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.

115. The Duel of the Two Prodigies

Hello everyone.

I want to thank those that have favorited and followed the story since the last update. As always, I kindly ask those that find the story worthy to consider doing so if you find it to your liking.

The Duel of the Two Prodigies - Chapter One Hundred Ten

Katsu hit the ice with a yelp when she found herself rolling further down the hillside on her ass.

Azula and Zoi stood side by side with their palms held out before their shivering faces as another chilling wind swept through the air.

Only for the two firebenders to turn to gaze over their shoulders in returning astonishment while they assessed their young friend's new power.

Elle's construct of energy crackled as she panted behind it as Naoki's gloved fist impacted from above with her shield.

As her two big sisters stood behind her in a state of shock.

The princess and her captain gazed on with a mutually fascinated look in their widened eyes.

Naoki stared down at the younger girl with ruthlessly emotionless brown eyes.

As her fist continued to push back against the construct as sparks of energy flared before her machinelike eyes.

The older girls stared at their friend in amazement.

"If you stand as my comrade then I will fight by your side. But if you are going to stand as my enemy…then stay out of my way." Naoki stated in a machinelike voice with her brown eyes staring chillingly through the sparking construct into Elle's defiant amber eyes.

"No! You get out of my way Naoki! You are the one trying tell me what to do! I'm going back home and you can't stop me!" Elle shouted in a highly emboldened voice as sweat dripped down her forehead while she stared up into Naoki's eerie brown eyes.

The highborn women gazed on with fixated expressions in their eyes as they marveled over their young friend's growth.

As the princess found herself smiling down at the younger girl in prideful approval.

Only for her amber golden eyes start to widen a fraction in concern when she saw the construct start to waver under the girl's gloved fist.

Zoi stared on with widened golden eyes as she clutched her katana as the young warrior began to force her way through.

Mai and Ty Lee stood supportively behind Elle as they gazed on with increasingly widened eyes.

Katsu coughed up snow as she pushed herself up from the ice as she stared on with widening golden eyes.

And Elle gazed back out from behind her new weapon with her innocent eyes rapidly widening in alarm.

"Give up Elle!" Katsu called out with a grimace forming on her features while the shield began to crack under Naoki's fist.

And not a second after that the supersoldier's fist plunged straight through the shield while Team Azula's mouths fell open in shock.

A terrifying crimson blur now dropped down above the frightened teenager through the shattered shield!

It was just unthinkable that the Component was capable of taking on even the likes of the Avatar Cycle and yet this girl was still somehow able to break through!

"I said. Get out of my way." Naoki spoke in a compassionless voice as she mercilessly slammed her fist into the smaller girl's belly.

And that was all it took for Elle's inexperienced amber eyes to enlarge in indescribable as she fell forward on the older girl's fist.

And then the handmaid's aura of energy and the glowing lines on her body abruptly dissipated just as soon as she took the savage blow to the belly.

A pained scream now echoed horrifically over the frigid arctic battlefield.

As all of Team Azula now stared on with absolute outrage in their eyes as they sprung forward to help their friend.

Only to find themselves gazing on in disbelief when the girl sped through the snow with horrifying speed right past the enraged Ty Lee and Mai before they could even finish making their move to attack her.

All the while as Naoki slid down the slope with Elle collapsing onto her gloved fist as spit flew from the girl's mouth and into the frozen air.

And then seconds later she skidded to a sudden stop while Elle cried out in pain as she flew hard off her fist.

And right into the painfully cold air while the four older girls watched with a newfound murderous rage in their widened eyes.

The sound of Elle's howls soon split over the horizon as she painfully rolled down the hillside.

Until she rolled to a stop with her hands clutching her pained belly while her cries pulled at the chords of her friends' hearts.

As they stared on in shock to see that the handmaid's Component power had been effectively rendered null in the wake of Naoki's brutal blow!

"M-my belly…it…it hurt so…b-bad!" Elle moaned with her wide amber eyes tearing up while she knelt cradling her belly.

"I told you that I was pulling my punches Elle. While your power is undeniably impressive…as you are right now you are no match for me. Until then…it is pointless for you to try and oppose me." Naoki commented in a casually cold voice with an unsettling smile on her lips while Elle shook in a ball in the snow.

"Elle!" Ty Lee yelled in a furious voice as she bounded down the hillside with her fists clenched at her hips while she glowered down at Naoki.

"This kid…I have had enough of her! She's really pissing me off!" Mai exclaimed with her blades gripped in her fist as she glared icily at Naoki as she slid down the slope.

The princess skidded vengefully down the ice with her callous amber golden eyes practically bulging out of her eye sockets in wrath.

'Does this mean that the Component can be shattered with enough physical force?' Azula thought with her burning amber golden eyes assessing her girlfriend's condition as she snarled while diving down the hill.

If so then that meant that the rebel army could do the same!

That meant that regardless of how mighty the power is that there was no way that she could risk sending the girl to the battlefield by herself without backup!

The captain sprang down after her with her battle-focused golden eyes never leaving the young assassin as she stared down at wailing blonde with a pitiless gaze.

And the smaller girl tried desperately to push herself up from the ice only to collapse into the snow.

"I suggest you stay down…while the blow I dealt you is not fatal you will be in considerable pain for some time until the impact wears off." Naoki remarked in an expressionless voice as her red hair blew in the wind behind her.

She her brown eyes still stared down at the little blonde's pain-stricken face.

'I gave you ample chances to choose to come with me without violence. You are the one who made it come to this…. Elle.' Naoki thought as she began to turn away from the curled-up girl while she listened to the sound of four pairs of feet sliding down the ice.

She gazed out of the corner of her emotionless eye back at Katsu's conflicted face.

And Katsu growled as she clenched her fists over the ice but nonetheless turned her feral gaze back to the enraged princess.

And not a moment after that the furious Ty Lee dropped down behind the assassin as she made an unusually ruthless swing at the younger girl's back.

Only for her brown-gray eyes to widen in shock when Naoki swiftly leaped out of the way of her swing.

Azula, Zoi and Mai stared on with astonishment in their eyes as they watched earthen material form on the supersoldier's gloved fists.

And before they had a chance to react Naoki swung her fist into Ty Lee's belly.

Just as spit now flew from Ty Lee's stunned mouth as she backpedaled on her feet only for another blow to rapidly connect with her chest.

Which was followed up by a third brutal strike to the older girl's gut while the three other Fire Nation women observed in shock.

The sound of numerous blurring punches resonated into the air as they connected with the Ty Lee's brutalized body.

And then Naoki delivered a shattering kick that sent Ty Lee soaring backwards with her braided hair swinging in front of her humiliated eyes.

Elle watched from her position on their ice with her agonized amber eyes agape in worry for her big sister.

"T-Ty Lee!" Elle coughed as she shivered in her coat on the ice while her friends stared on in disbelief.

And then the noble landed on her ass in the snow as she cradled her belly with her entire face grimacing in stinging pain.

Only for a boot to stomp down on her chest while she glared angrily up at Naoki's strikingly cold face.

While unfeeling brown eyes gazed back down at her.

"Now you know your place in this world rich girl. I was engineered to be the best and this is the result of what happens when you think that you can cut off my energy flow so easily." Naoki stated with her emotionless brown eyes staring tauntingly back down at the older girl's glaring face.

Ty Lee angrily wiped blood of her split lip as she balled up her fists in the snow.

As the princess scowled with a begrudgingly impressed gleam in her harsh amber golden eyes.

"This girl is no lightweight. They truly managed to create a near perfect soldier…I suppose the only flaw is that they failed to account for how they would control her." Zoi commented in a stony voice with her golden eyes staring back at Naoki's emotionless face.

"Obviously Zoi." Azula snapped under her breath with fire spewing from her pissed off nostrils.

Mai stared on with hair blowing before her stunned tawny eyes as she quickly run forward to assist her two friends.

Only to find herself halting in her tracks when she turned to her adopted sister in shock to see her chi was starting to flare back to life.

Azula and Zoi turned to gaze back at the young girl with taken aback expressions in their eyes.

Elle fought to pull herself to her feet as she stared back at Naoki with uncharacteristic anger in her amber eyes.

Just as Naoki turned to glance back in her direction with faintly widened brown eyes as she studied the petite girl closely.

Katsu watched from above with renewed surprise in her eyes as her worried gaze swept about below.

"Get off my big sister! Or I'll make you sorry Naoki!" Elle hollered in a protective voice while her friends gazed back at her in amazement.

As Ty Lee lay on her back with her brown-gray eyes expressing a sentimental emotion.

"Little sister…" Ty Lee whispered with love in her voice as a slight smiled pulled at her lips.

"And what if I refuse? What will you do Elle? Give me another lecture on peace?" Naoki countered in a mechanical voice as she ground her boot in Ty Lee's pained chest for emphasis.

Ty Lee shuddered as she was ground into the snow all the while as Naoki smiled eerily over her.

The most terrifying thing about the girl was how the girl behaved even more ruthlessly than even Azula and Zoi.

The girl didn't think twice about going out of her way to kill her opponents in as gruesome manner possible!

As the three other Fire Nation women glanced back and forth with uncertainty in their eyes.

Unsure if they should intervene or if the girl would surprise them yet again with another show of her mysterious power.

Only for their eyes to widen once more as they observed Elle growl with her mitten covered hands clenched in anger.

"I said get off Ty Lee! Now!" Elle yelled out with conviction in her voice as her body glowed with chi once more while Ty Lee stared on in awe.

And then the highborn women watched with concern in their eyes when the girl started to half-run and half-stumble towards the emotionless redhead.

Just as Elle roared as she threw her mitten clad fist forward while another small construct formed before her gloved fingers.

And not a second later she threw it towards the supersoldier while her friends gazed on with widened looks in their eyes.

Naoki stared back with piercing brown eyes as she watched the chi fly towards her.

Only for Elle's angered amber eyes to widen when it dissipated before it even hit Naoki.

And then Elle now panted for air as she fell down to her pained knees.

As Ty Lee gazed back at the younger girl with an expression of gratitude in her tender eyes.

Azula let out a sigh as she removed her fist from her hip as she glared back at the younger prodigy's smiling face.

Naoki now laughed softly as Elle glared back at her from where she panted in the snow.

"It would seem as if you used up all your day's energy Elle. In the future I recommend you learn not to be so emotional." Naoki spoke in a chilling voice with her hair whipping about in the winds while the older girls glared back at her.

Her childhood friend slumped into the snow with humiliation in her exhausted amber eyes.

Just as Naoki removed her boot from Ty Lee's chest as the older girl still scowled up at her.

"But…as a token of my appreciation for your efforts. You can have your beloved 'big sister' back…here catch." Naoki announced in a heartless voice as her foot impacted with the noblewoman's back while Ty Lee howled in pain.

And then Elle gazed on with emotional amber eyes as Ty Lee flew into the air towards her.

The other three highborn women stared back at Naoki with their patience long past pushed to their limits.

And Mai scowled back at Naoki in disgust.

Only for Ty Lee to gracefully right her course as she managed to land in a pained crouch beside the smaller girl.

Ty Lee turned to smile over her shoulder at the younger girl's emotionally loyal face.

Just before she threw her arm around Elle's shoulder while she hugged her into her side.

"Thank you…Elle. I won't forget that little sister." Ty Lee assured in a sisterly voice as Elle blushed under her arm.

"O-oneesan." Elle mumbled while she still gazed warily back at Naoki's frighteningly emotionless face.

Only for the two girls to turn around when their three companions jumped down in front of them.

Mai landed in front of the two injured girls as she cast a cold glare in Naoki's direction.

Azula and Zoi dropped down in the front with their imposing eyes also glaring back at the unfeeling girl.

Just before the mighty princess turned to gaze over her armored shoulder and back down at her serving girl's sensitive face.

"You fought well Elle. Now leave the rest to me." Azula declared in a strict voice with her arms folded over her armored breasts.

Mai and Zoi nodded their determined heads in agreement.

As Elle's heart raced as she found herself swelling with pride over having earned her mistress's praise.

"Y-yes Azula-sama. As you say…" Elle stammered in a worn-out voice as she held a tired hand over her chest while Ty Lee still held an arm over her shoulder as they shivered together in the snow.

The princess narrowed her amber golden eyes into a tyrannically merciless glare as she stared balefully back at the younger prodigy's smiling face.

She entrenched her boots in the ice with her dangerous golden glare never leaving the girl's grating face.

Zoi and Mai readied themselves in combat stances with their weapons held out before their faces as they glared back at the girl.

Only for Katsu's shout to ring out into the air as the trio glanced over their shoulders with widened eyes.

Katsu sprinted at them as her boots tore through the snow with her body once again emitting a lethal green glow!

And not a second after that lightning started to churn ominously at the princess's furious fingertips.

As her beautiful lips pursed into an absolutely enraged regal glower.

"No more leniency for you girl! You made your bed! Now perish in the wake of my lightning!" Azula boomed in a frightening voice while her companions shuddered as they watched her closely.

And then she hurled the lightning bolt into the air while her murderous amber golden eyes gazed up as it flew towards her target.

"Bakudan!" Katsu called out in a rampaging voice as she charged right towards the lightning bolt with her pony tail flapping about in the wind behind her.

Just as the blinding light of the rapid energy sparked before her excited golden eyes.

The princess and her comrades gazed up from below in disbelief when it looked as if the girl wasn't even going to try to dodge.

Naoki gazed up from below with her ruthless brown eyes widening in incredulity over her comrade's idiocy.

Elle's gentle eyes grew wide with worry for the older girl's life as the lightning closed in on the supersoldier before she could even so much as shout out the girl's name.

It all happened in the span of mere seconds.

But to her…it almost felt as if she was frozen in time.

The last thing she wanted to see was for one of her friends from one group to kill the other!

And just when she thought the unthinkable was about to happen a voice urgently cut into the air.

"What are you doing Katsu! Get out of the way! That lightning is going to kill you!" Naoki yelled in a glacial voice while Katsu's golden eyes widened in recognition.

And then just before the lightning bolt connected with the girl she jumped out of the way of its trajectory.

The lightning exploded into the ice hill above while Team Azula now gazed back at Naoki in shock.

Their shock wasn't just from how Naoki had to tell her comrade to evade the princess's lightning.

But also, because that was the first time that they had seen the girl so much as even raise her voice in the slightest since they met her.

Chunks of ice now rained down the hillside from above while the five girls from Team Azula now glanced back up at the naïve bomber in disbelief.

The combustionbender now blinked as she stared blankly up at the massive gaping hole in the ice that had been created from the princess's assault.

Naoki just stared up at her comrade with her merciless brown eyes expressing great disapproval.

The princess gazed up with callous amber golden eyes as her smoking fingers lowered back down to her womanly hip.

And she found herself uncertain of what disappointed her more.

That the girl survived her attack.

Or that she was stupid enough to run right into a bolt of lightning!

"You can't be serious…she really wasn't going to try to dodge that?" Mai asked in a disbelieving voice while she gazed up at the clueless girl.

"It would appear not." Zoi stated in an equally baffled voice while she gazed between the two girls.

It was apparent that despite Katsu's high durability and abnormal output of chi that Naoki was the more dangerous of the duo.

"I…I thought I could run through it like the fire." Katsu commented in a puzzled voice while the others gazed on incredulously from their positions on the battlefield.

The princess now held her palm over her face as she groaned under her breath.

"Fool. You almost died. If there was even a small semblance of intelligence in that brainless head of yours you would have realized that you could not." Naoki stated in an emotionless voice with her expressionless eyes staring up at the other girl's confused face.

"Huh? Semblance?" Katsu replied in a dense voice while the princess cast her a disbelieving stare.

"Never mind. Resume your previous position Katsu. I will handle the direct combat from here on out." Naoki spoke in a sanguine voice as she threw her white cloak to the side with a swift movement of her gloved hand.

The Fire Nation women stared back at Naoki in astonishment over her claim that she would take them all on at once.

"B-but I wanted to blow the princess up with pretty green fireworks…" Katsu protested in a hopeful voice as while the princess glared up at her with cold amber golden eyes.

The three noblewomen listened in bewilderment.

And the small blonde could only stare at her princess's tall armored back with a lovable look of horror in her amber eyes.

"I-I won't allow anyone to do that to Azula-sama! She's too beautiful to get blown up!" Elle cried out in a devoted voice while her companions listened in amusement.

As the princess held her head high with her lips curving in a gratified smirk once more as she gazed back at her pet in approval.

"It will be okay Elle. No one is going to blow Azula up." Ty Lee consoled in a loving voice with her arm wrapped around the smaller girl's shivering shoulder.

Katsu still gazed back down with wild golden eyes that were locked on Azula's imposing countenance.

And then she moved to slide down the slope while Team Azula watched her warily.

Only to find herself freezing up when her leader's frigid gaze landed on her.

"Are you defying me Katsu? Are you really going to make me come up there? Because I don't need an energy collar to make you fall in line." Naoki remarked in a voice of effortless poise while Katsu instantly halted in her tracks.

And just like that Katsu was now as still as a statue while the highborn women stared up in disbelief.

"No! There's…there's no need to for that Naoki. I'll…I'll resume my prior position." Katsu responded with clear intimidation in her voice as she backed down while the team listened in astonishment.

Elle gulped from where she sat in the snow while Naoki turned back to gaze there way with her usual haunting smile.

Azula let out a derisive sound of disgust over watching such a firebender take orders from an earthbender.

"And you call yourself a firebender." Azula scoffed in a haughty voice as she turned her cruel gaze back to her young opponent.

Mai and Zoi stood on guard beside her while Elle and Ty Lee remained crouched on the ice.

While another freezing wind blew through the air as all five of them shivered in the biting winds.

Even the two mighty firebenders found that they were unable to ignore the arctic climate.

And Naoki stood with her crimson red hair swaying in the wind with her brown eyes staring intently back at them.

'We can't do this for much longer. Even Azula and Zoi will eventually succumb to the cold if they continue to fight like this.' Mai thought with her tawny eyes glaring back at Naoki's face as the girl clenched a gloved fist before her smiling face.

"You can't truly believe that you can take us on all at once…can you?" Zoi inquired with a curious tilt of her head while her princess glared back at the girl.

Only for the princess's scowl to deepen when the young prodigy released a soft laugh.

Her gloved fingers extended out before her confidently smiling face.

And then she began to stretch her legs while her feet stamped on the frozen ground.

Her boots began to blur while the older girls stared on in amazement.

Ty Lee shivered from where she knelt on the ice both from the brutal climate and from a growing fear of the emotionless void in Naoki's eyes.

"I really have to hand it to you aristocrats. You rich girls are something else. This is the first time that I have ever had to put this much effort into a battle. Everyone else that I fought before now died squealing like a pig after my first strike. And yet…you're all still alive. It's impressive!" Naoki admitted in an eager voice as she hopped on one foot while she smiled back at her opponents taken aback faces.

Ty Lee shuddered once more with Elle shivering under her arm and Mai stared on with a monotone gaze in her tawny eyes.

And Zoi allowed a small smile to form on her stoic lips.

Azula smirked proudly with her arms crossed over her armored breasts as she watched the girl stand back up on both feet.

"It pleases me that you begin to see me for the mighty conqueror that I am. And I suppose that you aren't half bad yourself…peasant." Azula purred in a hubristic voice with her lips adorning a confident smirk while the young assassin smiled back at her.

As she arched an elegant brow when she girl lowered her hand to her thick white sash.

"You are all worthy to fight…and worthy to die. Which is why I am going to do something for you that I have never done for any other opponent." Naoki stated with her hand falling to her sash while she began to untie the knot.

The Fire Nation women stared on with a puzzled expression in their amber eyes.

And Katsu watched from above with her lips parting in an expression of surprise as she observed her comrade as she untied her sash.

"I hadn't planned on taking these off until I fought Sayomi and Strados…" Naoki trailed off as the sash came undone from her waist while she held it in her fist.

The older girls and their young friend stared on with confusion in their eyes.

And before they could get a chance to ask the girl what she meant by her statement.

They watched Naoki toss the thick sash over her shoulder.

Crack!

The sound of a heavy thud resounded into the air when the sash hit the ice as the ice cracked beneath its weight.

Team Azula stared on with their eyes as wide as can be in disbelief as they stared down at the cracked ice in shock.

Azula and Zoi now gazed on with their eyes agape in astonishment as their opponent smiled knowingly back at them.

"That…that's a training weight!" Zoi exclaimed in a taken aback voice while her comrades stared on in marvelment beside her.

'She's…. been wearing weights all this time?' Azula thought with a look of incredulity overcoming her stony eyes while the girl raised a hand to her heavy white scarf.

She gazed on with a grudgingly impressed expression in her widened amber golden eyes.

Only for the scarf to get thrown to the ground not a moment later.

And just like that the ice cracked once more beneath the weight of the dense scarf while the older girls took a step back in their shock.

Naoki's lips still adorned a chilling smile as she stared back at her disbelieving opponents with her red hair being blow about in the harsh winds.

"No…way." Mai breathed with her knives under her sleeves as her jaw dropped in a rare show of surprise.

"W-woah. S-so that's why she felt heavier when I was carrying her." Elle stammered in a nervous voice with Ty Lee gaping on in awe from over her shoulder.

The two firebenders stood with their mouths ajar in fascination as they stared back at their young opponent.

"The…scarf came off! She only takes that off when she's serious!" Katsu called out in an excited voice while Team Azula still stood silent in shock.

"Now I will honor you by fighting you with my unrestricted speed." Naoki announced in an utterly devilish voice as she held her head up while she enjoyed the look of disbelief that flashed before her opponent's eyes.

The Fire Nation women could only gaze on with incredulous looks in their widened eyes.

Mai, Ty Lee and Elle now stared on in aghast horror.

"Unrestricted speed? You mean to tell me that you were holding back all this time?" Azula snarled with fire spewing from her constricting nostrils while her hand fell to her sheathed sword.

"Of course. Did you think that I was going to use my full power against Elle? I want her alive…not dismembered." Naoki answered as she raised her gloved fingers to the collar of her long-sleeved shirt.

Elle quivered as she swallowed in fear after hearing the older girl's blunt words.

Her highborn friends frowned back at the supersoldier.

Yet at the same time they were oddly relieved that the girl showed their sensitive friend an odd gesture of compassion.

"Then in turn…we shall also honor you by not holding back." Zoi stated with recognition in her stoic voice while she stood ready to fight beside her leader.

"Do you want to know the difference between me and you Azula? Watch closely and I will show you." Naoki questioned in a calm voice while Azula glared back at her with imposing amber golden eyes.

Only for the princess to watch with a curious sense of intrigue in her ruthless eyes while she observed Naoki slide her arms out of her white long-sleeved shirt.

Before her mouth opened up in shock once more when the girl pulled the shirt over her head.

And then she tossed the balled-up shirt to the ice below where it landed beside the two training weights.

As the highborn women stared on in astoundment while they gazed back at Naoki's body.

The supersoldier now stood to her full height with her fine red tunic swaying rapidly in the frozen winds.

She never once even flinched from the chilling air as it stung against her skin.

Her arms now hung mostly bare at her sides as she stared back at her astonished foes.

The four older girls took in numerous scars that showed beneath Naoki's tunic.

And then their gazes shifted to the black numbered tattoo in foreign print on the young assassin's right bicep.

It was something that Azula, Mai and Ty Lee could make out thanks to the time that they spent reading their young friend's foreign writings.

The girl had a crossed-out tattoo on her arm that said number three.

And written over it was a new tattoo that said number one!

The only one unable to read the numbering was Zoi but the warrior understood the meaning of the message clearly.

"Naoki…" Elle trailed off in a saddened voice once more while Naoki stood emotionless with the wind biting at her bare arms.

"This is not a game to me Azula. This is a necessary way of life. We're doing what we have to do to survive. It's something that you spoiled elitists would never comprehend. Go back to your lush palace and lap in decadence. We're going to the lost Paradise and you're not…. because you haven't earned the right to be there." Naoki disparaged in a voice that was as cold as the arctic winds while the princess's amber golden eyes now boiled in rage.

Ty Lee and Mai fell silent behind their angered leader.

As Elle grasped at the sleeves of her coat as she bit her lip in rising nervousness.

"How dare you…speak to me about rights. My right is a divine right to rule…forged in the flames of Agni and centuries of conquest. I am the descendent of thousands of years of a distinguished royal lineage and you…are nothing more than an escaped slave. I am more deserving of this power and any other than you will ever be." Azula hissed in a voice of boundless pride as she stood tall with her intimidating eyes glaring ruthlessly through the girl's emotionless face.

As the two noblewomen sighed behind their friend over how big her ego has become.

"To the contrary…I understand perfectly young warrior." Zoi assured in a more respectful voice while her princess gazed at her icily through the corner of her eye.

Only for Naoki to laugh softly once more while Azula's amber golden eyes burned with the infernos of war.

"No Princess…no you are not. But at any rate it won't matter soon enough because I am going to pierce your heart soon enough." Naoki retorted as she began to tap her foot on the ground while Azula glowered back at her.

Elle's warm eyes brewed with worry for her mistress's wellbeing as she stared at her armored back.

"I…I believe in you Azula-sama." Elle murmured as Ty Lee smiled softly beside her.

The imposing princess turned to glance back at her with callous amber golden eyes as she swelled in pride under her mistress's powerful gaze.

Before the princess turned her glacial attention back to her young opponent.

As she watched sternly as the younger prodigy set her gloved palm on the hilt of her sheathed sword.

"If it is divinity that you desire Princess…then I will show you divinity…with the power of my technique." Naoki declared as she sunk into a dangerous crouch with her gloved hands in flawless formation over her sword.

As the princess watched with brilliant amber golden eyes as she glared back at her young foe.

The three noblewomen remained silent with their eyes never leaving the lethal young warrior's face.

As Elle sat loyally behind her princess as she clasped her hands together with her amber eyes expressing limitless faith in the older woman.

"You a slave…show me divinity?" Azula mocked with a pompous edge to her ruthless voice while the assassin smiled sanguinely back at her.

"I was originally saving this technique for when I fight Sayomi and Strados respectively. Would you like to hear the name?" Naoki remarked in a smooth voice as she stood with her legs bent while Azula rolled her amber golden eyes.

"Just spit it out already." Azula snorted in a stern voice while she closely eyed the girl's posture.

She once again found herself recalling words that the old woman spoke to her about that name.

Sayomi.

A hero from a faraway land may be able to help guide the way. If you and your friends can form an alliance with this one then your cause will grow stronger.

A flicker of intrigue to learn more about the mysterious woman flashed before her conquering eyes.

'This woman must be another renowned warrior. Perhaps…another bender?' Azula thought with a contemplative gleam in her undaunted amber golden eyes.

She made a mental note that the first thing that she would do once she launched a more thorough expedition into this new world was find and recruit this 'hero' into her service.

"It's my assassination technique. I like to call it…Divine Flash Kill. It is a sword strike with speed so fast that most human eyes are unable to detect. It is the highest honor that I have to give and you should all feel flattered to die by it." Naoki explained in a nonchalant voice with a terrifying smile on her lips while her foes listened in astonishment.

And then she dropped into a lower crouch with her booted feet entrenching into the ice.

Elle swallowed in fright as she clenched her fists in worry for her friend's safety on both sides.

Ty Lee gazed on worriedly with her arm around her little sister's back.

As Mai warily stared back at Naoki's feet with a flicker of fear that she rarely showed for anyone but Azula.

Zoi and Azula both exchanged an amazed glance through the corners of their eyes.

The two powerful firebenders prepared themselves for the final round of combat.

"Immortality by the sword…now that is indeed a high honor." Zoi spoke as she drew her katana while a smirk formed on her eager lips.

Needless to say, that it was a sentiment that was unshared by Mai and Ty Lee both who would by all means prefer to stay alive.

"Please…. don't get ahead of yourself commoner. I am by no means average." Azula spoke in a voice of endless poise as she held herself in a firebending stance.

As a regal smile graced her proud lips as she stared intently back at her smiling opponent.

"Here I go…are you ready?" Naoki called out with a lethal smile on her features as she slid her feet sideways on the ice.

And then before any of the highborn women knew what was happening, she broke out into a high velocity run.

The Fire Nation women stared on in a shocked silence as they watched the girl rapidly gain momentum.

And then they heard the ice start to burst beneath the girl's blurring feet!

Even Azula and Zoi gaped on with absolute disbelief in their astonished eyes.

And then they all spun around as they gazed through the frigid air when the girl almost seemed to vanish before their eyes!

Only for Azula, Zoi, Ty Lee and Elle to quickly turn to Mai when they heard the weapons expert shout in alarm.

They watched with widened eyes as Naoki connected with Mai's knives while the noblewoman gazed up with shock in her tawny eyes.

"Impressive! But that isn't anywhere near good enough noble!" Naoki exclaimed as she leaped backwards while she evaded a strike to her throat.

And then Mai jumped back while she scowled as she stared back with stunned eyes when the girl departed in yet another lethal flicker!

"Mai!" Elle shouted with sisterly worry in her voice while Ty Lee stared on in a petrified state beside her.

The two firebenders jumped closer to their companion as they all reeled around to glare through the icy winds.

Only for Zoi to throw her body into Mai's when she caught the barest hint of a blurring blade.

Mai's eyes were wide in disbelief as she was tackled to the ground by Zoi.

Mai gazed over her shoulder in fright to see the girl making a dangerous pass over the ground that she had just been standing on!

Azula stared over her shoulder with utterly astonished amber golden eyes.

The two noblewomen briefly gazed back into each other's eyes as Mai understood the meaning behind the silent message.

It was Zoi's way of stating that she was now in her debt.

Mai could only scowl before she quickly such thoughts aside in favor of being glad that she was alive.

All the while finding herself feeling even more ashamed than before for her previous attempt to assassinate the captain.

"Look out! And whatever you do don't stop moving! This girl is death on two feet!" Zoi shouted to her compatriots' while they listened in shock to the sound of ice shattering all around them.

"What…what a demon! How can she move this fast!" Mai yelled out in disbelief as she leaped back onto her feet beside the captain.

As all three of the highborn women continued to spin around as they caught momentary glimpses of a flashing crimson blur!

Elle's amber eyes shook with horror as she tried in vain to follow the prodigy's movements.

Naoki could have killed her at any point in their battle if she had truly wanted to!

Now she saw why the governments of the world were so desperate to get their hands-on Naoki!

Whoever gains her allegiance will gain a massive advantage over every other side!

Only for the princess to rapidly spin around with her sword now sparking with blue fire.

The princess and the assassin now clashed blades as Naoki smiled up into Azula's imperious amber golden gaze.

As the others watched from the sidelines in amazement as their leader pushed back on the shorter girl's blade.

"Of course, I am. After all, I am the fastest human alive. Nobody can compete with my speed." Naoki boasted as she gazed up into Azula's ruthless amber golden eyes while the princess snarled over her.

All of Team Azula stared on in as state of shock to hear the girl proclaim herself the fastest human alive!

And the truly terrifying thing was that they didn't doubt her boast!

"It will take more than speed to defeat me girl." Azula snarled in a ferocious voice as she threw all of her weight into her sword.

Naoki's feet began to slide back on the icy ground.

As their auras began to glow as they exchanged in a rapid series of blows with their swords.

The heat from the searing blue flames burned brightly in the assassin's face as she still smiled all the while.

And not a second later the princess's body began to burn with brilliantly over her armored form.

Her companions gazed on wide eyed in awe!

And then the princess released a howl as she slammed her blade into Naoki's sword once more.

Before she swung her boot at the girl's belly only for the young assassin to leap away in yet another rapid flash.

Azula now exhaled air before her heated face as she tried not to let her exhaustion show.

She spun in a circle in search of her deadly target.

Only for her frigid eyes to widen ever so marginally as she sidestepped when a burst of crimson tore through the snow to her left.

As she watched with astonishment in her eyes as Naoki landed opposite from her in a crouch with her back turned to her.

Even Zoi gazed on with a profoundly impressed expression in her eyes.

And the two other noblewomen and their little sister still gaped in with wonder from their respective positions.

Katsu watched from above on the slope with her golden eyes paying close attention to the action below.

Naoki stood up with her smiling lips glancing over her shoulder at Azula's blue fire covered face.

"You're still alive I see. Not many people can survive past the first few strikes. I commend you…but sooner or later I will impale you, Princess." Naoki commented in a scarily relaxed voice as the princess glared monstrously back at her.

As the tension in the air grew by a hundred-fold as the princess's intense flames melted the ice beneath her booted foot.

The princess struggled to keep her flames burning in the frigid arctic weather.

And then just like that the assassin vanished in yet another frightening burst of speed.

As Azula continued to turn in a circle with her ruthless amber golden eyes trying to follow every blur.

'How many movements was that? Six? Seven? Eight? Damn this girl! I have never seen anyone with such speed before!' Azula thought with her vigilant eyes spinning about while she glared on murderously.

"T-this is insane! My eyes hurt from trying to follow her movements!" Ty Lee exclaimed in a stunned voice as she swallowed while she held her worried little sister under her arm.

"Azula-sama!" Elle cried out with her fists gripped at her hips while she watched her girlfriend spin in a guarded circle.

"She's…so fast! She doesn't give the princess even the slightest moment to relax!" Zoi called out in a marveled voice from where she stood by the astonished Mai.

"Diminished Earth…" Mai muttered with blood dripping from her shoulder as she gazed on in fascination.

And then seconds after that they all watched in shock when Naoki impacted with Azula's sword once more!

The princess leaped away with her flames still melting the snow beneath her booted feet as glared on with conquering amber golden eyes.

She gazed out of the corner of her ruthless eye when she cold sweat dripping down her cheek.

And then a drop of liquid dropped to the melting ice below as she gazed down with widened eyes to see that the girl had managed to clip the flesh on her left arm!

"Princess!" Elle sputtered in a fraught voice while her mighty princess stood exhaling a controlled volume of air while her flames burned over her entire body.

Ty Lee clenched her fist at her hip as she silently hoped that her friend would be okay.

As Naoki smiled dangerously back at Azula's enraged face as the older girl glared her down.

Just before the mighty princess pursed her lips in a wrathful snarl as she stood tall with her merciless eyes meeting Naoki's emotionless gaze.

True to her earlier assessments she was unable to detect any emotion at all in the girl's eyes.

It was almost as if…she was more machine than human!

"Let's go peasant." Azula growled as she imposingly stomped forward with her feet running across the ice.

She focused every ounce of her chi into keeping her cloak afire as she roared while she swung her sword in the air.

And just then Naoki clashed with her blade while she glared back into the girl's unfeeling brown eyes.

As the others gazed on in a stunned state as they watched the two swordswomen exchange a flurry of swings.

And then the princess let out a bellow as she forced all of her superior weight into her blade once more!

While the lighter combatant slid back under the older woman's greater body mass.

As Naoki agilely leaped away onto her booted feet.

And then not an instant later she vanished in another blinding blur!

'Now I understand what the princess is doing…she is using her flames as a shield to force the girl to keep her distance!' Zoi thought as she watched with great reverence in her eyes.

Just before the two connected in yet another devastating clash while their respective auras flared mightily over the frozen battlefield.

The heat from Azula's azure flames burned oppressively in Naoki's machinelike face.

As the emotionless girl stared back up at the princess as they endured another flurried clash of blows.

Just before they locked blades once again while the two combatants stared defiantly back in each other's eyes.

Neither one of them willing to give in to the other.

The princess gritted her teeth as she glared imposingly down into the supersoldier's expressionless brown eyes.

Only for the sound of Azula's roaring battle cry to boom out over the frozen battleground not a second later as her companions watched in a shell-shocked silence.

While the heat from the princess's flames splashed in Naoki's emotionless face as she blocked a blow from Azula's burning sword.

And then the furious princess swung her flame fused fist through her cloak at the younger girl's face.

Only for her callous eyes to widen a fraction in recognition when earthen material rapidly poured out from underneath Naoki's tunic.

And just like that earthen gauntlets formed upon Naoki's fists once more!

Just as Naoki caught the princess's burning fist under her arm as she rapidly swung her blurring boot upward!

Before Azula kicked her flaming boot above her head while a dangerous scowl graced her enraged lips.

And the two fighters' boots connected in passing as they stared back into each other's eyes yet again as they jumped past one another.

And just then after that the two warriors back flipped into the air while all of the onlookers found themselves unable to tear their eyes away from the stunning duel.

The two now soared past each other in the air above the slope.

Azula's flame covered sword passed by Naoki's blinding blade as the earth started to crumble from the girl's fist.

And then the princess dropped to the ice on her booted feet all the while as beads of sweat trailed down her forehead.

Only for her body to spin around with unrivaled ferocity not even seconds later as she roared while the smiling killer reappeared overhead.

Just as their blades collided once again while she glared up into Naoki's eyes.

She let out a low growl as she stumbled backwards on her tired feet.

And then seconds after that she hissed when the armored plating on her shoulder was partially broken off when Naoki swung at her from behind.

The rest of Team Azula gazed on with widened eyes as they watched their mighty princess just barely react in time to block the girl from slicing through her crumbled armor.

Elle watched with her eyes wide in tremendous emotion as she squeezed her fists at her hips.

"I praise your reaction timing Princess…but it still won't save you." Naoki spoke in a taunting voice as she smiled while she gazed back into Azula's boiling amber golden eyes.

Only for the inferno of azure fire to spark up once more as she leaped away with great finesse.

Before she landed on her feet in a crouch with her machinelike brown eyes watching the older woman glare back at her from behind her shield of blue fire.

As the princess panted ever so slightly with sweat dripping down her cheek.

And drops of sweat started to drip down the young assassin's brow as she stared on with a calculating gleam in her eyes.

"If I wasn't seeing this…I wouldn't believe it. This girl…is actually Azula's equal." Mai stated in a stunned voice.

The captain grimaced as she nodded her head in agreement with her golden eyes wishing to duel the girl herself.

Yet she knew that her princess would surely punish her if she were to interfere with her battle.

Naoki bent her knees in a deadly formation once more as she held her lethal blade out before her focused face.

Her merciless eyes never left the princess's narrowed amber golden gaze.

As Azula's murderous eyes took on a wrathful glare as she steadied herself on her exhausted boots.

'As much as I hate to admit I can't compete with her speed! There is no way that we can out run her to the gateway. She'll stab us in the back and I am bound to lose at least one of my subordinates!' Azula thought with her lips creasing into a displeased scowl.

For reasons that she couldn't explain the thought of any one of her subordinates made her cold heart twist up in some foreign emotion.

Even Mai.

Which was to say nothing of her little Tiger Monkey.

Under no circumstances could she lose any of her subordinates.

And she wouldn't allow this girl to take away her servant!

Just the thought of that alone was enough to fuel her tired body back into action as she let out a malicious snarl.

No matter what way that she chose to confront the girl she posed a risk of facing further injury in the next pass.

Or even worse…her limbs.

So…

'I may as well take the risk head on!' Azula thought with a ferociously violent stare taking over her domineering eyes as she watched the girl slink into her attack position.

Her flames almost began to give out before her seething face as her subordinates watched in speechlessness behind her.

Naoki's pitiless brown eyes were just as determined as she readied herself for her next charge.

And then she sprinted forward with her feet rushing along the ice beneath her as she began to blur before the team's stunned eyes.

She glared out of the corner of her brown eye just in the same moment as she vanished.

Her eyes quickly passed over Katsu's face as the girl still crouched over the battlefield with her wild eyes gazing down at them.

And then one fleeting second later the princess held her head up as she glared about with a steely stare in her tyrannical amber golden eyes in search of her target.

She watched with widened eyes as many crimson blurs rapidly danced before her astonished eyes.

Just before she caught an even so slight glimpse of metal shimmering in the corner of her eye.

And then in that very moment she put every last drop of her titanic aura into flaring her blue cloak to life even bigger than before.

The assassin dropped down overhead with her brown eyes widening every so faintly.

Only for a storm of azure fire to burst in her face as she was sent several feet backwards into the air above.

Sparks of lightning flashed before her eye as she swiftly shielded herself with her eroding gauntlets.

The blue fire and the sparks of lightning intermingled to form a temporary shroud that concealed Azula's location.

Team Azula stared on with excitedly impressed expressions in their widened eyes.

Only for Azula's fist to swiftly seize a hold of Naoki's foot as she stared down with her red hair flowing before her widened eyes.

"I've got you! You're mine!" Azula bellowed as her burning fist seared through Naoki's pant leg while the younger girl hung in shock in the air above her.

Just as Naoki swung her other foot down to kick the princess in the face.

And not a second after that the princess blocked the kick with the edge of her lightning infused sword.

The young assassin's earthen covered boot now crumbled under the force of the lethal lightning current!

And then the supersoldier swung her wakizashi down with terrifying agility before it connected with the princess's preoccupied blade!

As the princess clenched her jaw as she growled while their blades impacted yet again.

They pushed back on each other with amazing force while sweat dripped down their determined faces.

The princess's sword buckled under the combined force of Naoki's sword and kick.

And not a second after that….

The princess's katana flew from her hand as she stared up with her fierce eyes widened in surprise when the girl wrenched it free from her hand.

Team Azula gaped in in worry as they watched their leader's katana spin dangerously threw the air.

Before it rolled to a stop with a clang on the ice below.

And not another moment later the princess roared as her inferno sparked once more while Naoki's brown eyes widened.

Just as sparks of lightning crackled before Azula's fist while she directed the current up in Naoki's taken aback face.

And then the lethal electricity licked Naoki's wrist as stoically endured the pain while she watched through the corner of her eye as it was knocked from her grip!

The wakizashi now flew through the air as Team Azula watched with widened eyes as it embedded in the ice with a metallic clang.

As the princess still clutched her by the boot while her hair blew in her eyes as she hoisted through the air!

Only for the princess's heated palm to strike her in the cheek not a second afterward while her brown eyes were still expressing her surprise.

Naoki flew backwards with her brown eyes widened as Azula's palm collided mightily with her face.

'That one is for punching Elle in the face you little brat!' Azula thought with her angered nostrils releasing a protective snort of blue fire as she bared her lips like a wrathful dragon.

And right after that her head swung backwards when Naoki's palm connected with her own cheek.

The two warriors now flew away from each other with their eyes wide in recognition of the other's strength.

And for the briefest of moments a look of respect flashed before each of their eyes.

Just as they rolled to the ice below while the rest of Team Azula observed with their jaws dropping in shock.

"You can do it Azula-sama!" Elle cheered with her mitten covered palms over her mouth while Ty Lee watched in wonderment from over her shoulder.

Azula righted herself as she grasped at the ice with a reddened fist while she panted for air.

As more sweat made its way down her furious brow as she took in controlled intakes of air with her cloak of fire rapidly waning.

Her visible breath now poured out before her exhausted face as she forced herself to stand up on her booted feet.

Naoki crouched opposite of her with her left hand grasping at her chest as she breathed heavily.

Sweat dripped down between her emotionless eyes with numerous cuts now adorning her wounded cheek.

And then the assassin arose with her hand still clutching her tunic as she gazed coldly back into the princess's enraged amber golden eyes.

Just as the princess charged towards her while she began to sprint speedily towards the older woman.

And then they pulled back their fists to strike each other in the face once more!

The four other girls still gazed on with impressed expressions in their eyes when the two warriors' fists connected with their cheeks.

And then they skidded backwards while Azula panted at a greater rate with her flames starting to flicker out.

As the supersoldier began to finally show exhaustion from fighting her way through numerous military forces.

As she exhaled with her cold brown eyes staring back at the princess as she made another vengeful lunge towards her.

"You can win Azula!" Ty Lee yelled out in a supportive voice while Azula jumped at Naoki as the assassin began to push herself off the ice.

Mai stonily nodded her monotone face in agreement with her tawny eyes never once leaving the two dueling warriors.

Zoi watched the battle with her golden eyes expressing her amazement as the cold air bit at her skin.

Only for her stoic gaze to widen a fraction when she caught an emerald glow shining down from above.

Just as she turned her gaze upward with her eyes widening in panic as she saw Katsu plummeting down above with a green coat of chi covering her explosive body!

Charge it Katsu.

Resume your previous position Katsu.

I'll…I'll resume my prior position.

'So…that's their plan! If they succeed, we're done for!' Zoi thought with her golden eyes still wide in realization as she broke out into a rapid run.

Mai's eyes also grew wide as she stared up as Katsu now dropped down over the princess.

Just as Naoki jumped away from Azula with her ruthless brown gaze staring back at the princess's vengeful face.

And then both Elle and Ty Lee gazed above only for their eyes to fill with horror when they saw Katsu descending above Azula's armored back!

Azula's amber golden eyes widened when she turned to gaze over her shoulder to see Katsu soaring down at her.

She stared through the corner of her eye in rage back at the younger prodigy's smiling face.

Only to find herself letting out a shout of surprise when her captain's body slammed into her as they flew through the air with a jet of fire bursting forth from the noblewoman's boots!

"Now Katsu." Naoki commanded with her hair swaying before her emotionless eyes.

As she gazed up as Katsu's green aura shined brightly over them.

"I am bakudan!" Katsu called out in a feral voice as her body lit up with a bright green glow.

Azula and Zoi gazed over their shoulders with widened expressions in their eyes.

They gazed back at Naoki in disbelief as she fell to the ice in range of the oncoming blast.

"Azula! Zoi!" Ty Lee shouted in a panicked voice while she took hold of her little sister's wrist.

And then she began to run as fast as she could in the opposite direction while Elle yelled out over her shoulder.

"N-no! Azula-sama! Oneesan!" Elle cried out with her backpack shaking over her shoulders.

As Mai jumped away with her tawny eyes wide in mutual shock.

While the two firebenders propelled themselves as swiftly as they could away from the combustionbender.

Naoki began to leap away with her fist still clutching her chest.

And before anyone could even so much as get out another word a thunderous explosion detonated above the battlefield!

All the while as Mai, Ty Lee and Elle stared into the sky with their eyes wide in fright.

Green light blinded their eyes as chunks of ice flew through the air past their astonished eyes.

Just before they were blown onto their backs from the rumbling explosion.

"No…" Mai murmured with anger in her voice as she clenched her fist at her hip from where she sat up on the ice.

And then the smoke began to clear while she stared in disbelief at the sight of a vast crater in the ice.

Only for the image of two figures falling from the ice to appear not a moment afterward.

And just like that Azula and Zoi rolled through the ice with their armor badly damaged from the powerful blast.

The princess lay on her stomach with her hands furiously grasping at the hardened ice as she panted for air.

And her face was now covered in sweat while her captain dropped down beside her.

She gazed back at the warrior with newfound appreciation for her loyalty in her eyes.

All while the captain tried to push herself up with her broken armor crumbling to the ice.

"You…saved my life soldier…" Azula spoke in an exhausted voice as she hissed while collapsed onto the ice.

"Damn them!" Zoi snapped as she pounded her furious fist into the ice with her wounded body struggling to push herself up from the ice.

The princess seethed in agreement as they panted on all fours with their beyond enraged eyes staring into the clearing pit.

While they were still alive.

Now they were both on the verge of chi exhaustion!

And they were both broken and injured on top of it!

It was then that they made out the combustionbender kneeling in the crater while Katsu also panted for air with her pony tail clinging to her face.

And then their gazes shifted to the final figure that was now becoming visible in the clearing snow cloud.

Naoki stood with her hand on her chest as she panted with her body injured but less so than her enemies.

She gazed back at their utterly enraged faces with a smile still present on her lips as she began to stumble forward.

"We…win. You lose." Naoki stated in a victorious voice as she walked forward.

The two firebenders glared back at her as they shakily pushed themselves up with sweat stinging in their furious eyes.

'Curse this girl! She planned this from the start of our duel!' Azula thought as her body trembled in rage as she pushed herself up off the ice.

Her hair clung to her face as she glared back into Naoki's emotionless eyes as the assassin stumbled towards them.

And the combustionbender still panted on all fours in the crater.

Just as a compassionate shout rang out into the air while they turned their heads to see Elle darting towards them.

Mai ran behind her with her knives drawn as she glared back at Naoki's remorseless face.

As Ty Lee ran with her brown eyes staring ahead in unconcealed worry.

For the first time since this battle began it now appeared as if they stood a high chance of losing!

And not a second after that Elle came to a stop in front of the two astonished firebenders with her own exhausted arms held out to shield them.

Elle panted with her golden hair clinging to her tired face as she glared back into her childhood friend's expressionless eyes.

"Get…get away from them Naoki!" Elle hollered in an emboldened voice as the two highborn women knelt in a moved silence behind her.

Just as Naoki stopped a short distance away from the three with her wakizashi once again clasped in her right hand.

"We leave now…Elle." Naoki spoke in a machinelike voice with her words provoking an emotional chord in Elle's distraught amber eyes.

Azula seethed in fury with her teeth clenched as her two lifelong friends slid to a stop in front of them.

"No…no you don't!" Ty Lee exclaimed as she stepped up to face Naoki while her cold eyes met her gaze.

And not a second after that Ty Lee fell forward when Naoki's fist connected with her stomach.

Mai glared on with enraged tawny eyes as she prepared to fight to the death as Naoki continued to walk towards them.

As the sound of ice crumbling down the side of the pit resounded into the air.

Only for Mai to gaze out of the corner of her eye in fright when she saw Katsu stumbling out with her pony tail swaying in the wind behind her.

"I'll kill you both!" Azula roared as she stumbled to her feet with her sweat-soaked amber golden eyes glaring back between the two supersoldiers.

"I-I'm not going! This…this is my home!" Elle stuttered in a deeply sentimental voice when a wakizashi was pointed her way.

"You will…or I will start to kill them one by one starting with the princess." Naoki announced in a ruthless voice while the smaller girl stared back with horrified amber eyes.

"If we must fight to the death to protect young Elle…then so be it." Zoi stated as she stumbled to her feet with her sword gripped in her fist and her new rifle in the other.

As she rasped for air while Naoki unflinchingly met her stony gaze.

Her enraged princess clenched her fists as she stomped forward beside her.

And Azula's wrathful amber golden eyes conveyed a murderously possessive gleam.

She exhaled what little fire she had left through her seething nostrils.

While Ty Lee knelt on the ice clutching her bruised belly as she clenched her fists in her anger.

"Damn right we will. You're not taking the kid as long as we still draw breath!" Mai exclaimed with unnatural anger in her voice while the young girl shook in a heartfelt silence.

Just as Katsu staggered to a halt behind Naoki with her wild golden eyes glancing back at them.

The combustionbender pulled herself forward as she stared between her two warring friends.

Naoki's emotionless brown eyes stared right back into Elle's sensitive amber gaze.

While both Team Azula and Team Naoki stared fiercely back at each other.

"Very well then. If that is what we must do then let us finish this." Naoki commented in a detached voice with her glacial brown eyes staring back into Elle's horribly overwhelmed face.

As she made her way closer with her sword still pointed in the other girl's direction while the four older girls stared furiously back at her.

Her comrade stood quiet behind her with her golden eyes briefly flashing with a remorseful glimmer when she saw a tear drop from the smaller girl's innocent eye.

Just as the mighty princess found the energy to jump forward with her fist pulling her girlfriend back by the collar of her coat.

Azula drew the trembling petite girl back before her armored chest with her murderous amber golden eyes practically daring Naoki to try to make a grab for her pet.

"If you so much as even try to touch Elle again, I will immolate you!" Azula boomed in a voice of supreme authority as her domineering eyes narrowed into savage slits.

She held the girl under her armpit as she glowered violently with her handmaid clinging to her belly.

"A-Azula-sama…" Elle whispered as she wrapped an arm around the princess's belly while helped her mistress stand.

Her princess bared her lips in a devastating snarl as she towered over her exhausted body.

As she engaged in a deadly stare down with Naoki while her subordinates all pulled themselves up to their feet behind her.

Naoki's hair blew in her stoic eyes as she stared back at the group with her wakizashi clenched in her fist.

And just when it seemed as if the supersoldier was about to move forward to attack.

The two teams froze up when they heard the sound of artillery fire from down the frozen hillside.

Just as they all turned to gaze over their shoulders with widened eyes to see many tanks rolling up the mountain of ice!

Their eyes grew even wider when they saw who was riding at the top of an armored truck.

It was none other than Reynolds!

The muscular colonel now stood with his monstrous blue eyes glaring back at them while he held up a rocket launcher over his shoulder.

Just before he fired the explosive shell with his sole remaining as it soared into the air.

Only for it to narrowly miss the two groups as it exploded on the icy hillside while he roared at the top of his lungs.

"Kill that red demon! And subdue the others! I don't fucking care if they lose limbs! Just get them!" Reynold screamed out in an absolutely insane voice while his blue eyes almost seemed to burst from his enraged eye sockets.

Team Azula stared back at the barbaric colonel with hateful expressions in their widened eyes.

As the tanks rolled up the slope with the heavily fortified trucks driving up in the front.

Elle shook in fright under Azula's toned arm as she gazed up in worry at her mistress's bloodied yet beautiful face.

The older woman let out an imposing growl as she glared out of the corner through her eye at the distracted redhead.

As the three noblewomen stood on their worn-out feet as they watched the man ride up in disbelief.

Naoki gazed after the military man with ruthless brown eyes as she gripped her wakizashi.

And Katsu stared on with wide golden eyes as she turned to Naoki for direction.

"We need to run!" Zoi shouted as she pointed up at the slope above while her companions hurried nodded in affirmative.

Just as the five girls broke out into a run with Naoki's merciless eyes glaring after their backs.

Azula pulled Elle along in her dominant fist as she rapidly collected her sword in her free hand as they sprinted away.

Only for the Fire Nation women to gaze over their shoulders in incredulity when the supersoldier began to rush towards them!

The assassin's booted feet began to blur in a slower motion than before.

As the powerful princess roared as she spun around to push her serving girl's quivering little body behind her armored back.

The two fighters stared defiantly back into each other's eyes as Naoki continued her unrelenting sprint towards them!

And just when it seemed as if the two teams were about to clash against in the midst of the chaotic artillery fire.

All seven of them froze up in their tracks when they saw a bright light emanating across the sky miles away.

And back at the site of the destroyed military base.

Reiko stood with her gloved palm held out casually before her unfathomably hubristic face while an enormous blast of frozen energy was released from her open hand.

She watched with cruel delight in her blue eyes as Nero released an agonizing shriek as he was hurled away on top of her blast.

"Reiko!" Nero protested in an enraged scream as he was sent hurtling back with his gloved hands pushing back on the mighty ice formation.

And soon after that his roars of pain resounded into the air as he was sent soaring by the pulsating blast of ice and chi.

While the massive ice meteor flew up into the sky as he howled from his position above it.

And then his face was torn up when countless shards of ice sprayed into his bleeding skin.

The emperor calmly raised her gloved fist above her head as she clenched it as if she was squashing a bug.

And not even seconds after that the monstrous scientist's screams split into the air in unison with the mighty explosion.

A lordly smirk now adorned her lips as she stared up into the skies at the fading light.

And then without so much as even saying a word she began to walk confidently towards the frozen battlefield several miles away.

As the light from the explosion shined brilliantly over the frigid battleground as everyone present gazed up in shock into the sky.

And that was all it took for the climate to get even colder.

Azula and Zoi stared up over the cold horizon with their eyes wide in disbelief.

Elle trembled under the princess's arm with her arm holding up the wounded princess.

Mai and Ty Lee stood speechless with their widened eyes lingering on the light in the distance.

"W-was…that huge power the emperor?" Elle questioned in a terrified voice while her highborn friends struggled to stay on their feet as they gazed up with stunned expressions in their eyes.

And Katsu halted in her tracks with her mouth open in amazement as sweat dripped down her forehead.

And even Naoki stood paused before the two firebenders with her widened eyes gazing up into the sky.

Before the supersoldier coldly shook her head as she turned to stare icily back into her childhood friend's wide amber eyes.

"It was. Reiko's coming. And none of you stand a chance in hell at defeating her as you are now." Naoki stated in an emotionless voice as she stared back at the exhausted faces of the incredulous team.

The four Fire Nation women fought to refrain from collapsing in the snow.

Azula's amber golden eyes bubbled with indescribable rage as she clenched her jaw.

And not a moment after that they all spun around once more when the tanks began to pull their way up onto the slope.

As Reynolds' maddened roars resounded in their ears in unison with the artillery fire.

And then both teams broke out into as fast a sprint as they could manage toward higher ground.

Naoki ran at the forefront with her machinelike brown eyes gazing back at Azula's murderous face through the corner of her eye.

Azula met Naoki's stare with her tyrannical amber golden eyes glaring back at the assassin.

As she pulled her little girlfriend under her arm with her lips pursed in a possessive snarl.

'I won't let anyone take my Elle away from me!' Azula thought with her amber golden eyes taking on an unimaginably violent death stare.

She ran with her handmaid stumbling at her heels as she somehow found the strength to bound her body up the icy hill.

As the light from the ancient gateway shined brightly from the ice cave above.

No matter the cost!

She vowed that she was going to bring her girl home!

And that was a promise born in blue fire and blood!

And it was one that she intended to keep.

Even if she has to kill every last living thing in this entire country to do it!

AN:

Just a quick note before I get to the afterword. I changed Zoe/Yoko's eye color from hazel to gold. I was under the mistaken impression that hazel eyes were the same as amber. eyes When I realized that it did not, I changed it in order to keep up with the canon theme of all firebenders in the Fire Nation having golden eyes.

I also removed all mentions of Azula being referred to as a monarch. I was under the impression that all members of a royal family were monarchs. But after looking into it, the monarch is the ruling royal and for the moment that is Ozai. So, I patched that.

As for the afterword.

Naoki punching Elle out of the Component State showed us that the Component can be disabled with enough force.

Also, when Naoki took down Ty Lee with her rapid boxing technique. Just like with Zoe and Mai earlier in the story. Naoki showed us that there is a difference between someone who spends every moment learning to fight like a machine, versus a skilled noblewoman who only fights when the situation calls for it.

Eventually, Ty Lee and Mai will discover ways to better compete with benders like Azula, Zoe, Naoki and Katsu like Mava alluded to. But that won't happen until later.

Elle also showed us that once again her power grows stronger when her friends are in danger.

And Katsu's wild behavior also confirmed that Azula was right when she mused that she could have likely killed Katsu with her lightning if she had tried earlier. While Katsu is extremely powerful, she is erratic and she doesn't think. Which is why she almost ran straight into Azula's lightning.

Also, Katsu showed us that she fears Naoki to an extent like Mai and Ty Lee fear Azula. That's because Naoki has known her for a long time, and she knows how to reign her in.

As for Naoki's weighted clothing, my inspiration for that came from Piccolo from Dragon Ball as well as other characters in various series.

Also, Azula feels that Naoki is inferior because of her belief in her divine right to rule and that power is something that you are born with. Whereas Naoki feels that Azula is inferior because in her mind Azula didn't work for it. Azula did work for it, just in a different way but Naoki still views the spoiled as less worthy.

We also learned that Naoki wasn't bluffing when she stated that she was the fasted human being. Basically, every character has their strengths and weakness. And when it comes to speed, if Azula and Zoe are a 7, Naoki is a 10. However, Azula and Zoe have an edge over Naoki in other respects.

I also hope that everyone enjoyed the duel between Azula and Naoki. I wanted to portray that they were both for the most part evenly matched.

Azula was able to counter Naoki's true speed with her flames and when she was able to catch Naoki's foot.

However, Naoki revealed that she had no intentions of letting the fight drag on, and that she had planned from the start of their battle to have Katsu explode herself above them. Thereby disabling Azula and Zoe both.

This showed us that even when Katsu is in her weakened state. That she is far more dangerous when Naoki is there to direct her.

And Naoki showed us just how far she is willing to go to win. Even to the point of subjecting herself to a point blank explosion that will injure her, as long as it will injure her opponents just as much if not more so. It also showed that she is also willing to subject Katsu to crippling exhaustion by forcing her to expend the rest of her energy.

I also really wanted to highly Azula's strategic mind in this fight, and show that she is quick to adapt in battle just like we saw in her fight with Silah.

However, while Azula was able to strategize her way around Naoki's speed, she had limited options in the frozen arctic climate. If this fight had occurred in the tropical Fire Nation, she likely would not have been caught up within Katsu's explosion.

And finally, they are all too exhausted to fight any further and Reynolds has them cornered.

And as for Rieko dispatching Nero. I realize that we might could jokingly call her 'one swat' Rieko. But I wanted to show that he never stood a chance from the start, and that the whole encounter was over in a matter of minutes.

And now Rieko is enclosing in on everyone, and that Rieko's approach is something that even Naoki takes very seriously.

For awhile I was considering splitting this into two chapters, but I chose to release it as one as originally intended because I don't want the fight to feel like it is dragging on longer than it shoulder. It was a brief, brutal duel in the snow and I feel that this chapter conveyed that.

Anyhow, that will be all for now.

Stay tuned for next time.

For one hundred eleven! The Mercy of an Angel!