Avatar Chapter 41

I do not own Avatar the Last Air Bender

Azula paced in her room, still steamed at her loss of control and obvious failure. It should have been so easy to manipulate Zuko but his comments had struck a nerve she did not know she possessed.

She knew Ty Lee was watching her from the bed, even though she was pretending to read an astronomy scroll of all things to look busy. "I am not whipped, I where the crown in this relationship." Even as she told herself this Azula realized Ty Lee had power over her, all it would take was a cute look and big smile to make her give Ty Lee anything she wanted. "Burn it I am NOT whipped." She looked at Ty Lee, who smiled "Feeling better Zula?" She asked innocently.

Azula inwardly groaned "Burn it I feel better now, Agni why do I feel better now." She huffed and sat down on the bed, somehow angry and content at the same time.

Ty Lee got up and put her arms around her shoulders "Sooo… want to talk about it now?"

"No"

"Are you sure?"

Azula sighed "My idiot of a brother said things that should have earned him another scar."

"But you never get riled up by stuff like that."

"Normally yes but my brother has a way of wearing out my patience quickly."

Ty Lee sat still for a minute before she began kissing Azula's neck.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Nothing" She answered innocently

"This is not the time for this" Azula tried to ignore her lovers roaming hands.

"It's not the time for you to be all rattled either Princess." Ty Lee abruptly pulled Azula backwards and the surprised Princess was suddenly flat on her back.

Azula looked into Ty Lee mischievous grey eyes and mentally groaned "Oh Agni I am whipped, like fine cream." She felt a blush appear on her face, Ty Lee giggled and began to slowly take her top off. "Well it could be worse, I could be like Zuko and not so much as kissed a girl."

Ty Lee leaned down and smooched her, Azula shrugged and kissed back "I will correct this imbalance in time, I have a reputation to uphold... but not right now"

It was late afternoon before Azula was finally able to stop obsessing over the morning's debacle. It still annoyed her but she was over it, a simple setback was not going to impede her mission. "You're aura looks a lot better Zula." Her half naked lover stated.

"I'll take your word for it." Azula was on her stomach enjoying Ty Lee's relaxing back massage.

"You don't believe me?"

"Less talking more rubbing, I'm thinking"

"Are you coming up with a plan?"

"Of course I am"

"Good, hey what exactly are we supposed to do now?"

"The mission is the same, bring my traitorous and insensitive family back home."

Ty Lee suddenly stopped rubbing "But this is the Earth Kingdom, isn't supposed to be huge?"

Azula admitted that Ty Lee was not wrong but no matter how many places there were for Zuko and Iroh to hide she would find them, she raised herself up causing Ty Lee to fall backwards with an surprised yelp.

"Put something on I need to speak with Li and Lo, we must finish preparations tonight."

Her consort nodded dumbly, rolled off the bed and grabbed her discarded top though not before Azula stole one last glimpse "Stop gawking at her! Curse you Zuko just when I think I have this relationship thing sorted out you screw it up in less than ten minutes! He's definitely getting another scar!"

Ty Lee realized she had never visited Li and Lo's room aboard the ship, or at home, or anywhere really. But she and Azula were here now and Ty Lee could not help but remember the homes of all her elderly relatives, all stuffed into one room. It smelled… old, she could not describe it expect as a collection of strange odors that signified the people living here were ancient.

The whole room was packed with antiques, paintings, books and there was a bowl of odd looking hard candies on the centre table. "It's like a museum in here…except for that one picture." Ty Lee tried not to look at it but there was a portrait on the wall of two very beautiful, and identical, young women posing in a very promiscuous fashion. "Li and Lo were certainly beautiful in their youth… Ewww, ewww stop thinking about it!" It was disturbing to envision women she could think of as grandmothers in such a way.

"You plan to track down your targets"-

"As you must"-

"Even if they are now a tiny speck in an endless landscape."

Azula, sitting beside her and across from the twins, nodded "As big as the Earth Kingdom may be they only have one place to run."

"Ba Sing Se is now the last major holdout, now that Omashu has fallen."-

"It is a great journey to that city"-

"Many opportunities will be available to you"-

"Though you will be in enemy territory Princess"

"So will they" Azula shot back.

The twins looked at each other "Your brother and uncle will no doubt know of their status"-

"They will avoid Fire Nation territory, traverse areas where we have little influence"-

"And when it comes to the Earth Kingdom few know it better then former General Iroh"-

"You will be at disadvantage the further you go."

Azula crossed her arms and frowned "I know the risks, why are you two so worried now of all times?"

"You are the heir to the throne Princess."-

"A target most would not hesitate to hit if given the chance."

"I am not some piece of fine tableware, I have trained for this my whole life by the two of you no less and I will not go home a failure." Ty Lee could see Azula was determined to go through with this, even if she herself was less than enthusiastic.

"Very well Princess if you are certain of this then we must work quickly, your targets will have a sizable head start."

Azula looked at Ty Lee and smiled "That will not help them, all thanks to you Ty"

Ty Lee blinked and pointed at herself "Me?"

"Why of course, who else went through all the trouble getting me such a wonderful new year's gift."

Ty Lee had a sudden thought "Oooohhh" She had forgotten it was packed away in the ships hold.

"That machine would prove most useful"-

"Though it has not been fully tested"-

"And given its designers reputation…"

"The risks are minimal and there is no better way to track and run down my prey." Azula had a cold smile on her face.

"In any case you will have to leave most of your retainers behind"-

Azula sat there thinking and Ty Lee wondered what was going on in her Princess's head, Azula looked at her. "Yes I will need a select few capable companions…" Azula smiled, "You said Omashu has fallen correct?"

The twins seemed to catch on "Ah of course, the two of you are friends with the new governors daughter."

"Were going to see Mai!" Ty Lee blurted out excitedly

"She is reportedly quite skilled in a number of areas"-

"Clever and quite dangerous if rumors are to be believed."

"Excellent, I can pick up her up and inspect the city in the same trip."

Ty Lee was excited, the Palace was fine but it would be wonderful to see some new places and from the sounds of it they would be vising tons of them "I know we are trying to catch Zuko and Iroh but I am sure we can stop for sightseeing."

"As always you seem to have a plan in motion Princess."-

"And likewise we will aid you in streamlining it"-

"We must go over the logistics for supplies and insure you have a proper messenger"

For the rest of the evening and into the night Azula and the twins discussed what would need to be done, Ty Lee tied to pay attention but was too excited. "I can't wait to see Mai again, I have so much to tell her and I bet I can pry a few words out of her too."

At daybreak Li and Lo observed their students direct the ship's crew into setting up the metal monstrosity that was a 'tank-train', a short trip up the coast had proved a suitable staging ground. Given, Azula did most of the directing while Ty Lee tended to the mongoose-dragons they would be taking with them. The twins let out a simultaneous sigh, this mission would now require speed, adaptability and frankly the ability to tough it out in the wilderness, traits women of their age did not process.

"They are both able and resourceful"

"Neither has experience, the Earth Kingdom is unfriendly even to its own inhabitants."

Li and Lo contemplated, the twins genuinely cared for their charges. Both remembered the day they first met Azula, barley a toddler but determined to master Fire Bending. They had practically raised the girl since she was able to walk and had watched her grow into the Princes she was today. Ty Lee they had known for far less time but it was hard not to get attached to the energetic youngster, her perpetual smile, bright eyes and cheerful demeanor were always a highlight.

This would be the first time they would be truly on their own without the twins there to guide and protect them. Aside from the engineers, a few essential servants and guards all Azula and Ty Lee had were themselves… and their pet."

"We both knew this day was coming sister"

"We did, but I refuse to like it"

"Agreed"

The twins could only watch as the girls got underway, it was always hard seeing their students go off on their own for the first time but it was something they had done countless times in the past.