Avatar Chapter 42
I do not own Avatar the Last Air Bender
Ty Lee tried to relax as the tank-train rumbled along the empty plain, it was hard since she had never gone anywhere near this fast before. Ty Lee was sure the speed they were traveling at was dangerous, when she looked outside the landscape blurred passed in a way that made her head heart. "What was I thinking getting Azula this… I was thinking of what she likes of course, at least I got that right."
Ty Lee huddled on her bunk in the passenger section, trying not to imagine what would happen if this thing crashed, while Azula was looking outside through a 'window' which was really just an opening in the metal hull. The Princess was seemingly fine with the insane speed they were traveling and even when the train smashed an obstacle out of the way with its enormous plow Azula just seemed to grow more content.
"Is it not beautiful Ty? If only there was an army in our way I could charge straight into their ranks and crush them beneath these treads" The sound of the train hitting something reached her ear and while the machine barely rocked Ty Lee still jumped and could see bits if rock fly past the window, Azula smiled and sighed deeply. "Oh great Agni what was I thinking asking Gaz to build something, next time I'm getting her a book!"
At least she was not the only one who seemed uncomfortable, besides the engineers up in the locomotive section who seemed even more excited than Azula most of the servants they had brought with them were keeping to themselves in the servant quarters below. Even Arkrez seemed off, trying to get up and walk around only to wobble and sit right back down in his corner.
"Is something the matter Ty? You seem to be clinging to that bedding for dear life." Azula took her eyes away from the passing landscape and gave her a knowing smirk.
"Don't you think we are going a little fast?"
"Why not at all, at this rate we will reach Omashu in no time… though now that I think about it that name will have to go." Azula got up and walked smoothly towards a small simple desk bolted to the floor where a clutter of maps and notes covered the top.
"Now that it is under Fire Nation rule it will need a proper name." Azula looked at a map presumably of the city and pondered.
"It has to be something… distinct, and unrecognizable from what those brutes called it, with luck we can insure the name Omashu becomes a footnote in history."
Ty Lee never imagined that naming a city was so important "Does it have nickname Zula?"
Zula looked at her curiously "I don't believe so, why?"
"When we visited Lord Xizans city I heard people call it the City of Vice, you know because of all the-"
"I know why Ty, everyone knows why." A slight blush appeared on the princess's face.
Ty Lee stifled a giggle, Azula could handle almost anything if it was planned out and under her control but anything spontaneous threw her off balance "Well if Omashu had a nickname we could name it based on that."
"The only thing worth noting is its former king who was reportedly a madman and maybe its unique transport system, neither of which something I want this city is remembered for."
"Well how are were other conquered places named." Ty Lee was genuinely curious.
"Often they are named after the one responsible for their capture, but from what I understand this King Bumi just surrendered before any battle could begin which does not lend itself to any glory."
Ty Lee was stumped, who knew this kind of thing was so complicated.
"I suppose I will have to actually see the city before coming to a decision, maybe Mai will have an idea."
"Morose Peak?" Ty Lee blurted out without thinking.
Azula raised an eyebrow "Fitting… and probably not far off."
Ty Lee smiled "How do you think Mai is Zula?"
"We both know how Mai is doing"
"Well yeah but we haven't seen each other in years, and now her dad is a governor do you think she's changed much?"
"I would presume she has advanced her skills and has become a capable noblewoman, which is why we are making this detour in the first place."
Ty Lee pouted, Azula was still a bit dense when it came to certain concepts in which cases it was best to be blunt "Do you think she will still be the Mai that was our friend"
Azula turned and looked at her, before laughing. Ty Lee frowned.
After the Princess settled down she addressed her "This is not the academy anymore, Mai won't mistake you for one of your sisters and won't be terrified that you're with me."
Ty Lee sadly remembered her days in the academy, it had not always been easy.
She felt hands land on her shoulders and looked into Azula eyes "Mai is our friend Ty, a few years apart won't change her, she is not one of our empty headed classmates"
Ty Lee sighed, it was an odd day when Azula was the one comforting her, especially on this topic.
"And even if she has changed I can simply command her to be our friend"
"You can't command friendship Azula"
"Sure I can, everyone at the academy was my friend"
"Because they were terrified of you!"
"I find people are at their best when terrified now stop moping and get up, its midday and we should be coming to halt for lunch and navigation."
Ty Lee perked up at the mention of them stopping, and Arkrez perked up at the mention of food.
Azula surveyed the landscape with a looking glass "This part of the Earth Kingdom is an utter backwater, no wonder these brutes held out this long they control nothing but barren rocks!" As far as she could see there was nothing but ugly brown mountains and hills, with not a speck of color or civilization to be found.
Azula let out a growl, this entire area had resisted them for a century and now that it was theirs all there was to control was countless dirt heaps.
"It doesn't look that bad, maybe it's just rustic" Her consort attempted look on the bright side of things.
"I've seen better vistas of landscape from intoxicated one eyed painters, I could burn everything here to crisp and it would be more inviting" Azula huffed and turned toward their temporary camp, various tents had been set up and the mongoose-dragons were getting some fresh air.
The tank-train was capable of moving at incredible speeds over all types of terrain, as long as it was in a straight line. Turning was not a strong point so it was necessary for them to stop and reevaluate their course every so often, something most of the people on board seemed to cherish.
"At least we can have a proper meal, I have no intention of getting sick off some greasy Earth Kingdom slop" Azula sat down at a simple wooden table, as Ty Lee sat across from her a hot meal from the mobile kitchen they brought was placed before her.
"It never hurts to try new things Zula"
"It is when I put it in my mouth"
Ty Lee gave her a coy smile and licked her lips, Azula did not like that look one bit "Not a word out of you"
Her consort just batted her eyelashes. "Whatever you say Zula"
Azula stabbed a morsel of food and broke eye contact, this was a battle she hated to lose and she lost often. She took a look at their camp, made on top of a plateau it overlooked much of the unimpressive landscape.
The engineers were tweaking the locomotive, the navigators were off to the side plotting their course and Arkrez was stalking the mongoose-dragons, all of which looked remarkably unconcerned.
Azula ignored her pet and looked to the north, their destination was in the center of this mountain range but they would be there in only a few days. After they picked Mai up, and she was satisfied the city was not a complete waste, they would head east the most likely direction of her prey.
She had a sudden uncomfortable thought "Mai always had a thing for my brother when we were younger, that could complicate things." She had no idea how Mai would react to the details of their mission, she was a notoriously hard person to read.
"Maybe I should have Ty Lee explain things, she has that special ability to make everything sound cheerful." She looked at her consort, currently building small pyramid out of her pastries.
Azula rolled her eyes "I'll have Ty Lee tell her, who could get mad at that adorably naive face of hers."
Once again on their way and Ty Lee was slowing getting used to their mode of transportation, her full stomach protested but she managed.
In contrast Azula had actually strung up a hammock and was enjoying the swaying as they rumbled along the valley floor. Ty Lee was certain Azula would have been an excellent foot solider in another life, the military was always her favorite aspect of the country.
The pink Princess steeled her nerves and stood up and quickly made her way to the view port, they were going to travel all over the Earth Kingdom and she had always dreamed of seeing the world with her own two eyes.
She leaned up against edge of the view port, the sun was going down and it actually made the landscape look more inviting, she agreed with Azula that the barren mountains left a lot to be desired.
There was a loud crash and the trunk of a tree flew past the window, Ty Lee jumped and let out a girlish squeal, Azula laughed with amusement. Ty Lee blushed and stiffly walked toward her bunk only for her Princess to drop down in front of her.
"It will not be a very enjoyable trip if you hide in bed all day." Azula grabbed her hand and dragged back to the window. The Fire Bender placed Ty Lee hands on the window sill and placed her own over them.
"I would think a girl who drops through the air so confidently would handle motion better." Ty Lee was rooted in placed, she was apparently going to get used to this mode transportation tonight it seemed.
They began going up an incline and Ty Lee felt her stomach drop, "Relax Ty there is nothing to be so nervous about of here, expect me of course." Azula whispered in her ear and Ty Lee forgot all about the tank-train for a moment.
"You're oddly beautiful when you're scarred Ty, I will have to keep that in mind." They went over a bump and Ty Lee instinctively backed up into Azula, who let out an amused laugh, it was going be a long evening.
Sorry for the really long wait I had to deal with family medial issues and this chapter was really nothing but filler, next chapter though will be much more exciting as I can introduce more characters.