Hey everyone.
This chapter is a bit late because I haven't been feeling well.
I want to thank everyone who favorited and followed since the last update and as always I hope that you all enjoy it.
The Sparks of Revolt - Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Three
The lavish palanquin now sat before the docks of the royal sloop.
And four soldiers of the Royal Procession knelt around it holding onto the bars waiting to carry it on standby.
And Elle now knelt faithfully before the steps of the front of the palanquin.
As Azula now strode forward to enter her palanquin while her frigid eyes momentarily swept over her kneeling servant girl.
Only to find herself gazing on in approval when the young girl quickly arose and pulled the pink cloth aside for her.
Her lips nearly curved into a pleased smile as she glanced at the girl's devoted face while she held the cloth open for her.
'She is such a well-trained little royal servant.' Azula thought in gratification as she stepped past her servant girl and into her palanquin.
And then she sat down on her cushioned throne with all of the authority of a queen while she elegantly crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap.
As she stared coldly ahead at her handmaid now standing before her palanquin.
Elle smiled shyly up at her mistress while Azula stared back down at her from her seat inside her palanquin with a stern amber golden gaze.
She comprehended the message behind the stare perfectly.
Her princess was telling her that she expects her to mind her behavior in front of the noble officials that she would be meeting with today.
And not even a second later.
Elle bowed her head in respect while the princess's ruthless amber golden eyes gazed down at her in satisfaction.
And then Elle arose from her bow as she took her place standing beside the palanquin as close as she could be to her princess.
While Azula sat staring possessively out at her through the corner of her eye.
As the rest of the princess's chosen subordinates were now making their way to follow on foot after the palanquin.
Mai and Ty Lee came to a stop standing beside the palanquin while they paid little mind to the couple's strange way of interacting.
Nako stepped up soon after that and took a position standing beside the two noblewomen.
Zoi now walked forward with her two companions, Saro and Jiao as they moved to stand before the palanquin.
As the princess turned to stare out of her palanquin at the seductress with a hint of annoyance in her callous amber golden eyes.
"Zoi. Is there any particular reason why you had to bring your commoner with you?" Azula questioned in a glacial voice with her imposing eyes gazing back at her captain.
"Is there any specific reason why you brought yours?" Zoi replied with a margin of her usual sass in her voice while her stony golden eyes glanced over the young girl's new neck accessory in momentary interest.
Before she simply shrugged her shoulders while Jiao stood beside her with Saro taking a spot standing beside them.
"Both of my commoners are fully trained and fit to be presented to the upper class of society. Which is more than I can say for yours." Azula stated with a pompous edge to her arrogant voice as she held her hands in her lap.
Her lips pursed into a regal sneer as she gazed back at the seductress's smiling face.
As the serving girl stood beside her royal mistress seated in her palanquin with an innocent smile still adorning her lips.
Nako shifted nervously on her feet over how her princess described her as if she was her pet.
As her brown eyes briefly gazed at Elle's new velvet collar before she turned away musing that it was none of her business.
Her princess's controlling personality was something that she has learned to take in stride the longer she has spent in her service.
Mai stared on with inexpressive tawny eyes as she ignored the princess's behavior.
Ty Lee let out a sigh as she gazed chidingly back at her conceited childhood friend.
"Azula…do you really have to talk about our friends like house pets?" Ty Lee pondered in a helpful voice while Mai released a snort beside her.
Nako turned to glance at Ty Lee with a smile on her lips while the noblewoman smiled back at her.
As the princess just smiled arrogantly back at them from her palanquin.
"Come now Princess. Jiao isn't that bad. I am sure that if you get to know her that you will come to like her." Zoi commented as she stood with the younger woman beside her.
As her princess glared icily back at her with an unconvinced look in her callous amber golden eyes.
"And besides…. given the rumors that I have already heard of the situation here I would prefer it Jiao remains by my side." Zoi explained with her voice taking on a stonily focused tone once more while Jiao glanced up at her in appreciation.
Azula's lips creased into a noble scowl once more at the mere reminder of any number of peasants daring to revolt against her.
That was when all eyes turned to the chancellor as he was seen walking towards the palanquin with his robes flowing behind him.
"Why does he have to come with us?" Mai muttered with a distasteful tone to her voice as she glared after the chancellor.
Ass anger sparked before her eyes over the memory of the part that he played in nearly getting her father and her little sister killed.
Only for Azula to turn her frozen gaze to her childhood friend as she silenced the other woman immediately before the man came into earshot.
And then the chancellor stepped in as he quietly made his way to stand beside the stoic captain.
His golden eyes fleetingly passed over Elle's oddly happy face as he mulled over the girl's mysterious power and position at the princess's side.
'Evidently this girl is more than just a simple servant…a valued war power perhaps? Or maybe even something…more.' Terak thought in an observant manner as he gazed back at the joyful girl standing closely to the princess seated inside her palanquin.
Only for frightening amber golden eyes to meet his own before he quickly turned away from his princess's intimidating gaze.
And not a moment later the soldiers lifted the palanquin into the air and began to carry it down the street.
While the mighty princess sank back in her seat with her scary amber golden eyes still glaring ahead.
As her small handmaid obediently followed beside her on foot as her palanquin rode towards the city entrance.
And the rest of the group now walked after the princess's palanquin while armored soldiers followed on foot.
And with that they soon found themselves entering through the gates of Shung Wu.
Only for the entire group to turn to stare on in shock at what they saw.
A large crowd of peasants were impacting with a force of guards in the distance who were struggling to get the rowdy mob under control.
The troops fought to push back the shouting crowd with their weapons while the observers gazed on in disbelief.
As the princess now stared out from her palanquin with her amber golden eyes taking on an utterly livid stare.
And the servant girl now peered on at the scene with her gentle amber eyes now agape in distress.
The two noblewomen gaped on in astonishment from where they stood beside the palanquin.
As the captain gazed on with her golden eyes widened in growing concern.
The chancellor for his part stared on with his sharp eyes showing much less surprise than his fellow nobles.
Nako and Saro for their part stared on with looks of taken aback emotion in their wide eyes.
Only for all eyes present in the group to turn to the seductress when the young woman's voice cut into the tense air.
"This has been brewing for some time now. But the upper class just couldn't see it coming…. because you highborn cannot understand the needs of regular people." Jiao spoke in a reflective voice with her blue eyes gazing almost bitterly on at the scene before her.
The nobles beside the palanquin stood in a bewildered silence.
As the princess turned to glare in the seductress's direction with increasing fury in her eyes.
Before the princess gazed back out from her palanquin with her amber golden eyes narrowing into an infuriated death glare.
As the young girl walked beside her palanquin with her amber eyes still wide in innocent distress.
Ty Lee and Mai walked in a contemplative quiet as they considered the other woman's jarring words.
While the captain clenched her fist as she silently vowed to see that the concerns of the people were addressed.
"This will be rectified. This defiance will not stand!" Azula exclaimed in a furious voice with her callous amber golden eyes glaring out from her seat while her young girlfriend quivered beside her palanquin.
As the yells of the angered crowd resounded into the ears of everyone present as the palanquin was carried into the city.
The two noblewomen exchanged a grimacing look in pity for the peasants who were about to find themselves face to face with a wrathful Azula.
And not a second later…
The occupants in the group were then jolted from their thoughts when the palanquin came to an abrupt stop.
"What is the meaning of this!? Why have you stopped!?" Azula shouted with her ruthless voice cutting through the air like a whip while her amber golden eyes glared fiercely ahead.
Only for her eyes to widen in boiling wrath when she heard the yells of unruly peasants drawing closer from the other end of the road.
"M-my apologies Your Highness! We…encountered a roadblock!" An Imperial Firebender called out from the front of the palanquin.
The princess now sat seething in her seat with her amber golden eyes growing even wider in outrage.
As the rest of the group stared back at one another with disbelieving looks in their eyes.
"Then get rid of it!" Azula snapped in an absolutely imperious voice with her amber golden eyes glaring on in impatience.
As she kept a close watch on her trembling pet beside her palanquin through the corner of her livid eye.
Only to find gazing through the pink cloth in furious disbelief to see that a mob of peasants were obstructing her palanquin.
As the princess's subordinates stood around the palanquin with their widened eyes gazing on them in utter astonishment.
Ty Lee and Mai stood with their jaws dropping over the sheer number of people that had been brave enough to obstruct the princess's pathway!
And Zoi gazed on with her mouth open in shock.
As her fists balled up at her hips when she saw the expressions of hunger, anger and fear in their faces.
Elle peeked out from behind Zoi with her kindhearted eyes growing even wider in apprehension.
Nako swallowed down her conflict as her anxious brown eyes gazed on with the stunned Saro watching from beside her.
As Jiao and Terak gazed on with cautious looks in their wary eyes.
While the group listened in disbelief to the shouts that were ringing from the people in the streets.
"Make way at once! By the order of Her Royal Highness Princess Azula, you are commanded to move!" Another Imperial Firebender yelled out as he stood before the lavish palanquin.
Only to find himself gazing around in unease when he saw that the commoners were obstructing all sides of the street.
As the group turned to nervously observe their princess's enraged face from where she gazed out from the cloth within her palanquin.
Only for all of them to listen in disbelief when the voice of a man shouted back in defiance.
"We will not move!" Shozak declared in a voice of stunning boldness as he stared defiantly back at the soldiers taking up defensive positions around the royal palanquin.
While angered shouts resounded in the air from the man's fellows behind him.
Those beside the palanquin stared on with stunned expressions in their eyes.
As the princess's amber golden eyes now boiled over in volcanic rage as she ground her teeth together in her royal rage.
The two noblewomen could only listen in disbelief to hear a commoner openly disobey Azula!
Azula then raised her hand as she signaled for her palanquin bearers to set her palanquin down.
And then the Royal Procession lowered the palanquin down into the street.
And not even seconds after that the group turned to gaze fearfully at their leader when the princess abruptly rose to her feet.
As she glared on with seething amber golden eyes as she exhaled fire through her enraged nostrils.
The handmaid peered up at her girlfriend with distressed amber eyes as she watched the tall woman move to exit her palanquin.
And two soldiers then pulled open the cloth of the palanquin.
As those around the palanquin shivered when the princess menacingly stepped out while her soldiers parted the cloth for her.
And then she descended down the two steps of the palanquin.
And not even a second after that Azula placed one pointed boot outside her palanquin.
She turned to glare around her with mercilessly imperious amber golden eyes in ever increasing rage that a mob of peasants truly had the gall to surround her palanquin.
As she tried to squash the flicker of disbelief that came over her furious eyes when she saw how large the mob was.
There were hundreds of peasants gathered among them!
And then she hardened her tyrannical amber golden eyes into a penetrating glare from where she stood beside her armored soldiers.
And just like that, as soon as the Fire Princess's all-encompassing eyes swept over them.
A great many of the peasants felt their knees turn to jelly.
As most suddenly lost their courage under the prodigy princess's commanding gaze.
"What is this insolence? You dare to defy a command from your Crown Princess? I said move!" Azula commanded in a booming voice of limitless authority with her intimidating eyes glaring over one face after another.
The many beaten down peasants shook fearfully under the princess's harsh stare as some began to lose their nerve.
And while the rest of the group still gazed on at the large mob in disbelief.
Yet even so the crowd of peasants still stood together unmoving.
"Your Crown Princess just gave you an order! Stand aside! Now!" Azula bellowed in a ruthless voice that resounded authoritatively into the air as intense blue flames burst forth from the ground behind her.
And that was all it took for the frightening Fire Princess to strike fear into the hearts of the downtrodden citizens.
And just when the crowd almost began to back away from the imposing princess and her armored soldiers.
The voice of a lone black-haired man rang out in disobedience.
"No!" The same man from before shouted with bravado rising up in his voice while he clenched a farming tool in his hand.
And just like that the princess spun around with her livid amber golden eyes now burning imperiously through the thirty-something man's skull.
The peasant mob began to murmur in awe as they stood behind their would-be leader as he rebelliously met the princess's penetrating gaze.
As the princess's subordinates shivered as they could have sworn that they felt the anger that was radiating off her body.
"What…did you just say to me? Would you care to repeat that peasant?" Azula demanded in a tyrannical voice with her frightening amber golden eyes glaring back into the man's defiant face.
Her armored soldiers stood faithfully behind her just as one stepped forward to deliver a report.
"Your Highness! We have been informed that the citizens are refusing to pay their taxes to the Crown! And the citizens are also refusing to fight any further in the war effort!" A soldier exclaimed in an obedient voice while the princess listened with her seething back turned to them.
The princess's amber golden eyes bubbled over with even further rage as she piercingly turned to glare back into the eyes of the ringleader apparent.
As the three noblewomen stood behind their princess with their eyes gazing on in marvelment to see the people of the Fire Nation actively defying their princess.
"I take it…that you are the instigator. Well…make no mistake this little 'rebellion' ends now. You will all return to your homes. And each and every one of you will pay your tax to the Crown. And those that are able will fight in the war effort. Do I make myself clear?" Azula ordered with her elegant hands folded gracefully behind her back.
Elle shook by the palanquin as she gazed between her mistress and the gathered commoners.
As Zoi still gazed on with conflicted golden eyes.
Mai and Ty Lee still stared around with unnerved looks in their eyes as the peasants muttered amongst each other once more.
"No! No, we won't!" Shozak retorted in a courageous voice as all eyes turned to him once more.
Azula's callous amber golden eyes stared furiously right back at him with her fists tightening behind her robed back.
It was a truly terrifying stare that sent shivers down his spine.
But he would not give in!
And just like that the suspense in the air increased by tenfold as the crowd of disobedient peasants exchanged looks with one another.
As the princess opened her mouth to speak out yet another scathing other.
Only for her infuriated eyes to widen when the man's voice cut her off before she could so much as say another word.
"Don't listen to her! She is just trying to intimidate you! She doesn't give a shit about you! She doesn't care about any of us! She just wants to take your coin and convince you to go die in the Royal Family's never-ending war!" Shozak called out in a scornful voice with his words resounding throughout the streets.
While a sense of unequaled tension now consumed the air as the princess now looked as if she wanted to tear the man apart limb by limb.
The noblewomen watched with disbelieving looks in their eyes as they digested the man's hateful words.
It was one thing to hear such words from an Earth Kingdom or Water Tribe rebel.
But to hear it from a Fire Nation citizen shocked them to their very core.
As Elle lingered behind her friends with her pure-hearted eyes brimming with anxiety.
"How dare you speak to me like that! Guards! Apprehend that man and teach him a lesson in respect!" Azula bellowed in a voice of booming authority with her outraged amber golden eyes glaring murderously back at the man.
Her soldiers swiftly nodded their heads as they moved forward to seize the shouting man.
The noblewomen stared on from behind with their eyes expressing their growing conflict over clashing with their own people.
"A-Azula-sama…please don't hurt anyone." Elle stammered in a mousy voice while she stood by the palanquin.
Azula glared on with her lips pursed into a regal glower over her young girlfriend's sentimental nature.
Only for her amber golden eyes to widen in even greater fury when several men from the crowd boldly moved to block her soldiers advance.
And just like that a fire seemed to light within the crowd.
"Go fight in your own fucking war!" Another peasant roared in an emboldened voice as the tension in the air thickened to palpable heights.
Azula froze up with her amber golden eyes widening in boiling rage after the second man's words flowed into her ears.
And seconds after that the man's words seemed to inspire a sense of courage within the rest of the crowd.
While shouts began to permeate into the air as the Fire Princess stood turning around to gaze at the many faces around her.
As the fury in her eyes grew with each yell of defiance that she heard.
"The people of Shung Wu have been dying in your Agni damned war for nearly a hundred years! And we aren't going to die for it anymore!" An older man yelled out at the top of his lungs while the mighty princess seethed with her amber golden eyes piercing one peasant after another.
Mai and Ty Lee stood rooted to their spots with their mouths ajar in awe.
As Zoi listened to the calls of the enraged public with her golden eyes expressing her anger.
Only it wasn't the commoners that she was furious with.
No.
It was anger towards the Zanoda clan for letting it come to this.
"W-where is my son! He deployed for a mission with the Crown weeks ago and I received a letter stating that he is believed to have perished in battle! What happened to my son!" An older woman's grief-stricken voice tore into the air and into the princess's ears.
The princess turned to stare coldly over her shoulder with still enraged amber golden eyes.
As the three noblewomen exchanged horrified looks with one another as their stomachs dropped in realization.
The woman's son…was most likely among the soldiers that Silah killed when she arrived to hunt them in the Forgetful Valley!
And by some coincidence they had managed to run into his mother!
The captain's golden eyes were now wide in remorse as she clenched her fists in renewed shame.
As Azula stood with her lips in a glower as she listened in rage as the people continued to scream all around her.
The chancellor shuffled his way past the emotional serving girl as he made his way to his princess's side.
He quickly stepped in front of the enraged princess as he glanced around at the faces of the shouting crowd with an alert expression in his golden eyes.
"Fellow Fire Nation citizens, I can assure you that there is no need for this. We are here to address your concerns, and the sooner that you clear that you clear the street for the princess the sooner she can begin doing so." Terak spoke in a smoothly disarming voice as he walked to face the roaring crowd.
The princess glared on with swiftly waning patience in her murderous amber golden eyes.
Only for the sound of the chancellor shouting in startlement to resound into the air not a moment later when a rock was nearly lobbed at his head.
"How unruly! I am your friend and you throw rocks at me!" Terak exclaimed as he stumbled away as many stones were thrown his way.
He yelped when several connected with his back.
As the princess stared at the retreating man with her amber golden eyes expressing disgust over his weakness.
'How pathetic! He can't even fend off a few stones!' Azula thought with a scoff escaping her regal lips before she returned her glare to the crowd of yelling peasants.
The two noblewomen's eyes briefly flashed with entertainment over the sadistic man getting a small taste of humiliation.
Only to find themselves turning around to watch with worried looks in their eyes when more soldiers began to march towards the defiant mob.
"We're not clearing the street until we get an answer for why you aristocrats get to eat while our town goes hungry!" Shozak hollered in an infuriated voice as he bravely met the princess's increasingly angered amber golden eyes.
As the man's words split through the air and into the hearts of the more compassionate hearts among Team Azula.
Ty Lee gazed on with her brown-gray eyes expression tremendous emotion.
And Mai stared back with a rare flicker of emotion in her tawny eyes.
The handmaid glanced ahead with her gentle amber eyes expressing a profound distress.
As the captain began to stride forward with her absolutely incensed golden eyes glaring at the castle in the distance.
"The grain has failed! And yet the governor still has food!" Another voice protested in similar fury while many other voices yelled out in agreement.
The princess also turned to stare with venomous amber golden eyes at the castle that overlooked the city.
While the soldiers tried to push back the furious mob.
Only for even more peasants to start to pour into the gathering as the crowd slowly but surely began to grow even larger!
The stunned members of Team Azula listened to what sounded like troops clashing with the people all throughout the city!
Just before Azula turned to gaze coldly over her shoulder when her warrior stepped past her.
Her amber golden eyes widened a fraction when she saw the unfathomable rage in the older woman's eyes.
She watched in silence as the warrior began to storm forward almost as if she was going to confront the mob.
Only to find herself staring on in disbelief when her strongest soldier began to shove the other soldiers to the wayside.
As the roars of the crowd resounded into the ears of all present.
Saro stepped past the speechless teenager as he gazed out after his leader with concerned golden eyes.
Jiao gazed on with her blue eyes expressing a degree of worry for her lover.
While Nako now stood behind Elle.
As both girls gazed on with worry filled eyes as they watched the peasants and the soldiers push back on each other.
"Comrades! I promise you that immediate action will be taken to distribute emergency food aid to all of you!" Zoi shouted in a resolute voice as she gazed gravely back at the outraged citizens while loud yells still filled the air.
As the warrior's teammates watched from behind with astonishment in their eyes over the soldier's seemingly undying dedication to the people of the Fire Nation.
The princess still gazed on with callously angered amber golden eyes as she struggled to keep her volatile temper in check over the disrespect that the crowd showed her.
Only for the rage in her eyes to grow to even greater heights when the out-of-control people continued to scream wildly all around them.
As she turned around with her ruthless amber golden eyes masking her shock over how deeply the people despised them.
And somewhere deep down inside her cold heart she even felt something akin to a tiny sliver of hurt to learn that her own people seemingly thought her a monster.
Just…like her mother.
"You are not our comrade! No aristocrat is a comrade of ours!" A fisherman yelled out in rage while his words stunned the highborn present.
Zoi halted in her footsteps with her golden eyes taking on a display of taken aback emotion.
As Ty Lee listened with an expression of recoiling emotion in her compassionate eyes.
The people here truly hated them!
Mai stood in a state of speechless shame as she gazed around her with grimacing tawny eyes.
"We are not one and the same…aristocrat! You are our enemy! Shung Wu has been disregarded by the aristocracy for decades because of its status as part of an outlying island! Why should we believe you now!" Shozak retorted in a fiercely unconvinced voice while the warrior stared back with almost wounded golden eyes.
The others listened with shock in their eyes as they still struggled to process that there are regions of their prosperous nation that are descending into such chaos.
Elle chewed on her lip in anxiety as she watched the chaotic scene from behind her stunned big sisters.
"I am not your enemy! I give you my word that I will help Shung Wu!" Zoi insisted as she gazed back in the faces of the rightfully angered commoners as the mob shoved into the soldiers.
As the princess gritted her teeth in swiftly eroding patience when even more screams resounded into the streets.
She found herself begrudgingly recalling the words that Yoko had spoken to her when she departed from Fire Mountain.
The longer you occupy the more troops you deploy. The more troops you deploy the more you weaken yourself at home. And that my princess is how nations fall.
Her lips sunk into a sophisticated scowl as she glared around her with murderous fury in her narrowed amber golden eyes.
As she stared on with increasing boiling fury in her eyes as the disobedient conglomeration of peasants pushed back in mass against her outnumbered soldiers.
Just before she turned around to gaze over her robed shoulder with surprise in her eyes to see her pilot hurrying to assist the captain.
Before the skittish woman came to a stop beside the mighty warrior.
The noblewoman turned to glance back at her with her stoic golden eyes conveying great respect.
"I am not highborn! I am a lowborn peasant born and raised in a rural Fire Nation town just like the rest of you! I don't know about the Zanoda clan or the rest of the Royal Family but I know that Princess Azula is not the kind of person that you think she is!" Nako exclaimed with her courageous voice overflowing into the street.
Azula stood in silence with her astounded amber golden eyes staring at her loyal pilot's back.
As the rest of the princess's entourage listened with amazement in their eyes as the young woman faced the outraged crowd.
"When we were stranded and facing certain death it was Princes Azula that led us out of peril! There were many moments when I thought that I thought that I wouldn't survive but the princess guided me through it! She saved my life and I saved hers!" Nako yelled in a dedicated voice as she gazed at the unruly faces of the crowd all around her.
The shouts of the mob still resounded thunderously in her ears as stood beside the speechless captain.
Azula's amber golden eyes widened in an expression of awe over how it felt to have a subordinate speak so passionately in her defense.
"But she isn't just my princess! She's…she's…my friend! She has promised me that she will address the food shortage in my town! And I know that she will do the same for all of you!" Nako assured with her brown eyes conveying profound confidence in the princess while her teammates listened in fascination.
And for the most fleeting of moments the princess's ruthless amber golden eyes almost seemed to flicker with something similar to a moved emotion in her gaze.
Only for it all to vanish in the blink of an eye when the violent crowd's yells continued while fury began to brew in her enraged eyes once more.
"She's worse than an aristocrat! She's an aristocrat bootlicker!" A fisherman's hateful voice insulted in rebuke while the discouraged pilot began to step back with her brown eyes agape in shock.
Azula shook in unrivaled outrage as her began to bare her teeth like a seething dragon as the hateful yells continued to resonate all around her.
As the subordinates listened to the crowd's vitriol in growing unease.
"Then you are a fool! The Royal Family has never done anything but take from the people of Shung Wu! There are two kinds of people in this world! Aristocrats and peasants! We exist entire worlds apart and they can never be our friends! They are our enemy! And the only way that they will ever concede anything is if we take it by force!" Shozak snapped in a determined voice with his loathing words carrying into the highborn women's stunned ears.
Nako stood frozen in her spot with her brown eyes listening in trepidation to the man's brutal words.
As the princess crushed her fists against her womanly hips as she snarled through her pursed lips.
Her handmaid quivered from where she remained beside her palanquin behind her as the shouts of the peasants boomed out all around her.
Ty Lee and Mai began to take an unsettled step back in response to the sheer hatred that their own people felt for them.
As the crowd began to push back against the frustrated royal soldiers with even greater ferocity.
All the while as agents of the Dai Li began to silently drop down around the palanquin.
And then in that very instant Shozak gazed defiantly back into Azula's volcanic amber golden eyes.
"Brothers and sisters! We are many and they…are few! They are the ones that need us! We do not need them! Let us show them how numerous we are!" Shozak called out in an inspiring voice that provoked a roar all around him.
As the Dai Li stood obediently around their infuriated master.
The princess listened to their yells with her patience having long since faded from her callous amber golden eyes.
"A-Azula…" Ty Lee stammered in a shaken voice while a tear fell from her kind eye as she stood beside her furious friend.
Mai stared on with a grim look in her gloomy tawny eyes as she took a cautious step backwards.
As the chancellor took cover with his widened golden eyes staring out at the violent scene as it continued to boil over.
While Saro now stood beside his noble teammates as he gazed about with widened golden eyes.
As Nako continued to take fearful steps backwards.
Jiao gazed on with frightful blue eyes at her warrior's tall back.
Zoi stood there gazing on throughout the chaotic street with a truly rare expression of indecision in her wide golden eyes.
As Elle grasped at her arms with her lips shaking into a fraught show of innocent emotion.
And then the fisherman through his fist into the air while the enraged princess glared daggers through his skull.
"Down with the monarchy! Down with the aristocracy!" Shozak roared in a hateful voice that was long past reason while his countless fellows screamed all around him in unison.
And then just like that the peasant mob rushed forward like a swarm in one mass as the disbelieving Team Azula gazed rapidly all around them.
Azula now glared on as she spat fire through her seething lips with her teeth clenched in her rage.
As even more yells rang out into the air as her fists lip up with blue fire.
The stunned subordinates gazed on from their respective positions around the palanquin.
"Down with the monarchy! Down with the aristocracy!" The mob screamed in a rebellious voice while peasant after peasant ran towards the shocked soldiers.
And then not even seconds after that the sound of the peasants yelling split into the air when they impacted with the princess's royal force.
"P-please! Everyone! There must be another way to resolve this! This doesn't have to devolve into violence!" Elle cried out in a fretful voice with panicked eyes gazing on from beside the palanquin.
Only to find herself letting out a squeak when the mob paid no heed to her words while they collided with a roar against the highly trained soldiers.
The princess rolled her enraged amber golden eyes as she snorted out searing flames through her wrathful nostrils.
As her military force gazed expectantly back at her in uncertainty if they were truly about to do battle with Fire Nation civilians.
"I have had it with this disobedience! Subdue them and clear the road!" Azula thundered in a voice of natural authority while her callous eyes glared back at the screaming mob.
And that was all it took for the entire street of Shung Wu to be consumed with chaos!
The Fire Nation soldiers began to swing back against the peasant mob.
While the Dai Li skillfully used their earthbending to send scores of people soaring onto the ground below.
As the noblewomen listened with stunned expressions in their eyes as far too many peasants to count willed their hunger riddled bodies to resist the mighty military force.
The sounds of people screaming continued to fill the streets as angered peasants began to overwhelm each soldier five to one!
As the famous captain stood paralyzed with her fists hanging at her hips.
Her golden eyes widened as she watched the Fire Nation military throw people to the ground.
As the peasants started to throw large rocks at the soldiers that collided painfully with their helmets jarring their faces within.
Azula stood glaring on beside her speechless childhood friends as the riot erupted all around them.
Only for the group to spin around with alert expressions in their disbelieving eyes when the crowd poured straight into the Dai Li in even greater numbers!
And that was all it took for the chaos to soar to even greater heights as the disorderly mob began to overwhelm the earthbending agents with their superior numbers.
Even more shouts filled the air as the peasants started to climb their way over the Dai Li's defensive earth constructs!
"Contain them!" Azula shouted with her furious voice resonating throughout the streets while she watched her soldiers collide with the rampant mob.
"But Azula they just want food!" Ty Lee protested with guilt in her voice only to find herself backing away in fright when the princess spun around to glare back into her eyes.
"How I am supposed to get them food if we don't get this city under control!" Azula snapped with flames exuding from her enraged lips.
The two noblewomen numbly nodded their heads in comprehension.
As the warrior still stood frozen amidst at the center of the chaotic crowd in a rare state of hesitation.
Only to find herself torn from her reverie when she heard her princess's voice call out to her.
"Zoi! What are you doing! I need you to quell that mob!" Azula barked in an authoritative voice while her callous amber golden eyes stared harshly back at the other woman's unusually conflicted face.
The rampaging people continued to grapple with the overwhelmed soldiers as the shouts from both groups consumed the air.
As the captain suddenly found herself being pushed back by the uncontrollable mob.
And not even seconds after that the warrior was pulled back into action when an object impacted with the side of her head.
While a sudden sense of alertness came over her frustrated golden eyes when she saw that the crowd was making their way towards the royal palanquin.
'As much as I despise the idea of using force on hungry Fire Nation civilians, I cannot allow them to endanger the princess's life!' The captain thought with a distasteful scowl on her lips while she clenched her fists at her hips.
"Forgive me comrades…" Zoi spoke in a low voice as she swung her fist into the stomach of a man attempting to charge past her.
She forced herself to suppress the guilt in her golden eyes as she watched the man slump to the ground with his eyes wide in pain.
And then she steeled herself as she began to push back against the violent mob while chaotic shouts rang out around her.
As she clenched her teeth as she stood blocking the roaring crowd while many fists and blunt objects were hurtled at her.
The screams from the clashing civilians and soldiers were all that could be heard throughout the increasingly pandemonium consumed streets.
Elle watched from beside the palanquin with a distressed expression in her amber eyes as her friends attempted to get the crowd to calm down.
Just before she hurriedly tore her backpack from off her back.
Jiao gazed on with confusion in her blue eyes as she watched the young girl frantically begin digging through her backpack.
And then she turned to gaze back while her eyes widened in unease when she saw that the mob was beginning to climb their way over the outnumbered soldiers!
Only for the soldiers to push back on the unruly crowd with even greater force than before.
And not even seconds after that several civilians were thrown to the ground by the armored military force.
Just as the sound of a farmer yelling out in right resounded into the air when a stream of a soldier's firebending nearly charred him on the spot!
As Zoi quickly turned to watch through the corner of her enraged golden eye when she saw one of her fellow soldiers almost use lethal force on one of the civilians.
She exhaled flames through her livid nostrils as her eyes took on a scarily focused glare.
And not a moment after that same very soldier let out a shout of pain when he was abruptly slammed into the ground.
He shivered in terror when he two powerful fists seized him by his collar as he gazed up into furious golden eyes.
"We do not use lethal force on Fire Nation civilians! Try that again and I will kill you! Got that!" Zoi roared with her infuriated gaze glaring down into the man's terrified eyes as he quickly nodded his head.
The rest of the soldiers stood on the sidelines watching the exchange with fearful expressions in their eyes.
"Y-yes Captain! I…I understand!" The soldier exclaimed in a frightened voice as he was roughly released from the woman's hold while he was dropped back onto the ground.
The mighty warrior stood up as she turned her golden gaze back to the intimidated faces of her fellow soldiers.
As the men and women of the Fire Nation army swiftly began to nod their heads in hopes of avoiding the woman's notorious wrath.
Only for the shouts of the rampant mob to ring out all around them once more as the peasants continued to jump over the overwhelmed soldiers.
"Do not stop or the aristocrats will think that they can continue to step on our throats whenever they please!" Shozak called out as many of his fellow peasants gazed on in agreement as they charged forward with a resounding yell.
As the princess stood with her booted feet entrenched to the ground as she continued to exhale flames from her enraged nostrils at an ever-rising rage.
Just as the two other noblewomen turned around with widened looks in their eyes when they saw enraged peasants rushing towards them!
The princess turned around to glare authoritatively back at the peasants with her amber golden eyes conveying her royal fury.
She rapidly reeled around when she heard her pilot cry out in pain behind her.
Only to find herself gazing back into her pilot's courageous brown eyes when the shorter woman stumbled into her back with a yelp.
The princess now stared down at the ground to see a rock rolling to her booted feet.
Just before she turned to gaze back down at her subordinate's loyal face while the other woman shook under her strict stare.
Nako now held onto her bruised arm as she gazed skittishly back up into her princess's bewildered amber golden eyes.
"T-that rock almost hit you in the back Princess." Nako explained in a devoted voice as the princess stood over her with her crimson lips parting in an expression of surprise.
Azula now stared down with her callous amber golden eyes expressing a rare expression of appreciation.
As the shouts from the chaotic scene still rang out all throughout the volatile street.
"A rock Nako? You would take a blow for me for something as trivial as a rock?" Azula questioned in a voice of natural authority as she stood over the woman with her pleased amber golden eyes gazing down at her faithful face.
"Your Highness…I don't care if is an assassin or a rock! I am not going to just stand by and watch as someone attacks my Crown Princess!" Nako exclaimed in a spirited voice as she stood gazing back up into the princess's approving amber golden eyes.
And despite the gravity of all that had happened the princess found that she was unable to resist allowing her crimson lips to pull into the slightest show of a fond smile.
It was in that moment that the princess understood that it didn't matter if it was a threat to her life or something as insignificant as a rock being thrown at her back.
Her subordinate would come to her aid every time without any regard to her own life.
And that made the woman more than deserving of her recognition.
And not even seconds later the smile immediately vanished from her wrathful lips when a wild rioter moved to swing at her startled subordinate.
Nako made a yelp of surprise only for her brown eyes to widen in awe when a powerful hand backhanded the man before his fist could connect with her face.
She took several astonished steps backwards until she found herself gazing up to see her princess now standing protectively in front of her.
As Azula's merciless amber golden eyes now glared back at the intimidated faces of several men with her subordinate shielded behind her tall back.
"T-thank you Princess!" Nako stated in a shaken voice with her loyal brown eyes staring at the angered princess's back.
The enraged princess simply stared frigidly back at the maddened mob as she listened to the yells of the crowd all around her.
As she felt her rage towards Governor Joza boil over in her veins.
'I am going to make that inept fool suffer for this!' Azula thought with fire spewing from her glowering lips.
Only to find herself swiftly turning to glance over her shoulder to see her two childhood friends defending themselves from the unruly crowd.
Ty Lee struggled to squash the remorse in her eyes as she rapidly chi blocked two people that were attacking her.
As Mai stepped back with her back pressing against her friend's own as she grimaced while she knocked a man unconscious.
Saro did the same as he swung back against the crowd as they swarmed at him with a grave expression in his remorseful golden eyes.
Just as Shozak and several of his cohorts were seen rushing towards the Fire Princess.
Azula turned her hardened amber golden eyes back to the charging people as two of her Dai Li dropped down beside her.
Her imperious gaze narrowed into ruthless slits as her imposing fists fell to her womanly hips.
And then in that very moment an aura of inconceivably powerful chi began to exude from her robed body.
And just like that the princess released a burst of her mighty bending while her potent energies overflowed forth from her body.
While the ringleader and his fellows stared on with their eyes wide in fright as they halted in their footsteps.
And not even seconds after that they found their resolves crumbling into ashes when the princess's ruthless voice boomed into the air in rebuke.
"I said that is enough!" Azula bellowed in an unfathomably sharp voice while her bending exploded from her body.
And that was all it took for the terrified civilians to be thrown away like rag dolls by the princess's frightening power.
While a current of lightning now crackled before the princess's merciless face in unison with an intense inferno of blue fire.
As the peasants landed on their backs in the street gazing back at the princess's callous face in intimidation.
As all other eyes in the street turned to the Crown Princess in either fear or awe as she now glared in judgement down at the easily defeated farmers and fisherman.
Nako stared at her princess's back with a look of astonishment in her admiration filled eyes.
Azula's tyrannical amber golden eyes now swept throughout the street from one rioter to another as she took delight in how their bravery quickly dissipated into fear.
And just like that many of the beaten down peasants lost the will to fight as they succumbed to the princess's ruthless glare.
The sound of farm tools being dropped to the street soon resonated into the air as the princess glared all around her.
Her subordinates gazed on from their respective positions with expressions of astoundment in their eyes.
Just as the imposing princess turned her piercing gaze back to the peasants trembling on the ground before her penetrating amber golden eyes.
"When your princess speaks you will listen! This insignificant little revolt is over!" Azula spoke with her supremely authoritative voice resounding throughout the streets.
She glared back at the faces of the defeated peasants as most shrunk away under her stare.
Mai and Ty Lee relaxed as they gazed around them with still present unease in their eyes.
Zoi's fists fell to her hips as she glanced around her with stoic golden eyes as the crowd seemed to lose their resolve after witnessing a small show of their princess's power.
As her lips sunk into an utterly angered scowl when she saw the look of fear in their eyes once more.
She turned away with her fists smashed at her sides as she glared in the direction of the overlooking castle once more.
A portion of the mob still stood defiant and seemingly ready to continue.
Just as the princess turned her dominating gaze to those that remained as she stared menacingly back into their intimidated eyes.
Only to find herself turning to gaze over her robed shoulder when she heard her serving girl's innocent voice cut into the air.
And soon enough everyone in the street turned to gaze in the young girl's direction to see that she had scurried her way past the imposing princess.
Azula's callous amber golden eyes now at the smaller girl's back with a questioning look overcoming her harsh gaze.
Only for her eyes to widen ever so marginally when she saw that the girl was carrying a box in her hands.
Just before the girl rushed to a stop before the crowd while her friends gazed at her back in bewilderment.
As the four highborn women watched closely with protective looks in their eyes to make sure that their young friend wasn't harmed by the mob.
The chancellor glanced up from where he stood at the back with an expression of curiosity in his golden eyes.
"Wait! I…I have food! Please…don't fight anymore!" Elle announced in a hastened voice as she held the box up in her hands while her friends stared at her back in astonishment.
As every face in the mob was now gazing back at Elle with confusion in their eyes.
"There is enough mochi to go around to feed ten of you! I-I realize that it isn't much but it's a start." Elle stated in a nervous voice as she managed a smile while she stared back at the taken aback faces of the crowd.
The princess's ruthless amber golden eyes gazed on with realization in her gaze as she glared imperiously back at the mob that had the gall to defy her.
'The girl is giving away…our lunch!' Azula thought with fire spewing from her irate nostrils while her subordinates stared on in awe behind her.
It wasn't forgoing her lunch that annoyed her.
It was a trivial price to pay to restore order to the city.
It was the fact that an entire city of her own people had dared to defy her in such an infuriating manner.
And then they have the nerve to ask for her charity in return!
As Mai and Ty Lee stared on with expressions of moved emotion in their understanding eyes.
The stunned crowd began to mutter amongst each other as the girl reached out to put a ball of mochi in a random man's disbelieving hand.
While the captain gazed on from behind her with her golden eyes expressing a sense of newfound respect for the girl's peaceful ways.
All along as the crowd began to murmur amongst each other.
While those that had been prepared to continue fighting were starting to seem as if they were calmed by the girl's compassionate gesture.
"I know that outwardly Azula-sama isn't the warmest person…and I know that she has a tendency to get rather grouchy…" Elle began in a soft voice as she chewed on her lip as she set another ball of mochi in a woman's hand while the crowd listened in a confused silence.
The princess gazed sternly at the younger girl's back with her amber golden eyes forming a ruthless stare.
'That's an understatement if I ever heard one.' Mai thought with her tawny eyes gazing fondly at Elle.
Ty Lee found herself unable to fight the grin that was pulling onto her lips as she watched her little sister hand out their lunch to the baffled civilians.
"But she really cares about this nation. She just doesn't know how to show it. Because she isn't good at showing emotions. And if you just give her a chance…I promise you that she will do better for Shung Wu." Elle spoke in an earnest voice as she raised her eyes to smile back at the faces of the speechless crowd.
And just like that the people began to exchange exhausted looks with one another while the soldiers stood in a stunned silence.
The princess just stared on with a flicker of aggravation in her merciless eyes at her serving girl's back.
As the rest of Team Azula stood with all of their gazes lingering on Elle's warmly smiling face.
They all watched in disbelief as the violent crowd almost seemed to be soothed by the young girl's kindness!
And then without so much as speaking a word Azula took an authoritative step forward with her hands regally clasped behind her back.
Until she came to a stop standing in front of the smaller girl while her terrifyingly strict gaze fell upon the faces of the once again intimidated people.
"As of this moment forward order I am returning order to this city. I will address your crisis and emergency food rations will be allocated to Shung Wu. But know this…" Azula spoke in an effortlessly commanding voice while her gaze swept from one sweating face to another.
While all remained silent as the entire city waited in suspense for their Crown Princess to deliver her statement.
Only for the princess's callous amber golden eyes to harden even further while the people shook under her glare.
"Those that obey me will be fed amply…and those that defy me…will receive nothing but my wrath!" Azula concluded in a frighteningly unforgiving voice as she glared daggers at the many faces of the submitting people.
Ty Lee and Mai shared a quick look with one another before they turned to gaze back at the obviously exhausted people in sympathy.
And within seconds after that the soldiers and the earthbending agents capitalized on the momentum as they began to push the large crowd out of the way of the royal palanquin.
As the peasants were easily dispersed by the armored soldiers and the agents of the Dai Li.
The princess's subordinates stared on in relief to see that the riot was finally over.
And then they turned to make their way back.
Azula glanced down at Elle through the corner of her ruthless eye as the young girl smiled shyly up at her.
And with that the couple began to walk together back towards the palanquin.
As the two noblewomen followed after them.
And the captain for her part stood overseeing the clearing of the street.
Her golden eyes still glared furiously in the direction of the castle that overlooked the city.
Only for all of the princess's entourage to freeze in their tracks when a lone voice rang into the air in defiance once more.
"Down with the monarchy!" Shozak shouted in a resistant voice as he slammed a fist on the ground while an unnerving silence consumed the street.
As the princess now stood paused in mid step with her amber golden eyes growing widening in unfathomable outrage.
She slowly turned to glare over her shoulder with an utterly murderous glare in her menacing eyes.
The three noblewomen turned to gaze in the direction of the man with their mouths ajar in shock over his persistence.
While the chancellor shook his head as he shuffled his way back to the palanquin.
As Nako gazed on with uncertainty in her eyes.
"Arrest that fool!" Azula ordered in a sharp voice with her merciless eyes glaring at the dissenter while her guards swiftly moved to obey her command.
Elle worriedly grasped at the straps of her backpack as she gazed on with worry in her amber eyes once more.
And within seconds a defiant Shozak was seized by the guards.
The rest of the citizens watched from where they stood as they were quickly cleared from the street by the military force.
Only for the princess's friends to gaze on with troubled looks in their eyes as they watched the man thrash in the guards' arms.
As the princess glared back at the screaming man with boiling amber golden eyes that had long since ran out of patience for disobedience.
Just as the fisherman's hateful voice split into the air once more while he glared back at the princess in stunning defiance.
"I see you've got your elitist palanquin with a chair made of gold and your rich robes! And you certainly don't look as if you or any of your friends are suffering from any lack of food!" Shozak exclaimed in a stunningly loathsome voice while the princess's amber golden eyes bubbled over into a seething glare.
The two noblewomen shivered beside their quivering little sister while the crowd began to murmur amongst each other once more.
While the captain stared back at the man with her golden eyes expressing a conflicted emotion once again.
As the princess stared on with her amber golden eyes narrowed into a merciless stare.
"Greedy aristocrats! We owe you no fealty! You highborn wouldn't have any of your wealth if not for us! We created it! We're the ones that worked for it! We're the ones that bled for it! A revolution is brewing in the Fire Nation and there is nothing that you can do to prevent it!" Shozak cried out in a stunningly scathing voice while the highborn listened in a speechless silence.
The princess clenched her jawline as she breathed out blue fire through her constricting nostrils with her enraged amber golden eyes staring imperiously back at the man's shouting countenance.
"Take him away and get him out of my sight!" Azula bellowed in a harsh voice as she turned to stomp towards her palanquin.
Elle scampered after her mistress with her concerned amber eyes turning to glance one more time over her shoulder at the defiant man as he was dragged away.
While a shamefaced Ty Lee now stepped back with her cheer having given away to an expression of profound worry.
As an even more quiet than usual Mai stared on over her shoulder as the man's shouts filled the street as he was roughly escorted away.
"The anti-monarchy movement is the only way to achieve true change! Do you hear me brothers and sisters! The highborn will never give it to you because they don't care about you! The only way is for us to rise up!" Shozak cried out in a frantic voice while the rest of the people remained silent as he was hauled off.
The highborn women listened in disbelief as they observed the man get pulled further away until his shouts were nothing but a faint echo in their ears.
Zoi watched the man vanish down the street as she clenched a fist at her womanly hip.
As she once again vowed to see that the problems of her nation were rectified.
Azula glared on with anger beyond description in her callous amber golden eyes as she marched to her palanquin with her petite handmaid following at her heels.
Only to find herself turning around to gaze over her robed shoulder to see her captain coming to a stop behind them.
"I am going to remain behind to calm the city." Zoi announced in a stony voice with her golden eyes gazing back at her princess's terribly aggravated face.
"Fine. Meet me at Castle Zanoda when you are through." Azula responded in a frigid voice as she gazed back at her strongest soldier's nodding face.
And then the warrior turned to meet her partner's gaze while the seductress gazed silently back at her.
Just before she turned to walk away with Saro following after her while the younger woman still stared after her back with a flicker of concern in her blue eyes.
The princess wordlessly stepped back into her palanquin while her servant girl dutifully pulled the cloth open for her once more.
As she made her way to her seat yet again while she spared her handmaid a frigid glance through the corner of her eye.
And then she plopped down on her bottom in her seat while she lividly folded her arms over her robed breasts.
As the serving girl quickly took up her position standing beside her mistress's palanquin while she peered up at the displeased princess with worried amber eyes.
While the others stood in silence around the palanquin as they stared on in still present disbelief.
Ty Lee and Mai stared back at each other as they tried to suppress their unease over what had just happened.
Just as Mai turned to gaze back at the princess with a contemplative expression in her tawny eyes.
Not only did the peasants defy the Zanoda clan.
They defied Azula.
And by extension they also defied the Fire Lord!
The situation only served as a stunning realization that their nation was becoming more divided than they could have ever imagined.
And that while the Fire Nation may project a mighty imperialist presence across the globe…
Internally the Fire Nation was not as strong as they once thought.
And if they weren't careful…the Fire Nation could collapse from the inside out.
And with that the soldiers hoisted the palanquin up into the air and began to carry it through the streets.
As the princess's entourage started to walk alongside the palanquin once more.
The captain remained in the street with her lieutenant as they joined their fellow soldiers in restoring order to the chaotic city.
While the princess sat glaring out from the pink cloth of her palanquin with her beautiful lips curled into a furious scowl.
And even the gentle presence of her young girlfriend gazing up at her from outside of her palanquin did little to sooth her foul mood.
It was all she could do to glare in the direction of the castle of the Zanoda clan as her palanquin rode through the city streets.
That fool of a governor was going to face severe punishment for making her have to clean up his mess.
'He will soon learn what happens to those who fail me.' Azula thought with her amber golden eyes still lingering on the image of the castle in the distance.
And then she sunk back in her seat while she began to look forward to making the man cower in terror.
And just like that the royal palanquin rode off towards the castle of the Zanoda clan while it drew closer and closer.
And along with it the wrath of Princess Azula.
AN:
The effects of Ozai's tyrannical policies are causing the impoverished rural peasants to slowly wake up and realize that the wealthy noble class in the caldera do not care about them.
They are not as well fed as the commoners in the mainland, their rivers are being polluted by many of the Fire Nation's war factories as we saw in the Painted Lady, their Fire Lord is taxing them at a cruel rate that is taking away their prosperity, and all of this combined has sent them into poverty.
And as they get hungry, and as they get sick, they start to get angry and question the Fire Nation propaganda that they have been told all their lives.
On top of all of this their regional governor is not responding to their needs at a satisfactory rate. Which is why they are so furious.
And as we saw this chapter, Azula was that there were people in the Fire Nation struggling so much that it would drive them to openly defy her and her father.
Being that Azula is one of the richest people in the Avatar world, she primarily resides in the capital, and that means that she isn't used to seeing the poorer parts of the Fire Nation with her own eyes.
Since Azula has never been poor, she doesn't understand poverty, and she likely never even gave much thought to the poor until she met Elle. The first time that Azula was even in a poorer area of the Fire Nation was likely the rural fishing village they stopped in in chapter 27 with Elle.
It's like Jiao said, this has been brewing for some time but the wealthy nobles didn't see it coming because they simply cannot understand the needs of regular people.
Azula is like a rich girl slowly starting to see that just because their nation is the wealthiest in the world, doesn't mean that there are not areas in her country where people are suffering from poverty and corruption.
Even though it may not seem like it because of her cold exterior, deep down Azula felt some genuine concern for the plight that her fellow Fire Nation citizens are going through.
And yet at the same time, she was also deeply angered by their open disobedience which made her pridefully to refuse to be seen as weak before her rebelling subjects after their open defiance.
This was a crucial moment of leadership for Azula, while she was verbally harsh on them. She could have easily had her soldiers brutally put down the mob in a faster manner if their safety was not a concern to her. It showed how she withheld from using excess force. It allowed her to see that not all Fire Nation citizens are prospering and that changes can be made to better her country.
Since Azula is a perfectionist at her core, if she starts to see her father's rule as imperfect it will fuel her drive to fix what she is coming to see as flaws in her father's rule. After all, what better way to motivate Azula than by making her feel that she can do better.
We also saw that Zoi was greatly hesitant to use force on impoverished people and that she furious when one of her fellow soldiers attempted to use lethal force.
Nako once again proved her loyalty to Azula and it was ironically a commoner friend of Azula's being struck that caused her to lose her patience.
And finally Elle calming the crowd was another important moment for all of Team Azula. It really showed how if Azula allows Elle to be in a position of influence, how Elle would be able to sooth people while Azula maintains the role of the stoic leader.
And the man who was urging his fellow commoners to continue to disobey, Shozak. He is going to have an important effect on the situation in Shung Wu to come.
Anyhow, next chapter we will get to see Azula deal with Governor Joza.
That will be all for now though.
Stay tuned for next time.
For chapter one hundred twenty-four! Castle Zanoda!