Hello everyone.
Here we are with another chapter.
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And without further ado...enjoy!
Lessons in Combat – Chapter Sixty-Nine
Around four hours later in the training room.
Elle released a cry of surprise while backing away in combat robes with a wooden stick in hand.
While just barely avoiding the swing of her girlfriend's own training sword.
Only to gulp meekly when Azula's authoritative voice resonated into the air.
Zoi watched from the sidelines with a bored look in her golden eyes.
"That was pathetic Elle! If I was really trying to kill you would have died to that strike!" Azula lectured in a strict voice with a deep scowl on her lips while her serving girl hastily bowed at the hip.
"Sumimasen Azula-sama!" Elle exclaimed with a nervous swallow while she bent her head in reverence only to hear her mistress sigh fondly.
"You're going to have to do better than that if you want to survive on the battlefield. Again!" Azula called out in a commanding voice while she stared hard at her gulping servant girl.
"Yes Princess!" Elle answered in a loyal voice with her training stick in hand while she forced down her apprehension.
Only for her amber eyes to widen in fright when the powerful woman sprinted forward with speed that she couldn't follow.
And then…
Elle shook as she slid back with her stick in hand while a loud clanging noise echoed throughout the training room.
"Stop slouching!" Azula barked with a snarl while she loomed over her timid girlfriend as Elle quivered under her domineering gaze.
"I-I'm trying Azula-sama…" Elle squeaked as she craned her neck to meet her princess's demanding gaze.
"Well try harder!" Azula growled with a hand on her curvaceous hip while she delighted in how the young girl shook in her shadow.
"You can't expect a girl who has never faced the battlefield to learn in two hours. It is going to take time." Zoi advised in a stoic voice as she walked up behind the two while Azula turned to cast her a lazy glare.
"I am well aware of that Zoi." Azula replied in a frigid voice only for her cold amber golden eyes to take notice that her companion was panting slightly.
"J-just a moment." Elle stated as she regained her breath while Azula rolled her eyes down at her.
"Just go take your stupid breather peasant!" Azula ordered with a pompous wave of her hand while the younger girl smiled up at her.
Just before turning to scurry over to go get her medicine from her backpack.
"I'll be there in just a second." Elle chirped in a bashful voice while fishing for her medicine in her backpack as the princess regarded her coldly.
"Go sit down and take a short break." Azula commanded in a stern voice with her arms folded over her breasts while her serving girl smiled gratefully back at her.
"A-arigatou gozaimasu Azula-sama." Elle responded in a mousy voice before she padded over to a bench with her backpack in hand.
Before she took a seat as she took several puffs from her inhaler while the princess stared back at her with possessive amber golden eyes.
Only for Azula to turn her head when she heard the sound of an item being removed from the weapons rack.
"Perhaps in the meantime I can interest you in a real battle." Zoi spoke while striding forward with spear in hand while her princess turned to regard her with a smug smirk.
"By all means. I could use some target practice." Azula remarked in a sadistic voice with a fist planted on her hip while she confidently strode forward.
Her haughty smirk grew even larger when she took note of how her young girlfriend was gazing after her with unrivaled admiration in her innocent eyes.
"Now don't get ahead of yourself Princess. I am much stronger than the rabble that you are used to fighting." Zoi quipped before she stopped opposite of Azula while the younger woman still wore a conceited smirk on her lips.
"So you are. But even so…are you really going to fight me with spear and sword?" Azula pondered with a brow arching inquisitively while Zoi gazed back with stony golden eyes.
"Yes. I am." Zoi replied in a smooth voice while the princess released a loud scoff.
"You're not going to use firebending?" Azula questioned in a snort with her hands on her hips as she confidently continued forward.
"No. I am not." Zoi answered as she sunk into a combat stance with her spear clutched in hand while Elle watched in eagerness from her seat.
"You not only challenge your Crown Princess…the world's strongest firebender to a duel and you say you will eschew your bending? Those are some bold words Zoi." Azula spoke in a smooth voice as she lazily pushed her fists up off her hips.
Before she finally stopped just a few paces away from her strongest soldier.
"Your bending is unlike anything that I've ever seen. You may well be the world's strongest firebender." Zoi agreed in a composed voice as she slid one foot back on the flooring while a haughty smirk formed on the other woman's lips.
"It pleases me that we are in agreement soldier." Azula purred with blue fire burning from her fingertips while her young girlfriend gazed at her in admiration.
"However, you are also a spoiled aristocrat with very little experience on the battlefield. In that regard…I would say that your disadvantage is just as great as mine. I'd say we're about even." Zoi commented with a smirk of her own while Azula amber golden eyes now flashed in anger.
"Just for that Zoi. I am going to make this session especially painful." Azula hissed with a puff of blue fire spewing from her pursed lips while she gazed hard at the crouching soldier.
"You've got it backwards Your Highness. I am the one who's going to be beating your ass." Zoi stated in a smug voice before she took off in a sprint towards the scoffing woman.
Just as the princess's lips curved into revived smirk when she heard her serving girl call out to her.
"Azula-sama for the win!" Elle cheered with a fist in the air while she smiled innocently in the direction of her smirking girlfriend.
Just before Azula's amber golden eyes returned to her charging opponent as she sunk into a combat stance of her own.
Before mere moments later a large blast of blue fire exploded in the center of the arena.
Only for her callous eyes to widen ever so slightly when the warrior leaped from the burning flames with spear in hand.
And then…
Slash!
The princess slid one step backwards as she stared coldly back into the warrior's golden eyes with her hand now grasping a hold of the tip of the spear.
"Please. You'll have to do better than that Zoi." Azula spoke in a pompous voice only for her amber golden eyes to narrow when her hand began to slowly push backwards.
And then she stared on in aggravation as the warrior stared back at her with determined golden eyes while they grappled over the weapon.
Azula released a dominant growl while she swung at the older woman with a burning blue fist.
Only for the princess's eyes to bulge in shock when a powerful fist suddenly slammed into her armored belly.
And then the spear was just as quickly wrenched from her hand while she now glared back at her soldier with furious amber golden eyes.
All the while trying to suppress any indication that the blow took her by surprise.
'She's strong…' Azula grudgingly thought as she wiped a droplet of spit from her lips while glaring hard at the other woman.
"I could say the same of you…Princess." Zoi retorted in a pleased voice with her spear in hand while Azula stared furiously back at her.
And then just like that the two sprang forward at each other once more.
"Azula-sama…" Elle murmured in a loyal voice as she chewed on her lip while she watched her mistress leap forward.
She knew that it was only a sparring match.
But she couldn't stand to see her princess in even the slightest pain.
"You are going to regret that soldier!" Azula snarled just as they impacted once more while Zoi stared back at her with calm golden eyes.
The two mighty warriors now glared back at one another while the princess shoved back on the warrior's spear with her unsheathed sword.
"Unlikely." Zoi growled out with her strong hands pushing back on the younger woman while the princess's domineering amber golden eyes burned a hole through her skull.
The two firebenders stood in a second grapple while they fought to assert their dominance over the other.
Only for the princess to pridefully hiss before an explosion of powerful blue fire suddenly lit up the arena.
All the while making certain that her young servant was out of their range of her attack.
The serving girl sat with her mouth in the shape of awestruck o while she held her arm over her face.
Just as the warrior rolled out of the way of the blue inferno while her imposing mistress now stood in the center of the flames with her intimidating amber golden eyes now staring down at the other woman.
"What was that you were saying about my disadvantage?" Azula taunted in a sanguine voice with fire burning all around her while she held her sword in her right hand.
Zoi elegantly slid back on all fours while she gazed at the veil of flames with unhidden astonishment in her golden eyes.
Only to regain her composure not a moment later while clutching her spear in her hand.
"That is a truly fascinating ability but it's going to take more than that to stop me." Zoi remarked as she slowly stood up while Azula gazed back through her veil of flames with an amused smirk on her lips.
"Is that so? Well then…" Azula commented with a haughty smile on her lips before gracefully bending fire in the palm of her hand.
While staring back with cold amber golden eyes as she watched her strongest soldier begin to charge her once more.
And then soon enough great fireballs of blue fire were being launched across the vast training room.
The agile soldier skillfully dodged and rolled her way out of one blast after another.
And Elle still sat watching the duel with her mouth open in childish amazement.
Zoi slid across the floor just as she evaded yet another fireball while the princess glared back at her with a flicker of annoyance in her amber golden eyes.
'She's good. No…better than good. But then…she wouldn't be my second in command if she wasn't, would she? But even so…I am better.' The princess thought with her fist clenching on her blade at her hip while she reeled around to follow the other warrior's movements.
"I'll admit that you impress me Zoi…but even so…I am still superior." Azula spoke in a supremely confident voice with a smug smirk on her lips just as her wall of flames burst to towering heights.
And then her sword lit afire while she took note of her serving girl cheering her on from the sidelines.
"Go Azula-sama!" Elle chirped with a fist in the air while the princess's smirk grew even larger.
Just before turning back to her opponent while another plume of blue fire exploded before her.
The princess smirked as she gazed out of her veil of flames while she watched her soldier become consumed in the inferno.
The flames burned across the floor of the royal sloop arena.
And for a fleeting moment.
The princess almost pondered if she had killed her subordinate.
But she knew better than to think that.
Yet even so…
Only for Azula's amber golden eyes to widen once more when Zoi sprung forth from the inferno like a living cannonball.
With tremendous skill and dexterity, the warrior dashed through the flames with embers of blue fire still burning on her clothing.
"The battle is not over yet Princess!" Zoi called out in a determined voice just as another blast of fire was sent her way.
As she continued to charge Azula.
Even when another fireball exploded directly over her body.
The princess stared back with uncharacteristic bewilderment in her cold amber golden eyes.
"I demand that you kneel soldier! Bow before your princess!" Azula ordered with a snarl escaping her beautiful lips while Zoi continued to charge towards her.
And then she released a larger fireball that exploded in the air while she covered her face with her sleeved arm.
While briefly glancing at her young girlfriend through the corner of her eye to ensure that the girl was unharmed.
Only for her attention to be swiftly regained when she spun around to watch in shock as Zoi sprung herself into the air off of her spear.
And then just as quickly it was thrown towards her with terrifying precision.
All while the warrior barreled through the air with sword in hand while her princess glared up at her.
And then not a moment later Azula deflected the spear with a swing of her sword before quickly kicking the weapon aside.
Before she rapidly glanced over her shoulder to watch Zoi descending above her wall of flames.
Only for her amber golden eyes to widen in astonishment when the other woman plunged into the blue inferno.
And then not a second later she watched the warrior's singed body drop through her flames.
Her mouth hung open in disbelief while she gazed down at Zoi as she observed her strongest subordinate roll to a stop before her feet.
And without even giving it any thought she quickly extinguished her flames with a lazy wave of her hand while she stared down at her panting soldier with pleased amber golden eyes.
"That was a foolish thing to do Zoi. Consider yourself fortunate that I like you enough to cancel out my flames." Azula snorted as she sheathed her sword with a hand on her shapely hip while her callous eyes still gazed down at her warrior in concealed surprise.
The fact that Zoi survived plunging herself through her blue fire was nothing short of astonishing.
Just what was it about this one that gave her such monstrous stamina?
"Yes well…as you well know by now. I take combat seriously. Even if it is just a simple sparring match." Zoi declared at long last as she stood up with her clothing now torn from the flames while Azula just smirked in response.
Only for both firebenders to turn around when they heard their young friend enthusiastically clapping from her seat.
"Wow! That was awesome! You're both so amazing!" Elle cried out with a beaming countenance while she clapped her hands.
As the captain just turned to smirk smugly over her shoulder at the princess's now irate face.
The flash of possessive jealousy in the princess's eyes was simply unmistakable.
"Are you implying that Zoi is anywhere near as amazing as me!" Azula demanded in a spoiled voice with her fists planted imposingly on her womanly hips.
She glared hard at her now little servant girl's now gulping face.
Only for Zoi to smirk even wider as she gazed between the two in entertainment.
"Now Princess. You shouldn't get mad at young Elle for having eyes for quality." Zoi taunted while sheathing her sword as her princess now spun around to glare an icy hole through her skull.
"N-no Azula-sama! No one is as amazing as you!" Elle chirped with a bashful smile while the princess let out a haughty huff.
"Humph! You had best remember that peasant!" Azula exclaimed in a pompous voice with a moody scowl on her lips as she proudly glared at the nearest wall.
Only to turn her head not a moment later when she heard the practice room doors open behind them.
They glanced over their shoulders at the now opened doors to see both Mai and Ty Lee had entered the training arena.
And just like that Zoi and Mai were already glaring at each other in unconcealed distaste.
While Ty Lee gazed at the young serving girl with concerned brown gray eyes.
"Azula please tell me the explosions that I just heard didn't involve Elle." Ty Lee spoke in a protective voice as she balanced on her crutch while Azula waved a dismissive hand in the air.
"Would you stop mothering the girl? I was simply having a spar with…" Azula responded in a cold voice only to glare down at her small girlfriend when her pet scampered under her arm.
"Oh, that was nothing oneesan! I was just practicing my new moves!" Elle declared in an innocent voice as she proudly held up her wooden sword while Azula rolled her eyes over her.
"New moves little sister?" Ty Lee asked in a tender voice with a smile already forming on her lips while she gazed warmly at the beaming teenage girl.
"That must be why Azula and Zoi look so roughed up." Mai stated in a bored voice laced with a sliver of fondness while Azula cast her an irate glare.
"Please! The tiger monkey couldn't defeat me even if I was asleep!" Azula snorted with a haughty flip of her hair while Zoi still sneered back at Mai.
"No one here knows more about taking a beating than you Saolin." Zoi sneered with her arms crossing over her burned shirt while she smirked back into Mai's twitching tawny eyes.
"Yep! Azula-sama and oneesan Zoi are teaching me the basics of combat!" Elle announced in a cheerful voice only for all but the bewildered captain to nearly fall over in shock.
"Oneesan Zoi?" Mai repeated with great distaste in her groaning voice while Ty Lee held a hand to her forehead.
"Elle…" Ty Lee sighed with a fond shake of her head while Elle still smiled brightly.
"Don't you have enough big sisters already?" Azula questioned with a roll of her amber golden eyes while her soldier gazed at her girlfriend in puzzlement.
"You are calling me big sister?" Zoi asked in a calm voice with a flicker of hidden emotion in her cold eyes while she gazed down at the shorter girl's cheerful face.
All the while making certain to bury the lingering pains of guilt knowing full well that hasn't been there for her little sister as much as she could have.
But she knew better than to be angry with her strange young friend.
After all she already knew by now that Elle wore her heart on her sleeve and that the girl couldn't have known about her struggling relations with Sia.
"If…it's alright with you." Elle answered in a timid voice as she shifted on her feet while Azula now stared at Zoi with jealous amber golden eyes while the older woman shook her head.
"No. It's fine. It doesn't bother me." Zoi assured in a softer voice as she closed her eyes with a small smile on her lips while Elle beamed in excitement.
And both noblewomen continued to sigh in exasperation under their breath.
Only for Azula's eyes to narrow when Elle surprised Zoi by wrapping her arms around the warrior's belly.
"Good. I'm glad." Elle stated in a gentle voice while the statuesque woman stared down at her with taken aback golden eyes.
Only for the sound of Azula's boot stomping into the flooring to cause all but Elle to gaze her way.
"Zoi! Get off my pet!" Azula barked in a possessive voice with her teeth bared into a snarl while Zoi smirked back at her.
"Getting a little jealous are we Princess?" Zoi taunted with a hand on the smaller girl's shoulder while the princess released a loud scoff.
"I'm not jealous." Azula growled with her arms over her breasts while her childhood friends sighed beside her.
"Right Azula. Of course, you aren't." Ty Lee spoke with a returning smile while her spoiled friend scowled at her.
Despite her reservations about Zoi.
She couldn't help but admit that it was adorable that Elle saw a big sister in Zoi of all people.
It was just the way Elle was.
Pure and innocent.
"Now I have three big sisters'!" Elle chimed with a joyful smile on her lips as she hopped to her feet while Zoi gazed mockingly back at Mai's annoyed face.
"Joy." Mai muttered as she glared at the other woman through the corner of her eye while Ty Lee patted the younger girl's shoulder.
"And unlike Saolin I am actually a competent protector." Zoi remarked as she puffed out her chest while Mai glared a hole through her skull.
"Do you ever stop talking shit Zoi?" Mai responded in a defensive voice while the princess groaned in aggravation.
"Do you ever get tired of eating it?" Zoi jeered as she waved a taunting hand in the air while her princess's eyes twitched in annoyance.
"Enough! Or I will have you both put to the sword!" Azula shouted in an irate voice with a scowl on her lips while both noblewomen glared back at one another.
"So, what is Azula teaching you Elle?" Ty Lee questioned with cheer in her voice while Elle beamed up at Azula's proudly scowling face.
"I'm learning how to deflect attacks with a wooden sword." Elle replied in a chipper voice as she comically swung her wooden stick about while her girlfriend rolled her eyes down at her.
"Well! Hopefully Azula is taking your breathing condition into consideration." Ty Lee spoke as she glanced at her friend's glaring face only for the younger girl to speak once more.
"Don't tell Azula-sama but I am going easy on her because I don't want to embarrass her…" Elle whispered with a hand over her mouth as she leaned closer to the grinning Ty Lee while the three noblewomen listened in amusement.
Only for Azula to glare down at the back of her head with murderously narrowed amber golden eyes.
"Really? In that case next time I will be sure to fight you at my full strength!" Azula declared in a conceited voice while all but the captain shuddered in fear.
"Please don't do that Azula." Ty Lee pleaded with a wince while Azula huffed with her arms folded over her chest.
"Just you wait Azula-sama! I'll be as skilled as a ninja turtle before you know it!" Elle exclaimed an adorable nod while the four women furrowed their brows in bafflement.
"A ninja turtle?" Mai repeated in a puzzled voice while she watched her adopted sister eagerly nod her head.
"I can already tell that this is going to be some sort of childish peasant trifle." Azula snorted in a haughty voice while Ty Lee lightly slapped her shoulder.
"Yeah! It's a popular children's television show back in my homeland! It's about four turtles that were mutated into bipedal humanoids! And then they are taught the ways of the ninja by a mutated rat named Splinter!" Elle explained in an enthusiastic voice while her four friends blinked in confusion.
"Mutated rats and turtles?" Ty Lee asked with a curious blink of her eyes while the princess rolled her eyes at their young friend.
"See? What did I tell you?" Azula scoffed with another roll of her elegant eyes while her strongest soldier gazed at the girl in bewilderment.
"What is television?" Zoi inquired with a tilt of her head while Elle perked her head up once more.
"Well…a television is an invention that allows you to watch prerecorded filmed shows, movies and events on a screen from the comfort of your home." Elle responded in a helpful voice while the four highborn women gazed at her with astonishment in their eyes.
Even Azula herself seemed somewhat taken aback.
Not that the princess would ever say as such aloud though.
"You mean…like your video games?" Mai pondered in an amazed voice while Elle offered her a chipper nod.
"Yep! Just like video games!" Elle exclaimed with a bright smile while Azula scrunched up her nose in concealed curiosity before scoffing loudly.
"Like I said. Peasant trifles." Azula scoffed with a snide wave of her hand while both of her childhood friends rolled their eyes outside of her line of vision.
"That sounds amazing Elle! There are so many interesting things about your homeland!" Ty Lee chimed as she moved forward alongside her smiling little sister.
Zoi gazed at the younger girl with a contemplative expression in her composed golden eyes before she turned to gaze at Azula's guarded face.
"Where are you from Elle? I have never heard of a television. Nor many of the other strange items that you have in your possession. Where is your homeland?" Zoi questioned as she turned to gaze with calculating golden eyes at the smaller girl's now nervous face.
The two noblewomen and the princess paused in their step as they briefly exchanged a glance.
Uncertain if they should be sharing such a detail with anyone else.
But they also knew that Zoi would find out for herself sooner or later.
"Um…it's complicated. You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you…" Elle trailed off as she chewed on her lip before the princess turned to cast the stoic captain a strict stare.
"My servant girl's homeland is not something that you need to concern yourself with right now." Azula commented with her arms folded over her breasts while the captain rose an entertained brow.
"Of course, Princess. I'll just ask you again later in private." Zoi stated with a flicker of smugness in her voice while Azula glared at her through the corner of her amber golden eye.
"So, Elle…tell us about these ninja turtles!" Ty Lee requested just as the other three women tripped in their step while her adopted sister smiled with childish excitement in her amber eyes.
"Ty Lee! No one cares about my servant's stupid commoner play!" Azula barked in a beyond arrogant voice while her serving girl turned to peer up at her with adorably concerned amber eyes.
"It's not a play Azula-sama! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an animated show!" Elle chirped in a lovably informative voice as all three noblewomen gazed on in humor when Azula scrunched up her nose in distaste.
"It is what I say it is servant." Azula snorted in a moody voice as she walked with her serving girl pouting beside her while Ty Lee smiled over at their young friend.
Mai glanced at Zoi from over her shoulder while the warrior stared back at her with sneering golden eyes as they resumed glaring back at one another.
"Bitch." Mai spat while the princess's amber golden eyes twitched once more as Ty Lee watched in amusement beside them.
"Piece of shit." Zoi snapped back with fire spewing from her lips while her princess stiffened as she walked between them.
Only for Elle's cheerful voice to save them before Azula could lash at them once more.
"The ninja turtles fight crime and save the city together. They each have their own skill and unique personality!" Elle informed with excitement returning to her voice while the princess let out a snide snort.
"Turtles that fight crime? Is there no end to your childishness?" Azula taunted with a hand on her womanly hip while Ty Lee swatted her shoulder once more.
"Michelangelo kind of reminds me of Ty Lee. He's easy going and he's always in a happy mood!" Elle conversed with a hand under her chin as she ignored Azula much to her girlfriend's aggravation.
Only for Mai to stare on in humor when Ty Lee smiled as widely as can be.
"You don't say little sister? He sounds pink!" Ty Lee exclaimed with her hand on her crutch while Azula rolled her eyes back at her.
"Raphael is probably the most like Mai. He's grumpy and he fights with knives." Elle continued with a finger under her lip while Mai rose a curious brow.
"Good to know kid." Mai sighed with a fond look in her usually cold eyes as she strode beside her young friend with her arms folded over her breasts.
"Does Raphael also get his ass kicked in every battle that doesn't involve striking his opponent in the back?" Zoi remarked with a sneer while Mai's face turned red in anger as she glared back at her once more.
"Would it kill you to try to be more civil with Mai?" Ty Lee complained as she gazed back at Zoi's stony face.
"Considering that I have every right to open her heart I would say that I am being quite civil." Zoi replied with returning venom in her voice while the other noblewoman quickly backed away.
"And Leonardo reminds me of Zoi! He's the leader of the group. He's very skilled with a sword and he is the most dedicated of the four of them." Elle quipped with a sunny smile while Zoi turned to glance at her with an appreciative look in her golden eyes.
Only for Azula to release a moody growl as she tapped her muscular bicep while her amber golden eyes now shimmered in unhidden annoyance.
"Did you just compare Zoi to the leader?" Azula demanded in a spoiled voice with her fingers curling along her biceps while her soldier smirked smugly back at her.
Both Mai and Ty Lee could only stare on in humor over their leader's entitled behavior.
Leave it to Azula to become offended when she wasn't likened to the leader of a fictional group of turtles.
"As I said Princess. Young Elle has eyes for quality." Zoi spoke in a satisfied voice with her fists on her hips while Azula turned to cast an icy glare through her skull.
"But Azula-sama! The character most similar to you isn't one of the turtles." Elle chirped as she padded alongside her annoyed mistress.
"Good. For your sake you had better refrain from comparing my beautiful likeness to filthy turtles." Azula spoke in a snort while Mai rolled her eyes at the back of her head.
"So, if Azula isn't a ninja turtle who is she Elle?" Ty Lee chatted in a chipper voice that had Azula glaring at her once more.
"Azula-sama is definitely the Shredder! He's the villain of the story! He leads a group of evil ninjas and he's always trying to kill the turtles in horrible ways!" Elle exclaimed in a comically serious voice as the three noblewomen now gazed mockingly in amusement at the princess's humiliated face.
"The Shredder? Did you just compare me to a fictional character named the Shredder?" Azula questioned in a glacial voice while her serving girl still smiled up at her.
"Oh, but you don't understand Azula-sama! They call him the Shredder because he slices and dices people!" Elle cried out as she swung her wooden sword in the air while her princess rolled her eyes over her.
"I had already gathered as much servant!" Azula snapped with a roll of her beautiful eyes while she allowed her young girlfriend to pad after her footfalls.
What was most fascinating to Mai and Ty Lee both was the seemingly endless patience that Azula had for their young friend.
Not that either of them had the courage to say as much out loud.
"And he also obsesses over the turtles and follows them wherever they go! Kind of like what you're doing right now with the Avatar!" Elle chimed in a cheerful voice as Azula glared down at her with narrowed amber golden eyes while Ty Lee laughed in amusement behind them.
"I don't want to hear one more word about this peasant nonsense." Azula barked with a scoff while her serving girl pouted beside her once more.
"Oh, don't be such a grump Azula! Elle is just trying to talk with us." Ty Lee advised in a supportive voice as she patted her hand on the smaller girl's shoulder while Elle smiled shyly up at her.
"This voyage is starting to bore me." Mai complained as she strode on with her tawny eyes gazing ahead.
And even though she would never say it aloud.
She couldn't help but feel somewhat self-conscious after witnessing Zoi break through Azula's defense.
She had just barely seen it through the window pane of the practice room doors.
But she saw it.
It only served as even more of a reminder that Zoi had bested her in combat twice now.
And despite her best efforts at telling herself not to care.
She tightened her fists over her robed bust while she stared on with a flicker of determination in her stoic eyes.
Perhaps…she has been out of practice for too long?
And with that she had already made her mind up that she would begin practicing more in private.
'The next time we fight…I'll show her.' Mai thought with her lips pressed together while she gazed in annoyance at Zoi's conceited face.
"I suppose now would be a good time to ask the boss if she has any other plans for the day." Zoi commented with a hand on her hip just as the princess opened her mouth to speak.
"I suppose we-" Azula trailed off only for her eyes to narrow into a murderous glare when Zoi slapped her hand over her mouth.
"Not you Princess. I was referring to the true boss around here." Zoi taunted as she removed her hand from Azula's angered mouth while she gazed smugly down at Elle's innocent face.
As both Ty Lee and Mai gazed humorously down at the younger girl's sweet face.
"Please! The tiger monkey…the boss?" Azula sneered with another roll of her eyes while she glared down at Elle's chipper face.
"There's no need to pretend Princess. Everyone here knows that Elle's your boss." Zoi responded with a confident smirk on her lips while the princess's lips pursed into a wrathful snarl.
"Don't tell Azula-sama but sometimes I am." Elle whispered as she leaned close to Ty Lee's grinning face only to jump in fright when blue fire suddenly flared up behind her.
"Is that right peasant? In that case I challenge you to a duel for dominance in this relationship. Do you accept my challenge or do you submit?" Azula announced with a smirk on her full lips while her lifelong friends sighed in exasperation alongside her.
"You're insane Azula." Mai snorted in a deadpan voice while her controlling friend paid her no mind.
"I accept!" Elle piped with a hand in the air as Ty Lee shivered while her princess smirked maliciously down at her.
"Do you now? Very well then. Let the battle begin!" Azula declared in a smug voice while she ignored Ty Lee's chiding stare.
"You're on! Let the poetry battle begin!" Elle chirped with a joyous smile while Azula now scrunched up her nose in puzzlement.
"What? Poetry battle?" Azula asked in a scoffing voice while Ty Lee giggled in amusement.
"Yep! I'll write you a romantic poem and you'll write me a romantic poem! And then we'll let Ty Lee decide who won!" Elle cried out in excitement with a sweet smile on her lips while the princess's amber golden eyes now twitched in annoyance.
As the three noblewomen listened to entertainment.
"There will be no poetry battle. This is a contest of physical might." Azula retorted with her arms crossed over her armored chest while she rolled her eyes down at her petite companion.
"I think that sounds very pink Azula! Good idea little sister!" Ty Lee shouted with her hand on the smaller girl's shoulder while her little sister blushed over the attention.
"A-arigatou Ty Lee." Elle mumbled shyly as Ty Lee grinned warmly down at her while patting her shoulder.
"Of course, you would say something like that Ty Lee. You always side with the tiger monkey. I wouldn't be surprised if you two were actually related." Azula commented in a haughty voice while both girls smiled at each other.
"What sort of big sister would I be if I didn't stick up for my baby sister?" Ty Lee stated in a tender voice with her arm over Elle's shoulder while the younger girl adorably retreated under her armpit.
"Ty Lee…" Elle trailed in a lovable voice as she hugged the older girl's side while Ty Lee smiled softly down at her.
Only for the princess to turn and cast the two a cold glare through the corner of her eye.
"I don't know Princess. It almost sounds like you're afraid that Elle is going to show you up." Zoi quipped with a hand on her hip while Azula spun around to glare daggers through her skull.
"There is nothing that I fear. Least of all not this one." Azula scoffed with a pompous wave of her hand while Mai rolled her eyes.
"Does that mean that you'll exchange poetry with me Azula-sama?" Elle pondered in a hopeful voice while Azula scowled down at her.
"I see. You won't be satisfied until I dominate even your literature. Is that right Elle?" Azula declared in a conceited voice while her serving girl adorably twiddled her thumbs.
"T-that's so Azula-sama." Elle murmured under Ty Lee's arm while her big sister grinned fondly over her.
"Oh, very well! I shall dominate you at poetry. Just as do with everything else." Azula spoke with a smirk returning to her beautiful lips while her servant girl released a cry of delight.
"Yay! It is going to be so romantic!" Elle swooned with a hand on her cheek while Azula released a snide snort as they strode along.
"Childish peasant." Azula grumbled in a proud voice while she turned to glare over her shoulder with a barely perceivable blush on her regal cheeks.
The young handmaid let out a content sigh while she gazed at the older woman in adoration.
All while the other three highborn women gazed between the two in amusement.
Only for Ty Lee to blink in surprise when she felt the smaller girl start to help her walk once more.
"Elle you don't have to…" Ty Lee said in a gentle voice with a grateful smile on her lips while the petite girl held up her arm.
"I want to oneesan." Elle assured in a loyal voice while she walked under Ty Lee's toned arm.
"Thank you…little sister." Ty Lee whispered in an appreciative voice as she strode with her little sister bracing her weight.
And for once Azula didn't comment on Elle's proximity to her chest.
Only for the five of them to pause when another person rounded the corner.
Very few people were permitted to venture into the royal corridors of the ship that were strictly limited to the princess and her personal companions.
Unfortunately, Jiao was not like most people.
Both Mai and Ty Lee were surprised to see another woman in dark robes wandering their way.
"What are you doing here peasant! I don't recall giving you permission to enter this quarter of the ship." Azula demanded in a glacial voice as her childhood friends turned to her in curiosity while she glared at the lowborn woman.
"Your Highness." Jiao greeted as she momentarily prostrated herself on the floor before the princess.
"You didn't but I did. I told Jiao to make herself at home and that she could roam as she pleased." Zoi informed in a nonchalant voice while the princess turned to cast her an icy stare.
"You what?" Azula snapped with a glower on her lips while the woman arose to her feet from her kowtow.
"Who is this Azula-sama?" Elle asked in an eager voice while her big sisters gazed at the girl in shared interest.
"Forgive me if I have offended you, Princess." Jiao greeted with a practiced smile while Azula still glared at her.
"In the future you would do well to remember that it is I who commands this ship. Not Zoi." Azula ordered in a beyond strict voice as the woman smiled while she nodded her head.
"Joy. Zoi brought a friend." Mai muttered in a displeased voice while for once Azula scowled in agreement.
"Oh, don't be like that oneesan! We should always keep our minds open to new friendships! Hello! My name is Elle!" Elle chimed from under Ty Lee's arm while Mai sighed beside them.
"Elle's right. It's nice to meet you Jiao!" Ty Lee spoke with her usual friendliness while the strange girl quirked a slight smile.
"Hello to the both of you as well." Jiao responded in a civil voice while she gazed at the young girl's exotic golden hair in intrigue.
So, the rumors that she has been hearing around the royal sloop were true.
The girl actually has golden hair.
This was the first time in her life that she has ever seen anyone with golden hair.
And then she shook her fascination off before returning her gaze to her lover.
Ty Lee smiled finding herself pleased by Jiao's cordial tone.
And despite her reservations in regards to Zoi.
If nothing else at least the girl seemed tolerable enough.
"Did you need something Jiao?" Zoi queried with her arms over her breasts while all but her princess took note of her attentiveness.
Only to close her eyes in anticipation of the complaints that were sure to come.
"You said that this voyage would be exciting. So far, it's not. It's boring." Jiao complained with her arms folded over her breasts while all but Elle and Zoi nearly fell over in surprise.
Even Ty Lee was taken aback by the girl's lack of restraint.
It was virtually unspoken that a commoner in the presence of nobility and royalty should never forget to show proper respect.
Not that she cared much for such formalities.
And nor did Mai.
But Azula cared.
And that was all that mattered in the end.
Just when Azula opened her mouth to snap at the girl she could only scowl even deeper when her soldier cut her off.
"Princess Azula's voyages tend to be more formal than my own. But it will prove worth our while." Zoi stated in her usual blunt fashion while the princess glared at the back of her head.
"For you maybe." Jiao sighed heavily as she walked beside the taller woman while the princess glared over in their direction.
"Perhaps a flogging will add some thrill to your day." Azula spoke in a callous voice with her childhood friends shivering beside her.
Yet to the amazement of all of Team Azula the odd young woman seemed unfazed.
"It just might Your Highness." Jiao replied with a shrug while Azula pursed her beautiful lips into a sneer.
"I see that you're at least learning how to bow properly." Azula remarked with a judging stare in her eyes.
"Oh, Azula stop. It's not like you don't let Elle speak her mind." Ty Lee commented with a smile while Azula glared back at her before scowling down at their beaming servant girl.
"So, what are you supposed to be? A Song clan servant?" Mai questioned with distaste in her cold voice while the other woman scoffed.
"Uh no. I'm not a servant." Jiao replied with snap in her voice while the princess still glared at her through the corner of her eye.
"But you're a peasant though?" Azula taunted in a conceited voice while the woman strode beside her soldier.
"There's nothing wrong with being a servant! I find it quite enjoyable!" Elle chimed in a cheerful voice as Ty Lee smiled beside her while Azula turned to smirk back at her.
"Technically speaking. I am yes." Jiao spoke with an air of an unspoken self-importance in her voice while she glanced up at her occasional lover.
"Well then. Go make yourself useful then and go scrub the floor." Azula commanded in a dismissive voice with a wave of her hand while Ty Lee sighed once more.
Only for all but Zoi to gaze on in surprise when the girl hesitated to move.
The strange woman's reason for pausing soon became clear when the princess's amber golden eyes narrowed dangerously when the girl turned to her soldier for guidance.
"Jiao doesn't have to scrub the floor. She already told you that she isn't a servant. I understand that you have a fetish for watching girls scrub floors but I didn't bring her along to do something so trivial." Zoi remarked in a composed voice as she turned to meet Azula's dangerous gaze.
The hall turned uncomfortably silent while the princess curled and uncurled her fingers over her biceps in clear displeasure over being openly defied.
And in front of a newcomer at that.
"I suggest you watch yourself Zoi." Azula snarled with her beautiful lips pursing into a scowl while Zoi calmly met her glare.
"Of course, if you have your heart set on it. We could always go for round two." Zoi retorted with her face hanging in the princess's line of vision while she exhaled flames through her nostrils.
"Judging by the burns on your clothing you wouldn't survive." Azula sneered in a pompous voice before she butted her head into Zoi's while the warrior glared back at her.
Meanwhile Ty Lee watched in a perplexed silence.
In all of her years of knowing Azula this was the first time that she has ever seen her express any desire to fight with one of her subordinates.
"I could say the same…judging by your reaction to that blow I delivered to your stomach." Zoi stated in a smug voice with a smirk on her lips while Azula's amber golden eyes flashed in anger.
"Tomorrow I am going to punish you for this defiance." Azula commented in a regal voice while her soldier backed away with a scoff escaping her lips.
"I look forward to it." Zoi boasted before she turned back to her amused companion while the younger woman strode alongside her.
Azula briefly glared after the two before she resumed her walk with her arms crossed over her breasts.
A moody scowl adorned her lips that only abated when she took note of how her young girlfriend was adorably gazing at her from under Ty Lee's arm.
Only for the silence to broken once more by the strange young woman accompanying the powerful warrior.
"You were the one that tried to murder Zoi? Weren't you?" Jiao pondered in a silken voice while she gazed at Mai's apathetic face.
"Yeah. I did. What of it?" Mai snorted in an abrasive voice with her tawny eyes glaring back at Zoi's mocking face while she gazed between the two.
Team Azula could only stare on in confusion when the woman dramatically threw up a hand over her face while crying out in sorrow.
"I was so heartbroken that's why! I was overcome with grief that the Saolin clan had taken Zoi from me!" Jiao exclaimed in a melodramatic voice with a hand in the air while highborn women stared at her in puzzlement as she seized hold of the warrior's muscular arm.
If only because it was obvious that the woman was crying crocodile shark tears!
"Yes well. Saolin will have ample time to lament her actions for three years to come." Zoi growled with her golden eyes narrowing into slits at Mai's wincing face while Ty Lee shivered under her glare.
"I am so sorry that you had to go through that. I don't know what I would do if I thought I lost Azula-sama." Elle chirped in a sweet voice while the princess turned to roll her eyes down at her.
"Foolish peasant! That girl is crying crocodile shark tears!" Azula barked with a snort while Elle blinked in confusion.
'Does Zoi actually tolerate this peasant's behavior?' Azula thought in disgust while the coy woman embraced Zoi's bicep.
And the two noblewomen just gazed at the two in bewilderment as they observed the bizarre interaction.
'Is this girl…Zoi's lover?' Mai thought with annoyance flashing in her tawny eyes while Ty Lee gazed on in curiosity.
"Ah. But fortunately, my Song clan coin purse is built stronger than even the best of the Saolin clan!" Jiao declared in a brazen voice as she traced her finger along the older woman's arm while Zoi smirked down at her.
All the while the princess nearly tripped on her feet in revulsion.
"Your Song clan coin purse?" Ty Lee repeated in a dry voice with disbelief in her eyes while Jiao smiled slyly as she ran her hand along the noblewoman's neck.
"How cute. A gold-digger." Mai stated in a monotone voice while the princess released a snort of disgust.
"I must say Zoi. I am disgusted that you tolerate this peasant's behavior." Azula spoke in a cold voice while she watched in confusion as her soldier chuckled in amusement.
"But Azula-sama. You tolerate my behavior." Elle piped in an innocent voice while Azula proudly turned away to scowl down at her.
"That's because you're a sweetheart Elle! You're not after our money." Ty Lee commented as she patted the smaller girl's bashful face while smiled when her little sister hugged her belly.
"Jiao is a seductress. She specializes in seducing and draining the pockets of nobles such as ourselves." Zoi announced in a nonchalant voice while her fellow highborn women gazed at her with deadpan eyes.
"How charming." Ty Lee replied with a hand on her womanly hip while the other woman smiled back at them.
"That's right! And there's no one more skilled at it then me." Jiao cooed as she hung on Zoi's chest while she felt Zoi's hand sternly grasp onto her back.
"When I first met this little minx, she was working the coin purse of some old nobleman." Zoi spoke with an entertained smirk on her lips while she slid her hand down Jiao's beautiful back.
The statement disgusted all but Elle as the three highborn women now stared at the shorter woman in distaste.
"I was. But then you came along." Jiao purred with a smile on her lips while Zoi's hand drifted down her back.
"Is that so? Perhaps, a whipping would teach this peasant her place." Azula scoffed in a callous voice while the lowborn woman smiled widely.
"Anytime you want Your Highness. I love a woman that can play rough." Jiao responded in an aroused voice as the two noblewomen shivered while Azula's lips curved into a sadistic smile.
"Do you now?" Azula questioned in a smooth voice only to glance over her shoulder when Ty Lee swatted at her shoulder.
That was when she noticed that her young girlfriend had adopted an adorably jealous expression.
"D-don't you flirt with Azula-sama!" Elle cried out with an adorable look of anger in her amber eyes while the princess smirked in approval.
"It's okay Elle. I'm sure that Azula was just teasing." Ty Lee assured in a protective voice while the princess rolled her beautiful eyes back at her.
"I didn't bring you here to scrub floors." Zoi spoke with a smirk before she grasped onto the smaller woman's curvaceous ass while Ty Lee blushed as she turned away.
"Then what did you bring me here for?" Jiao pondered with a sly smile while she was suddenly pulled forward in Zoi's mighty arms.
"Okay! Well I think we should probably move along!" Ty Lee exclaimed with Elle also blushing under her arm while Mai stomped on ahead.
"Yeah. I have no interest in watching this." Mai stated in a snorting voice while Azula just sighed in a disinterested fashion.
"You already know the answer." Zoi purred with her hand on her lover's ass while Jiao wrapped her arms around her neck.
"Mhm. So forceful." Jiao cooed as she stared up into Zoi's lustful eyes while Azula rolled her eyes at them as she strode ahead.
"Please! Just take the peasant to your room already Zoi!" Azula snorted with a dismissive wave of her hand while her soldier offered her a momentary smirk.
"I want to fuck you Jiao. Let's resume where we left off. Shall we?" Zoi drawled as her breath washed over the smaller woman's while she squeezed her lover's round ass.
"By all means then…fuck my face." Jiao sighed as she stood in the older woman's arms with her face in the warrior's sweaty shirt.
It didn't bother her any though.
Compared to the old men that she has been with before Zoi.
It was nothing to complain about.
The highborn women nearly stumbled in their step as they briefly glanced back at the unabashed duo.
"Well…that was blunt." Ty Lee spoke with a crimson blush on her cheeks while her young friend still walked beside her.
"It pleases me that you see things my way. I can only hope that you are ready for an oral workout." Zoi remarked in an aroused voice with her hand on Jiao's smiling cheek.
"Oh Zoi. You know that I am ready to lick you out at any time of your choosing." Jiao answered in a purr as she stepped out of Zoi's arms while her lover smirked above her.
"I could care less that you want my gold. All that I care about is that you satisfy my desires." Zoi purred in an amorous voice while the smaller woman smirked up at her.
And Team Azula could only stare back at the warrior in surprise.
Not even Mai would have guessed that Zoi was the sort to engage in such casual sex.
And with a seductive gold-digger of all people.
"Of course. I'll do whatever you want. I'll even say I love you. If it gets me what I desire." Jiao replied with a smirk on her lips before she turned away from the older woman's amused gaze.
And then she walked after the bewildered Team Azula while her ass with her every movement.
"I am sorely disappointed in you Zoi. Letting yourself be controlled by a commoner." Azula scoffed in a pompous voice while she rolled her eyes when Jiao glided past her.
"But Azula. We're all controlled by a commoner!" Ty Lee chirped in a cheerful voice with Elle smiling sweetly under her arm while Azula glared down at the girl.
"I am going to be completely honest with you Princess. I don't care what you think." Zoi spoke with sass in her voice while Azula now glared at the back of her head.
"I am going to pretend that I didn't hear that." Azula stated in an icy voice while she cast a glare at her soldier.
All the while rolling her eyes over the way her subordinate gazed after the seductress with aroused golden eyes.
"Don't interrupt me this time. Or I will defect to the Earth Kingdom just to piss you off." Zoi announced as she strode on ahead while the princess glared after her back.
"Some relationship there Zoi." Mai taunted as Zoi stepped past her with a smirk on her lips.
"It's more than you have Saolin." Zoi sneered with her arms folded over her breasts while Mai's eyes narrowed venomously as she strode past the other noblewoman.
Only for all five of them to gaze at the end of the hall to see that Jiao had called out to Zoi.
"That reminds me Zoi. I was browsing beach houses…" Jiao began in a sly voice while all but Zoi balked at her gall.
It was something that would have not went over well even with a woman as kind as Ty Lee.
And yet…Zoi didn't even seem to care.
"Were you now?" Zoi conversed as she walked beside the shorter girl with an entertained look in her eyes while the others gazed after her in disbelief.
And then not a moment later the two women vanished around the corner.
Azula could only snort in disgust as she resumed her stride with her companions following after her.
Only to turn around when she heard her young girlfriend spoke up to her.
"Azula-sama? Are you going to fuck my face when I turn sixteen?" Elle inquired in an innocent voice as she thoughtfully chewed on her lip while her big sisters turned crimson.
The princess smiled down at the smaller girl with something akin to fondness in her cold eyes.
"Of course, I will. But our relationship will have much more meaning than that." Azula informed in a charismatic voice while she smirked down at her handmaid's adorable face.
"That's good to know! I can't wait to turn sixteen!" Elle chirped as she walked underneath Ty Lee's arm while the noblewoman now directed her princess a scowling stare.
"Please don't tarnish her sweetness Azula." Ty Lee pleaded in sighing voice while Azula just smirked back at them.
And with that the four friends continued on to the rest of their daily activities.
A few hours later.
Azula sat in the throne room of her royal sloop while she gazed down at Nako bowing low before her pointed boots.
And most curious of all her subordinate had brought a large box in with her that was situated on the floor beside the bowing woman.
"What is your report, Nako?" Azula questioned in an authoritative voice while she relaxed on her throne with her palms folded in her lap.
"We will arrive at the destination within two days' time Princess!" Nako reported in a dedicated voice as she knelt with her face nearly kissing the floor.
"Good. I recall that you requested a private meeting with me. What was it that you wished to speak to me about?" Azula responded in a smooth voice with her regal eyes staring stonily down at her skittish subordinate's hesitant face.
She couldn't deny that she had taken a liking to this one.
The woman was loyal to the death and eager to please her.
And if you asked her. Those were good qualities for a person to have.
"Uh…well…" Nako trailed off in a nervous voice as she fidgeted only for Azula to roll her eyes down at her.
"How many times have I told you to not cower in my presence?" Azula lectured in a voice akin to a mother chiding her child while she gazed down at her kneeling subordinate.
"O-of course Princess. I just…wasn't sure if this was really worth your time…" Nako stammered in a self-conscious voice as she shifted on her feet while her princess sighed over her.
"And yet here we are Nako." Azula sighed as she reclined on her throne with her amber golden eyes reflecting a greater patience than she had for most other commoners.
"Well anyway I uh…erm made something!" Nako blurted out in an awkward voice while Azula stared at her with deadpan amber golden eyes.
"You…made something?" Azula repeated in an uncertain voice as she sighed once more while recalling that her subordinate confessed that she liked to tinker with tools.
If it was any other commoner she would have responded with a cruel taunt.
Yet strange as it may be.
She found herself exercising a measure of restraint.
This one saved her life.
And she supposed that merited humoring the peculiar girl.
"Y-yeah. Here. Maybe you would like to take a look at it?" Nako spoke in nervous voice as the princess sighed while she leaned forward.
"What do you wish to show me Nako?" Azula asked as she waved her hand for her subordinate to stand.
And then she watched in bewilderment as Nako opened the box and lifted a large device from it.
It was the same peculiar looking heavy device that she saw her previously bring with her to the beach.
Nako then braced the large device in her arms and held it out before her for her to take.
She scrunched up her nose in mild curiosity to find herself gazing down at a large device with metal bars, needles. numerous wires, and various other features.
As she then accepted the strange device from her subordinate while she stared down at it in perplexity.
And then she turned her cold gaze to her pilot for an explanation while the other woman nervously cleared her throat.
"After that terrifying experience getting ambushed by the enemy. I have been thinking. What if we could create a way to prevent that from happening again?" Nako remarked with a thoughtful countenance while Azula's brow rose in curiosity.
"Hm. You've managed to pique my interest, Nako. Tell me more." Azula commanded in a voice of absolute authority with a pleased gleam in her controlling amber golden eyes.
"It's…a telecommunications device. That will allow us to reach out to send instantaneous coded written messages to other vessels to confirm that they are truly one of us." Nako informed with her hands folded behind her back while her princess's amber golden eyes widened in intrigue.
"A telecommunications device? And you…created it all by yourself?" Azula pondered in a stunned voice as she braced the heavy device in her hands while she gazed between it and her pilot's abashed face.
"I-I did yes. Thankfully it and the rest of my equipment survived the crash. t's something that I have been working on it for a year as a personal project of mine. The incident with the enemy ambush inspired me to finish its construction. I tested it out with a duplicate unit that I built…and thus far both seem fully functional." Nako confessed as she coughed beneath her hand while Azula held a well-manicured fingertip below her chin.
"I could have sworn that you told me that you weren't an inventor." Azula stated in a still taken aback voice while her subordinate turned red once more.
"Well, I…wouldn't compare myself to the mechanist or anyone like that. But I can build a thing or two." Nako admitted as she shifted on her feet while the princess's lips curved into a gratified smile.
"Evidently so." Azula agreed as she reclined on her throne with the device in her hands while she regarded her pilot in approval.
All the while leaving out the fact that she had the man in question detained under her service.
"Look I'm certain that it has its flaws…but perhaps if Your Highness deems it worthwhile. You could use it as a means to ensure that the rebels are never able to get the drop on us like that again." Nako declared as she bowed her head in respect while Azula smiled as widely as can be.
"I approve of your due diligence Nako. I confess that you've surprised me. Very well then. I shall personally oversee testing of your…invention." Azula announced as she set the heavy device down while she gazed down to watch the woman drop down onto all fours.
She stared down at her pilot with her amber golden eyes still reflecting her surprise.
To think that this skittish pilot of hers was capable of creating something like this.
Her subordinate didn't even seem to realize the gravity of what she created!
It could very well be what helps her turn the tide on the rebels…
And win the war for good!
"Yes Princess. I truly hope that it proves useful to you." Nako responded with her head bent in reverence only for her eyes to widen when she felt a hand pat her shoulder.
She glanced up to see her princess leaning down over her with a pleased smile on her crimson lips.
"Well done subordinate. If this pans out, I shall see to it that you are rewarded richly. And I will also see to it that you receive full credit for inventing such an ingenious invention, and for providing us such a revolutionary technology to our war effort." Azula spoke with a charming smile on her lips while she patted her emotional subordinate's shoulder.
Only for her smile to grow even larger when her pilot lowered her face before her pointed boots.
"My princess! You honor me but I need no reward! The honor of serving you so closely is all the reward that I need!" Nako exclaimed with her arm over her chest while she swelled in pride when Azula's hand lingered on her shoulder.
It truly was a rare honor to serve the Crown Princess so intimately.
That she knew for certain!
"Those are highly commendable words subordinate. I shall not forget your loyalty." Azula assured with a vastly satisfied smile on her lips before removing her palm from her kneeling subordinate's shoulder.
And then she lounged on her posterior once more while she glanced back down at the prostrated woman once more.
And with that her full lips curled into a beyond pleased smirk while resting her arms on the sides of her throne.
The mechanist was an invaluable resource.
But an inventor that was loyal to her and her alone was even better.
Yes. There was much potential in this one.
Much potential indeed!
Later on, that same evening…
The princess sat alone in her study room in her nightgown concluding some paperwork with her pilot's new invention seated on the far corner of her desk.
She suppressed a yawn beneath her hand before forcing herself to stay focused on the task at hand.
Just a little while longer and she will be able to join her serving girl in bed.
Only for her callous amber golden eyes to turn towards her door when she heard a faint rapping from on the other side.
She could only sigh as she leaned back upon her plush throne already knowing who was on the other side of her door.
"Azula-sama? Are you coming to bed soon?" Elle pondered in a sleepy voice while she heard her mistress sigh through the door.
"It will be one more hour servant." Azula answered in a smooth voice as she gazed at the door while she sighed when her pet pushed the door open.
"Another hour?" Elle repeated in an adorably appalled voice as she rubbed at her eyes while her princess rolled her eyes as she turned face her.
"Yes Elle. An hour. As the Crown Princess there is much that I must oversee." Azula commented dryly with her hands in her lap only to arch a brow when her pet started padding over to her side.
Her icy amber golden eyes watched with a possessive gleam as she took in her serving girl's mussed hair as well as her baggy pajama bottoms.
Just before raising her eyes when she observed Elle stop before the side of her throne.
"Can I sit with you…until you are done?" Elle requested in a timid voice as she bit her lip while she adorably averted her eyes from her mistress's dominant gaze.
"You're going to pester me for the next hour if I say no. Aren't you?" Azula questioned in a snorting voice while she watched her young girlfriend bashfully kick at an imaginary pebble.
"N-no?" Elle answered in an unconvincing voice while the princess let out a loud snort.
"Clingy peasant." Azula snorted with in a refined voice while a smile began to form on her lips as she appraised her lovely pet.
"S-sumimasen Azula-sama." Elle stuttered in a half-asleep voice only for her innocent eyes to sparkle in delight when Azula patted her thigh.
"Oh, very well. I suppose I could allow it. You seek my thighs? Is that right?" Azula purred in a regal voice with a charming smile on her full lips while she watched her pet flop down at her bare feet.
Only to smile fondly when the younger girl dropped down face first into her robed thigh while she lowered her hand into her yawning girlfriend's golden hair.
"P-Princess." Elle mumbled in a needy voice while she sat on her knees with her chin propped up on the much taller woman's curvaceous thigh.
While sighing contently when she felt the older girl's strong hand begin to pet her head.
"Look at you…coming here to fall asleep at my feet." Azula boasted in a smug voice with her round posterior sinking back into her cushion while her fingers danced in her yawning serving girl's hair.
All the while she allowed her young girlfriend to curl up with her face resting on the cushion beside her seated posterior.
"It's worth it to be with you Azula-sama." Elle replied in a soft voice with her face nuzzling her girlfriend's beautiful thigh while long fingernails petted her hair.
Her sleepy amber eyes quietly admired Azula's shapely bottom that seemed to mold so beautifully into the chair.
And if you asked her.
The view was more than worth kneeling for.
"Such a good pet. You truly are ever loyal to your master." Azula cooed with her palm planted in her little admirer's soft hair while her serving girl yawned into her thigh.
All while she found herself unable to fight the fond smile that was growing upon her lips.
"That's so…Princess." Elle spoke in a barely awake voice while she smiled shyly under the princess's petting hand.
"Hm. Go to sleep Elle. I will take you to bed when I am done." Azula announced in a smooth voice as she leaned back in her seat with her strong hand in her small girlfriend's hair.
"Oyasumi nasai Azula-sama." Elle murmured in a noisy yawn while Azula sat over her with a refined smile gracing her crimson lips.
"Oyasumi nasai Elle." Azula answered in a softened voice while she held her girlfriend face first into her robed thigh.
Only to glance down not a moment later when she heard a soft snore resonate from her girlfriend's now sleeping face.
And then she affectionately rolled her regal eyes before she turned her focus back to her work.
"Oh, peasant. Whatever am I to do with you?" Azula sighed as she shook her head with her fingers resting in her innocent handmaid's hair.
Truth be told.
Even she didn't know the answer to that question.
This little peasant girl of hers truly was a vexing little thing.
But she would have no other.
Only this one will do.
Only…her Elle.
AN:
First off, allow me to respond to Agent Banana.
Actually I had the same thoughts in mind. Eventually we will see a more depressed side of Elle and Azula will be there to pull her out of it. Just as Elle will be there to pull Azula out of her madness later on.
There were some big revelations in the last chapter and a great happened happened in this one as well.
Elle's training with Zoe and Azula will start off very slow. As they have to hold back to avoid harming her. We may not see Elle learn much of combat until book two. But she is at least learning the basics.
As for Zoe and Azula's spar. They each have their own strengths and they are a deadly team. I wanted to showcase in the fight that Azula had a wider range of techniques while Zoe had the physical strength advantage.
And yes, Zoe is now Elle's third big sister.
If you are wondering why she waited so long. That is because Elle was unsure of Zoe at first because of her vicious feud with Mai. And now that Elle has gotten to know Zoe she is willing to call her as such.
Zoe did try to flirt with Elle back on the isle. But as I have said before. That was mostly Zoe's desire for sex talking and her loneliness as a soldier.
She was mostly looking at Elle as a lovely girl that would be pleasant to come home to after a long fought battle. Now that Zoe has been getting to know Elle better. Zoe has moved past seeing Elle as someone that she would like to warm her bed.
And in case anyone out there is thinking that Jiao is a bit of a bitch...yes she is. But that is the entire point of her character. She's disrespectful and she turns the tables on nobles by using them instead of them using her.
Zoe doesn't care, and Jiao knows that she can get a way with a lot because she has Zoe's protection.
There are a lot of people in the story that hail Azula and bow every time she walks by. I wanted to add a person into the mix that was a little more unscrupulous towards the higher class of society.
Azula is very much a user of the commoners and everyone around her but for Elle. And Jiao does the same.
I am not yet certain if Jiao and Zoe will fall in love. They like each other and they are close. But love requires loyalty and Jiao doesn't really have any. That could change though. We'll see.
And that brings us to the big game changer in this chapter. Nako invented the radio.
Nako is one of those people with great talent who went unnoticed by Azula in the background and now Azula is starting to see just how crucial Nako is to her war effort.
And now that Azula has access to communications technology that will make it virtually impossible for the White Lotus to pull off another ambush.
However, it will take time for Azula to develop the technology so it can be used to retaliate against the rebels. We'll get there in time though.
Well, that's it for now.
That leaves just one more chapter before they arrive in the Forgetful Valley.
Stayed tuned for next time.
For chapter seventy! Conquer You!