Hey everyone.
I am back with another chapter.
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As always please continue to do so!
And without further ado please enjoy!
Fire Mountain – Chapter Fifty-Six
Team Azula walked down the halls of the royal sloop while the princess strode with an unmentioned anger in her step.
Ty Lee now walked with her foot in a proper cast and a crutch onto her arm.
"You know Azula. I am surprised that you put Nako in the same hall as us." Mai stated in a monotone voice only to find herself shivering when Azula cast her yet another cold glare.
"That's because Nako is loyal. Unlike you." Azula answered in a noticeably irate voice while the other woman recoiled over her words.
"Azula…" Ty Lee trailed off in a bothered voice only to flinch when Azula glared at her as well.
"Governor Yoko is rightfully furious with you and your treasonous family. For your sake! You had best hope that she is as forgiving as Zoi is!" Azula snapped with her arms crossed over her breasts while her two friends paled in understanding.
Mai shuddered at the mere mention of the ruthless Song clan matriarch.
The woman was known for being rigid and unforgiving much like Ozai himself.
"You really are a thorn in my ass Mai. And I am starting to ponder if I should pick it out and be done with it." Azula remarked in a foul tempered voice while the two noblewomen fell into an unsettled silence.
And Ty Lee couldn't help but shift on her feet over how Azula just described their friend as if she was nothing more than a bug to be crushed.
Mai said nothing in response while Azula continued walking ahead with a glower on her lips.
Only to find themselves being rescued by a random servant running up to the scowling princess.
The two women couldn't help but shiver in pity for the poor girl who had unknowingly just diverted Azula's wrath onto herself.
The servant lowered herself onto the floor as she prostrated herself before the princess's boots while amber golden eyes stared harshly down at her.
"Y-you haven't given us any work to do Princess. I just thought to check and see if you needed us for anything. Is there something I can get for you?" Shae pondered with her face nearly touching the floor unaware that the princess was scowling at the nearest wall.
"No. I have no need for you. Scurry off. I already have my most faithful royal servant with me. She is the only royal servant that I need at this time." Azula commented in a rude voice with a snort while the young woman shifted fearfully under her stare.
"Come on Azula. You don't have to be so harsh on the poor girl." Ty Lee whispered as she nudged the spoiled woman's back while the princess released a prideful grunt.
If nothing else she hoped that Elle's presence could influence Azula into treating her other royal servants better.
"Since you are so eager to work for me. I suppose I could find work for you girls. Go clean my throne room!" Azula ordered with a lazy wave of her elegant hand while the servant speedily nodded under her stern stare.
"Yes Princess! We would be happy too!" The servant exclaimed as she arose in a bow while the towering woman gazed after her.
"And I had better be able to see my reflection in the flooring by the time you are through! Is that understood servant?" Azula demanded with a huff while her friends stared pointedly at her back.
Mai turned to cast the flinching acrobat with an incredulous stare.
As if she was asking why she had to go and prompt the princess to resume overworking the unfortunate servants.
"It will be done Your Highness. If…if I may say so Princess. I am relieved to hear that you are unharmed." Shae replied as she bowed with her head bent while the princess's amber golden gaze lessened ever so slightly.
"You are relieved that I am unharmed?" Azula asked in a carefully controlled voice while Ty Lee now grinned at her.
"Of course, Your Highness. You're our Crown Princess. We don't want to see you come to harm." The servant answered in a bow while the mighty woman regarded her in newfound approval.
"So, I am. Now go get to work. And be certain not to disappoint me." Azula commanded with a returning smile on her lips while the servant finally stood up.
"Yes, my princess. As you command." Shae concluded before she turned away and rushed down the other end of the hall while the three highborn women watched her walk off.
Once the servant was out of earshot Ty Lee couldn't resist patting the princess's shoulder while she smiled at her unsocial friend.
"See Azula. You don't always have to be mean to get what you want." Ty Lee chimed with a large grin while Azula rolled her amber golden eyes at her.
"Where is my Tiger Monkey? I demand that my pet cook me lunch." Azula spoke with a haughty smile just as her belly rumbled thunderously.
"I think she's in the kitchens making us lunch." Mai informed with a sliver of fondness in her composed voice while her stomach also growled loudly.
"You know! That sounds very appealing right now." Ty Lee stated with a blush on her cheeks when her belly rumbled in agreement.
"Hm. Perhaps we should go pay our pet peasant a visit and scrutinize her work. If the girl isn't working to our satisfaction, then we'll punish her." Azula declared with a refined smile on her full lips while she strode ahead of her friends.
"Yeah Azula. We'll punish her." Ty Lee giggled with a hand over her mouth as she followed after her controlling friend.
The mere implication of Azula even punishing Elle was just laughable.
Both Mai and Ty Lee knew well enough that the princess didn't have it in her to inflict even the slightest dose of cruelty on their young friend.
It wasn't until they approached the royal dining room that the trio paused when they heard upbeat music sounding off from within.
The two noblewomen gazed on in humor when they turned to the princess's reddened countenance.
Azula's hard expression gave way to a rare gaze of embarrassment while she released a barely suppressed groan of annoyance.
"Hail (hail), what's the matter with your head, yeah. Hail (hail), what's the matter with your mind and your sign? And-a ooh-ohh. Hail (hail), nothin's a matter with your head, baby, find it. Come on and find it. Hail, with it, baby, cause you're fine and you're mine. And you look so divine." Redbone sung from inside the royal dining area while the princess's amber golden eyes twitched in humiliation.
"What is that peasant doing?" Azula demanded flatly with aggravation dripping from her regal voice while Ty Lee laughed warmly alongside her.
"Come and get your love. Come and get your love. Come and get your love. Come and get your love!" Elle cried out as she sung over the lyrics while she happily swayed to the music.
The princess just stood with her jaw clenched together as a shade of pink overtook her royal cheeks.
"Go and get your love Azula." Mai taunted with a small smirk while the other woman glared a hole through her skull.
"Be silent Mai or I really will execute you." Azula growled with venom oozing from her voice while her two friends snickered at her expense.
And just as she was about to open the door she froze in shame when her captain rounded the corner with a curious look in her golden eyes.
'No! The last thing I need the tiger monkey to do is to humiliate me in front of Zoi!' Azula thought with something akin to parental embarrassment in her cold eyes while she turned to glare at the door.
"Is that music?" Zoi asked with a puzzled countenance that had all but Azula gazing on in amusement.
"It's just a little commoner music box!" Azula barked with a huff while Zoi offered her an amused smirk.
"Really Princess? There are over five million people in Fire Mountain and I have never encountered such a music box." Zoi commented before she opened the door while the princess glared at the back of her head.
The door opened not a minute later as all four highborn women gazed in with puzzled eyes to Elle dancing with her back turned to them.
Elle hummed with a joyful grin on her lips while she set the table in mid dance.
Ty Lee and Mai found themselves unable to resist smiling widely over their younger sister's recovery.
And Zoi couldn't help but stare on with her golden eyes blinking in wonderment over her new young friend's strange music device.
All of the sudden her previous suspicions regarding the girl's homeland started to make sense.
Just where was Elle from?
"Hail (hail), what's the matter with your feel, right? Don't you feel right, baby? Hail, oh yeah, get it from the main vine, alright. I said-a find it, find it, darling, love it if you like it, yeah. Hail (hail), it's your business if you want some. Take some, get it together baby." Elle sang as she snapped her fingers while her girlfriend stared at her in mortification.
"Servant! What are you doing!" Azula shouted with her fists on her womanly hips while she gazed hard at her dancing pet's back.
"She's dancing Azula. And it's so pink!" Ty Lee gushed with a wide smile while Azula turned to scowl at her.
It was just too adorable watching Azula frigid exterior start to crack under Elle's innocence.
"Come and get your love! Come and get your love! Come and get your love! Come and get your love!" Elle exclaimed with her hips swaying to the music while she bobbed her head as her headphones shook over her ears.
"Simple minded peasant." Azula snorted as she strode forward with a sigh while she approached her cheerful girlfriend.
She came to a stop towering over her dancing handmaid while she stared down at the girl with annoyed amber golden eyes when the girl continued bobbing to music.
Her cold amber golden eyes narrowed down at her carefree serving girl while she briefly glanced over her swaying body.
"Azula. You're not seriously going to disrupt her flow, are you?" Ty Lee asked in a sigh while she grinned at the adorable scene.
"Come and get your love, come and get your love. Come and get your love now. Come and get your love, come and get your love. Come and get your n-no please don't take my music away!" Elle whined in a distraught voice when Azula swiftly tore her headphones from her ears.
Only to turn around and blush deeply when she realized that she had a larger audience than she thought.
"Cease this childish behavior at once or I will have you flogged!" Azula hollered with a finger thrusting in her pouting pet's face while the three noblewomen rolled their eyes at her back.
"You're so full of shit Princess. And I don't mean it literally." Zoi remarked in her usual blunt voice while Mai and Ty Lee stood amusedly beside her.
The princess spun her head around to glare at her soldier with a puff of fire escaping her nostrils.
Only for her young girlfriend to literally come to the powerful warrior's rescue.
"You don't like Redbone Azula-sama?" Elle questioned in an innocent voice while Azula fixed her with a stern glare.
"No! I do not like Redbone!" Azula huffed as she placed her fists back on her hips while her girlfriend bit her lip in a lovable pout.
"Aww. We like Redbone. Don't we Mai?" Ty Lee conversed with her elbow hitting her friend in the shoulder while the other woman sighed.
"Yes Elle. We like Redbone." Mai agreed with a nod while she still eyed Zoi in ever present dislike.
"Perhaps you two like it. But the more refined minds present are above such simple commoner music. Now hurry up now! Go bring me my lunch!" Azula scoffed with the snap of her finger while Elle beamed up at her.
"Yes! As you command Azula-sama!" Elle cheered before she assaulted the much taller woman around her belly in a loving hug.
"She's such a snugglebug Azula." Ty Lee cooed as she took a seat with a grin on her lips.
"You just be sure that you remain on your best behavior. Be a good girl for me…and don't embarrass me in front of my army." Azula sighed as she gazed down at the girl hiding in her belly.
"Wakarimashita Azula-sama!" Elle chirped with bounce in her step as Azula pushed her off while she pridefully glared down at her.
Only for the sound of the princess's growling belly to spur her into straightening in a panic while the woman smugly smirked over her.
"Well! What are you waiting for servant!" Azula yelled out with her fists on her hips while her smirk grew when her serving girl scampered towards the door.
"My princess's belly must be nourished and I shall see it done!" Elle answered in a dutiful voice while her smiling mistress took a seat in her plush throne.
"Please don't make Elle run Azula." Ty Lee requested in a sigh while Azula lounged in her chair with a confident smile on her lips.
Just before Elle sped out of the room, she momentarily made eye contact with Zoi while the warrior cracked a small smile down at her.
"It is good to see that you are faring well." Zoi commented as she watched the girl smile brightly back at her.
"Thank you for saying so Zoi!" Elle responded before she vanished through the door while the four highborn women gazed after her.
That was when Zoi annoyed all but Azula by taking a seat beside the princess while Mai glared across the table at her.
"I would really prefer it if you ate somewhere else." Mai snarled while the princess groaned in annoyance alongside her.
"And I would prefer it if you got lost and gallivanted off with your traitor lover." Zoi sneered in response while the other two women sighed.
"Cunt." Mai snapped while Azula's eyes began to twitch in her growing anger.
"Piece of shit." Zoi retorted as she pounded her fist on the table while Ty Lee cast her a mild glare.
"Enough!" Azula bellowed with a finger massaging the bridge of her nose while she glared between the two.
"That's rich. Coming from a man pretending to be a woman." Mai stated as she leaned on the tabletop while Zoi glared back at her.
"Not as hilarious as it must be when your only claim to fame is being the prince's royal cum rag." Zoi insulted with a growing smirk while the other woman's cheeks turned red in rage.
"That's disgusting Azula." Ty Lee complained with a scowl while for once her spoiled friend nodded in agreement.
"Ty Lee is right. The last thing I want to hear about while I eat is Zuzu pleasuring himself. Wherever that might be." Azula snorted with her amber golden eyes sweeping over Mai's indignant face.
"Thanks, Azula." Mai muttered in an offended voice while she turned to glare at the nearest wall.
"Anyhow. I'm not truly here for lunch. I just wanted to tell you to be careful how much you tell the chancellor." Zoi remarked as she leaned back in her seat while Azula now regarded her with bored amber golden eyes.
"You think I need you to tell me that?" Azula asked flatly while Zoi set her bandaged arm on the table.
"He's the biggest sycophant there is. He's eager to kiss your ass. But if you are ever on the losing side. He'll be the first to fuck you over." Zoi warned with a serious countenance while the other three women listened closely.
"Please. If he ever did do that, I would just kill him. As I do with all traitors." Azula spoke in a ruthless voice while Mai shrunk under her glare.
"Most. Not all." Zoi scoffed before she pushed herself to her feet while she stared down at Mai in disgust.
The princess was silent while she sat glaring between the two noblewomen while Ty Lee observed in growing unease.
"You are such a prideless fool Saolin. You actually thought that I would die to your pathetic attack and that Zuko would somehow defeat Princess Azula. Well, I have news for you." Zoi taunted with a sneer before she seized the ashamed noblewoman by the collar of her shirt.
"A-Azula." Ty Lee attempted to plead only for Azula to glare at her through the corner of her eye.
"Zuko is going to die the next time I see him." Zoi stated in a hardened voice before she shoved Mai back into her seat.
Mai sank back into her seat with Ty Lee's comforting hand on her shoulder.
And with that Zoi headed for the door.
And soon left without saying another word.
"It will be alright Mai. I am certain that Zuko will come to his senses eventually." Ty Lee assured while the princess rolled her eyes.
"Zuzu isn't known for being sensible." Azula commented in a pompous voice while she still eyed Mai's distraught face with a cold stare.
Ty Lee just sighed before she decided to change the subject.
"I have been meaning to ask Azula. You didn't really leave that admiral on Shantu Island, did you?" Ty Lee pondered in a curious voice while she gazed at her spoiled friend.
"I did. But it was only for a few hours at most. The remainder of the fleet picked him up soon after." Azula explained in a dismissive voice while Ty Lee nodded.
And soon enough, Team Azula was rejoined by their young companion.
And with that the four ate their lunch.
Two days later.
The royal sloop sailed across the horizon while the three highborn women stood behind their young friend.
Elle held onto the rails of the massive ship while she stood gazing across the expansive waters with awestruck amber eyes.
In the distance was a vast seaside mountain range that easily towered over the comparatively 'small' mountain that they had encountered in their little island excursion.
The ship sailed through the blue waters while the handmaid beamed over the rails while the princess gazed down at her with callous amber golden eyes.
The soldiers gazed at the young girl oddly but not one soldier was brave enough to even make the slightest remark about how peculiar it was that Azula allowed Elle's companionship.
"The ocean…it's so wonderful Azula-sama." Elle breathed in astonishment while Azula gazed at her back in puzzlement.
"I suppose so. Haven't you seen the ocean before?" Azula pondered with her hand on Elle's shoulder while she stood behind her loyal serving girl.
Ty Lee grinned while she turned to Mai's softly smiling face as they both quietly savored their younger sister's childlike wonder.
"Not until I came here. This is so exciting!" Elle cried out while the princess snorted in amusement as she leaned back into her girlfriend's robed chest.
"Humph. Childish peasant." Azula snorted with both of her hands now grasping her handmaid's shoulders while she allowed the smaller girl to lean into her bosom.
"That's so Azula-sama! Can we have a beach day while we're in Fire Mountain?" Elle chirped as she craned her neck to peer up into Azula's coldly narrowing amber golden eyes.
"A beach day?" Azula asked in a deadpan voice while her two childhood friends watched Elle eagerly nod her head.
"Mhm! Ty Lee said that there was a lovely beach on that island we just left! But I never got to see it. I really want to learn how to swim! And you did say that you would teach me! So, I was hoping that we could enjoy a beach day together!" Elle explained in a chipper voice while the princess rolled her amber golden eyes over her.
"This isn't a leisure voyage servant! The only reasons we're going to Fire Mountain is to take you to the Fire Mountain University Hospital and so Mai can offer an 'apology' to the Song clan." Azula snapped with her fingers curling around her girlfriend's small neck while she glared over her shoulder at her flinching friends.
"Oh, come on Azula. Don't you want to show off your bathing suit to Elle." Ty Lee stated with a knowing grin while Azula smiled as if considering it.
"Well…I suppose it would be pleasurable having her oil up my back for a few hours." Azula replied in a beyond entitled voice while Elle still gazed down into the splashing waved with sparkling amber eyes.
"Or you could you know…let her learn how to swim?" Mai suggested in monotone while she watched Elle laugh in delight when a wave exploded against the bow of the ship.
"Can I please go swimming in Fire Mountain? Please! I want to swim Azula-sama! Please! Please!" Elle whined as she tugged on her mistress's sleeve while Azula's amber golden eyes shone in increasing annoyance.
"Tiger monkey." Azula growled in a voice akin to a stressed-out mother while the two noblewomen laughed at her expense.
"P-please! Please! Please! Princess! Plea-" Elle begged only for a hand to clamp over her mouth while the much taller woman glared down at her.
"Yes! You can go swimming in Fire Mountain!" Azula snarled with her palm sliding off her handmaid's grinning mouth.
"Yay! I get to go swimming with a princess!" Elle piped with a bright smile just when another wave splashed into the bow.
The princess sighed under her breath while she held onto her pet's dainty shoulders.
Her two lifelong friends gazed on fondly when the girl leaned over the rail with her mouth open in marvelment just as a water splashed against her cheek.
"Will I get to see you brother again sometime soon Azula-sama?" Elle questioned in a joyous voice with her amber eyes peering back into splashing waters while the three women tensed behind her.
"Zuko said that he spoke to you before. Did you meet him in the village?" Azula pondered in turn with her palms still carefully resting under her handmaid's lovely golden hair.
"Yeah! I ran into your brother, Toph and the moody water lady. After that Zoi showed up and started chasing them." Elle answered with her eyes wide in childlike wonder just when more water sprayed into her cheek.
"Hm. In the future there will not be a repeat of that incident! From now on you walk with a tether! Is that understood?" Azula announced in a tyrannical voice with her two friends shuddering behind her.
"Please no tethers Azula." Ty Lee stated only for her words to fall on deaf ears.
"Yes Princess! You are the ruler of me." Elle declared with a radiant expression only to laugh again when water tickled her cheek.
And the powerful woman found herself unable to fight the growing smile on her red lips.
"That's my girl. So obedient." Azula purred in a silken voice while she straddled her pet's small shoulders.
"You should really stop encouraging Azula little sister." Ty Lee sighed in a warm voice while Elle balanced on the rails while another wave crashed into the bow.
"Azula-sama takes control of my life because she is looking out for me. It would be scary if she wasn't here to tell me what to do." Elle remarked with a content smile while water splashed onto the rails once more.
"So, I do. Freedom isn't healthy…so I take it away. You understand…don't you dear?" Azula commented in a charming voice while Elle smiled sweetly up at her.
"I do! I submit to you Mistress Azula." Elle agreed with a joyful nod while her mistress grasped at her shoulder blades.
"You will only get to see my foolish brother if and when he comes to his senses." Azula announced in a controlling voice with her fingers gliding across her pretty handmaid's neck.
Mai turned away with a saddened look in her eyes while Ty Lee placed a soothing hand on her shoulder once more.
She would give anything to erase this weakness that Zuko has over her heart.
It was his choice to be such a fool.
But she shouldn't have to feel this pain because of his idiocy.
Unfortunately. Things are rarely that simple in life.
That was when the sound of footsteps approaching behind them prompted Azula to swiftly remove her hands from Elle's shoulders.
Azula and the others turned to face Zoi while the warrior gazed back into the princess's cold eyes.
"We will arrive in Fire Mountain within twenty or so minutes." Zoi informed while her leader nodded in confirmation.
"I had already figured as much." Azula answered as she watched Zoi stand beside her.
It would seem that the offer of subordination has successfully eased her captain's anger.
Now she can only hope that it will abate Governor Yoko's desire for blood.
As they sailed through the Fire Mountain straits.
They soon saw a vast city began to appear in the distance.
A near impenetrable city sat safely behind a massive seaside wall.
Fire Mountain.
Also known as Shang Xing.
A prosperous city that was named after its great volcanic mountains that surrounded the city on all sides.
The vast gate loomed as far as the eye could see.
Its purpose was clear.
It served to protect the populace from any possible invasion.
And behind it sat the great fire mountains that defended the city from all other angles of attack.
"Wow! I-it's amazing Azula-sama!" Elle cried out with innocent delight in her voice while Azula just shrugged her shoulders.
"I suppose it is." Azula replied in a bored voice while her two childhood friends grew anxious watching the city appear on the horizon.
"Finally, after over a year at sea I am returning home." Zoi muttered with her short hair swaying behind her while the others turned to glance at her.
"Joy." Mai snorted only for the princess to cast her a cold glare that shut her up.
"I ought to thank you Saolin. I escaped your cowardly murder attempt with only minor scarring…and now thanks to your actions. My mother will be too focused on killing you to spend too much time on her lectures." Zoi lamented with a small smile on her lips while Mai and Ty Lee both glared back at her.
"K-killing Mai? Mai isn't going to die is she Azula-sama?" Elle blurted out in a panicked voice while the princess scowled at the woman over her shoulder.
And despite Mai's fear she couldn't help but offer Elle a softened smile of appreciation.
Even now Elle was still protecting her. And she doesn't even know it.
"No. Not because I care but because there would be no end to your waterworks." Azula stated in an uncaring voice while she stared down at Elle as the girl's smile already began to reappear.
"Thanks, Azula." Mai mumbled while Ty Lee gripped her shoulder once more.
"Oh. Well that is good to hear. I don't want to lose either of my oneesans." Elle spoke in a gentle voice as she peered back at her two big sisters with great admiration in her eyes.
The two noblewomen smiled back at her despite their nervousness.
And then they heard a quieter set of footsteps approaching behind them.
The fivesome turned around to face the chancellor's amicable face while the princess's eyes took on her usual hardened stare.
"Does the sight of Fire Mountain make you feel nostalgic Captain?" Terak asked in his usual smooth voice while Zoi turned to face him.
"I confess it does. If only because of my sister." Zoi responded in turn while gazed back at Terak as he nodded in understanding.
He's plotting something. But what?
"Chancellor." Azula commented as she turned to the man with her fists on her hips while the chancellor turned to meet her gaze.
"Hm. Yes Princess?" Terak pondered with a tilt of his head while his golden eyes briefly swept over the teenage girl leaning over the railing like a carefree child.
"Regarding our discussion from two days ago. You may proceed…but I want daily reports. And you will do nothing without my authorization. Is that understood?" Azula declared in a stony voice as she gazed past her friends' curious faces to the hurriedly nodding Terak.
"As you command my princess." Terak agreed as he inclined his head only to find himself gazing on curiously when the young girl turned to wave over her shoulder.
"Hello! Who is this Azula-sama?" Elle chirped with a wide smile while her girlfriend stiffened beside her.
The princess stared down at her handmaid with annoyed amber golden eyes while her childhood friends gazed between the girl and the politician.
"This is the Royal Chancellor Terak." Azula spoke in a supremely stern voice while she glared down at her serving girl's gulping face.
That was all that was needed for the girl to understand that she wanted her to remain silent.
'I have obtained a list of every name large and small that survived our Shantu Island excursion. Now I just have to find a way to keep this snake silent.' Azula thought with her cold eyes staring back at the man's ever smiling face.
He was much more observant and conniving than the soldiers and workers that she camped with her in those nine days.
All the more reason to keep him on a leash.
"Hello young lady. Are you a friend of the princess?" Terak asked with a finger under his chin while the group shifted awkwardly over the query.
Ty Lee and Mai quickly turned their cheerful adopted sister away.
While the princess now glared between the young handmaid and the politician's friendly face.
"No. This peasant is not my friend. She is just a servant that doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut." Azula snapped with fire escaping her nostrils while her amber golden eyes demanded that her handmaid play along.
Elle bowed her head with her smiling lips facing the waters while all three noblewomen gazed on in humor beside her.
"Ah. This must be the personal servant that you spoke about from before? She's already in bandages. It would appear that you three have been quite hard on her." Terak quipped with a sympathetic shake of his head while Azula still glared down at the timid girl.
It took everything Ty Lee had to refrain from smiling when the man implied that Azula was hard on Elle.
"The girl knows her place. But sometimes a few flogs here and there helps to remind her." Azula snorted in a ruthless voice with her arms crossing over her breasts while she fixed her handmaid in a strict stare.
The royal sloop sailed through the waters as they finally closed in on the great seawall.
And Terak just couldn't resist turning his almost taunting golden eyes to Mai's sweating face.
"Well…in any case the girl will soon be better off than you." Terak spoke with a chuckle while Ty Lee cast him a protective glare.
"You shut up." Ty Lee growled as she gripped her crutch while Mai remained silent beside her.
Only for Azula's cold amber golden glare to serve as a reminder that she no longer held Mai in high standing.
That was when the gates began to open with a thunderous roar while Elle grasped the rails while her jar dropped open in awe of its beauty.
And Azula stepped up behind Elle with her stern eyes gazing down at the younger girl's adorably awestruck face in concealed amusement.
"Do you really think that the people of Fire Mountain will give a damn about your treasonous lover? Naïve girl. You will soon see just how foolish you really are to even take such a tone over your treasonous friend." Terak replied with his hands clasped together while Ty Lee turned away with noticeable fear in her eyes.
"Here we are…Fire Mountain." Zoi announced with her hair blowing in their eyes as they sailed through the vast seawall.
Ty Lee clutched her hand on Mai's shoulder while they tried to suppress their fear as they watched the royal sloop cruise through the seaside gate.
"Woah! It's so…beautiful." Elle cried out with her amber eyes agape in delight while her blonde hair whipped about in her eyes.
And the princess still stood over her handmaid with her arms folded over her robed breasts.
All the while staring down at her pet with a sliver of fondness permeating through her stony gaze.
"Fire Mountain is beautiful. It is filled with beautiful prideful people…over five million strong. Unlike your prideless traitor prince." Zoi stated as she spat at her feet while Mai glared at her through the corner of her eye.
Soon the crew began to shout to one another as the huge vessel sailed into port.
"Ahoy! We have arrived in port at Zanoko Island! I repeat we have arrived in port at Zanoko Island!" A crewman called out from above while the princess stared out across the blue waters as the ship sped to the docks ahead.
"It's about time. Let's get this over with." Azula remarked in a rigid voice while she gazed out at the approaching docks.
And Mai just gazed away with discomfort in her tawny eyes while Ty Lee still stood with her hand on her shoulder.
Twenty minutes later.
The Dai Li had remained behind on the royal sloop while the workers and the soldiers from Azula's earlier excursion eagerly got off to explore the city.
The captain exchanged a brief look with her loyal soldiers before she nodded them off.
"You have all been dismissed by the princess for the time being. Go entertain yourselves. I'll meet up with all of you for drinks later after we are finished up here." Zoi told her subordinates with a small smile on her lips.
Azula just gazed at her captain's back with still puzzled amber golden eyes.
Saro nodded with a grin on his lips before he made their nation's hand symbol to his longtime leader.
"Understood Captain! Until later then." Saro exclaimed with a nod while the noblewoman gave him a pat to the shoulder.
"Until later." Zoi concluded with fondness in her voice while she watched her subordinate turn and walk away.
The small squadron soon vanished into the city.
The captain and the princess's company began to walk up along a stone walkway that overlooked the streets below.
In that moment the princess briefly turned her head when she saw her pilot rushing up to her.
"Princess! Do I come with you?" Nako pondered as she bowed in respect while Azula turned to survey her.
"You may come with us Nako." Azula answered with a lazy wave of her hand while she walked alongside Elle.
Nako speedily nodded with a twinge of excitement in her eyes as she hurried after her princess and her noble friends.
And so soon Zoi was walking up the elevated walkway while the others followed after her.
Azula, Elle, Mai, Ty Lee, Terak and Nako walked behind the composed warrior.
Only to soon find themselves taken by surprise when they saw that a crowd of thousands of people had gathered below to witness Zoi's return.
Zoi stood before her bewildered companions just as shouts began to ring out into the air.
And both Mai and Ty Lee took an increasingly fearful step backwards while Terak smirked in their direction.
"Zoi! Zoi!" The public called out while the princess's amber golden eyes began to flicker in annoyance as she turned to stare at her captain.
"Didn't I tell you that they liked me?" Zoi asked in a clearly smug voice while she stepped past her princess.
The princess offered her soldier a mildly envious glare while the noblewoman stood near the edge of the walkway.
"Wow. Zoi sure is popular here Azula-sama!" Elle piped with her mouth in the shape of an o only for a hand to lightly slap her shoulder.
"Please! There is no one more popular than me." Azula huffed with a conceited smirk while she watched Elle rapidly nod her little head.
And if Ty Lee wasn't so apprehensive, she would have managed a laugh over how Azula felt the need to reassure her ego in Elle.
'I don't like this. This doesn't look good for Mai!' Ty Lee thought while she watched with widened eyes.
"Zoi! Zoi! Zoi!" The people cheered with admiration in their combined voices while the captain gazed down at them.
"Greetings my brothers and sisters! I have returned home with your Princess Azula from a long-fought battle against the traitor Zuko and the Avatar both!" Zoi shouted as she raised her bandaged fist high above her head while the public cheered back with even greater vigor than before.
"No kidding. Popular is an understatement." Nako stated with astonishment in her brown eyes while she listened to the gathered crowd shout out Zoi's name.
And throughout it all they started to call out for Azula while the princess stared down at them with a hardened countenance.
And even though she didn't let it show.
Somewhere deep inside Azula's frozen heart she found herself savoring being adored by the people.
And Mai stood with her shoulders tensing up beside the equally unnerved Ty Lee while Terak chuckled at their expense.
"What did you expect? This is Fire Mountain! The great city of Shang Xing! This is the home of the governorship of the Song clan! There is no love for Zuko here! And no love for…the Saolin clan." Terak exclaimed with a victorious smirk while the two noblewomen stared at him in a rightfully frightened silence.
And then to Mai's growing despair the people began to shout out hateful condemnations in Zuko's name.
Even Azula herself was taken by surprise over how quickly word had traveled of her brother's betrayal of the Fire Nation.
Roaring shouts of 'traitor' resounded into the air while the princess found herself unable to resist the smirk that was forming on her lips.
Nor could she resist turning to sneer in the direction of her stunned childhood friends as if to say that she told them so.
"You two disgust me." Azula spoke in a cold voice while Ty Lee recoiled in hurt under her stare.
"A-Azula." Ty Lee protested in a wounded voice while Azula glared a hole through her skull.
"You were hoping that I would lose. And that Zuko would win! So, he could take the throne! If you love Zuko so much then go join him on the run." Azula snapped in callous voice before she turned away to glare over the rails.
Ty Lee swallowed the lump that was in her throat as she fell into silence alongside her fellow noblewoman.
That was the captain unsheathed her sword while the other members in her party gazed at her in curiosity.
Only to watch her hold her blade over the ledge while the crowd momentarily fell into a respectful silent.
"They and anyone else who stands with them will soon find themselves buried six feet under! Glory is ours! Victory to the Fire Nation!" Zoi announced with her sword thrusting over her head while her princess gazed at her in approval.
The people's cheers continued to split through the streets while they watched the famous soldier and their powerful princess stand side by side.
"Indeed! Victory to the Fire Nation!" Azula called out with a returning smile on her proud lips while she felt Zoi place a hand on her shoulder.
"Princess Azula and the Song clan stand united! I pity anyone foolish enough to stand in our way!" Zoi yelled out before she took Azula by surprise when she grasped ahold of her hand.
Azula stared at Zoi through the corner of her eye as her hand was thrust into the air.
And then she gazed down at the gathered crowd while the shouts in their name rang out into the air.
And Zoi gazed back at Azula with a confident smirk on her lips that was soon returned by the mighty princess.
And Mai and Ty Lee couldn't help but stare at the two with rising worry in their eyes.
The closer Zoi got to Azula the more control the ruthless warrior would have over their lives.
And that was a terrifying thought.
And soon enough the group resumed their walk along the overlook while Elle trotted along after Azula like a lost puppy.
The princess walked beside her young companion while she gazed down at the smaller girl through the corner of her strict eye.
She couldn't help but find it unfortunate that she was unable to announce to the people of her girlfriend's status as the coming war effort.
But it was for her own good.
Once she takes the throne however…
Then the people will shout out the name 'Elle Turner' alongside her own.
For some reason she found that to be a delectable thought.
As she gazed down at the young girl's sweetly smiling face, she found herself almost wanting to reach out to touch her cheek.
Only to stop herself not a moment later.
Her regal lips pursed into a scowl once more while she turned to cast the chancellor an annoyed stare over her shoulder.
All the while the public continued to shout out after Zoi while the warrior waved down at them before she turned to walk away towards their waiting royal carriage.
And her smug golden eyes never ceased gazing back at her two fellow noblewomen's fearful faces as she strode alongside them.
"Get over yourself Zoi. I could care less if the commoners like you. It means nothing to me." Mai stated in a stoic voice while she glared at the other woman's sanguine face.
"And that is why no one will remember your name." Zoi remarked as she turned to face Mai's scowling face.
"What?" Mai questioned in a confused voice while Ty Lee paused beside her.
"You are a forgettable noblewoman. Born from a forgettable father and a forgettable mother. With a forgettable love for a treasonous prince. With a forgettable motivation…boredom. You are nothing Mai." Zoi declared in a merciless voice while the others paused to gaze at her in either anger or fascination.
The princess turned to her soldier with an inquisitive look in her eyes while her two-childhood friends bristled in offense.
"You know what! I'm really sick of listening to the sound of your voice!" Ty Lee exclaimed only to find herself backing away when Zoi took a step towards her.
"And you are just as forgettable. You are one of seven forgettable identical sisters. You two will go down in history as nothing more than Fire Lord Azula's nameless friends. Lost in the wake of her shadow." Zoi commented in a harsh voice while hurt flashed in Ty Lee's eyes.
The two noblewomen approached their royal carriage in a shaken silence.
As Mai cast Zoi a defiant stare.
"And what are you Zoi? You're nothing more than Azula's right hand." Mai retorted with narrowed eyes while Zoi sat down in the royal carriage opposite of Azula.
"I get to sit by Azula-sama!" Elle cried out as she hopped in beside Azula while the callous woman gazed down at her.
Nako seated herself beside Zoi and the chancellor while she gazed out of the extravagant royal carriage with awe in her eyes.
And the two noblewomen sat down beside their adopted sister and their leader while they both grouchily gazed back at the captain's confident face.
"Immortal. That's what I am." Zoi answered in a tone of absolute certainty while the occupants of the royal carriage gazed at her in a disbelieving silence.
"Immortal?" Nako pondered in a puzzled voice while she gazed at the firebender in a reverent silence.
"That's right Nako. I have set myself apart from every Song to come before me. I am a war hero. I may die young but my name will live on in the history books. I will go down in history as the greatest warrior of my time. That is my immortality." Zoi boasted with her arms folded over her chest while her companions all gazed at her in a speechless quiet.
"Immortality again Zoi? You speak as if you intend to die in the heat of battle." Azula spoke in a stern voice while she eyed her soldier's stony face.
"There are only two choices in this life. You either live a long life where no one remembers your name. Or you die young and become immortal." Zoi insisted in an adamant voice while her princess gazed at her with puzzled amber golden eyes.
The occupants of the royal carriage sat in a bewildered silence while Mai and Ty Lee exchanged a baffled glance.
It just astounded them that Zoi thought the only way one would be remembered was if they died young.
"I would prefer if you stayed alive. You are far too useful to me to do otherwise." Azula sighed as she leaned back in her seat while she felt her handmaid scoot closer to her.
She opened a cold amber golden eye while she glared down at Elle's beaming face.
All the while aware that the chancellor was watching her closely.
Zoi said nothing in response as she sunk back into her seat while she gazed out the royal carriage window with nostalgic golden eyes.
It was good to be home.
AN:
I don't have as much to say in this afterword.
Yes, the song Elle was listening to is Come and Get Your Love by Redbone.
I like the song and thought that it would be cute to show Elle rocking out to Redbone.
And just in case anyone asks, I liked the first Guardians of the Galaxy but I didn't like much of the rest of the Marvel cinematic universe. I found it too predictable as I have become very bored with superhero movies.
But anyhow, we have finally arrived at Fire Mountain.
And as you can see Mai and Ty Lee are growing more frightened the closer they get to Governor Yoko's palace.
Yoko's anger can practically be felt even from outside the city gates.
And as we saw Zoe wasn't lying when she boasted that she was the most popular noble in the nation. It was an interesting moment for Azula when even she felt pushed to the side by the crowds love for Zoe.
But it also served as a reminder that if she continues to take advice from Elle and Zoe that the people may come to adore her just as much.
And we also got to see why Zoe looks down on Mai and Ty Lee. In her eyes they are just two forgettable nobles chasing after Azula's shadow. It was basically Zoe's way of telling them to get their own ambition.
There will be four or so chapters with Governor Yoko while we wrap up the grudge between House Song and House Lin. And after that we'll have a bunch of slice of life chapters that mainly focus on Azula and Elle bonding together.
And yes, there will be a beach chapter!
Anyhow, that's it for now.
Stay tuned for next time.
For chapter fifty-seven! Yoko!