The Princess and the Peasant - (An Azula Epic)

by grither55

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

82. A Woman Named Lana

Hello, again everyone. Here we are with another update.

Once again, I want to thank all that reviewed, favorited and followed over the past few days. And as always, if you find the story worthy.

Please continue to do so as you read along.

A Woman Named Lana – Chapter Seventy-Nine

Team Azula stood in a sense of numb shock as they watched the previously joyful town transform into a scene of pure terror and chaos.

It was an utterly gut-wrenching sight to see after witnessing all of Elle's joyful memories with her mother.

Even to a hardened woman like Zoi it was a brutal sight.

And for as cold and ruthless as Azula was.

She couldn't help but gaze on at the terrorized settlement with her callous amber golden eyes expressing a conflicted emotion.

Only to turn her head to find herself watching her girlfriend's child self-running in a panic through the streets.

As gunfire raged in the streets while they watched with horrified eyes as the advancing soldiers mercilessly cut down anyone that was in their way.

Mai and Ty Lee stared on in disgust and anger as they listened to the haunting screams of people all throughout the town.

And Ty Lee's eyes now dripped with tears as she clenched her fists at her hip.

And even Zoi found herself unable to fight the repulsed scowl from forming on her lips.

It was one thing to kill the enemy on the battlefield but to butcher a town of unarmed civilians was the ultimate act of cowardice.

Without even realizing it Azula instinctively moved to protect Elle only for her eyes to widen helplessly when the child ran straight through her leg.

Azula could only stare on with uncharacteristic emotion in her callous amber golden eyes while she watched the little girl run past her.

Elle's fearful cries stirred something deep within her as her crimson lips shook in a furious snarl.

"M-mom! Dad! Felix!" Elle cried out in a distraught voice with her amber eyes agape in fright just as she rounded a corner.

Only to spin her head around as she watched with widened eyes as armored vehicles rolled up in the distance.

Another round of tank fire thundered throughout the air while the child froze up with her innocent eyes welling up in incomprehension while people ran past her in a panic.

Boom!

An explosion shook the street while Elle stared on with disbelief in her naïve eyes.

Just as another hand grasped a hold of hers as she suddenly found herself being pulled the street.

Only to gaze on wide eyed when she found herself gazing back at the redhead's panicked face.

"W-what's happening! Why are they doing this!" Elle blurted out in a destroyed voice while the older girl dashed down the street.

They ran by countless crowds of people that were pouring to escape the burning town.

One such person was a little girl with brown hair and terrified green eyes sprinting up behind them.

The redhead brushed the question off as she pulled the terrified blonde to safety.

"I-I'm so scared! Where are my parents!" The child with brown hair shouted in a lost voice while countless panic-stricken adults nearly trampled her in their rush to escape.

"We need to get out of here! Come on!" The nameless child exclaimed with her hand gripping Elle's while the younger girl cried out in despair.

"B-but I need to find my family! I can't leave without them!" Elle cried out in a pain-stricken voice while the redhead brushed up her concerns.

"There's no time!" The nameless child shouted in a rushed voice only for her brown eyes to widen in disbelief when the younger girl broke free from her grip.

"I…have to find them!" Elle yelled out in a frenzied voice before she sprinted in the opposite direction while the redhead's shouts rang out in her ears.

"Fool!" The nameless child called out while she watched Elle run off.

Only for her eyes to widen when she saw an armored jeep roll to a stop in the burning street.

As soon as the door opened, she darted into an alleyway and broke out into a run with her traumatized brown eyes never once looking back.

Elle ran with her tear-stained eyes gazing on in horror as panicked people nearly knocked her over in search of an escape.

Just as Minori ran past her with her brown hair blowing wildly in the wind as they briefly made eye contact.

Only for the two to pass each other by not a moment later.

The little girl cried out in fear as she darted towards her home on the edge of town.

At the Turner household.

As soon as the initial gunfire hit the village both Lana and Elias knew what was happening.

The two gazed out the window with their eyes wide in horror and despair as they watched armed forces rapidly approach on the town.

As gunfire continued to ring off while Lana's hands shakily clutched the window sill.

"I…thought we would be safe here in this valley." Lana lamented in a faraway voice with her husband's hand on her shoulder.

"I think we both know what this is about Lana." Elias spoke in a grave voice with his angered blue eyes gazing out the window as the war machines rolled closer.

Just as his lover turned to gaze back into his eyes with her amber eyes agape in sadness.

"What…do we do Elias?" Lana questioned in a pained voice with her frantic eyes gazing back into Elias' equally saddened eyes while he forced himself to smile.

Only to gaze down with wide amber eyes when her husband placed a handheld radio in her hand while he gripped her shoulders.

"Take this. Go find the kids and get out of here, and save whoever you are able. I will go to the central radio tower to send out an SOS to Calla. And then we'll meet up afterward." Elias instructed with his hands on his wife's shoulders while Lana's eyes grew wide in sorrow.

"No Elias! I can't just leave you behind!" Lana protested in a tortured voice only for cannon fire to rock through the air once more.

The explosion shook in the distance while they gazed over their shoulders with fear in their eyes before the husband grasped his fraught wife's shoulders.

"We have no choice Lana. You must go to the kids." Elias insisted in a mirthless voice while a tear streamed down his wife's cheek.

"E-Elias." Lana mumbled in a shaken voice only for Elias to cup her chin.

"I will be alright Lana." Elias assured with his hand on his wife's cheek while Lana swallowed down her apprehension.

"I…cannot leave you." Lana spoke in a solemn voice with a tear dripping down her cheek.

Just as her husband wiped it away with an affectionate fingertip while they gazed back into each other's eyes.

And then not an instant later the two met in a passionate kiss while the sounds of armed vehicles approaching permeated the air.

It was only a fleeting moment in time.

But for Lana and Elias it felt as if it was an eternity.

"I love you, Lana." Elias announced in a tender voice with the woman in his arms while they shook under the sound of the impending gunfire.

"And…I love you Elias." Lana declared in a heartbroken voice with tear-stained amber eyes while Elias forced himself to smile back at her.

And then just like that a hand pushed her back while she stood there shaking in disbelief.

"Go! Now!" Elias shouted in a forceful voice while Lana stared on with her amber eyes welling up in sorrow.

Just before she forced herself to take a step back while she clenched her fists at her hips.

"I…will come back for you Elias." Lana stated in a sorrowful voice while her husband smiled back at her.

Just as she turned to head out the door while her husband gazed after her with solemn blue eyes.

"Understood. I will see you soon my love." Elias called out while his wife briefly paused to gaze back at him from over her shoulder with watering amber eyes.

"G-goodbye my love. I will…see you shortly." Lana muttered in an anguished voice before she darted out the door with great speed while her husband watched her run away.

The man gazed down with pain in his eyes while a tear of his own slid down his cheek.

"Farewell Lana. I have no regrets. It has been a wonderful life." Elias spoke to himself as he quickly opened a closet while he gazed in with pained blue eyes.

And then he threw a bag over his shoulder while he clutched a handheld picture book before he broke out into a run towards the tower.

His eyes shook with rage as he gazed around at the flaming buildings while he quickly approached the tower in the distance.

And soon enough he made it to the tower.

And with that Elias began frantically speaking into a handset while he watched gunfire rage below.

"This is an SOS message for Calla Embers! Rosa is under attack by a militant force! Does anyone copy! I repeat! Does anyone copy!" Elias exclaimed in a distraught voice with the handset in hand while he listened to the sounds of the armored trucks approaching.

Only for his stomach to sink when all he received in reply was static.

On the other side of town.

People ran in a frenzy left and right while Elle made her way through the streets with her naïve amber eyes in search of her family.

Only to find herself suddenly seized into caring arms while she gazed up with tearing amber eyes only to find herself smiling in relief.

"M-Mom!" Elle blurted out in an innocent voice as she pushed her face into her mother's chest while Lana wrapped her arms tightly around her.

Just as the woman darted through the street with her arms never once releasing her child.

"Elle! Where is your brother!" Lana questioned in a panicked voice as she ran with her child in her arms while the little girl shook her head.

"I-I don't know! I haven't seen him all day!" Elle cried out in an overwhelmed voice with her mother holding her close while the woman took as sharp turn down a side street.

Lana grimaced with her lips pursed into a tormented thin line while she cradled her child into the crook of her neck.

She listened to her little daughter cry with her arms enveloping the child tightly.

"It will be alright honey. I will protect you." Lana spoke in a determined voice as she ran with her little daughter in her arms while the child cried into her shoulder.

Only to around the corner with her eyes gazing on in horror to find herself staring down approaching soldiers.

Her frightened eyes gazed at the foremost soldier as he strode towards them with his coat swaying in the wind.

He was wearing a green military uniform and his eyes were a soulless blue.

In his left hand was a gun.

And he wore a small smile on his pitiless lips.

Elle shook in her mother's arms as she fearfully gazed out over her parent's shoulder with her wet amber eyes staring hauntingly back at the man's near emotionless face.

As soldiers slowly flanked him from behind while Lana tightened her grip on her child.

"Why…why have you done this!" Lana shouted in a voice of great fury and emotion as she backed away with Elle's small body in her arms.

Just as the man called Strados came to a stop before her with his cruel blue eyes briefly glancing her over.

In that very moment Elle momentary met the man's gaze while the soldier smiled back at her.

And in that very instant she knew that she would never forget that face!

Not for as long as she lived!

"Kid. Is this your mother?" Strados pondered in a casual voice with his blue eyes staring back into Elle's wet eyes while Lana's maternal eyes glared back at him.

"H-huh?" Elle stammered in a traumatized voice just as Lana turned to run away with her in her arms.

She watched with tearing eyes as the man raised his gun.

The sound of a single gunshot pierced the air while Team Azula watched in a horrified silence as Lana fell to the ground with Elle screaming in her arms.

"Mother!" Elle shrieked with her hands shaking her mother's shoulder while the woman groaned in pain.

Before Lana forced herself to stand with her teeth gritted together while she held Elle's crying face against her shoulder.

"I'll be fine Elle. Don't worry about me." Lana assured in a protective voice as she passed the corner once more while her child stared up at her with watering eyes.

Only for the sound of another gunshot to rupture through the air.

Lana's eyes widened as she gazed over her shoulder to see that it had come from the radio tower.

And then she turned to glance behind her as she watched an advancing soldier slump to his knees before collapsing face first in the dirt.

And with that the medic moved as quickly as she was able with her feet staggering through the street.

As tears ran down her cheek as she gazed thankfully up at the distant tower.

'Elias!' Lana thought as she rushed with Elle under her arm just as she stumbled while she held her crying child close.

Strados paused as he glanced up at the tower in the distance with his soldiers turning to him for direction before gave them a curt nod.

"Go take care of him." Strados ordered in a dismissive voice while several soldiers nodded in understanding.

Just before they turned to make a rush for the radio tower while Elias rapidly reloaded his rifle as he gazed down with enraged blue eyes.

Only for another shot to fire through the air while several more fired up at him in retaliation as he sunk back against the wall with his solemn eyes staring back at the still silent radio.

And then his eyes hardened as he rapidly inserted another bullet into his rifle.

Before he released a cry of rage as he resumed firing at the approaching death squad.

While soldiers ran through the burning street towards the tower.

The four highborn women gazed over their shoulder with conflict in their eyes as they watched the foreign soldiers storm the tower.

All across the settlement's survivors made a break for an escape.

And some even took up what limited weapons they have to fight back the advancing soldiers.

On the other side of the city people were running left and right to escape the burning settlement.

Felix stared out from his broken glasses as he was knocked aside by the throngs of fleeing people.

He stared around with fascinated amber eyes as blood trickled down his lip while he staggered through the street.

And soon enough he couldn't help but begin to laugh under his breath as he stumbled down a street corner.

This was just even more validation that he was right and they were wrong!

"Love and peace!" Felix exclaimed in a darkly amused chuckle before he collapsed against the wall of a building.

Just as he slumped against the wall with blood dripping down his face while his laughter continued emanate throughout the air.

He listened to the sounds of the soldiers marching in the distance as he slumped against the wall.

Order was nothing but an illusion.

And chaos…

Chaos reigned supreme.

Lana lost her footing and fell down with her crying child in her arms while the woman struggled to pull herself back to her feet.

The two frightfully listened to the sound of the murderous soldier stalking closer while Elle frantically tried to pull her mother to her feet.

"M-Mom! Mom!" Elle screamed as she tugged on her mother's sleeve while Lana pushed herself up on an exhausted hand.

While she desperately failed to help her mother stand.

"Elle! Get behind me!" Lana yelled out in a protective voice as she pulled her whimpering child into her arms when Strados stepped into view.

All while the soldier stalked forward with the same haunting smile on his lips while the injured woman shielded her small child.

"I-I am so afraid Mom!" Elle cried out with her face hiding in her mother's shirt while Lana enveloped her in a protective embrace.

Just as the man stepped over them with his cruel blue eyes gazing back down at them while the woman sheltered her child in her arms.

And then not a moment later the soldier wordlessly pointed his gun in the blubbering little girl's face while Lana's express contorted into one of maternal rage.

The mother shook with fury in her eyes while they stared down the barrel of the gun.

And then the killer's finger moved to press down on the trigger.

The little girl cried out in her mother's chest as the medic wrapped her into a tight embrace.

And then something snapped deep within Lana.

And just like that a mysterious bright light erupted from the wounded woman while all across the burning settlement people turned their heads in surprise as they watched the light pierce the horizon.

Elias gazed out from the tower with his mouth falling open in amazement while he fired another round at the storming soldiers.

"Lana…" Elias breathed in surprise with a tear dripping down his cheek while he listened to the woman's enraged shouts fill the air.

All the while the redheaded child stared out across the skyline with her mouth dropping open in awe as she watched the pillar of white light fire into the skyline.

"What…is that?" The nameless child muttered in shock as she watched from her hiding place with awe in her brown eyes.

Team Azula stared on at the scene with stunned eyes as they watched the blinding white light fire into the air just as they had seen with their young friend twice before.

Just as Strados slid back with astonishment in his blue eyes while he gazed back at Lana's now aura infused body.

As the mother knelt with her child hiding in her chest while otherworldly glowing lines begin to spread across her body.

While Lana's body continued to release a dense chi that swept into the air while Elle cried in her arms.

"Don't you dare…hurt my daughter!" Lana roared with rage in her voice while she glared over her shoulder at the man's surprised face.

Only for the soldier to recover quickly as a smile formed on his lips once more.

"You have tremendous power. You will make a worthy kill." Strados spoke in an excited voice with his coat blowing behind him under the force of the woman's chi.

As the small child cried even louder after hearing those terrifying words while Lana held her close.

Just before she gazed down into the child's teary amber eyes with tears dripping from her own.

"Runaway Elle. Get to safety." Lana instructed in a stern voice with her amber eyes gazing down into her child's horrified eyes.

"W-what! N-no! I won't leave you mother!" Elle protested in a frantic voice just as Lana crushed her in a passionate hug with tears streaming from her eyes.

"You must dear. I…just want you to know that I love you. And I always will….and no matter what happens…I will forever be in your heart." Lana announced with a saddened smile on her lips while she stared down into her child's watering amber eyes.

"I-I don't understand Mom-" Elle blurted out in a devastated voice only to be cut off when her mother shoved her away.

The small child fell down with a pained cry escaping her lips while her mother offered her a final tragic smile.

"Stay alive Elle. And live with goodness." Lana called out with a smile on her lips while Elle released an agonized cry.

"N-no! M-Mom! Mom! I can't leave you!" Elle screamed out in despair as she staggered to her feet just as her mother roughly pushed her away.

"Go Elle! I promise that I will fight with every fiber in my being to return to you afterward! Now go!" Lana ordered in a stricter voice as the little girl stumbled away with tears pouring from her eyes.

And not even seconds later the child found herself dashing through the war-torn street with her sobs echoing into the air.

"I-I love you M-Momma! P-please be okay!" Elle wailed in a heartbroken voice as she gazed back at her mother for one final time.

Elle's amber eyes stung with tears as she met her mother's warm gaze for a final fleeting moment just before she vanished around the corner.

As she ran with her feet seemingly on autopilot while her little chest shook with anguished sobs.

Azula stared on with her callous amber golden eyes displaying rare emotion as she watched her girlfriend's younger self stumble away.

Azula found herself clenching her fists over her armored breasts in her wrath while her childhood friend's still stood crying behind her.

And then she turned her frigid gaze to her serving girl's mother's killer with her cold eyes having long since memorized his face.

And Zoi still stared at Strados in disgust while the man stepped forward once more with a twisted smile adorning his lips.

Lana forced herself to stand with her back turned to the man while her blood trickled to the street below her.

Just as the sound of Strados broke out into a rapid sprint towards Lana while the woman trembled in unfathomable anger.

Only for Lana to release a resounding battle cry as her enraged voice rung out into the air.

And then an explosion of powerful chi lit up the skies as the furious mother's screams echoed all around the burning town.

And not even seconds later the stunned Team Azula watched as Lana's energy sent the murderous man skidding backwards once more.

"This settlement is our home and you are not welcome here!" Lana bellowed with uncharacteristic rage in her amber eyes while her voice shot throughout the rooftops.

Strados slid back with his coat blowing in the winds as the enemy soldiers gazed on at the bright light in astonishment.

Just as he turned to gaze out of the corner of his eye only for his eyes to widen in shock.

He wouldn't have believed it if he wasn't seeing it with his own eyes.

Before his own eyes was an otherworldly fissure of some kind!

But to what…he did not know.

That was when he spun around to gaze at Lana with widening eyes when the woman swung her hands before her as if she was trying to cut the air itself.

Only to stare on in rising shock when the energy from the fissure began to take shape before his stunned eyes.

And then not a second later the formation of energy nearly tore into his flesh.

He leaped out of the way with a slash mark in his uniform while his hair blew in his eyes just before he back-flipped onto the street below.

Just before he slid back with a bloodthirsty smile still on his lips before he sprang forward in a sprint once more.

Lana's shouts filled the air as the injured woman's chi soared to astonishing levels.

Azula watched with widening amber golden eyes in surprise that only grew when the woman rapidly cut another fissure in the air.

Just before the medic skidded back with the formation of energy now functioning as a shield that blocked the attacking soldier's swing.

'She cut the space itself and weaponized the energy!' Azula thought with a finger under her chin while her gaze never left her serving girl's mother.

Is it possible that she could teach her Elle to do the same?

Only to be torn from her musings by the man's excited voice.

She wrathfully stared on with murderous amber golden eyes as she furious snorted out a puff of blue fire through her nostrils.

She made a promise to her servant.

And she intends on keeping it.

She will destroy each and every one of them.

Not least of all this man!

"You have heart. I'll take that as well!" Strados exclaimed in an exhilarated voice as he pushed against Lana's shield.

Lana ground her teeth together with blood still dripping from her arm while she stared defiantly up into the soldier's sadistic eyes.

"Everyone run! I'll cover you!" Lana shouted out with her voice ringing throughout the air.

While she pushed back on her taller opponent with every fiber of her being.

As people all across the town made their way out in a mad effort to escape the burning settlement.

Including the medical staff that personally worked with Lana for the last three years.

And people that worked in the now razed local school.

They rushed through the streets with Amar stopping to glance over his shoulder with his fearful eyes glancing back in Lana's direction.

"This community is in your debt Lana." Amar spoke in a quiet voice while people rushed past him.

He watched with stunned eyes as many bright lights flashed across the horizon.

And one by one the fleeing townspeople began to fight just as fiercely as Lana as they grappled with the armed soldiers.

As gunshots continued to fire off all around the blazing settlement.

Elle blindly ran with her numb amber eyes gazing ahead while her cries resonated into the air.

"Mom!" Elle cried out in a heartbreaking wail with her feet dashing through the street while she listened to her mother's distant shouts filling the air.

The sound of gunshots filled the air while Elias rapidly reloaded his rifle while he glanced in the direction of his wife's released power.

Just as he grimaced when a bullet flew over his head while he sunk back the wall as he listened to the sound of the soldier's footsteps as they reached the bottom of the spiral staircase.

A look of resignation overcame his blue eyes before he fired out the broken window once more.

As bright lights continued to flash over the war-torn street.

Just as Lana's boots slid in the dirt as she shouted at the top of her lungs while Strados flipped out of the way of yet another attack.

It was apparent that he was no ordinary human.

But that didn't matter.

She would use this power to protect her home!

Even if it cost her life!

"I will fight until my last breath!" Lana called out with energy constructs before her hands while Strados now smiled back at her.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Strados replied in a savage voice just as he bolted in a sprint towards his target.

His coat flapped in the wind behind him as he jumped over the wounded woman.

All the while as Lana hollered as loud as she could while her chi flared to stunning heights.

And then not a moment a cacophony of gun shots thundered into the air intermingling with the medic's maternal roars.

All across the town the townspeople fought with all they had against their invaders.

One by one they were shot down by the advancing armored forces while Elle still ran through the street with innocent eyes crying a river of tears.

And in the midst of it all.

Lana and Strados danced a deadly dance.

The medic spun around with her uncharacteristically enraged eyes following the soldier's moves while swiftly shielded herself from gunfire with her energy construct.

"Devil!" Lana bellowed with her hair blowing behind her just as the charging soldier impacted against her shield.

Just as she suppressed a cry when an excruciating pain shot through her wounded shoulder while her shield brief wavered.

Only to steel her resolve not an instant later as she propelled herself forward once more with her determined battle cries echoing all throughout the rooftops.

As the sounds of rapid gunfire continued to echo into the air in unison with the mother's furious howls.

The soldier repeatedly punched and kicked at Lana's energy constructs while the peaceful woman shouted in pain as she staggered backwards.

Strados smiled coldly before he sprang forward while Lana's maternal shouts of rage soon broke into the sky once again.

Just as Elias released a yell of pain when a bullet finally pierced his side.

The man sunk forward as he nursed his wound while he listened to the soldier's running up the staircase.

His solemn blue eyes stared down as he shakily gazed down at several photos in his hand.

One was a picture of him and Lana on their wedding night.

And another…was of their then newborn baby daughter.

A sentimental look overcame his eyes as a tear dripped down his cheek while the sounds of gunfire continued to ring into his ears.

Just as a powerful burst of energy lit the street far below that shone all across the blazing settlement.

Strados was sent crashing through an open window while Lana panted with her hair sticking to her cheeks as her blood continued to trickle to the ground below.

'I cannot pass out! I must ensure that Elle is safe at all costs!' Lana thought as she rasped for air with her boots stumbling forward.

Only to spin her heard around when she heard a voice calling out from her radio!

"This is Calla Embers. Can anyone hear me? Elias! Lana!" A woman's voice called out as the medic swiftly reached down to grasp the handheld.

Elias' eyes raised up to the radio in surprise with blood dripping down his side only to immediately turn back in the direction of the door as the soldiers began to break it down.

The woman's garbled voice came through once more while the husband moved to answer it.

Only to find himself rolling out of the way of another round of gunfire while he listened to the soldiers slamming into the door.

"Is anyone there?" Calla pondered in a worried voice just as Lana answered the handheld.

"Calla! I am here! Rosa is under assault by an army! The town is in ruins! Many are dead and I am engaging the enemy commander as we speak! Do you copy?" Lana exclaimed as she listened to the radio briefly crackle.

There was a tense pause while the medic kept her gaze peeled out for her enemy before the woman responded.

"I copy. Listen to me Lana. You need to take your family and leave immediately! Get out of there! Do you hear me!" The woman called out in a distorted voice with Lana staring down with her bangs shadowing her eyes.

And then she raised her amber eyes to gaze out across the burning village while she listened to the sounds of armed soldiers storming her way.

Just as her widened amber eyes landed on the corpses of her fellow town folk.

Men and women lay lifeless in the streets gazing up at the smoking sky while she clenched her fists at her hip.

She spun her head around to gaze on with horrified eyes to see the soldiers breaking down the door of the radio tower.

"Are you hearing me Lana? Get out while you still can!" Calla urged in a garbled voice while Lana stood silent with her fist balled up in anger.

"I can't do that. Not yet. I have to protect the people." Lana spoke into the radio before she slipped the radio back into her pocket.

Just as she heard the sound of footsteps stepping out from the broken window.

Only to turn around to narrow her amber eyes in rage when she found herself gazing back at Strados' emotionless face once more.

She ignored the distorted protests of her old friend's voice emerging from the radio.

Before she exhaled with her fists clenching at her sides while her amber eyes took on a determined tint.

"Whatever you are trying to do. It isn't going to work." Strados spoke in a confident voice with his emotionless blue eyes staring back at Lana's shadowed face.

"I will do what I must for my home." Lana stated in a resolved voice as she raised her eyes to meet the man's gaze.

Just as the soldiers rushed forward to subdue her.

Only to freeze up in their tracks when Lana's voice split through the air once more.

As Lana's chi continued to pour out from her body.

Strados' hair blew in his eyes while he watched with a returning smile on his lips when the woman broke out into a charge towards him.

"I see…you intend to sacrifice yourself. How noble." Strados remarked in a cruel voice as he sprinted ahead with his coat flapping behind him.

Just as his own aura began to radiate from his body while the injured woman ran at him with blood trickling to the ground behind her with her every step.

All the while trying her hardest not to pass out from blood loss.

Just as the soldiers opened fire upon the roaring woman.

Only for the medic to knock them to the ground with a formation of energy.

She never stopped her charge with her amber eyes never leaving the soldier's darkly smiling face as he pointed his pistol back at her.

Elias braced himself for the soldiers to break the door down with his eyes still gazing down at the picture book in hand.

Just before a bright flash of his wife's energy blinded his eyes while he winced from underneath the palm of his hand.

The soldiers momentarily halted beating on the door with their arms shielding their face.

And once more all eyes were drawn to Lana's body as her chi flashed luminously while she sprang forward with her passionate cry ringing throughout the blazing town.

The sound of gunfire continued to resonate across the battlefield.

Strados' bullets continued to fire into Lana's shield while she dove at him with her maternal shouts filling the air.

All the while her shield began to slowly crack with each bullet that pierced its constitution.

And Calla's garbled voice continued to emanate from the radio.

"Lana!" Calla protested through the radio while Lana flung herself at Strados with yells echoing throughout the settlement.

Just as the murderous soldier and the pacifist slammed into each other at long last.

As the sound of another thunderous gunshot broke through the air.

In that very moment Lana's energy barrier abruptly vanished as she fell over her surprised opponent.

She suppressed a cry of pain when the bullet clipped past her already wounded arm.

Only to steel herself while she forced herself to lunge forward with every fiber of her being!

And then contact!

Strados stared down with stunned blue eyes to see that the woman had transitioned the shield into an energized lance!

The soldier spat out blood as he gazed down into emotional amber eyes while the medic stumbled on her feet.

Just as he staggered backwards with a hand over his torn uniform while the lance dissipated from his flesh.

"You left me no choice!" Lana cried out in a guilt-ridden voice as she panted while she watched Strados fall to his knees with his gun dropping from his hand.

The man said nothing as he sunk forward with his blood dripping into the grass while Lana dropped down rasping for air.

Just as she reached to grasp a hold of the gun while she remorsefully observed the soldier fall onto his back into the dirt.

"I…have taken a life." Lana murmured in a sorrowful voice while she gazed around with a tear dripping from her eye.

And once more. She watched her friends and fellow town folk die to senseless brutality.

So many lives!

'When will it ever end?' Lana thought with her eyes becoming downcast while she struggled to move her body.

Only for her amber eyes to catch a wrinkled paper laying on the ground that had fallen out of the man's coat pocket.

The soldiers upon the staircase exchanged a shared glance uncertain if they should attack.

While the other woman's voice continued to fade in and out of the radio speaker while Elias warily glanced from over his shoulder back to the radio.

Just as he quietly slid his body closer while he aimed his rifle towards the door.

And not even a second later the medic grasped onto the document.

Only for her eyes to widen and her blood to run cold when she gazed down at the unraveled paper in her trembling hand.

"W-what…what is this?" Lana questioned in a disbelieving voice while her heart pounded in her chest.

It can't be.

It was an official order.

From…

And not a second later she seized the radio in her panicked hand while her friend's voice continued to resonate from the speaker.

"Calla! The people that ordered this attack! It was-" Lana called out only find herself cut off when she savagely kicked in the chest.

She released a shout of pain as she was launched through the air with the radio in hand while her old friend frantically tried to reach her.

Only to crash through a pile of rubble while she rasped for air while Strados now stood with his gun in hand once more.

The injured woman soon found herself rolling down a hill while her energy dissipated before she came to a stop before the shoreline of the local lake.

And then her power finally gave out when she landed face first in the sand.

While her husband's shouts filled the air as he called out to her.

"Lana!" Elias yelled in a tormented voice as he struggled to stand with his face contorting in rage.

Only for the door to finally break open while he fired off multiple rounds at the advancing soldiers.

A single soldier fell to the ground just as the others quickly tackled the struggling man before they threw him hard against the wall.

Just as he let out a howl of pain when a bullet pierced his leg while the soldiers now swarmed into the room.

And not a moment later he watched helplessly as they began smashing the radio hub while Calla's voice continued to garble in and out.

Lana struggled to push herself up in the sand with her amber eyes focusing on the radio.

She reached out to grasp a hold of it only for her shriek of pain to split into the air when a smoking gunshot was fired above her.

Lana collapsed back into the sand with her mouth agape in pain while the man now gazed down at her with cruel blue eyes.

Which was soon followed up by another bullet that effectively silenced the woman trying to get through to Lana on the radio.

The four highborn women watched the brutal memory play out with a shared rage in their eyes.

After all of the time that they have spent befriending Elle.

It was nothing short of gut wrenching to watch Elle's mother's savage fate unfold.

"Don't bother tearing yourself up with regret. I'll be fine. You won't." Strados announced as he strode down the slope with his boots sinking into the sand.

As a merciless smile still adorned his lips.

All the while as Lana discreetly withdrew a small piece of torn paper from under her sleeve.

Just as she began frantically etching a message onto it.

And then several moments later clutched the paper in her fist all the while crying out in pain as she tried pull herself up.

Tears flowed from her eyes as she listened to the sound of the man walking up behind her.

The mother almost pulled herself up only to groan in pain as she sat trembling on her knees in the sand now gazing up as the soldier came to a stop standing over her.

And then the pistol was pointed down at her while a tear dripped down her cheek into the sands below.

To her complete and utter shock. Not only was the man alive.

But he didn't even seem wounded.

How was that even possible?

"It would seem as if you burned yourself out. Oh well. Farewell." Strados commented in a merciless voice with his eyes staring down at the woman's grief-stricken face.

Lana sank onto her knees with her head hanging low while she thought of her friends and family.

Of her village.

Of Calla.

Of her husband.

Her son.

And her precious daughter.

"Elias…Felix…Elle…I love you all." Lana spoke in a quiet voice as she shook with her wet eyes closing shut.

And then she heard the man push down on the trigger.

And then the sound of another roaring gunshot pierced the air.

Team Azula stared on with their eyes wide in a shared sense of sadness while they watched their friend's mother fall forward after being shot in the chest.

Even the ruthless princess herself could only gaze on with shaken amber golden eyes seeing her girlfriend's mother die before her very eyes.

She clenched her jaw with her frigid eyes now conveying a newfound hatred for the man called Strados.

Lana gasped as she began to drop down with her hair blowing about behind her.

Her knees hit the sand while she breathed heavily with her amber eyes gazing up into the distant sun.

And then in that very moment she saw a strange light flash before her eyes.

All while Elias sunk back against the wall with a tear dripping down his cheek while he gripped the photo book in his tightened fist.

Just as he too began to drift off from blood loss while the soldiers aimed their guns at him.

"I don't have anything to say to you bastards." Elias declared in a voice of trembling hatred while the soldiers stared coldly down at him.

"It matters not. We have nothing to say to you either. Finish him off." A commanding soldier ordered as he turned to walk away while the soldiers nodded in understanding.

Before they aimed their guns at Elias' resigned face while he still gazed down at the open picture book in his lap.

'Lana…I really wish it hadn't ended this way. There was…so much that I wanted to do with you and the kids. I was…hoping that we could help Felix…and I confess I was really looking forward to watching Elle grow up.' Elias thought with his eyes staring solemnly down at their wedding photograph while he listened to the soldier's step over him.

And then he gazed down at the photo on the other page of their newborn daughter.

Just as he slid back against the wall while he closed his eyes while he imagined that he and his wife were once more dancing on their wedding night.

The music began to play in his ears once more as a tear dripped down his cheek.

'Elle…Felix…get out of here alive.' Elias pondered as began to drift off from blood loss.

The soldiers lined up with their guns pointed down at him.

'Goodbye Lana. Until we meet again…my love...' Elias thought with his eyes closed tightly shut while he tightly clutched his picture book in his bare hand.

Only for a bullet to pierce his temple not a moment later.

He slumped against the wall with blood now trickling down his forehead.

As the life slowly faded from his blue eyes while he collapsed against the metal wall.

Just as his hand went limp.

And the picture book dropped from his hand until the floor below.

And not even a few seconds later Elias Turner was now laying lifelessly against the wall while the soldiers turned to clear out of the room.

A lone tear dripped down from the man's saddened face to the steel floor below.

Mai and Ty Lee gazed on with tears in their eyes as they swallowed down their anger and sorrow.

And Zoi couldn't help but scowl in sympathy for her young friend.

Azula gazed on with her regal lips pursed into a cold thin line as she clenched her fist at her hip.

Only to find herself snapped out of her wrathful musings when the memory world began to morph once more.

To their surprise they watched the beach begin to fade away into the distance.

Only for all four of them to find themselves staring on in disbelief when they were once more seemingly back in a place that they knew all too well.

The Fire Nation Palace!

Yet somehow Lana was still there gazing on with widened amber eyes.

And then before any of them could so much as utter a word their surprise only grew when they found themselves watching a familiar teenager dash down the halls.

"Where am I…" Lana trailed off in a confused voice while she stared on in unconcealed confusion.

And somehow, she almost felt as if she wasn't truly dying.

But she knew that couldn't be possible.

She had just been shot in the chest.

And yet…here she was.

Just what was this?

The four women stared at the mother's back in an utter astonishment.

They were well aware that what they were seeing was memories from Elle and her mother.

And if Lana had a memory of seeing the Fire Nation Royal Palace…

"I don't believe it. It seems as if she had clairvoyant visions before she died." Zoi spoke in a hushed voice with Azula also gazing on with her mouth agape in bewilderment.

"How is that…" Azula breathed in a stunned voice with her widened eyes watching her handmaid scamper in a way that she knew all too well.

Lana gazed after her teenage daughter with widened amber eyes while Elle smiled brightly as she ran down the hallway.

Just as she watched with emotion in her trembling eyes as Elle came to a stop before three older girls.

"Is that…you Elle?" Lana questioned in a deeply emotional voice while she gazed on wide eyed at the teenager's beaming face.

She shook in awe as she realized that it was indeed her daughter.

She could never mistake that face!

And then she watched in amazement when her daughter handed the scowling woman with dark hair a cup of hot tea.

The other two girls smiled fondly at Elle's happy face.

Just before the robed woman reached out to pat her daughter on the head while Elle smiled even wider than before.

Team Azula could only stand there completely floored by what they were saying.

As unbelievable as it was, they knew that Zoi was most likely right!

And then just like that the image of them vanished into thin air.

And in turn formed another one.

Of an image of a battlefield with armies gathered in the distance.

And Elle standing opposite of a person that they knew all too well.

The Avatar!

The mother gazed on with her amber eyes agape in shock while her hands trembled at her sides.

While the man shouted with staff in hand while he charged at her teenage daughter.

As the teenage girl let out a cry of her own with a bright energy flowing forth from her body.

Just before the two collided not a moment later while they glared back into each other's eyes.

"I will not let you get in the way of restoring balance to the world!" Aang shouted in a furious voice while Elle defiantly met his gaze.

"And I will not let you take my home Avatar!" Elle yelled out in a determined voice while Aang glared down into her resolved amber eyes.

Lana stared on with ever rising emotion in her eyes just as the landscape transformed once more.

The four highborn women still stood there with astonishment in their eyes.

The shear gravity of Lana's visions was just nothing short of astounding.

And soon enough they found themselves gazing at two familiar girls standing on a balcony.

It was of Elle once more.

But to their great surprise older.

Perhaps sixteen or seventeen by the look of it.

And the other was the redhead that they had only just recently met.

Naoki.

Azula's callous eyes still gazed on in disbelief while Elle stepped up behind the Naoki.

She couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealously over seeing an older version of her servant standing with another woman.

A tight scowl graced her regal lips while she snorted out a puff of blue flames through her nostrils.

All the while trying to tell herself that she wasn't jealous.

Lana stood with her mouth falling open in amazement while a joyful tear dripped down her cheek when the two girls began to speak.

Only for her amber eyes to widen when she saw a familiar figure approaching below in the distance.

It was…him.

Strados walked with his coat blowing behind him while Team Azula stared at his face with unbridled hatred in their eyes.

"Naoki…what are you going to do?" Elle questioned in a fearful voice with her hands nervously grasping at her arms while Naoki stared down at the man.

The redhead gazed down with her brown eyes resembling a haunting thousand-yard stare.

"I am going to kill him." Naoki responded in an emotionless voice with her hand grasping at her sheathed blade while Strados continued to approach in the distance.

And then just like that the visions continued to flood by Lana's stunned amber eyes.

Team Azula watched in amazement to find themselves gazing at Elle once more.

And standing in front of her was a girl that they have never met.

The girl had brown hair and bright green eyes, and she was wearing vibrant green robes.

And right beside her was Naoki.

Naoki walked past Elle only to stop to turn her head when the younger girl held out her arm as a gesture of comradery.

Just before Naoki threw her arm over her shoulder with her fist connecting with Elle's.

Only for the brown-haired girl to do the same soon afterward.

The three girls gazed back at one another with their fists pressing together while they exchanged some unheard words.

And not even seconds after that it all dissipated once again.

Lana continued to watch as the visions flashed before her widened eyes while another relieved tear streamed down her cheek when she found herself gazing at her young adult daughter.

The young woman walked with her amber eyes taking on a deeply contemplative gleam while she carried a bag over her shoulder.

All the while walking ahead in Fire Nation combat robes while Azula and the others gazed on in shock over the stark contrast to the girl that they knew.

Only to come to a stop in a forest meadow with her amber eyes gazing ahead with unusual seriousness than the usual cheer that her four friends had come to know.

Felix sat with his back turned to her with an amused smirk on his shadowed lips while Team Azula glared at his visage.

The mother gazed between the two with heavy emotion in her eyes while her hands still shook at her sides.

Once more feeling as if she had failed to raise her son properly.

And soon she soon found herself standing with her hands trembling at her sides in a desolate field.

Standing before her was a tall woman with short dark hair and bangs that fell down over her frigid golden eyes.

Her lips were forming a chilling smile while she idly turned her head to gaze over her shoulder to gaze at the person standing behind her.

The four highborn women stared on with widened eyes as they quickly recognized the woman as the third face in the mystic flames.

And the person standing opposite of her was none other than an older Elle.

"Vega." Elle spoke in a more mature voice while the woman turned to regard her with a lifeless gaze.

"Elle the Component." Vega stated as she smiled darkly back at the younger woman's uncharacteristically serious face.

The two engaged in a stare down with the shorter woman clenching a fist at her hip.

While the herald's lips curved into a twisted grin before she abruptly erupted into mad laughter.

All the while the woman called Vega cackled with her golden eyes widening in a frightening show of madness.

And that was all it took for Team Azula to stare at the ominous woman in alarm to know that she was dangerous.

And just like that the landscape transformed once more before they had a chance to learn more about their future enemy.

The transfixed mother gazed on in astonishment another vision flooded before her eyes.

And then she watched in awe as the landscape began to take shape around her once more into that of some kind of metal fortress.

And she now found herself staring on in fascination at another woman that she has never seen before in robes with a flowing majestic cape hanging over her back standing at the top of an altar.

Just as the woman turned around to gaze over her shoulder to reveal that her face was that of a woman of fully Japanese descent.

The mysterious Japanese woman now stared down with malevolent green eyes at several furious faces below.

And standing at the forefront of the group was the face of the very same woman with amber golden eyes that she had seen with her daughter moments before!

The highborn women gazed on with their eyes wide in trepidation at the face of what they already knew was yet another enemy.

An older Zoi came to a stop beside Azula as she too stared wrathfully up at the face of the woman upon the altar.

And then Azula threw down what appeared to be a combat cloak upon the metal floor of the fortress.

And just then the scenery shifted yet again while Team Azula still stared on agape in captivation.

And throughout it all Lana found herself unable to so much as find the words to speak.

She soon found herself gazing around her in disbelief at the sight of many bodies strung out on the floor.

Only for her amber eyes to grow even wider when she saw her daughter panting as she pulling herself to her feet alongside that very same amber golden eyed woman.

The Japanese woman stared down at the two as they stood up panting with a sadistic smirk on her lips.

And then Elle arose with her amber eyes glaring up at the woman with Azula standing furiously over her.

"We're…not defeated just yet…you are going to pay for what you did to Rosa and for each and every other life that you have taken!" Elle shouted in a voice of uncharacteristic rage as she clenched her fists at her hips with an aura of great energy emanating from her body.

The still unnamed woman just gazed back down at older Elle's bloodied face as she let out a remorseless chuckle.

And that was all that was needed for Team Azula to stare at the woman with their eyes agape in furious realization.

The woman they were gazing at was involved in the destruction of the town that they were witnessing before their very eyes!

All while as Lana stood with her hands shaking at her hips as she gazed on in a transfixed state at the sight of her daughter staring the Japanese woman down.

Only for it all to once again fade before her disbelieving eyes as she found herself back in the same building as before.

She gazed on in astonishment to see the same woman from before seated with large blue flames burning behind her.

The teenage Elle ran up to her with a bright smile on her lips while Azula pridefully scowled back at her.

Just before she lazily parted her wall of flames with a wave of her hand while the handmaid made her way up to her throne.

While her imposing amber golden eyes gazed down at Elle just as she came to a stop before her.

Azula sat on her throne with her arms resting on the sides of her chair while Elle handed her a scroll.

As the princess took it with her regal lips forming a tight thin line while Elle beamed back at her.

Just before Azula patted the girl's head once more while Elle smiled underneath the palm of her hand.

Only for Elle to quickly lean in to bashfully peck the princess on the cheek while Azula gazed back at her with cold amber golden eyes.

Just as her strong palms grasped a hold of the teenager's cheeks before she pulled the blushing girl in.

And then the princess placed a kiss on the younger girl's trembling forehead while a low growl escaped her lips.

As Elle giggled in her grip while the mother stared on with unbridled emotion in her eyes.

While the current Azula stared at her with a spark of conflicted emotion.

For reasons that she couldn't explain she found herself wishing that she had been able to meet her servant's mother.

And no matter how much she told herself not to care.

That the woman was just another lowly commoner.

Somehow, she did.

Her two childhood friends stared on with great sadness in their eyes as the throne room vanished once again.

Zoi watched with sympathy in her stony eyes while she gazed around in fascination to find themselves standing in foreign location once more.

Standing alone in the center of a hallowed room was the older Elle once more.

Lana gazed on with wide amber eyes while the young woman stood before an ancient tablet.

Only for her eyes to widen when a voice spoke to her.

"Do you know who I am Lana?" Elle's voice pondered as Lana shook with her hands trembling before her.

"O-of course I do. You are my daughter." Lana spoke in a deeply sentimental voice with tears in her eyes while her hand reached out to touch her child.

Just as Elle turned to face her with saddened smile on her lips while she took a shaky step closer with her trembling fingers reaching out to touch her daughter's cheek.

The four highborn women observed the dying woman interact with the vision of her daughter in sorrow.

Even for a soldier as ruthless as Zoi couldn't help but find it heartbreaking.

"I love you Mother." The daughter declared in a tender voice with her saddened eyes staring back at the older woman's crying face.

"I…l-love you too Daughter." The mother answered with her hand nearly touching her daughter's cheek while Elle smiled back at her.

Only for Lana's hand to slip right through Elle's face while the mother watched with tearing amber eyes as her daughter vanished before her eyes once more.

Just as the world around them began to change yet again.

Tears dripped from Lana's amber eyes as she stared on while innumerable images of her daughter flashed rapidly before her.

"The Component is going to you now Elle." Lana stated in a soft voice with her eyes still tearing up while she hung her head.

Team Azula stared at the woman with a sense of helplessness in their eyes.

At this point there wasn't a single one of them that didn't wish that they could save their young friend's mother.

But they knew that there was no stopping what already happened.

"I am glad…that you will find friends to be there for you…and even happier that you will even find someone to love you. I just wish that I could be there to see it…I wish I could have met her." Lana lamented in a quiet voice with a small smile on her lips while she gazed up into the sky.

Azula stared on with callous amber golden eyes widening in a rare sense of emotion while she audibly swallowed.

Just as Lana reached her hand out towards the sky with her fingers brushing through the empty air.

All the while never noticing when her fingers hand phased through Azula's pensive face while the princess gazed back with a faltering amber golden gaze.

"My daughter…will live on." Lana spoke to herself with a smile still on her lips just as her eyes closed shut.

Azula's mouth hung ajar as booted feet wavered for the briefest of moments.

And Ty Lee's kind eyes welled up with tears while she sniffled in sorrow.

And Mai stared on with her tawny eyes reflecting great sadness and anger while a lone tear trailed down her cheek.

And the stoic Zoi gazed on with glum golden eyes while she tightened her fist at her hip.

Only for all four of their eyes to widen collectively when a final rupturing gunshot broke through the air.

And just like that they were once again standing numbly back on the beach.

They all watched with devastated eyes as Lana fell to the ground with a hole in her forehead.

Just as the pacifist hit the sands while the life rapidly faded from her widened amber eyes.

'I…will see you soon Elias.' Lana thought with her mouth agape in emotion just as her hands fell limp into the sands.

Strados stood over her with his blue eyes regarding her for the briefest of moments before he turned to walk back up the slope.

Lana's lifeless body now lay motionless in the sands with her hair lightly blowing in the wind.

Azula now stared down at the murdered woman with her regal lips forming a wrathful glower.

She found herself unable to suppress the stir of emotion in her chest upon hearing that her girlfriend's express a desire to meet her.

'My own mother called me a monster. But Elle's mother…approved of me.' Azula thought with her glacial eyes widening as she clenched her fists at her armored hips.

Before she turned her murderous gaze back to the man's back as he continued walking away.

She angrily found herself swallowing the lump that was in her throat.

Just as she gritted her teeth with fire escaping her nostrils once more while she glared at Strados as he walked up the slope.

In that very moment she made up her mind.

'I will avenge you…Lana Turner.' Azula thought with her lips shaking in a snarl while blue fire burned from her clenched fists.

Just before she turned to glance back down at Lana's lifeless face with resolute amber golden eyes while her three companions gazed solemnly down at the departed woman.

Not one of them so much as said a single word as they stood there processing the brutality of their young friend's parents' deaths.

The five-year-old Elle froze in her tracks as she turned to gaze over her shoulder with her little eyes wide in sorrow.

Her amber eyes welled up like water overflowing from a rivers edge while she stood there paralyzed by shock.

As she found herself feeling as if she was unable to suppress feeling as if a part of her had just died.

Her naïve mind failed to understand that both of her parents had just been murdered.

And somewhere in the present.

Elle sat in her meditative state while her four friends knelt motionlessly around her with their hands over her own.

Just as a tear dripped down her cheek while she silently mourned the deaths of her parents.

And the town that they once called home.

AN:

Alright, well I have to say that is thus far the most brutal chapter that I have written. Writing the deaths of Elle's parents packed more of an emotional punch than I first thought it would.

There are several things that I want to go over.

Some of you are probably wondering about the powers that Lana displayed in combat.

The Component has the power to cut through the energy of the Spirit World, and that is why Aang's bending was briefly disabled when Elle awoke her power way back in chapter 32. Aang was not prepared to dodge, and he caught got in the way of her swing.

And that is essentially the greatest power of the Component. A user that is fully trained has the ability to cut through a mystical barrier by negating the chi.

However, when copious amounts of spirit energy is present in the air, under those conditions an advanced user can create constructs out of the spirit energy and use those constructs to defend themselves.

And that is what Lana did in her fight with Strados.

Now, under normal circumstances there would be not be enough spirit energy in the air of Elle's world for this to be possible. But Elle's world shares a deep connection with the Avatar world. And that gateway started to reopen 8-9 years before Elle passed over.

The reactivation of the gateway was the cause of such mystical energy forming in the air, and that is why Lana was able to weaponize it in her battle.

My goal this chapter was to illustrate the great power behind the Component, but also show it's weaknesses. A user of the Component is not capable of causing anywhere near as much destruction as an Avatar or highly talented benders such as Azula, Zoe, Ozai, Toph, Katara, Iroh, etc.

It is a power that is more about precision, and breaking down mystical barriers.

And as we saw in this chapter a user of the Component can most definitely be killed in battle.

Another aspect of the Component is that when the current user dies, they briefly catch a glimpse of the identity of the person that it is transferring to. That is why Lana had visions of Elle before she died.

Additionally, another element that I am introducing to the story is the ability of benders and other chi users to use their auras offensively. This is what both Lana and Strados did in their battle.

We'll explore the element of auras with Azula, Zoe and other fighters later on as they further master their bending.

Now regarding Strados, he is by no means a normal human. He is basically an enhanced human, and as we saw he is difficult to kill. We'll see more of him in book two, but for now his appearances will be in flashbacks only.

Also, regarding the fight between Lana and Strados. I will say that if Lana had been a more ruthless person, it is possible that she could have won the fight. But she wasn't expecting him to get back up after being stabbed.

And even if she would have won, she would have unfortunately still died because she would have been unable to fight off all of the soldiers on her own.

The woman that Lana and Elias tried to contact for help was a close friend of theirs that will appear in book two. Calla had no part in the assault and she was genuinely wanted Lana and her family to get out of there alive.

The identity of those behind the attack will be explored more later on and we'll eventually find out what Lana wrote on that small piece of paper.

I will say that Strados is for all intents and purposes, a mad dog. He was sent because of the power that he possessed, and for his ruthlessness. But he is hard to control.

Lana was likely supposed to be brought back alive, but because Strados takes joy out of hunting and killing people, he killed her. Despite it being against his orders.

We also saw that Elias was a noble man. He wasn't going to let the soldiers overwhelm his wife and daughter without trying to protect them until his last breath.

And that brown-haired girl with green eyes that ran past Elle is the girl who will eventually become the lab created soldier called Katsu.

We also got a small hint that the girl who will become Naoki knew that danger was coming. And that she wanted to get away from Strados as soon as she saw him.

And regarding Felix, the reason why he was so fascinated by the burning of the town is that he has long held psychopathic beliefs. The sudden scene of chaos simply served as the final straw that brought it all to the surface.

The attack was proof to him that order didn't matter, and in the flames of that attack he realized that he too could shed the pretense of order.

It served as a sort of twisted inspiration, and in a way Strados inadvertently helped finalize the birth of another monster.

I also want to mention the significance of this to Azula. Azula was raised a warmonger, and then somehow Elle managed to thaw some small corner of her heart.

As Azula witnesses Elle's trauma first hand, she is finding herself conflicted between Ozai and Elle. Despite Azula's cruel nature, she does not want to watch Elle suffer. And knowing exactly what Elle went through will have an impact on the way Azula views war and genocide.

Knowing that the girl she is falling for, went through what she and her father are planning to do to the Earth Kingdom on Sozin's Comet will have a powerful impact on Azula.

Her own mother called her a monster. And yet when Lana saw her in her visions, Lana stated that she wished she could have met Azula. In Azula's eyes, the mother of her wife to be expressed approval for her.

Because of Lana's acceptance for a woman that she never even met, Azula feels a sense of rage over Lana's brutal murder.

And for the first time in her life, Azula feels a compulsion to avenge a victim of war. And now Azula's drive to wage war on Elle's tormentors is even greater than before.

And through Lana's visions we got a small glimpse of what Elle could be like when she matures.

And lastly, the reason why the townspeople were so unprepared for the assault is that the entire reason why they founded the settlement was to escape the brutality of war. What few of them had guns, could not even begin to compare to the might of a real army.

Elias and some others tried to put up a valiant fight, but it just wasn't enough.

And I suppose in the end, if you feel a burning hate for Strados. Then I feel that I have accomplished what I wanted to get across this chapter with the deaths of both Lana and Elias.

But I think that will be it for now though.

Stay tuned for next time.

For chapter eighty! Devils, Chaos and Suffering!