The envasion had failed and by now they assumed that Admiral Zhao was dead.
But that wasn't what made her father call her into his throne room so suddenly after receiving the message. She was reluctant to leave her Pet's side who still hadn't woken up since the Moon turned red in the sky. But she wasn't about to delay her father's order just for her own reasons, she had a duty to him after all.
While she rushed to the Throne room she couldn't help but wonder what he wanted, maybe it was because of the rumors of the Air Nomad being at the Siege as well and had somehow sunk a few of their fleets. Maybe it was because of the failed attempt.
She didn't really know at this point. So many things were happening now that it was a little annoying trying to keep track of them all.
As she entered the room she could feel that the room's temperature had risen a few degrees and her father was scowling and glaring off into some part of the room. He had only noticed her once she bowed and remained so.
"I am aware that your Pet has suddenly declined in her health, but she is unimportant and this requires your full attention. Do I make myself clear?" He growled out.
He was beyond enraged, she could tell, "Yes, Father." she replied coolly.
She could feel his eyes glare at her skull in a silent debate, either pondering to tell her why she was here or to send her off at the last minute. She heard him sigh roughly.
"Iroh is a traitor and your brother Zuko is a failure," she tensed at the mention of those two and fought to urge to grin evilly, "So I have a task for you. And that mutt of yours once she decides to wake up."
By this, she couldn't help but raise her head and show the smile that was threatening to split her face apart.
Finally, something worthy of her attention! While she didn't like knowing that this was basically a 'go and fetch' mission, this was a chance to show her father that she was now capable of missions. Not to mention also to prove that her Pet was loyal to them.
"One more thing, daughter." Ozai started, causing Azula to stand in confusion.
Now what did he need to tell her?
Nereus shifted in her sleep before sniffling and rising a hand to rub at her nose, her sleep was leaving her now. She coughed softly before attempting to crack open a golden iris to look around. She was in a bed, that much she could notice, and there were a couple of Healers that were just now leaving as she started to wake up more. And something damp was on her forehead, a cloth?
Where in Agni was she?
Better yet, what in spirit's name happened to her?
She carefully sat up and leaned forward to lay her forehead in her palm to try to remember, letting the rag fall off and land in her lap as she did so. Everything was still so fuzzy to her.
She remembered that her Master and herself were sparring... then... the sky turned red... and she was in incredible pain... the next she knew was at this moment.
She groaned as she rubbed at her eyes, "Just great."
"And what's so great?" A calm voice on her left side asked, making the tanned Firebender cough in surprise then suddenly turn to stare at the person.
Azula relaxed in a chair with one foot resting of her thigh and her chin rested in her hand, she arched a brow, "Glad to see you too, Pet." she lightly teased.
Nereus gulped softly before a grin started to form, she rubbed the back of her neck as she stammered, "H-Hey... um... what happened?"
"So I will assume you don't remember what happened? You collapsed during our spar." she said simply, waving her free hand in the air for effect.
Nereus nodded as she rubbed her cheek, "That much I can remember actually, but other than the amount of pain I had after that, I can't remember anything else. Did anything else happen?"
She could've sworn she saw something flash in those dragon eyes, she blinks in confusion as the Princess got up and rolled her shoulders, with a sigh she returned her gaze.
"The invasion has failed and we have a mission." Nereus frowned, she had completely dodged the question. However she nodded before pulling herself out of the bed and stood on jelly legs, her knees aching to rest once again. She grumbled as she started to stretch.
"What's the mission?" She decided to ask, what else ever happened on that night must've been a sore spot for her Master and she didn't want to try to make her answer it. She just now gained consciousness after all and she didn't want to be knocked out soon after. There seemed to be more important things at hand.
The Princess crossed her arms as she watched the Pet do her ridiculous stretches, "I'm sure you remember Uncle Iroh and dear big brother Zuzu."
Nereus froze as she knitted her brows in confusion, she returned a look her way to let her know that she had her full attention, "Yes...?" she trailed off.
"Well it turns out that they have disgraced themselves even more and now we must retrieve them for treason."
Nereus frowned with a pout, "That's all?" she whined softly.
Azula nodded stiffly before walking out the room, "We leave immediately."
As the Pet watched her Master walk out of the room, she kept her frown on her face as she sighed heavily, she could tell that something was bothering her but she could also tell that her Master was not in the mood to talk to her at the moment. Let alone about the problem that apparently happened during their spar.
Whatever she done the other night must've angered the Princess.
And she didn't think she could hate herself even more for it.
The ocean used to be calming to her when she was little, but now it brought up memories that she preferred remained dormant. As much as she loved thinking about her birthplace and her dear friend, now was not the time to indulge, especially when her Master was in this mood. She inhaled the salty air before exhaling through her nose, not wanting to disrupt the conversation her Master was having with the Captain of the ship.
As it would seem, a simple little mission to retrieve some culprits that roughly wouldn't take that long to do was about to turn into an even longer trip because the man said that the storm wasn't going to let them through.
She knew the man was signing his death certificate, ever since they left the Fire Nation her Master had been ill. Well... ill wouldn't be a term she would personally used.
She was as if she was Death Incarnate walking around. And that said much when she was raised by her side and knew her tantrums. This was new, even for her.
"I'm sorry, Captain, but I do not know much about the tides. Can you explain something to me?" Her Princess asked in her innocent persona, but below that the Pet could tell that her Master was fuming. She could see the danger in those dragon eyes, just waiting for an excuse to lash out at the poor man.
The Captain didn't see what she saw at the moment, and that would be his mistake, "Of course, Your Highness."
By this time, Azula's innocent demeanor vanished into a blank expression, Nereus shuddered; she hated that expression some times.
"Do the tides command this ship?" she asked casually.
Nereus turned away to resume looking out into the ocean, not wanting to stare at her Master's predatory look anymore. She also didn't want to witness the poor man turn into a sweating mess as he was already starting to notice that the Princess was in a foul mood.
Yet he still pushed his luck, "Um... I'm afraid I don't understand..." he trailed off.
Nereus could practically feel the fire within her Master roar and churn, she shuddered once more and once again tried to distract herself. But that heat was becoming unbearable for her to not notice. Like a Moth to a very warm flame.
She could hear the threat starting to loom in her Master's voice, "You said the tides would not allow us to bring the ship in. Do the tides command this ship?"
She was like a predator playing with their prey before they decided to show mercy.
"No Princess..." came the Captain's nervous reply, Nereus couldn't help but look over her shoulder to watch yet again.
She turned just in time to watch her Master inspect the ship before waving a hand to the rails of the ship, her voice dripping with a possibility of demise," And if I were to have you thrown overboard, would the tides think twice about smashing you against the rocky shore?"
She could see her doing that herself actually, Nereus mused. While she preferred to have others do her dirty work, if she was in this rare type of mood she would do it herself.
This time she saw the man straighten his pose as he answered with another, "No Princess."
"Well, then, maybe you should worry less about the tides who've already made up their mind about killing you and worry more about me, who's still mulling it over."
The Captain nodded before bowing, "I'll pull us in." he said quickly before rushing off.
"You do that." she heard her say with a flick of her wrist.
After the conversation that Nereus was trying her best not to ease-drop in, she quickly turned around to resume looking at the vast ocean before them. She sensed that someone was watching her, almost glaring into the back of her skull in hopes it would suddenly combust into flame. But she keeps her attention out to the ocean, hopefully this would keep her calm in case her Princess decided to approach.
And just by her luck, she did. Casually arms folded against each other and leaned onto the rail of the ship, her golden eyes staring out into the ocean as well.
"You seem tense." was all she said, her earlier aggression didn't appear at all in this moment, Nereus could feel her shoulders relaxing against her will because of it. She knew it would be a matter of time before her Master blew up again and tried to take things out on her. That's what's been happening this entire trip to the find the traitors. She could be a good Pet one minute than the next she could be the beating bag for her Master. Not that she didn't mind, she was happy to help any way she could, but it could be tiring when she was constantly trying to fry her to a crisp.
Nereus shook her head out of those thoughts, Azula was calm right now so she was going to indulge in that for as long as her Master would let her, "This seems like a waste... o-of talent I mean." she answered in a whisper.
The Princess looked toward her before leaning on a hand and inspecting her nails on her other hand, "Yes it does seem like a waste. But this is a chance to show that I am not just a spoiled princess like the nobles think I am..." she trailed off, watching the birds fly past, "And this is a perfect opportunity to show where your loyalties lie, Pet."
The tanned Firebender sighed loudly as she rubbed her eyes, "Of course, but it still seems like a waste. We could be out there looking for that Air Nomad or something!" she insisted, a dream-like grin started to form, "that would bring even more honor to you and it would show that I am for you."
When she didn't get a reply, she arched a brow and turned to look at her Master.
Her Master was apparently in her own mind right now, a ghost of a smile on her lips as she dazed off into the ocean, "It would be. But that isn't the case. And so we will do this and gain just a little bit of what you've said."
Nerues sighed softly before nodding, "Sure..." she resumed to look out into the water, she could see that storm that the Captain had mentioned earlier and was a little timid about going near the thing. It looked dangerous even from this distance.
"Do you doubt me? I-I mean where my loyalties lie..." she asked, she didn't know where it came from but from the sound of it, it's been in the back of her mind for some while before she could be able to voice it out.
The Fire Princess suddenly turned to face her again, slight confusion evident in her features as she stood straight, "And this had come from where, Pet?" she asked softly, not wanting anyone around to hear their conversation.
The halfbreed shrugged as she leaned against the rail further, laying her head on her forearms to look up at her Master, "It's just a thought... your Father keeps questioning where they lie and I was just wondering if you thought the same... I don't want to make you doubt anything about me, I am truly loyal to you, Princess."
Boy when she did get so sappy? She cringed mentally, she didn't like talking about her feelings like some noble girl, but she couldn't help the way it had came out. It was true, she was worried that her Princess didn't fully trust her. She was worried that her Princess was doubting her loyalties just like her father was. She wanted to let her know that she would never do such a thing.
Azula continued to stare at her, her expression unreadable at the moment, she didn't seem angry at least. The Princess rubbed her eyes and sighed slightly.
"No, I don't doubt you." she simply said. Nereus smiled brightly as she jumped straight and chuckled.
"Good! I was kind of worried that I was being a bad Pet somehow."
She then tensed as she felt fingers run through her bangs, her breath caught in her throat and she could feel her cheeks start burning. Azula brushed the obnoxious bangs out of her Pet's eyes, ghosting at stroking her cheek then removed her hand, "You've never been a bad Pet." she whispered before walking off suddenly.
"We'll need to cut those bangs away, they're becoming a nuisance." She said loudly to give a reason why she suddenly pet them out of her eyes.
The Pet was too caught up in her thoughts as she brushed her cheek. Not hearing a word her Master said as her mind raced.
That just happen... right?
"This place reeks." Nereus commented as she shooed the fruitflies that were hanging around. Azula sat beside her and watched her try not to inhale another one as she shooed them away.
"I assume this is a place that you once lived in at the South Pole," she teased, making the other turn to her but before she could deny that, yet another fly was inhaled and she gagged. Azula couldn't hold back the wicked grin as she watched her Pet try to cough it out.
Just as she was able to calm down, they both heard two voices and footsteps approach, both regained their posture and wiped any expression off their faces to prepare.
"Look at these magnificent shells! I'll enjoy these keepsakes for years to come." came a gleeful voice, Nereus dared to lean over and whisper some short remark and Azula once again tried to keep her expression blank. But she did grab her Pet's face and pushed her back into her own spot a few seats away. Nereus smirked throughout before trying to regain her blank expression as well.
"We don't need any more useless things, you forget that we have to carry our own now."
As soon as the pair entered the small bathhouse, Azula was quick to put on her sweet persona, "Hello, brother. Uncle."
Both men turned to glare at her in surprise, only briefly did they noticed that the Princess brought her Pet along.
Zuko then turned his attention back to his sister and refused to let her out of his sight, "What are you doing here?" he asked accusingly.
Nereus kept her attention toward the older man, who for the most part, was staring right back at her. She didn't like the man when she was little, mainly because just like Ursa, he favored the boy and never did anything for her Princess like he did for the Prince. That and he always tried to get her to stay away from her Master, saying that she was going to taint her sooner or later. And by the looks that he was giving her now, she assumed that he thought she was already tainted by her.
Crazy old man.
"In my country, we exchange a pleasant hello before asking questions. Have you become so uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?" Azula asked arrogantly as she rose from her seat and strolled over to face her brother.
Zuko growled as he crossed his arms, "Don't call me that." he demanded, Nereus took notice of his aggression and glared at the exiled Prince, about to let him have a piece of her mind. But before she could do so, Iroh placed a arm protectively against the boy's chest and resumed looking at Azula.
"To what do we owe this pleasure?" he asked simply.
Nereus glanced as her Master and noticed that she was now holding a seashell in her hands, inspecting it in a bored manner, she then glanced at the old man, "Must be a family trait. Both of you are so quick to the point." with that she tightened her hold on the shell and watched it shatter in her palm.
"I've come with a message from home." She continued, waving her hand to shake off the shells still in her hand, "Father's changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him. He's heard rumors of plans to overthrow him -treacherous plots." she drawled out, Nereus turned to watch Zuko's reaction.
He was surprised for the most part, but Iroh was immediately skeptical of the story, she could tell that he was going to need more convincing.
Azula's voice caught her attention again, "Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home."
The Pet watched the Prince look out of the window of the bathhouse, apparently in thought, she turned her attention to her Master and noticed that she was a tad annoyed.
She decided to speak out, "Didn't you hear her? You should be happy. Excited! Maybe even a little grateful. She didn't need to waste her time with this to tell you of the great news." she crossed her arms and huffed.
"That's enough, Pet." came her Master's voice, Nereus frowned slightly as she unfolded her arms and remained quiet.
She then resumed to glare at Iroh who decided to speak up, "I'm sure Zuko just needs a moment to-"
"Don't interrupt, Uncle!" Azula snapped, she then walked closer to her brother and crossed her arms, "I still haven't heard my thank you. As my Pet said, I didn't need to waste my time to be a messenger."
Zuko's disbelief was evident in his voice, maybe she could detect a tad of hope as well as he spoke, "Father... regrets? He wants me back?"
"Do we need to write this down for you to understand?" Nereus grumbled, but both siblings heard her and turned slightly to notice her. One glared at her in annoyance while the other watched her with slight humor. Nonetheless, Azula returned her gaze back to her brother and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I can see that this is a lot to take in. I'll come to call on you tomorrow. Good evening." She gave her brother another pat before walking out, Nereus immediately sprang to her feet and jogged after her.
"Are you sure that he's going to fall for this?" Nereus asked that night, stretching as she got herself comfortable in her cot on the floor.
Azula stared out the window to the sky, lost in thought for a moment before she turned to answer, "He's a needy boy, Pet. He's always wanted Father's love and so will believe anything of that manner." she returned her gaze back outside.
Of course while she was sure that he would come willingly, she just hoped that the crew was up to code for the trap. She knew that Iroh would be a problem as well, the voyage home would be more difficult with him on board.
"So we need to pretend to be friends with them while they're here?"
"Most likely, or just until we're far enough away from shore."
Nereus stood beside her Master as they both watched to pair venture into view, she had to admit that the boy was a little easy to understand.
"Brother! Uncle! Welcome. I'm so glad you decided to come." Azula said pleasantly.
Nereus watched as both bowed to her Princess but she could also notice that Iroh was watching the soldiers too closely. Maybe he was planning his own trap? The hair on the back of her neck started to rise at that question, if that was the case then she would be prepared to take them down.
"Are we ready to depart, Your Highness?" the Captain asked.
Azula nods as she turns to face him, "Set course for home, Captain." she said sweetly.
"Home..." she hears Zuko say as if he was in a daydream, she turned away to resist the urge to roll her eyes, she needed to behave. She didn't want to blow their cover. She decided to turn her attention to the Captain who turned to motion to his crew.
"You heard the Princess! Raise the anchors! We're taking the prisoners ho-" he suddenly stopped mid-sentence, dawning horror was evident in his features. Nereus' eyes widen in realization as she felt her Master's fire suddenly explode in rage. The man dared to turn to the Princess, he swallowed thickly.
"Your Highness... I..." he was absolutely mortified.
Nereus could feel more than one fire start to ignite, she quickly turned to watch a guard charge at the duo. However Iroh spins around to meet him and backhands him off the ship and kicking another down the incline. Another guard comes from the left and he elbows him off the incline.
While the old man fought, Nereus turned her attention to the still dumbfounded Prince who just now snaps out of his trance and grabs one guard and throws him off the incline and into the water, he then turns back to his sister and stalks up toward her.
"You lied to me!" he growled out.
"Like I've never done that before." she hears her Princess sigh smugly before turning around.
"Pet." she called to Nereus, who straighten her posture and glanced at her Princess, still keeping her attention to the stalking boy that was getting closer.
"Fetch." she demanded before walking away. Nereus immediately turned back to the boy and charged at him with two guards by her side.
Zuko screams in fury as he charges all three Firebenders, adamant on taking on his sister.
The two guards that charged with her were too soon disposed of and all that was left was her and the enraged Prince who was on the offensive. She skillfully dodged each attack that the boy tried to land, returning her own flames to either distract or disarm the boy.
His flames were weak and pathetic, barely having any chance against her own as they flickered and launched themselves at his head. But just like her, he was good on his feet, dodging just as many of her attacks as she was dodging many of his.
All she knew was to attack the boy, capture him if possible, and she was sure that she could if she continued to tire him out like this. And with the boy being enraged like this, she was certain that his clouded mind was going to make a mistake... only then would she make her move.
"Zuko! Let's go!" she hears Iroh call out, damn, she had forgotten all about him.
Nereus hissed as she barely dodges a flame dagger from slitting her throat, she swiftly swings her arm under him and jabs him hard against his sternum, hearing a pop in the process. The exiled Prince coughs before swinging his other dagger in, hoping to knick her across her face.
Once again before he could slash at her, Nereus ducked the flame then kicked herself away from him, sending him onto his back for a moment. Before she could do anything, he springs right back up and glares at her, his chest heaving in deep breaths as best he could. Nereus did the same, she briefly looked around to access the battle and found that they were running out of soldiers, and Iroh was beginning to win his constant battles with said soldiers.
"I figured you'd be dead by now, mutt." he barked out, wiping at the corner of his mouth of drool from his constant yelling.
Nereus rubbed the sweat away from her eyes and returned a sassy smirk,"Sorry to disappoint you, Prince Zuzu." she spat his title and nickname as if it was poison to her. She noticed that she hit a few soft spots as he charges at her again.
Zuko brings out his daggers again and leaps at her, throwing a flame kick at her head, Nereus jumps to the side of him. Her movements fluid and quick while his was clunky and emotion-fueled. As he turned, Nereus put all her strength in her arm and delivered a swift punch square in his face, he grunts and staggers back, blood spurting from his nose as he wipes it away.
As he charged her again, she could feel her Master's flame ignite, with it she also could feel energy... electricity... she dodges his attempts at slashing at her face and could feel that energy charging. She swiftly looks over and sees her Master preform her kata and aimed her index and her middle finger toward the exiled Prince. She then turned her attention back to the boy to keep his attention to her.
She delivered another jab to his chest then jumps away for the assault.
Only to realize that it never came, she turned again to see Iroh grabbing her Princess and doing something with the electricity that causes it to shoot out into the rocky cliffs beside them, rocks suddenly breaking off the cliff and falling. Some hit the ship while others splashed into the water and created brief moments of rain.
She's been distracted enough from watching her Princess get attacked that she's let Zuko slash at her collarbone. She snaps to attention and hisses before jumping away to inspect the wound. It was a jagged slash that was now cauterized and the line now rising up from the wound. She glared at the boy, he smirked before charging her to do yet another attack. This time she's on the offense.
She swings her arms in arcs to ignite her flame, it sparked to life and flows around her like a ribbon, she then preformed a kata that sent the tongue of flame straight toward the boy. Its speed took him off guard and he wasn't quick enough to dodge it. Some of it managed to singe his clothing and lightly burn his forearms.
As she was about to send another attack, she heard a splash and turned slightly to look around. Her blood ran cold, her Princess was no where to be seen and Iroh was now grabbing the enraged boy and running off the ship and onto the path.
She completely ignored them as she dispelled her own flames and ran over to the rail, her eyes scanning the tides in a panic. She sees a patch of air bubbles just beside the ship and she doesn't hesitate to dive in after it.
The water is like ice to her burning skin, but she ignores it as she opens her golden irises to look into the murky waters for her Master. Her chest is already burning and begging for air but she ignores that as well as she swims to the trail of bubbles she saw earlier.
She sees her struggling to untie herself from the seaweed that dared to wrap themselves around her legs and torso, Nereus swims over as quick as she can.
Azula notices her while she continues her struggles, a look of surprise on her face as she watches the tanned Firebender gnaw and bite at the cursed weeds. She practically rips them to shreds with her teeth and nails. Once she's free enough to wiggle herself out of the vines, she grabs Nereus's wrist and they both quickly swim to the surface.
Azula was first to hit the air and she gasped for breath, coughing out the sea water from her lungs as she did so. Nereus no sooner joins in her attempts to get the water out and air in.
Azula coughed again before turning to look at her Pet, "How'd you know?" she asked with a scratchy voice, last time she was aware she was battling her brother and was too distracted to know that Iroh had thrown her overboard.
Nereus sniffles as she tries to clear her throat at the same time, her nose burning from the saltwater, "A Pet knows when their Master is in danger." she coughs out again. She then turned her gaze to her and frowned in self-loathing, "I couldn't catch them..." she confessed.
And like that Azula was fuming again, she growled softly before looking around for a way to swim to shore. She wasn't at all mad at her Pet, she was actually proud that she held her own for so long, but she was enraged that their plan had fell apart and the pair had managed to escape.
"Never mind that." she told her softly despite her mood, she turned her dragon eyes to her Pet again and growled out, "There will be no place for them to hide."
(A/N: Oh... my... god... I think I have a new favorite chapter and you're reading it. I hope you guys like this and the next chapter should be up either sometime this week or next weekend.)