Hey everyone.
I want to thank everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed since the last update.
And as usual, if you find the story worthy, please consider giving it a favorite/follow as you read along.
Back to the Royal Sloop - Chapter One Hundred Nineteen
Azula opened her eyes as she let out a loud yawn with her arms stretching out above her head.
A content smile graced her lips as she found herself gazing down at her girlfriend's adorably yawning face in her robed lap.
"Good morning peasant." Azula remarked with another resounding yawn as she smiled fondly down at her drowsy pet.
"Good morning…Azula-sama." Elle answered in mid yawn with her head resting against her girlfriend's robed belly.
A bashful smile formed on her lips as she peered up at Azula's looming face as the woman smiled down at her.
As a blush developed on her cheeks when she felt a hand lower into her hair.
And then she sunk forward with her face falling into the older girl's stomach while the princess's hand petted her head.
"How are you feeling this morning?" Azula questioned in a cold voice that contrasted her affections as she lounged on her bottom with her little girlfriend underneath her palm.
She watched with callous amber golden eyes as the girl hugged onto her night gown covered belly.
"A…little run down…but otherwise okay." Elle replied in a murmuring voice with her face hiding in the woman's belly while her girlfriend's palm petted her head.
As she smiled contently with her body sprawling out in the princess's lap.
"That is good to hear." Azula muttered in a pridefully moody voice as she relaxed on her pillows while she held her companion in her lap.
Her possessive eyes flickered with a momentary hint of fondness as she gazed down at the younger girl's once again yawning face.
"Azula-sama?" Elle pondered shyly with her eyes gazing back into the older woman's belly while long fingers ran through her hair.
"Yes Elle?" Azula asked with an attentive edge to her stern voice while she stared down at the girl's lovely face.
Just before she observed Elle roll over in her lap with the back of her head coming to rest upon her robed thighs.
While strict amber golden eyes now gazed dominantly down into timidly love-struck amber eyes.
As the younger girl blushed under the older woman's authoritative stare.
"I…I just wanted…to tell you that y-you…you look so divine this morning Princess. L-like a goddess rising up in the heavens over me." Elle stammered in a timid voice with a heated expression on her cheeks.
The princess found herself unable to fight the wide smile that was pulling onto her lips after hearing those worshipful words.
All the while as a tiny blush now formed on her proud cheeks while her fingertips now caressed her little beloved's blushing cheek.
"Oh peasant…you really know how to flatter your goddess." Azula spoke with an affectionate undertone to her voice as she shook her head while a gratified smile adorned her regal lips.
She coiled a fingernail in her dark hair as she stared back down at her pet's lovably bashful face resting against her belly.
"I-it's not flattery Princess…it's the truth." Elle stuttered in an overwhelmed voice as she twiddled her thumbs while her girlfriend smiled down at her.
"Elle…" Azula sighed with the barest hint of a moved smile on her ruthless lips while she held the girl's smiling face against her night gown covered belly.
As she sat there on her pillows with her small girlfriend laying in her robed lap.
She found herself inexplicably savoring every moment that her young beloved spent in her lap.
Not too long after that…
The welcoming scent of morning tea flowed into the air of the morning camp.
While the three highborn women now gazed fondly back at their young friend as she passed each of them cups of tea.
"Thanks for the tea little sister!" Ty Lee spoke with a cheerful smile as Elle smiled back at her.
"Yeah. Thanks, little sister." Mai stated with a twinge of fondness permeating her voice as a small smile formed on her lips.
"No problem oneesans." Elle responded in a joyful voice as she poured herself a cup.
"I hate everything…but I don't hate you Elle." Mai commented in a reflective voice with her cup in hand while her tawny eyes gazed in appreciation back at the younger girl's smiling face.
Ty Lee and Azula turned to gaze back at Mai with knowing looks in their eyes.
All the while aware that Mai knew that she would part ways with them upon their return to Hari Bulkan.
And yet…neither one of them had the heart to shatter the young girl's joyful mood by saying so.
"I don't hate you either Mai." Elle replied in a warm voice with her loving amber eyes gazing back at her friends as she moved to join them.
As the princess watched through the corner of her harsh eye as her girlfriend took a seat on the log beside her.
The younger girl smiled up into the older woman's strict amber golden eyes.
And then Elle shyly slid her fingers over the princess's own.
Only for her smile to grow when she felt the woman respond by setting her hand on top of her own.
The two noblewomen watched the couple with amazed expressions in their eyes.
While the princess and the handmaid turned their gazes to the morning sunrise.
As the team quietly sat there in peace as they listened to the sounds of the forest wildlife wake up all around them.
And with that the group spent their time watching the rising sunrise in relative quiet.
Azula let out a relaxed sigh as she took a calming drink of her tea.
Just as the princess spun her head around when a flicker of light flashed before her eyes.
Only for her amber golden eyes to narrow into a strict glare when an innocent giggle resounded into her ears.
Before she turned to cast a cold stare at her serving girl.
She watched with slight surprise in her eyes to see that the girl was pointing her new camera back at her with a bright smile on her lips.
As the two other highborn women turned to their little sister with bewildered looks in their eyes to see that she was playing with her new camera.
"What are you doing Elle?" Azula questioned in a strict voice that almost verged on a mother attempting to show patience with her child.
"I was able to charge the battery with a solar powered battery charger that I found at the military base and now I can use it to take pictures of you Azula-sama!" Elle chirped in a lovable voice while the older woman scowled coldly back at the camera.
As the two noblewomen listened in amusement.
And not a moment later another flash of light resonated before the irate princess's eyes while she sat glaring back into the camera.
While a proud glower graced her regal cheeks as the princess tried her hardest to squash her feelings for the younger girl.
Ty Lee giggled with her hand over her mouth while her royal friend turned to glare at her through the corner of her eye.
"You and your little toys." Azula grumbled with arms folded over her breasts while she held her tea in her hand.
Only for her stony amber golden eyes to glare back at Elle when she heard the girl let out an adorable squeal.
She fought to refrain from showing even the slightest bit of interest in her eyes over the mechanics of the foreign invention.
Ty Lee and Mai leaned in to gaze in from over their little sister's shoulder with looks of curiosity in their eyes.
"Look oneesans! I took a picture of the Princess!" Elle cried out with a bright smile on her lips while her big sisters found themselves unable to resist smiling as they looked closer.
Only for the two noblewomen to gaze down with their eyes agape in awe when they found themselves looking at a small fine screen with a strikingly lifelike image of Azula on display!
The prideful princess found herself unable to resist turning to glance in the direction of the three with her brows arched inquisitively.
"This…is a photograph of Azula? It looks…just like her." Ty Lee spoke in a marveled voice with her mouth open in awe while she stared down at the image of the princess's regally stony face.
"It really does." Mai stated with a rare tone of fascination seeping through her usually monotone voice while she gazed down at the screen in amazement.
Azula furrowed her elegant brows in begrudging curiosity before she leaned down to peer over her girlfriend's shoulder.
Only for her cold amber golden eyes to widen in disbelief when she saw a stunningly accurate image of her composed face from just moments ago.
'So, this…is a photograph of me…' Azula thought as she sat back in her seat with her amber golden eyes still gazing down at the image in wonderment.
She found herself pondering what it would look like to photographs of her royal portrait lining the walls of the palace once she becomes Fire Lord.
Perhaps she will be the first Fire Lord to have her image put on display as a photograph?
As her lips began to curve into the barest hint of a gratified smile.
"S-she's so beautiful." Elle swooned in a voice similar to a love-struck schoolgirl while the older woman held her head high with a confident smile now adorning her beautiful lips.
"Of course, I am peasant. There is no woman grander than me." Azula scoffed with an arrogant smirk adorning her lips while she watched her pet gush under her controlling gaze.
And then not even a second later her smirk grew even larger when Elle pressed the button once more.
Elle squealed with a hand on her cheek as she beamed back at the older girl's smiling face.
As the princess set her cup of tea down as she sat back with a pleased smile on her lips.
She gracefully crossed her arms over her breasts as her young admirer began to take photograph after photograph of her royal likeness.
All while Ty Lee let out a cheerful laugh from where she sat beside the couple.
Mai gazed on with a fond sigh escaping her amused lips as she watched the handmaid gaze dreamily at the princess as if she was a goddess descended from a higher plane.
"O-oh my what a lovely queen." Elle stuttered with a bashful smile on her lips while Azula smiled proudly as she sat captivatingly before her.
"That's right girl. Worship your queen." Azula spoke with a spoiled smile gracing her sophisticated lips while she swelled with even greater pride under the young girl's love-struck gaze.
She posed her body in her seat as if it was her throne as she haughtily studied the fingernails on her open palm.
As her content smile grew when the camera flashed yet again.
The two women observed from the sidelines with humored expressions in their eyes.
As blonde blur began to excitingly move about to and fro before the seated Fire Princess.
While Azula still gazed on with her crimson lips curved into a satisfied smile.
And so, it went as the minutes began to pass by while Elle leaped about taking pictures of the princess from every conceivable angle.
Ty Lee and Mai watched the duo with their eyes conveying their amusement over their little sister's antics.
Until the princess stared out of the corner of her merciless amber golden eye when she took notice of sweat on the younger girl's brow.
As the hyper girl continued to squeal as she leaped to the side as she took another photo of her older girlfriend.
"That's enough Elle. You can take more photographs of me later." Azula commented in a cold voice while her ruthless eyes still gazed back at her handmaid's exhausted brow.
Only for another light to flash before her eyes as she let out a sigh.
As she watched her servant girl hop around her with her domineering eyes following the girl's every move.
"Elle." Azula remarked in a stricter voice with her stony eyes staring back at her pet while the girl skipped around her.
As the two noblewomen still watched with entertained looks in their eyes.
Only for the three older girls to gaze on with concern suddenly flashing in their eyes when the girl abruptly dropped onto her knees on the log beside the seated princess.
"Oooh, I feel dizzy." Elle groaned as her big sisters gazed on with worry in their eyes.
Only to find herself letting out a moan when a strong hand reached out to grasp a hold of her shirt.
Just before she let out a squeak when she was forcefully pulled into a seated position beside her mistress.
"Careless peasant! That's because you got drunk last night! Now sit down! And stop hopping about!" Azula barked in a severe voice while she pulled the moaning girl down beside her.
"Y-yes Princess." Elle moaned in an obedient voice as she leaned down to seek solace in the older woman's lap.
And then she fell face first into the princess's curvaceous thigh.
Just as she felt a powerful hand lower into her golden hair while callous amber golden eyes stared down at her from above.
"Just settle down girl." Azula commanded in a frigid voice with her hand in her pet's hair while she held the girl's woozy face against her thigh.
Before she began to run her fingernails through her young servant's soft hair while she stared down at the girl with a possessive gleam in her stern amber golden gaze.
"Azula's right Elle. Maybe you should take it more slowly this morning." Ty Lee advised in a sisterly voice with a concerned frown on her kind lips.
As Elle nodded her head as she lay with her face propped up on the older girl's thigh.
"Yeah kid. You can take all the photographs of Azula that you want when you are feeling better." Mai spoke with an ever so slight thawed edge to her voice.
She glanced down at the serving girl through with an observant expression in her icy tawny eyes.
"What a troublesome little thing you are." Azula sighed with a shake of her head while she sat back with her palm resting in her mumbling young girlfriend's hair.
She continued to pet the girl's relaxing head as she listened to the girl let out adorable murmurs that she found pleasing to her ears.
As a refined smile pulled back onto her regal lips.
And then she took another content drink of her tea as gladdened sigh escaped her full lips.
This little girlfriend of hers certainly could be a handful.
And yet…she would have it no other way.
About forty-five minutes after that.
Saro and Nako were going about their morning activities as they began to pack up the camp.
Mai and Ty Lee stood up to help them.
As not a single one of them so much as dared to even comment on the snoring girl who now slept face first in the princess's lap under the woman's hand.
While the ruthless princess stared on with a terrifying stare in her conquering amber golden eyes that prompted her subordinates to gaze away in fright.
Only for the cruel princess to turn her merciless eyes to her captain's tent when she saw someone exiting the flap of the tent.
Just as all but Azula gazed on in humor when Jiao emerged with a spent expression adorning her exhausted face.
As the seductress let out a groan as she made her way out with her hair hanging over her fatigued blue eyes.
Before the captain stepped out into view behind her.
While the others gazed on in disbelief as Zoi released a blissful yawn.
As she smiled smugly back at the now aggravated faces of her fellow highborn women.
"I don't know about all of you. But I had a wonderful night." Zoi remarked with a smile on her lips while her princess's amber golden eyes narrowed into a fierce glare.
Ty Lee and Mai also glared back at her with annoyed looks in their eyes.
"How could I? With the sounds coming from your tent keeping me awake all night." Mai replied with her tawny eyes glaring slits back at the other woman's smirking face.
As Jiao yawned as she made her way out beside her lover while the princess still glared back at the two.
"I suggest you avoid testing my temper this morning or that will be the last night that you spend with that girl for the remainder of this war. Now make yourself useful Zoi and start packing up. We depart camp in one hour." Azula commanded in an imperious voice while the other woman nodded her head in understanding.
"Of course, Princess. I will get right on that." Zoi agreed in composed voice as she made her way through the camp after her younger lover.
Just before she stopped to reach out to grasp the seductress's chin in her hand.
The younger woman turned to gaze back up at her warrior lover while the older woman cracked a smile down at her.
"Jiao…" Zoi trailed off with a sliver of a softened edge to her voice while her younger lover peered back at her.
And then she leaned down over the shorter woman while her lover gazed back into her stoic golden eyes.
Before she placed an affectionate kiss on her younger lover's cheek.
While a smile now pulled onto Jiao's lips as she leaned back into the warrior's mighty womanly arms.
"Zoi." Jiao murmured with grudging affection lacing her stubborn voice while she felt Zoi wrap her powerful arms around her.
"Thanks for last night." Zoi spoke with an affectionate undertone to her voice while she held her partner against her chest.
"Don't mention it Zoi." Jiao sighed as she traced her fingertips along the older woman's robust arms.
As the warrior allowed herself to smile as she momentarily stood holding the younger woman into her breasts.
The rest of the camp went about their business as they began to pack up for their ride back to the royal sloop.
All while the princess still sat gazing down at her young girlfriend with a controlling amber golden gaze that masked her feelings for the innocent girl.
And then one day later…
The oceans waters glimmered in the distance.
And the royal sloop was now just beyond a long wooden bridge.
Team Azula gazed out at the ocean upon the horizon with unmistakable relief in their eyes.
As they proceeded across the bridge.
Saro and Nako rode on their komodo rhinos with Zoi and Jiao proceeding along in front of them.
The princess and her three companions now walked beside their steeds at the back of the group.
Their young friend had requested that she had wanted to walk with them the rest of the way instead of ride the komodo rhinos.
And like always the three aristocratic women had been unable to deny their innocent friend.
The highborn women now walked alongside their young companion while the girl strode with her headphones hanging over her shoulders.
The trio listened curiously to their friend's music as yet another song began to play.
As Elle padded beside the tall princess while Azula stared down at her through the corner of her cold eye with an icy stare.
As Azula's ear perked up as she listened in mild interest to the beat of the song.
Ty Lee and Mai walked along with their eyes gazing on as they too listened to their little sister's foreign music device.
Only for all three of their eyes to widen when they realized that it was a song about love and friendship.
A bright smile now adorned Elle's lips as held onto the straps of her backpack while she walked beside her taken aback princess.
"When the night has come. And the land is dark. And the moon is the only light we'll see. No, I won't be afraid. Oh, I won't be afraid. Just as long as you stand, stand by me. So darling, darling. Stand by me, oh stand by me. Oh stand, stand by me. Stand by me." Ben E King sang in a flowing voice while the Fire Nation women listened in a strange sense of captivation.
Their young friend had yet to even say a word.
And yet all three of them already understood what Elle was trying to say.
It was…the girl's way of letting them know that she was glad that she was with them!
And just like that the three highborn women could only stare back at their pure-hearted companion's gently smiling face.
"If the sky that we look upon. Should tumble and fall. Or the mountain should crumble to the sea. I won't cry, I won't cry. No, I won't shed a tear. Just as long as you stand, stand by me. And darling, darling. Stand by me, oh stand by me. Oh, stand now, stand by me. Stand by me. Darling, darling. Stand by me, oh stand by me. Oh, stand now, stand by me, stand by me." The singer sung as Elle smiled happily back at the three older girl's moved faces.
The Fire Nation women walked beside their komodo rhinos with their eyes staring fondly back at their innocent friend.
"Elle…" Ty Lee trailed off in a touched voice with a joyful tear in her eye.
Even Mai found herself unable to resist cracking a small smile as she gazed back at the younger girl.
As Elle joyously hummed to the music while Azula gazed imposingly down at the girl with callous amber golden eyes.
"Oh, stand by me Princess, oh won't you stand by me Princess, stand by me." Elle sang along over the end of the song in a lovable voice as she skipped beside the princess while the much taller woman attempted to glare down at her.
Azula fought to squash the tiny sliver of a blush that nearly formed on her proud regal cheeks.
As her two noble friends gazed on in amusement from behind her.
Ty Lee giggled cheerfully as she beamed back at the younger girl.
Mai eyed Elle fondly with a thawed expression in her usually harsh tawny eyes.
Only for the mighty princess to cross her arms over her breasts while her girlfriend still smiled up at her.
As she rolled her intelligent amber golden eyes as she let out a pompous snort.
"Foolish peasant." Azula scoffed in a prideful voice with her cold eyes staring down at her serving girl's adorable face.
"That's so Azula-sama." Elle answered in a happy voice with her amber eyes beaming up at the older woman's scoffing countenance.
The two noblewomen still stared affectionately back at the younger girl's sweet face.
As the powerful princess still scowled down at her handmaid with her ruthless amber golden eyes conveying a possessive stare.
Zoi momentarily glanced over her shoulder alongside her confused partner with a small smile curving onto her lips.
While Nako and Saro glanced back at the girl with expressions of amazement in their eyes.
Just before they turned away knowing that it was unwise to gawk at their Crown Princess.
And with that the team continued to make their way across the bridge.
As the three Fire Nation women now stared back at their young friend with a look of appreciation in their eyes.
And even though they didn't say it.
Each of the three girls were glad that they didn't lose their gentle friend.
It was only a short while after that…
The royal sloop sat docked upon the shores of the ocean while Team Azula now gazed up at the ship in relief to see that the puppeteer had not destroyed it.
"It's…intact." Nako stated as she breathed a sigh of relief while Saro marveled alongside her.
The four highborn women stared up with their eyes expressing their disbelief.
As Elle peered up with confusion in her amber eyes while the seductress stood warily behind her warrior lover.
'She didn't destroy it…why?' Azula thought with her tyrannical amber golden eyes staring up at the royal sloop while she watched soldiers rush down to greet them.
"Princess! Princess! There was an attack while you were away! We…we had casualties!" A soldier advised in a hurried voice as he dropped down to prostrate himself alongside his comrades.
"I am already aware of that soldier." Azula responded in an imperious voice as she stared on with wrathful amber golden eyes.
Her sharp amber golden eyes caught sight of an abandoned merchant vessel laying upon the beach in the distance.
She now noticed that the sand on the far corner of the large beach was stained red with blood.
While she turned to share a vengeful look with her captain as they silently took in the blood-stained beach.
As the two firebenders glowered at the memory of their twisted enemy.
Ty Lee and Mai exchanged an uneasy look.
And just like that the Fire Nation women clenched their fists over the reminder of the loss of their people to the demented woman.
And then the highborn women began to make their way aboard the ship with their young friend following after them.
"C-casualties Azula-sama?" Elle inquired in a mousy voice as she gazed up at her mistress's harsh face with a look of sadness in her amber eyes while the woman just scowled down at her.
"It is nothing for you to concern your little mind over girl." Azula remarked in a cold voice with her amber golden eyes staring down at her pet's cutely worried face.
The petite girl hesitantly nodded her head as she gazed down at her feet with a sorrowful expression in her eyes.
Many Fire Nation soldiers prostrated on all fours with their faces in the deck of the royal sloop while they watched their Crown Princess step onto the ship.
The Dai Li bowed alongside them gazing on emotionlessly back at their princess's ruthless face.
Just before the princess turned to her team as her merciless eyes surveyed their faces.
"All of you except for Zoi and Saro are dismissed." Azula ordered in a much stricter voice than before while her subordinates nodded their heads in understanding.
Elle bit her lip as she was pulled away by Ty Lee.
Mai followed after them as she still glanced around the ship with a spark of paranoia in her eyes.
And Jiao and Nako made their way to their rooms behind them.
Just as the army swallowed fearfully when Azula's perfection driven amber golden eyes finally turned to stare imposingly back at them.
Zoi and Saro now stood faithfully in military formation behind their angered princess with their heads straightened in reverence to her authority.
While the Fire Nation soldiers sweated beneath their helmets in their deep bows under the princess's brutal stare.
All of them fearing that they would be punished horribly for failing their unforgiving princess.
"And you call yourselves soldiers." Azula began in a frigid voice with her amber golden eyes glaring back at the intimidated faces of her soldiers.
After facing the wretched puppeteer in battle personally.
She was well aware that even the likes of the Royal Procession couldn't even begin to compare to an opponent of Silah's caliber.
But even so…
There was no way that she could allow such a tremendous failure to go unpunished.
"This pathetic display is absolutely unacceptable! From this moment forward each and every one of you will repeat your training from dusk to dawn. Until I say otherwise. Do I make yourself clear!" Azula commanded in a supremely authoritative voice while a regal scowled graced her imposing features.
A flicker of delight flashed in her controlling amber golden eyes as she watched every person in her army press their faces into the floor in submission.
Her callous eyes glanced over her shoulder to see Zoi and Saro prostrated down on the floor behind her with their heads bent in a display of deference.
A pleased expression flashed before her eyes as she gazed from one soldier to another as she listened to her soldiers cry out in affirmative.
"Yes, Your Highness!" The Fire Nation army called out in unison while the princess's frozen amber golden eyes stared imperiously down at them.
And then the stoic princess turned to walk away without saying another word while her amber golden eyes glared ahead once more.
Silah…
She was going to find that woman.
And when she does…
She will make her scream for decades to come!
As the captain watched her princess depart with a scowl of her own on her lips.
'Even if it is the last thing, I do…this monster will not get away with killing my fellow Fire Nationals.' Zoi thought with her golden eyes taking on a stonily focused stare once more.
And with that the royal sloop soon set sail into the ocean's waters to their next destination.
Shung Wu.
The home of the castle of the Zanoda clan.
Later on, that day…
The three highborn Fire Nation women were now relaxing in the royal lounge as they tried to put the previous day's events behind them.
While their servant friend stood beside her princess as she tended to her needs.
Although it went without saying that it was easier said than done.
And so, the two nobles were now watching as their adopted sister stood behind the princess massaging her shoulders.
The princess smiled contently as she relaxed in her plush seat with her handmaiden girlfriend smiling at her from over her shoulder.
"Azula do you really have to make Elle work every moment of the day?" Ty Lee questioned with concern in her voice.
Mai let out a snort already knowing the answer to that question.
"It doesn't bother me oneesan! I am honored to serve Her Highness in any way that I can. I am her royal servant after all. It's my job!" Elle chirped with her dainty hands massaging the taller woman's shoulders.
As a bashful smile came over her face when her mistress turned to gaze over her shoulder with a pleased grin on her lips.
"Oh, quit being so dramatic Ty Lee. I am simply doing as the girl requested." Azula spoke in a regal voice as she rolled her eyes while she sunk back in her lavish throne.
She savored the sensation of her little servant's loving hands dutifully kneading her neck muscles.
The two noblewomen stared back at the strange couple with bewildered looks in their eyes.
"Requested?" Mai asked with mild curiosity in her monotone voice.
She gazed back at her innocent little sister with a fond gleam in her tawny eyes.
"Elle has expressed a desire to serve her queen in a higher capacity. She wishes to serve me all day and night. And so…I have decided that I am going to keep her on hand at all hours of the day." Azula commented in a beyond spoiled voice with her lips pulling into a haughty smirk while her serving girl smiled at her from over her shoulder.
As she took great delight in how both of her childhood friends stared back at her devoted servant girl in disbelief.
While the two noble big sisters resisted the urge to smack their palms against their faces.
"Little sister…why would you tell Azula that?" Ty Lee sighed with a shake of her head while Elle beamed back at them.
"Being Her Highness's servant is not something to be taken lightly oneesan. Azula-sama has even assured me that if she has an order that she will give it to me before any of the other servants." Elle quipped in an innocently prideful voice while her big sisters stared incredulously back at her.
Azula gazed smugly back at her two lifelong friends bewildered faces.
"How lucky for you kid." Mai replied with a sigh while she sat back in her seat staring back at the young girl's sweet face.
Yet even so.
She knew by now that there was no point in arguing with Elle when it comes to serving Azula.
It was plainly apparently that Azula made the girl happy.
And as her big sister…that was enough for her.
"Indeed, it isn't. And that is why I like this one. She sees me for the goddess that I am." Azula boasted with her beautiful lips curved into a content smirk while her handmaiden smiled proudly behind her.
"Azula-sama?" Elle queried in a lovably loyal voice as she peered at her mistress's gorgeous face while the woman turned to gaze back at her.
"Yes servant?" Azula answered in a cold voice that contrasted her attentiveness while she gazed back at the girl with possessive amber golden eyes.
Her callous gaze watched curiously when the lovely girl developed an adorably shy countenance.
As the two noblewomen glanced curiously back at their little sister's cutely bashful face.
"Can…can we take a group photograph together?" Elle requested in an abashed voice as she kicked at an imaginary pebble for the three highborn women gazed back at her in confusion.
As an expression of moved emotion came over the eyes of Mai and Ty Lee.
The stony princess arched an elegant brow as she sat back in her soft throne with her bewildered amber golden eyes gazing back at her small girlfriend.
"A group photograph?" Azula asked in a cold voice that masked her slight curiosity while her serving girl excitedly nodded her head.
While the two nobles listened with looks of interest in their eyes.
"Mhm! You set a timer on the camera and then we all pose for a family photo together! It's like posing for a painting but it only takes minutes to do it!" Elle exclaimed in an eager voice while the older girls gazed on in fascination.
"Ugh. So, in other words another group hug." Azula scoffed with annoyance lacing her seeming cruel voice while Ty Lee smiled brightly beside her.
As Mai let out a sigh while Elle's innocent eyes gazed back at them.
"Aww! That sounds like a lovely idea Azula! We should totally take a photograph with Elle!" Ty Lee said in a cheerful voice while the princess scowled at her.
The two noblewomen watched with amusement in their eyes as Elle began to tug on the scowling woman's sleeve.
"Can we please take a group photograph together Azula-sama?" Elle pondered in a puppylike voice while Azula sat glaring at her from over her shoulder.
"Tiger monkey…" Azula growled in a domineering voice with her amber golden eyes narrowing sternly back at her excited girlfriend.
"P-please Azula-sama! Please! Please!" Elle whined as she pulled on the older woman's arm.
The two noblewomen chuckled over their little sisters' antics.
Only for blue flames to spark to life in the royal lounge not a moment later.
"Fine! We'll take your stupid peasant photograph!" Azula barked in a pompous voice while she listened to her small girlfriend let out a begrudgingly adorable squeal.
Ty Lee smiled as widely as can be beside the sighing Mai.
"Yay! We're going to take family photos together!" Elle cried out as she thrust her arms above her head while Azula rolled her brilliant amber golden eyes at her.
"I don't suppose I can say no to this?" Mai inquired in a deadpan voice while she sat up in her seat.
Yet even so she still found herself staring back at the girl with a spark of fondness in her eyes.
She knew well enough that her time among the team was coming to a close.
And that she had to make the most of the time that she has left with the girl.
"I'll go set up the camera! It should only take a moment!" Elle shouted to her friends as she scurried over to her backpack while the older girls watched her dart off.
Azula let out a sigh as she sat watching her serving girl with a coldly protective amber golden eye.
As the smaller girl dug through her backpack with an exuberance that the three older women found endearing.
And shortly after that Elle set out the camera on an ornate stand while the three Fire Nation women now gazed curiously back at the machine.
Just before the trio turned towards the door when it opened up not even seconds later.
And the captain walked in wearing casual clothes.
Only for Elle to smile warmly back at the warrior while the older woman offered a slight smile back at her.
And that was all it took for her three highborn friends to know what the girl was going to say before she even said it.
Mai groaned under her breath in anticipated aggravation.
"Zoi! Come join us! We were just about to take a team photograph!" Elle announced in a joyous voice while the older woman blinked as she stared back at her in confusion.
Azula tapped her boot on the floor as she scowled back at the younger girl.
As Ty Lee still smiled in the direction of her adopted baby sister.
"A team photograph you say?" Zoi repeated in an undertone of perplexity while Elle rapidly nodded her head.
Her stony golden eyes glanced over the younger girl's camera with intrigue flashing before her eyes.
"Or don't." Mai stated dryly with a snort while Zoi just turned to smile tauntingly in her direction.
"That's right! I'm learning how to take a photograph with my new camera." Elle declared in a lovably proud voice as she puffed out her chest while she fiddled with her camera.
As the warrior found herself unable to resist smiling once more.
While Ty Lee released another giggle as she smiled brightly.
"Since I can see that it will make Saolin miserable. It would be my pleasure." Zoi responded with a smirk on her lips as she strode over while her fellow noblewoman glared back at her.
"Okay! Now we all need to go line up over there in front of the camera!" Elle informed in a helpful voice while her highborn friends listened inquisitively.
"Whatever. Let's just get this over with." Azula scoffed as she stood up from her seat while her cold amber golden eyes followed her little girlfriend's every movement.
Ty Lee and Mai stood up to follow after the princess.
As the captain curiously made her way over.
"I get to stand by Azula-sama!" Elle declared in a worshipful voice as she scurried after the older woman's heels.
Azula glanced over her shoulder with icy amber golden eyes as she watched the younger girl scamper over to her side.
She turned to stare back at the camera with a flicker of hidden interest in her eyes.
And soon after that the acrobat cart wheeled over to stand beside the princess while she beamed at Elle.
"So how does this work Elle?" Ty Lee questioned with a smile on her lips while Elle smiled brightly back at her.
"Well, it's sort of hit or miss since we can't see the picture before we take it. So, we just have to hope it turns out well! If not, we'll do it over." Elle explained as she slid in closer to her princess while the older woman stood with her arms crossed over her chest above her.
Azula let out a sigh under her breath as she regally posed herself as if she were standing before the royal painter.
She gazed down when she felt her girlfriend's head press into her side as Elle smiled widely back at the camera beside her.
Just before she turned to glance to her right when she felt Ty Lee slip her arm around her shoulder.
Mai moved to stand beside Elle.
Only for Zoi to bump her aside with her hip.
She now glared back at the older woman's smirking face as the warrior smugly stood beside the joyful handmaiden.
"I don't want to stand beside you. I was going to stand beside Elle." Mai stated with snap in her voice while the princess rolled her amber golden eyes.
As the smaller girl blushed as she stood between her four friends.
"Too bad. It's not my fault that you are too slow Mai." Zoi remarked with a taunting smile on her lips as she stood beside her adopted sister while the other woman glared back at her.
"Alright everyone! Look at the camera!" Elle advised in a chipper voice while her princess stood scowling over her.
Azula stared back at the camera with callous amber golden eyes as Ty Lee smiled from where she leaned on her shoulder.
As Zoi and Mai stood glaring back at one another through the corner of their eyes.
"Don't touch my shoulder Zoi." Mai complained with her tawny eyes glaring back at the other woman while the princess glared at them through the corner of her eye.
"Then get out of my face Saolin." Zoi replied with her golden eyes glaring back at her fellow noblewoman's scowling face.
Azula's amber golden eyes started to flash with a spark of aggravation as she glared back at her feuding subordinates.
As Elle and Ty Lee still smiled on each side of her.
And not a second after that…
The camera made repeated clicking sounds while the highborn women turned to gaze in fascination back at her.
While their young friend smiled adorably from where she stood with her head tucked in at the princess's side.
And a few moments after that.
"Let's see how they turned out!" Elle called out as she ran off to grab the camera.
The Fire Nation women found themselves staring on curiously as they watched the girl collect the machine.
And soon after that the highborn girls crowded around their companion as they watched in amazement as she operated the device.
Only for all of their eyes to stare down in astonishment when they saw a lifelike image of all five of them on the small screen.
Zoi in particular gazed on with the highest level of awe in her eyes since it was the first time that she had gotten a chance to check out the camera.
The princess's regal lips parted in bewilderment as she surveyed the photograph of her and her team.
It was a picture of Elle standing happily beside Azula while Ty Lee balanced herself on the princess's shoulder.
Zoi and Mai stood glaring back at each other as if they were about to tear each other's throats out.
All while Azula looked as if she were about to shout at her subordinates in anger.
Only for the four older girls to turn to their young friend clicked her tongue.
"Azula-sama…you weren't looking at the camera like I told you to do and you were making a funny face." Elle commented as she chewed on her lip while the princess glared down at her.
As the three noblewomen gazed in amusement at their leader's irritation.
"Did you just call my face funny?" Azula asked in a stern voice while she stared icily down at her lovely handmaiden.
"And Zoi and Mai…you two look like you are about to kill each other. Ty Lee is the only one who was actually looking at the camera." Elle spoke in a gentle voice while Ty Lee smiled proudly back at the two other women's deflated faces.
"Sorry Elle. I'll try to ignore Zoi next time." Mai assured while the captain glared back at her.
"This is such a fascinating invention Elle. Can I have a look at it?" Zoi pondered with interest lacing her voice while Elle nodded her head.
And then Elle handed the older woman the camera while the warrior gazed down at it in awe.
As the princess and the two other noblewomen still gazed at the invention with marvelment in their eyes.
"And all of the photographs that you take are held inside that little machine?" Ty Lee queried with wonder in her voice.
"Yep! You push the two buttons there to cycle through all of the photos that are stored on it!" Elle instructed in an informative voice while the team gazed on in amazement.
Zoi began to push the buttons to cycle through the photographs.
As the three other highborn women stared on from over her shoulder in fascination.
Only for the captain to raise a brow when she saw a photograph of her princess on the digital screen.
And then she clicked the button once more.
Only for yet another photo of her princess walking down a forest path to appear.
And then another after that…
And another after that.
And soon enough Elle stood blushing while the three noblewomen gazed down in puzzlement at what seemed to be hundreds of photos of their princess.
As Azula held her head high with a haughty smirk on her lips taking clear delight in the younger girl's worship.
"I-I like taking pictures of Azula-sama." Elle stammered adorably while her big sisters listened in humor.
"We can see that Elle." Mai answered with a slight fond edge to her monotone voice while she gazed back at Azula's smirking face.
Only for everyone to turn to Zoi when she let out a surprised sound.
The warrior now gazed down at the camera with her mouth in the shape of an o as she turned to the younger girl's reddened face for an explanation.
As the princess now leaned down with her amber golden eyes staring curiously down at the screen.
Just before she arched an elegant brow while she turned to peer down at her tomato-faced girlfriend.
Mai and Ty Lee turned to their little sister with a certain level of amusement in their eyes.
The picture in question was none other than a close-up photograph of Azula's ass in her usual blood red royal pants.
"Evidently so. From all angles." Zoi remarked with a smirk on her lips while she gazed teasingly down at the younger girl's overwhelmed face.
"T-that wasn't me. S-someone else took that photo." Elle sputtered in a lovable voice while her friends gazed pointedly back at her.
"Really servant? Now I find that hard to believe. Considering that you are the only one who has been playing around with that peasant toy of yours." Azula spoke with her beautiful lips curving into a conceited smile while she watched her pet struggle to defend herself.
"Oh, just leave the poor girl be Azula." Ty Lee commented in a supportive voice while the princess just smirked down at the younger girl.
"You know Azula…when you become Fire Lord that would make for a great royal portrait." Mai taunted with a widening smirk while the princess briefly glared at her through the corner of her eye.
As poor Elle stood with her cheeks as red as can be.
"Indeed Princess. That truly would be something for the history books." Zoi snickered with entertainment in her voice while her princess just glared back at her.
Ty Lee gazed chidingly back at her fellow noblewomen.
Before the princess sighed as she turned to gaze down at her confuddled serving girl with an amused gleam in her amber golden eyes.
"If any other servant were to check out my body, I would have them banished or put to death." Azula snorted with her arms crossed over her breasts while she loomed over the embarrassed girl.
"S-sumimasen Azula-sama. I-it's just that you are so magnificent. I-I can't help looking at you." Elle responded in a beyond abashed voice while a smile formed on the princess's regal lips as she held her head even higher.
"I know I am. Relax Elle. You are my girlfriend. I have already told you that you are allowed to look." Azula stated with a captivating smirk on her lips while she savored the way her serving girl shook under her domineering stare.
"C-can we just go back to the group photograph?" Elle sputtered in a helpless voice while Azula stood smiling arrogantly over her.
The three noblewomen gazed back at their adopted sister with amused looks in their eyes.
Before the captain passed the camera back into the younger girl's hands while the princess still stood smirking beside Elle.
And not long after that…
The highborn women and their young friend were back to posing for yet another photograph.
Azula stood with her chin held high with all the posture of true royalty.
Elle stood shyly with her head leaning into the older girl's side.
Ty Lee still stood with her arm around the princess's shoulder.
As Zoi stood with her arms folded over her chest.
e Mai stood gazing on calmly alongside her.
And finally, after a series of a several more photographs one turned out right.
The photograph of Team Azula that was now on the display now showed Azula standing proudly with Elle holding onto her elbow.
Ty Lee smiled cheerfully from where she leaned on the princess.
And Zoi gazed back at the camera with a small smile on her normally stoic lips.
And Mai herself had allowed her usually monotone expression to give way to a slight smile.
As Elle smiled sweetly from where she stood leaning into the princess's elbow.
Azula stared back at the camera with her regal lips ever so faintly curving into the barest hint of a smile.
It truly was a rare moment for Team Azula.
In which they all felt content to have made it through their many harrowing ordeals.
And for the moment they were just glad that they had made it back to the royal sloop safe and sound.
And even more than that.
The four highborn women were unable to deny that they were even more relieved that their innocent companion was still with them.
And for Team Azula.
That was a victory.
Elsewhere in a dark Fire Nation forest in the dead of night…
A Fire Nation soldier was currently running for her life.
She ran with her agape in terror as she madly sped through the tree line.
As she periodically glanced over her shoulder hoping that she had escaped her pursuers.
Until after running for what felt like an eternity.
She finally stopped to catch her breath as she balanced herself with a hand on a nearby tree.
As her bangs stuck to her exhausted face as she turned to gaze behind her once more.
Before she finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that she had managed to outrun her assailants.
'I have to get a message out! I must tell someone about…that thing that I saw! The Fire Lord! The princess! Anyone! Someone will believe me! They…they have to!' The woman thought with a panicked expression taking over her fright-stricken face.
And then she pushed herself off the trunk of the tree as she moved to sprint away.
Only for her eyes to grow wide in shock when she felt something pierce her from behind.
She shook on her wobbling feet as she gazed down with widening eyes to see that a hand formed of shadows was now penetrating her rib-cage!
'How…did they catch up with me?! I…could have sworn that I outran them!' The soldier thought with her eyes closing shut as her arms fell down to her sides while she fell backwards.
As she seemingly alive shadow smoothly retreated from her chest as she fell to the ground with her mouth frozen in a state of horror.
And not a moment after that the soldier dropped to the ground lifeless with her armor clanging upon the forest floor.
Just before the shadowed hand withdrew into a mass of shadows that was swirling along the base of the tree.
And then the living shadows slithered off into the dark of the night.
And just like that the ominous living shadow was gone as quickly as it had come.
Leaving behind only the corpse of the lifeless soldier laying unmoving on the forest ground with her face suspended in an expression of perpetual terror.
AN:
KingZilla, thank you for saying so! i truly appreciate it! I hope so as well.
Firstly, if anyone is curious. The song Elle was listening to in this chapter was Stand by Me by Ben E King. It is a total classic.
Now, that we are in another arc and we will soon be getting into plots involving Fire Nation politics. There are a few things that I want to mention.
I submitted some edits over the last few months, and I cannot remember if I mentioned this already. But I decided to change the ten great clans to the seven great clans.
I simply realized that ten was too many, and that seven major clans was more than enough to serve under the Royal Family while governing the many other clans that exist below them.
I also changed Clan Yao to Clan Zanoda, because I felt Zanoda sounded more like a Fire Nation name. So, when Jiao said back in chapter 71 that there was unrest in a Fire Nation rural island and mentioned a noble clan, that is Clan Zanoda.
Also, for world building purposes. I wanted to take a moment to describe my Fire Nation map. It looks exactly the same as the canon map, except there are two additional islands.
Fire Mountain is the largest city in the Fire Nation after the Capital, and it is its own island. The Fire Mountain island is situated right next to the mainland Capital Island. That makes it part of the mainland, and it is also the most fortified city after the Capital itself.
The second island, is located in the northern tip of the Fire Nation, this is the island that they were stranded on. It is located just below the Western Air Nomad Temple mountains, in the same area where the Sun Warriors island is located.
Speaking of the Sun Warriors, Azula will likely go there eventually. It just isn't happening right now, as she is already stronger than Zuko and giving her another advantage right now would be overkill.
As for this chapter, it was mostly lighthearted team bonding.
I hope everyone enjoyed Elle taking pictures of Azula, and the Team group photograph moment.
However, there was a sliver of darkness with the soldier fleeing for her life only to be killed by the shadow in the forest.
As for what the soldier saw that alarmed her so horribly, I will leave the specifics to your imagination. What we can infer is that it was likely something terrifying that goes against Fire Nation culture and that she was not meant to see.
Perhaps something cult related, possibly connected to what Mava spoke about.
The soldier's ominous death serves to give us a hint, that there are eerie things going on behind the scenes in the Avatar world, that even the Fire Lord and the Avatar are unaware of.
Things that operate in the shadows in secret, and once someone stumbles upon it, like that soldier did, they get killed in order to prevent them from telling the world what they saw.
That is all I can say on it for the moment, but as the arcs unfold we will learn more and more about what is happening in the shadows as the darkness starts to come to light.
Anyhow, that is all for now. Next chapter will completely about Elle and Azula bonding together, and after that we will have a short chapter seeing what is up with Team Avatar.
Stay tuned for next time.
For chapter one hundred twenty! The Vow!