Hey everyone.
This one is being posted later because I still haven't been feeling well.
As always, I want to thank everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed since the last update.
And as usual, I hope that you all enjoy the chapter.
War and Tradition - Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Eight
Nako stood apprehensively over a table with both versions of her invention sitting out before her.
The captain stood in the doorway staring back at Nako and her inventions in interest.
"Princess Azula wants you to be ready to present your invention to the Fire Lord. You should have around an hour to prepare." Zoi informed in a composed voice as she strode into the room while the younger woman swallowed.
"U-understood. I-I'll get right on that." Nako answered in a skittish voice only turn around in surprise when she felt the warrior place a hand on her shoulder.
"You'll be alright Nako. Nothing bad is going to happen to you." Zoi stated in her usual stoically supportive voice while Nako tried her hardest to form a grateful smile.
Only to find herself shifting nervously on her feet while the captain stared back down at her with concern in her eyes.
"What…what if I am wrong Zoi? What if this device is a failure? I'll be the laughing stock of the entire country and the subject of the Fire Lord's wrath." Nako questioned with a gulp while her brown eyes gazed down at the floor in worry.
"That isn't going to happen. Regardless of what happens with this invention of yours…you have the support of the princess and myself as well." Zoi answered in a voice of reassurance while Nako gazed back up at her in appreciation.
"Thank you…Captain. I appreciate that." Nako responded in a relieved voice as Zoi offered her a small smile while the woman patted her shoulder once more.
"Think nothing of it my friend. That's what comrades are for." Zoi commented as she removed her hand from Nako's shoulder while the younger woman returned her smile.
Thirty minutes later in the royal throne room.
The two royals sat on their thrones while they watched their nation's most important generals and other nobles make their way into the throne room for the summit.
Including General Bujing.
General Shinu.
And many other generals.
Followed shortly by General Meram and soon after several other important individuals.
Just before everyone turned to see the chancellor slinking in through the throne room curtains.
The eyes of many flashed with annoyance as Terak moved throughout the throne room with his hands shrouded by the long sleeves of his robes.
As he hurried in with an obsequious posture about him beside Meram while the general glared at him out of the corner of his eye.
"I hate your cowardly sniveling." Meram spoke in a scornful voice as he glared back at the chancellor while the other man just smiled as he made his way in.
And not a moment after that all eyes turned to the woman that emerged next through the throne room curtains.
It was none other than the most feared noble in all of the Fire Nation.
Former General Yoko and now Governor Yoko herself!
She was famous for her service as one of Fire Lord Azulon's greatest generals and she was now the governor of the second largest city in all of the Fire Nation.
Fire Mountain.
Yoko strode in with all the grace of a woman of her status while a great many eyes watched her closely.
And behind her was her widely famed oldest daughter with her hair tied into their nation's traditional topknot.
Captain Zoi of the Imperial Firebenders.
The two women of the Song clan made their way to their positions at the meeting table.
While the older woman gazed calmly at her daughter through the corner of her eye.
Before she knelt down on the floor before a long ornate table with a full-scale map of the world upon it.
The captain soon followed suit beside her mother while she stared around her with a stoic look in her golden eyes.
She paid no attention to the many stares of distaste that she was receiving from the elderly generals across from her.
And then the chancellor quietly knelt down both members of the Song clan while the mother and daughter momentarily glanced his way.
Only for all members of the gathered assembly to turn to gaze up at the imposing faces of the Fire Lord and their Crown Princess.
As they all lowered themselves onto the floor to momentarily prostrate themselves in respect while the two royals stared intimidatingly back down at them.
The Fire Lord gazed down at those present with his amber eyes scanning the faces of those below while his audience arose from their kowtows.
Just as he turned his gaze to the matriarch of the Song clan.
For the briefest of instances his gaze flashed with distaste.
And for good reason.
The Song clan was widely recognized as by far the most powerful noble clan in the Fire Nation.
Because they are situated on Fire Mountain, which was nearly as impenetrable as the Capital itself.
Due to this Yoko had a tendency to flaunt herself about and behave as if she were almost royalty.
He has thus far tolerated the arrogance of her and her clan because throughout the years they have remained faithful and committed to the Royal Family.
She was highly renowned for having once served as one of his father's greatest generals and his father had held her in the upmost regard.
Despite his dislike of the woman, for that reason he has chosen to allow Yoko to continue to possess her influence.
For now.
And with that in mind Ozai turned his gaze away from Yoko and back to everyone gathered below.
As his flames continued to burn behind him while his daughter sat patiently beside him.
"It has come to my attention that Princess Ling of the Earth Kingdom Royal Family, the daughter of Earth King Jaran and the rightful heir of the Earth Kingdom throne is alive. And she has begun gathering forces under her banner with the Avatar in rebellion against the Fire Nation." Ozai announced in a coldly collected voice that carried throughout the throne room.
And that was all it took for the Fire Nation officials to begin muttering amongst each other.
Some were gazing on in surprise.
And others present were already aware of the news.
As Azula stared down with callously hardened amber golden eyes.
Earth King Jaran…
To many it was a mystery why such a powerful warrior king had chosen to venture on a suicidal mission into the heartland of their mighty nation.
But not to her.
She was one of the few who was privy to the truth.
Yes. She knew that her father provoked the Earth King's sense of honor by arranging the assassination of his precious pregnant wife.
And just like her father predicted.
The Earth King abandoned the great walls of Ba Sing Se in an irrational attempt to avenge his wife and unborn child.
And just as one would expect.
The emotional Earth King died long before he even came close to reaching the shores of their royal harbor.
Just the thought of the king meeting such a pathetic end at the hands of their forces was enough for a wicked smirk to pull onto her lips.
The princess found herself unable to resist rolling her brilliant amber golden eyes while she coolly brushed a lock of hair from her eyes.
Honor types are always woefully predictable…just like her traitorous brother.
'People that are obsessed with honor like Zuko and Jaran are fools.' Azula thought as she stonily crossed her arms over her plated breasts while she coldly watched the proceedings below.
And soon after that Ozai's lips formed into a devious smirk while his daughter stared on emotionless from where she sat on her throne beside him.
"However, in a recent turn of events…we have acquired a new war power that is certain to delivery victory to the Fire Nation once and for all." Ozai declared in an arrogant voice while the members below listened in curiosity.
The princess stared down with a frigidly detached expression in her callous amber golden eyes.
As she tried her hardest to squash the protective feelings that she had for the girl that were bubbling up from within her belly.
Only for her lips to sink into the barest hint of a scowl as listened to the people murmur below.
Each of the officials present were intrigued by their Fire Lord's boast.
All except for three.
Terak tilted his head as he gazed up at his princess's imposing visage already knowing just who this war power was.
Yoko arched a brow as she thought back to the events that occurred in her dungeon not too long ago.
Just as she turned to her eldest daughter for clarification.
Only for her amber golden eyes to express a margin of surprise when she saw that Zoi's eyes were flashing with a gleam of unmistakable anger.
As the famed warrior tightened her jaw.
'It's just as I thought. He's already making plans to use Elle as a weapon of war.' Zoi thought while her golden eyes glared down at the floor.
But she knew better than to blow her temper over it.
She knew that her princess would never allow anything horrible to happen to her newly adopted little sister.
And she was also aware that her princess was growing in ways that their Fire Lord was unaware of.
And that the day would soon come when her princess would take the throne regardless of what Ozai has to say about it.
And on that day, she mused while she glanced up at her princess's face from where the young woman sat above her.
It will be Fire Lord Azula that was sitting on that throne.
Just as it was always meant to be!
'It doesn't matter to me who currently sits on the throne. The only person that I serve is Azula.' Zoi thought with a resolute expression taking over her loyal golden eyes.
She momentarily met her princess's gaze when the woman stared coldly back down at her.
"That isn't all, Father. I have an announcement of my own to make that just may render the messenger hawk obsolete." Azula spoke in a smoothly regal voice as she held up an elegant hand before her face while her father turned to gaze at her in slight bewilderment.
Everyone below except for the captain gazed up at their princess in confusion as they waited for her to elaborate.
"Just what do you mean by that Azula?" Ozai questioned with a raised brow while a confident smile made its way onto his daughter's lips.
"Recently I discovered a young inventor who was serving on my crew as a pilot during my previous battle with the Avatar. Her existence came to my attention in the aftermath of the ambush on my airship where I was able to witness her ingenuity first hand for myself. I would even go so far as to say that her talents may rival that of the mechanist himself." Azula explained with a graceful wave of her flawlessly manicured hand while her father listened in sudden intrigue.
The rest of the royal council knelt in silence as they gazed on with rising curiosity in their eyes.
"A young mechanist of our own…do go on Azula." Ozai remarked in a thoughtful voice as he held a hand underneath his chin.
"Her name is Nako. Not long ago she informed me that she created a telecommunications device that in theory would allow our forces to communicate over long distances." Azula informed with a sanguine smile on her lips while she gazed back at her father's astonished face.
And then she turned to glance down below to see that those gathered were gazing on in similar fascination.
"A telecommunications device?" Ozai inquired with rare surprise in his voice while his daughter nodded confidently.
"Of course, right now it is only in rudimentary development but I feel that with our financial backing that it could be of paramount importance in our victory in this war. If you would like I could summon her in. After all I had her prepare in advance to give the court a presentation." Azula stated in an eloquent voice with her brilliant amber golden eyes turning to gaze back at her father's contemplative countenance.
While those below gazed at one another with expressions of growing intrigue in their eyes.
As Ozai rubbed the underside of his goatee while his mind was filled with the endless possibilities that such an invention would grant him.
"Very well Azula. You may send for this young inventor of ours." Ozai stated with curiosity filling his voice.
As Azula turned to gaze down at Zoi with her amber golden eyes already communicating her order to her strongest soldier.
"Zoi. Tell Nako that we are ready for her to come in." Azula commanded in a voice of natural authority while she watched her warrior stoically nod her head.
"Understood Princess." Zoi replied in a composed voice as she strode towards the throne room curtains.
Yoko watched her daughter walk off with an intrigued gleam of her own in her eyes.
Only for the curtains to be parted aside yet again not even a moment later.
While all eyes turned to the throne room entrance to see the captain entering once more and following closely behind her was a young woman of common birth.
And most curious of all was that each of the two women were carrying two large wired devices with numerous gears in their arms.
Nako skittishly walked behind the captain while she gazed around her with astonishment in her intimidated brown eyes.
Never in all her life did she think that there would actually be a day where she would step foot into the throne room of the Fire Nation Royal Palace!
It was something that a peasant like herself could only dream of.
Until now that was.
It was then that she was torn from her thoughts when she gazed upon each of the faces kneeling among the Fire Lord's cabinet.
She came to a nervous stop beside the warrior to find herself gazing up at the imposing face of her princess.
And the hardened visage of Fire Lord Ozai as well.
And without even giving it any thought she rapidly dropped into a kowtow on the floor while the two royals gazed down at her from above.
As she swallowed apprehensively when she felt the eyes of every person in the throne room fall upon her back.
Yoko gazed back at the girl with her golden eyes flickering with a hint of surprise as she recognized her as one of the two commoners who had intruded upon her punishment of the Saolin clan.
"Azula has informed me that you have created a telecommunications device." Ozai commented in an imposing voice while he gazed down at the two black boxes in great interest.
Before his gaze fell back to the face of the young woman kneeling beside the captain.
"T-that is correct Your Majesty. After former General Iroh ambushed us with a commandeered airship…I thought. What if there was a way that we could verify the identity of those operating other vessels so that we could prevent a repeat of that incident? And that was when I learned that it was possible to transmit coded written messages over far distances with electricity to confirm that they are truly one of us." Nako explained in a technical voice that impressed even the Fire Lord while she held up the device in her hands.
As everyone in the throne room listened in rising marvelment.
The captain gazed at her comrade with an expression of respect in her golden eyes.
"I won't deny that it is very much in an experimental phase right now. However, I can confirm that both units are fully operational as I have tested them out numerous times myself. If it would please you, I could show you how it works and leave it up to you to decide its worth." Nako offered in a loyal voice while Ozai let out a hum of approval.
"Hm. Interesting. I admit that you have managed to capture my attention. You may proceed with your presentation." Ozai spoke in an intrigued voice while he watched the young woman in interest.
As the princess sat on her throne with her arms calmly crossed over her chest as she watched her subordinate rise to her feet.
The rest of the royal court gazed on with curiosity in their eyes as the young woman turned to face the captain.
"Captain, I am going to place my unit on this side of the throne room, and I would like for you to place your unit over there." Nako instructed in a nervous voice as she pointed between the two sides of the throne room while the captain nodded in comprehension.
"Of course." Zoi answered as she began to walk her copy of the unit to the furthest side of the vast room.
The occupants of the throne room watched in interest as the young inventor carried the other unit to the opposite side.
And then the two women set the two wired devices down across from each other.
The captain knelt over her unit of the device awaiting further instruction from the other woman.
Before Nako turned to gaze back to her waiting audience to explain what she was going to do next.
"And now using the electricity that I mentioned. I am going to transmit a message through my unit to the captain's unit, which will then begin to emit a clicking sound when the message comes though. And she is then going to interpret the message from the clicks using the code sheet that I provided her." Nako remarked in an educative voice while she crouched down over the unit while she turned the switch.
Those in the throne room watched in anticipation as the young woman began to operate the unit.
While a faint clicking sound resounded lightly from Nako's unit into the ears of her piqued audience.
As the two royals observed the woman work with unusually fixated expressions of interest in their eyes.
Even Yoko and everyone else at the map was staring back at the young woman with their curious gazes conveying their captivation.
Just as Nako continued to operate the unit as she sent her message through.
"Are you receiving my message, Captain?" Nako spoke while she gazed nervously back at the warrior kneeling opposite from her.
Zoi stared between her unit with stoic eyes and the sheet of coded characters in her hand while she listened to the clicking of her friend's invention.
While Azula gazed between the two women with keenly interested amber golden eyes.
As Ozai listened to the device click with an expectant expression in his intrigued amber eyes.
All the while as the rest of the Fire Lord's cabinet gazed on with mutual trepidation.
Only for the young inventor to swallow in nervousness.
As she hurriedly continued to fiddle with her unit when the other unit failed to indicate that a message was coming through.
She felt the pressure on her begin to grow as she sensed the gaze of every powerful person in the throne room upon her back.
As the gaze of interest in the Fire Lord's eyes began to wane as he stared harshly down at the now apprehensive girl.
"Some telecommunications device. Of course, she is receiving your message. She's in the room." Bujing mocked in a derisive voice as he chuckled from where he knelt on the floor.
As the much younger General Meram soon did the same as he gazed mockingly back at the now nervously sweating woman.
Only to for the two generals to feel a glacial gaze upon their back as they turned to find that Zoi was staring back at them with a murderous glare in her golden eyes.
Azula also turned to stare intimidatingly down at the two generals with an icy glare in her terrifying eyes.
As she watched through the corner of her eye as her loyal pilot continued to frantically operate the device.
Only to spin her head back towards her captain when she started to hear a distinct clicking sound start to rapidly emit from the second unit.
And just when the rest of the audience thought that the device was a failure.
They too heard a sound coming through the warrior's unit!
And Zoi could only gaze down at her unit with an astonished expression in her golden eyes while she listened carefully to the rapid clicking sounds.
As she read from her code sheet while she tried to intercept what character each sound meant.
And soon she realized in wonder that a message was actually coming through!
And then a smile began to form on her lips when she deciphered the text of the message.
Zoi now glanced up back at her comrade with a smile of praise on her lips.
"Yes, Nako. I am receiving your message. Your message reads, 'Victory to the Fire Nation'." Zoi stated in a congratulatory voice while the other woman smiled back at her.
As an expression of tremendous relief came over Nako's face as she found herself unable to resist grinning as widely as can be.
The entire throne room fell into a speechless silence after hearing the captain interpret the coded message that the young inventor sent through her unit.
Victory to the Fire Nation!
And Ozai now stared down at the invention with an intense captivation in his astounded amber eyes.
While even the Fire Princess stared down at her pilot with a look of awe in her callous amber golden gaze.
It was almost like an underdeveloped version of the technology that she had witnessed in her encounter with those foreign soldiers!
And she once again couldn't help but find herself shocked that this nervous subordinate of hers was capable of constructing such an innovative device!
"Amazing!" General Shinu exclaimed in a fascinated voice while he stared back at the invention in awe.
Yoko also stared back at the young woman with a rare look of astonishment in her golden eyes.
And Terak gazed on in just as much wonder from where he knelt beside the head of the Song clan.
And both General Bujing and General Sheng had fallen into a shocked state of silence.
As an expression of tremendous relief came over Nako's face as she found herself unable to resist grinning as widely as can be.
Before Zoi turned to gaze back at Bujing's still taken aback face with a smirk on her lips.
"Just what was it you were saying General Bujing?" Zoi called out in a taunt while the elderly general glared back at her but chose to keep his mouth shut.
Just as the princess turned to gaze back at her father's uncharacteristically amazed countenance with a confident smile on her lips once more.
"See Father? I told you that the girl has talent." Azula commented in a smoothly regal voice as she gestured down to her now blushing pilot below.
And she also smiled widely in approval over subordinate's choice of words with her chosen message that she sent through.
The Fire Lord begrudgingly nodded in agreement as he gazed back down at the young inventor with his amber eyes now reflecting his wonder.
And he himself smiled over the choice in wording in the coded message.
"Yes, Azula. She certainly does." Ozai replied in a composed voice while he studied the young woman closely.
As Nako's face turned red as she struggled to contain her joy that her invention was working as planned.
Before she recovered her composure as she turned to gaze up at the two royals who were still staring back down at her in marvelment.
"Fire Lord, I will be up front with you. These two are protypes are not yet ready to work over far distances. However, with further testing, and if we begin mass production of units…and the appropriate telecommunications network and the needed sending stations to carry the messages over the required distances…it is my belief that it just may prove successful for long distance communication." Nako announced in an evaluative voice while the Fire Lord listened with a look of profound consideration in his eyes.
Azula's callous amber golden eyes shone with approval over her faithful subordinate's ingenuity as she gazed back at her father's heavily contemplative face.
"It is my idea that we should give the girl her own lab and allow her to stay in Hari Bulkan while she works to perfect her invention. Perhaps we could even have her work in conjunction with the mechanist under the supervision of War Minister Qin to oversee the production of this new technology." Azula commented in a sanguine voice with her hand held out before her face while Nako listened below in awe.
The rest of the court listened in fascination over the potential new turn in technology below.
As Nako's brown eyes flashed with eagerness over the chance to work with the famed mechanist.
And she was just as excited at the prospect of being granted the honor of staying in the great royal city with royalty and nobility!
While the Fire Lord held a hand underneath his goatee as he gazed in approval back at the young inventor below.
"That is an excellent idea Azula. Such a captivating technology is truly worth investigating. So be it, Nako. I will allow you to reside in Hari Bulkan. You may have whatever it is that you need to perfect this invention of yours." Ozai announced in an authoritative voice that resounded throughout the throne room.
"Thank you, Fire Lord! I swear that I won't let the Crown down!" Nako explained in a hurried voice as she bowed low once more while the Fire Lord stoically gazed down at her.
The princess gazed back down at her subordinate from where she sat on her cushioned throne beside her father with hidden approval in her ruthless amber golden eyes.
"That will be all for now Nako. You can go now." Azula ordered in a steely voice while she watched her subordinate bend her head in respect her direction.
"Yes, Your Highness." Nako responded in a dutiful voice as she stood up with her invention held in her arms.
Before she bowed a final time to the two royals once again while her princess gazed stonily back down at her.
And then she walked back over to the warrior to collect the second unit.
The captain handed it to her as she carefully balanced both devices in her arms.
As she mustered a smile as she gazed gratefully back up into her friend's composed golden eyes.
While the noblewoman smiled back down at her.
And then she turned to walk out still feeling the awkward stare of the many important officials on her back.
And soon enough she exited through the vast throne room curtains.
Ozai stared after the departing woman with an elated expression in his cruel amber eyes.
As he found himself unable to fight the pleased smile from forming onto his ruthless lips.
Things were shaping up even better than he had hoped.
Not only did he gained a prized new war power in the form of his daughter's young foreign servant girl.
He also just may have acquired an astounding new technology that just may serve to tip the scales even further into his favor!
Soon afterwards Zoi strode back to her position beside her mother and knelt back down once more.
The Fire Lord turned his attention back to the attendees gathered below before his gaze shifted to the renowned warrior of the Song clan.
"Now then, onto other matters. Captain Zoi. What is your report on your status of your hunt for the Order of the White Lotus?" Ozai inquired in a coldly detached voice as all eyes turned to the kneeling captain in question.
While a confident smile made its way onto Zoi's lips as she turned to gaze up at her Fire Lord.
As a cruel smile formed on Azula's lips as well as she sat with her arms folded over her armored chest.
"Five years ago, I joined the Imperial Firebenders, and around two years after that I began to undertake special missions in the name of the Royal Family. To that end I gathered my own crew to aid me in such a task. And one year ago…I deployed under Princess Azula's orders to hunt the Order of the White Lotus to investigate the rumors of the Avatar's survival. I am pleased to report that it is thanks to our efforts they are now but a shadow of their former strength and I am sure that you have heard that the same can be said for former General Iroh after I took out his left eye." Zoi spoke in a ruthlessly focused voice as she reverted to her warrior persona once more while those around her listened with impressed looks in their eyes.
The Fire Lord found his wicked smile growing even larger after hearing those delightful words.
"Yes, I did hear about that." Ozai chuckled with a smirk on his lips while the princess smirked as well beside him.
"All and all, I would say that less than half of their original strength remain." Zoi stated in a stony voice while she gazed up at the Fire Lord's beyond pleased visage.
As Yoko gazed at her daughter with tremendous pride flashing before her equally cold golden eyes.
"Nicely done Captain Zoi. I must say that you certainly do exceed expectations." Ozai spoke in a voice of merciless approval while the warrior smiled as she shrugged her shoulders.
"What can I say? If I am going to do something. I believe in getting it done right." Zoi replied in a stoic voice while she once again ignored the way the generals stared at her back in unhidden dislike.
"As for the Avatar and his friends Father. It with my thought that we will track down the Avatar in the coming weeks, and once we do locate them. I have already devised a fitting counterattack that should put an end to them for good." Azula spoke in a callous voice with her arms folded over her breasts while she smiled confidently back at her father's approving face.
"I commend your foresight Azula. I will leave the military preparations for the assault to you…provided that you keep me informed of any updates that should come to light with this new war power of ours." Ozai responded with his cruel eyes gazing back at his daughter's icily inexpressive face.
The princess stared on with her glacial amber golden eyes masking the ever so slight sense of anger that she felt boil up within her.
Over hearing her father speak of her young girlfriend as if she nothing more than a disposable tool of war.
As the members of the cabinet still gazed out with expressions of curiosity in their eyes over what this mysterious new war power entailed.
And with that out of the way the Fire Lord turned to glance across the others present below.
"As to the final order of business. As I am sure that you are all already aware. Recently there has been a series of riots in the town of Shung Wu." Ozai stated in a fiercely rigid voice while the members of his cabinet gazed back at one another as they murmured amongst each other.
"I have already squashed it Father. Zoi and I stomped out the peasant's little 'revolt' as we were passing through on our voyage home. Not only that, I punished Joza myself by revoking his governorship and his clan has been henceforth disgraced. I don't foresee there being any further problems with Joza or the townspeople." Azula remarked in an aloofly offhand voice as she waved her elegant hand before her coldly sanguine face while her father gazed at her in recognition.
Zoi knelt scowling with her golden eyes glaring down at the floor once more.
As the members of the cabinet still gazed back at one another.
"Yes, I have heard word among the commoners and the peasants that they have recently given rise to an anti-monarchy movement." Yoko spoke in a dignified voice as she stared on with frozen golden eyes.
And just like that everyone including the two royals turned to gaze in the direction of the warlord of the Song clan.
It was understood that the matriarch was not known for being a particularly talkative person.
And as a result, there was a saying in the Fire Nation and it was that on the rare occasion that Yoko chooses to speak.
You listen.
Before the governor did not speak without good reason.
Ozai now gazed down at Yoko with furiously displeased amber eyes.
As Azula glared down with her amber golden eyes reflecting her anger that their own subjects had the gall to even spread such treasonous rumors!
"Governor Yoko…tell me what you have heard." Ozai ordered in an emotionless voice while he stared down at the older woman's equally impassive face.
"My informants tell me that there is a revolutionary movement that is brewing in the Fire Nation with its supporters seeming to be split in disagreement over two very starkly different objectives." Yoko answered in a composed voice while her daughter listened with her attentive golden eyes gazing back at her.
The rest of the throne room listened in a sense of capitation in their eyes.
"The revolutionary movement appears to have formed with the goal of obtaining certain rights and terms from the Crown…" Yoko trailed off in an informative voice as her golden eyes showed little to no emotion.
The Fire Lord gazed on with cruelly uncaring amber eyes that showed that he wasn't moved in the slightest by the people's desires.
As the princess callously rolled her amber golden eyes over the very notion of the commoners demanding anything from the throne.
"Rights. The commoners and the peasants will get what we say they get and nothing more." Azula sneered with her merciless amber golden eyes glaring downward.
Only to find herself trying to fight the tight scowl that was forming onto her regal lips when words that her serving girl told her once more played in her mind.
Because your small folk don't have any rights. T-there are many countries in my homeland where commoners have rights.
Just as she turned to stare coldly with her arms folded over her bosom as scoffed under her breath.
As she tried to push her handmaid's weak words out of her mind in favor of focusing on the meeting at hand.
The captain turned away with a frown on her lips as she once again found herself recalling her adopted sister's passionate words.
No living being has the right to take the life of another.
We are all living beings.
We can find peace together!
'The more I get to know that girl…the more I start to wonder. Is there a better way than this? Is there a path to be found through Elle's peace?' Zoi thought with her golden eyes deeply mulling over the state of her country and the rest of the world.
It was a question that she has been pondering quite often lately.
And it was a question that she had yet to answer.
And not even a second after that she found herself torn from her reverie by the sound of her mother's voice once more.
The occupants of the throne room listened closely as the matriarch stared back up at the two royals with a deathly serious expression in her stony golden eyes.
"However, it seems that a number of the supporters of this movement have taken on a much more extremist agenda. These supporters wish to start a violent purge amongst the populace…to kill not only the Royal Family but every last aristocrat in the Fire Nation." Yoko announced in a stunningly blunt voice while her words swept through the air like a storm.
And that was all it took for the cabinet to gaze around with astonished expressions in their eyes.
And even the two royals could only stare down with shocked expressions flashing before their eyes.
'A movement to purge all aristocrats…that damned puppeteer was actually telling the truth!' Zoi thought as she gazed on with an unnerved expression in her golden eyes.
She gazed up at her princess's stoic face as she exchanged a quick glance with Azula.
And just as the princess was about to open her mouth to speak.
She found herself turning to glance down at those gathered down below when the sound of General Meram chuckling mockingly flowed into the air.
While all eyes then turned to the young man as he gazed back up at the imposing princess with a strange smile on his lips.
"I concur with our beautiful princess. That isn't going to be a problem. After Princess Azula put an end to the insurrection in Shung Wu…I made a stop in Shung Wu myself on my way to the Capital. While I was there, I punished the peasants for their disobedience and I can assure you that I made it clear that such actions will not be tolerated." Meram spoke in an unfeeling voice while a sense of confusion overtook the throne room.
The princess scowled imperiously back down at the man never failing to miss the flirtatious smile on the nobleman's lips.
As she stared down in callous disinterest as she pondered what he meant by his claim.
While Zoi, Terak and Yoko turned to gaze back at the young man with questioning looks in their eyes.
"What do you mean that you punished them?" Zoi demanded with her temper carefully kept under control as the general smiled back at her.
"What do you think I mean? I personally oversaw the public execution of the instigators of the revolt." Meram announced in a remorseless voice that prompted everyone all but the Fire Lord and General Bujing to turn to him in shock.
He smiled up at the princess's caught off-guard face.
Azula gazed back down with her ruthless amber golden eyes expressing her surprise.
While her mouth remained open for the most fleeting of a moment in a peculiar show of long buried emotion.
Those at the map of the world were gazing at the general with varying reactions in their eyes.
As the more pragmatic General Shinu stared back at the young man with disbelief in his eyes.
And for the first time since Yoko had entered the meeting.
The matriarch was now staring back at the young nobleman with her golden eyes narrowing in outrage.
Just as she quickly turned to her eldest daughter while she watched with cautiously widened eyes as the warrior shook in fury.
The famed soldier's sense of rage was so palpable that it was felt by everyone in the room.
While the mighty captain now trembled with her hair hanging over her eyes as she smashed her teeth together.
And the faintest sign of steam was even starting to exude off the warrior's muscular body.
As several of the other attendees gazed out of the corner of their eyes in fear of the powerful warrior's reputation.
The princess swiftly glanced down at her strongest soldier through the corner of her callous eye.
As she watched with a weary look in her eyes in the hopes that the woman wouldn't do anything foolish.
'You bastard! I am going to kill you! All they wanted was food!' Zoi thought with her golden eyes now as wide as can be in murderous wrath.
Only to find herself turning to her gaze off to her left in surprise when an unlikely individual spoke up in outrage.
"Have you gone mad! You just poured fuel over an already volatile situation that will only inspire an even bigger revolt!" Terak exclaimed with his hand on the map while he stared furiously back at the now glaring general.
As an even greater sense of tension swept over the throne room air as the Fire Lord stared down from above with rigid amber eyes.
Azula gazed between the gathered cabinet and her father with her callous amber golden eyes expressing aggravation towards the general.
While both Zoi and Yoko stared back at Terak with surprised golden eyes over his outburst.
And yet the two members of the Song clan couldn't help but fear that the chancellor was right.
"I have resolved a revolt and I have also just returned home from securing multiple great victories in the name of the Fire Nation. Which is more than I can say for you and your spy circle." Meram snapped back with fire in his voice while he glared daggers back at the sneering chancellor.
"I have been working meticulously with Princess Azula to sow doubt and discord in the rebel ranks. With my carefully woven lies falsehood becomes truth and truth becomes falsehood. And unlike your savaging of hungry peasants General…my work produces results." Terak countered in a derisive voice while the face of the young general was now red with anger.
As all eyes in the throne were gazing between the two feuding men.
And that was all it took for the general to stand up in fury from the council.
Yoko sighed with her face in her hands as her daughter still glared back at the Clan Sheng nobleman.
While Azula stared down at the two with her amber golden eyes conveying her annoyance over their bickering.
And yet for as much as the chancellor often grated on her she couldn't deny that the man was correct.
And it only made her all the more furious that the bloodthirsty general had foolishly rekindled a fire that she had already put out!
"How dare you question my worth!" Meram snarled with fire burning from his fists.
"I do more than question your worth! I question if you have a brain in that empty head of yours!" Terak shouted as he stood up beside the captain while he pointed a finger back at the outraged general as the man began to swiftly stride towards him.
Ozai's callous amber eyes finally began to flicker with annoyance as he clenched his jaw.
As Azula let out a haughty sigh as she gazed down at the arguing men with irritated amber golden eyes.
And not even seconds later the advisers began to mutter to one another once more.
They all watched in suspense as Meram came to a stop looming over a defiant Terak as they glared back at one another.
As Zoi still stared back at the Sheng clan general from where she knelt behind the standing chancellor with hauntingly murderous golden eyes.
"The only reason that you have the gall to run your mouth at me like that is because you sit beside the Fire Lord as chancellor but perhaps, we should see if your talent for combat is half as fearsome as your silver tongue!" Meram hissed back in a livid voice as he leaned in to glare down at Terak while the smaller man valiantly stood his ground.
There wasn't a single person in the throne room who wasn't aware that Terak didn't stand a chance in an Agni Kai against the ruthless general.
And yet the man boldly persisted likely out of a belief that he was safe standing beside the two powerful women of the Song clan.
"I deliver order and peace to the Fire Nation!" Terak retorted in an indignant voice as he furiously gestured with his robed hands in the general's ice-cold face.
The princess coldly rolled her aggravated amber golden eyes as she groaned from where she sat on her cushion.
As the anger in the Fire Lord's eyes grew even further as the sound of the two men shouting continued to make his temper boil over.
"How amusing. The chancellor is going to get brutalized." Bujing commented with a cruel smirk on his lips while several of his fellows chuckled in agreement.
Yoko simply still gazed on with agitation in her golden eyes that only rose as the two men continued to bicker in her ear.
Zoi remained on the floor with her stony gaze never once leaving the general's face.
"You are reckless! You have resolved nothing! Your actions will lead us into a civil war that will tear the Fire Nation apart!" Terak shouted as he thrust his finger in Meram's face while the general seethed back at him.
Azula sat in her seat with her amber golden eyes still glaring down at the general.
Only to turn her head when she finally saw her father's flames rise up in his ever-growing anger.
As the captain's vengeful eyes for once agreed with the chancellor.
"A civil war with peasant farmers! I have no fear of peasants! Let the lowly commoners hate me! I welcome it!" Meram scoffed as he glared back into the chancellor's narrowed eyes while they stood not even a hair apart.
"Silence!" Ozai roared at the top of his lungs as his flames shot up to enormous heights intimidating all gathered below into falling quiet.
Azula let out an irate sigh as she lounged with her fist against her annoyed cheek.
She had been wondering how long it would take for her father to lose his temper.
As the chancellor sneered once more into the general's face as the taller man recoiled away from him with his golden eyes still glaring back at him.
Only for everyone to gaze on in a margin of surprise not a moment later when the heat from the Fire Lord's flames sent Terak soaring onto his back on the floor.
"Enough out of you Terak!" Ozai bellowed in a resounding voice from where he sat upon his throne while the chancellor now cowered on the floor in shock.
And the princess turned to gaze at her father with a degree of surprise in her callous amber golden eyes.
"General Meram is correct. Insurrection is to be crushed without compassion. The commoners and the peasants will learn their place once more. As for you…it was your failure that allowed Iroh to commander an airship that allowed the rebels to ambush Azula. You have failed me far too many times. As of this moment forward you are no longer Royal Chancellor." Ozai declared in a tyrannical voice while he stared imperiously down at the politician's aghast face.
Azula stared on with emotionless amber golden eyes as she observed the scene from her seat.
While Zoi turned to glower down at the world map with still furious golden eyes.
'I should have expected that he wouldn't give a damn about his own people.' Zoi thought as she knelt glaring at arrogant young general through the corner of her eye.
General Meram now smirked as he gazed tauntingly down at the now paling Terak from where he lay trembling before the Fire Lord's flames.
"I couldn't agree more Fire Lord. Treason must be punished swiftly and brutally." Bujing remarked in a cruel voice with a malicious smirk on his lips.
The captain glared at the elderly general with stony golden eyes.
"B-but Fire Lord! I have been Royal Chancellor for ten years!" The now former chancellor protested in a disbelieving voice as he pushed himself up only to cower when the flames flared up once more.
"I am sick of your pathetic whimpering! All you are is empty talk. I need results. I want the Avatar dead. I want my enemy's heads on spikes. Perhaps General Meram will be able to succeed where you have failed." Ozai concluded in an utterly frigid voice while he gazed heartlessly down at the man's speechless face.
The princess rose a regal brow as she turned to gaze back at her father with an impassive stare.
And even the captain was staring back at the smiling young general with a surprised expression in her golden eyes.
The matriarch of the Song clan knelt in silence as she showed no emotion to what was happening before her stoic eyes.
"I-I beg of you to reconsider Fire Lord! Just give me one more chance I promise that I-" Terak cried out only to find himself cut off when the general stomped on his hand.
"Be silent weakling." Meram taunted in a voice laced with ridicule as he stood over the humiliated man while Terak stared back up at him in outrage.
"You can't treat me like this!" Terak yelled in a distressed voice only to find himself howl in pain when a boot stomped down onto his throat as he was slammed back down into the floor.
And not a second after that the general ripped the royal emblem from the writhing man's chest as he stepped down even harder onto his neck.
A great many of the other advisers observed the man's humiliation with cruel expressions in their eyes.
General Bujing chuckled in sadistic amusement as if he was getting pleasure just from watching the man scream.
The only general who wasn't laughing was General Shinu who was now turning away with an uncomfortable look in his eyes.
And the Fire Lord for his part was just staring down with cruel amber eyes that showed no emotion for his former chancellor's humiliated screams.
Azula watched the man scream from where she sat above with frigid amber golden eyes.
It was now pitifully obvious just why the chancellor came to her to scheme against her father in the first place.
It was because the sniveling man was on the verge of losing his position!
She could care less who holds the title of royal chancellor.
But even so…
Her amber golden eyes narrowed ruthlessly as she stared down at the young general's back while he crushed the howling politician under his boot.
She couldn't help but feel a sliver of something akin to concern from somewhere deep within her cold heart that the presence of this general would endanger her little girlfriend.
Zoi stared back at Meram with unrivaled disgust in her golden eyes as silently vowed to make him pay for killing Fire Nation citizens.
Just as the general finally removed his foot from the former chancellor's neck and wrapped the royal emblem around his neck.
And then he turned to gaze up the two royals while he bowed with his hands held together in the traditional position.
He gazed from his Fire Lord's flame lit countenance to his princess's imposingly fire accented face.
"I will not let you down Fire Lord…nor you either my beautiful princess." Meram declared with a smile on his lips while the princess rolled her golden eyes back down at him.
It didn't deter him in the least.
As he had expected that such a goddess would not be so easy to woo.
'Please! You are not my type!' Azula thought with her arms crossed haughtily over her armored breasts while she regarded the general as if he were nothing more than a bug that she was about to squash.
She much preferred submissive pretty little things.
And that was all it took for a tight scowl to form on her lovely lips as she turned to stare moodily into the flames.
And she couldn't help but find herself longing for her pretty pet's company once more.
The summit had long since begun to grate on her every last nerve and it was long past time that her serving girl ease her foul temper.
And the sooner this wretched meeting was over.
The sooner she could do so!
While Terak lay gasping for air on the floor with his fists clenched in unimaginable rage.
And then he shakily stood up in a fury as he pushed his way past the two women of the Song clan as he made his way for the throne room curtains.
As the sound of the advisers chuckling mockingly at his back only served as further fuel for his rage.
"Good riddance. He was a pathetic worm anyway." Bujing stated in a heartless voice as he watched the humiliated man stagger off.
General Meram knelt upon the floor once more with a cruel smirk on his lips as he too laughed in entertainment over the other man's disgrace.
Before they all turned away to gaze up at their Fire Lord and their Crown Princess.
Just as the former chancellor panted as he stopped behind a pillar as he nursed his bruised wrist.
As he stared on with enraged golden eyes at the laughing members of the Fire Lord's cabinet.
'I am going to get you Meram! And you too Bujing! I am going to get every last one of you! Even you too Ozai! I will remember all of your names! I will see each and every one of you burn!' Terak thought as he stormed away with his teeth gritted in his outrage while he pushed through the curtains of the throne room.
It there was one thing that he never forgets.
It was a slight!
Never!
Azula turned to watch with merciless amber golden eyes as the man disappeared through the swaying curtains.
Before she turned her callous gaze back down to the laughing generals below.
Where there was no doubt that Terak was pitifully weak.
She damn well knew that he was far more intelligent than General Meram.
And she knew full well that there way that the man was going to let this go.
Zoi observed the man storm off with stoic golden eyes before she too turned back to the smirking Meram and Bujing.
'Then again I may not have to.' Zoi thought while she stared back at young general's smiling face.
What a clueless fool.
He didn't even know the horror that would be in store for him now that Terak was out for his blood.
Yoko gazed on with equally aware golden eyes knowing full well that the generals were going to regret the day that they crossed Terak.
Only for all eyes in the throne room to turn to the captain not a moment when the sound of the famed warrior scoffing resounded into the air.
"Congratulations General Meram. You were able to defeat a defenseless Terak and a crowd of starved peasants. I am in awe of your tremendous strength." Zoi stated with sarcasm dripping from her voice while the young general spun around to glare back at her.
"Is there something that you wish to say to me Generalkiller?" Meram replied with his golden eyes glaring back at the captain's stoic face.
While everyone in the throne room watched the two closely.
As the princess snorted as she gazed down at the general with sneering amber golden eyes.
'Savaging Terak is one thing…. but that man is a fool if he believes that he can defeat Zoi.' Azula thought as she rolled her intelligent amber golden eyes while her gaze remained on her strongest soldier below.
"Not just you but to many other individuals here as well. But before I do…I have an important announcement to make." Zoi remarked with her arms folded over her chest while her princess rose a brow in curiosity from where she sat above her.
The Fire Lord did the same as he turned to glance down at the warrior with his usual rigid stare.
As the others seated below excluding Yoko turned to gaze questioning in the captain's direction.
"It is my upmost pleasure to inform the court that Princess Azula has officially appointed me as her second in command." Zoi announced with unmistakable smugness in her voice as she gazed back at the faces of the many shocked military officials.
While a smile now formed onto Yoko's lips with her prideful golden eyes gazing back at her eldest daughter in approval.
As the Fire Lord rose his brows as he turned to gaze back at his daughter for clarification.
"Is this true Azula?" Ozai asked in a composed voice while a confident smile graced his daughter's lips.
"It is Father. As long as her actions are in accordance with your wishes. Zoi is to be viewed for all intents and purposes as an extension of my will." Azula declared in a perfectly poised voice as she held up her hand before her authoritative voice.
Her domineering amber golden eyes stared powerfully down at the stunned members of the cabinet below.
The Fire Lord let out a curious him as he held a hand underneath his goatee as he turned to glance back down at those gathered among his cabinet.
While the advisers were now gazing back at the captain with something similar to alarmed looks in their eyes.
It was a well-known fact that nearly all of the senior military officials despised the woman for her killing of her superior many years prior.
And now that the woman had been bolstered by the authority of Princess Azula…
They knew well enough that their interactions with the wretched woman were about to grow far more unpleasant than they had ever before.
"And in that regard Fire Lord, I would like to offer you my counsel concerning what I learned in the year that I spent traveling in the Earth Kingdom." Zoi spoke in a calmly collected voice as she stared confidently up at Ozai's piqued face.
As the princess listened with her full attention as she eyed her best soldier from above.
"And just what would this counsel entail?" Ozai pondered in an unemotional voice while he watched the woman with curiosity in his amber eyes.
Just as the captain turned to glance around her as she gazed upon the faces of many of the high generals present.
"After the one year that I spent fighting the people of the Earth Kingdom. I discovered that they are a diverse and resourceful people that are willing to fight to the bitter end to defend the land that they call home." Zoi commented in a stonily focused voice while the two royals listened as they studied her curiously.
The warrior paid no heed to the sound of several generals coldly laughing over her description of the Earth Kingdom people.
"To that end…I want to advise you that a significant part of why you are having difficulty occupying the Earth Kingdom is because the training programs of certain generals present are highly inadequate for such a prolonged occupation." Zoi remarked in a stunningly blunt voice while many of the generals turned to stare back at her with outraged expressions in their livid eyes.
While one general after another now looked as if they wanted to leap across the throne room and kill the brazen woman.
As the Fire Lord sat authoritatively beside his daughter with his hand underneath his chin as he stared down at the woman in consideration.
"Take General Bujing for instance. While he may be a veteran general. His methods of training his troops…are far too linear. There is too much focus on brute force and nearly no focus on defense. Furthermore, he spends far too much time following outdated traditions and little to no time on innovation." Zoi added in a fearless voice as she gestured coldly in the enraged elderly man's direction.
And just like those murmurs began to spread across the cabinet once more.
Ozai gazed down with a contemplative frown on his lips as General Bujing slammed his angered fists on the floor.
As Azula's cold amber golden eyes pondered her warrior's words while she calmly watched her subordinate below.
"What!? I will not take this disrespect from you Generalkiller! I have been training soldiers for over forty years! You are in no position to question my methods!" Bujing shouted in a fuming voice as he glared furiously back at the noblewoman's confidently smiling face.
The matriarch of the Song clan knelt with her arms folded over her breasts.
As an ever so slight smile of maternal pride formed onto her lips.
Only for the elderly general to freeze up when he caught the glare of the princess seated far above him.
The princess's terrifyingly amber golden eyes now gazed imperiously right back down at the old man's sweating face.
"You will take it General Bujing. Unless of course…you are telling me that I am in no position to question the effectiveness of your methods." Azula commented in a mercilessly imposing voice as she stared dominantly down at the now terrified general's face.
Her father turned to gaze back at her with his cold amber eyes observing her intently.
Before everyone turned back to Zoi when the sound of the noblewoman chuckling smugly flowed into the air.
"That is precisely my point. You have been doing this for forty years and you haven't won yet. If that isn't a sign of a need for a complete overhaul in training protocol then I don't know what is." Zoi replied in an utterly scathing voice as she stared back into Bujing's beyond outraged golden eyes.
"That is a bold claim that you have made Captain Zoi. Can you back your words up with action?" Ozai inquired in a majestic voice that carried throughout the throne room while all eyes at the world map stared back at the smiling woman.
Azula just smirked as she folded her arms over her chest once more already knowing the answer to that question.
As General Bujing and General Meram in particular glared back at the woman as her lips slowly but surely curved into a sanguine smirk.
"Can I back them up Fire Lord? Of course, I can back them up." Zoi stated with unmistakable pride in her voice while she gazed back up at the Fire Lord's intrigued countenance.
Bujing still stared furiously back at the woman from where he sat on the other side of the long map.
As the Fire Lord released a thoughtful hum as he held a fingertip underneath his goatee once more.
"Then perhaps you should give the court a demonstration of the revisions that are needed." Ozai suggested with a margin of sadistic implication in his voice as a smile made its way onto his lips.
While all gazes were still on Zoi as she still held herself with an undeniable aura of confidence.
"It would be my honor." Zoi spoke with a small smirk on her lips while the generals stared back at her in loathing.
The Fire Lord turned to glance at his daughter's smirking face before he too turned to smirk back down at the confident woman.
"General Bujing. Send for five of your best soldiers…." Ozai trailed off in a devious voice while a cruel smile made its way onto the elderly general's lips.
"I would be delighted to oblige you Fire Lord. I will send for them at once." Bujing stated with a giant smirk on his lips.
"Ten. Five won't even be enough to make me sweat." Zoi boasted in a shockingly assured voice with her bangs hanging over her eyes while she smiled at the table.
While all but Azula and Yoko turned to gaze at the captain with disbelief in their eyes.
As the Fire Lord stared down at the smirking warrior with his cruel smile growing even larger.
The princess held her head high with a look of complete confidence in her callous amber golden eyes.
While the Song clan head still knelt smiling at the table knowing full well that her daughter had all the reason in the world to boast.
"Have it your way…Generalkiller." Bujing spoke through gritted teeth while he glared a hole through the arrogant woman's skull.
And then he waved his hand in the air to give the order to send for his ten best soldiers.
And soon enough a guard rushed into the throne room while Zoi still knelt smirking in her position.
And not even five minutes later…
An entire squad of ten of General Bujing's elite soldiers stepped through the entrance of the throne room.
Their gazes landed on the kneeling captain as they stood in formation.
The two royals stared down with eagerness in their eyes as they watched the famous warrior slowly push herself up from the floor.
"There is only one rule. No killing. Aside from than, anything goes." Ozai announced in a wicked voice as he stared down with intensely entertained amber eyes below.
The princess watched from above with her beautiful lips forming a cruel smile.
As the soldiers walked forward towards the noblewoman as she stood up with her back turned to them.
Their commanding general now knelt smiling coldly with his sadistic golden eyes never leaving the scene.
Yoko gazed up at her daughter with endless faith in her combat prowess in her stoic golden eyes.
"I'll try not to break anything critical." Zoi commented in a fearless voice as she cracked her knuckles with a poised smile on her lips.
The generals stared at her with hatred in their eyes as she turned to face the squad of elite soldiers.
"Don't get ahead of yourself." The squad leader scoffed in a near emotionless voice as he strode forward with his fellows at his back.
While everyone in the throne room watched the composed captain stride towards the gathering of soldiers.
As the soldiers stood in different positions beside the intricately designed pillars.
Just as the noblewoman confidently strode to the center of the soldiers.
And then she began to slowly pace in a methodical manner as she listened to several of the soldiers laugh in excitement at the chance to brutalize her.
She calmly turned in a circle with a sanguine aura about her as she watched them surround her from all sides.
"Begin!" Ozai commanded with his voice carrying through the air while he watched with a smirk on his lips.
The captain still stood at the epicenter of the circle with her hair shadowing her golden eyes.
As a beyond self-assured smirk still adorned her lips.
And not a second later all ten of the elite soldiers rushed forward towards their singular opponent.
While General Bujing watched with a vicious smirk on his lips as his soldiers sprang at the over confident woman.
Only for all but Azula and Yoko to stare on in surprise when Zoi effortlessly sidestepped a swing of firebending from a man lunging at her.
And not even seconds after that the battle cry of a true warrior resounded imposingly into the ears of all present.
And then the captain seized the shocked man by his arm while she flipped him down onto the floor.
And that was all it took for the soldier's helmet to roll across the floor with an echoing clang.
The soldiers watched with stunned expressions in their eyes as the woman sprang at them like a rampaging beast!
"Too slow! You have no agility!" Zoi shouted in a merciless voice as she evaded another strike while her boot impacted with another soldier's face.
And then the man was hurled into one of the large pillars before he slammed into it with his pained shouts resounding into the air.
General Bujing's smirk had transformed into an expression of shock as he gazed on with disbelieving golden eyes.
As all of the other advisers watched the spectacle in awe.
While the roaring warrior bounded into the fray once more with an ever so slight steam emerging from her toned muscles.
And even the Fire Lord was gazing on with his amber eyes widening ever so marginally.
'What…is that steam?' Ozai thought as he studied the woman with a calculating stare in his astonished eyes.
Azula stared on with a huge smile on her lips as she watched another man scream as he was sent soaring into the wall.
Yoko observed the demonstration with a completely unfazed expression in her golden eyes.
"And you have no defense!" Zoi called out as she slammed her fist into another soldier's belly while he keeled over in agony.
And then he too was thrown to the wayside while the unfortunate soldier impacted with the wall!
"You are all too predictable!" Zoi roared as she sprang down above the now terror-stricken soldiers.
The court gaped on with astonished expressions in their eyes as Zoi savagely sent another man flying unconscious onto the floor of the throne room!
And then another was ruthlessly taken down with a powerful kick to his helmet!
And so, it went.
As each of the elite soldiers were dispatched one by one!
Until finally the squad leader was seen slumping to the floor with his helmet rolling to the ground with a resounding clang.
All ten of General Bujing's best soldiers were now sprawled out in various undignified positions upon the palace floor.
As Zoi now stood at the center of the unconscious soldiers with her back turned to her speechless audience.
Ozai sat in an unusually taken aback silence with his amber eyes still conveying his shock.
As Azula gazed down with an approving gleam in her callous amber golden eyes.
'As if there would have been any other outcome.' Azula thought with a regal smile on her lips as she sat with her arms crossed over her breasts.
"H-how?" Bujing murmured in a disbelieving voice while he gazed out with tremendous anger in his humiliated golden eyes.
General Meram knelt in a state of similar surprise with his golden eyes gazing on in astoundment.
"How? My Zoi has created a revolutionary technique that was previously never before seen in recorded history. This brilliant technique allows her to convert her internal fire into raw physical strength and stamina. She is the only firebender in the entire world to master it and the only one capable of using it." Yoko announced in a voice of boundless maternal pride while all but the princess gazed on with disbelief in their eyes.
The Fire Lord gazed on with his amber eyes shimmering with a hidden spark of anger as he tightened his jaw.
'Just how did this woman create such a technique?' Ozai thought with his amber eyes narrowing at the warrior's turned back.
Just as he turned to gaze out of the corner of his tyrannical eye at his daughter's smirking face.
Yet another detail that Azula has kept hidden from him!
Before he turned to stare imperiously down at the soldier below while he gripped his fists in his lap.
It would seem that his daughter and this captain were starting to become too strong.
And from this moment forward…
He would have to keep a much closer watch on the bother of them!
"In simple terms General Bujing. It means that you and your soldiers are trash compared to my daughter." Yoko concluded in an impassively conceited voice while the general glared at her daughter in abject humiliation.
While everyone watched in silence as the mighty warrior wordlessly reached up to tear her bun from her hair.
And then Zoi cast it aside to the floor below while her dark hair once again spilled free from constraints.
As the warrior finally turned around to face her stunned audience with her lips pulling into a sanguine smirk.
She gazed up at her princess for the briefest of moments as the princess gazed back down at her with an approving smirk on her lips.
And then she turned her gaze back to the faces of all of the shocked advisers kneeling before the world map.
"You can keep your top-knots and all of your other meaningless traditions that hold you back. I don't need any of it. I'll take the power, innovation and glory." Zoi spoke in a stunningly dismissive voice while many of the officials bristled in outrage over her mordant words.
The Fire Lord's amber eyes stared back at the woman with his rigid amber eyes reflecting a spark of newfound paranoia.
Yoko gazed after her daughter with emotionless golden eyes as she let out a slight sigh under her breath.
As the captain turned around to walk away with her boots striding across the floor of the throne room.
And just before the warrior departed the throne room.
The captain stomped down on her discarded hair tie while she made sure to flatten it beneath the sole of her boot for all to see.
The meaning of the action was all too clear.
It was the noblewoman's way of stating once more that she has chosen innovation over tradition!
And with that Zoi strode through the curtains of the palace throne room.
As the many elderly military officials stared on after the woman's walking back in offense over her blatant disrespect for their long-held traditions.
The princess gazed after her strongest soldier with her arms still confidently crossed over her plated chest.
As her beautiful lips still adorned a poised smile.
And she didn't even pay any mind to the strict stare that her father was now directing her way.
There was a time when she used to be frightened of her father.
But that time has long since passed.
Now, she merely viewed him as just another enemy to be crushed.
For now, she would bide her time and wait until the moment was right.
And then she will crush him!
And with that Azula's amber golden eyes formed into a stare of absolute unrivaled dominance.
It was no longer the stare of a daughter subordinate to her father.
It was the gaze of an indomitable ruler!
With her little beloved at her side and her loyal captain at her back!
She was going to conquer everything under the sun!
Everyone and everything that stands in the way of her conquest will be killed!
This world was hers to rule!
And it was only a matter of time before she takes her rightful seat on her throne as Fire Empress of the entire planet!
It was simply inevitable.
AN:
KingZilla, thank you for saying so. The whole issue for me stems from the fact that I look healthy but feel ill and my condition cannot be seen just by looking at me. It requires the doctors to do a lot of digging to treat the pressure in my head which is not as easy to treat as a wound that can be seen with the eyes. I am hoping I get better soon though.
Anyhow, as for the afterword. A great deal happened in this chapter.
Ozai is already making plans to use Elle as a war power unaware that Azula and Zoi see Elle as more than a weapon.
Nako gave her presentation for her rudimentary radio to the court.
The way that Ozai and the rest of the court excluding Azula, Zoi and Yoko looked at Nako as if she is a lesser person and not worth their time when it seemed as if her invention was going to fail is a great example of how cruel and out of touch the Fire Nation aristocracy has become.
Notice how the tone changed when a commoner was standing before them, and how they began to speak differently almost as soon as Nako left the room.
It shows, that if not for Elle causing Azula to start to learn to socialize with commoners, that Azula would have regarded Nako with the same stare of judgement that Ozai did.
Yoko's warnings of a brewing revolutionary movement will eventually prove to be important.
As for Meram's public execution of the villagers in Shung Wu.
Terak calling Meram out shows that while he may be one of the cruelest people in the Fire Nation, that he is more perceptive than many of the other nobles and that he recognizes that this is only going to give rise to even greater disobedience.
It goes without saying that Terak only cares because of his own selfish interests, and because if the boat is rocked it will effect him.
Yoko being furious at Meram, shows that while she is cold and stoic, that she values the people and in her eyes Meram is a foolish butcher.
As for Ozai stripping Terak of his position...
While Ozai is internally aware of the possibility that this will inspire further disobedience and would have preferred Meram execute Shozak and his fellows in a cell.
Ozai like Azula, believes in his divine right to rule, and he was greatly enraged that his own people for whatever reason had the gall to publicly defy him.
He rewarded Meram because he felt that it would be seen as weak to punish Meram by showing compassion to a village that challenged his divine right to rule.
He felt that he had two choices, either show kindness to subjects that challenged his rule or double down by rewarding the man that mercilessly punished his dissenters.
Ozai has also begun to grow impatient due to the six years that he has been struggling to hold his occupation of the Earth Kingdom while Team Avatar and Iroh were on the run.
The growing public discontent over his high tax increases, as well as the news that an Earth Kingdom Princess has risen up to lead the Earth Kingdom resistance against him is only making matters worse for him.
Which is why he has become impatient with Terak's slow manipulations.
Terak's methods take a long time to produce results, and in Ozai's growing growing impatience he is desiring immediate gratification which is resulting in him being dismissive of Terak.
Ozai's choice to not punish Meram is going to have a profound effect on the rising revolutionary movement as a whole to come.
This shows that no matter how powerful Azula is, there is only so much that she can do while Ozai is still Fire Lord.
Meram also aspires to win the heart of Azula, because there is no higher aspiration for any noble than to marry in with the Royal Family.
We know that Azula is not interested, but it should be interesting none the less watching him try to win her affections.
We are also going to see how Terak takes to losing his position and being humiliated before the royal court.
Terak is largely looked down upon by the military and the other nobles for how he is seen as weak because of his lack of firebending talent.
They also tend to underestimate how dangerous he can be, as few know how capable he is with his mind.
Azula knows because Terak has been working closely with her, and Yoko and Zoi know because he is closely affiliated with their clan. But the others just see him as a grating sycophant.
Will they regret crossing him? I guess we'll see.
As for Zoi, she proved her strength upon her return to court.
Many of you probably already know this by now, but Zoi's refusal and disdain over conforming to tradition make her stand out from the rest of Fire Nation society where individuality is discouraged.
It demonstrates her belief that discouraging individuality prevents people like herself and Nako from achieving their true potential.
It should be stated that Zoi doesn't dislike the topknot because she thinks people that wear them look bad.
She just doesn't like being told that her honor depends on how she wears her hair, which is why she refuses to wear one unless she is in a formal situation that demands it.
Which is why she chooses to wear her hair without one, because while others would only remove theirs if they felt that they had lost their honor. She doesn't care because she knows that her honor has nothing to do with how she wears her hair.
There is going to be a fairly large surprise next chapter, not quite on the level of Elle being the Component or the existence of the Elder One but it is still pretty important.
On a final note, I made a slight edit to the story.
Originally, when I started writing the story the highest noble clans possessed their own standing army.
Then they added in canon that the noble clans lost the ability to hold their own personal armies.
I ended up at first changing it so that Clan Song was the only clan to still posses a military but recently I altered that.
Now, none of the noble clans have their own armies that are sworn to them over the Royal Family.
While I am using my own original clans, I am trying to stick with canon as much as I can and that is why I decided to go with this change.
Despite that, while even the highest clans may not possess a standing army, they still govern regionally for the Fire Lord, and powerful nobles like Yoko still have the influence to sway soldiers to their side to tip the scale in the favor of whoever they support.
That will be all for now though.
Stay tuned for next time.
For chapter one hundred twenty-nine! Sisters and Secrets!