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Here is another chapter.
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And as always enjoy!
Continued Travels – Chapter Sixty-Five
Hours later.
The waves crashed upon the shore as Team Azula made their way out of the sandy dunes once more.
For the briefest of moments Elle stared over her shoulder with sentimental amber eyes while her friends gazed back at her.
Nako trudged along after having reunited with her princess.
Azula released a heavy sigh as she stared down at her handmaid's bummed out face.
"There will be other beach days Elle." Ty Lee assured in a gentle voice as she gazed at her little sister's back in sympathy.
It really pissed her off knowing that those two assholes ruined Elle's day out.
"I know…it was just nice to see the ocean…" Elle mumbled as she chewed on her lip only for a warm hand to interlock with her own once more while she turned to peer up at her mistress's gorgeous face.
"Ty Lee is right Elle. You'll see it again." Mai soothed with a frown on her lips as she clenched her fist in revived anger towards the boys.
"There are thousands of beaches in the Fire Nation. If the ocean is what you wish to see then I shall take you to my personal beachfront property on a daily basis." Azula spoke with her stronger hand covering her pet's smaller hand while Elle's amber eyes sparkled in excitement.
"Really Azula-sama!" Elle squeaked as she pulled on the older girl's hand while her mistress scoffed above.
"So long as you never forget that I am your goddess. I don't see why we couldn't incorporate it into the daily worship." Azula remarked in a haughty voice as she smirked smugly as she gazed down at her swooning girlfriend while all but her pilot rolled their eyes.
"The daily worship Azula?" Ty Lee repeated in a wary voice yet even so she still smiled over how adorable her little sister was.
"O-oh Azula-sama. My fire goddess…" Elle swooned with a hand on her blushing cheek while her dominant girlfriend pulled her along.
"That's right my peasant. And don't you ever forget it." Azula scoffed as she strode with her hand over her little admirer's while the young girl flushed under her strict gaze.
"I would never Azula-sama." Elle replied in a timid voice as she padded after her mistress while the others followed after them.
"I still can't believe that anyone was insane enough to bully you." Nako commented in a comical voice while Elle smiled sweetly up at the three highborn women.
"I'm over it! It's all over now. Besides. Azula-sama and my oneesans had a talk with them. So, I don't foresee it being a problem again in the future!" Elle chirped in an innocent voice as she strode with her backpack over her shoulders while her friends gazed on in amusement.
"Neither do I." Mai commented with her arms crossed over her breasts while Ty Lee growled in agreement.
"I must say though. It pleases me that you were ruthless enough to attack back. Good job Elle." Azula purred with a charming smile on her red lips while her little girlfriend averted her eyes in the manner that she has come to adore.
"Yeah! Good work little sister!" Ty Lee complimented with a grin while Elle continued to blush adorably.
"He was no match for me oneesan!" Elle boasted with innocent pride in her voice as she puffed out her chest while her friends smiled in amusement.
"Clearly not." Mai stated with fondness in her voice as she cracked a smile while Elle clumsily began swinging her fist in the air.
"You should have seen his face after I gave him the Elle strike!" Elle piped as she punched the air while the group raised a comical brow over the silly name.
"The Elle strike?" Nako asked in a puzzled voice while the princess rolled her eyes down at Elle.
"Mhm! I learned it from Azula-sama. She's so amazing!" Elle exclaimed in a worshipful voice while her girlfriend's lips curved into a smirk once more.
"So, I am. However. It has come to my attention that you will need more than the 'Elle strike' to defend yourself when we are not present. But fear not little girlfriend. My brilliant mind has already formulated the perfect solution to your woes." Azula spoke in a conceited voice with a sadistic smirk on her lips while all but her young girlfriend shivered in fear.
"Azula…you're starting to worry me again." Ty Lee attempted to reason while her childhood friend still smiled widely.
"I shall not allow to be said that Princess Azula left her own girlfriend unable to protect herself. Which is why starting tomorrow you will be joining Zoi and I in the training room." Azula announced in a merciless voice with her serving girl now trembling in terror while the others members of her team fell over in horror.
"W-what! Elle can't train with you and Zoi both! You'll kill her!" Ty Lee blurted out in a voice of sisterly horror while Nako shivered in agreement beside her.
"That's insane Azula. The doctor just told you that she has to avoid strenuous physical activity. And you're going to subject her to that?" Mai pondered in an incredulous voice as she stared at Azula in annoyance while her leader released a prideful scoff.
"Please. It's not like we're going to kill the girl. We're just going to teach the tiger monkey how to better defend herself should the need arise." Azula insisted with a regal wave of her hand while she still held onto her girlfriend's dainty hand.
"I understand what you are trying to do Azula but still…" Ty Lee protested in a scared voice.
"I trust you Azula-sama. If this is what you think is best. Then it must be so." Elle agreed with a sweet countenance about her as she held onto her girlfriend's hand while her big sisters sighed behind her.
"Hm. Just you wait Elle. I'll shape you into a conqueror before you know it." Azula boasted with a smug smile as her little handmaid smiled up at her while her childhood friends shuddered in renewed fear.
About a half hour later…
A royal carriage sat in the street while Azula stepped inside and seated herself while found herself gazing back at Zoi seated opposite of her.
"Where have you been? You've wandered off several times now." Azula inquired in a smooth voice just as her serving girl plopped down beside her.
"Nowhere in particular Princess. I just spent last night with my subordinates at the bar." Zoi answered in an impassive voice as she shrugged her shoulders while Azula rose an inquisitive brow.
"You go bar hopping with your soldiers?" Azula taunted in a snobbish voice while Nako stepped in and seated herself beside Zoi.
"Do you have beach days with your handmaids?" Zoi retorted with a sliver of sass in her voice while the princess's eyed twitched in annoyance over the jab.
"Hello Zoi!" Elle greeted in a joyous voice as she waved her hand at Zoi's mildly amused face.
"Hello Elle." Zoi responded with her arms crossed over her breasts while Azula scowled down at Elle's cheery face.
Just then the door to the other side of the carriage opened up as Mai took a step in.
Only to release an angered cry when she nearly tripped on a conspicuously placed jagged rock.
"Mai! Are you alright!" Ty Lee asked in a compassionate voice as she watched her friend bend over to nurse her cut foot while Azula rolled her eyes.
"Who put this stupid rock here..." Mai trailed off in an irate voice only to glance up when she heard a familiar voice openly mocking her.
"Watch where you step Saolin. You almost tripped." Zoi quipped in a mocking voice as the two noblewomen now glared back at her while her princess smirked in cruel amusement.
"You bitch!" Mai snapped as she stepped into the carriage while Ty Lee glared back at the chuckling noblewoman.
"If you can't even defeat a rock Mai. Then I must say I am beginning to question not only your loyalty but your ability to hold your own in combat." Azula remarked in a pompous voice as felt Elle lean in to put her head on her toned belly.
"Shut up Azula." Mai replied in a moody voice as she sat down beside her smirking leader while Ty Lee seated herself beside Nako.
"Princess…." Elle whined as she adorably clung to her girlfriend's midriff while the princess glanced down at her with cold amber golden eyes.
"Don't get too comfortable peasant. I don't need you passing out on me for the third time today. Got that?" Azula ordered with a prideful scowl on her regal lips while she glared down at her handmaid's radiant face.
"Wakarimashita Azula-sama!" Elle chirped as she wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's toned bicep while her big sisters cracked a smile as they gazed her way.
"Humph. Cheery Tiger Monkey." Azula snorted as she rolled her lovely eyes as she sank back into her seat with her young girlfriend hanging onto her arm.
"Aww. You two are so cute together." Ty Lee cooed with a grin on her lips while her childhood friend now glared a hole through her skull as she sat over her blushing little sister.
"Say that again Ty Lee and I will destroy you for all time!" Azula barked as she narrowed her amber golden eyes in a terrifying glare while Ty Lee giggled back at her.
And with that the six occupants of the carriage sat back as it moved through the streets while the captain gazed out the window with hidden aggravation in her golden eyes.
Her annoyed golden eyes gazed out at the many faces that the carriage passed by.
Only for her eyes to widen ever so slightly when she caught sight of a strange figure moving in the crowds.
Is that…
"Princess look out the window…do you see that?" Zoi pondered in an abrupt voice as Azula turned to her with a mildly curious look in her amber golden eyes before gazing out the window.
And the others naturally followed suit.
"See what Zoi? All I see are a crowd of commoners walking by." Azula replied in a dry voice as she lounged in her seat while Zoi still stared out of the window.
"Really? Because I could have sworn that I just saw another one of that puppeteer's contraptions moving in the crowd." Zoi commented in a stony voice as her words prompted a sense of alertness from those who had encountered the mysterious puppeteer.
"What! Where in the crowd? I still haven't paid that wretch back for burning the boats." Azula demanded with anger in her callous eyes while she now glared out of the passing window.
"You mean the woman that you encountered on Shantu Island Princess?" Nako asked as she stared in confusion out of the window beside the others.
"It was only for a fleeting moment. Now it's gone." Zoi answered as she frowned with her arms folded over her chest while her Princess scowled out the window.
"Keep a close eye out for any further activity. I'll have the Dai Li search the city upon our return." Azula ordered with a fist against her cheek while Elle lay with her head upon her arm.
"Right. And before I forget. When we return to the ship, I need to have a talk with you in private." Zoi remarked as she turned to meet her leader's cold gaze while the princess glanced back at her.
"Fine. I suppose I could work you into my schedule." Azula spoke in a haughty sigh while Mai rolled her tawny eyes beside her.
"What sort of person would be suicidal enough to stalk you Azula?" Ty Lee inquired as she gazed back at Azula's now smirking face.
"I don't know who this puppeteer thinks she is Ty Lee. But if she is foolish enough to follow me. I can assure you that she will regret it. No one challenges me and lives to talk about it." Azula scoffed in a supremely egotistical voice as she scanned her fingernails with a cold sneer on her full lips.
"All except for Elle that is." Mai quipped with a small smirk on her lips as Azula spun around to glare daggers through her skull while Ty Lee giggled across from them.
"Be silent Mai. The tiger monkey has already fallen prey to my unstoppable conquest." Azula huffed as she breathed fire through her nostrils while her young girlfriend swooned against her bare belly.
"T-that's so Azula-sama and I wouldn't have it any other way." Elle swooned with a lovesick look in her innocent eyes as she blushed adorably when her girlfriend's possessive hand slid down her bare back.
"Hm. Such a good pet. You belong to me peasant." Azula declared in a spoiled voice with a conceited smirk on her red lips while her hand glided down her serving girl's small back.
"Azula-sama." Elle sighed in a worshipful voice just as she felt Azula's hand grasp her ass while all but Zoi gazed away in discomfort.
"Mhm. Mine." Azula growled in a domineering voice with her hand on her pretty handmaid's tight ass cheeks while the petite girl burrowed into her muscular belly.
"P-please not in the carriage Azula." Ty Lee attempted to plead only for her words to naturally fall on uncaring ears.
"I am the master of this carriage Ty Lee and I will touch my pet as I please. And I suggest you remember that." Azula retorted in a pompous voice with a smug smirk on her lips while Elle began to curl up in her lap.
And with that she sunk back into her plush seat with her hand still squeezing her serving girl's ass cheek while Elle never once protested her exploratory touch.
If anything, the handmaid seemed to accept that her employer could and would touch her as she pleased.
"M-my princess…my mistress." Elle mumbled in a devoted voice as she lay in the older girl's arms while her girlfriend smiled in approval over her.
"That's right peasant. You know who owns you." Azula boasted in a possessive voice with her hand still on her young girlfriend's soft ass while a content sigh escaped her beautiful lips.
There were no words for this pleasure.
Just none.
This little peasant of hers certainly made for such a lovely pet.
And she was all hers she mused with a pleased smirk upon her red lips.
Another forty-five minutes later.
The vast warship sat in the Fire Mountain port while workers and soldiers alike loaded the vessel with supplies for their continued journey.
Zoi had left to oversee the loading of equipment and to order a search for the elusive puppeteer.
While Nako had departed for her personal cabin.
That just left the four core members of Team Azula to have some more time to themselves.
The four now stood on the balcony of the princess's royal cabin that overlooked the sun lit harbor while all three highborn women gazed at their young friend with unhidden fondness in their eyes.
"Despite what happened…I still had a good day! It was fun!" Elle exclaimed in a sunny voice as she smiled sweetly up at her three older friends as they leaned on the rails of the ship.
"Good! I'm glad!" Ty Lee exclaimed with a grin as she patted her adopted sister's shoulder while Azula lazily glared at her from over her shoulder.
"Azula-sama?" Elle queried in her usual adorable voice while the princess rose an inquisitive brow.
"What is it now Elle?" Azula responded in a stoic voice as she leaned on the rails while Elle chewed on her lip in the way that she has come to adore.
"Can we share a group hug? All four of us?" Elle inquired with a hopeful look in her amber eyes only for all but Ty Lee to stiffen in unhidden discomfort.
"Ugh. A group hug?" Azula repeated in a distasteful voice with her amber golden eyes twitching in annoyance when Ty Lee shouted in approval beside her.
"That's a wonderful idea Elle!" Ty Lee yelled in a cheerful voice while their young friend smiled bashfully.
"I don't do group hugs. And I don't generally hug Azula." Mai stated in a deadpan voice as she sighed when Ty Lee pulled her in.
"And I don't hug traitors." Azula retorted in a sneering voice only to growl when Elle's small hand tugged on her wrist.
"Come on Azula-sama! Let's form a team huddle!" Elle chirped as she pulled on her much taller girlfriend's arm while the older girl glared down at her.
"Don't you give me orders servant!" Azula protested in a prideful voice as she scowled down at her little serving girl's happy face while Ty Lee still grinned her way.
"Don't be such a snuggle prude Azula! Come form a team huddle with us!" Ty Lee giggled with an arm over Mai's shoulder while her fellow noblewoman sighed in defeat under her arm.
"Shut up Ty Lee!" Azula scoffed with a haughty roll of her eyes yet even so she allowed her young girlfriend to take her place under her right arm.
"Let's try to keep this short…" Mai trailed off in a monotone voice as she leaned on Ty Lee's shoulder.
"Get your breasts out of my girlfriend's face Ty Lee." Azula demanded as she pulled the smaller girl underneath her armpit while Ty Lee still smiled back at her.
"I am so happy that we are together minasan." Elle spoke in a radiant voice with her face pressing into Azula's breast while Ty Lee grinned down at her from over her other shoulder.
And Mai too cracked a small smile as she gazed down at her with fondness in her cold tawny eyes.
"So am I little sister. We are so glad to have you here with us." Ty Lee agreed in a tender voice with her arm around her adopted sister's shoulder while the smaller girl smiled against her bicep.
"Yeah. It wouldn't be the same without you kid." Mai remarked with affection in her voice while Elle adorably blushed between all three of them.
"No. It most certainly would not. Who would wait on us hand and foot if we didn't have our team peasant?" Azula snorted in a smug voice with a smirk on her lips while she wrapped her arm around her handmaid's much smaller frame.
"A-arigatou gozaimasu…my family." Elle stuttered in a lovable voice with her face being squished between the three highborn women's taller bodies.
"Yeah! Your family!" Ty Lee cooed with a warm grin on her lips while she leaned on Elle's shoulder while Azula rolled her amber golden eyes.
"Ty Lee is right. You're family now." Mai stated in a fond voice with a gentle smile on her lips while she allowed the grinning Ty Lee to lean on her shoulder.
"Let's just get this stupid hug over with already!" Azula complained with a snide roll of her eyes while her serving girl pushed her face into her breast.
"Y-yes Princess…" Elle agreed in a timid voice with a shy smile on her lips as she felt Azula's strong arm squeeze her closer.
"Hm. That's my girl." Azula spoke in a possessive voice with a softened smirk on her full lips while her childhood friends leaned into the hug.
"Azula-sama…" Elle swooned with an innocent grin adorning her features while her girlfriend held her under her arm.
"And our little sister too!" Ty Lee shouted in delight with her arm around the smaller girl's neck while her adopted sister smiled up at her.
"Yeah Elle. Our little sister." Mai agreed with a tender smile on her lips as she wrapped her arm around the blushing serving girl's shoulder.
The four stood with their arms around one another while they all smiled at each other as they gazed off into the sunset.
Even Azula herself managed to crack a grudging smile.
Only for the silence to be broken when the young girl peered up at her three highborn friends with the most adorable smile on her lips.
"Azula-sama? Do you think that we could all partake in a group snuggle later tonight?" Elle pondered as she chewed on her lip while Azula's amber golden eyes now twitched in comical aggravation.
And Mai just released a heavy sigh while Ty Lee's cheerful grin now grew by tenfold.
Only for Azula's voice to swiftly shut down the snuggle before anyone else could speak on the matter.
"No! There will be no group snuggle! And that's final!" Azula boomed with her beautiful lips pursed in a regal scowl while she now glared down at her pet's pouting face.
"Aww! What a snugglebug!" Ty Lee gushed before she pinched Elle's flushed cheek while Azula rolled her elegant eyes at them once more.
"Of course, you would think so Ty Lee." Azula snorted with another pompous roll of her eyes yet even so she continued to hug her girlfriend's petite shoulder.
And just like that the four would all smiling once again while they savored all leaned into a shared embrace.
It was but a fleeting moment and yet to the four friends it was timeless.
Soldiers and workers moved about as they continued to prepare for their next voyage.
All the while the Dai Li bowed in understanding after receiving their latest orders from Zoi.
"Go sweep the city and search for any sign of the target. And report your findings afterward back to me." Zoi ordered with her usual impassive countenance while the earthbending assassins nodded in response.
"Understood." Raolan answered in an emotionless voice before he leaped off the rails of the royal sloop with his comrades jumping after him.
And then the captain turned away as she sighed under her breath while she started to walk to her personal cabin.
Only for her golden eyes to widen in surprise when a familiar voice called out to her from below.
"Zoi…" Sia called out from where she stood on the deck as she gazed up while her older sister turned to stare down at her.
"Sia…" Zoi stated in a mildly softer voice as she glanced down at her little sister's slightly softer countenance.
"I came to bid you farewell." Sia announced with a sigh as she watched the woman begin to walk down to meet her.
"You came here to see me…" Zoi muttered in a relieved voice as she strode down with the barest hint of a grin on her lips.
"I just said as much, didn't I?" Sia replied in a snort as she gazed up at her big sister when Zoi came to a stop before her.
"Thank you…Sia." Zoi spoke before wrapping her arms around Sia's shoulders while her little sister sighed against her chest.
"Yeah. Don't mention it." Sia sighed as she leaned into her older sister's embrace while Zoi held onto her back.
"I'll be back soon. I promise." Zoi assured in a quiet voice as she held onto her little sister's back while Sia sighed in her arms.
"Just don't do anything stupid." Sia mumbled as she gazed off into the ocean's waters through the corner of her eye.
"I won't Sia. I won't." Zoi chuckled as she closed her eyes while they stood there for the briefest of moments.
And with that the two siblings embraced one another for a time.
Before long they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.
Meanwhile…
A lone cloaked figure sat high upon one of the largest structures in the city of Fire Mountain.
Heartless dark green eyes gazed out of a bizarre bone mask as her cloak swayed in the winds.
"Fools. As if they could ever trail me." Silah remarked in a prideful voice while she turned to watch as one of her mechanical constructs dashed up the side of the building.
A machine-like quilled chameleon quickly scurried across the floor of the rooftop before it abruptly came to a stop before the mysterious masked woman.
"The Forgetful Valley? So that's where their headed. They are searching for Mava. Interesting…" The puppeteer muttered in an almost reminiscent voice with her hand resting upon her now motionless puppets back while she gazed intently over the edge of the rooftop.
Before she wordlessly pushed herself to her feet not a moment later.
"I suppose I should follow." Silah sighed as she lazily retracted her puppet into her open hand while she moved towards the rooftops edge.
All the while a breeze blew through the air as her emotionless eyes continued staring down at the city below.
"Shouldn't I…Component?" The puppeteer spoke in an intrigued voice before she bounded off the edge of the rooftop.
And with that the bizarre puppet master jumped across the rooftops before quickly vanishing from sight.
All while evading her pursuers with an uncanny ease.
About two hours later that evening…
While the princess was preoccupied with a personal meeting with the captain.
Given that the day was at an end.
The two noble girls and their young friend were now all wearing comfortable lounge clothes.
The two noblewomen had been tasked with looking after their young handmaid.
Although at the moment it seemed to be the other way around.
"Can I get you something to drink oneesans?" Elle pondered in a doting voice as she watched the two older girls take a seat on the sofa.
"You don't have to wait on us Elle." Mai reminded in a sigh for about the tenth time while Ty Lee plopped down with a grin beside her.
"We're good little sister! But it is sweet of you to ask." Ty Lee exclaimed in a cheery voice as she smiled back at the younger girl's now pouting face.
"Are you sure oneesan?" Elle asked once more as Mai sighed again from her seat.
"Super sure! Why don't you come have a seat with us?" Ty Lee replied with a still present grin while she patted the seat beside her just as her adopted sister jumped down between them.
"Of course, I'll sit with my oneesans!" Elle chirped as she plopped down between her two big sisters' while they gazed at her with a shared fondness in their eyes.
"Actually, there may be something that you can do for us little sister." Ty Lee commented with a hand under her chin as Mai rose an inquisitive brow while Elle eagerly peered up at her.
"What can I do to help you oneesan?" Elle asked in a lovable voice as she sat with her hands in her lap while Ty Lee grinned down at her.
"Are you still up for that group snuggle?" Ty Lee questioned in a playful voice while the younger girl's amber eyes now sparkled in delight only for her fellow noblewoman to groan alongside them.
"No Ty Lee…" Mai complained as she sat with her arms folded over her breasts only to glance fondly down at her adopted sister when the girl cried out in approval.
"I would love to snuggle with my oneesans!" Elle cried out before she adorably leaped into Ty Lee's lap while her grinning big sister wrapped her muscular arms around her back.
"Well aren't you going to join us Mai?" Ty Lee asked with a bright grin on her lips as she plopped into the sofa with the brightly smiling teenager in her arms.
The noblewoman scrunched up her nose as she sat staring down at her two friends while the young serving girl smiled sweetly up at her.
"I don't do group snuggles." Mai attempted to explain in a stubborn voice while she tried to avert her eyes from the smaller girl's adorable gaze.
"Come on oneesan! Come snuggle with us!" Elle cheered in a chipper voice as Ty Lee held her against her breasts while Mai sighed above them.
"Fine. Kiddo. If it will make you happy…" Mai sighed as she scooted closer before she plopped down beside her two friends.
"Yay! Snuggle time with my oneesans!" Elle squealed in an overjoyed voice as she smiled bashfully when Mai's breasts pressed against the side of her face.
And the two noblewomen soon found themselves sliding in even closer while they affectionately took to snuggling their cherished adopted sister.
All while the smaller girl blushed happily as she lay there with two pairs of breasts pressing upon each side of her face.
"How can anyone say no to such an adorable face?" Ty Lee inquired in a warm voice as she lay on her side with the small serving girl's face being squished between their taller bodies.
"I was going to..." Mai insisted as she gazed down at Elle's peaceful face with a flicker of fondness in her stoic tawny eyes.
"No, you weren't." Ty Lee spoke with a beaming grin while Elle adorably snuggled up between them.
"I…love you oneesans." Elle mumbled in a serene voice as she cuddled up against her big sister's while they laid down beside her.
"We love you too Elle." Mai assured in a softer voice while she placed an arm around the younger girl's petite back.
She has said it before and she'll say it again.
Even if it was only for a few months…
She was really going to miss this kid.
"Yeah little sister. We do." Ty Lee cooed in a tender voice with a loving grin on her lips while she patted the now yawning girls back.
"O-oyasumi nasai minasan…" Elle murmured in a sleepy voice as she began to close her eyes in comfort in knowing that her siblings were there to lay beside her.
"Oyasumi nasai little sister." Mai responded as she cracked a small smile while she Elle began to breath peacefully in her chest.
"Oyasumi nasai…Elle." Ty Lee replied in a joyful voice with a grin still on her lips when she heard a soft snore from the young girl beside her.
The two noblewomen glanced up from their young friend with a mutual affection in their eyes before they lay their heads down on the luxury sofa.
And before long they too fell asleep.
Meanwhile.
Azula sat with a cup of wine in her hand while she gazed at the woman seated beside her in mild annoyance through the corner of her eye as Zoi took another heavy swig of an open bottle.
"What do you mean she evaded capture?" Azula questioned in a displeased voice that would make even the best of men and women wet themselves in fear of provoking her wrath.
All except for Zoi that was.
"She has been following us since we left Shantu Island. And she is quite adept at evading capture. We're not dealing with an ordinary target." Zoi remarked as she sat back on her chair while her princess's lips pursed into a deep scowl.
"There was no trace of her at all?" Azula answered in a ruthless voice while Zoi gulped down another generous gulp of liquor.
"The Dai Li report that they were chasing the target. But when they got close, they realized that what they thought was a living person…was just a puppet that resembled a human." Zoi stated in a composed voice while Azula's amber golden eyes flashed with a flicker of surprise.
"Interesting…she controlled it remotely…" Azula trailed off with a finger under her chin before she took a graceful drink of her wine.
"At any rate she is still following us. If I had to guess…it most likely has something to do with Elle." Zoi commented as she sat back with her calm golden eyes gazing back at the princess's now violently possessive face.
"The girl and her power belong to me. I own her. And that…is not up for debate. I see that I will just have to teach this puppeteer a lesson that she will never forget." Azula declared in a merciless voice as her callous amber golden eyes narrowed into slits.
Only for her eyes to glare in annoyance when the other woman slapped a hand on her back.
"Congratulations on scoring such a lovely little prize! I'm proud of you Princess!" Zoi announced with a grin on her lips while Azula's frigid eyes glared a hole through her skull.
"I don't think I care for your choice of words Zoi. Or your hand on my back." Azula snarled in a voice of absolute authority as she narrowed her eyes back at Zoi's playful face.
"No but seriously. She's a marvelous catch. You couldn't have picked a finer woman." Zoi complimented with her hand still on her annoyed princess's back.
"Watch yourself Zoi! You are treading on thin ice!" Azula growled with blue fire escaping her nostrils while she took an angry sip of her wine.
"Not only is she the holder of an ancient weapon against the Avatar and the Spirit World. The girl practically worships the ground that you walk on." Zoi remarked with a lazy wave of her hand while Azula's lips soon curled into a gratified smirk.
"Hm. Of course, she does. I am her goddess after all…" Azula trailed off in a smug voice as she gazed down at her fingernails with her wine cup in her other hand.
"I have no doubt about that. She'll wait on you hand and foot every day for the rest of her life. She's that head over heels for you." Zoi conversed with her bottle in hand while the princess's lips curved into an even larger smirk.
"Humph. Tell me something that I don't already know. The power to kill the Avatar runs through her veins…and yet she has no desire to use the power for her own gain. Instead…she would rather empower me even more." Azula purred with a finger raised in the air as she smiled in approval over her serving girl's undying loyalty.
It was true.
Elle could venture out on her own to claim power for herself.
And yet the commoner girl would rather remain as her servant…under her command.
Ever loyal to her mistress…
The girl was a true servant. That she knew for certain.
She was a fine pet indeed.
More than deserving of a place at her side.
"She would rather serve you than gain power without you." Zoi agreed with her usual wit while Azula's smirk grew by tenfold.
"Exactly Zoi. Elle craves my dominance. All she desires is to live out her little life as my servant. Out of the kindness of my heart I have decided to grant her heart's desire. The girl will make for a splendid submissive." Azula sighed blissfully with a hand in the air as she took a content drink of her wine.
Such a lovely little pet.
She will have to make certain that she continues to take good care of this one.
Nothing but the best will do for this one…
'Elle…is a good girl. She's a faithful servant…she deserves to be treated well.' Azula thought with a rare sliver of fondness in her callous amber golden eyes as she gazed down into her wine cup.
For the briefest of moments her frigid eyes gave way to a thawed countenance.
As she found herself subconsciously twirling a long finger in her dark hair while her thoughts drifted to her pretty little handmaid.
A softened smile began to curl onto her full lips when she recalled all of her little handmaid's great many tributes in her name.
And strangely enough a barely perceivable blush formed on her regal cheeks when she found herself longing to have her serving girl tucked away in her arms once more.
Curse this little peasant for making her feel such weakness.
Only to find herself torn from her reverie by her soldier's almost glumly sighing voice.
"What's gotten into you Zoi?" Azula asked with a sliver of something akin to concern in her cold voice as she studied her soldier with a more composed gaze than before.
Despite her best efforts…
She has actually grown fond of her strongest soldier.
Dare she say it?
That she actually just might be beginning to see Zoi as a friend?
"I am not sure I understand what you mean Princess." Zoi replied with a blink of her eyes while the princess rolled her eyes in response.
"Don't play dumb with me Zoi. You have been…off ever since yesterday." Azula remarked in an ever-observant voice as she stared hard at her strongest soldier's oddly depressed face.
"It's…nothing. I have just realized that there are some things that I am good at…and others that I am not." Zoi answered as she sat back beside the perplexed Azula while her leader gazed at the back of her head.
"What do you mean? Is this about your sister Zoi?" Azula pondered in a bored voice as she glanced over at her soldier's contemplative face.
"I am an exemplary soldier…a skilled warrior. But…. I am a piss poor daughter. And…an even shittier sister." Zoi trailed off as she sunk forward with her bangs hanging in her eyes while the princess gazed at her in a bewildered silence.
It took a great deal to take Azula aback.
But hearing her most powerful warrior express even a hint of vulnerability took her by surprise.
An unsettling silence passed over the cabin as the princess set her wine cup down on a table before rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"Zoi you…have your merits. And your value on the warfront cannot be overstated." Azula assured in an awkward voice as she gazed at her soldier's now surprised face when the woman turned to meet her gaze.
"Right. Of course." Zoi mumbled in a slightly more upbeat voice than before while Azula cast her a pointed stare.
"Don't worry about your family. I need you to keep your focus. You're no use to me otherwise. Understand?" Azula commanded in a practiced coldness that almost verged on guidance as Zoi numbly nodded her head.
"I do…thank you Princess." Zoi spoke in a moved voice as she nodded her head with a returning grin while her leader sighed as she gazed back at her.
"Just see to it that you don't disappoint me." Azula sighed as she sat back in her chair while her soldier nodded her head with renewed determination in her eyes.
"I won't. In fact, I am ready. More than ever before to return to the battlefield and win this war." Zoi declared in a steely voice as she clenched her fist in her lap while Azula turned to her with approval in her amber golden eyes.
"Really now? I am delighted to hear that you are eager to bring us victory." Azula purred in a satisfied voice with her red lips curving into a lethal smile.
"That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. Victory…and glory." Zoi stated with a resolute expression in her golden eyes while her princess's pleased smile grew even larger.
"Go on." Azula urged in a dominant voice with a wave of her elegant hand while her soldier set her bottle down.
"This time there will be no tricks. I am through with indirect tactics. The anti-earthbending mines were a worthy maneuver but there are too many variables beyond our control. My mother supported the strategy so I gave it a go. But this time…this time I will take a more direct approach." Zoi commented as she stood up from her seat while the flames of the candles accented her stoic image.
"So…what then?" Azula asked in a curious voice with a still present smirk on her red lips while Zoi turned to gaze back down at her.
"You and I…we are going to win this war." Zoi answered in a dedicated voice while her princess's pleased smile grew by tenfold.
"Of course, we will. I will accept no other outcome." Azula remarked in an egotistical voice before she took another graceful swallow of her wine.
"We will win. And you…you will sit the throne. You will be crowned Fire Lord…or Phoenix King. Call yourself whatever you please my princess. And be assured that I will fight to my fullest to see you take your rightful place upon that throne." Zoi spoke in a devoted voice with a fist clenched before her while Azula's lips curved into a gratified grin.
"I am greatly pleased by your devotion Zoi. For that my loyal soldier. You shall always have a place beside me." Azula stated in a supremely authoritative voice as she leaned back in her seat as if it was a throne with her fist against her beautifully smirking lips.
Although if you asked her.
Anything a princess sat on became her throne.
And it went without saying that she was not surprised to discover that Zoi knew of her father's plans to crown himself as Phoenix King.
As she previously surmised…
It had to be Chancellor Terak that brought the news to Zoi and her mother.
And just like that her callous amber golden eyes narrowed in renewed rage while a puff of blew fire escaped her wrathful nostrils.
Any annoyance that she felt towards the scheming chancellor was immediately squashed by the outrage that she felt knowing that her father planned to make her into a puppet king!
But before she could become lost in her rage she was once more brought back to focus by her soldier's voice.
"You honor me with your words Princess. Know that I am your proud warrior and that I will serve you until my dying breath." Zoi responded with her hand on the hilt of her sword as she bowed her head while the princess gazed at her in approval.
"Very good Zoi…you truly are worthy of being called 'Princess Azula's Warrior'." Azula drawled in a smooth voice with a sophisticated smile on her full lips while she gazed at her loyal soldier's bowing face.
"Again, Your Highness. You honor me. However, let it be known that there is…one thing that I want. One thing that I must have at all costs." Zoi began in a voice of undying enthusiasm as she gazed at Azula's intrigued face while her princess held a curious finger to her cheek.
"You have but to name it Zoi and I shall grant it. So long as it doesn't involve my servant girl." Azula assured with a trace of fondness in her cruel eyes.
And curiously enough.
She once more found herself longing to have her pet bowing at the foot of her throne with her little head propped up upon her thigh.
'Where she belongs…' Azula thought with a refined smile on her full lips while she pushed a fingernail into her lovely cheek.
"You my princess…you get to become the ruler of this world. But the glory of the battlefield…that belongs to me." Zoi announced in a passionate voice as she drew her sword while her princess stared at her in confusion.
"Zoi you already have the glory of the battlefield." Azula snorted in a dry voice as she stared at her soldier in unconcealed amusement when Zoi adamantly shook her head.
If nothing else.
The very thought of sitting upon her throne as the ruler of this world with her little love seated at her feet was a vastly pleasing thought indeed.
"The one who will kill Avatar Aang and Princess Ling…will be me." Zoi insisted as she held her blade before her while Azula's amber golden eyes now flickered in surprise.
"You want to claim both for yourself?" Azula inquired with an edge to her voice as she narrowed her eyes at her soldier's steely face.
It was a brazen statement.
One that only Zoi would have the gall to say to her face.
"The only way for me to become immortal…is by killing both the last Avatar…and the final heir of the great Earth Kingdom monarchy." Zoi answered with great determination in her eyes as she gazed back into her leader's cold amber golden eyes.
"I must say Zoi. This is a bold request. Even for you." Azula complained with her callous eyes flickering in aggravation as she mulled over the demand.
She had been looking forward to showing off her strength against this rival princess.
If only to make a suitable impression on her girlfriend.
Yet at the same time. It would be unwise to spurn Zoi…
"Let me fight for you Princess Azula…. let me be your right hand in the wars to come. What better way to show the Avatar and this rebel princess that they are beneath you? That their rebellion is undeserving of your time." Zoi explained in a faithful voice with a hand over her chest while Azula's arrogant smile began to return.
"True. They are below me. It would not be befitting for a woman of my stature to ever consider such nothings worthy of my time." Azula scoffed as she smugly examined her well-manicured fingernails on her balled-up fist.
"Precisely. All the more to demonstrate to the people that your rule…your reign is legitimate in comparison to your brother's feeble willed rebellion." Zoi agreed as she gestured with her hand in the air while her princess's red lips curled into a giant smile.
"You make a good point Zoi. Although I hope you know that even if I do say yes to your request. We have other…factors to be taken into consideration." Azula sighed in a refined voice with an arm on the side of her chair while Zoi nodded in understanding.
"I am well aware." Zoi replied as she stood faithful before her seated princess while Azula took another drink of her wine.
"My servant girl…she is the Component. It goes without saying that the girl will play a critical role in defeating the Avatar." Azula continued in a regal voice as she swallowed her drink while she gazed at her soldier with domineering amber golden eyes.
"I understand that." Zoi muttered as she watched her leader stare down at her fingernails once more.
"When we begin our training sessions…I am going to have the girl join us. She must learn how to fend for herself." Azula commanded in a voice that brook no room for argument while Zoi glanced back at her in surprise.
"What? You want a thirteen-year-old pacifist…might I add a girl with a lung condition…to train with us?" Zoi asked in a deadpan voice while Azula rolled her amber golden eyes in response.
"Please. We aren't going to use our full strength. When we work with her…we are going to train at her level." Azula snorted with a fist against her cheek while her soldier relaxed in understanding.
"Oh. I see. But even so…" Zoi trailed off with a sliver of uncertainty in her voice while her princess rolled her eyes once more.
"Don't be so dramatic Zoi. The girl will be fine." Azula grumbled with a dismissive wave of her hand while Zoi offered her a nod of agreement.
"Very well. If that is your will Princess then I shall obey the order." Zoi assured with her hand clutching her blade while Azula sat back upon her plush chair.
"If you want it Zoi. Then you had better be there on the battlefield to receive it when the opportunity presents itself. Is that understood?" Azula remarked in a voice of absolute authority as she gazed hard at her soldier's hurriedly nodding face.
"Yes! I understand Princess!" Zoi exclaimed in a devoted voice with a fist over her chest while her princess set her cup down.
"Kneel to your princess Zoi." Azula demanded without warning in a spoiled voice while she smirked in gratification when her soldier quickly knelt down on one knee on the floor.
"I await your order, Princess." Zoi stated as she kneeled with her hand on her other knee while Azula stared down at her with vastly pleased amber golden eyes.
"From this moment forward Zoi. I hereby pronounce you my second in command." Azula announced in a strict voice with her icy amber golden eyes gazing down at her loyal soldier's astonished face.
"Your second in command?" Zoi repeated in a stunned voice while her princess rolled her eyes above her.
"I will not repeat myself. You'll just have to decipher the rolling of my eyes." Azula scoffed as she stared down at Zoi's kneeling form while her soldier inclined her head in a show of reverence.
"I will not fail you Princess Azula! I swear upon my honor that we will be victorious!" Zoi shouted as she sprung to her feet with her sword clutched in hand while Azula smiled broadly in approval.
"Good Zoi. Very good. I approve of your spirit in our nation." Azula commented with her hands folded in her lap while her soldier cracked a small smile as she sheathed her sword.
"Come Princess. Let us toast to our victory to come." Zoi responded as she grasped her bottle while her princess eyed her with amused amber golden eyes.
"A toast?" Azula questioned in a regal voice as she rose a lovely brow while she turned to watch her favorite soldier seat herself beside her once more.
"That is if you want to…" Zoi trailed off in a mildly deflated voice while Azula sighed beside her.
"Fine. You are exemplary soldier. So, I suppose I will allow it." Azula spoke in a spoiled voice as she grasped onto her cup before she lazily clanged it against her soldier's bottle.
"By this war's end my princess. We shall be immortal." Zoi declared in a passionate voice with a confident curve of her lips while her princess's smirk grew even larger.
"That's right Zoi. Immortal." Azula concluded in a voice that almost verged on fondness before she took a refined drink of her wine.
And her loyal captain did the same.
The two smirked back at one another while they sat in the flame lit cabin.
Immortal…
She couldn't help but muse that she liked the sound of that.
Not even an hour later.
The tired princess loudly yawned beneath her hand as she sleepily strode down the halls in her sleep robes of the royal sloop to collect her sleeping companion.
Before she soon came to a stop before their lounge room.
And then she cracked the door open…
Only for her amber golden eyes to twitch in aggravation when she found herself gazing in upon a sight that had her snorting out a puff of blue fire through her nostrils.
Her serving girl was passed out snoring with her face between both of her childhood friends' breasts!
"I don't recall authorizing a group snuggle." Azula growled with fire escaping her nostrils before closing the door quietly as she made her way into the room.
And then her lips pursed into a regal scowl as she plopped down on her robed posterior beside her three slumbering friends.
And then the princess sunk back into the sofa with her eyes narrowing in annoyance as she glared at her friends through the corner of her eye.
"Nor did I tell you that you two could steal my girlfriend for the night." Azula grumbled under her breath as she lay on her back with her arms stubbornly folded over her breasts.
And yet even so she turned on her side with her possessive eyes never ceasing in observing her girlfriend's snoring face.
"Such an unforgivable insult. A princess should not have to sleep on the side…" Azula complained in a moody voice as she began to close her eyes.
And strangely enough.
Despite her annoyance over the situation she found herself unwilling to venture to her chambers without her young companion.
And soon enough…
She too fell asleep.
Content to at least be in the same sleeping area as her girlfriend.
Even if she wasn't laying directly beside her.
They were together.
And that…is all that mattered.
AN:
Alright, first let me respond to the reviews.
Yes Agent Banana, that is a good way to describe Naoki. She can very much be seen as a dark reflection of Elle. Or one could say that Elle is a bright reflection of Naoki. I only say that because I conceived Naoki back in 2017. And I didn't think of Elle until early 2019.
But despite that, Elle was first in this story so it can very much be said that it is a fitting description.
Anyhow, onto the afterword.
So, not much happened in this chapter. The next five chapters that follow this are mostly travel chapters, with some ElZula fluff mixed in here and there. The Fire Mountain arc is technically done.
But the new arc won't officially kick in until chapter 71. The reason why I have five travel chapters is because there were things that I wanted to cover in between.
Now as for Sia we saw that she does still care about Zoe. Despite her anger, she still cared enough to come see Zoe off. It will be awhile before we see Sia and Yoko again. Probably a good thirty or so chapters.
The next arc is a long one, and we'll be touching on some characters that we've already met, such as Rieko, Silah, and meeting others like Naoki, the sage, and more. We'll return to visit the Fire Nation court in the arc that follows after that which will be the second battle with Team Avatar arc.
Regarding Silah, just in case some of you thought that I had forgotten about her. I didn't. The reason why she is lurking in the shadows is because she is more interested in seeing Elle's power activate than fighting Azula or Zoe.
Silah is a highly efficient killer, and she is a powerful force to be reckoned with. I promise that the slowness with Silah will eventually pay off. I just want everyone to understand that she is not the sort of villain to just randomly jump into combat.
She also has her own tricks up her sleeve that will explain why she is so lax about trailing the Princess of the Fire Nation. In the next arc, we will continue to get momentary glimpses of Silah that show her cold nature. And then eventually Azula, Zoe and the others will meet her again in person.
And she will also have reappear in the arc after that. She will continue to make her appearances, and then eventually she will appear much more frequently when she clashes with Azula and Zoe.
The next chapter will be a short one, about 3000 words. We will touch base with Ling and Team Avatar. That will also be the last time we see Team Avatar for the next thirty or so chapters.
Since the following arc will be the second battle arc, we'll see Team Avatar in much greater detail then. But for the time being I have decided to focus on expanding the plot revolving around my several original characters.
Some of this will also serve as buildup for book two.
Aside from that, I hope everyone enjoyed the Elle snuggle scene with Mai and Ty Lee.
But anyhow, that's it for now.
Stay tuned for next time.
For chapter sixty-six! Traitors and Training!