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Another Day's End – Chapter Twenty-One
Later on, that evening.
On her floor sat her beloved Princess Azula plushie that had been angrily thrown there despite her sorrowful protests after her mistress had caught sight of it on her bedside.
At the moment however Elle was gazing at the strange machine that sat at the corner of her bedside that was now connected to her wall.
A small tube was connected from the breathing machine to her bedside with a mouth piece that now sat lay in her lap.
And then she turned to peer back up at her princess standing above her with her fists firmly planted on her womanly hips.
Azula regarded the breathing machine with a lazy glance before touching the device with her fingertip.
To the young girl's amazement, she watched as the machine powered on via its connection to the palace power system.
"All power in the Capital comes directly from the Capital Power Plant. Where we burn coal and harness volcanic energy, which is then used to produce electricity for our power system." Azula announced with a noticeable trace of satisfaction while she gazed down at her little admirer.
"That's incredible Azula-sama! I didn't know that the Fire Nation had such a complex power system." Elle chirped with naïve awe in her voice while she peered up at the princess's regal visage.
"Of course, we do. The Fire Nation is the most advanced nation in the world after all." Azula answered in a prideful voice with a wave of her hand while she gazed at her petite handmaid with arrogant amber golden eyes.
"Will…will you assist me in making sure that the machine is running properly tomorrow as well?" Elle pondered shyly while she peered up at the princess's regal countenance while Azula strode closer.
"I suppose I could. But only because the last thing I need is your little lungs having another breathing fit." Azula scoffed in a conceited vice with her arms folded over her breasts while staring down at the girl's now overjoyed little face.
In that moment a cheerful cry of joy echoed into the air while Azula audibly sighed when Elle reached up to grasp her hands.
"Arigatou gozaimasu Azula-sama! Arigatou!" Elle exclaimed with a bright smile adorning her young features while she gently squeezed the princess's palms.
"Be silent girl! I can't have the entire palace knowing about this!" Azula barked with her eyes narrowing down at the dainty girl while Elle began to blush under her stern gaze.
"Wakarimashita Princess!" Elle spoke in a chipper voice while she beamed up at her caretaker's captivating countenance.
"Just go to bed Tiger Monkey…we arise tomorrow at dawn." Azula instructed in an almost parental voice while allowing her handmaid to hold her hands.
"Yes Azula-sama…" Elle trailed off with a grateful smile before embracing the much taller woman around her waist.
She heard Azula grunting in mild annoyance above her while she buried her face in the princess's robed belly.
All the while closing her eyes serenely as she savored the brief moment of closeness.
"You are a good girl…I confide that I find it difficult to be displeased with you." Azula sighed with a casual shrug of her shoulders while she peered down at the petite girl clinging to her stomach.
"I am so very happy that you think so. Will…will you sit with me Mistress? For just a moment?" Elle requested just as she trailed her finger along the princess's toned belly.
"I have a military campaign to lead! I can't spend the night coddling you." Azula remarked with bite in her voice while she glared down at her handmaid's bashful little face.
Despite her tone she knew that she wasn't as annoyed with the girl as she was claiming to be.
Could it be that she actually enjoyed holding this small girl?
"N-not all night Your Highness. Sit. Not lay. Just for a hug." Elle explained softly while she glanced up at the princess's scowling face with a twinge of redness to her shy cheeks.
"Ugh. Briefly! I mean it servant. Briefly." Azula snapped before pointing a domineering fingertip in her young companion's radiant face.
"Briefly Mistress!" Elle agreed in voice of great excitement while Azula rolled her lovely eyes above her.
Yet even so the rigid woman was still noticeably less callous with her than she was with everyone else.
"Well! If you ask your princess to sit then move over so she can sit!" Azula announced with a haughty wave of her hand before rotating her body while she brushed her pet from her side.
"I'm moving Princess! I-I'll move!" Elle stuttered only to turn crimson when her princess bent over only to begin to use her as a chair.
"Then move peasant!" Azula snapped with a haughty smirk while her bottom pressed down on her little admirer's midsection.
"P-please go easy on me Azula-sama." Elle pleaded before quickly sliding out from underneath her mistress's well-formed bottom with a crimson blush adorning her features.
"Hm? Go easy on you? All I did was sit down." Azula commented with feigned innocence lacing her honeyed voice while she leaned back upon the girl's bed.
"M-my heart pounds when I look at your body princess. But I don't know what I'm supposed to do…" Elle trailed off in a self-conscious voice while she sat up beside her princess.
"Supposed to do? You truly are an adorable thing. Don't worry your little mind over it. I'll guide you through it." Azula stated with a wave of her hand while she glanced down at Elle falling into her lap once more.
"That is good to know Your Highness. I don't know what I would do without your guidance." Elle mumbled in a meek voice while she latched onto the princess's belly before pressing her face there yet again.
"Just…be a good girl for me…at all times. I need you to remain on your best behavior on this mission…" Azula ordered with her palm sinking into the petite girl's hair just as she began to pet her handmaid's soft blonde locks.
"Yes, Azula-sama. I promise that I won't let you down." Elle spoke with a sunny smile while she burrowed face first into the tall woman's robed belly.
"That is good to know. Now no more talking…go to sleep." Azula declared with another sigh while she grudgingly held Elle's smaller body underneath her arm.
"Oyasumi nasai Azula-sama…" Elle murmured in mid-yawn while she felt Azula pet her hair in a manner that she has come to savor.
"Oyasumi nasai Elle." Azula responded with a trace of fondness amidst her ruthless voice while she gazed down at the younger girl hugging her stomach.
"I…love you Princess." Elle confessed in a drowsy voice while her serene breathing slowed just as she drifted off into a heavy sleep.
The sound of soft snoring filtered into the air while Azula sat now glancing down at Elle with her elegant brows furrowing in a bewildered manner.
"Such a peculiar little thing…" Azula remarked just as she carefully brushed her fingers through her petite handmaid's hair.
Her lips were pursed in a curiously content smirk while she continued to affectionately stroke her little admirer's snoring face.
Then for reasons that she cannot explain she reached for the mouth piece of the oxygen machine before gently raising the slumbering girl's head just as she placed it over her servant's mouth.
"You are weak…but you belong to me all the same." Azula sighed just as she shook her head while she planted her palm in the smaller girl's hair once more.
In that moment the lamp in the young girl's room abruptly shut off with the fading light flickering out.
And then Azula adjusted her bottom while she sat back upon Elle's bed while her callous amber golden gaze remained fixated upon the girl sleeping face first in her robed belly.
She resumed patting the snoring girl's hair once more with a possessive hand while she snaked an arm around her handmaid's shoulders.
It was the same arm that still held the little bracelet that Elle made for her.
Only now the bracelet was discreetly hidden beneath the sleeve of her robes in favor of avoiding unwanted scrutiny.
Then her gaze shifted back to Elle's dozing face to notice the girl's breathing slowly but surely stabilizing.
Soon the snores began to fade away and then Elle continued to sleep much more quietly than before.
It was a sight that the princess decided that she found pleasing.
"Good…I approve of this one…and I shall see her breathe normally." Azula spoke with a sage nod while she resumed gazing down at her petite pet breathing peacefully into her new machine.
All the while the princess's hand remained resting in the smaller girl's hair in an almost protective manner.
Azula did not speak another word.
Instead, she opted to sit in silence while she held her sleeping love interest in her lap with her fingers continuing to pet the mumbling girl's head.
Although she did not wish to say it aloud…
She has come to regard this strange little peasant girl from another land as her friend.
How bizarre was that?