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Return to the Capital - Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Six
The following day.
The ship was now sailing through the ocean to the Fire Nation Capital.
And Azula now sat on a lavish sofa in her royal lounge.
She relaxed with a content sigh escaping her lipstick painted lips.
As Mai sat opposite of her fiddling with her knives.
Mai gazed down with a profoundly ruminative expression in her tawny eyes.
"Azula…. there is something that I want to ask you." Mai spoke in a quiet voice while the princess turned to gaze at her through the corner of her eye.
"If you are going to try to beg me to get out of your prison sentence. Don't bother. I have already shown you more mercy than you deserve." Azula answered in a callous voice as she stared coldly back at the noblewoman's apathetic face.
Only to find herself raising a brow in slight surprise when the other woman shook her head.
"No. That's not it. I wanted to ask you if you would allow me to spend the night with Elle…before I depart for prison tomorrow." Mai admitted with a twinge of emotion lacing her monotone voice while Azula's amber golden eyes stared back at her in bewilderment.
"Mai. Are you actually asking me to grant you permission to snuggle with the tiger monkey?" Azula snorted with her frigid eyes staring tauntingly back at the noblewoman's embarrassed face.
As a tiny sliver of pink now graced Mai's cheeks as she avoided meeting the princess's questioning gaze.
Only for the princess to let out a sigh as she lounged back on her pile of pillows.
"If you continue to behave yourself…then I suppose I will allow it." Azula remarked with a wave of her perfectly manicured hand while Mai glanced up with a grateful expression in her tawny eyes.
Under normal circumstances she wouldn't be willing to cede her pet for a night.
Most especially on the final night before their return home.
At which point she will no longer be able to allow the girl to sleep beside her in her royal chamber for as long as they remain home in the palace.
But she knew well enough that her girlfriend was not going to be take well to her friend's departure.
And allowing the two to spend an evening together may serve to help soften the girl's inevitable reaction when the moment comes for Mai to part ways with them.
"I will Azula. Thank you." Mai replied with genuine gratitude in her voice while the princess stared imperiously back at her.
As a tight scowl pulled onto the princess's regal lips while her callous amber golden eyes flashed with a possessive gleam.
"See to it that you do…and for your sake you had better make sure that you refrain from touching what belongs to me." Azula stated in an absolutely glacial voice while her imposing amber golden eyes glared greedily back at the noblewoman's snorting face.
As Mai rolled her tawny eyes over her friend's possessive behavior.
Only for the two to find themselves snapped from their discussion when they heard the door open.
The two highborn women turned to gaze towards the door.
Only to find themselves raising a brow in amusement when they saw the acrobat doing a handstand on the other side of the door.
And behind her their young companion was doing a poor imitation of the woman's upside-down walk.
"What are you two doing?" Azula questioned with a roll of her eyes while she gazed dryly back at the two as they made their way into the royal lounge.
"What does it look like Azula? I'm teaching Elle acrobatics!" Ty Lee exclaimed in a cheery voice as she smiled back at the princess's cold countenance.
"Look Azula-sama! I'm learning to walk like Ty Lee! Eeep!" Elle cried out in an adorably panicked voice when her hands slipped out from underneath her.
She let out a yelp as she began to tumble to the flooring of the warship.
Only to find herself being caught by her big sister's hand before she could hit the floor.
"Careful little sister!" Ty Lee spoke with a grin on her lips while she gracefully leaped back onto her feet with the younger girl's hand in her own.
Elle smiled shyly back up at her from where she now stood beside her.
As Azula and Mai still stared back at the two with a flicker of amusement in their eyes.
"I can see that Elle." Azula commented in a coldly attentive voice as she leaned back in her seat while she eyed the two with observant amber golden eyes.
"I-I don't know how you do it Ty Lee. It looks so easy when you do it." Elle stated in an abashed voice while a self-defeating look momentarily came over her eyes.
Only for a smile to return to her lips when she felt Ty Lee ruffle her hair.
"Just be patient Elle. You'll get the hang of it." Ty Lee assured in a big sisterly voice as she gazed fondly at the shorter girl's blushing face.
"Servant." Azula called out in a thoughtful voice while she watched her girlfriend dutifully turn to beam her way.
"Yes Azula-sama?" Elle responded in a faithful voice as she began to pad her way over to her princess's side.
"Mai is feeling sad over her failing marriage prospects and she has requested that you spend the night with her to cheer her up." Azula informed in a taunting voice as she scanned the fingernails on her fist while she smiled in the glaring woman's direction.
And that was all it took for Elle to turn to gaze back at the noblewoman with an expression of concern in her amber eyes.
Ty Lee stood silent in the back with her brown-gray eyes briefly shimmering with emotion over the awareness that her friend would soon be departing to prison.
"I don't want you to be sad oneesan. I would be happy to spend the night with you if it would make you feel better." Elle spoke in a tender voice while the noblewoman gazed back at her with a thawed countenance in her tawny eyes.
"Thanks kid. That's sweet of you." Mai replied in a marginally softer voice while Elle smiled back at her.
"Mai has even expressed a desire to snuggle. Perhaps…you could oblige her?" Azula commented with a smirk on her lips while Mai turned red in humiliation.
Ty Lee found herself unable to resist smiling when the younger girl's amber eyes sparkled at the mere mention of cuddling with her friend.
"Really! You want to snuggle oneesan!?" Elle piped as rushed over to her big sister's side while a sigh escaped the noblewoman's lips.
"I guess it couldn't hurt." Mai conceded with a small smile on her lips while Elle smiled sunnily back at her.
And then not a moment after that a blonde blur assaulted her in a hug.
"I would love to Mai!" Elle cried out as she embraced her big sister's belly while the noblewoman placed a gentle hand on her back.
As Mai sat back with a calming expression taking over her tawny eyes.
The princess sat in her seat with her cold amber golden eyes observing the two.
Before she turned to gaze away with an irate sigh exuding from her lips.
She caught the gaze of Ty Lee while a scowled formed onto her lips once more.
As they continued to listen to the sound of the royal sloop make its way through the ocean's evening waters.
Later on, that evening in the captain's lounge.
The cheers of soldiers drinking resounded into the air.
Saro glared back at Roden from where the other man sat on the other end of the table.
Nako gazed uncertainly between the two as she reached to pour herself another drink.
As Zoi sat at the furthest end of the table with Jiao in her lap.
As the seductress smiled as she felt a muscular arm wrap around her.
And then she fell face first into the warrior's chest while she inwardly savored being held in the older woman's lap.
"Drink up comrades." Zoi declared as she held up her mug with her younger lover held under her arm.
She sunk back in her seat with her seductress wrapping her arms around her belly.
As she glanced down at the younger woman with her golden eyes conveying an affectionate gleam.
"Mhm. My warrior." Jiao stated in a quieted voice as she listened to the older woman swallow a drink from her beverage.
A smile tugged at her lips when the warrior's arm coiled her in even closer.
She sighed under her breath with her face pressed into the older woman's side.
"My beautiful seductress." Zoi spoke up with a grin on her lips while she held the younger woman in her lap.
The other soldiers shouted in good cheer as they drank their beverages with their comrades.
As the archer just smiled as he drank his liquor as he paid no mind to the lieutenant's glare.
Elsewhere on the ship.
Elle stood in her pajamas with her hand raised to knock on her big sister's door.
"Mai? Is it okay if I come in?" Elle pondered in a soft voice while she heard the sound of footsteps on the other side of the door.
And not a second after that the door opened up.
As Elle now gazed up at her big sister's face to see that Mai was also adorning her sleepwear.
The older woman cracked a smile as she gazed back down at her.
"Come in kid." Mai stated as she watched the girl pad in while she closed the door behind her.
"Is there something in particular that you wanted to do Mai?" Elle asked with a smile on her lips while she watched the noblewoman walk back to her bed.
"I just wanted to sit with you. If that's alright with you Elle." Mai spoke as she sat down on her bed while she gazed back at the younger girl's adorably eager face.
And then she patted the spot on the bed beside her while she observed in fondness as Elle walked over to join her.
"Okay. That sounds good." Elle answered in a bashful voice as she sat down on the bed while she let out a sleepy yawn.
"Elle…I just wanted you to know. That you're the best little sister that I could ask for." Mai confessed in a voice of profound reflection while Elle gazed at her with a moved expression in her amber eyes.
"D-do you really think that?" Elle asked in a timidly hopeful voice while Mai nodded her head affirmatively.
"I do." Mai stated while she glanced down at the younger girl's lovably emotional face.
And not even seconds after that she found herself sitting there wordlessly when the girl abruptly hugged her belly.
As she wrapped her arms around the smaller girl's shoulders as she returned the girl's embrace.
While a small smile slowly formed upon her lips.
"A-arigatou gozaimasu…oneesan." Elle spoke up in a loving voice while she hugged the older woman back.
"Don't mention it Elle." Mai remarked in a softened voice as she turned off her lamps while she began to lay down with her adopted sister in her arms.
And with that the two sisters laid down in the bed beside one another.
As Mai gazed over the younger girl's shoulder with a reflective expression in her tawny eyes.
'I am the one that should be thanking you…Elle.' Mai thought as she sighed softly while she found herself unable to resist hugging the girl around her shoulders.
"Is…is everything Okay Mai? It seems like something is bothering you." Elle asked in a soft voice as she chewed on her lip from where she lay beside the older woman.
Mai was silent for the briefest of moments as she stared down at the girl from where she lay beside her.
"Everything is fine Elle. I am just glad…that you're here. We all are." Mai spoke in a quiet voice with her head falling into her pillow while she held the younger girl in her arms.
"I-I just wanted to make sure. Goodnight Mai." Elle murmured in a drowsy yawn as her eyes closed shut while she began to drift off to sleep.
"Goodnight…Elle." Mai muttered with her arms wrapped around Elle's back while she felt the handmaid fall asleep soon after.
And moments later the sound of the younger girl snoring softly followed into her ears while she sighed from where she lay upon her pillow.
She herself began to close her eyes as she mused that it was best to enjoy their time together while it lasted.
As she lay there slowly drifting off into unconsciousness while the smaller girl snored adorably in her arms.
And sometime after that…Mai herself fell into a deep sleep.
And out in the halls of the warship an unusually restless Azula was walking the corridors with her callous amber golden eyes glaring ahead.
She now strode by the captain's lounge as she turned to listen to the sound of drunken soldiers shouting amongst one another.
Only to coldly roll her amber golden eyes over the warrior's predilection to partying with her underlings.
And soon after that she descended back into the command tower of her royal sloop reserved for her royal quarters.
She quietly walked through the royal hall only to momentarily stop at Mai's door.
As her ears listened closely to the faint sound of her young girlfriend snoring in the noblewoman's chambers.
Before she found herself sighing in aggravation as she resumed her walk back to her personal chamber.
And so, it went.
Together the two sisters remained in each other's arms all night long.
And on the morning of the ensuing day the royal sloop was finally sailing into the Great Gates of Azulon.
Nako was at work below supervising the steering of the vessel.
And all of the other soldiers were at work at their various stations.
The four highborn women stood atop the uppermost deck with their young friend standing alongside them.
As the handmaid innocently marveled with her mouth agape in awe over the approaching net of fire and the three massive statues that grew closer upon the horizon.
"Woah! What is that Azula-sama?" Elle inquired in a voice filled with wonder while her mistress stood above her.
The princess glanced down with her cold amber golden eyes staring down at the younger girl's adorably awestruck face.
She found herself unable to resist taking a sense of joy in the girl's innocent reaction to the structures of her great nation.
Just as the girl trembled when she felt the princess place both of her palms on her shoulders.
She peered up at the massive statue of Azulon as she fell back into the older woman's grip.
While she smiled with the back of her head resting against the much taller woman's bosom.
As the princess curved into her usual elegant smile as she gazed up at the statue from where she stood beside her young companion.
"That dear? That is the Great Gates of Azulon." Azula informed in something akin to a nurturing voice as she loomed over her quivering girlfriend with her hands bracing the girl's shoulders.
"T-the Great Gates of Azulon…" Elle trailed off with childish amazement seeping from her voice while she smiled in contentment.
Mai stood off to the side with her tawny eyes watching the sight of the gates approaching before her line of vision.
As Ty Lee stood supportively behind her with her hand gently touching her shoulder.
Zoi gazed between the two before turning to glance back at her now adopted sister's joyous face.
Only for a distasteful sigh to escape her lips knowing full well that smile was about to fade.
And not long after that…the royal sloop arrived in port.
The large ship now sat docked in the First Lord's Harbor.
As a squad of soldiers were now walking up the ramp.
The Fire Princess turned to glance over her shoulder at her serving girl's oblivious face.
Before she turned to stare imperiously ahead with her hands regally clasped behind her back.
"Elle. Go to your room." Azula commanded in an even stricter voice that usual while her handmaid gazed at her back in confusion.
Elle now glanced all around her when she noticed that the atmosphere had become uncomfortably tense.
As she gazed around in worry to see that her big sister's expressions seemed off.
Almost as if…they knew something that she didn't.
"H-huh? Why?" Elle responded in a timid stutter only to flinch when her mistress turned to stare back at her with a colder stare than usual.
"Because I said so girl. It isn't your place to question your princess. You took an oath to serve me and I command you to go to your room." Azula ordered in an absolutely imperial voice with her ruthless amber golden eyes staring frigidly back at her pet's trembling face.
She inwardly found herself taking a margin of delight in the way that the lovely girl so cutely shook under her disciplinary stare.
Only to find herself scowling regally as she reminded herself that now was not the time for such weak notions.
Especially, not now that they had returned to the Capital.
It was almost certain that her father would have her under close watch as soon as he receives word that she has returned home.
And she couldn't afford to let him see even the slightest sign of weakness.
Only for her callous amber golden eye to return to her handmaid while she watched in approval when the girl quickly bowed at the hip to her in a display of trained reverence.
"I-I'm sorry Your Highness. I-I meant no disrespect it's…just…" Elle sputtered in a shaken voice only to take note of the soldiers striding up the deck with purpose in their step.
Almost as if they were after someone aboard this very ship!
"P-Princess what's going on? What aren't you telling me?" Elle questioned in an increasingly distraught voice only to take an intimidated step back when her princess stepped to loom over her.
While her mistress now gazed down at her with an even colder countenance than before!
"I said go to your room!" Azula snapped with forced cruelty overtaking her voice while the girl cowered under her glare.
Ty Lee gazed off to the side with discomfort in her brown-gray eyes.
And even the captain seemed somewhat uncomfortable.
"Y-yes Princess. P-please don't be mad at me." Elle stammered in a shaken voice as she began to pad past the scowling woman.
It was only then that her amber eyes widened when she saw Mai step forward to face the soldiers.
And then the soldiers soon started to walk straight towards her big sister!
"Lady Mai of the Saolin clan. You are hereby under arrest by the order of Princess Azula for the attempted assassination of Captain Zoi of the Song clan." A soldier announced in an impassive voice as he waved his guards forward to apprehend the woman.
And that was all it took for Elle to freeze in her tracks in despair as she gazed on with her mouth falling open in state of tremendous emotion.
"I understand." Mai stated in resigned voice as her arms were restrained by the guards.
Only for her tawny eyes to widen when she heard an emotional shout ring out from behind her.
Zoi and Ty Lee rounded about to gaze behind them with worry in their eyes over how their little sister would take to the noblewoman's arrest.
As Azula spun around to prevent her handmaid from doing anything rash.
Only for her amber golden eyes to widen in surprise when a flash of bright chi sparked before her eyes.
The three noblewomen stared on with realization in their astonished eyes.
As the soldiers gazed on with shock and confusion in their eyes.
"Mai! No! Let her go!" Elle shouted as she ran past her alarmed friends with her amber eyes gazing back at her big sister's shocked face.
"Elle! Stop!" Azula barked in a commanding voice only for her amber golden eyes to glare on in frustration when the girl continued to charge towards the guards.
While the guards soon recovered from their shock of seeing the strange golden-haired girl rushing towards them.
As their fists now lit up with firebending as they prepared to put the girl down.
And that was all it took for both Zoi and Ty Lee to tense up as they prepared to knock out any guard that dared to try to strike their young friend.
Mai's tawny eyes flashed with a heartfelt emotion over knowing that the girl was willing to once again put herself in harm's way to save her.
"That girl is not to be harmed. If any of you so much as put a single scratch on her. I will have every last one of you put to the sword." Azula hissed in a beyond frightening voice that caused the guards to become paralyzed with terror.
"Release her right now!" Elle yelled with astonishing boldness in her voice while a burst of energy swept forth from her body.
The guards stared on with their eyes expressing astonishment from underneath their helmets.
As the four highborn women gazed on with looks of fascination in their eyes as they watched the girl's power flare once more.
Mai's tawny eyes flashed with a heartfelt emotion over knowing that the girl was willing to once again put herself in harm's way to save her.
"Elle! Let it go!" Mai called out in a resounding voice that prompted Elle to stumble to a stop several paces away from her.
"W-what…do you mean let it go?" Elle asked in a heavily emotional voice as she stared back at her big sister's grave countenance.
"I can't thank you enough for all that you have done for me. I wouldn't even be alive now if it wasn't for you…but this is my burden to shoulder." Mai spoke in a resolved voice as she stared back at the younger girl's taken aback face.
As the rest of Team Azula listened with expressions of astonishment in their eyes.
"I must face the consequences of my actions." Mai stated in a tone of commitment while the handmaid gazed back at her with vividly sentimental amber eyes.
The captain stared on with her stony golden eyes expressing a sense of captivation over the other woman's willingness to own up to her own actions.
"Mai…" Ty Lee trailed off with her moved brown-gray eyes gazing back at her friend's resolved face.
"B-but Mai..." Elle protested with a distressed expression taking over her eyes while her hands hung at her hips as her energy faded away.
Just as the noblewoman's lips began to curve into the slightest show of a reassuring smile.
"I'll be okay Elle. I'm not going away forever. We'll see each other again soon." Mai assured in what she hoped was a consoling voice while a tear streamed down the young girl's cheek.
While Azula stared on with her callous amber golden trying not to show that she was moved by the other woman's words.
Zoi and Ty Lee watched with their eyes expressing a heartfelt emotion when Elle reached out to grasp onto the detained woman's sleeve.
Just as the girl tugged onto the noblewoman's clothing while another tear made its way down her cheek.
As Mai and Elle now stared back into each other's eyes for what felt like an eternity.
The guards gazed at their princess for direction as she watched the scene with seemingly uncaring amber golden eyes.
"Take her to Hari Bulkan Prison where she will remain to await her transfer to Boiling Rock." Azula announced in an impassive voice while a deep scowl still graced her lips.
And just like that Elle was snapped right out of her reverie as she swallowed down all of her emotion.
Her hand started to slip from the noblewoman's sleeve as she stared up into her big sister's resolved tawny eyes.
"See you around little sister." Mai remarked with fondness thawing through her composed voice as the girl's hand fell from her sleeve while the guards began to walk her away.
"S-see…you around…oneesan." Elle muttered in a barely perceivable voice with her hands falling back to her hips.
She felt Ty Lee's hand warmly touch her shoulder.
As she caught a parting glimpse of Mai's smile as she turned to gaze at her from over her shoulder.
And not even a second after that the noblewoman was marched down the ramp of the ship.
And soon afterwards she vanished from her sight as the soldiers led her away.
The three remaining highborn women found themselves standing in a profoundly unsettling silence.
As Elle audibly swallowed once more with her golden hair hanging over her saddened amber eyes.
All the while as the princess let out a frustrating sigh as she turned to face her emotional girlfriend.
"I-I thought that after everything we've been through together…. that we were past this." Elle spoke in a hushed voice while her highborn friends stood in an uneasy silence behind her.
"Naïve girl. It isn't that simple. She tried to assassinate Zoi. And I cannot allow that to go unpunished in the eyes of the court." Azula stated as she stared in frustration at the younger girl's back while her two remaining subordinates stood quietly beside her.
Only for her amber golden eyes to flash with rising aggravation when the girl turned around to walk away.
Ty Lee's hand fell from Elle's shoulder as she observed with worry in her eyes as the girl emotionally marched away.
And seconds after that the three Fire Nation women watched the girl disappear into the depths of the royal sloop.
As Azula stared after the closing doors with her gaze conveying her irritation over the girl's reaction to her childhood friend's departure.
Only to turn her head in surprise when she saw her captain move to follow after the girl before anyone else could move to do so.
"Elle…" Ty Lee murmured with sisterly concern in her eyes while the princess sighed in aggravation beside her.
Elle sat in silence on her bed with her head in her hands.
Zoi stood off to the side with her arms folded over her chest from where she leaned against the wall.
As the warrior directed the girl an apologetic stare.
"I am sorry Elle…I know that you have been through a great deal." Zoi stated in an awkward attempt to comfort Elle while the girl sat with her back turned to her.
Only to turn towards the door when she heard the sound of her princess stepping inside the room with Ty Lee behind her.
She pushed herself off the wall as she gazed at the girl once more time before she turned to walk out of the room.
As the princess and the acrobat now stared back at the girl on her bed with their eyes conveying their concern.
The young girl sat gazing down at the group photograph on her camera that they had taken just days ago
"Elle…" Azula began with a heavy sigh as she crossed her arms over her breasts while she stood over her sulking serving girl.
Her amber golden eyes stared down at Elle's small back in disapproval over the girl's tears.
"It's only going to be for a few months…" Azula attempted to explain in a frustrated voice as a scowl still graced her displeased lips.
Only to find herself growling in aggravation when the girl still sat in silence with her back turned to them.
"I think we need to give Elle some space Azula." Ty Lee suggested with worry in her tender eyes while the princess glared down at the seated girl.
"So be it. I'll check on you in an hour." Azula spoke in a coldly annoyed voice while she turned to walk out of the room with her friend following after her.
Just as she turned to glance over her shoulder one final time while she sighed under her breath once more.
And then she closed the door behind her.
She turned to share a momentary glance with her worried childhood friend.
"Do you think Elle is going to be okay Azula?" Ty Lee asked in a quiet voice as she began to walk alongside the princess while the princess stared coldly ahead.
"The girl is going to be fine Ty Lee. It's not as if Mai is being executed. She just needs some time to adjust." Azula commented in a stony voice as she strode beside the frowning Ty Lee.
And with that the two highborn women strode down the hall to attend to other matters relating to their return home.
Meanwhile, in Shung Wu.
Approximately one day after Azula and her forces had departed the city.
At the center of the city Shozak and his compatriots stood in chains while soldiers flanked them on all sides.
While former Governor Joza stood off to the side as he gazed around him with disgraced golden eyes.
As the people of the city watched in trepidation when a high general stepped forward to gaze back at the instigators with unforgivingly golden eyes.
He was the young heir of the Sheng clan.
A clan that was in comparable prestige to that of the Saolin clan.
He was an exceptionally handsome man with harsh golden eyes that were befitting of a man of nobility.
He had fine wavy short black hair that was tied in the usual customary Fire Nation top-knot.
He was able to quick rise through the ranks to his position thanks to both his esteemed family name and his extraordinarily gifted firebending skills.
And he vowed that he would not leave this city until he made it clear that rebellion would not be tolerated.
"I promise each and every one of you that this display of defiance will not go unpunished…" Meram began in a voice that was devoid of kindness while he stood imposingly before the arrested group.
Until he turned his head when he heard one of the citizens release an angered hiss.
Only to find himself gazing back at the presumed ringleader while the commoner stared back at him with defiant brown eyes that infuriated him.
"You have something to say peasant?" Meram questioned in a heartless voice as his golden eyes gazed back at the older man's bruised face.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I do." Shozak replied in a courageous voice as he stared rebelliously back into the high general's cold-hearted golden eyes.
And that was all it took for him to feel a flood of bravery well up within him as he met the fearsome general's gaze.
"For years we have said nothing as you selfish highborn steal from the hard-earned results of our labor while we live in hunger. Well, no more!" Shozak snapped in a bold voice that carried all throughout the street.
And just like that an unnerving silence consumed the air as the people began to murmur amongst each other.
The other captives stood in their chains as they gazed on with varying levels of fear and anger in their eyes.
As the high general let out a disdainful snarl as he glared ruthlessly back into the commoner's furious eyes.
While Joza stared on with growing uncertainty in his eyes.
"We have allowed you to rule over us as if you are our betters. No more!" Shozak yelled at the top of his lungs while the spectating crowd gazed on with speechless looks in their eyes.
Meram simply released a callous scoff as he turned away to scowl with his back turned to the increasingly emboldened commoner.
As Joza began to rapidly gazed between the general and the ringleader with unnerved golden eyes.
The looks of anger in the eyes of the commoners began to rise to even higher heights with every word that the man spoke.
"For too long we have bowed our heads and called you aristocrats lords while you give us nothing but tyranny in return! But no more!" Shozak shouted in a resonating voice as he held his head high while he stared in fury at the general's armored back.
The rest of the captives began to shout in agreement as their yells of protest soon began to pierce the air of the tense street.
"No more!" The chained peasants began to call out together as they thrashed in rebellion in their bonds.
Joza could only spin around to gaze around the city with panic in his eyes.
And that was all it took for the brief sense of order that Princess Azula had instilled into the city to begin to rapidly faded away.
As the high general still stood with his back turned to the shouting commoners as he clenched his jaw in anger.
"I have only one thing to say to you noble! Never again! Down with the monarchy! Down with the aristocracy!" Shozak roared in a furiously brave voice with an expression of unfathomable determination in his brown eyes while his yells echoed into the ears of the increasingly unruly people.
As the general still shook with his back turned to the yelling captives while he gritted his teeth in fury.
His golden eyes nearly exploded from his sockets as he listened to the sounds of their defiant shouts of rage.
And then in that very moment what little patience that he had for the crowd vanished.
"Then you will be no more!" Meram bellowed as his unsheathed his sword as he rapidly spun around to face the yelling fisherman.
And not a second later the yells of anger transitioned into shrieks of terror when the general's blade pierced the commoner's stomach.
Shozak fell forward onto the sword with his golden eyes agape in shock as his dying rasps carried throughout the fear-stricken street.
As the civilians gasped in terror as their screams now resounded into the air.
And even the soldiers were gazing at their general with disbelief in their eyes.
Joza took a horrified step back as he gazed at the dying man with his mouth hanging up in indescribable distress.
Before to turned to the out-of-control general with his hands shaking in a sudden sense of anger.
"W-what have you done General Meram!" Joza yelled out in disbelief as the ruthless general withdrew his sword from the man's stomach.
Only for the Sheng clan heir to pay to older noble no mind as he glared mercilessly back at the frightened faces of his captives.
"Kill them all!" Meram commanded in a monstrous voice that split through the air.
And in seconds the isolated city of Shung Wu was a scene of complete chaos once more.
While several of the soldiers hesitated to follow the order as they gazed on with uncertainty in their eyes.
Only for the general to turn around to glare back at them with frightening golden eyes that spurred them all into action.
"G-General Meram! What are you doing! Stop!" Joza shouted in a livid voice as he moved forward to protest the order while the general shoved him away with an uncaring hand.
Only to find himself watching with helpless golden eyes when the soldiers marched forward to carry out the order.
The sounds of shrieks and screams tore throughout the street of the terrified populace.
And throughout it all General Meram just gazed on without even the slightest bit of remorse in his cruel eyes.
As countless cries of horror echoed into the skies for all to hear.
And with that the street of the once peaceful rural city ran red with the blood of the Fire Nation civilians.
AN:
Mai has said goodbye to Elle and parted ways with Team Azula for the time being.
I thought it was important to give them one last night together before Mai left.
Elle showed that she is willing to defend any member of Team Azula, even if she feels that it is the other members of the team that she is defending the person against.
Mai showed development in this chapter when she accepted responsibility for her actions.
By the virtue of simply being there, Elle has helped Azula, Mai and Ty Lee patch up their fracturing friendship and forge it into something stronger than it was before.
Mai and Ty Lee both believe in Azula's ability to take the Fire Nation in a better direction more than they did at the start of the story, and more importantly, now they are with Azula for a reason that isn't fear.
I would say, that at this point in the story, Mai and Ty Lee truly consider Azula their friend and genuinely want to be there for her.
Despite being young and out of school for a few years because of her brother, Elle is a smart girl.
However, her naivety is very much a core part of her innocence as a character. Elle truly thought that they were past the ordeal of Mai attacking Zoi, but as Azula pointed out it is not that simple.
Elle is going to be depressed for a few chapters as a result of Mai's departure, but this new shift in team dynamic will allow Elle to bond more with the others, especially Zoi.
Team Azula have been away from the capital for most of the story so far, as this chapter marks the first time that they have been back in the Fire Nation Capital since chapter 22.
The team being back in the capital, means that Azula will have to be more mindful of how she behaves around Elle. During their travels, Azula could do whatever she wanted with Elle in private with her team. But now Ozai will be watching her very carefully.
Also, on another note, I have covered this before previously but canon states that Fire Nation commoners are not allowed in the caldera without permission from the Fire Lord.
At the same time, we know that commoners reside in the caldera as servants to the Royal Family and the Fire Nation elite.
Canon also contradicts this by stating that there are many shops in the caldera that cater to the Fire Nation elite. Obviously, the wealthy elite need the commoners to work for them and serve them in their shops, restaurants, homes, etc.
So, in the story, commoners are only allowed into the caldera to either serve the aristocracy in their homes or in the shops in the Royal Market.
Because Team Azula are back in the caldera, this also means that other than Elle, who has a technical purpose for being around Team Azula constantly as their handmaid. We won't be seeing the other commoner characters interacting as much with Azula, Ty Lee and Zoi.
Some of the characters, like Nako, whom is now Azula's prized inventor, and Saro, who is among the Imperial Firebenders, may be able to be occasionally seen in the caldera. But it just wouldn't be accurate if they were just able to walk around the caldera casually, especially with Ozai as Fire Lord.
And finally, the situation in Shung Wu has just taken a turn for the worse. This marks the introduction of yet another Fire Nation character, General Meram.
General Meram, is a high general from one of the seven great clans, Clan Sheng. In certain respects, he could be considered a prodigy like Azula.
But while he may be intelligent when it comes to his firebending, as we saw in this chapter, he is far more impulsive than Azula, and he is completely lacking in her cunning brilliance.
General Meram, is someone who has mostly spent his time fighting on the front lines and hasn't had much experience having to watch how he conducts himself around Fire Nationals.
Ultimately, Meram was simply unable to tolerate the notion of a commoner openly defying the aristocracy and as a result he was not able to keep his temper in check.
As we go forward, we will see the consequences that Meram's brutal public execution in front of the townspeople of Shung Wu will have on the Fire Nation as a whole.
Azula handled the matter intelligently, she didn't send any of the people to Boiling Rock, she gave the people food and calmed the city without casualties, punished Joza all the while keeping up her image of strength before the people of the town.
And Meram, has figuratively gone and poured fuel over a fire that Azula and Zoi had already put out, which will likely rekindle into an even bigger revolt.
How Ozai responds to this, will play a huge role in what happens with the revolt moving forward.
Anyhow, the Royal Caldera City Arc has now begun, and next chapter, Elle is going to finally meet Ozai.
That will be all for now though.
Stay tuned for next time.
For chapter one hundred twenty-seven! The Fire Lord!