A crescent moon hung lucidly in the night sky, it's pale radiance gently brushing the land with a shimmering coat of moonlight. Inside a small hut secluded amongst a cluster of trees, a few candles burned, giving off a modest glow through a small window. A young woman was standing in the doorway, enjoying the serenity of the moonlit wilderness. She had dark brown hair that fell just short of her shoulders, and covered the majority of her face. Her faded blue robe shifted as a cool breeze slipped past her, causing the candles to flicker wildly for a brief moment before settling once again. Something about the breeze told her it was time to go inside, and so she did just that. With her index and thumb she snuffed the candles out, causing a sharp hiss to break the night's silence.
She took a seat in the darkness of her hut, seemingly awaiting something indiscernible to enter. After a few minutes passed, there was another gust of wind that entered through her window, sending the hair in front of her face out in either direction momentarily, before settling once again into a veil that shielded her pale blue eyes. She almost didn't notice the shadow that passed seamlessly through her window. Almost.
"Hi Vzad." She greeted him calmly with a sweet, seraphic voice that flowed like a fresh spring stream down a clear grassy hill. For him, hearing her speak even just one word was a drug that he would do anything to get one more taste of. No journey was too far, obstacle too difficult, so long as that euphorically melodic voice was there at the end to reward him.
"Hello Nida, I've missed you." The cloaked man replied, the complete calm of his voice perfectly masking his emotions. It was a trick he had become exceptional at.
"It has been a while, hasn't it." Nida mused, not so much asking as she already knew the answer.
"Too long if you ask me." Vzad replied with an air of amusement as the memories flooded in.
"So that begs the question, what brings you here now?" She asked curiously. He never showed up just for a social call. There was always a reason, and Nida knew it. She just didn't know what it was this time.
"We have a job to do, dear Nida." He stated plainly, not exactly trying to hide the reason for his visit, while at the same time still being his usual vague self. She shook her head slowly, her hair swaying back and forth in front of her face as a smirk crossed her lips.
"I already told you Vzad, I left that part of my life behind me." Nida said with a fearful respite, the memories beginning to flash before her eyes. All of the pain, the horror, and the death were right there in her mind again, ceaselessly tormenting her until... No, she wasn't going through any of that again. "I just can't do it again Vzad, I'm sorry."
"I know, you hate what we do. What we did. You know I wouldn't ask you if it weren't important, and if we didn't need you." Vzad pleaded sympathetically.
"I'm sorry-"
"It's Princess Azula." Vzad cut her off before she could even start. He couldn't be sure, but he thought he saw Nida's eye twitch underneath that umber hair. She remained still and silent though, despite whatever thoughts may have been racing in her head. Vzad decided to continue, "This one's dangerous, we need the three of us just in case. You know how important this is."
"One last run... Then I can finally rest peacefully." Nida gave her old comrade a mischievous smile. "I'll get my things."
"That's my girl." Vzad said proudly, a smirk of his own visible underneath his heavy black cloak's hood. An unsettling breeze raced through the trees outside, causing an excited rustling of leaves before settling once more to a dead, silent night.
Azula stood alone at the helm of the airship, guiding it calmly over the ocean. They had decided it would be best to take shifts, as there wasn't anywhere to land for the night. After a very short lived debate over who would take first watch, Ty Lee quickly gave up and let Azula do it. The princess had spent countless hours sleeping in the prison cell, and now she was awake. She didn't want to miss any of the world around her, so sleep could wait. She looked behind her at the little acrobat, curled up and sleeping on the opposite side of the basket. A warm feeling of and contentment spread throughout Azula as she watched her friend sleeping peacefully. The princess didn't have a care or worry in the world. Up there in that small airship, she was with Ty Lee, and that's all that mattered. A smile crossed her lips as the thought ran by.
Azula turned again, and looking up at the stars she felt a familiar comfort. She'd always enjoyed nights like these, when the sky was crisp and clear and the stars shone fervently. The princess had spent countless similar nights on the bow of her battleship, watching the stars as they slowly made their way through the water. Azula loved the stars, always had really. They could never lie to her, lead her astray or betray her. They were always there, night after night, keeping her company even when she was alone. The sun may have been the greatest source of power to a firebender, but Azula knew that every star was it's own great torch in the sky. Each and every one of them, a massive ball of fire that singed the heavens, leaving their marks for all the universe to see. It was a humbling feeling, knowing that you weren't the most powerful thing in existence. You couldn't be expected to do everything perfectly. Azula could finally appreciate the benefits of weakness, she just wished she hadn't had to endure what she did to realize it.
She continued to gaze up at the glinting diamonds in the sky, and as she did so a sudden gust of wind came up from behind them. It passed by as quickly as it had come, leaving a slight feeling of uneasiness in the princess' stomach. What could be so urgent that the wind saw fit to race through such a peaceful night? The feeling slowly passed, but never quite went away completely. Ty Lee groaned and began fidgeting in her sleep, the noise commanding Azula's attention immediately. The sleeping acrobat didn't seem to care much for the wind either.
"It's ok, I'm right here." Azula whispered almost imperceptibly to her friend, who almost immediately became settled and still once more. The princess smiled to herself, then turned to watch the stars once more. She cradled her head in her hands and propped her elbows on the side of the basket, then quietly stared up as the world passed by underneath. As she was staring at a small cluster she couldn't remember the name for, something strange happened that caught her eye. Right as she was looking at them, one of the brighter stars started to fall, leaving a burning luminescent trail of light in it's wake. Azula watched intently as the celestial body glided effortlessly downwards, like a lone tear shed by the heavens. It streaked the night sky with it's brilliance one final time before disappearing forever into darkness, removing itself from all existence. Where it went, the princess couldn't say. All she knew is that she would miss that star, it's lonely journey across the sky was something that resonated greatly with her.
Daylight slowly reached across the sky behind them. The pinkish hue that heralded the sun's arrival was spreading out on the eastern horizon, somewhere on that infinite expanse of sea and sky. Azula breathed the morning air in, welcoming it's crisp coolness into her lungs as she greeted the coming day. She noticed a small island ahead of them in the distance, and decided that would be a good place to touch down and take a break. All night flying could be a real pain, and Azula wanted to stretch her legs somewhere dry.
"Mmmmph..." Ty Lee was waking up at last as the sun finally poked it's rays out of hiding, the glinting ball of fire piercing the eastern sky with it's blinding glory. The acrobat sat up, stretching her arms out long and hard before opening her eyes. "Morning." Was all she felt like yawning out, still a bit groggy from her sleep.
"Good morning, Ty Lee. Did you sleep well?" Azula asked casually.
"About as well as you can in a wicker basket." Ty Lee responded sarcastically. She smiled away the remaining sleepiness as she looked up at Azula, standing quietly watching her best friend wake up on a beautiful late summer morning. As Ty Lee stared at her, she noticed how the sun's fresh rays bathed Azula's face in a radiantly ravishing glow, creating a sense of awe that glinted in the acrobat's eyes. Azula's eyes had a light of their own, shimmering with a golden, fiery brightness. Ty Lee blinked, suddenly realizing and trying to remember how long she was staring. Her friend raised an eyebrow, giving her a quizzical look.
"What's the matter?" Azula asked not so much out of care but curiosity.
"Oh sorry, nothing," Ty Lee raised an arm above and behind her head to scratch her shoulder blade. "I'm still waking up a bit I guess." She offered sheepishly, not even convincing herself. Azula gave her a humorous look, clearly enjoying her friend's embarrassment.
"We'll be landing on that island and taking a break there." Azula said, pointing ahead of them to the small landmass sitting amidst a never ending canvas of water. She decided she could at least be kind enough to change the subject and relieve Ty Lee of the awkward embarrassment.
"Sounds good. I'll take over after that then and then you can get some sleep." Ty Lee's cheeriness beginning to replenish.
"We'll see." Was Azula's doubtful reply. She wasn't thinking about sleep, despite staying up through the night. Wasn't thinking too much about food either, despite not remembering when the last time she had eaten was. In fact, the only thing the princess could really think about was that smell. Her lip curled in disgust. She knew what the smell was. It was her. Azula desperately wanted to find somewhere to clean up.
"Looks like we're almost there." Ty Lee stated cheerily after a while, really just trying to break the silence more than having any actual interest in the island. Azula nodded, but otherwise she was lost in her own head. She had only just yesterday woken up to this new reality, it was all so much so fast. She had to keep herself together, one way or another, if she wanted it to last.
The sun climbed swiftly into the sky, and it was around 8 A.M. by Azula's count when they floated over the sandy beaches of the island. Gently the princess brought the airship down onto a flawlessly bright golden stretch of beach. The girls both shifted slightly as the basket jolted into the sand before coming to a complete rest. They both hopped out eagerly, not wanting to waste a minute of the warm, soft sand between their toes. They quickly tied the ship down and pulled out the sandbags, and when they were finished they stepped back to check their work over. Once satisfied, they turned and looked into the thin forest ahead of them. There were mostly palm trees dominating this island, and they were spread out rather far, leaving plenty of room to comfortably walk through the forest.
As they walked, Ty Lee studied Azula's face curiously, trying to decipher what the princess could be thinking about. After a few moments she conceded to the fact that she would never be able to tell, a look of defeat on her face.
"Ty Lee." Azula's voice grabbed the girl's attention. "I want to ask you about something."
"Anything you want Azula." Ty Lee insisted.
"Why did you attack me at the Boiling Rock?" She asked bluntly. The question struck Ty Lee hard, she certainly hadn't expected that. She had nearly forgotten about the ugly incident, but now it was right there in front of her face once again.
"You were going to hurt Mai, I didn't want that to happen." Ty Lee offered meekly, wishing that would be the end of it. She knew better though, and sure enough Azula wasn't satisfied with the answer.
"Was it because you really didn't want Mai to get hurt, or was there something else?" Azula's words sounded indifferent, as though she really didn't care one way or the other what the answer was. It was very troubling for Ty Lee, and all of the sudden she realized just how far out in the middle of nowhere they really were. Was Azula still as good as she used to be? It was highly improbable, but then again, this was the one person Ty Lee had seen with her own eyes accomplish the not only improbable, but impossible on more than a few occasions.
"I suppose, I mean... I guess I didn't want to see you do anything you were going to regret... If that makes sense." Ty Lee said hopefully, desperately trying not to upset the princess. Azula however, instead of growing angry, began to look somewhat relieved, like she had found some reassurance in her friend's words.
"I see. So you were trying to protect me then?" Azula asked, but Ty Lee could only give a confused look in response. Azula clarified, "From myself. You didn't want to see me hurt Mai because you thought I would feel bad about it later." She was practically speaking for Ty Lee at this point, just like the countless times before. Also just like before, the acrobat realized she was spot on. That was a skill Azula would definitely never lose. Ty Lee hadn't wanted to see either of her friends get hurt, but she really didn't want to see Azula do something she couldn't take back and feel guilty about it the rest of her life. It would eat at the princess' soul and that would break the acrobat's heart.
"You're absolutely right Azula." She said with an awkward smile. "Anyways, I'm sorry." That's all there was to it. Ty Lee truly was sorry for what she had done, and she didn't think she would ever be able to fully forgive herself for hurting Azula. She cared too much about the princess to ever want to see her in pain.
"It's alright Ty Lee. I'm not mad at you." Azula told her, as if sensing Ty Lee's distress and wanting to relieve the girl's conscious. Ty Lee gave the princess a heartfelt smile in thanks. They walked on silently, Azula with a look as if searching diligently for something she didn't know was there, and all the while Ty Lee stared mostly down at the ground, watching her feet and dealing with the lingering guilt. She couldn't say how long they had been walking, it all looked the same when you're watching the ground, but she could notice that Azula's feet had stopped moving. "Ty Lee."
"What is it Azula?" The acrobat asked eagerly, hoping she could be useful in an attempt to help redeem herself.
"Did you bring any spare clothes?" Azula asked plainly, as if it were just an ordinary question to ask somebody in the middle of a forested island. Ty Lee blinked, trying to make sense of what she had just been asked.
"Well actually, there is one thing..." The acrobat started nervously, remembering what her one wardrobe change was. "I hope you like Kyoshee Warrior outfits?" She squeaked out pleadingly. Azula's eyes narrowed and twitched at the name. Oh boy, here it comes... Ty Lee thought to herself, fear starting to grip her.
"What the hell do you have that thing for!" Azula snapped, rage burning in her eyes.
"Well, Azula, I'm one of them now. I joined after the war was over and, well, they really aren't that bad. Honest!" Ty Lee argued, her eyes begging for mercy. Azula couldn't bring herself to be mad at her friend, not right now anyways. Things were good for a change, so she would just have to resign herself to accepting the outfit. She had worn one before herself, so she knew it wouldn't be that bad. They were surprisingly comfortable uniforms, all things considered.
"Fine, that will have to do." The princess huffed. Even if she was going to wear it, she wasn't going to pretend to be happy about it. "Could you please go get it. I'm going to take a bath." Azula stated, the idea of washing herself off being far more important than what she would have to wear. Ty Lee looked up, and finally she realized why they had stopped in the first place. Just beyond the trees she could see a clearing in the forest, and in that clearing was a small hot spring, bubbling peacefully while steam rose up in gentle plumes. Vibrantly colored wild flowers grew around the rim of the spring and sparingly about the clearing. It was a peacefully secluded spot from all the world, as if nature had saved it just for them to find.
"Sure, I can run back and get it." Ty Lee stated jovially, always ready to do anything for Azula. She spun on her heels and began making her way back through the trees, towards the beach they had arrived on. Once satisfied the acrobat was out of view, Azula wasted no time in peeling the dirty old prison clothes off, the putrid slime and smell of them practically making her gag. She balled them up in her hand, and in an instant they burst into blue flames that incinerated them within moments. As the ashes blew out of her hand Azula thought to herself, Good riddance. There wouldn't be any more use for those old rags.
The princess placed a foot cautiously in the pool, gauging just how hot it was. Deciding it was safe, she slowly dipped herself into the soothing hot water. As she settled up to her neck, she could feel not only the dirt being washed away, but also the pain, the misery, even the anger of the past months all dissipating into the hypnotic liquid. As the spring cleansed every pore on her body, Azula watched as dark brown rings of sediment and grime floated out and away from her, dissolving into the cloudy water. She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply and allowed herself to slip beneath the surface. Her long black hair flayed out in every direction, every last strand penetrated by the cleansing water.
As Azula sat submerged in the hot spring, she saw in her mind all of the terrible things she had done. The innocent people killed mercilessly, peaceful villages burned to ash. She remembered all of the lies, and the deceitful ways she had manipulated people into becoming her pawns of destruction. Even Ty Lee was a victim of hers. That poor innocent girl would have never hurt a soul if the princess hadn't commanded that she do it. Fighting an enemy is one thing, but murdering innocent, defenseless people? Some things could never be undone, and now, all because she was trying to be a good friend to Azula, Ty Lee would have a mark on her soul that she could never be rid of. It wasn't right, she deserved better and Azula knew it. So she was going to give Ty Lee better. A better friend, a better princess. Ty Lee deserved a better Azula, and there wasn't anything that was going to stop her from getting it.
Azula resurfaced a whole new person, leaving everything she hated about herself to dissolve, along with the dirt and grime, at the bottom of the spring. A new world, a new life, a new Azula. She opened her eyes, eager to greet her new life, but instead she was greeted by Ty Lee, standing there staring at her, wide eyed and speechless. She had been entranced by the beads of water tracing delicious curves as they gently glided down Azula's body. Ty Lee cleared her throat when she was caught, nervously trying to think of something to say.
"Here's the clothes!" Ty Lee blurted out, unable to think of anything else to say as she stood there, cheeks reddening from embarrassment. She turned and started to leave when Azula stopped her.
"Ty Lee, why are you so shy?" Azula asked, slightly amused at her friend's discomfort. "It's nothing you haven't seen before." It was the truth after all. Being best friends most of their lives, it wasn't all that uncommon for them to share a bath or be present in the room whilst the other was changing. "Why don't you join me, you look like you need to relax."
"I don't know Azula, I mean I don't really need a bath, and that spring is so small, I don't want to invade your personal space and besides it just-"
"Ty Lee." Azula interrupted her forcefully. The acrobat stopped and waited for her princess to continue. "Get in the spring." Argument over, and they both knew it. Ty Lee dropped the Kyoshee uniform on the ground, and proceeded to toss her own clothes in the pile. She lowered herself carefully into the water until she too was up to her neck. The seething hot water forced every muscle in the acrobat's body to relax instantly, and she let out a long sigh of comfort. She closed her eyes and let the warmth soak into her skin.
Ty Lee had no idea how long they had sat there, soaking up the comfort in silence, when she finally decided to say something and break it. "So, uhm, Azula?" She asked cautiously, not quite sure if the princess was awake, as her head was tilted back and resting on the grassy rim of the hot spring while her eyes were closed. If she was taking a nap, Ty Lee had no intention of waking her up.
"Yes?" Was the princess' distant reply.
"I was just wondering, what are you going to do now? I mean, you're free and everything, but it's not like you can be Fire Lord anymore." Ty Lee winced at her own words after she heard them, and paused to judge Azula's reaction. When the princess didn't stir or show any hostility she continued cautiously, "So what are you going to do with your life?" Azula didn't respond right away, instead she shifted about in the water until finding a new, more comfortable position, all the while her head remained in a resting position in the grass and her eyes closed. Her mouth twisted as she thought, and it became quite apparent to Ty Lee that her friend didn't really have any idea about the future.
"I guess I haven't thought about it yet." Azula finally replied in a neutral tone. She opened an eye to see Ty Lee's concerned expression, and decided she needed to say something more convincing to settle the acrobat's thoughts. "Maybe I'll let Uncle teach me how to make tea." She said with a laugh, knowing full well how much of a blatant lie that was. Ty Lee chuckled too, and decided that a joke was the best she was going to get at this point. They both settled back in and continued soaking in silence.
It could have been an hour, it could have been three, Ty Lee didn't know for sure, didn't really care either. She suddenly had the strange feeling someone was watching her very, very closely. "Ty Lee..." Azula's voice was coming from right in front of her face. Ty Lee opened her eyes to see the princess leaning right into her, their faces so close they could feel each other's breath. Azula's dark golden eyes burned into Ty Lee's soft blue ones, a mesmerizing stare that left the acrobat almost paralyzed.
"Azula what are you-" Ty Lee didn't get to finish her sentence, Azula was too forceful in her advance. She consumed the acrobat's lips with her own, grabbed her shoulders and pinned her against the side of the hot spring. Ty Lee didn't resist her, couldn't resist her, not when every fiber of her being was screaming yes. Azula's lips were an inferno of lust, burning with an intensity matched only by their sensuality. Their tongues met in a luscious collision, a sweet explosion of wet passion, as Azula's hand began caressing her friend's shoulder firmly. She was anything but gentle, and yet somehow Ty Lee enjoyed that more. She liked the feeling of being lead, and succumbing to Azula's will. Whatever the princess did to her, Ty Lee was certain she would savor it with a fervent ecstasy.
The princess' hand changed course, and began tracing a path down Ty Lee's side, a sharp nail faintly carving into the acrobat's skin a delectable feeling of pure euphoria. The euphoric sensation was only about to grow stronger though, as Azula's hand moved inward. Ty Lee felt the princess' touch about her mid-section, and the anticipation grew exponentially until she nearly climaxed before her lover even started. Azula teased her incessantly, continuing to move closer and closer and then at the last moment drawing her hand back, until Ty Lee nearly screamed in desperation. As if sensing this, the princess finally decided it was time to indulge in her love. Her finger moved down, homing in on her target until she found the delicately soft, warm center she was seeking.
Ty Lee gasped upon entry, a high pitch, practically inaudible moan escaping her lips. To Azula the sound was fuel for her inferno of passion, a pleading sound that begged her for more. Ty Lee was so warm, so plush and ripe for the taking, and she was all Azula's. The princess knew it, and that knowledge only drove her lust further. The hot spring grew hotter around them, but all Ty Lee could feel was her lover inside of her, providing an insatiable, ravenous pleasure that built up faster and faster. The acrobat could feel herself about to explode, the sensation becoming too much to conceal, she tried to cry out to the heavens, but Azula's lips trapped her screams and made it impossible for even a single sound to escape, allowing only suppressed moans of desire to fill the air around them.
Even the air around them seemed to grow warmer, the heat of their passion emanating outwards until it touched everything in sight with it's blazing fury. Ty Lee couldn't breath anymore, couldn't hear anything outside of her own stifled moans. She could taste only Azula's fiery lips, could feel only Azula's demanding touch. Azula was the only thing that existed to Ty Lee anymore, the summation of her entire being. Everything the princess was was all that Ty Lee could ever desire, would ever desire, so long as she drew breath. As the lustful euphoria built into an ever stronger pleasure, the world around her became brighter and brighter, until Ty Lee couldn't even see anymore. Everything was melting around her until only a blinding, burning white filled her vision. She was drawing nearer and nearer, until at last she could no longer contain the exploding orgasm inside of her and she screamed at the top of her lungs-
"Ty Lee." The acrobat shot up out of the water, heart racing and almost out of breath. She turned around to see Azula standing above the hot spring, fully dressed in the Kyoshee uniform. She was giving Ty Lee a look of absolute bewilderment. The acrobat could only blink in response, still trying to readjust to reality. After a moment Azula decided she wasn't going to get a response, and so she went on, "Get dressed, it's time to go. We've been here long enough." The princess turned to allow her friend some privacy.
"What happened?" Ty Lee asked dubiously, still in the grasp of utter confusion as to what was going on.
"You were sleeping, I didn't want to bother you." Azula told her in that plain, emotionless tone she was so used to. "It looked like you were having a good dream." Ty Lee felt her face growing warmer as she heard this.
"Yeah, I guess I was..." She said shyly, fighting back the sadness of it not being real. The acrobat climbed slowly out of the water and found her clothes folded neatly in a pile not far away. She chuckled to herself, She always was a neat freak. After Ty Lee was finished dressing they began the walk back to the beach and the awaiting airship. It was a quiet walk for a while, both girls moving forward in silence and deep in thought. Azula finally decided to break the silence.
"So what was your dream about?" She asked plainly, not letting on how much she actually cared about the answer, if in fact she even did. Ty Lee choked briefly, recalling every detail in her mind. She blushed slightly as she answered.
"I guess it was about you. Or rather, us. We were both in it anyways." The acrobat tried to explain nervously, not entirely sure how much of the truth she should share. Azula's eyebrow raised slightly for a brief instant, a twitch she had forgotten how to control in her year of isolation.
"Was fire involved?" She asked, struggling to think of something logical to ask and cursing herself when that was the best she could do. Even Ty Lee felt the question was rather odd, but decided she had an opportunity to be somewhat honest that she couldn't waste.
"Yeah, you could say that." Ty Lee replied dreamily, the memory of the feeling still fresh in her head. Azula didn't find any amusement in that response though. She figured any dream Ty Lee was having that involved her and fire couldn't have been a peaceful one. The princess turned her head aside, privately battling her thoughts. "What about you Azula?" Ty Lee's curious voice brought her back to reality.
"What about me?" Azula replied, sounding somewhat annoyed.
"Did you fall asleep too? I mean, you must have, we were in there an awfully long time and, well, I guess I couldn't resist the urge." Ty Lee responded somewhat perplexed and scratching the back of her neck. She couldn't even remember falling asleep, the hot spring had been so soothing and serene, almost... magical.
"Yes, I suppose I did. I can't recall having any dreams though, if that's what you were going to ask." Azula stated unaffectedly. She may not have had any dreams, but the spring's magic worked on her nonetheless. It had been the most restful, peaceful sleep could remember. She had woken up feeling purified and reborn, all of her past sin cleansed away along with the thick layer of dirt and filth.
"That's too bad Azula... my dream was so wonderful." Ty Lee said with pity, Both because her friend had missed out on having such a beautiful dream, and because it was precisely that; Just a dream.
"If you had my dreams you wouldn't think so." Azula rebutted abashedly, the memory of some of the worst ones still resonating in her head.
"Oh, I'm sorry Azula. I didn't know..." Ty Lee apologized, head hung in regret. The princess gave her a reassuring smile, letting her friend know it was all going to be okay. They walked the rest of the way in silence, enjoying the scenery of the island one last time before they had to leave. They reached the beach at what Azula figured to be around 5 P.M. It didn't take them long to prepare the zeppelin for lift off, and with a bright burst of flames courtesy of Azula, they were in the air in no time.
The pair continued their journey westward, heading slowly and steadily towards the Imperial City, and their old homes. Their old lives really. Neither one of them had lived there since the end of the war. Azula was in prison the entire time and Ty Lee left to live on Kyoshee Island. They had left the city separately, but now they were returning to their old lives together, and together they knew they could face anything life threw at them. That's the way it had always been. Ever since they were kids, there hadn't really been anything that they couldn't handle when they worked together at it. Both Azula and Ty Lee were equally aware of the fact, and so they decided to themselves that that's the way it was going to be. They were going to be together, to the end, no matter what.
They rode the next few hours mostly in silence, with the occasional interruption from Ty Lee being the only thing that broke it. As the sun began setting on another beautiful late summer day, Azula decided she had finally done enough and was ready to get some sleep. She curled up in the same spot Ty Lee had the previous night, and in no time she was off to a deep, unbreakable slumber. Ty Lee watched as the sun dove further and further into the horizon, a red aura stretching across the sky as the sun's last testament of the day. Her mind wandered as she watched the final light of the day fade away. She thought of the girls back on Kyoshee Island, and what they might be doing. As she thought about them, the uniforms came to mind and very quickly she found her thoughts leading to Azula. It didn't really seem to matter what the acrobat thought about anymore, it always seemed to lead right back to the same thing. She was starting to think she might be losing her mind as well. If she didn't do something about all the uncontrollable feelings, Ty Lee was certain she would lose it.
The flapping of wings grabbed the girl's attention, and she turned to see a messenger hawk perched precariously on the edge of the basket. While it was still strange, Ty Lee was getting used to the feeling and it didn't take her by surprise all that much. She removed the parchment from it's case on the bird's back and with a sudden flurry of feathers the hawk took off, returning to the east where it must have come from. Ty Lee took a moment to gather herself before opening up the letter. As she read the letter, her heart sank in her chest and her expression became flush with pain and fear. She crushed the note in her hand and let it fall into the endless sea below, along with a few of her own tears. Ty Lee looked over at Azula, still sleeping like a rock.
"No..." She told herself, refusing to accept it. "I won't do it. I can't." A long, row rumble rolled across the sky. A storm was blowing in the from the east, and by the looks of it it was moving pretty fast. In all likelihood they would be caught by it tomorrow if they didn't find somewhere to land soon. Just perfect, she thought to herself. A cold, unsettling wind swept by, chilling Ty Lee's bones and leaving an ever growing sense of dread to build in her.
The sky above them was as black as it could get when the hawk returned. With instinctual certainty it landed on Vzad's arm and greeted him with a cry. He stroked it's head gently with a finger while praising it for accomplishing it's task. The bird acknowledged his compliments and then flew up to the bridge of the ship, finding it's regular perch with little difficulty. With it's task for the day completed, sleep soon followed for the little messenger hawk, but not for Vzad. The winds were blowing with a certain ferocity that night, and he knew it was only going to get worse. They followed quite a ways behind the airship, not wanting to risk being seen and not feeling the need to keep an eye on their target either. What was the point? He knew exactly where they were going anyways.
Storm clouds gathered behind them, an ominous sign to most, but not him. He greeted the coming storm and all of it's fury. Vzad clung to that hopeful chance that this one just might be powerful enough to set him free from this tormented existence of conflict and bloodshed. So wrapped up in his thoughts was he that he failed to notice Nida's presence beside him. The petit girl had a way of sneaking up on people, but Vzad was a difficult person to catch off guard, even when he was lost in thought.
"So," She announced herself to him, "What do the winds tell you?" Nida's sweet voice carried an undertone of curiosity, but really she was just trying to make conversation. Vzad bowed his head and let out a stifled laugh before looking up at her.
"Does it even matter? I never listen to them anyways." It took a keen ear that was used to his way of talking, but Nida could hear the faint hint of regret in Vzad's words.
"Well maybe you should." She offered indifferently, pretending she didn't care.
"Perhaps you're right, but we both know it doesn't matter. I can't change anything." He replied, his calm voice never wavering.
"You can try." She shot back, starting to get annoyed with his indifferent attitude. Nida noticed Vzad's minute frown underneath his hood. He was usually really good about keeping his emotions in check, but that girl had a way of getting under his skin.
"To what end? What more could I possibly hope to accomplish? You know as well as I do that this is all I can ever be, cursed to walk this world alone and covered in the blood of others. I have nothing left to go back to." Vzad stated contemptuously, exhausted from his bleak existence and still angry at he didn't know who or what, but it was most likely himself more than anything else.
"You don't have to be this, this monster! You can start a new life, Vzad! When will you finally just give this all up and try to live in peace?" Nida pleaded with him, already knowing it was futile but feeling she had to try nevertheless.
"I can't start a new life until I finish this one." He didn't like it any more than she did, but there was no point in lying to himself. Vzad knew where his path led, and he knew the fate that was waiting at the end of it. Nida could tell the discussion was over, and once again she could do nothing but accept the reality and try to be there for him at the end. She was pretty sure she wouldn't make it that far, but she had to try. She gave out a defeated sigh before saying one final thing.
"You can't keep ignoring who you are, Vzad. One day, it will all catch up to you. I just hope it's not too late then." Nida said sullenly, feeling remorse for her friend's plight. She didn't wait for his response, couldn't bring herself to. Instead she walked away swiftly, her soft, delicate feet padding quietly on the ship's deck. Vzad didn't turn to watch her leave, instead he just stared out at the night sky, pitch black and covered in clouds, and he thought to himself, Who I am... His lip curled faintly in disgust. This is who I am. Another strong tailwind blew past him, but he could only manage to greet the coming storm in anticipation.