Avatar Chapter 51
I do not own Avatar the Last Air Bender
Azula repeatedly tapped her foot on the ground, Ty Lee had just returned from her rescue mission and was standing in the middle of the room as if waiting for a lecture, which she was going to get.
"You rode off into a war-zone, engaged some brutish Earth Bender and worst of all you conversed with our most hated enemy…What. Were. You. Thinking!"
"I-"
"No, don't answer I already know, you didn't think, you never think!"
"Are you mad?"
"Of course I'm mad, you could have been injured!"
"Oh, that's great!"
Azula blinked a few times. "How in Agni's name is that great?"
"Because it means you care."
"Of course I care, why would I not care? Is this some new colony dribble!"
"No, it's just nice to see you get all worked up over me, it… feels nice."
Azula was left stupefied, this was the second time today Ty Lee had confounded her and Azula was certain she was missing something that in all likelihood did not exist outside Ty Lee's head.
She let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine, let's drop it I have bigger problems now anyway, but you are not to run off without my permission from now on, understand!"
Ty Lee gave a very lazy salute. "Sure thing Zula, so anyway I met the Avatar that was pretty neat."
"Yes… neat." In truth Azula would have worried about Ty Lee's excursion a lot more if that piece of news had not reached her ear. The Avatar was, or had been, here in this backwater city in the absolute middle of nowhere, and she had missed him!
The odds of him appearing here were almost non-existent and it ticked Azula off that she had not confronted him. This obviously changed her plan, Zuko could go dive into a volcano for all she cared now. She had the chance to succeed where he, and everyone else for that matter, had failed and catch their great enemy.
They had lost sight of the Avatars sky-bison but they'd find him eventually, how hard could it be to spot a massive floating fur sac.k When they found him Azula was determined to already be on the road, they had to resupply, plan their route and all sorts of other logical nonsense.
If she tried they could leave by tomorrow but she had seen Mai, irritable and covered in mud, and suspected she would not be too thrilled about it, so the day after tomorrow would suffice.
Azula felt arms wrap around from behind and Ty Lee's chin on her shoulder. "You seem tense, your aura's all stiff."
"I don't see how a metaphysical energy field can be stiff… wait why did you ask if I was angry if you can see my aura?"
Ty Lee shrugged. "It was all red and fiery, that means you're either angry or really worked up most of the time."
"What do you mean worked up? I don't get worked up."
"Sure you do." Ty Lee nibbled her earlobe and her hands started roaming. "See, now you're getting worked up."
Azula huffed. "Well stop it, there are a lot of tasks I need to get done today, tasks I can't do with your hands getting into trouble."
"Awww come on, we can be quick."
"You are insatiable, and I'm still angry remember."
"Fiiiine, be uptight." Ty Lee let go and had a cute pout on her face.
"One of us has to be, now I hear the Avatar has companions and though Mai will probably know more seeing that you like chatting up dangerous criminals you can tell me about them first."
"Oh them, their cute."
Azula just stared. "Cute?"
"Yeah, the guy was all hunky and had a cute face and the girl, just wow she was so hot I wanted to drink her up like a chocolate shake."
Azula felt like strangling Ty Lee with her own braid. "Are you telling me you met with the Avatars conspirators and only noted how attractive they were?"
"Pretty much."
"I see, and may I ask why you found it necessary to ogle other people, especially ones who have caused our nation such trauma?"
"Because they were super cute, trust me when you see them you'll agree."
"I doubt it, especially since the water tribes are not known for their openness regarding people like us."
"People like us? Oooh, ok that's probably why the girl looked uncomfortable."
"Yes I'm sure that's the only reason, now it should be obvious but when we track them down there will be no fraternizing, with them or anybody else for that matter."
"Awww come on… wait are you jealous?"
"Absolutely not! I know I am far superior to anyone you could possibly meet on this backwards continent."
Ty Lee giggled and Azula felt she had stepped into something. "What's amusing you now?"
"Nothing, you just look really hot when you're all high and mighty."
Azula gave her consort a look. "You're still trying to get me into bed, aren't you?"
"It doesn't have to be on a bed."
Azula wanted to throw something at Ty Lee but nothing was in reach, so she settled for setting a curtain on fire as Ty Lee giggled her way out the door.
"I suppose a steaming hot bath on demand is a good perk of being nobility." Mai was relaxing, finally.
Her parents had been absolutely thrilled when she had returned alive and un-damaged, and happily obliged when she practically demanded a bath, massage, small feast, and a half dozen other things, likely on account of her appearance and less then pleasing stench.
It had taken a good ten minutes for the servants to get all the caked on mud, grime and who knows what else off, and that was after they had determined her robe to be a lost cause. Then there was lots of scrubbing, soap and hair coaming in order to get her presentable again.
Now Mai was soaking in a tub of hot water, it really helped sooth all the aches and pains, especially the blow to her head. "I wonder if I should track down whoever sold me out." Mai had not yet told anyone that someone in her own household had nearly gotten her killed and was ultimately responsible for the previous day being a total pain.
She had to do something about it unfortunately, if she left with Azula whoever was responsible would remain and likely do something unpleasant and that would be a bother. Mai supposed she could just tell Azula, she'd enjoy weeding out a spy, but that would mean owing the snooty Princess more than she already did and that was never a good idea.
So Mai was going to have to do some digging on her own and fast… after her bath, and her massage, and actual food. She did not take many things personally and while annoyed she was not too upset about being betrayed, set up and generally inconvenienced.
There was a knock on the door and Mai bade them enter, she was internally overjoyed to see it was the masseuse with the nice abs and long hair. "It would be unfortunate if he was the spy, all the more reason to start tomorrow."
Azula was looking at a map of the Earth Kingdom, she rolled it up and picked up another, then another and another. She started twirling her bang, no matter how she looked at it the truth was staring at her, the Earth kingdom was big, very big.
Unlike Zuko she really had no idea where the Avatar could be going, he had traveled from the South Pole, to Fire Nation waters, to the North Pole and now this backwater. He and that infernal bison of his afforded him a great advantage, he could fly where he wanted when he wanted, something the old Air Nomads were famous for.
She could guess why he came here now that she thought about it, the former king was said to be the greatest Earth Bender alive and who better to teach the Avatar. Obviously that would not happen the last she heard the insane king Bumi was locked up far from the city, though he seemed in good spirits from what her agents told her.
While it was possible that the Avatar would continue to search for the insane monarch there were bound to be other Earth Benders who would be more than happy to train the Avatar, most of them likely deep inland and out of Fire Nation hands. There would be no way to predict where he would go and Azula was not going to spend years of her life tracking one sighting to the next.
Azula got up and headed out of her makeshift office, she needed time to come up with a strategy so she decided to take care of a few small, easily resolvable, errands. First off she had to find and congratulate the colony girl, from what she heard Kori had attacked the Avatar on sight which was impressive for a bumpkin.
More importantly she was someone who could keep a constant eye on Ty Lee while on this journey, something Azula realized was a necessity. Left alone Azula had no doubt Ty Lee would end up in all sorts of trouble and since Azula had forgotten to bring a leash or chastity belt a patriotic nanny would have to do.
Kori splashed some water on her face, her whole body was hot to the touch and her heart was still beating out of her chest. She could not believe what she had done earlier today, attacking the most powerful Bender in the world as if she stood a chance. He was the great enemy, ravaging and pillaging wherever he went, flooding villages, setting temples alight and all manner of other horrors.
And she had attacked him as if she had a chance of winning, a man who had decimated a whole fleet of ships as if they were nothing. Kori remembered when some of the ships came to the harbor near Yu Dao for repairs, she had never really liked boats or the ocean and what she saw that day was not inspiring. Huge metal vessels with dents and gouges as if they had been flung around like toys, some were hardly more than wrecks towed to the harbor and all the sailors looked pale and empty eyed.
It was later she heard that what remained of the North Pole invasion fleet was docking wherever they could along the coast, the survivors of the Avatars rampage. Such destructive power was one of the many reasons she started up her amateur militia, if some sort of spirit monster was going to attack her home she wanted to go down fighting, or at least that what she dreamed about.
In reality she was in front of a gold trimmed, jewel encrusted mirror trying to keep her legs from wobbling. Kori was in over her head and she knew it, she had always wanted a chance to serve the Fire Nation but now that opportunities were being hurled her way she wanted nothing more than to dig a deep hole and hide.
Kori took a deep breath and walked away from the bathroom mirror and into the large guestroom she was given, and nearly had a heart attack when she saw Princess Azula scrutinizing at a painting on the wall.
"Hello Kori, I heard you were here so I let myself in."
Not knowing if she was supposed to salute or bow Kori just stood there like a sap.
"While I do enjoy having that effect on people I actually need to talk to you so why don't we take a walk." The Princess walked out of the room and after a second Kori finally snapped out of it enough to follow her.
As she tried to keep up with the Princess's brisk pace without looking foolish the royal started speaking.
"Now Kori, you have proven yourself to be a loyal and devout citizen of our nation, something I can greatly appreciate."
Kori bowed her head even though there was no way the Princess could see. "Thank you your majesty."
"As such I have decided to press you into service for my mission." Kori nearly stumbled.
"I'm know this is sudden, but you have until the day after tomorrow to settle your affairs, say goodbye to family and so on."
Kori's mind raced as she struggled to form words. "Princess this is great honor, but I'm not nearly skilled enough to be of use to you."
"Perhaps, maybe you're not skilled, or smart, or confident or even sane enough to be of use to me, but you'll follow regardless, won't you?" The Princess stopped and looked back at her with a knowing smirk, Kori did not trust herself not to sound foolish so she simply nodded.
"Besides you'll mostly be along to keep Ty Lee entertained, I need to be focused on this excursion and, to be frank, she can be a lot to deal with, especially after tonight." The Princess now had a very cruel grin on her face.
"This is great honor Princess, I will not disappoint you." Kori preyed she was not lying to the herself.
It had been a long day but Azula was pleased, she had scratched out a few errands on her lengthy list and, better yet, had some semblance of a plan, the details would have to be worked out but it was rather simple in the end. Instead of allowing the Avatar to wander wherever he wished she would find a way to 'encourage' him to come to her. She was not sure how yet but she imagined burning something to the ground would do the job. Now all there as was to do was get all the logistics issues wrapped tomorrow and they could be on their way.
"This place is so dark at night, it's really spooky." Ty Lee was staring out over the city.
"I'm sure the governor will have street lights installed, eventually."
"Will we come back to see this place someday?"
"I suppose, once it actually looks like civilization."
"So not soon?"
"Correct."
"Are you still mad?"
"Now Ty Lee, what possible reason would I have to be upset?" Azula had not seen Ty Lee since this morning and had been thinking over how she was going to deal with her free love attitude.
Ty Lee pouted and came away from the window. "Alright I'm sorry, I should not have run off like that."
"And?"
"Aaaand I should not flirt with our mortal enemies."
"Very good." Azula was hoping for some pleading but perhaps that would come later.
Ty Lee sighed in relief.
"Now just one more thing." Azula stood up and walked sensually towards Ty Lee, who now looked eager and was twirling her braid. Azula smiled, placed a hand on Ty Lee's cheek and then kept walking towards the dresser where she pulled out a thick sleeping robe and tied it around herself.
"I believe some practice in self-control is in order Ty, so until we catch up to the Avatar I'll be suspending all forms of intercourse." Azula had a content smile on her face.
Ty Lee's jaw dropped. "You… you can't be serious!"
"Oh but I am Ty, I know this will be utter agony for you but if it's any consolation, I'll manage just fine." Azula adjusted the very frumpy robe she now wore, it was actually quite comfortable.
Ty Lee was fidgeting and toying with her short pink robe. "Well… well fine then! Maybe when we do find him I won't be in the mood!"
"Of course"
"I mean it!"
"I'm sure you do"
Ty Lee looked like she had eaten a sour fruit and crossed her arms, she did not argue further.
"Well then, it's late so let's retire as luck would have it the bed here actually splits in two so we can insure temptation does not set in." Azula was lying a bit, but she thought sawing a bed in half was rather clever on such short notice.
Ty Lee pouted. "Alright, but I get the one by the balcony."
Azula smiled, it had been a while since she messed with Ty Lee's head and it was already bringing back so many good memories.
Sorry for the long wait, I could not get the chapter to come out right for the longest time.