The Princess and the Peasant - (An Azula Epic)

by grither55

Princess Azula believes that she was born with a divine right to rule, and she rules through fear alone. Until, a commoner girl enters her life by giving her a fire lily. Through this act, Azula finds herself undertaking a life-changing journey with her new companion to ascend the throne, save the world from an otherworldly threat, and find her humanity. Femslash.

33. Marooned

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Marooned – Chapter Thirty-Three

The princess was the first one to break the horrifying silence.

"What are you fools standing around gawking at! Get her! Now!" Azula roared after whipping around to cast both her closest subordinates and her soldiers a truly terrifying death glare.

"Yes Princess!" Saro agreed with a grimace before rushing forward with the Dai Li at his back.

The earthbending assassins didn't even so much as respond to the order.

They simply dove into the pit.

And then began sliding down the walls of the open earth searching for any sign of the girl's survival.

"D-do you t-think she made it Azula?" Ty Lee asked with tears streaming down her cheek while Azula gritted her teeth.

"This is all your fault Mai!" Azula bellowed before pulling the intimidated woman forward by the collar of her robes.

"N-now that's a little harsh Azula-" Ty Lee stated only to shudder under the princess's enraged death glare.

"You betrayed me and jeopardized the nature of this mission all for Zuko! The Avatar and his friends may well be dead if you hadn't thrown Zoi into a minefield! And to top it all off Elle may well be dead because of you!" Azula barked with pure fury dripping from her voice while Mai gazed away with guilty tawny eyes.

"I…love Zuko. What was I supposed to do? Just watch him die?" Mai answered in a quiet voice while Azula's amber golden eyes glared back at her with even greater ferocity than usual.

"I gave Zuko every chance to surrender and he refused! Zuko chose treason over country and you murdered a high-ranking soldier that was only defending her country!" Azula snapped with her face so close that her breath tickling against the other woman's skin.

"T-there has to be some way that you can explain it without losing the Song clan." Ty Lee stammered before shivering when Mai was coldly dropped before the edge of the pit.

"What am I am so supposed to tell her mother!? That she simply tripped and fell to her death?! And what of the soldiers that saw you! You imbecile! You just cost the Royal Family the support of the most powerful noble family! If I don't kill you Father will!" Azula boomed with her fists clenched at her hips while she glared down at Mai's sweating face.

Ty Lee limped over with her mouth open in horror while Mai audibly swallowed in understanding.

"I get it Azula. And I apologize. Not for killing Zoi. But for what happened to Elle." Mai muttered only to release a cry of pain when the looming woman furiously kicked her in the gut.

"If that girl is dead, you will rue the day that you were ever born!" Azula shouted with her teeth ground together so tightly that blood began to drip down her chin.

It was obvious that most of Azula's rage stemmed from the fear that Elle may have suffered a fatal fall.

And neither of her childhood friends had the bravery to point out how the fact that the princess wasn't this furious until their young friend had fallen through the dark pit that lay ominously before them.

Or how Azula seemed to be more worried for Elle's wellbeing rather than the girl's newfound function as the Avatar's counter.

There was no doubt in their minds that the old Azula would have been solely concerned of losing such a valuable power that could very well win them the war.

And yet here the princess stood seemingly fearful over the thought of losing her favorite handmaid.

Not for her newly discovered power.

But instead out of fear of losing Elle's constant companionship.

"I-I'll help find her Azula. I'll get her back." Mai assured with remorse in her voice while Ty Lee shakily helped her to her feet.

"A-Azula? W-what is going to happen to Mai when this is all over?" Ty Lee requested in a distraught voice while Azula turned away to glare down into the cavernous pit.

"If you are lucky Mai, you will simply be stripped of your privileges, as well as your place on this team and sentenced to long term imprisonment. But…that will not be sufficient to please Governor Yoko." Azula remarked with her arms folded over her bust while Mai swallowed nervously.

"S-so what then?" Ty Lee almost pleaded while tightening her grip on the other woman's shoulder.

Mai may be far more adept at her at hiding her fear, but there was no mistaking the way her friend's shoulder shivered in fear of a gruesome fate to come.

"I have no doubt that Governor Yoko will demand a brutal execution. If you are fortunate. I may be able to satisfy her with a minimum ten-year sentence at Boiling Rock." Azula announced with great anger in her voice while she carefully concealed her reservations over imprisoning her childhood friend.

"B-Boiling Rock!" Ty Lee exclaimed in despair only for Mai to gently pat her shoulder.

"Alright. I understand Azula." Mai agreed to Ty Lee's sorrow before turning away.

"I will forewarn you Mai. If you should attempt to flee. I will try Tom Tom in your absence." Azula informed in a ruthless voice while the two women turned to face her in a horrified silence.

"B-but Tom Tom didn't kill Zoi! A-and he is only seven years old Azula!" Ty Lee protested with shock in her voice to hear her leader say such a thing.

She knew Azula was ruthless. But Tom Tom was Mai's little brother!

"I know. He is only a child. So, let's do what we can to avoid such a tragedy and do be sure to return." Azula spoke in a pitiless voice while turning to face the noblewoman's pale face.

"Yes…Azula." Mai mumbled with her tawny eyes reflecting her anger over the threat as well as worry for her adopted sister's survival.

"And one more thing Mai. If the girl…should prove to be dead. Disregard my previous order and run…run far away. Give no thought to the safety of your family…just run. Because if I find you…you'll be wishing you opened your stomach." Azula declared in a tone devoid of mercy while she glared at the two shuddering women.

"C-calm down Azula. W-we'll find Elle. I-I just know it!" Ty Lee stuttered with her entire body shaking under the gravity of Azula's glare.

Somehow in this very moment Azula managed to be even more terrifying than when she witnessed her scar those two bullies!

The princess said nothing in response.

She simply stared at them icily before turning away to watch her uncle's soldiers moving in a mad rush to board the stolen airship.

The Avatar clambered aboard the vessel before dropping to the ground while the prince rushed over to greet him.

"Are you okay Aang?" Zuko asked in concern while Aang hung his head with a downcast look in his eyes.

"Never mind me! What about Katara and the others?" Aang replied with worry in his eyes while Pakku approached behind Zuko.

"Ease yourself Aang. They are alive and they are being recovered as we speak." Pakku assured in an exhausted voice while Aang's eyes brightened upon hearing those words.

And it was then that Zuko began to turn around when he heard the sound of footsteps approaching behind him.

Only to find his golden eyes widening with emotion when he found himself gazing back at the face of his uncle.

As his uncle managed a small smile while they gazed back into each other's eyes.

And in that very moment that he remembered the words that he told his father when he confronted him in his bunker on the day of the eclipse.

After I leave here today. I am going to go find Uncle Iroh, and beg for his forgiveness.

"U-Uncle." Zuko stammered in a torn-up voice with shame in his eyes while his uncle still smiled back at him.

This was the first time that they had seen each other in what had seemed like an eternity since his uncle had joined his fellow leading members of the Order of the White Lotus on the run.

The only recent communication that they have had was the scroll that his uncle sent him before he left to join forces with the Avatar.

The scroll had told him that he must find out his great-grandfather's death in order to understand his own destiny.

And in the contents of the scroll was a hidden message that also told him to go to the Dragonbone Catacombs to find the secret history kept by the Fire Sages.

While he had first assumed that his uncle had been referring to his great grandfather Fire Lord Sozin.

But as he had soon discovered.

After his uncle anonymously delivered him a package with another scroll that held a second hidden message.

In the package was an ancient royal artifact.

The Crown Prince headpiece.

And in that second scroll.

He learned that his uncle had actually been referring to his great-grandfather from his mother's side of the family.

Avatar Roku.

And now…

They were reunited at long last.

"Greetings Zuko." Iroh stated softly only for his nephew to envelop him in tight embrace.

"I…am sorry Uncle. Forgive me." Zuko spoke with tears streaming down his cheeks while Aang observed with softened eyes.

"There is nothing to forgive Zuko. It was a necessary step for you to get where you are today." Iroh replied gently before patting Zuko's back while the young man nodded uncertainly.

Only for their moment to be swiftly ruined by the sound of a soldier shouting out to Iroh.

"Iroh! We can't find the earthbender woman…we believe that she fell underground!" A White Lotus Sentry called out while the others turned around with horror now flashing in their eyes.

"T-Toph has a broken arm! We need to find her!" Aang shouted in alarm in an attempt to stand only to fall over.

"We will find her Aang. I promise you! But right now, you need to rest. It would be unwise if you continued to push yourself in your present condition." Iroh informed after turning to meet the Avatar's worried gaze.

"But!" Aang protested only for Zuko to touch his shoulder gently.

"Uncle has a point Aang. We'll just slow them down. Besides, it will take more than a broken arm to take Toph down." Zuko stated with what he hoped was a reassuring expression.

Only to whip his head around when frantic shouts of fear filled now charred battlefield.

His golden eyes grew to the size of dinner plates when he realized the source of the mass panic.

Just before Mai and Ty Lee could descend into the pit Azula turned to watch expectantly when Saro pulled himself panting from the opening of the hole.

"Well?" Azula snarled with her icy eyes glaring down at Saro's urgent face.

"We haven't found the girl yet but we did find…something." Saro answered with Azula narrowing her eyes down at him.

"Fool! Then why have you stopped searching! Get back in there and don't come back until you've found her!" Azula roared in a monstrous voice that had both the soldier and her childhood friends shivering.

Saro quickly nodded his head before swallowing deeply when he turned to stare ominously into Mai's guarded eyes.

"You are so fucked. Not even Princess Azula can save you now." Saro commented eerily much to Azula's grudgingly curiosity and the two noblewomen's growing unease.

That was when Azula glanced down into the pit with widened eyes while her two subordinates also stood frozen while they watched a bloodied hand emerge into view.

Far down below in the vast pit a climbing hook was buried in the rock wall.

Dust and rocks fell hundreds of feet into the pit when the hand grasped onto the rock wall before furiously pulling themselves upward.

This was the first time in all of their lives that Mai and Ty Lee found themselves more frightened of someone more than Azula.

The two women took a nervous step backwards while the princess turned to gaze at Mai's pale face with unsympathetic amber golden eyes.

In that very moment they saw the Avatar's sky bison soaring through the air with two people on his back.

Katara lay covered blood while Sokka held onto her with his furious blue eyes in worry while Momo sat perched on his shoulder.

Iroh wheeled around with relief in his eyes upon seeing Appa land before them.

Only to pale at the state of Katara.

Both Zuko and Aang leaped to their feet with their mouths agape in horror when their eyes landed on their blood-soaked friend.

"Katara!" Aang shouted with tears in his eyes while he stood frozen gazing at Katara.

The cause for their horror?

Katara's right arm was so horribly damaged that amputation may be the only option!

"N-no! No!" Pakku cried out in despair before sinking to his knees with tears in his eyes.

"G-go! We need to get out of here and get Katara medical aid!" Sokka screamed in a panicking voice while they all gazed down at the woman in realization.

"What…what will we do about Toph?" Zuko asked in a frightened voice while Sokka continued to yell in terror.

"W-we'll have to come back and search for her when she's gone! Start the airship! Now!" Sokka yelled in a terrified voice while pointing down at the terrifying captain emerging from the pit.

A grappling hook was fired into the air past the princess's head while she watched it embed into the towering cliffside.

Only for Mai and Ty Lee to back away even further when Zoi burst into the air above their heads just before skidding to a stop on the hillside.

Piercing golden eyes turned to glare down at Mai's stunned face.

The warrior glared down at them with her blood-soaked face agape in unadulterated rage.

'How is she alive!' Mai thought with clear fear in her eyes while Zoi began to drop down on the cliffside.

The captain slid down with her backside pressed into the dusty ground while the princess stared up at her in relief.

Zoi's survival was a much more preferable outcome.

Not only did she no longer have to concern herself with explaining to Yoko that her daughter was murdered.

She was a far too valuable soldier to lose.

Fortunate for herself anyhow, but unfortunate for Mai.

Zoi slid with her right hand gripping her utility gun while Ty Lee too cowered under her enraged glare.

The cause for her rage was obvious to even the dimmest of individuals.

The entirety of Zoi's upper body armor had been blown off in her fall into the minefield.

"It is good to see that you are alive. Try to refrain from killing Mai. I can assure you that she will be…" Azula trailed off when Zoi landed crouched before her with her golden eyes wide in wrath.

That was when the princess noted a small platoon of rebel soldiers pouring from a nearby opening in a mad sprint for the airship.

"Sword." Zoi demanded before slowly standing up with her hand held out while she glared down at Saro's sweating face.

"Of course, Captain." Saro answered with his hand held out while Zoi grasped onto the hilt with her blood-stained fingers.

The two noblewomen could only shudder while they watched the enemy soldiers flee in terror with their frightened shouts ringing out over the battlefield.

All the while the allied forces stared down with fear in their eyes while they watched their terror-stricken soldiers scramble for safety.

"Get those men aboard! Quickly!" Iroh ordered with Zuko rushing after him while they stared down in fright when Zoi arose to her feet.

In the ensuing chaos it would become clear to Mai and Ty Lee just why Azula favored Zoi so deeply.

Zoi turned to gaze into Mai's unnerved eyes before mouthing only six words.

"I am going to kill you." Zoi spoke eerily before turning her gaze back to the fleeing enemy forces.

The blunt statement hit the other woman in the chest harder than she would have liked to admit.

"I would prefer it you searched for the girl rather than pursue these nothings…but you aren't going to listen. Are you?" Azula sighed in a lazily callous voice while she turned to watch Zoi glare after the fleeing rebel soldiers.

The warrior bit into her lip before tipping her head back to release a thunderous battle cry that sent shivers down the spines of all but Azula.

"Rebels!" Zoi bellowed before propelling herself into the air with her grappling hook.

And then turned to watch while the terrifying soldier swung after the fleeing rebel forces.

"Poor bastards." The lieutenant mumbled coldly with a slight shudder before leaping back into the pit.

"We need to get to the ship!" A rebel soldier cried out in terror with several men running alongside him.

Only to pale in terror when the grappling gun swung around to the neck of the man beside him.

And then to the horror of his comrades they watched the man fall face first into the dirt.

"Help me! Someone help me!" The man screamed with his words echoing onto the airship only for his comrades to spring ahead in terror.

And then to the two noblewomen and the princess watched the warrior use the downed man as a swinging post before propelling herself through the air.

And then Ty Lee watched with her mouth open wide when Zoi's sword pierced the now gurgling man's neck.

Zuko stared down over the catwalk of the ship with his mouth entrenched into a scowl of disgust over the sheer brutality.

The man dropped lifeless in the dirt while Azula's lips began to curl into a smile once more before she watched Zoi fire her rope around the next man's neck.

Aang's mouth was ajar in outrage while he pushed himself to his feet only for Pakku to shove him down.

"Stay put boy! She'll slaughter you in that condition!" Pakku exclaimed while Sokka cradled Katara to his chest with tears still stinging his eyes.

"What are we waiting for! Go! Go!" Another commanding officer roared in a panic with his hands on the rails.

"B-but the others aren't aboard!" Another voice protested only to pale when he watched the enraged warrior impale a third man.

"There's nothing we can do for them! Just go!" The other man bellowed with Team Avatar staring at him in a mix of disgust and shock.

Iroh had leaped over the rails before dropping down in the dirt while the princess watched the ensuing carnage in delight.

Men began to pour onto the loading dock while the last few stragglers ran in a terror-stricken frenzy.

"Run faster you stupid bastard!" A rebel yelled on the ramp with fear in his eyes while the vengeful woman swung into the air once more.

"Onboard! Onboard now!" Iroh called out after grasping onto a soldier's hand before pulling him onboard.

"S-she's insane Azula!" Ty Lee stammered in disbelief while she watched the line pierce another sentry's shoulder.

Before the now screaming man was pulled to the ground with the captain now looming over him.

"No Ty Lee. Zoi is just dedicated." Azula scoffed with a cold shake of her head while the other two women shivered when the warrior's shouts filled the air.

"There is no escaping my wrath!" Zoi screamed before plunging her sword through the back of the man's skull.

It pierced straight through while the doors of the airship finally closed shut just after Iroh pulled the final surviving soldier aboard.

And then it began to rev into the air while Zoi turned to glare up at it with bloodthirsty golden eyes.

"Where are you going? I am not…finished with you yet!" Zoi snarled before stunning even Azula when she fired off her line into an underlying pipe.

Before propelling herself into the air with the airship while the princess watched in disbelief.

"What is she doing? Even she can't fight everyone on that ship alone!" Azula exclaimed in returning annoyance before turning her gaze back to the open pit before her.

"Wouldn't that be tragic." Mai grumbled while the princess glared at her through the corner of her eye.

"Enough idling! Get down there and don't come back until you find my handmaid!" Azula barked in a furious voice while Mai nodded before jumping into the open earth.

And just when Ty Lee was about to follow suit the princess's voice snapped out to her.

"Not you. You stay put. The last thing I need is for you to kill yourself on a bad leg." Azula spoke icily with Ty Lee staring back at her in surprise.

And then Ty Lee hesitantly seated herself at her friend's feet before settling on gazing into the pit.

'I…hate sitting here like this. But Azula is right. I will only hinder the search on this broken ankle.' Ty Lee thought with her fists balling up in her frustration.

All the while the airship flew high into the air while the Gaang knelt tending to the moaning Katara.

"I need more medical supplies! Hurry!" Pakku yelled with Sokka tearing up in concern alongside him.

Aang too was crying with shame in his eyes.

Crying for the soldiers that gave their lives so he could survive, and for the state of the woman he loves.

And for being forced to abandon one of his best friends!

"Do you think that she will be okay?" Zuko inquired quietly with his good hand clenched at his side while Pakku remained eerily silent.

Only for the sound of a soldier to run towards them with an expression of terror in his eyes.

"She's climbing aboard the ship!" The soldier shouted to the disbelief of all that were present aboard the airship.

"You can't be…" Zuko trailed off after running over to gaze overboard in shock to see Zoi scaling the airship.

"Get Iroh and Jeong Jeong! Now!" Pakku ordered with haste in his voice while soldiers ran off to obey the order.

"Fire upon her now!" A commanding officer called out while the Gaang sat in terror while they watched several men firebend over the rails.

Each and every one of them now understood what Zuko meant when he had said that Zoi was nothing like anything they had ever encountered before.

"H-how is she this strong! It's insane!" Sokka exclaimed while he watched medics rush his sister to safety on a stretcher.

"The warriors of the Song clan have always been known for their monstrous stamina!" Zuko answered with a deadly serious countenance.

The enraged warrior suddenly shot her line around a rebel firebender's neck before the group watched in horror when she used the man to hurl herself over the rails.

And then Zoi dropped down behind the now terrified man with her blade around his throat while her cold eyes flickered about.

"W-what a monster! She fought her way aboard the airship!" A White Lotus Sentry cried out with disbelief in his eyes just when several high-ranking members burst through a set of doors.

Only to find themselves gazing on with widened eyes at the sight of the ruthless soldier standing with her blade in a whimpering man's neck.

"Avatar…I told you that I was going to show you what I am all about…didn't I?" Zoi greeted in a chilling voice while Aang stared back at her with frightened gray eyes.

"Let him go! Now!" Aang yelled out naively with anger in his eyes while he rose only for Iroh to hold out his hand.

Iroh and Jeong Jeong stood exchanging a wary glance before turning to meet the intruder's gaze.

"Even you can't fight us all Zoi. What you are doing is suicide!" Iroh shouted with his eyes narrowing in hate at Zoi while she gazed back unblinking.

"I suppose we'll just have to see…won't we?" Zoi responded before charging forward with her flesh shield cowering against her blade.

"She's using him as a flesh shield!" Jeong Jeong called out in his anger while the group watched Zoi sprint forward with her hostage in her arms.

And then when Zoi was within striking range.

She callously throw her hostage as a screaming projectile at the small group of rebels.

Zuko released a grunt of surprise when the other man landed atop him while they crumbled to the flooring of the steel floor.

And then almost as if in slow motion Zoi fired off her line ahead of the bewildered group before springing straight towards Zuko!

"Zuko!" Aang shouted in alarm before staggering forward to assist his new friend.

And just when Zuko nearly received a blade to the chest he found himself staring with horrified eyes to see that his uncle had leaped into the way of the warrior's swing.

"Uncle!" Zuko cried out in fury while Iroh released a pained grunt when Zoi's sword sliced straight through his left eye.

"An eye for an eye." Zoi spoke smugly with her lips curving into victorious smile before springing backwards when a stream of flame nearly seared her chest.

"You! You will pay for this Zoi!" Zuko bellowed in an anguished voice with his fists aflame while Zoi smirked over in the direction of his uncle kneeling with a hand over his bleeding face.

The Gaang stood staring at the ruthless woman in disbelief before watching in anger when she shot her line onto the rails once more.

"Until we meet again…Avatar." Zoi concluded before leaping over the rails to avoid a fireball courtesy of Zuko and Jeong Jeong.

And then they watched Zoi jump off the airship in freefall while they all stood gazing down at her in newfound hatred.

Zoi dropped in midair at a terrifying rate before she hastily firing off her parachute.

And then she dropped through the air with her golden eyes briefly losing their hardened edge while she gently glided her way back to the princess's location.

"It will be nice…to return home and see my sister. I've…missed her." Zoi muttered in a tone of rare reminiscence while she steered her parachute towards the tropical cliff range once more.

Only to turn her head and gaze back at the vanishing airship with her cold eyes narrowing one final time.

The next time they won't be so lucky.

Elle stirred when a few droplets of water splashed against her cheek.

She released a soft moan before opening her eyes expecting to see that her princess had recovered her.

Only to widen her eyes in surprise to find herself gazing up at Toph's dimly lit face.

"You alright Sunshine?" Toph pondered in a casual voice while Elle sat up with a surprised countenance.

"Toph! What are you doing here!" Elle chirped after sitting up only to hold onto her chest with her eyes wincing in pain.

It would seem that the usage of her new power was just now coming back to bite her.

"Saving you! What does it look like?" Toph scoffed with her back to the younger girl while she dipped a piece of cloth in an underground stream.

"I…know. What I was asking is why? How will you rejoin up with your comrades if you are down here with me?" Elle answered in a softer voice while the woman patted down her face with her good arm.

"You would be dead if I wasn't here." Toph stated bluntly while Elle peered up at her with a grateful realization in her eyes.

"Thank you. You have my eternal gratitude." Elle spoke warmly with a nod while Toph quirked a slight grin down at her.

"Oh, I know. But I am not so sure about the company that you keep." Toph commented dryly with Elle frowning in understanding.

"I will tell Azula-sama that you saved me and convince her to show mercy in recognition for your kindness!" Elle cried out while the older girl wrinkled her nose in doubt.

"I doubt that." Toph snorted with her usual sass while Elle turned away to gaze down at her feet.

"She's not so bad you know. She's just…misunderstood." Elle stated with sincerity in her voice while Toph leaned back against the cave wall.

"And I'm not blind." Toph snickered with a trace of amusement in her voice while the younger girl managed a slight smile.

She was well aware of the risk that she took saving this girl's life.

Now she's cut off from her friends and stuck here in a hornet's nest of enemy forces with a broken arm.

'But…if Azula truly cares about this girl the way she claims. I should be able to work something out with her. No. The one I really need to be worried about is Captain Bloodshed…' Toph thought with her fist tightening in her lap.

She at least could take comfort in knowing that her friends have escaped.

She sensed it just moments ago. Sokka and Katara made it out with Appa and Momo.

"No really! I'm not saying that the princess is a saint by any means. She can be a cruel, cruel person when she puts her mind to it. But…aren't you friends with Zuko and her Uncle Iroh? I've heard that the two of them have committed their own fair share of atrocities. So, it seems to be that it runs in the family." Elle explained with her hands in her lap while the earthbender listened in a taken aback silence.

"You've got me there. It wasn't too long ago that we were running from Zuko in place of his sister." Toph commented with a sigh while Elle continued to clutch her chest.

"But she's been very good to me! We share a tea every morning, and we eat breakfast together. She lets me sit beside her and even when she's busy, she always listens to what I have to say. Even if it's just to tell me that I am a foolish peasant. I always get a response!" Elle conversed with a returning smile while Toph tilted her head in surprise.

"Eh…well that's good I suppose. You're her royal servant, right?" Toph pondered with a curious countenance while Elle eagerly nodded her little head.

"Yep! Her favorite handmaid!" Elle declared with a childish puff of her chest while the woman listened in dry amusement.

"Favorite handmaid huh?" Toph replied in a social voice while she listened to Elle breath heavily.

"That's so! Her girlfriend too. She keeps me close all day long so I can serve her when she needs me. And in turn…she protects me." Elle confessed with a bashful smile while still holding onto her pained chest.

'That doesn't sound like the Azula we know. Maybe…. just maybe if worse comes to worse Sunshine can help us negotiate terms of peace.' Toph wondered with a thoughtful countenance before turning her head to 'gaze' down at her strange new friend.

All the while mulling over the most recent development in their continuing war.

The Avatar's purpose was to provide balance to the four nations.

And this Component has the power to cut through the Avatar's spiritual energy.

Yet what was the purpose behind the Component?

And why out of everyone that could have received this power was it Sunshine of people?

It would seem that she was wrong when she assured her friends that Elle was harmless.

Who would have ever thought that this fragile girl would be capable of such a mindboggling power?

"I see…let's say that you're right about Azula. You do know…that her father is rotten to the core. Don't you?" Toph inquired with a scowl while Elle sat back against the wall.

"I've never met Azula-sama's father. But I have heard awful things about him. She says…that he wouldn't approve of our relationship. So, she keeps me away from him…that's why she keeps me on hand as her royal servant. So, she can look out for me!" Elle admitted with a look of admiration in her eyes while Toph nodded thoughtfully.

"That is probably for the best…breath slowly Sunshine. Try not to strain yourself." Toph instructed with a hand on the girl's shoulder while Elle began to rasp for air.

"I-I need my inhaler." Elle stammered with a gasp while she sunk back breathing in increasingly louder increments.

"Just wait a few more minutes. It looks like your princess will be here shortly. Until then…it's best if you don't talk." Toph answered in a grudgingly concerned voice while the petite girl released a quiet pained moan.

"U-understood." Elle mumbled in a tired voice while wheezing for air before slowly closing her eyes.

And Toph sat above her with her ears attentively listening to Elle's panting while the girl began to slip away into unconsciousness.

Toph frowned before she reached down to place a finger on Elle's wrist while she continued to listen to Elle's strained breathing.

Only to turn her head when she heard the sound of approaching voices.

The sound of footsteps rushing her way continued to draw closer and closer.

Until…

After being told that the sound of heavy breathing could be heard in a small cave up ahead.

Mai took off sprinting down a narrow corridor.

All the while finding her heart was beginning to race at the thought of losing the girl.

A strange young girl from a faraway foreign land that she now saw as her precious little sister.

She was the first to storm into the cave with a gas lit lamp in hand.

Only to pause with her shock in her tawny eyes when she found herself gazing back at not only Elle.

But the earthbender as well!

In the now lamp lit cave the other woman sat calmly beside the wheezing young girl while her tawny eyes widened in fear for the girl's safety.

"You make sure to tell Azula that I saved her life. And I expect the same in return." Toph greeted curtly after turning to Mai while the other noblewoman nodded in understanding.

"Understood. I will relay the message to Azula." Mai spoke before turning away with her eyes flashing in concern once more.

"You be sure to do that. And keep that lunatic away from me." Toph called out while the other woman began to walk away.

"Thank you." Mai muttered with relief in her voice while she stopped to gaze back at the silent earthbender.

Before breaking out into a trained run to reach the princess as quickly as humanly possible.

Azula and Ty Lee spun around when they heard Mai's voice calling out to them.

"I found her Azula! She's alive!" Mai shouted from below in the tunnel while Azula stood gazing down with callous amber golden eyes.

The princess's seemingly uncaring gaze stared down with just a flicker of relief in her eyes.

Before she swiftly hardened her cold eyes once more while Ty Lee cried in joy beside her.

"That is wonderful news Azula!" Ty Lee cried out with tears in her eyes while Azula rolled her elegant eyes in an attempt to play off her concern.

"Yes. Ty Lee. The tiger monkey is alive." Azula scoffed in a pompous voice while Ty Lee stared up at her with scolding brown-gray eyes.

"But she's having difficulty breathing. She needs her breather." Mai informed with a frown while the princess gazed down through the tunnel.

The princess's lips began to crease into a displeased frown after hearing those aggravating words.

"Then bring her up already!" Azula snapped in an icy voice while Ty Lee listened in concern alongside her.

"It's…complicated. It's probably best if you just brought it down." Mai answered vaguely to her friends rising worry.

"Azula?" Ty Lee pondered in a sisterly voice while the regal woman turned to glance down at her.

"Go get her stupid bag and I'll bring it down to her." Azula commanded with her arms crossed over her breasts.

"Right away Azula!" Ty Lee exclaimed with a small smile on her lips before rushing over on her good leg to retrieve the bag.

All the while the princess stood glaring down into the dark tunnel with her seemingly uncaring lips entrenched into a scowl.

Mere moments later the bag was tossed into her open palm.

And then Azula wordlessly leaped into the pit with her boots skillfully sliding down the walls of the vast tunnel.

Ty Lee stood marveling down at the sight of her selfish friend leaping in to rescue their young companion.

'You have a way with getting into people's hearts Elle. To think that you managed to befriend Azula of all people.' Ty Lee thought with a soft smile on her lips before shaking her head fondly.

Elle sure was something.

That she knew for certain.

The princess followed after the gloomy noblewoman just before stepping into the opening of a small cave.

The only sounds that she could hear in the dark cavern was the sound of a tiny underground stream running through the cave network.

And the sound of a young girl rasping for air in her sleep.

Just before Azula could even finishing taking her first step forward she illuminated her pathway with her flames which provided much needed light in the dark cavern.

The princess's pointed boot stomped into the wet floor of the cavern with her terrifying amber golden eyes narrowing across the distance of the cave.

"What are you doing with her?" Azula demanded in a frigid manner while she glared at the blind earthbender with an almost protective edge to her voice.

It was a tone so cold that Mai couldn't help but shiver alongside her while she watched the possessive princess stomp over to the moaning girl's side.

"Doing with her? A little possessive much?" Toph taunted with a grin before lazily scratching at her ear while Azula now glowered down at her.

"Answer the question dirt peasant!" Azula barked with her sweaty face glaring down at her whimpering girlfriend in rapidly rising fury.

"Peasant? I'm not a peasant. I will have you know that I am Beifong nobility." Toph answered while the princess stared down at her with her amber golden eyes agape in murderous impatience.

Azula released a furious grunt with her arms crossed over her breasts while her intimidating glare never left the other woman's face.

All the while being too prideful and too angry to openly admit her error.

"Filthy earthbender then. Why are you with my handmaid?" Azula growled with her piercing eyes glaring down at the woman seated beside her companion.

"She saved Elle's life Azula." Mai remarked from behind Azula while the other woman turned to gaze over her shoulder with surprised amber golden eyes.

"Had I not jumped in to save her. I have no doubt that she would have broken her back in the fall." Toph explained in a serious voice while Azula gazed down at Elle with something akin to alarm in her strict stare.

Mai and Azula exchanged a momentary glance before turning to peer back down at their young companion.

The earthbender's words had a sobering effect on both of them.

Even Azula.

Just knowing that they would have been staring down at Elle's shattered corpse was a truly disturbing thought.

And Azula couldn't help but stare down at Elle with her stern eyes reflecting her shock that her loyal handmaid nearly gave her life to save her.

Once more. No one…has ever thrown themselves in harm's way for her before!

"And you remained behind…to save her. You know that your friends have left. Don't you?" Azula spoke in a refined voice while gazing down at Toph through the corner of her eye.

"Yep. I am well aware. But I'm not too worried about it because Sunshine and I went over terms while we were waiting for you." Toph revealed almost casually while the princess reeled around with her amber golden eyes narrowing down at her dangerously.

"Terms! It is not a handmaid's place to offer terms!" Azula snapped while she glared down at the other woman in ever rising annoyance.

"Huh. I could have sworn that she was your girl." Toph teased with a growing smirk while Azula clenched her teeth in her growing anger.

She should have never spoken those words over the battlefield!

It was a foolish mistake.

One that she will be certain not to repeat!

"She is my royal servant and nothing more. A handmaid does not speak for her mistress. You would do well to remember that in the future…if you make it out of here alive." Azula announced in a ruthless voice with her icy eyes lingering on Elle's sweating face.

"Wow. You really are a stuck-up bitch, aren't you?" Toph replied while Mai let out a snort of amusement alongside the now enraged princess.

"Silence earthbender." Azula snapped in a tyrannical voice while she held a clenched fist before her face.

"The kid's got some really weird tastes. Odd." Toph snickered with a finger underneath her chin while Azula fumed with her face almost reddening in anger.

"Not gonna argue with you there." Mai stated dryly with her tawny eyes gazing down at her fingernails while the princess turned to cast her a piercing death glare.

"Look I can already tell that you two are a really weird couple. But you know what they say. There's someone out there for everyone." Toph commented with the princess's amber golden eyes now burning through her skull.

"I hope you've enjoyed yourself. Because you will soon be lamenting your foolish decision to show sympathy to your enemy in your death throes." Azula declared in a voice devoid of compassion while Mai gazed at her back in disbelief.

"Really? Because she told me that you would show me mercy in recognition of my kindness." Toph snorted with her broken arm laying at her side while Azula knelt down over Elle's rasping form.

"And so, I shall. I will grant you the mercy of a quick death." Azula sneered with her callous voice causing Mai to shudder before placing a tired hand on her handmaid's cheek.

"Oh no. Sunshine assured me that I would leave unharmed." Toph continued with a small trace of smugness in her voice while the princess glared at her once more.

"Did she now?" Azula nearly hissed with strict eyes silently chastising Elle's sleeping face.

"Totally. I was even promised a small paddle boat to get me off this miserable island." Toph boasted with a confident countenance about her while she listened to Azula grit her teeth above her.

"You are kind of locked into it Azula. If Elle finds out that you killed the person that saved her…" Mai trailed off while Azula turned to glare over her shoulder at her.

And then the princess gazed back down at her handmaid's gasping face with a displeased frown on her sophisticated lips.

As much as she was loathed to admit it. Mai was right.

'If I kill the earthbender I will never hear the end of it!' Azula thought with her nostrils exhaling an angered snort.

And then she reached into her servant's bag before withdrawing the girl's breather from the pouch labeled as follows.

Medicine.

"So be it earthbender. In exchange for your assistance in retrieving this war power I will grant you a one-time mercy." Azula spoke at long last with her eyes peering down at her girlfriend's panting face while the other woman finally pushed herself to her feet.

"It pleases me that we could work out an agreement." Toph responded before turning to walk away.

"The next time we meet…I will not be so merciful." Azula called out while gazing over her shoulder at the other woman's darkened form.

"Got it Princess." Toph answered dismissively with a wave of her hand while Azula glared after her.

"And do tell the Avatar that I send my regards. The next time I see him…I am going to break his bones and parade his crippled body through the streets." Azula remarked with a ruthless smile while Mai shivered behind her.

Toph clenched her fist in anger before stomping through a wall of shifting rock.

What a first-class cunt!

Whatever that girl saw in her was beyond her!

As soon as their enemy had left the two women turned their attentions back to the young companion's predicament.

"Foolish peasant." Azula snorted in a seemingly cruel voice while Mai glared down at her through the corner of her eye.

"A-Azula-sama?" Elle mumbled in a cough while her inhaler was inserted between her lips.

"Be silent until you can breathe girl!" Azula commanded with her crimson lips curling into a scowl while she knelt glaring down at her little girlfriend's whimpering face.

Elle managed a shy smile while the princess held her breather between her lips.

And then she took several rapid breaths while the two women loomed over her with concern in their stoic eyes.

Elle coughed into her breather while Azula frowned down at her with such strict disapproval that she couldn't help but shrink under her angered glare.

"Cease that at once! I command you to breathe normally or I will punish you!" Azula snapped in a pompous voice while her subordinate rolled her eyes outside of her line of vision.

Before Elle could even so much as attempt to utter a word Azula silenced her by glare alone.

And then the regal woman stooped down until they were at eye level before placing a gentle hand behind the younger girl's gasping head.

All while Mai observed with shocked tawny eyes when the princess quickly withdrew the inhaler.

Before Azula suddenly pressing her lips against Elle's gasping mouth.

Elle peered up at Azula with her amber eyes widening in reverence while the woman began to breathe into her open mouth.

The princess released a dominant growl while she held the smaller girl's stunned face to her lips before exhaling into her handmaid's mouth once more.

"A-arigatou gozaimasu." Elle stammered with a tear dripping down her cheek while Azula's imposing amber golden glare made her shrink as if she were a misbehaving puppy.

"That was a stupid thing to do." Azula remarked with her breath still tickling against Elle's skin while she reached out to tenderly brush her long fingernails against her handmaid's cheek.

All the while she allowed her handmaid to fall forward into her armored chest with her toned arms holding her young love interest into the crook of her neck.

And Elle continued to peer up into the princess's callous eyes with her amber eyes misting up once more.

Only for the ruthless woman to release another intimidating growl before exhaling into her girlfriend's mouth all the while never releasing her grip on her handmaid's cheeks.

"You could have died. And that…would displease me." Azula spoke in a scolding voice while her little handmaid trembled beneath her powerful fingertips.

Tears continued to drip down Elle's cheeks while she gazed up at Azula just as the woman exhaled between her lips once more.

It was all Elle could do to simply numbly nod in response just as her breathing began to finally stabilize.

That was when soft red lips began to withdraw from her mouth before she sunk face first into Azula's magnificent plated chest.

The handmaid continued to cry with a serene look in her eyes while she listened to the princess sigh above her.

She was not crying because of sadness. No, she was crying because she was happy. So unbelievably happy.

Mai could only stare down at the two with her tawny eyes still stunned to witness Azula behaving so…gentle.

"Should there be a repeat of this incident…I will imprison you in Boiling Rock. Is that understood girl?" Azula commented with a deep scowl on her royal lips while she held Elle close to her bosom.

And then Mai found herself groaning under her breath in aggravation.

Only Azula would threaten imprisonment to a girl that saved her life!

"Yes…Azula-sama. As you command…always as you command." Elle agreed in a timid voice with a twinge of pink on her cheeks before she felt Azula's muscular arms wrap tightly around her.

And then the woman arose to her feet all the while lifting her into the air with her head still pressing into her armored breasts.

"Good girl Elle. Good girl." Azula sighed with a shake of her head while holding her girlfriend bridal style in her arms.

Elle smiled bashfully while she listened to the sound of her assertive princess walking out of the cave with a strong hand resting on the back of her golden head.

Azula turned to wordlessly glance at Mai's taken aback face before departing from the cavern with Elle snuggling face first into her plated chest.

"Azula-sama?" Elle pondered quietly while the princess swiftly strode out of the underground cave system.

"Yes Elle?" Azula found herself replying without delay while her strict amber golden eyes gazed down at her petite love interest curled up in her strong arms.

"I-I am glad that they didn't take you away. I-I wouldn't be able to go on…if I lost you." Elle confessed in a shaken voice while Azula's cold eyes stared down at her in surprise.

This was the first time that anyone has ever said those words to her before.

Her handmaid wouldn't be able to go on without her?

It was such a foreign concept to her. Yet pleasing to her ears all the same.

"Simple minded peasant. Your concern is unneeded. I am not so easy to kill." Azula scoffed with her amber golden eyes rolling snidely above her handmaid's content little face.

Elle hid with her face burying in between the princess's armored breasts while she listened to the powerful woman rapidly exit the narrow tunnel.

And then she felt Azula's mighty arms hold her tight just before effortlessly leaping high into the air.

Her blonde hair blew in her amber eyes while she peered up at the princess elegantly bounding off the walls of the towering tunnel in awe.

And then she sunk back into Azula's golden plated chest with an expression of acceptance in her eyes.

She did not regret her choice. Not one bit.

It was a selfish one to be sure. But…

How could she cast aside such a wonderful life?

All the while Azula occasionally glanced down at her with her icy amber golden eyes reflecting a margin of fondness for her young companion.

Just what was it about this peasant that made her feel so content?

It wasn't a question that she was certain that she was able to answer.

Ty Lee's face broke out into a relieved smile when she watched Azula leap from the pit with Elle in her arms.

And Mai soon after.

"Elle! Is she okay Azula!" Ty Lee shouted in an overly worried sisterly voice while the spoiled woman rolled her eyes once more.

"The girl is fine Ty Lee. But if you are so eager to gush over her then why don't you take her. I have better things to do than coddle peasants." Azula remarked in a sneering voice before thrusting the now pouting girl into the grinning Ty Lee's arms.

"I would be happy to Azula! We're so relieved to know that you are safe and sound little sister!" Ty Lee exclaimed before crushing Elle's blushing face into her breasts while the petite girl sweetly leaned into her protective embrace.

"T-thank you for worrying about me oneesan." Elle stammered in an adorable voice while Ty Lee gently patted her back.

"Aww! This calls for snuggle time!" Ty Lee cooed before smashing the bashful girl into her chest while the other two women gazed at her in deadpan.

"Ugh. Why don't you breast feed the girl while you're at it Ty Lee." Azula taunted with another snide roll of her eyes while her two-childhood friends gazed at her in disapproval.

"Do you have to be such a gigantic ass Azula? She saved your life! Not once. But twice!" Ty Lee snapped with her smile giving way to a frown while Elle pushed her face into her chest.

The princess turned around with her regal lips curling into a scowl while she gazed at the back of her handmaid's little golden head.

"You exaggerate Ty Lee. While it may have seemed that way to the untrained eye. In actuality I was really lulling my enemies into a state of false security while I recovered my chi." Azula boasted with a pompous huff while sweeping her dark hair from her sweaty eyes.

All the while paying no mind to how the two noblewomen were now rolling their eyes at her.

If only because her lips were curving into a smug smirk when her little handmaid peeked up to stare back at her with her mouth open in awe.

"Really? Your yells for release seemed quite genuine." Mai stated in monotone while Azula stood folding her arms over her breasts.

"What can I say Mai? I am a master of deception." Azula purred with smugness lacing her voice while Elle beamed over at her alongside the now signing Ty Lee.

"Wow! You're so amazing Azula-sama. I totally fell for it! I was sure that they were about to haul you off and kill you!" Elle chirped beside her amused big sister while the princess turned to growl in her direction.

"Are you doubting my power Elle?" Azula demanded in a domineering voice while she leveled her now gulping handmaid with a beyond imposing glare.

"N-no Azula-sama! S-sumimasen!" Elle cried out before breaking free from her big sister's arms to frantically bow before the now smirking Azula.

"Azula…" Ty Lee trailed off while she watched their young friend continue to bow to the smiling princess ten times over.

"You had better be servant! I will not tolerate this disrespect!" Azula barked before plopping down on her tired backside with a haughty huff.

As she watched her in satisfaction when her handmaid dropped down on all fours at her boots.

The two noblewomen just exchanged an exasperated glance while they watched the conceited princess take delight in their young friends' eagerness to please.

"I-I am sorry Azula-sama! I-I promise to do better!" Elle squeaked only to widen her amber eyes in surprise when a hand lowered down to pat her head.

"Hm. Even when my own friends betray me. I know that you will remain loyal." Azula commented in a pleased voice while petting her kneeling girlfriend's head with a pleased smile on her regal lips.

"Yes! Forever loyal to my princess!" Elle cheered with a sunny smile on her lips while she blushed under Azula's petting hand.

"That's a good handmaid. My favorite handmaid." Azula spoke with a pleased nod while she stared down at Elle's bowing form in approval.

"N-now that's unfair Azula. I didn't betray you and Mai had her…" Ty Lee trailed off before shuddering when Azula glared at her through the corner of her amber golden eye.

"You are a fool if you think that Mai is in the clear yet." Azula informed in a much colder voice while she still sat seated above her bowing handmaid with her fingers still trailing through the girl's hair.

Ty Lee flinched with a pale countenance while Mai turned away to gaze at their ruined airship.

All the while well aware that now would be the worst possible time to piss Azula off.

In fact, the more she does to get on her good side the better.

The only way that her clan would get out of this affair relatively unscathed would be if Azula spoke out in her defense.

The two women ultimately opted to remain silent while they awkwardly watched Azula sat with her legs folded beneath her and Elle attempting to curl up in her lap like a tired kitten.

The princess turned to scowl down at her young girlfriend with domineering amber golden eyes while watched the girl prop her little head up upon her sweat soaked thigh.

Yet the girl gave no indication that she was bothered by her sweat stained state of wear.

Azula just released an annoyed grunt while she watched the girl lay on her back with her head happily resting on her thigh.

Yet instead of making a move to push the girl away she continued to gently pet her handmaid's head while the girl adorably yawned in her lap.

Despite Ty Lee's worries for her friend she couldn't help but turn and smile in the odd couple's direction.

Azula and Elle certainly were a weird couple.

To say the least.

But adorable all the same!

That was when the three highborn women and their young companion were distracted by a single pilot rushing over to report to the seated princess.

Azula turned her callous amber golden eyes to a young woman lowering herself to prostrate on all fours just as Elle had been moments ago.

And her terrifying eyes now glared down at the seemingly frightened woman.

"Well? Out with it! Is the ship repairable?" Azula barked with her lips curling into a scowl when the young soldier hesitated to reply.

Only for Azula's strict gaze to make her sweat in growing unease before the pilot finally gained the courage to speak to her princess.

"N-no Princess! The e-engines are completely destroyed!" Nako answered with her face pressing into the dirt all the while shivering when Azula's eyes narrowed down at her into slits.

And then Elle found herself suddenly being shoved from Azula's lap while she now sat glaring down at the cowering soldier.

That was when Ty Lee grasped ahold of Elle's shirt while she quickly guided the pouting girl away from the furious princess.

"Come on Elle. It's best if you give Azula some space right now." Ty Lee advised in a terrified voice while she dragged her adopted sister after her.

Elle gulped in understanding before padding after Ty Lee when the princess's roaring voice split through the air like a whip.

"What! Destroyed you say!" Azula hissed with her blue fire already beginning to return to life while the poor girl shrunk even further under her merciless gaze.

"Y-yes Princess! Gone! As in destroyed by the enemy!" Nako cried out with sweat dripping down her brow before flinching when an azure inferno lit up behind the furious woman.

"Then repair it! That is your job is it not!" Azula shouted in anger while her subordinates shuddered in pity for the poor soldier that was completely at her mercy.

"I-it is but I…" Nako trailed off in a terrified voice when Azula's ruthless glare began to sap every ounce of courage from her body.

"Then what good are you if you can't speak properly much less perform the functions of your station?" Azula inquired in an enraged voice while she stared down at cowering solder in growing aggravation.

"A-Azula you're scaring the poor girl. She isn't the one that downed our ship." Ty Lee commented in a mutually intimidated voice while Azula turned to cast her a fleeting glare.

Nako closed her eyes before swallowing down her fear before swiftly opening her eyes to meet her princess's intimidating gaze.

"With all due respect Princess! I cannot repair a vaporized engine! There is nothing to repair! The engines were struck by a war cannon that cut straight through the entire engine body! It's gone! As in we no longer have any engines at all! All that remains is melted metal and small fragments of what once was!" Nako explained with a grimace lining her features while Azula clenched her fists at her hips in her anger.

All the while the princess's closest subordinates could only sit there and listen in growing alarm.

It was quickly becoming apparent that their situation was much more dire than they had first thought.

"Then send a messenger hawk for backup! You should have made contact with the rest of the fleet an hour ago!" Azula bellowed with blue fire still flaring all around her while Nako knelt just outside of the range of her flames.

"I-I tried! But I don't have any means to reach them Princess! Our messenger hawks escaped their cages in the crash! On top of that our supply of hot air balloons was likewise destroyed as well! We are stranded on Shantu Island! A-and that's not all! T-they burned our food stores too!" Nako announced to the shock of even the princess who now gazed down with utterly enraged amber golden eyes.

"You mean to tell me that we are stranded on this wretched island with no communications and to top it all off our supply of food is gone?" Azula inquired in an eerily composed voice while she stared down at the bowing woman's trembling face.

"T-that is correct Princess. And…t-there's more." Nako stuttered in a flinching voice while those present shivered when Azula stiffened with a positively murderous expression on her hardened face.

"More?" Azula growled with her palms resting on her knee pads while the young woman shakily met her frigid gaze.

"W-well it's just a theory of mine. But I believe that it was your uncle's intention to maroon us on Shantu Island. There is a good chance that our backup fleet suffered a similar fate. It is my belief that the enemy intended to destroy us all in one fell swoop! But I presume that they were surprised by your power Princess and this young girl's ability as well!" Nako responded in a hurried voice while Azula rolled her amber golden eyes down at her.

"I had already deduced as much myself but thank you for stating the obvious." Azula stated dryly with her teeth grinding together while she leaned back on her bottom.

"W-what I am trying to say is that I fear that we may be attacked by the enemy once more. I expect…that the enemy has ships moored around this island. And…they likely intend to starve us out Princess." Nako concluded with noticeable fear in her voice while raising a hand to accent her point before swallowing audibly under Azula's supremely intimidating stare.

"Why didn't you take the proper precautions to determine that it was a commandeered vessel beforehand!" Azula questioned with her fists gripping her kneepads while the pilot shrunk even lower under her stare.

Thus far both Mai and Ty Lee couldn't help but be impressed with the young woman's courage.

Most soldiers regardless of rank would have frozen up in terror long ago.

Azula had a debilitating effect on people.

Even her own fellow Fire Nationals were afraid to speak with her.

"W-we were primarily concerned with your safety Princess. Our focus was you and you alone. The enemy vessel approached as an allied ship normally would. We had no reason to believe that it was a commandeered vessel. You are our princess. You were in battle against the Avatar. If our focus had deviated even for a moment…you could have been killed as a result." Nako muttered with her palm tightening before her frustrated face while the princess's stern eyes briefly flashed in a flicker of surprise.

The two noblewomen and their young friend continued to listen to the conversation in growing fascination.

If only because Azula seemed to be making a genuine effort to head her people to the best of her capability.

And although Ty Lee wouldn't say it aloud.

She felt as if Azula was considering her words from their talk several weeks ago.

And what was most curious was the direction in which the conversation had flowed.

It had started with Azula berating and looking down at the pilot only to seemingly shift in the opposite direction.

Now it almost seemed that the woman had done the impossible.

She somehow managed to score points with Azula of all people.

And that, was most certainly no small feat.

It was obvious just by the inquisitive look in Azula's eyes that the young woman had garnered her approval.

"You were concerned with my safety?" Azula queried with a sliver of bewilderment in her stern voice only for Nako to furrow her brows in confusion.

"Why wouldn't I be concerned with your safety? You are my princess. What we were supposed to do? Ignore our Crown Princess's battle to shoot down what we thought was an allied vessel and murder hundreds…perhaps thousands of our own? Your uncle knew this and he took full advantage of it." Nako answered with an expression of admiration in her intimidated brown eyes while Azula now held a thoughtful palm below her chin.

"You are correct. I am your princess. Tell me…why do you persist in your cowering?" Azula pondered with a tilt of her head while she stared down at the woman's fearful face.

"M-may I speak bluntly Your Highness?" Nako requested in a quieter voice while the princess quirked an elegant brow above her.

"So long as you speak your words respectfully. Then by all means. Speak." Azula ordered with a lazy wave of her hand while young woman gulped under her strict gaze.

"T-there was fear amongst my superiors that the messenger might get struck by a lightning bolt. There was a g-good deal of muttering over who to send over. U-ultimately, I was chosen to deliver the news. B-because I am an inconsequentially ranked commoner…." Nako muttered with a nervous stammer to her voice all the while flinching under Azula's narrowing glare.

Mai and Ty Lee exchanged a shuddering glance while they gazed at their leader's stiffening back.

'Charming. People are so terrified of Azula that they have a debate over who to send over to deliver bad news.' Mai thought with her lips forming an unnerved frown.

Azula's lips curled into an offended scowl while she clenched her fists over her knees once more.

Only to roll her eyes when the woman cowered like a beaten dog once more.

"Quit your whimpering! I am not going to kill you!" Azula barked with a terribly unsocial countenance

As both of the princess's friends winced beyond her line of vision.

'That wasn't very helpful Azula! You really need to learn social skills!' Ty Lee thought while slapping a palm over her forehead in exasperation.

"Y-yes Princess! I-I apologize!" Nako exclaimed with her lips nearly kissing the dirt while the princess glowered down at her.

"What is your name?" Azula asked to the surprise of her closest subordinates while the pilot gazed up in surprise.

"N-Nako Princess. My name is Nako." Nako declared with a nod while she attempted to look her bravest under Azula's stern gaze.

That was when Azula slowly stood up while she remained prostrated with her brown eyes now staring back at the princess's pointed boots.

"Very well…Nako. As of this moment you are effectively promoted to chief pilot." Azula spoke curtly with her hands on her hips while Nako stared up at her in disbelief.

And the two noblewomen also gazed on in shock.

"W-what! Chief pilot?" Nako repeated in a stunned voice only for the princess to roll her elegant eyes over her.

"I just said as much didn't I? Do try to keep up Nako." Azula purred with a small trace of amusement in her silken voice while she observed the woman cry out in joy.

"Thank you, my princess! Thank you!" Nako cried out with her face nearly pressing into Azula's boot while the princess stared down at her with demanding amber golden eyes.

"I happen to value efficiency above all. And I simply will not tolerate individuals that lack the courage to report directly to me. So, do be certain to tell your former superiors that I would like to have a word with them." Azula ordered with an unforgiving countenance while the new chief pilot listened in astonishment.

"Understood! It will be done Princess!" Nako yelled out with a greatly increased expression of admiration in her eyes while the woman stood high above her.

"Good. I want you to start by planning out a detailed layout of this entire island. I want no stone left unturned. Is that understood?" Azula instructed with her palms clasped behind her back while Nako speedily nodded her head.

"Yes, Your Highness! What of the injured?" Nako asked in a voice in desperate need of guidance while she gazed up at Azula with fretful brown eyes.

The questioned seemed to cause the stony princess to pause with her crimson lips curving into a thin line.

"What is the extent of the injured?" Azula demanded in a still furious voice while the young woman paled under her gaze once more.

"I-I am uncertain of the exact number. B-but there are multiple people that were crushed beneath falling debris…some…still linger." Nako revealed to the horror of all listening while the princess's angered amber golden eyes turned to flicker over at the now ashamed faced Mai.

"Are you happy Mai? Perhaps if you hadn't had thrown Zoi down a minefield she may well have responded to the damage. And perhaps they would be alive. I suppose we'll never know…will we?" Azula inquired with an unnaturally furious expression in her amber golden eyes.

Mai said nothing in response instead she averted her eyes from the princess's enraged glare.

And not even Ty Lee or their chipper young friend had the courage to speak to the princess right now.

"You need to decide where your loyalty lies. If I should ever again hear of your name in association with treason and the death of Fire Nation soldiers. I will have you put to death. I suggest you remember that." Azula snapped with her icy eyes glaring over her two guilty faced subordinates before turning her attentions back to the prostrated woman before her.

The princess paused for the briefest of moments before opening her mouth to speak once again.

"Tend to those you can. Those that show promise to make it…even at the cost of loss of limbs. Give them aid. And those that are not…" Azula trailed off while attempting to conceal her surprising unease after hearing that some of her soldiers were maimed beyond help.

"Y-yes my princess. I will do so to the best of my ability." Nako assured with a rapid nod of her head while Azula still loomed high above her.

"See to that you do Nako. And try not to disappoint me. You are dismissed." Azula concluded in a mutter while she watched Nako hastily leap to her feet.

"Understood my princess! I confess that I am relieved that you are here to lead us. And not someone else. I find your presence of strength reassuring! Thank you…once again Princess!" Nako called out with an arm bent over her chest before bowing once more before the taken aback princess.

It was evident by the manner in which Azula's amber golden eyes stared down at Nako in faint surprise that she had not been expecting to hear those words.

And if they were being honest, neither were Mai or Ty Lee.

And then Azula turned away before waving the kowtowing woman off with her lips still pursed into a frown.

And only after Nako had run off did the composed princess finally speak.

" As if anyone else could do better. Isn't that right servant?" Azula spoke with her back turned to her three friends' while she listened to her loyal handmaid rushing back over to her side.

"Y-you're the best there is Azula-sama. I k-know so!" Elle stuttered with a slight cough while she beamed up at Azula's now frowning countenance.

The other two women also gazed on in concern before watching in a stunned silence when Azula turned to hold out her hand with the girl's inhaler in hand.

Elle peered up at her mistress with emotional amber eyes before she timidly reached out to accept it from the possessive princess.

"Take it. Now." Azula commanded with her lips pursing into a scowl while Elle shakily held her breather to her lips.

"A-arigatou gozaimasu Mistress." Elle murmured before taking several deep breaths of her medicine while she smiled shyly under the princess's strict amber golden gaze.

"I want you to remain in my sight at all times. No matter what. You stay where I can see you. And you don't do anything without my permission. Is that clear Elle?" Azula announced in a callous voice while she stared down at her pet's brightly smiling face.

"Wakarimashita Azula-sama!" Elle exclaimed before erupting into gentle hearted laughter when Azula patted her head once more.

The two noblewomen could only watch in an amazement while the controlling princess continued to pet the younger girl's blushing head beneath her left hand.

"That's my girl…my good girl." Azula commented with a margin of fondness permeating through her frigid voice while she gazed down at the much smaller girl beaming beneath her fingertips.

"A-Azula-sama…" Elle stammered in a gentle voice with her hands grasping at the princess's armored belly before pressing her face into the sighing woman's upper belly.

Ty Lee couldn't resist the smile that appeared on her lips once more.

She exchanged a brief glance with her fellow noblewoman before grinning at the scene once more.

It was good to have Elle around for more reasons than one. The more the girl worked her charms on Azula the less likely she was to vent her rage on Mai!

"How did you awaken such a power anyhow?" Azula pondered with a power-hungry curiosity to her strict while she allowed her girlfriend to nuzzle her belly.

The question earned a concerned glance from her two subordinates but she paid their gawking little mind.

"It beats me! I don't have a clue!" Elle cried out with an unwavering smile only for her big sisters to nearly fall over while Azula's amber golden eyes began to twitch in anger.

"You disrupted the Avatar's flow of chi with your attack and you don't have a clue!" Azula snapped with annoyance lacing her cold voice while Elle bashfully peeked up at her.

"Nope! I am clueless!" Elle blurted out while she listened to her princess groan in aggravation above her.

"Why does that not surprise me." Azula grunted with a roll of her regal eyes all the while staring down at her cheerful handmaid in genuine bewilderment.

'I still can't believe that this…little commoner girl is an ancient opposing force against the Spirit World! I will have to keep a closer watch on her. I have no doubt that father and his generals will wish to use her as a wartime weapon.' Azula thought with a small trace of unease flashing in her stoic stare.

But…she couldn't allow them to do that? Could she?

Not to this one.

Perhaps…she can keep a lid on it for a time.

But she has no doubt that her father will discover the truth eventually about both her relations with her handmaid and the girl's newfound powers.

"Please try not to be so hard on her Azula. I am sure it will come to her eventually." Ty Lee advised in a sisterly voice while her leader frowned down at their young friend's cheerful face.

"Well, I suppose I'll just have to lend you my unrivaled brilliance once more. I suppose I will just have to decipher it for you." Azula remarked in a calmer voice with her hand still in the girl's hair while Elle continued to press her cheek into her armored stomach.

"I am so fortunate to have your guidance Azula-sama! My life wouldn't feel right without you being here to tell me what to do!" Elle quipped in a joy filled voice Azula smirked down at her before offering her another pat to the head.

The two noblewomen just gazed humorously at their young companion's exuberant face while the princess gazed down at the girl in approval.

"It wouldn't be the same would it? Well then, it's a good thing that I am here to make your decisions for you. Tell me Elle…what was going through that little mind of yours before you awoke it?" Azula spoke with a finger below her chin while she peered down at her handmaid's lovably contemplative face.

"What was going through my mind…hm." Elle muttered before straightening with a hand under her chin while she adorably imitated the princess's pose.

"Yes…servant…your mind." Azula groaned with a fist on her hip while her subordinates listened in humor as she gazed down at her handmaid pressing a finger into her lower lip.

"Snuggles!" Elle exclaimed with certainty while Ty Lee giggled when the sound of Azula's palm slapping her own face echoed into the air.

"Snuggles?" Azula snorted with distaste lacing her elegant voice while her young girlfriend nodded exuberantly.

There was no way that she could ever allow her father to hear about this!

He would be completely and utterly disgusted!

"Well…I suppose that a simplistic way of describing it. But it did run through my mind." Elle admitted in a quieter voice while her princess released a sigh above her.

"What else went through your mind?" Azula asked in a dry voice while Elle averted her eyes from her piercing gaze.

"I…felt pain. A pain that I've only ever felt once before in my life." Elle mumbled with her hands grasping at the sleeves of her shirt while Azula quirked a brow in curiosity.

"Pain?" Azula repeated in a tone that she hoped wasn't too cold while her subordinate's listened in renewed sympathy for now saddened girl.

"The very thought of losing you filled me with heartache. It was…just like when I watched my mother die." Elle confessed with her head hanging low while all three women gazed at her in newfound concern.

"Elle…" Ty Lee trailed off with a tear already streaming down her cheek.

And for once Azula even refrained from making a mocking remark.

"I remember it was if it was yesterday. The Sun was shining…just like today. It…was a calm day. The birds were chirping. And then armed forces came and set fire to the village." Elle whispered with her amber eyes shaking in sorrow and anger while they listened in shock.

And Mai couldn't help but turn to scowl at Azula's back in disgust over how she was selfish enough to subject Elle to another war!

And Ty Lee stood frozen into silence while she swallowed a lump that was in her throat.

So…that's what Elle was crying about on that night.

"Their purpose was simple. Obtain any suspected gifted individuals that might be present in the village and kill off everyone else. As you know I tried to get my mother out…and…" Elle spoke with her head hung low while the princess listened in grudging concern.

"You've said more than enough. I get the picture." Azula sighed before folding her arms over her breasts while she gazed down at her girlfriend with a puzzling sense of anger bubbling up from within her belly.

Why does she feel this inexplicable urge to seek vengeance in this girl's name?

It was almost preposterous!

What did it matter to her? It didn't involve the Fire Nation and the Avatar. So why then?

"It was just like with my mother. And then with my father. The people that I love always die. I felt helpless. I felt like it was happening all over again. I…was worried that I was going to lose you all." Elle explained with her fists clutching her arms while her bangs overshadowed her eyes.

The three highborn women stood in a speechless silence while they gazed at their young friend's crying face uncertain of how to respond.

Even a woman as cruel as Azula felt pause.

"And…then I felt…angry. Angry that I was about to lose my family in another meaningless war! I didn't care if they had just cause. I won't watch that ever again! I…won't!" Elle cried out with her kind face contorting into fury before springing around to meet her princess's speechless gaze.

All three of them were greatly moved by their young friend's passionate display of emotion.

The princess was silent while she gazed down at her loyal handmaid with her amber golden eyes widening in astonishment.

'She…can't bear to lose us? To lose me?' Azula thought with her mouth open in disbelief while she frowned at the sight of several tears dripping down her pretty handmaid's cheek.

And then they watched in alarm when the young girl suddenly fell forward in exhaustion only to be swiftly caught in the princess's strong arms.

"Using that power drained her chi." Mai commented with a softened look in her tawny eyes while she eyed the girl's crying face.

"Foolish peasant. You are far too emotional for your own good." Azula snorted with the much smaller girl falling into her plated breasts.

"She…needs to rest Azula." Ty Lee spoke while wiping her own cheeks only for Azula to roll her eyes once more.

"I am well aware Ty Lee. I am more than capable of taking care of my own girlfriend!" Azula snapped with Elle falling into her armored chest.

"Azula-sama?" Elle murmured meekly in a return to her usual persona before hiding her face in Azula's magnificent royal armor while strong arms grasped at her shoulders.

"Yes Elle?" Azula responded without delay while her domineering eyes gazed down at the girl crying into her bosom.

"I-I'm not going to lose you right? We'll always be together…won't we?" Elle requested with a sniffle to the puzzlement of the callous princess and her big sister's.

For the briefest of moments Azula mulled over the strangely distasteful query before scowling with her little girlfriend's crying face in her toned arms.

"What a ridiculous question. You belong to me and there is nowhere else that I will permit you to be. No place…other than right here." Azula declared with her hands wrapped around the girl's shoulders while she held her handmaid face first into her chest.

"G-good. Because I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Nowhere but with you Azula-sama. Because…you are my home." Elle muttered with a smile finally returning to her lips while the two noblewomen watched Azula hold her in silent amazement.

"I am. Now that will be enough of your crying peasant. If you continue then I will have to discipline you." Azula announced with her regal lips curling into a refined smile before gently sweeping her handmaid's bangs from her lovely eyes.

"Yes Princess. I'll be good." Elle answered sweetly with her hands grasping at her older girlfriend's chest.

"I know Elle. I know." Azula spoke with another sigh while she stared down at Elle holding onto her chest.

No further words were said between them.

Elle simply rested with her face against Azula's plating while the regal woman peered down at her with a protective amber golden gaze.

Her mind was already made up.

She would discover the secrets involving her young girlfriend's power but…

It was to be used by her and her alone.

Azula nodded with her callous amber golden eyes reflecting her newfound resolve to look after her innocent girlfriend.

And if anyone should try to bring Elle to harm for the purpose of utilizing the girl's power.

Then they will find themselves dealing with her personally.

And that was a promise.

AN:

Alright, well there isn't as much to discuss this chapter.

I truly appreciate all of the glowing reviews that people are leaving me.

As usual, allow me to take a moment to respond to the reviews.

Elle is slowly but surely learning how to be bolder, although she still has a tendency to gave to Azula's every demand. We'll get to see her become bolder as the story goes on.

Thank you again Agent Banana! Azula will eventually stand up to her father later in the story. When that happens, she will declare her love for Elle.

I am happy that everyone liked the twist as much as me, and just as glad that you were all surprised. I thank everyone single one of you for your praise. I really do!

Now let's go over things.

Yeah, Zoe narrowly made it out alive. She used her grappling gun to escape the brunt of the explosion. And then she detonated the rest of the minefield because she was really, really pissed off.

This is going to play a heavy factor in the next twenty or so chapters of the story. Zoe is going to be rightfully after Mai's head.

Elle and Ty Lee will be pleading Azula to protect Mai but Azula is also rightfully enraged with Mai. House Song is the strongest house, and now Mai has put that loyalty into question.

Azula is trying to secure her power in case in comes down to a succession battle between either her father or Zuko.

And now House Song will be breathing down her neck for a harsh punishment to prove that she recognizes their loyalty.

At the same time Zuko is her brother. And Mai is her friend. Since Mai didn't stab Azula herself in the back she might have a smidge more mercy than if it were otherwise.

Even so, Azula is furious. If not for Elle, Azula would throw Mai in Boiling Rock for ten years without a second thought.

And it goes without saying that Iroh really underestimated Zoe. He was so caught up worrying about Azula's evolved bending and Elle's Component that he erroneously believed Zoe dead.

I wanted to showcase what a beast she is when she is pissed off and I feel like I did that adequately this chapter.

Her strength and stamina are much higher than normal, on top of that she uses a grappling hook gun to close the distance between herself and her opponent.

She fought her way aboard the airship to make a point to Iroh and the Gaang that she was not to be underestimated. And she cut out Iroh's left eye as a result.

Both Iroh and Katara incurred brutal injuries as a result of the battle.

And we also saw that Azula let Toph go because Elle requested it. Toph hates Azula but she is starting to get the idea that they need to consider negotiating with Azula if Aang cannot win.

She knows that Suki and the other Kyoshi Warriors have been in prison for over six years and that they need to get them out. With Elle's assistance, they might be able to negotiate an iffy peace.

But knowing the White Lotus they are not likely to give in so easily.

And so Azula and her people are stranded on this small mountainous island with no connection to the rest of their fleet. What happened?

I also wanted to demonstrate that although Iroh's cause is far more noble than Azula's that it is not won without casualties.

Whether he intended to do so or not, Iroh killed about seventeen Fire Nation citizens when he shot down Azula's ship.

Now Azula has to deal with the dead and the dying, finding food for her people, and scaling a mountain to get to higher ground.

Azula has to learn how to be a better leader.

As we saw in this chapter, our new secondary character Nako is a commoner, an aspiring airship pilot who is trying to feed her family with her new career in the military.

Because of the influence that Elle has had on her, Azula is trying (albeit poorly) to reassure the loyal that she isn't going to hurt them for no reason.

In a rare act of kindness Azula gave the girl a promotion and because of that Nako now sees Azula in a different light.

Anyway, we'll get more insight in Elle's past in the chapters to come.

Next time Azula and Zoe have to perform mercy killings for the brutally maimed. And we get to see a new compassionate side of Zoe that stuns even Azula.

Next chapter! Deliverance.