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.

123. As One Journey Ends, Another Begins

Hello everyone.

As usual, I want to thank everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed since the last update.

And as always, if you find the story worthy of following, please consider doing so if you have not already.

As One Journey Ends, Another Begins - Chapter One Hundred Seventeen

Azula stood glaring before the mystic pools once more while her subordinates stood waiting behind her.

"Show yourself Mother of Faces! Mava the Sage has informed me that you are in my debt and I assure you that I intend to collect!" Azula called out with her amber golden eyes staring down at the glistening waters that they had traveled through a short time ago.

The rest of the team stared on with fascinated looks in their eyes when the water began to emit a magical glow.

As the group gazed up in awe when a massive spirit arose up from the depths of the majestic waters!

And soon after that the ancient spirit reared up with her three faces now gazing ominously back down at the team.

While all but Azula and Zoi gazed back up at the spirit's faces with unnerved looks in their eyes.

"That's…that's a scary looking spirit." Nako stated in a skittish voice as she took a fearful step back.

Only for her brown eyes to turn to her princess in admiration when she saw that her leader was even not flinching from the ancient spirit's angered gaze.

The rest of the group stood in silence as they gazed between their princess and the large spirit.

As the two glared at each other for what seemed like an eternity.

"Mava must learn to stop meddling in the affairs of spirits." The Mother of Faces spoke with her three faces scowling down at the group.

While making sure that she never took her eyes off the young Component holder standing behind the arrogant princess.

The mighty princess stood before her timid girlfriend with her amber golden eyes forming a callous glare.

"I don't really care what Mava needs to learn. Is it true that my mother came to you eleven years ago in search of a new face?" Azula snarled in a ruthlessly poised voice with her eyes staring at the looming Mother of Faces.

As the others still gazed on with transfixed expressions in their captivated eyes.

"It is the truth. Eleven years ago, Princess Ursa came to see me to escape the abuse of a vile demon that she called husband…a man by the name of Fire Lord Ozai." The Mother of Faces announced in a soft voice that contrasted her imposing visage while the princess's amber golden eyes grew with in an overload of emotion.

While everyone else stood in a state of speechlessness over the way that their Fire Lord was addressed by the spirit as if he was the lowest order of life.

Elle bit her lip as she stood behind her mistress with her sympathetic amber eyes gazing at the much taller woman's trembling back.

Azula's dark hair now shadowed her eyes as she stood with her burning fists clenched at her womanly hips.

Mai and Ty Lee remained in an unusually sorrowful quiet behind her.

"I was so moved by her plea that I granted her my one wish for that season and now she is Princess Ursa no more. Now she is finally free…of the cruelty that is the Fire Nation Royal Family." The Mother of Faces remarked with her many faces gazing down at the shocked Fire Nation group.

Azula's lips pursed into a regal glower with her head hanging low.

As she felt a gentle hand reach out to touch her on her bicep.

"It was my servant and I that disposed of the invaders that were trespassing in your domain. In return for the service that we performed for you…I demand that you show me the face that my mother now wears." Azula commanded with her teeth clenched together while she glared up at the towering spirit.

She stood with her little girlfriend's delicate hand holding onto her arm as rest of the team waited in suspense.

"While that is true…you also invaded my domain. And even if you had not…I have already granted my one wish for this season. Therefore, I cannot grant you the information that you seek." The Mother of Faces refuted in an adamant voice as she moved to leave while the princess's amber golden eyes widened in bubbling outrage.

And just like that a blue inferno burst to life before the now angered face of the ancient spirit.

As the others watched with a mixture of fright and captivation behind their leader.

Only for Elle to let out an adorable yelp when she was swiftly pulled forward by her mistress's steely fist.

She stumbled to a stop standing directly beside the far taller woman while she raised her timid eyes up to the intimidating numerous faces of the large spirit.

Only for Elle's energy to spark once more while a flash of faint light glowed before the eyes of the stunned group.

As a momentary spark of fear came over the Mother of Face's timeless eyes.

"You will tell me or I will order my royal servant to kill you." Azula spoke in an utterly cruel voice with her quivering girlfriend held under her domineering hand.

As a look of fear came over the eyes of many in the group when they heard their princess threaten such a powerful spirit to her face!

"You dare…to threaten me with the Spirit Slayer?" The Mother of Faces almost hissed with her many faces glaring down at the princess's ruthless countenance.

While amber golden eyes narrowed into wrathful slits back up at her as she once more warily kept her gaze on the young girl's sparking chi.

"I don't threaten you…I make you a promise Mother of Faces. If you do not tell me, I will personally make certain that you spend every moment of your existence living in fear of my servant's power." Azula stated in a beyond malevolent voice with her tyrannical amber golden eyes staring imperiously up at the spirit's many taken aback faces.

And that was all it took for Azula's titanic aura of chi to surge to life before the surprised eyes of the Mother of Faces.

The others stood holding their elbows over their faces in marvelment behind their powerful leader.

As Elle shook with her wrist being held tightly by her much taller mistress.

"A-Azula-sama." Elle stammered in a meek voice while she shuddered when she listened to Azula snarl over her.

"You will watch how you speak to me human!" The Mother of Faces shouted with anger in her voice only for searing blue flames to splash against her faces.

The princess now stood with her other hand pointed back up at the spirit's three enraged faces.

As the rest of the team swallowed in trepidation.

"Who do you serve peasant!" Azula bellowed in an overbearing voice with her strict amber golden eyes gazing over her shoulder at the quivering face of her pet.

"Y-you Azula-sama! I serve you Princess!" Elle cried out in a loyal voice while her mistress still squeezed her hand under her own.

The faintest color of pink now spread across her cheeks as she bashfully stood beside the goddess of a princess.

"You heard the girl! I am her master! And that means if you do not want to face the wrath of the Spirit Slayer that you will do a I say!" Azula boomed in a frighteningly merciless voice while her hardened amber golden eyes glared up at the unsettled Mother of Faces.

The remainder of Team Azula now stood with their jaws dropping in speechlessness.

"P-please I beg of you Mother of Faces…please tell us. Azula-sama deserves to know what became of her mother." Elle pleaded in a kindly voice that completely contrasted her mistress's callous disposition while Azula loomed over her with her amber golden eyes still glaring up at the spirit.

Only for the vast spirit to back away in her pool while her many faces were now entrenched in less than pleased frowns.

"In waning gratitude for ridding my valley of intruders I will make a one-time exception. But only if you agree to take your servant and leave my forest after I do!" The Mother of Faces responded in a highly aggravated voice while the princess's lips curled into a cold smirk.

"Of course." Azula purred with a sadistic smile on her lips as she gazed up with a predatory stare in her dominating amber golden eyes.

Her serving girl stood trembling under her hand as she found herself subconsciously pulling Elle in closer.

Only the eyes of all of the team to stare up in fascination when light began to glow in the spirit's palm.

And then they all watched in disbelief when an image of Ursa formed in the Mother of Faces hand.

Azula's smile instantly gave way to a seething scowl once more as she glared up at the face of the mother that abandoned her.

'That's…Azula-sama's mother…' Elle thought with her amber eyes taking on an emotional stare.

And not a second later the face of Ursa began to spiral into that of a much more ordinary looking woman's face.

Azula's amber golden eyes now trembled in absolute disgust as she stared up at the face with something akin to loathing in her bitter gaze.

As her subordinates stood still in a floored silence around her.

"I was surprised that a human of such beauty would seek a new face. Which is why I offered her the plainest one that I could think of and she accepted." The Mother of Faces informed in a mystical voice while group listened in a stunned state of silence.

The princess's amber golden eyes shook underneath her bangs as she stood with her emotional girlfriend in hand.

"So…that's your new face Mother. You…coward." Azula snapped with her teeth gritted together in her royal rage while she felt her serving girl's small hand wrap around her own.

And soon after that the image of Ursa's new face began to vanish from the spirit's hand as the entity began to sink back into her sacred pool.

As the princess stared on with her cold eyes trying her hardest to bury the emotion that she felt bubbling up from within her belly.

"You have what you came for. Now take your Spirit Slayer and leave my valley." The Mother of Faces spoke as she retreated into her pool while Elle shook beside her mistress.

"Mother of Faces! I…I have no intentions of hurting you. I…I am a pacifist you see. I would never hurt you." Elle assured in a gentle voice as Azula just scowled from where she stood over her with their hands linked as one.

Only for a look of hurt to form in her eyes when the large spirit shook her head as if to say that she did not believe her.

The princess and her subordinates stared on with fascinated expressions in their eyes.

"It matters not what you believe Spirit Slayer. Why would any spirit desire to be around you when you have the power to end our lives all the same?" The Mother of Faces called back out in a guarded voice as she sunk into her mystical pool while Elle fell into a saddened silence.

And not even seconds later the spirit vanished back into her pool.

While the others now stood silent behind the couple.

Mai offered Elle a softened glance at her back.

As she found herself unable to deny that the spirit had made a valid point.

And with that the team now stood quietly in the forest with a soft breeze blowing through their hair.

All of their eyes turned to their leader who now stood glaring down at her booted feet.

As the handmaid stood devotedly in her mistress's hand as she gazed back up at the woman with worried amber eyes.

"Azula…" Ty Lee trailed off in a sympathetic voice as Azula still tensed up in obvious rage.

"Princess…are you okay?" Zoi pondered with a concerned edge to her voice while she stood behind her leader's angered back.

"She may have forgotten mine but I will not forget that cowardly face! I will put up wanted posters all throughout the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom! I'll have the guards scour every corner of the land for her!" Azula exclaimed with livid emotion in her furious voice while her childhood friends shivered behind her.

"If there is anything that I can do to help Your Highness just let me know." Nako stated in a helpful voice while her princess stood with her back turned to her.

"She's…she's your mother Azula. Please don't hurt her." Ty Lee attempted to reason only for her brown-gray eyes to flinch when the firebender turned around to glare at her from over her shoulder.

Saro and Jiao kept their mouths shut as they exchanged a quiet glance.

Only for the princess to release her grip on her servant's hand as she began to stomp off alone into the brush once more.

"She isn't my mother anymore Ty Lee. Now if you'll excuse me, I wish to be alone for some time." Azula growled out under her breath as she walked off while she ignored the worried stares of her companions.

As she listened to her servant rush after her heels as if her life depended on it.

"P-please let me accompany you Azula-sama." Elle begged as she hurried after her mistress while the older girl departed into the brush.

"If any of you disturb me other than Elle, I will punish all of you brutally." Azula called out in an imposingly harsh voice while her subordinates swiftly nodded their heads in understanding.

And then seconds after that she vanished into the thick foliage with her little serving girl scampering after her footfalls.

The rest of the team sighed as they mused that it was best to let their leader have some time alone.

"If the princess asks…tell her that I went to ask Mava if I have her permission to bring some research material back with us." Nako commented in a quiet voice while her companions nodded in agreement.

"I'll come with you." Saro offered as he began to walk after Nako while his captain stoically watched them depart.

Mai and Ty Lee lingered behind Zoi and Jiao as they all exchanged a concerned look with each other.

Meanwhile in the forest.

Azula angrily plopped down on her bottom with her head resting against the base of a large tree.

She angrily folded over her armored chest while she glared down at her booted feet.

As she caught sight of Elle sitting down beside her through the corner of her unusually emotional amber golden eye.

"M-Mistress please allow me to serve you." Elle stuttered with heartwarming dedication in her voice as she placed a loving hand on the trembling woman's muscular arm.

"My…own mother wanted to forget that I even existed." Azula whispered in an unnaturally vulnerable voice as a lone tear brewed in the corner of her angry eye.

Just as she felt a pair of delicate arms wrap around her lower belly as she sat above the girl with her lips quivering in sorrow.

"Oh Azula-sama…my beautiful Azula-sama." Elle murmured in a tone of limitless devotion as she embraced the woman around her belly.

As Azula sat there in silence while she tried her hardest not to cry.

Only for the tear to stream down her cheek while she felt the petite girl pull her into her arms.

And then just like that she allowed her taller frame to fall into Elle's warm embrace.

Just before her chin came to rest on the smaller girl's loyal shoulder.

"Does she…see me as that great of a monster?" Azula pondered in a terribly shaken voice with her hair spilling in her eyes while she felt tender arms hold her close.

As a spark of anger now flashed before Elle's sentimental eyes as she pulled the princess onto her shoulder.

"You are no monster Azula-sama. We'll…find her. I…I promise." Elle spoke in a sweet voice with her arms wrapped around her princess's tall back while she listened to the woman sniff on her shoulder.

This was the first time in all of the time since they met other than the time that she almost died that she has seen the woman get this emotional.

She could tell that she has been holding these emotions welled up within her for far too long.

And that they needed to come out.

"Elle…" Azula mumbled with her amber golden eyes hidden behind her bangs while a gentle hand reached up to wipe the tear from her cheek.

And then she found herself unable to fight back the urge to crush the girl into her chest as she sunk back against the tree beside her.

Her uncharacteristically emotional amber golden eyes gazed down at the younger girl's almost angelic face.

And somehow…

Every time that she experienced the warmth of the girl's tender touch, she felt her appreciation for her serving girl grow to an even higher height.

"I-I am so sorry Azula-sama." Elle stuttered with tears in her eyes while she hugged the older woman with all of her might.

"I…am sorry too Elle…about your parents…and everything that you went through. I wish…. that I could have been there to protect you." Azula answered with something similar to regret in her voice while she squashed her girlfriend in her strong arms.

"I have you now Princess. And that is all that matters to me." Elle replied in a content voice with the tears in her eyes drying up as she savored the way the much taller woman drew her into her chest.

And soon enough she found herself being cradled with stunning tenderness in her princess's armored chest.

She trembled in adoration when she felt a hand lower down to cup her chin.

As she peered lovingly back up into Azula's protective amber golden eyes that softened for her and her alone.

"You…are such a good servant Elle. You are always here for me when I need you. I won't ever forget that." Azula breathed with a trace of fondness in her cold voice while she lay in the grass with her little girlfriend cradled in her arms.

"I-I'll always be here for you Azula-sama." Elle stammered in a love-struck voice as she smiled shyly over her mistress's shoulder.

Only for a look of relief to form in her eyes when she saw that the older girl was finally starting to smile once more.

"Oh, my pet." Azula sighed in a subdued voice with her arms holding Elle tight while she allowed herself to smile as they touched cheeks.

"M-my Fire Queen." Elle stuttered in a passionate voice as she smiled up at Azula's beautiful face while the woman crushed her in her arms.

"Servant…" Azula trailed off in a thoughtful voice while she stroked the smaller girl's quivering cheek.

"Yes Azula-sama?" Elle responded in a voice of boundless loyalty that the older girl adored.

"Get me a beverage from that little bag of yours…my alcohol. This day is wearing on my last nerves." Azula grumbled with a scowl on her regal lips that soon vanished when her handmaid smiled brightly up at her.

"Yes Princess!" Elle exclaimed in a lovably devoted voice as she pulled her backpack off her shoulders while Azula's lips curled into a smile once more.

And then she reached in to grasp the princess's small flask of her personal beverage that she ordered her to carry on her at all times.

Just before the two sunk back in exhaustion against the tree once more while they both gazed dreamily back into one another's eyes.

"Peasant…I order you to share a drink with your princess." Azula remarked with a fondly controlling edge to her voice as she touched her fingernail against the girl's trembling cheek.

"I…I would love to share a drink with you Azula-sama." Elle replied with cheer in her voice while she gazed up at the smiling princess in admiration.

And moments later….

Azula sat back with a sigh escaping her lips as she swallowed a much-needed drink of her fire whiskey.

She now held her girlfriend under her arm with the smaller girl sprawling up in her lap.

Before she passed the flask to Elle while she watched through the corner of her eye as the girl took a swig.

"Drink it slowly girl." Azula ordered with fondness in her cold voice while she found herself savoring every moment of Elle laying in her arms.

"So…I am only half Component…" Elle stated in a contemplative voice as she relaxed in Azula's hold while muscular womanly arms still held her tight.

"We'll take it back from him Elle. He isn't the Component. You are. He stole it." Azula snarled in a ruthless voice while Elle numbly nodded her head against her chest.

"Am…am I truly a descendant of a lineage of royal servants Azula-sama?" Elle pondered in a thoughtful voice while she passed the flask back to her princess.

"It would appear that you are." Azula answered in a content voice as she took another swallow while she sighed once more.

"What…what does that mean for us? As…as a couple…as mistress and servant…" Elle queried in a timid voice with a shade of pink on her flushed cheeks while she listened to Azula gracefully swallow her drink.

"It changes nothing between us Elle. You still belong to me…and you are still my girl." The princes spoke with restraint in her harsh voice while her possessive eyes glanced down at the girl's smiling face.

"T-that's all that I needed to hear." Elle murmured as she was drawn further into the older woman's sweat covered chest plate.

And then she smiled bashfully with a giggle escaping her lips when two arms wrapped mightily around her small back.

"I promise you little lady…I will never let anyone take you from me." Azula hissed in a dangerously protective voice with her warm breath washing in Elle's trembling ear.

"A-Azula-sama…my princess in shining armor." Elle stuttered in a gentle voice as she lay in the older girl's long lap while Azula's powerful arms coiled around her back.

"Even if I must burn down entire worlds to do it…I will protect you Elle." Azula stated with an unspeakably lethal edge to her cold voice while she held her girlfriend's emotional little face into her breasts.

As she sat there with her amber golden eyes staring on with a resolved gleam in her merciless eyes.

And that was when she made up her mind.

That there was nothing that she would not do to protect her girl.

Even if she must kill millions.

Even if she must kill billions.

Even if it took her killing trillions.

She will protect her little beloved no matter what.

And that was a vow that she did not intend to break.

Two hours later.

The team was finally getting ready to depart the valley.

Azula now stood on a hill with her childhood friends standing behind her.

As her stoic amber golden eyes watched Elle pack items with the others below.

"Are…. you feeling better now Azula? Your aura feels glummer than usual." Ty Lee asked in a tender voice as she stood in worry behind her friend.

The princess continued to stare down at her little sister from where she stood on the hill.

"Today I lost two extraordinarily talented benders to another woman of royalty that would have added tremendous power to my army. I also found out that her brother is in possession of half of the Component. And if Mava speaks true…there is a mysterious entity that seeks to kill us all…not to mention the power of this emperor. And on top of all of that…I found out that my mother sought to forget my existence." Azula remarked in a frigid voice with her arms folded over her breasts while her two friends gazed at her back in a bewildered silence.

As they all watched the girl began to make her way up to join them.

"Yeah. That's a lot to take in." Mai stated with a worried edge to her monotone voice while Azula's hair blew lightly in the wind.

"And yet despite all of that…. I have what I need." Azula spoke in a reflective voice with her amber golden eyes never leaving her young girlfriend's face.

Her two childhood friends fell into a taken aback silence.

"I can't help but wonder…if this is all that I need. Maybe I don't need to rule the entire world…maybe just being Fire Lord and having Elle…is enough." Azula commented with a thoughtful look in her amber golden eyes while her friends listened in shock behind her.

And that was all that it took for the two noblewomen to realize that their leader truly was evolving before their very eyes.

Only for the princess to place her fists on her womanly hips as she let out a haughty laugh.

"Of course, if anyone deserves to rule the world its me." Azula scoffed in a conceited voice once more while her two friends now smiled beside her.

"Of course, Azula." Mai stated in a humored voice while she still eyed her friend curiously.

"But even so. I'll still conquer the entire world regardless. I mean after all…Mava did say that the world would need a worthy ruler and there is no ruler more worthy than me. And who knows…. perhaps I'll become the goddess of all life while I'm at it." Azula announced with a pleased smile on her crimson lips once more while her companions shivered in fear behind her.

Her amber golden eyes still watched her little girlfriend march up the hill to join them.

"And besides…I am confident that this little peasant will be overjoyed at the chance to serve her queen in such a capacity." Azula stated with a smile still on her arrogant lips while her childhood friends sighed behind her.

Only for all three highborn women to turn to find themselves unable to resist smiling back at Elle when she began to hurry the hill.

And not even moments after that the serving girl ran to a stop before the imposing Fire Nation Princess.

While Azula turned to glance down at Elle with her hands clasped behind her back.

Before her lips pulled into the barest hint of a fond smile when the girl bent her back in a perfect bow.

Mai and Ty Lee stood speechless behind their leader while they watched their little sister bow with even more devotion than she had before they stepped foot in the valley!

"Azula-sama. I have finally accepted my place in the world." Elle greeted with a loving smile on her lips as she bowed with her hands at her hips.

As the much taller princess stared down at her with an approving gleam in her amber golden eyes.

"Have you now?" Azula responded with a smile on her regal lips while she eyed the girl's bowing form in approval.

"I am Her Highness's royal servant and I am also the Component. And I am prepared to serve you in any way that you see fit." Elle declared in a touching voice with her amber eyes staring up at Azula's now taken aback face.

Only for the princess's smile to grow even larger as she took a step closer to glance down at the girl with a pleased look in her eyes.

"Rise my royal servant." Azula commanded with a lazy wave of her hand while she watched with a widening smile when the girl hopped up on order.

Ty Lee and Mai found themselves oddly unable to fight smiling back at the lovable girl in relief to see that she was still her usual self.

"If my queen says to rise! I rise!" Elle laughed in a warm voice as Ty Lee reached out to muss her hair.

She smiled shyly back at the noblewomen while Mai also smiled from over her shoulder.

"We're glad to see that you're still the same little sister." Ty Lee commented with a grin on her lips while the girl smiled back at her.

"Listen well Elle. I have words for you." Azula began in a strict voice with her hands still behind her back while her girlfriend gazed loyally up at her.

She delighted in how the girl stood faithfully as if she were awaiting the most grievous orders.

Just before a scowl formed on her lips as she loomed authoritatively over her now trembling handmaiden.

"Hear me now peasant. The lesser people of this world mean nothing to me. But I will destroy all of my enemies and nothing will stand in the way of my conquest. Not the Avatar…not Zuko and his peasant friends…not Felix…not the Apostles…not this Elder One and certainly not this Reiko." Azula informed in a ruthless voice once more while her possessive eyes gazed down at her pet's pretty face.

She still allowed her lips to form a sliver of a fond smile.

As the two noblewomen gazed on comically from beside their leader.

All the while as Elle now beamed up at the face of the smirking princess.

"I will become Fire Lord and you shall stand beside me when I sit on that throne." Azula concluded with a refined smile on her lips while she watched the girl adorably bow her head once more.

"I wouldn't dream of standing anywhere else Azula-sama…nowhere but your side." Elle stated in a voice of endless devotion while Azula's cold eyes flickered with appreciation once more.

"It pleases me to hear that. Because I would have to punish you if you did. And you know how much I love punishing you." Azula purred with a finger underneath her chin while her girlfriend still smiled brightly up at her.

"Felix was wrong Azula-sama." Elle remarked as she arose from her bow once more while the older girl arched an elegant brow over her.

"Was he now?" Azula inquired with a raised brow as she forced herself to squash the rage that bubbled up from within at the mere mention of the man's name.

The three highborn women then watched with puzzled looks in their eyes when their young friend's smile grew even bigger.

Just as the captain came to a stop at the other end of the hill with supplies gathered on her back.

"My connection to Mother has never been stronger and I feel more certain now than ever that the path she walked is the path that I must walk." Elle announced with determination in her voice while her four highborn friends listened in wonderment.

It astonished all four of them that even after all of that they had just been through the girl still was able to smile as radiantly as the Sun itself.

"This trip has truly been of a great benefit to me. I am just one girl. I don't have the ability to change the world on my own. All I can do…is follow the peace in the roses." Elle spoke with her hands holding onto the straps of her backpack.

Her four highborn friends listened with a sense of disbelief in their eyes.

Only for Azula to roll her lovely amber golden eyes as she shook her head with a sigh escaping her lips.

"Soft hearted girl. Consider your fortunate that you have us to look out for you. You wouldn't make it on your own." Azula scolded with her arms crossing over her breasts as she began to walk alongside her innocent girlfriend.

"That's so…. Azula-sama." Elle murmured as she walked faithfully beside her princess while she enjoyed the way that the confident woman stood over her.

It made her feel safe…

And despite everything that occurred.

She still felt as if everything was right in her world.

Ty Lee and Mai watched the two begin to walk off before they soon followed after the curious couple.

As the mighty captain watched Elle through the corner of her thawed golden eyes.

'Now I understand Elle. You have so much mercy inside you that it physically and emotionally hurts you.' Zoi thought with her golden eyes taking on a hardened stare as she began to walk after her comrades.

As she resolved herself to the choice that she made.

No matter what happens.

No matter how many enemies stand in their way.

If killing must be done…

Then they will do it for Elle.

This girl…this adopted little sister of hers.

There was no way that she could ever allow her to break just for the sake of spilling blood.

The following day…

Team Azula rode on their komodo rhinos once more after having reunited with their steeds at the riverside.

They now pulled the supplies that they had brought in with them in addition to what they had gathered from the bodies of the slain foreign soldiers.

And from the old sage as well.

As Elle now rode with her arms wrapped around the princess's belly.

While the woman in question glared down at the komodo rhino through the corner of her eye as the girl petted the animal's head.

The others watched in amusement while Jiao held onto Zoi's stomach as the famed warrior rode with a small smile on her lips.

"I missed you Hooch!" Elle cried out in a sweet voice while Azula's amber golden eyes gazed down at her in aggravation.

As the others wisely withheld their chuckles in favor of avoiding getting killed by the woman's lightning.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call this dirty beast Hooch? And stop petting that thing Elle." Azula snapped with a roll of her eyes while she glared down at the komodo rhino in annoyance.

Only to find herself letting out a sigh under her breath when the girl continued to pet the creature.

Saro, Jiao and Nako listened to Zoi in amazement as she recalled their battles.

"Captain…you mean to tell me that you and the princess not only fought three warriors that are as strong as yourself and the princess…and an emperor that was even stronger?" Saro asked in a marveled voice as he gazed back at his captain's stony face.

As Azula's lips formed a cold stare as she gazed on ahead.

"We did Saro. They were all much stronger than I can ever put into words." Zoi replied in a focused voice with her eyes staring on at the path ahead of her.

"An emperor on the other side…how fascinating." Nako commented in an intrigued voice with a desire to research this foreign land already forming in her eyes.

"I want to fight them again Princess." Zoi announced in a determined voice while her princess turned to gaze back at her with her usual stoic gaze.

Azula's cold eyes flickered with a margin of surprise to her warrior express a desire to fight their opponents again.

"Fighting Silah, Katsu, Naoki, Nero and Reiko has only strengthened my desire to taste the glory of the battlefield. And I want nothing more than to face them again someday." Zoi stated as she gazed back at her leader's intrigued face while a spark of excitement brewed in her golden eyes.

As the princess allowed herself to smirk in approval.

"We will Zoi. We shall train together you and I…and we will become even stronger than anyone can possibly imagine. And then we shall trample the world underneath our boots in the wake of our conquest." Azula remarked with a cruel smile forming on her beautiful lips while a small smile formed on the captain's lips.

The rest of the subordinates gazed back at their princess in a sense of admiration.

Only for a cheerful voice to resonate into the air as Elle smiled with her arms holding onto the now smirking Azula's belly.

"You go Azula-sama! You dominate this world!" Elle cheered with a fist in the air while her princess swelled in pride as she held her head high over her.

As the princess rode with a strangely content smile on her lips.

The others gazed back at Elle with humored expressions in their eyes.

Mai let out a heavy sigh as she gazed past Ty Lee's widely grinning face at the chipper teenager.

"Kid. I still don't understand how you hope to find the peace in the roses through Azula of all people." Mai said in a deadpan voice with her mildly amused tawny eyes gazing back at her little sister's beaming face.

Azula just smiled wickedly with the innocent girl still latched onto her belly.

"Princess?" Nako pondered in a voice of great respect from her komodo rhino while her princess turned to gaze idly her way.

A look of hidden respect was now conveyed in the princess's eyes towards the skittish subordinate that has proven irreplaceable several times over.

"What is it Nako?" Azula queried in a coldly refined voice while she rose a brow as she watched the younger woman hold up a book.

The others turned their heads in curiosity of what the bookworm had been reading.

"Mava permitted me to bring back research material and I feel as if I may have found something that will be of great use to use." Nako commented in a fascinated voice as she held the tome in her hand while her princess arched a pondering brow.

"Oh? And what would that be?" Azula inquired with an impressed gleam coming over her ruthless amber golden eyes.

The girl may not be a bender and she may even be a less than average fighter.

And yet her pilot still saved her life back on Shantu Island.

And came to their aid numerous times in the battle with that wretched puppeteer.

And the girl had an inventive streak as well.

And to top all of that off…

She has even begun to consider the commoner her friend.

How odd was that?

"This book…speaks of a lost civilization from long ago." Nako said in a riveted voice as she gazed down with eager brown eyes.

The rest of the group listened in confusion.

"Nako. We already know all that we need to know about the Air Nomads." Azula remarked in a dry voice as she gazed back at the younger woman's piqued face.

Only for her amber golden eyes to glance back at the girl in interest when she shook her head.

"Not the Air Nomads Your Highness. Another civilization…a city-state. According to this book…they died out around two thousand years ago." Nako informed with a hunger for knowledge in her eyes while a look of shock came over the faces of all her comrades.

Azula now gazed over her shoulder with her amber golden eyes agape in disbelief.

As the rest of the noblewomen gazed on with stunned looks in their eyes.

"And something about something…primordial." Nako muttered with a hand under her chin while the highborn women and their young friend froze up in their seats.

Their mouths fell open as they exchanged alarmed looks with one another.

As they digested the implications of what the girl had read.

If true…

Then that could mean that there was once another civilization that was a part of the four nations.

And possibly wiped out and erased from the history books just like…the Fire Lord of old that the sage had spoken of!

The rest of the group stared back at the fivesome with confused expressions in their eyes by their sense of unease.

"Put that book away Nako and do not lose it! And do not tell anyone outside of this group what you just read. Report what you read only back to me. Understand?" Azula ordered in a supremely strict voice as she stared harshly back at her taken aback subordinate.

She felt her girlfriend hold her belly more tightly than before.

As Elle now stared on with a worried expression in her amber eyes once more.

"A-as you command Princess. I shall report only back to you." Nako agreed in a voice of absolute loyalty as she slid the tome in her bag once more.

Jiao gazed up at Zoi's back with a bewildered look in her blue eyes.

Saro stared on in confusion from where he rode on his komodo rhino.

Elle's eyes still gleamed with worry for what this would mean for events to come.

Only to steel herself to shake off her anxieties as she shook her head with a smile on her lips.

They all had each other and they would figure it out together.

And that was all that mattered.

With that in mind she decided to switch her thoughts back to more lighthearted mysteries that were plaguing her mind.

"Azula-sama?" Elle questioned in a timid voice as she reached up to tug on the older woman's sleeve.

The princess turned to gaze down at her with brilliant amber golden eyes that always made her feel cherished.

"What now Elle?" Azula asked in a patient voice while she found herself enjoying how the girl pushed against her backside.

"I require your intelligence in trying to decipher something that perplexes me." Elle confessed as she chewed on her lip while her mistress held herself above her with an aura of pride on her lips.

"Hm. Do you now? What is it that you need assistance with? I am the prime woman to answer any and all questions that your little mind can conceive of. After all, there is no problem too great for my brilliant mind to conquer." Azula commented in a supremely egotistical voice with a smirk on her haughty lips while she savored the way her pet peered up at her in reverence.

Mai and Ty Lee shook off their fear as they just exchanged an exasperated look behind their leader.

"Why did Reiko mean when she said that you wanted to ride me? I just don't get it. Why would you want to put a saddle on me and use me as a steed? Is that something that royalty like you do with commoner girls like me?" Elle pondered in an adorably naïve voice with a hand scratching the underside of her puzzled chin while Azula's proud cheeks turned a shade of pink over her.

Everyone nearly fell off their komodo rhinos in unison as the entire group balked at their girl's innocence.

Mai and Ty Lee turned red as they gazed back at the girl with a speechless look in their eyes.

And even the unabashed Zoi was staring back at Elle with blinking golden eyes.

As Jiao rose an amused brow from where she sat behind her lover.

While Saro blushed as he avoided saying anything that would get him killed.

And Nako too was gaping humorously back at Elle's cutely confused face.

Only for the whole group to shiver when Azula's lips began to curl into a wide smile.

"Hm. So, you want to be saddled do you dear?" Azula purred with a smirk on her luscious lips while she gazed down at her girlfriend's lovably bewildered face.

While a look of panic came over the eyes of the naïve girls' big sisters who felt it was their moral duty to protect her from such a fate.

"A-Azula! No saddles!" Ty Lee sputtered with her cheeks still a shade of crimson while Azula smiled deviously back at her.

"Elle. Don't say another word. Unless you want to find yourself galloping on all fours with Azula on your back the entire way home." Mai groaned in a monotone voice as she stared pointedly at the princess's smugly smirking face.

As Elle still gazed up at the smiling woman in confusion.

Only for the handmaid to blush when the princess leaned down to whisper over her armored shoulder.

"You are such a naïve little thing. To answer your question dear. That isn't something that I typically do with commoners. But…I could arrange it…that is if you like." Azula spoke with a huge smirk on her lips while she delighted in the way that the adorable girl fell into her tall back.

The others sat with blushes on their cheeks as they turned to gaze away in embarrassment.

"I…I still don't understand Azula-sama. But as your royal servant I am duty bound to obey your every order. Therefore, I shall do whatever makes you happy." Elle quipped in a lovably loyal voice with her arms wrapped around the tall woman's belly while her princess's smile enlarged by many folds.

The sound of her big sisters holding their hands to their faces resonated behind her into the air.

As she found herself unable to resist turning a shade of pink when the mighty woman smiled down at her once more.

"Speaking of rides Zoi. How about when we make camp…you take me out for a ride?" Jiao purred with her hands exploring the older woman's muscular stomach while a smirk pulled onto Zoi's lips.

The other noblewomen, the pilot and their lone male companion coughed nervously as they gazed away.

"I just might Jiao. But I warn you. I have a great deal of pent-up energy to get rid of. I may well ride you until dawn." Zoi stated with a lecherous smile on her lips as she gazed down at her little lover while the seductress grinned coyly up at her.

As she felt unbelievably skilled hands slide down her shirt and even begin to pull back on the seam of her pants.

The others still gazed away with blushes on their cheeks.

Elle now gazed back at the couple with an innocently bewildered expression in her eyes that the princess just adored.

"Don't stress your little mind over it, Elle. I will explain it all to you in due time." Azula sighed in a fondly refined voice as she shook her head while her little girlfriend nodded as she hid in her lower back.

She proudly rode with her serving girl clinging to her royal robes while she stared on with coldly protective amber golden eyes.

Strangely as it may be.

The girl's naïve devotion to serve her absolute will only strengthened her newfound protective urges.

It was just all the more reason why she had to keep the girl under her constant supervision from this moment onward.

Under no circumstances can she afford to risk another assassination attempt on her servant's life.

And as soon as she returns…

She will begin researching this new enemy of hers.

This…Elder One.

As well as formulating future plans for this Reiko and her Apostles.

And not to mention hunting down that vile puppeteer and her fat uncle as well.

Elsewhere.

Silah sat in the core of her mechanical badgermole as it propelled itself through the ocean's waters.

She gazed down into her gloved hands with fleeting look of longing in her dark green eyes.

In her hands was a doll painted with the image of that the visage of a traditional Kyoshi Warrior.

And behind her seat in the back was a pile of strange weapons that she had collected from the foreign soldiers that had been slain by that redheaded off-worlder girl.

"Mother…" Silah whispered in a near silent voice with the doll clutched in her palms.

She closed her eyes as she sunk back in her seat with a cold smile forming onto her painted lips.

"I wonder…are you watching me right now? Will you be proud of me…when I massacre your people?" Silah questioned with a psychotic edge to her voice while she reclined in her seat.

She closed her eyes as she relaxed as she listened to the sound of the guns that she collected rattling in the back.

As the metal monstrosity swam through the ocean towards her island citadel.

Both were questions that she pondered often.

And as with anything else…she knew that would find out in due time.

Meanwhile back on Sayomi's Earth.

The sound of footsteps resonating throughout the floor board resonated into the air.

Sayomi reached out to pick up a circular object in her fist.

She gazed down at it with dutiful blue eyes before she reached down to open a compartment on her armored chest.

Just before placed the Forge of Light in its chamber while her pony tail hung lightly behind her armored shoulders.

She closed it shut with a metal clang while her composed eyes gazed ahead.

Calla watched from behind with her apathetic brown eyes studying her subordinate closely.

"Strados has been spotted Sayomi." Calla informed in a guarded voice while Sayomi's fists fell to her hips.

As a steely look of unrivaled motivation now took over Sayomi's blue eyes.

"For the sake of Rosa, he will pay. I will see to it that he faces justice. Even if it is the last thing that I do." Sayomi vowed with her blue eyes taking on an honor bound gleam while she picked up a round steel shield.

And then she began to march her way down the halls with her shield in hand while her superior watched her depart.

And with that she made her way towards the battlefield.

She vowed that today would be the day that she avenged Lana and Elias Turner.

And that she would bring vile monster Felix to justice.

And hopefully find and locate her old teacher's daughter, Elle.

Before anyone else can bring the girl any further harm.

It was her duty.

As a hero.

As a soldier.

As a student.

And also…as a friend.

AN:

Agent Banana, it is good to hear from you! You never cease to amaze me with your high compliments, thank you. They truly move me and I always look forward tor reading them. And even though I cannot directly reply to you. I always look forward to hearing what you have to say.

So, in this chapter Azula finally learned what happened to her mother and she now knows what face Ursa took on. Fortunately for Azula, Elle was there to comfort her through her pain.

As for Azula's confrontation with the Mother of Faces, it stands to reason that the Mother of Faces would be reluctant to divulge information on the people she has granted new faces to as it defeats the purpose of giving them a new face.

However, while she had already granted her one seasonal favor. She owed Azula and Elle for ridding the valley of intruders.

As for why the Mother of Faces was so fearful of Elle. Once more, the reason why the spirits fear the Component, is because while powerful warriors like Azula and Zoi could likely decipher how to slay a spirit. Only the holder of the Component can cut through spiritual matter, their life force with ease.

This arc was a great learning experience for both Azula and Elle.

Azula is starting to consider that maybe what she needs most is already beside her, and that perhaps successfully bringing Elle back home with her is victory enough for today.

And similarly, this arc has helped Elle to accept her role as the Component and it has also solidified in her mind that her place is with Azula and the others, and learning of her likely ancestry as a royal servant has only strengthened her desire to serve Azula.

And Zoi, now realizes that Elle has so much mercy in her that it physically and emotionally hurts her, and she has now has developed a desire to make sure that Elle never has to kill.

Zoi and Elle are going to get closer with each other over the course of the story, and they are going to develop a powerful bond in the arcs to come. Elle is helping Zoi come to see that there is more to life than glory and the battlefield.

And we finally got a foreboding glimpse of what Nako has been reading while Azula and the others were away. Mava's book, hints at another civilization, a possible different nation may have once existed in the Avatar world but was ultimately wiped out and erased from the history books.

Also, in the second to last scene of the chapter we also got a hint at Silah having a mother complex like Azula which may play a role in why she feels so drawn to her.

And finally, Sayomi had her cameo at the end of the chapter and we learned that she is in possession of the artifact that is needed in conjunction with the Component to destroy the Primordial One.

Sayomi, like Elle, Felix and Lana, is from a combination of Japanese and English European heritage. She has the blood of both in her veins, which is how she has blonde hair like Elle and Lana.

The resulting dark age that came after the conclusion of World War Three caused people to flock to wherever they could in groups to stay alive. Which played a prominent factor in people of many ethnicities ended up scattered about in different regions across the globe.

Sayomi is going to be huge in book two and three, but for now that is all we will see of her until her story comes into play in book two. The fact that she has that artifact though, shows that Team Azula will need her in the conflict to come.

Anyhow, so that is the end of this arc.

On another note, I wanted to make a statement on how many arcs are left in book one. I have stated several times that there are five arcs left.

However, I went back over the outline and realized that what I was calling five huge arcs is really more like eleven arcs of varying lengths. So, I am amending that statement and saying there are eleven arcs left in book one.

To be clear though, I am simply changing the definition of what I consider an arc, this doesn't change how many chapters are left in the story. It simply changes how I group them together in their respective arc.

With that said, the next arc is the Shung Wu mini arc. The next chapter is going to be a wind down from all of the suspense and the action, and there will be a healthy dose of ElZula fluff to boot.

Stay tuned for next time.

For chapter one hundred eighteen! The Lull!