Avatar Chapter 25

I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender

This City of Vice had been an enlightening experience so far, she had seen half naked water tribe women, a tattoo artist and a street brawl that her girlfriend had participated in. After Azula 'embraced' the local culture, their trip had not run into any more bumps and they got to enjoy the many sights.

The main street was block after block of taverns, gambling halls, brothels, weapons dealers, shady merchants and armed mercenaries. They looked tough but Azula had pulled the curtains back and Ty Lee knew her patience had been tested, she had sent a glare at a leering mountain of a man and he had frozen up in terror.

But as they made their up to what Ty Lee assumed was Lord Xizan's mansion, things became weirder. Odd sculptures, strange smells and bizarre people started to pop up, and then directly ahead of them came… something.

Two large Elephant-Rhinos were pulling an enormous carriage, which looked like a small house on wheels. It was such bizarre sight, the expense that must have went into such a thing meant the person in it was very wealthy, and probably crazy. Surrounding it were a number of wagons carrying dancers, musicians and performers. Strange lanterns were being swung around, emitting a peculiar smelling smoke that Ty Lee had never experienced before.

The procession had stopped since the… parade, blocked the road, though it too had halted in front of them. A large group of men came from around the back, each carrying a stage device, different sized pole with steps on the top. They arranged themselves between the Elephant-Rhinos in such a way that a make-shift stair-case was formed, leading from the roof to the ground.

The assorted musicians started playing a triumphant tune and a hatch opened at the top of the carriage, a tall man stepped out. Ty Lee thought that Gaz was the most eccentric person she had ever seen but as the man practically danced down the steps she revaluated that assumption.

"Greetings your highness, may I humbly welcome you to this shining city of vice, sin and many other things not meant for ears such as yours!" The man's clear voice called to them, Ty Lee could only stare; he was by far the most oddly dressed person she had ever seen.

He was barefoot, wore red pants with a black pattern that were incredibly baggy, they seemed to puff out as if filled with stuffing. Around his waist he wore a long golden sash the waved in the light breeze, and it helped draw attention to the many golden bracelets around his ankles and wrists. He looked strange but his bare chest was that of someone with intense physical fitness, though in contrasted with the most bizarre piece of attire. He wore a long cloak that appeared to be made of long pink feathers on the outside and shimming scales on the inside.

It reached his calves and looked too big even on his large frame, she was not sure how it stayed on his shoulders but perhaps it was attached to the thick golden band around his neck. He also had gold earrings, three to an ear, and golden glasses that were oddly shaped, tinted red and completely covered his eyes. Interestingly he had short, slicked back, blonde hair, Ty Lee could not recall anyone in the Fire Nation having that hair color.

All in all he was quite a sight, he looked like a circus performer but his aura suggested otherwise. Ty Lee saw ambition, control, intelligence and power, it was very much what she saw in Azula's aura, and that made her worry. She had never been able to work up the courage to look at Fire Lord Ozai long enough to examine his aura but she had glimpsed it and it was, obviously, similar to his daughter.

Fire Lord Ozai was one of the few people Azula respected and the only one she feared, most everyone else she was capable of bending to her will but the man greeting them would probably prove difficult.

"Lord Xizan, I presume." Azula spoke.

"You are correct my dear Princess, please allow me to apologize for your altercation this evening, my citizens can be rather uncultured." The Lord bowed and Ty Lee was amazed he already knew about that.

Ty Lee looked to Azula, she had schooled features and glint in her eye, "No matter, the problem was dealt with and I have more important things to accomplish tonight."

"Ah excellent then there is no need to supplement my pets diet, now perhaps you would like to join me in my personal mode of transportation, we can discuss matters more privately." Lord Xizan smiled

Azula smiled back, Ty Lee was very confused "That would be acceptable." Azula ordered the palanquin bearers to set them down and stepped out to the side, Ty Lee followed. Lord Xizan let them pass and they walked up the staircase, Ty Lee wondered what kind of job description the men holding them up had.

As they got to the top Ty Lee saw even more carts of people, some were full of entertainers but others seemed to be mobile market stalls and a few carried men and women clad in what she could only describe as barley essential clothing. She shook her head and noticed Azula was climbing into the hatch and onto a spiral staircase.

Ty Lee hopped down and followed right behind Azula, it was a short way down but it looked even more enormous on the inside of…whatever this was. It seemed to be one big room, full of cushions, rugs and incense burners. The walls were more mostly solid but grates as different heights allowed light, sound and smells enter. There was also a large glass and metal contraption with a long tube and pipe attached to the end, it was just one more thing Ty Lee had never seen before.

The inside was as ornate as any cabin they had ever been in, though the aesthetics were a bit more exotic as golden statues of naked women, oddly glowing lanterns and some bizarre artwork adorned the walls.

"Please make yourself comfortable, I find negotiations go so much smoother when everyone is relaxed." Ty Lee turned around, and then up, as Lord Xizan appeared behind her, for such a tall man had managed to sneak up on her quite well.

He promptly sat down next to the strange contraption, he reached to the side and pulled hatch sideways "Tell the kitchen to bring us something to eat and get us moving, our guests deserve a private tour." Ty Lee felt herself being pulled down and looked at Azula seated on a human sized cushion, she had a gentle smile that served as a message.

Ty Lee realized what they were doing, she promptly sat down and leaned her head on the Princess's shoulder while placing an arm around Azula's side. She pressed her fingers against Azula's body and trained her eyes on Xizan, focusing on his aura.

Azula had come around to believing in aura's and the like, and had begun to think of ways to make use of them. They had come up with a system where Ty Lee would behave as the innocent, loving and empty-headed girlfriend, not a big stretch Ty Lee admitted to herself, who would kiss, stroke and subtly tap out messages on her loves skin.

Azula was good at reading people but Ty Lee often noticed things one could not see, and even those who could keep a straight face could not hide their aura. Ty Lee could tell a lot about a person now, their emotional state, if they had gotten enough food or rest, if they were totally focused on the conversation and so on. And the better she knew the person the more she could tell, Azula found this beyond frustrating but Ty Lee tried not to look to deeply into her girlfriends aura…most of the time.

"Lord Xizan, first of all I should like to congratulate you on your work with this colony, few others have produced such results." Azula spoke.

"Ah yes I am the envy of many, it is really not all that hard to create a thriving centre of civilization but perhaps that's just me." He was proud of his accomplishments that was obvious to both of them.

"Indeed, even more impressive seeing as you have such a wide variety of citizens, it cannot be easy to keep them all in line."

"Again you humble me Princess, I simply give the people what they want, no matter what that might me." He had a smirk on his face, Ty Lee stroked Azula's thigh, a message meaning their 'opponent' seemed more than willing to talk.

"Yes from what I hear you are adept at supplying all manner of fascinating pleasures to your populace."

"Why anything to keep the masses happy, both residents and tourists have such a wide degree of interests." He was not likely to name anything specific, telling the Crown Princess of ones possibly illegal dealing was poor move but Ty Lee saw he was unconcerned, not even a twitch of nervousness, she shrugged into Azula's shoulder.

"You are a very confident and able man Lord Xizan, pity some in the homeland do not fully see that."

"Ah it is a shame, the old bloods in the Capital feel I am intruding on their hallowed ground, being a commoner one day and fully endowed noble the next rubs certain families the wrong way." It was hard to see but there was a speck of jealousy in his aura, Ty Lee kissed the side of Azula's mouth.

"That is a pity, especially since your family is full of such able minds."

He raised an eyebrow, licked his lips and smiled wide "Galizo has made quite a name for himself, he lives and breathes the machines of this world."

"He has provided a great service to the nation, many are considering making his lineage a noble line as well, though with you as his cousin he is practically through the door already."

Xizan leaned his head on a clenched fist, he was thinking intently "You speak as if I have great sway in the Capital, yet alas I can only claim this city as my domain." He spoke casually.

"Did I? How silly of me, I assumed that someone of your reputation would have ways of getting what he wants." Ty Lee was not sure what Azula was getting at, but Xizan seemed to understand.

A wicked grin spread across his face, "Getting what I want is a specialty of mine, a speciality you share I gather." He was intrigued, Ty lee rubbed the back of Azula's neck.

"In a way, being a Princess has so many responsibilities, these days I find I am increasingly reliant on able minds to get what I want."

"Indeed, good help is difficult to acquire, one has to look far and wide to find the best person for the job." He seemed to be waiting.

"I agree, that is why good connections are so important, I am sure you understand."

"Oh I understand many things, though a person in your position must have no need for such mundane things, your highness."

"I am the Princess, a shining beacon for the nation that must cast a long shadow to get what I want, Lord Xizan." They were challenging each other, Ty Lee knew both of them wanted something but they kept talking around it "Ugh my heads spinning already."

Xizan reached for the metal tube, he pulled a lever on the strange contraption and it began to make noises. It began to produce a vapour and he took a long drag on the now obvious pipe, Ty Lee's eyes widened as his aura began to change.

It was a huge swirling pool, so completely random and nonsensical that Ty lee could not make out a thing. Thankfully it settled after a few seconds but now it was fuzzy, whatever he was smoking was messing with him.

Oddly his outward manner did not change in the slightest, "Perhaps we can skip the runaround Princess, I can gather what it is you desire from me."

"Oh I suppose so, though I wonder what it is you believe I desire."

"You are the Crown Princess, first in line to the throne who could have anything your heart desires, officially of course."

"Correct, by your wording I assume you know why I have come to you."

"I can deduce that you, like me, found that at times more unorthodox methods are required for those who seek true power." Ty Lee nearly gasped, his aura had begun to form black bands, much thicker than anything she had seen in Azula.

"Therefore I can have come to the conclusion that you desire my services, to connect you to the underbelly of the world." Ty Lee wrapped an arm around Azula, not so much a message but to feel safe, on the outside Xizan was calm and relaxed but she could tell he had the same dark side Azula used to have.

Azula put a hand on her head and Ty Lee calmed down, "Your reputation does indeed do you justice, not many would openly admit such connections, especially to me."

"Come now Princess, as it is you are in line to be the most powerful person in the world and must be aware that getting things done requires the greasing of palms of the removal of obstacles."

Ty Lee saw Azula smile "I am aware of that, which is why you will provide me with the connections I seek."

"I will?"

"You will, with generous recompense obviously."

Xizan took another drag on the pipe, his aura swirled again while the back bands receded, Ty Lee wondered what it was that he was smoking.

"Generous you say."

"I will obviously owe you a few favours, and as a provincial governor you could easily make your way into the higher circles of the court." Ty Lee's eyes widened, being given control of a whole colonial province was a great honor.

"And who knows, you may impress enough people to be awarded honored house status one day." Ty Lee looked at Azula in surprise, there were hundreds of noble houses but only a handful of so called 'honored houses', they were incredibly powerful families that had huge amounts of influence in the court, the military, the engineering schools and anything else that had nationwide significance.

Her family, as rich as they were, did not have that kind of influence though she supposed that was changing with her and Azula's relationship. Mai's family was an honored house now that she thought about it, they had been for generations.

She did not know that when she befriended the girl, but already being friends with Azula kind of made any other ranks moot. But she knew now that being named an honored house was something that only happened when the house in question had the crowns direct support, not something any royal had done in decades.

She saw Lord Xizan understood that as well, the toothy grin was spitting his face in two. A knock near the small port sounded, the grinning man opened it and listed to the hushed words. "Well it appears food will be served, let us celebrate the beginning of a beneficial relationship."

A mechanical sound came from the floor, which suddenly open and a table full of food rose up. Ty Lee looked at the spread "All our favorites."

"Excellent, I am sure both of us will benefit from this, we can settle on the details during my inspection."

"Of course Princess, I will personally escort you around the city, you'll find it contains most anything you could ever need."

Lord Xizan and Princess Azula seemed pleased with whatever deal that had come to, Ty Lee was sure of that. "I guess it's better to have him as an ally, there's something about him that scares me... though Fire Lord Ozai still scares me more" Ty Lee settled close to Azula and began to eat, hoping the rest of the trip did not involve any more high stress negations.