but also in the Water Tribes and even Ba Sing Se itself. "But all I have are rumors, he's covered his tracks to well."
Azula needed to know if they held truth, and if so, how she could make use of them. She had access to official channels but every good ruler knew that the underworld was just as important.
And Xizan could be her connection to that world, but she would need to be careful as he was not a man she could outmaneuver so easily. She would have to offer him something in return, but being and ally of the Crown Princess would hopefully be a start.
"I doubt threats will work, he probably has a fair number of higher ups wrapped around his finger already, something has to account for this place getting away with what it does without so much as a reprimand."
Azula had no intention of stopping the depraved activates practiced in this city, as illegal as bear-hybrid fighting, moon-shade smoking or even exotic weapon smuggling were Lord Xizan was very adept at keeping his citizens activates regulated.
"Hey Zula you have to see this." Ty Lee said excitedly.
The Princess got up and made her way to the balcony, it was nearly nighttime and the city where vice ruled was lighting up. The huge sheltered harbor contained priers that serviced countless yachts, ferries and other private vessels and walls held enormous cauldrons of fire that lit up the night sky. But most impressive were the two huge statues guarding the entrance, both in the image of armored soldiers holding balls of fire in outstretched hands. Plated in reflective metal the fires made each figure shine like molten gold.
"Oh Agni look at those Azula, I've never seen something so, so…"
"Extravagant"
"Yeah that." Ty Lee was looking around at everything she could.
Azula rolled her eyes "Of course she's attracted to shiny things." Azula could understand however, as the ship approached the pier the city looked more and more impressive. It was as if there was a city wide festival that never stopped and it extended to the many elaborate ships anchored in the bay, Azula had never seen so many private vessels of such quality in one place before.
A knock sounded at the door, Azula wondered who it could be as the ship was nearly docked "Enter."
Iza walked in and bowed "Pardon my intrusion, but I feel it necessary to speak before you depart." Azula noticed she was nervous, and that intrigued her.
"What do you wish to speak to me about?"
Iza hesitated but cleared her throat "I believe it is my responsibility to inform you of Lord Xizan."
"You are acquainted with him?" This was new information.
"Yes Princess he and Gaz are in fact cousins, so I have met him on multiple occasions, before and after his success."
Azula kept her features calm, Xizan was rumored to be eccentric but if he was related to Gaz it could be more than she could handle.
"Oh are you friends with him, like with Gaz." Ty Lee weighed in on the conversations.
"We… respect each other, he and Gaz are similar in there brilliance but where Gaz is… simple, in his aspirations Xizan is much more ambitious and can be incredibly dangerous.
Azula raised an eyebrow "Dangerous you say."
Iza bowed "Yes Princess, you are in no risk I assure you but I wanted to warn you of what he is capable of."
"And just what is he capable of, Lady Iza."
Iza looked at her with a nervous look in her eyes "Anything you are, Princess Azula."
Ty Lee was trying her hardest to look at everything there was to see, she had never seen so many different kinds of people in one city. There were so many sights and sounds as the palanquin made its way through the main street, and even parted the crowed was bustling. She had seen everything from Fire Sages to what Azula informed her were mercenaries, and that was just in the first few minutes.
"Uh Azula, are those what I think they are" Ty Lee nervously gestured to a group of very scantily clad women outside a very strange looking establishment with lanterns giving off a pale blue light.
"Yes Ty I do believe those are pleasure maidens and before you ask that is indeed a brothel…you can stop looking now." Azula huffed.
"S-Sorry, Zula it's just I have never seen anyone with that skin tone before, are they from the Water Tribes?"
The Princess nodded "Yes Ty Lee I am sure that's why you had your mouth hanging open but you are correct, this is one of the few places in the nation where citizens with Water Tribe ancestry can be found in great numbers."
"Wow, they look so… exotic"
"Yes I suppose they do, and they are probably ecstatic that their ancestors settled here instead of running off to Ba Sing Se."
Ty Lee looked at Azula, she was puzzled by what the Princess was implying. Azula rolled her eyes "This used to be a backwater where many Water Tribe refuges and outcasts came to escape the war, their own culture, or roving bands of Earth Kingdom bandits; when Lord Xizan took over he made use of their skills in Water Bending and seafaring. In return he, somehow, got every person citizenship."
"Wow, this Xizan doesn't sound like a dangerous guy."
"Yes the man is beloved by practically everyone in the city and has somehow managed to get all the different groups living here to not kill each other." Azula had a sarcastic tone her voice.
Ty Lee frowned "You don't sound very excited or impressed."
Azula smiled, a devious smile "Oh I am impressed alright, this Lord Xizan has done a phenomenal job, he is a true patriot to the country and has been rewarded extensively, but if my hunch is correct he wants more."
Ty Lee looked at Azula's aura, she could tell her Princess was thinking hard right now "What do mean he wants more, what he could possibly want?"
"That's what I plan to find out Ty, we will be staying here a few days and by the time we leave I am positive I will have my first real ally."
Ty Lee was not sure why Azula would need allies, being Crown Princess and all, but she had been with Azula long enough to know there was a good reason, the Princess always had a reason.
She looked around at the many sights that caught her eye, some of which she really did not need to see. "Ewe, Azula that guy is being… painted, with a needle."
"Yes the practice of tattooing is a popular custom in the colonies… though bleeding that much is likely not healthy." The man in question appeared to be nodding off as the artist etched a beautiful women into his arm, and suddenly toppled over from the blood loss. His large body knocked down a group of rough looking men, causing them to drop their likely alcoholic beverages.
One thing led to another and suddenly a large brawl had broken out in the street, it was an odd and enlightening bit of culture… up till a cup of liquid was thrown in the palanquin's direction. Ty Lee saw it coming but had no time to react, she cringed as the cup slammed into an unaware Princess's side.
Ty Lee looked at Azula, now covered in what she hoped was a beverage of some kind, and decided that the blank look on her face was terrifying. The palanquin had stopped, the brawl was still going on yet the crowd and the procession were holding their collective breath.
"Ty Lee, stay here." Azula spoke politely before hopping through the curtain.
The worried girlfriend could only stare as Azula walked up to the nearest fighter, he was obviously drunk and mostly egging people on, and tapped him on the shoulder. The man turned around and in very inappropriate tone spoke to the Crown Princess "Whata you want yaw little twerp."
Ty Lee knew what Azula was going to do before it happened, the Princess wrapped her hand in blue flame and struck the man in the throat. Before he even fell to the ground she had jumped up and landed a flaming kick on another man's face with one leg and with the other left a burn mark on the chest of another.
Ty Lee, the crowd and the procession looked on in both awe and terror as the Princess preceded too violently strike down every rowdy citizen, Ty Lee noticed Azula left a sizeable burn mark with every strike.
In an awe inspiring display of martial prowess Princess Azula laid the last man low after only a few minutes, while never taking so much as a glancing strike. The Fire Bender surveyed the group of burnt, moaning men on the ground before nodding and making her way back to the palanquin, stepping on the bodies in her path.
She climbed back into the palanquin where Ty Lee handed her a towel, the procession started moving again as the local guards moved to 'process' the injured group.
Ty Lee rubbed the back her head "Sooo, they probably had it coming, didn't they"
"Why whatever do you mean Ty, I simply engaged with my people and left all of them with a parting gift." Azula had wiped the liquid from her face and pulled a cord, causing thick curtains to fall around them. "Now help me change, I can't go to meeting smelling like some drunkard."
Ty Lee nodded, she reached down underneath the cushions and pressed button, a drawer popped up. Inside was change of clothes, just in case something unexpected came up. She helped her girlfriend change into the new set, and thought about how lucky those men back there were. Every citizen in the country knew that so much as disturbing the hair of royal could get one thrown in prison, and a cup smashing into Azula's side, unintentional or not, was grounds for the execution of the lot.
But the Princess had not done that, she had beaten the daylights out of them and left each with a slight burn, but for Azula that was merciful. And Ty Lee had a feeling that the reason for that was her being here, she noticed Azula held back from lethal strikes and had repeatedly look back towards the palanquin for a split second.
It was obvious to Ty Lee that her Princess was worried about what she thought about her, and had restrained herself. "She doesn't want me to think she's a monster, everyone else can think so but she was willing to hold herself back for me."
She finished buttoning up the back of Azula's top and then wrapped her arms around the Princess while resting her head on Azula's shoulder. "Thanks' Zula."
"Thanks? For what?"
"Just because."
"Riiight, well, I appreciate that, I suppose."
Ty Lee smiled and kissed Azula's cheek, people could think what they wanted of the Princess; to her she would always be the perfect girl.