The Princess and the Peasant - (An Azula Epic)

by grither55

Princess Azula believes that she was born with a divine right to rule, and she rules through fear alone. Until, a commoner girl enters her life by giving her a fire lily. Through this act, Azula finds herself undertaking a life-changing journey with her new companion to ascend the throne, save the world from an otherworldly threat, and find her humanity. Femslash.

139. The Ways of Fire

Hello everyone.

I want to thank everyone that reviewed, favorited and followed since the last update.

And as always I hope that you all enjoy the chapter.

The Ways of Fire - Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Three

Meanwhile, at the Song clan Hari Bulkan estate.

Yoko sat at her desk holding a scroll in her hand that she was staring down at with cold outrage in her golden eyes.

And the more she read the more furious she became.

And soon enough she was crushing the document in her hands while she struggled to control her temper.

Her house servant Mio stood faithfully with her hands clasped behind her behind her chair.

'It's just as I told the princess. The more time we spend on large scale occupations the more we forget about what we have at home. Fire Lord Ozai's decision to double the wartime tax has created undo stress and resentment among Fire Nation citizens. The prosperity that the commoners knew is dissipating and they know that.' Yoko thought as she threw the scroll into the trash bin while she clenched her jaw in her anger.

Before she pounded a mighty fist upon her desk while her house servant stood unflinching behind her.

'Shung Wu has descended into madness! To think this has reached a point where they are now willing to listen to the whispers of revolutionaries and anarchists! This is how nations die!' Yoko thought with her fists lighting up with fire while she glared at the wall.

"Are you alright Mistress?" Mio asked in a faithful voice as she stared at her mistress's back with concern in her eyes as she listened to the older woman take several deep breaths.

"I am fine Mio, but our country is not." Yoko responded in her usual stern voice as sat back with her golden eyes calming down considerably.

The house servant frowned in consideration as she lingered quietly behind the seated older woman.

"Mio." Yoko began in a seemingly pensive tone while her servant stepped forward to listen to her.

"Mistress?" Mio answered in an obedient voice while the older woman turned to gaze back at her.

"You are a free citizen...you are not a slave. I cannot tell you that you are not allowed to travel…." Yoko trailed off with a frown on her lips while she gazed back at the young woman's now almost smiling face.

Mio stood with a smile already making its way onto her lips as she waited for her mistress to continue.

"But I would prefer it if you abstained from doing so. Things are…becoming violent in the Fire Nation and while there is no telling if that violence will spread to the mainland. I would rather that you remained with me on Clan Song property." Yoko stated as she stared back at her servant's moved face.

"I understand Mistress. I shall abide by your wishes." Mio declared in an appreciative voice while she gazed back at Yoko's stoic face while the older woman's eyes flashed with a flicker of relief.

"I am relieved to hear it Mio." Yoko remarked with just a sliver less coldness than before while her golden eyes stared back at the girl's smiling face.

"Mistress Yoko? Would I be permitted to speak openly? There is something that I would like to say to you." Mio questioned in a devoted voice while the older woman's proud golden eyes glanced back at her in curiosity.

"You are always allowed to speak openly when we are in private. What is it that you have to say Mio?" Yoko pondered in a stoic voice as she gazed back at the younger woman's thinking face while the girl smiled back at her.

"Thank you…for all that you have done for me." Mio muttered in a grateful undertone to her genuine voice while the older woman listened with a stony expression in her eyes.

Yoko sat in her chair with her cold golden eyes momentarily flashing with a hint of emotion as she considered her servant's words.

It has been a long time since her husband died.

And her relationship with both of her daughters had soured considerably.

And her brother did not visit often.

And as a result.

This house servant of hers was her only friend.

Mio has been in her service for over twelve years.

Ever since she had taken the girl into her home among her servants when she was a young girl after Mio's parents died in a tragic accident.

"And I…thank you for being here Mio." Yoko spoke with her rigid voice softening marginally while the girl still gazed back at her with a fondly loyal look in her eyes from where she stood behind her chair.

And she couldn't help but decide.

That it was nice to know that she at least had one friend in this world.

Back in Azula's study at the Fire Nation Royal Palace.

Ty Lee and Zoi had since left to give the princess and their adopted sister time alone together.

Azula now relaxed on her new sofa with her boots up and her hand still resting in her sleeping girlfriend's hair.

As the powerful princess stared down at the girl dozing face first into her belly with callous amber golden eyes.

Only for her amber golden eyes to watch closely when she felt Elle move underneath her palm.

And soon enough the sound of an adorable yawn resounded into the air.

Elle rolled over to gaze up at her mistress's beautiful face with drowsy amber eyes.

"It's about time that you woke up." Azula stated in a seemingly detached voice as she rolled her eyes down at the younger girl's yawning face.

"I-is something wrong Azula-sama?" Elle asked in a still tired voice while Azula stared down at her from where she sat above her.

"Why do you ask pet?" Azula replied in a smooth voice as she stared dominantly down at her girlfriend's pretty face.

She brushed the girl's golden locks from her awakening eyes as she listened to her handmaid let out another yawn.

"You look angrier than before I went to sleep." Elle commented in a mousy voice while her princess gazed impassively down at her.

"Nothing is wrong Elle." Azula stated in an icy voice as she gazed strictly down into her little beloved's adorable amber eyes while the girl smiled up at her.

Before she narrowed her frigid gaze into a terrifying glare while she took great delight in how the girl was already beginning to tremble in intimidation.

"Other than the fact that I have been waiting several hours for your little mind to wake up so that we can begin working on your language lessons." Azula remarked in a voice of absolute authority while Elle's eyes grew wide in abject horror.

And not a second later she found herself smirking in gratification when the girl sprung up from her lap as if she was on fire.

Before Elle leaped to her feet with a sudden alertness about her as she bent over to rapidly bow before her smiling princess.

"Sumimasen Azula-sama! Sumimasen!" Elle cried out in a worshipful voice as she bowed while Azula studied her fingernails in a haughty fashion.

"I suppose…that I could find it in my heart to forgive you. But only this once. If it happens again…I will have no choice but to incinerate you." Azula spoke in a beyond conceited voice as she eyed her fingernails with a lovely smile on her lips.

Her smirk only grew as she observed the young girl bow once more through the corner of her eye.

"Yes, Princess." Elle chirped with a smile on her lips while she watched her princess push herself to her feet.

And with that the older woman arose up to loom over her while she smiled shyly up at her princess's stony countenance.

"Go fetch two cups of tea and then we will work on your lessons for a while." Azula ordered in a strict voice as she watched her serving girl hurriedly nod her little head.

"I will return right away Azula-sama!" Elle exclaimed as she bowed once more as Azula stood over her smirking with her arms crossed over her chest.

And then the princess watched the girl rush out through the door of her study while it closed shut behind her.

Before she too yawned into her palm as she made her way to sit at her deck.

"Curse that little peasant. Her sleepiness is starting to rub off on me." Azula complained in a cold voice as she seated herself in her chair.

About two hours later…

Elle chewed on her lip as she sat beside the princess diligently studying the letters while she dipped her brush into ink.

And then she dabbed it on paper as she wrote out two words in Chinese characters.

Azula arched a brow as she watched the girl write out the two words with a curious gleam in her amber golden eyes.

Only for her ruthless eyes to flicker with delight when she saw what two word the girl chosen to write as her first words.

Princess Azula.

"Hm. Very good Elle." Azula purred in a pleased voice as she stared down at her devoted handmaid's beaming face.

The simple fact that the girl chose to write out her name as her first word in the writing exercise was just even more proof of how deep her girlfriend's loyalty ran.

"I-I am so glad that you think so Azula-sama. May…may I make…a request of you?" Elle pondered in a timid voice while her mistress rose another elegant brow.

"What is it that you wish ask of your princess now Elle?" Azula inquired in a tone of natural authority while she stared down at her handmaid with icy amber golden eyes.

Only for her gaze to take note that the girl seemed to be hesitating to voice what was on her mind.

"C-can…can I…. return to a real school?" Elle asked in a reluctant voice almost as if she would anger her caretaker.

She peered up at the princess's stony face as the woman's amber golden eyes seemed to be contemplating her request.

Only for the princess to glance down once more when she felt a gentle hand settle over her own.

As her amber golden eyes conveyed something akin to a sliver of appreciation when the girl held onto her hand.

"You…want someone else to teach you?" Azula questioned in an expertly guarded voice while she gazed down into her faithful handmaid's gentle eyes.

Only for her internal concerns to ebb away when her serving girl gripped her hand with a bright smile on her lips.

"I'm not saying that I don't enjoy our lessons together. I cherish every moment that we spend together." Elle assured in a loving voice as she held onto the older woman's arm.

While Azula stared down at her girlfriend with coldly attentive eyes.

"It's…just I want to feel like a normal teenage girl for once in my life. Not a girl growing up in a world ravaged by war. Not some freak with powers. Just a regular girl." Elle explained in a voice of longing while the princess peered down with taken aback amber golden eyes.

Only for the Fire Princess to let out a displeased sound through her scowling lips as she stared dominantly down into submitting amber eyes.

"You are not a freak Elle." Azula snarled in a momentarily forceful voice as she glared down at her shyly smiling beloved.

She let out a low growl as she felt two gentle hands take hold of her fine robes over her belly.

As she watched from above as Elle started to fall into her chest.

"It…doesn't mean that you can't teach me too. I…I just want to do what normal girls do. And…and it would mean the world to me if you would allow it Azula-sama." Elle spoke in a sweet voice as she stared up into at the much taller woman's rigid face as Azula gazed stonily down at her.

Just before the mighty princess let out a sigh as if it were a tremendous hardship for her to shoulder.

"Truth be told…. I was already considering it." Azula admitted in a prideful voice as she turned to stare coldly down into hopeful amber eyes.

"D-does that mean…" Elle trailed off with excitement rising in her voice as her princess stared sternly back down at her.

Before the Fire Princess released another sigh as she still stared down into her serving girl's adorable eyes.

"Oh, very well servant. I guess I could permit it." Azula sighed as she stared possessively down at her little girlfriend's thrilled face.

And just like that she found herself sitting back in her chair when Elle leaped into her lap.

While she let out a grunt as she sighed once more with a pair of delicate arms latching onto her neck.

"Arigatou gozaimasu Azula-sama!" Elle cried out in an elated voice as she laughed happily with her face hiding in the older woman's bosom.

"But as your queen I get to pick the school." Azula declared in a tone of absolute control while she gazed strictly down at her girlfriend's brightly smiling face.

"Yes, Azula-sama! Yes!" Elle giggled as she sat in her princess's lap while the older woman placed a hand on her lower back.

"Good girl." Azula cooed with a charming smile curving onto her lips once more as she lowered a hand to pat her little lady on the head.

Her smile grew as she stared greedily down at the petite girl burying her face in her robed breasts.

"You're the best ruler that I could ever ask for Azula-sama." Elle murmured in a lovable voice as she held onto her princess's robes while she relaxed her face in-between the woman's soft breasts.

And that was all that was needed for Azula's lips to pull into a beyond confident smile.

"And you're the best servant that I could ever ask for Elle." Azula spoke in a voice of silken possessiveness while she smiled down at the lovely handmaid hiding in her body.

The young girl smiled happily as she pushed her face in the older woman's bosom once more.

As the princess stared down at the girl with an ever-domineering gleam in her amber golden eyes.

And just like that her brilliant mind was already running with all of the possibilities over where she should have her girlfriend schooled.

But it didn't take long for her to decide that there was only one acceptable school for the lover of the princess of the Fire Nation.

And that was the Royal Fire Academy for Girls.

The only problem was that…well…

Her Elle was a commoner.

Azula's lips creased into a scowl as she gazed down at the girl in her arms.

The girl was far too transparent for her to ever try to get her in under the pretense of being nobility.

And to make matters worse the color of her hair was a dead giveaway that she was a foreigner.

However, she had a feeling that the girl had one thing going in her favor that would easily make up for her not being the daughter of Fire Nation nobility.

'Elle is the Component and that alone makes her more important than every noble girl combined in that school.' Azula thought with a sanguine smile forming upon her beautiful lips.

And she felt confident that with her royal backing, that she could easily get the girl accepted into the elite school based on that fact alone.

And that was all it took for her mind to be made up.

She had already decided that the girl going to the Royal Fire Academy would work wonderfully to her purposes of crafting her girlfriend into a noble.

About one hour later at the Royal Fire Academy for Girls.

Many noble girls that were exiting the school soon found themselves gazing on in awe.

As they watched their Crown Princess's palanquin being carried through the front gates by her royal servants.

All of the nobles quickly dropped to the ground to prostrate themselves in reverence as Azula was carried past them.

The princess sat on her seat with her callous amber golden eyes staring imperiously out from the pink cloth of her palanquin.

As it was then set down before the front door of the school and the curtains were then parted by her royal servants.

And then she stood up while she stepped out of her palanquin and walked past her bowing royal servants.

And not a moment later after that she entered through the doors of the academy.

Minutes later.

The headmistress kowtowed low on the floor as she bent her head in a display of respect while Azula sat down in her office chair.

Before the ruthless princess turned her imposing gaze to the older woman prostrated on the floor.

"Princess Azula. This is an unexpected surprise. What can I do to help you?" Talise pondered as she kowtowed while the princess sat above her with her hands folded together in her lap.

"I have a special student that I want to enroll in the Royal Fire Academy." Azula declared in a smoothly authoritative voice while she stared down at the face of the intrigued headmistress.

"A special student?" Talise replied in a curious voice while the princess crossed her legs in a graceful manner in her chair.

"She has the power to defeat the Avatar running through her veins. She is the holder of a long thought to be lost ancient force that serves as the Avatar's greatest weakness. They call it…the Component." Azula spoke in a vastly sophisticated voice as she placed her arms on the side of the chair while she gazed down at the astonished woman.

"The…the Component?" Talise repeated in a stunned voice with her widened eyes gazing up at her princess's from where she sat over her.

"She is critical to a Fire Nation victory in this war. It could even be stated that her presence in this war is just as important as my own. Because of her crucial importance to the outcome of this war. It is essential that she receive only the greatest education that the Fire Nation can offer." Azula explained in a charismatic voice while she watched the prostrated woman listen in marvelment.

"I…I understand. Such a prized individual must be handled with only the highest level of care." Talise agreed with a swift nod of her head while the princess smiled down at her.

"On that we can agree. There is…just one small problem…" Azula trailed off as she stared down at the now bewildered woman with controlling amber golden eyes.

"And that is?" Talise queried in an uncertain voice as Azula let out a sigh above her.

"She is a commoner and a foreign one at that." Azula announced in a blunt voice as she gazed keenly down at the headmistress for her reaction while the older woman's face had already taken an appalled expression.

And if she didn't know any better.

There was even a spark of anger in the headmistress's eyes that the woman was struggling to hide.

"You…you are asking me to not only enroll a commoner into my prestigious academy but a foreign commoner on top of it all?" Talise protested with anger seeping into her voice while the princess gazed strictly down at her.

And that was all it took to find herself paling under the unbelievably powerful princess's stare as she tried her hardest to swallow down her anger.

"It seems that you misunderstand me. This is not a request. This is an order. I am commanding you to allow her entry into this academy." Azula ordered in a beyond imperious voice as she stared hard down at the woman's incredulous yet intimidated face.

"P-Princess Azula you know well enough that this academy is only for the daughters of Fire Nation nobility. Even the most loyal of commoners are forbidden to enter. Much less a foreigner! I cannot allow an Earth Kingdom or Water Tribe commoner to go to this academy! It would be a disgrace to all that this institution stands for!" Talise blurted out in a mortified voice as she shook her head while Azula's gaze became colder.

And not a second later she sunk back on the floor.

While unfathomably terrifying amber golden eyes gazed down at her as if she were a bug that the princess was about to stomp out underfoot.

"If you must know. She isn't from the Water Tribe or the Earth Kingdom. And she isn't a surviving Air Nomad either. She is from a land that isn't on any of our maps." Azula stated in a coldly informative voice while the headmistress's eyes grew wide in disbelief.

"W-what? She is from a land that isn't on our maps? How is that possible?" Talise questioned with puzzlement in her still frustrated voice while the princess gazed down at her from her seat.

"Recently I discovered that beyond a spirit portal…there are…other nations that are not on our world map. I have reason to believe that we may have traded with these nations long ago. I also have reason to believe that this power of hers may be of Fire Nation origin. Which means that while she is a foreigner…that she may be of Fire Nation descent." Azula remarked in a voice of casual authority while she watched with bored amber golden eyes as the woman struggled to process what she had been told.

"E-even as fascinating as that may be Princess…there are no shortage of commoner schools for her to enroll in." Talise replied in an adamant voice with her eyes reflecting her opposition to the order.

"Since I can clearly see that you are unable to comprehend. Allow me to put this is simpler terms that you will understand. This commoner girl is indispensable. You are not. She is more vital to the Fire Nation than you and every other noble in this military academy combined." Azula commented with a twinge of unmistakable cruelty in her superior voice while the headmistress listened in humiliation.

As she glared piercingly down into the degraded woman's recoiling eyes as the headmistress shrunk under her frightening gaze.

She was well aware that it was nothing short of disgrace for a noble to be told that a commoner was her better in all respects.

But it didn't matter.

If Elle was to stand beside her as her lover than it was essential that these nobles understand that the girl was their superior.

"I intend to teach her everything all that I can about the glory of our nation. And to that end, it is imperative that she experience only the grandest education that our country can provide. And I will not have our victory jeopardized by your inability to see what runs in the blood." Azula spoke in a supremely imposing voice as her frightening amber golden eyes stared down at the now fearful prostrated woman in judgement.

"I-I understand Your Highness…it's j-just that a commoner is still a commoner no matter what power runs in her blood." Talise stammered in a shaken voice only to find herself sinking into the floor while the princess stooped forward to loom ominously above her.

"I see. Well, then. I suppose I have no choice but to accept your decision. After all you are the headmistress of the Royal Fire Academy...for today at least. I'll just return tomorrow morning to speak to the new headmistress." Azula stated in a voice of cruel mockery as she examined her fingernails on her clenched fist while she smiled down at the now pale faced woman.

"N-no! No! That…that won't be necessary. We'll…we'll enroll her." Talise conceded as she swallowed down her displeasure while Azula's lips curved into the largest grin.

"Wonderful! Now there are just a few more details to go over. Her name is Elle and she is my servant. She frequently accompanies me in missions against the Avatar. For obvious reasons she will be an intermittent student for the time being but she will eventually transition to full time." Azula remarked in a voice of pleased royal authority while the headmistress sunk even lower into the floor.

'A commoner and a servant attending my elite Royal Fire Academy for Girls?' Talise thought with distaste in her eyes but she wisely knew that the argument was long past lost.

"The girl has various little quirks. You are not to change any of them. You are not to micromanage her personality. The sole job of this academy is to ensure that she is given a proper Fire Nation education. I am going to give you a list of things that you are not to do. If I should find that you or anyone else in this academy has done even a single one of them. I will not only strip you of your post, I will have you banished to the colonies." Azula explained in an absolutely tyrannical voice with a cruel smile on her lips while she elegantly folded her hands in her robed lap.

She watched in delight as the woman shrunk away in even greater terror than before.

It went without saying that the unfortunate headmistress did not understand the entirety of the order that she was being given by her Crown Princess.

Which only made her even more terrified that she would make a mistake that was bound to displease her princess.

And there wasn't a single person in Hari Bulkan who wasn't aware of how Princess Azula gets when she was displeased.

"I will personally choose her curriculum. You will follow it to the letter." Azula said in a callously autocrat voice while the older woman fearfully nodded her head.

"Y-yes Princess. Each and every order will be followed to the letter." Talise responded in a frightful voice as she prostrated low while Azula loomed over her in her seat.

"But before we can begin with any of that. You'll first have to tutor her in language." Azula stated as she reached for an object on the desk while the headmistress tilted her head in confusion.

"Language?" Talise asked in a baffled voice only to gaze up when her princess held out a worn book for her to gaze upon.

"As I said. She is from an unmapped foreign land. She speaks the same oral language as us. However, she reads and writes in a different written language." Azula commented in a stoic voice while the older woman now stared at the cover of the old book in astonishment.

"And…you want us to teach her our written language?" Talise inquired in a comprehending voice as she stared at the cover of the book in shock.

And true to the princess's words she was unable to make out the print on the title.

"That is correct. You will tutor her in our writings until she has a solid understanding of our language before we move on to any other subjects." Azula spoke in a glacially composed voice that was devoid of emotion.

She observed the headmistress quickly nod her head in agreement.

"I want her to spend a period of every morning that she attends getting acquainted with the other classmates so that she can shadow the other students. The rest of the day will be spent with an academy tutor on her language lessons until I feel that her progress has been satisfactory." Azula instructed in a frighteningly meticulous voice while the headmistress listened in astonishment.

'All of this…just to educate a commoner?' Talise thought with a gaze of incredulity in her eyes.

"I will be enrolling her in academy starting tomorrow morning. I will personally deliver her for her first day in my royal carriage. On each day thereafter. Either myself, Captain Zoi or Ty Lee will bring her to and from academy on every day that she attends. On those times, you'll be able to look forward to giving us frequent reports on her progress." Azula declared in a delightfully controlling voice as she stood up from her seat.

She stared imperiously down at the face of the speechless headmistress sweating in intimidation on the floor before her boots.

It was a thinly veiled warning that powerful people would be watching closely to make sure that the girl wasn't mistreated.

"Y-your precise will shall be fulfilled Princess Azula." Talise assured in a beyond intimidated voice while she remained in her bow on the floor.

"See to it that it is. And it goes without saying everything I just told you is highly confidential. You are not to repeat anything that I have told you outside of these academy walls. I can only hope for your sake that you remember that." Azula stated in a frigidly dictating voice as she glanced down at the gulping woman prostrated at her feet.

"Y-you need not fear Princess. I will take everything that you just told me to the grave." Talise replied in a voice of absolute submissive while the young woman loomed above her with a smile on her lips.

"Be sure that you do. Oh, and one more thing. From this moment forward, I forbid any slaves to be present on academy grounds or even on the road to academy. If I should see one, at any point on the way to school…I will begin arranging your deportation straight away. Am I understood?" Azula commanded in a boundlessly authoritative voice with her hands clasped behind her back as her merciless amber golden eyes glared down at the woman's confused yet terrified countenance.

It was the most bewildering of all of the princess's orders.

And yet she wasn't suicidal enough to question the powerful young woman on the matter.

"As…as you command my princess. I…I shall see to it that your orders are fulfilled without flaw." Talise answered in a resigned voice as she bowed her head while the princess towered over her.

"I look forward to nothing short of perfection. We'll see you tomorrow then." Azula concluded in a supremely overbearing voice as she strode past the bowing woman and out of her office.

Until she departed through the doors with a smirk on her lips while she walked back to her palanquin.

While Talise finally stood up from the floor with her eyes now finally free to express a spark of anger.

What angered her the most was that she was powerless to tell the princess no.

And to make matters even worse…it almost seemed as if this…commoner had the princess's favor!

And as much as it infuriated her.

There was no other option but to obey Princess Azula and hope that this arrangement did not destroy the reputation of their school.

Meanwhile, outside Hari Bulkan in a house in the commoner districts in the vast Harbor City.

Jiao sat on a sofa with her blue eyes glancing around the newly purchased house with an unusually grateful expression in her gaze.

As a smile began to pull onto her lips as she turned to watch her noble lover enter the room in casual clothes.

The warrior was wearing a pair of black simple form fitting house pants that showed off her shape quite nicely.

And a short red midriff top that offered the younger woman a nice view of her breasts and her toned muscles.

As Zoi now walked over barefoot to greet her lover while the younger woman smiled back at her.

"Zoi…you bought this place for me?" Jiao pondered in a slightly softer voice than usual while the taller woman offered her a small smile.

"Of course, I did Jiao. I realize that it isn't as fancy as some of the other places that we have stayed. Please know that I am…not trying to undercut you or make you feel segregated. I would have purchased you a place up in Hari Bulkan if I were allowed to…" Zoi replied as she walked towards her shorter lover while the younger girl smiled back at her.

"I know Zoi. It's not your fault. You don't make the law." Jiao stated as she gazed back at the older woman's imposing muscles with admiring blue eyes.

"Perhaps…once the princess takes the throne. We'll be able to convince her to loosen up those restrictions." Zoi remarked with a sigh while she stared back at her lover's skeptical face.

"Princess Azula lighten up restrictions? She is just as much of a control freak as her father. I'll believe it when I see it." Jiao snorted with a doubtful look in her eyes while the older woman chuckled.

"Until then though…I can only hope that this will do." Zoi spoke as she sat down on her bottom while her stoic golden eyes attentively stared down at her smaller lover.

Only for her golden eyes to flash with a hint of fondness when the shorter woman reached out to touch her muscular arm.

"It will Zoi. Thank you." Jiao replied in a softened voice as she felt a powerful hand slide under her chi while the older woman lifted her chin upward with her fingertip.

She began to find herself lost in gentle-womanly golden eyes as the noblewoman smiled down at her.

"I'll still get you that beach house…" Zoi murmured in an affectionate voice as she traced her finger under her partner's beautiful chin.

The seductress cracked another smile as she raised one hand to set it upon the older woman's perfect cheek.

"You're a noble Zoi. And one of the highest ranked ones at that. You don't have to stay here with me. You can stay up in Hari Bulkan." Jiao muttered as she felt two mighty arms wrap around her back.

"I would much rather stay here with you Jiao." Zoi whispered with a sensual edge to her voice while she gently pushed the smiling woman down onto her back on the couch.

She found herself unable to resist grinning when the younger woman wrapped her arms around her bare lower back.

"Zoi…I want you to know. All of those things that I said to you about you being just a source of income…you're so much more than that to me…" Jiao trailed off as she fell down onto the sofa as she gazed up in awe at the larger woman looming over her.

There were times like these when she couldn't believe that she was being held in the arms of such a stunning warrior goddess.

"Shh. I already know Jiao." Zoi responded with a seductive undertone to her voice as she grinned fondly back into Jiao's gorgeously smiling face.

And then she crushed her lips into her younger lover's own.

She lay on top of the seductress's smaller frame as she exhaled in arousal against the younger woman's shuddering lips.

"Zoi?" Jiao asked in a voice that was a more submissive than in public while the older woman smiled directly into her eyes.

"Yes, beautiful?" Zoi pondered with her smirking lips kissing the younger woman upon her moaning lips once more.

"Please…." Jiao murmured as she moaned in mighty womanly arms while Zoi loomed in her line of vision with a captivating grin on her lips.

"Please what dear?" Zoi cooed in a gently yet assertive voice as she stared down into yielding blue eyes.

"Please...please get on my face…" Jiao pleaded in an eager voice as her warrior lover held her cheeks while she gazed up into gratified golden eyes.

And not a second later she let out a gasp as she was shoved even lower into the sofa by a powerful hand.

She raised her eyes upward in a trance when the taller older woman rose up above her.

As she found her eyes gazing over the warrior's breasts that were so perfectly on display in the older woman's top.

Before her astounded blue eye swept over her lover's muscular frame once again as she took in every mighty part of the woman's body.

Zoi sat up with a lecherous smirk on her lips as her pant covered thighs now loomed in the younger girl's stunned line of vision.

And just like that her thighs began to lower over the woman's transfixed face.

"You don't have to beg me to sit on your face Jiao. But I love it when you do." Zoi purred with a smile on her aroused lips as she pulled down her pants over her ass in a tantalizing manner.

She brushed a lock of hair from her excited golden eyes.

And then she began to pull down her panties soon after while blue eyes were now locked on her bush.

Only for her grin to grow when she felt her lover brace her ass in her eager hand.

An enthused smile made its way onto Jiao's lips as she stared up at her lover's hovering womanhood.

Just as she began to lick her lips in anticipation as Zoi lowered her body over her waiting mouth.

And that was all it took for the captain to sink her body into the couch atop her lover's face with a moan already departing her lips.

Her elated golden eyes began to roll back into her eyes as she felt the younger woman began licking her out with vigor that only her Jiao's tongue could provide.

As she lowered a hand to grasp onto the smaller woman's dark hair.

And then she began to grin while she rode her body over her seductress's eager to please mouth.

And soon enough the sound of Zoi's erotic moans carried throughout the house.

About an hour later.

The two lovers were now laying naked in their bed.

Jiao smiled as she was held in the older woman's powerful arms.

And Zoi for her part found that she couldn't resist grinning as she watched the smaller woman rest her face against one of her breasts.

"And that…my Jiao is just one of many reasons why I would rather stay with you." Zoi spoke in a softened voice with her golden eyes gazing down at the naked woman in her arms.

"Zoi…my Dragon of the Song Clan…" Jiao whispered as she happily curled up in the older woman's protective arms.

Zoi offered Jiao a small smile as she placed a tender kiss on the younger woman's forehead.

And then she placed her head on her pillow as she chose to savor the time that they had together.

As she mulled over how pleasantly surprised, she was that they were getting closer.

They were getting closer with one another.

And she couldn't help but be pleased with this recent development in their relationship.

Back in the princess's private dining quarters in the Fire Nation Royal Palace.

Azula pushed a plate away as she elegantly wiped her mouth while a smile graced her lips as she stared back at her girlfriend's shocked face.

Ty Lee sat gazing on with just as much astonishment in her eyes as she too processed the news.

"Y-you mean? Tomorrow…I get to go to a-academy?" Elle asked in a thrilled voice as she stared back at her princess's beautifully smiling face as the older woman concluded wiping her lovely mouth.

"That right dear. Tomorrow I am enrolling you in academy for a trial day. If all goes well…then you'll continue to attend academy on an intermittent basis when we aren't traveling to hunt the Avatar." Azula replied in a perfectly poised voice as she set her napkin aside while she gazed back at her young girlfriend's adorably awestruck face with possessive amber golden eyes.

Ty Lee still sat in a speechless silence.

It wasn't the fact that Elle was going to school that shocked her.

It was the fact that Azula got Elle into the Royal Fire Academy for Girls that surprised her.

"S-so this means that I'll get to meet other students?" Elle inquired in a mousy voice while Azula still smiled so beautifully back at her.

"It does. You'll be spending small portions of your mornings in class with the other students and taking part in class activities. The rest of your day will be spent with a private academy tutor as you work on your language studies. You'll first have to master our language before you can move on to other subjects. And that is how it will remain until I feel that you have a solid grasp on our writings." Azula explained in a flawlessly stony voice as she set her palms over her fully belly as she reclined in her chair with a confident smile adorning her lipstick painted lips.

As Elle looked as if she was barely able to control her excitement.

And not a moment later a squeal of joy resounded into the air.

And just like that a small blonde blur rushed towards the powerful princess while Ty Lee found herself unable to resist grinning.

And seconds after that the princess sat back on her cushion with a spoiled smile on her lips when she felt her handmaid seize a hold of her left hand.

Her smile grew when the girl planted a worshipful kiss on her palm.

Only for her entitled smirk to grow even bigger when Elle then followed it up with a kiss to her neck.

Just before she smiled widely when a third kiss was planted on her cheek.

And then her other cheek.

Before she grinned when the girl grasped her other hand while she placed a fifth kiss upon the back of her right palm.

Ty Lee giggled in the background with a hand over her mouth.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Azula-sama!" Elle cried out as she rapidly kissed every part of the older woman's body that was within reach while her mistress smiled down at her.

"Yes, well. You can thank me more by worshiping me more another day. For now, though. I want you to go to bed early so that you get plenty of rest for your first day." Azula remarked in a silken voice that flowed into her girlfriend's ears.

She stared dominantly down at the girl holding her hand with a charming smile on her lips.

"If my princess says go to sleep! I go to sleep!" Elle exclaimed as she let go of the woman's hand while her princess eyed her in approval.

"But before you go Elle. Take this and put it by your bedside." Azula commented in a strangely attentive voice as she withdrew an item from her robes and held it out in her open hand before the girl's confused face.

Only for Elle to peer down with emotional amber eyes when she saw that it was the mini totem that Mava had given them.

Ty Lee gazed back at the little totem with comprehension in her astounded brown-gray eyes.

"Azula…are you thinking that will stop the voice that Elle heard from giving her any further nightmares?" Ty Lee questioned in a hopeful voice while Azula stared coldly back at the girl's moved face.

"B-but Azula-sama. You're the Heir to the Throne. You're much more important than me. It should be by your bedside…not mine." Elle protested in an adorably worried voice as she bit her lip while Ty Lee smiled at her back.

She really was just too sweet…always worrying about someone other than herself.

"Naïve peasant. While there is no understating my importance. It is you that they are after. Put it in your room. And from now on, whenever you leave the palace. I want you to take it with you wherever you go. Understand?" Azula spoke in a supremely stern voice as she stared back at her girlfriend's emotional face.

Ty Lee stared at her leader with an expression of marvelment in her eyes.

In a roundabout way, the princess just admitted that in this instance Elle had more importance than her.

Given the size of Azula's gargantuan ego.

It was a huge accomplishment on the princess's part to be able to admit that out loud.

"I-if you say so Azula-sama…but I place your safety much higher than my own…" Elle trailed off as she chewed on her lips only to find herself trembling when mesmerizing amber golden eyes narrowed down at her.

"Take it Elle or must I punish you by making you shine all of my footwear before bed?" Azula ordered in an utterly domineering voice with her callous eyes forming a frightening stare.

Her open palm remained held out before her young girlfriend's cutely gulping face.

As she took a certain measure of delight in watching the girl submit to her gaze.

Ty Lee shuddered in her seat as she began to pity her little sister once more.

"N-no. I'll take it Azula-sama. Just let me get your dishes and then I'll retire for the evening." Elle agreed in a timid voice with a smile still on her lips as she took the figurine from her girlfriend's open hand.

Only to blink her eyes in confusion when the older woman held out her palm to stop her from getting her dishes.

"No. Leave to the dishes to the other servants. I want you to go to bed now." Azula stated in a meticulously strict voice as she stared back at her beloved's bashfully smiling countenance.

And not even seconds later she sat there silently while a pair of delicate arms embraced her around the neck.

As she released another sigh as she allowed the girl to hug her.

"Aww. So pink." Ty Lee commented with a warm smile while the princess glared at her through the corner of her eye.

"G-goodnight, Princess." Elle murmured in a sweet voice as she momentarily pushed her face in the older woman's dark hair.

"Goodnight, Elle." Azula spoke in a tone that was just a sliver less cold than with others while something akin to a fond smile adorned her lips.

And then she patted the girl on the back as they detached from the embrace while Elle beamed back at her.

Before she watched with callous amber golden eyes as the girl scurried over to hug her childhood friend.

As Ty Lee smiled widely when the girl hugged her around the neck.

"Goodnight oneesan." Elle stated in a lovable voice while she felt Ty Lee return her loving hug.

"Goodnight little sister. I wish you the best of luck on your first day at school!" Ty Lee exclaimed in a supportive voice as she momentarily hugged the girl.

Before they disconnected from their embrace soon after.

And then Elle smiled between both the grinning noblewoman and the stony-faced princess as she waved at the two as she turned to walk away.

"I'll see you two tomorrow then!" Elle called out as she made her way for the door while Ty Lee beamed warmly after her.

The princess stared back at her with icy amber golden eyes.

"We'll see you tomorrow little sister!" Ty Lee replied with a wave of her hand as she smiled broadly.

"Just go to bed peasant." Azula snorted with a roll of her brilliant amber golden eyes while her young beloved blushed under her controlling gaze.

Just as she watched the girl wave at them for a final time before Elle vanished through the door soon after.

And moments later the two highborn women were sitting alone in the princess's dining quarters.

Only for the princess to turn to her friend when she noticed that the woman's smile had lessened as soon as the girl left the room.

"What? You were the one that wanted me to enroll her in an actual school. And now you are displeased that I have?" Azula scoffed in a callously astute voice with her amber golden eyes gazing back at her friend's too easily worried face in annoyance.

Only for Ty Lee to quickly shake her head.

"No. It's not that Azula. I am just a little concerned about Elle going to the Royal Fire Academy." Ty Lee admitted as she sat back in her seat with her hands playing with her braided hair.

The princess arched an elegant brow as she studied the other woman oddly.

"Are you applying division to our teammate Ty Lee? I distinctly recall that you have told me many times over that there is no division between us." Azula remarked in a coldly composed voice with her stern eyes observing Ty Lee's frowning face.

"No! Of course, not Azula. I am just worried for Elle because you are sending her into a school where everyone else is a noble. And I know how pompous highborn girls…like you can be towards commoners." Ty Lee reasoned in a gentle voice while the princess stared back at her with callous amber golden eyes.

And yet despite her worries she couldn't help but smile over hearing her friend openly refer to the innocent girl as their teammate.

It truly spoke volumes about how close Azula had become with the girl.

"I am not pompous Ty Lee. I am a perfectly down to earth woman." Azula answered with a snort as she eyed her flawlessly manicured fingernails while a smug smile graced her lips.

Ty Lee stared back at her lifelong friend with an incredulous look in her eyes.

"Right Azula! Sure, you are. Did you even try to pass her off as being Fire Nation nobility?" Ty Lee queried in a curious voice only for Azula to roll her amber golden eyes.

"Oh, please Ty Lee. Not only does the girl's hair color make it obvious that she is not a Fire National. Even if I had lied and claimed that she was nobility. I have no doubt that the girl would foolishly blow her cover within days of entering the school." Azula responded in a frigid voice while Ty Lee flinched as she nodded her head.

"Point taken Azula…Elle isn't much for deception. So, what did you tell them then?" Ty Lee inquired in a still pondering voice.

"I told the headmistress the truth, that Elle is a foreign commoner with the power to kill the Avatar in her veins." Azula stated in a smooth voice with a smile returning to her cold lips while Ty Lee listened in surprise.

"You told them about Elle's power? Is that safe Azula? Mava said that people are out to get her. People from all over the world. If…if what she said about this…creature having a worldwide influence is true. Then we have no way of knowing who is after Elle and who isn't." Ty Lee insisted with sisterly anxiety lacing her voice while the princess's smile faded from her lips.

"Ty Lee. If this being is half as powerful as Mava says. It will be capable of finding Elle regardless of what we say. In any case, rumors have already begun spreading of the golden girl that fought the Avatar. It is already dead obvious that the girl is the Component because she is the only person in this world with golden hair. And besides, I had to let them know how important she is. Otherwise, they would have never let her in." Azula spoke in a rigidly factual voice with a scowl on her lips while her amber golden eyes brimmed in fury towards this mysterious entity.

It truly was inconvenient that even after all the information that they gained from the old hag.

There was still so much that they didn't know.

And she couldn't bring the old woman here to serve her in the capital because she was bound to that mystical tree.

Ty Lee's brown-gray eyes flickered with understanding as she grimly frowned once more.

"True. I hadn't thought of that. Was it at least enough to get her in?" Ty Lee asked in an inquisitive voice only for the princess to coldly scoff as she reclined in her hair.

"Of course, it wasn't. The headmistress was not pleased over the prospect of allowing a commoner into her school. She attempted to refuse me up and down." Azula responded with another snort while Ty Lee frowned once again.

"And that sort of attitude is exactly why people are now trying to kill us. I can only hope that when you become Fire Lord that you will straighten these nobles out." Ty Lee complained with a scowl on her lips while Azula scrunched up her nose in aggravation.

"And just what do you expect me to do to 'straighten' these nobles out Ty Lee?" Azula inquired in a stern voice while the noblewoman developed an unusually serious expression.

"You're going to have to give the commoners rights Azula. It's the only way that you'll be able to appease the rebellion in Shung Wu. They have already wiped out one noble clan in the span of a single night. Which clan is next? This situation is far from pink Azula. This has gone far beyond food and provisions. The rebellions aren't going to stop that easily Azula and you know it." Ty Lee declared with a saddened expression momentarily taking over her face.

The princess just gazed on coldly with pridefully stubborn amber golden eyes that loathed being told what to do.

"Ugh. First Zoi goes on about commoner and peasant rights and now you do too. Is this a coordinated effort to irritate me?" Azula commented in a callous voice with her annoyed amber golden eyes gazing back into Ty Lee's blinking eyes.

"Huh? No. I wasn't aware that Zoi already spoke with you about this." Ty Lee answered with more cheer in her voice than before while the princess sighed.

"In any event Ty Lee. It took some 'persuading' but I got the girl in." Azula remarked in a stoic voice while her friend still listened in curiosity.

"Let me guess. You threatened her for Elle?" Ty Lee pondered with a smile returning to her lips while the princess's lips curved into a cruel smile.

"You could say that I flexed my royal muscle." Azula purred with a hubristic smirk on her lips while Ty Lee grinned back at her.

"Did you make it clear that Elle is to be treated well?" Ty Lee questioned with a smile still on her lips while Azula's smirk grew even larger.

Only to find herself gazing on in bewilderment when the princess reached out to pick up a rolled-up document from the tabletop.

"You needn't worry about that Ty Lee. I made that more than clear." Azula boasted as she handed the noblewoman the document.

Ty Lee sat back in her seat as she unraveled it before her curious eyes.

Only for her brown-gray eyes to widen as she stared down at the document in disbelief.

As she glanced back at Azula who now sat smirking as proudly can be.

It was an insanely long list of things that the school was forbidden to do!

And in a strange way, it almost read like Azula was the world's most overprotective parent looking out for her child.

Which was…oddly adorable.

"Wow Azula…this list sure is comprehensive. I imagine they will be scared to death when Elle walks through their doors." Ty Lee commented with a shake of her head while she stared back at the princess's violently smiling face.

"That's the idea Ty Lee. If Elle is going to rule beside me. She must be feared at all costs." Azula stated in a terrifying malicious voice while Ty Lee still smiled back at her.

"Well! At least they won't mistreat her." Ty Lee said with an at ease smile on her lips as she slid the document back to the princess.

Truth be told she didn't think it was possible to make people afraid of someone as sweet as Elle.

But it was touching to know that Azula was starting to speak of Elle in a higher light.

Even if the princess still had a tendency to demean her left and right.

About twenty minutes later.

The door to the princess's dining quarters was opened up.

Ty Lee and Azula turned to gaze towards the door as they watched another servant bow in the doorway with her hands holding onto a food cart.

"You called for me to get your dishes Princess?" Lao greeted in a submissive voice as she bowed with her eyes averted from both highborn women.

Azula stared frigidly back at the girl in the doorway with a much colder gaze than she graced her girlfriend with.

As Ty Lee quickly took notice of the change in disposition when the servant in question was no longer Elle.

"No. I called you here just to stand there. What do you think I called you here for? Get the dishes girl." Azula commanded in a much more frightening voice than she used with her favorite servant.

She stonily watched the girl walk in with her eyes lingering on the floor.

As Ty Lee's smile had already given way to a frown as she observed how terrified the poor girl was to have to approach Azula.

As Lao silently made her way into the room with her cart rolling along the floor as she tried to gain control of her fear.

But it wasn't that easy.

There was a time when she had once looked forward to the prospect of getting to serve her princess as one of her royal servants.

She had even once idolized her and looked up to her as a personal hero of sorts.

In her mind the princess had been everything that every girl should look up to.

Powerful, brilliant, beautiful and independent.

At least that was what she once thought.

Until she had the displeasure of earning the then fifteen-year-old girl princess's wrath over mistakenly pouring too much salt in her dinner.

And ever since then she terrified her.

She averted her eyes to the floor while she began quietly putting the dishes on the card while she attempted to ignore the icy stare on her back.

That was another unspoken rule among the servants in the palace.

Never look the princess in the eye unless you were being spoken to.

Azula turned away as the dishes were piled up on the cart while a practiced stony expression graced her lips.

Ty Lee forced down the desire to sigh as she quietly observed the frightened girl collect the dishes.

The princess continued to watch the girl through the corner of her glacial eye as she momentarily caught the girl's frightened expression.

'What is with this girl? Why is she acting like I have beaten her?' Azula thought as she coldly rolled her eyes before she turned to stare back at her friend.

And in the very moment when Lao had gazed into Azula's eyes.

Her hands shook.

And that was when it happened.

A dish slipped from her grip and shattered upon the palace floor.

An expression of horror instantly overtook her face as her heart began to race in terror when she saw that drops of food were now adorning the princess's expensive boots.

And that was all it took for Azula's eyes to snap down in anger as she turned to glare back at the now pale servant.

"You just got food all over my boots! Didn't anyone ever teach you how to handle dishes!" Azula barked in a glacial voice with a scowl on her lips while she watched the girl fall to the floor in a frightened bow.

Ty Lee stared at her friend in reproach as she shook her head.

"I-I'm sorry Princess. P-please forgive me." Lao muttered in a shaken voice as she began rapidly wiping the woman's boots off while amber golden eyes stared down at her.

"Azula…go easy on the girl. It's just a dish." Ty Lee pleaded in a gentle voice as the princess sunk back in her chair with a callous expression on her face.

Lao continued to swiftly clean up her mess as fast as she could while Azula sat scowling above her.

As the princess sunk back in her chair as she made an effort to control her temper.

"I'll help her clean it up." Ty Lee offered as she stood up from her seat while Azula rose a regal brow as she gazed at her oddly.

Before she knelt down beside the frightened girl as she tried to smile soothingly at her as she helped to clean the food off the floor.

Lao gazed at the noblewoman with a fleeting flicker of gratitude in her surprised eyes as she set quickly swept up the broken dish.

"T-thank you." Lao murmured as she concluded cleaning up the mess while the noblewoman kindly nodded her head.

And then about a minute after that the servant girl stood up as she hastily bowed to the imposing woman.

Before she rapidly pushed the cart out of the room as fast as her legs could carry her.

And then the door closed shut behind the girl while Azula still gazed oddly at Ty Lee as the other woman stood up from the floor.

Only for the princess to scowl when Ty Lee sighed at her as if she was a child that had just misbehaved.

"Don't look at me like that Ty Lee. It's not my fault that she can't hold a dish properly. I've never liked that one." Azula spoke in a cold voice as she bent over with a scowl as she grabbed a rag to wipe her boots off.

"She can't hold a dish because you terrify her Azula." Ty Lee informed in a factual voice while the princess remained bent over wiping off her boots.

"Please Ty Lee. You act as if I just beat whipped her. I would say that I was quite generous considering she didn't even completely clean up her own mess!" Azula retorted in a moody voice as she threw the rag aside with a scowl.

It hadn't even been an hour since her Elle had left her.

And the other servants were already making mistakes.

'Elle is the only royal servant that I can depend on.' The princess thought with her strict amber golden eyes flashing with a flicker of fondness as she reclined in her seat.

The following morning.

The princess and the captain were walking together.

As the warrior was now processing that her princess had gotten her adopted sister into the Royal Fire Academy for Girls.

"I want you to keep a close watch on that school. You don't have to stake it out all day. But I want you to make it known to anyone that might be after Elle that we are watching her at all times. Understand Zoi?" Azula ordered in a strict voice with her hands clasped behind her back while the captain dutifully nodded her head.

"Of course, Princess. I will gladly watch over young Elle." Zoi assured in a steely voice as she strode beside her princess.

The princess gazed at her subordinate with approval in her cold amber golden eyes.

About a half an hour later…

Azula sat in her royal carriage while she arched an elegant brow as she watched her girlfriend scamper into the carriage.

The girl was wearing a fine Fire Nation school uniform as she had ordered her to do.

The uniform considered of a black skirt with red trimming.

A red vest.

An undershirt.

And a red sash marked with the Royal Fire Academy for Girl's logo.

And most curiously enough she noticed that her handmaid had tied her hair back in a top-knot.

"I didn't tell you that you had to put your hair in a top-knot Elle." Azula commented in a stern voice as she watched her pet stop in the doorway of the carriage after closing the door behind her.

Only for a pleased smile to form onto her lips when the girl bowed to her at the hip.

"I didn't want to come across as disrespectful to your culture." Elle answered in a sweet voice as she faithfully bowed before the smiling woman.

"Silly peasant. If you are going to put your hair in a top-knot…at least do it right." Azula stated with a smirk on her while she enjoyed how her girlfriend's adorable face deflated.

"O-oh. I did it wrong?" Elle asked in a timid voice only to shyly smile when her princess wagged her finger for her to come forward.

She trotted forward and then soon sat down beside her much taller mistress.

As a blush formed on her cheeks when she felt the older woman begin to put her hair in a proper Fire Nation bun.

And soon they began to listen to the sound of the royal carriage rolling through the streets of Hari Bulkan.

"You did. But luckily for you I am here to rule over your little life." Azula spoke in a naturally smooth voice with a charming smile on her lovely lips while her young girlfriend flushed under her gaze.

And then she concluded putting the girl's golden hair in a flawless bun.

She stared down at her pretty handmaid with a conquering gleam in her possessive amber golden eyes.

Only for her smile to widen when she felt the girl reach out to grasp onto her shirt with needy little hands.

"Azula-sama…" Elle trailed off in a voice of endless worship as she smiled shyly when two mighty hands cupped her cheeks.

She craned her neck to gaze up into the older woman's taller face as commanding amber golden eyes stared back down at her.

"Do you remember to bring the totem in your bag?" Azula questioned in a frigidly attentive voice as her demanding amber golden eyes stared down at her pet's cutely sentimental face.

"I-It is Princess." Elle stammered in a soft-spoken voice as her cheeks turned red while utterly entrancing amber golden eyes stared back down at her.

Just as her heart began to race when the much taller woman began to lean down over her in her line of vision.

As she gazed up in awe as the goddess of a Fire Princess loomed over her confuddled face.

Only to find herself gasping in amazement when a pair of flawlessly luscious lips connected with her stunned cheek.

And that was all it took to find herself sitting there in shock with her heart pounding wildly.

The older woman's fresh breath brushed against her trembling cheek.

As she found herself unable to gaze away from the woman's gorgeously tantalizing smirking lips.

"My pet…" Azula sighed with a ruthless fixation lining her charming voice while she exhaled in her little girlfriend's quivering face.

Only for her pleased smile to enlarge when the smaller girl adorably pressed her little face into her own.

She gazed dominantly back into submitting amber eyes as she stroked several locks of the girl's hair with a possessive fingertip.

"M-my goddess." Elle mumbled in a voice of endless adoration as she blushed as red as a tomato while Azula's divine lips curved into a beyond gratified smirk.

"Hm. That is correct little lady. I am your goddess." Azula purred in an irresistible voice with her dominating amber golden eyes gazing down into sensitive amber eyes.

While a graceful smile pulled onto her lips as she ran a fingernail along her little girlfriend's soft collar.

As she savored the way that the young girl shook in her hold.

"O-ooh Queen." Elle stuttered in a hopelessly love-struck voice with a bashful smile as she chose to enjoy every moment of being in her princess's arms.

And not a second later she sighed blissfully when her face was crushed in between a pair of perfect womanly breasts.

She sat there contently with her hands holding onto her mistress's expensive robes.

"Elle…" Azula trailed off in a callous voice with her icy eyes gazing down at the commoner in her arms while she found herself unable to resist shoving the girl into her breasts.

And with that she sat back with all the grace of a true queen while an unfathomably approving smile adorned her lips.

Sometime after that the royal carriage stopped.

And Elle had long since detached from her mistress's grasp while the older woman's facial expression took on a merciless stare once more.

The princess pushed herself up onto her feet as she watched with beyond strict amber golden eyes as her girlfriend stood up before her.

As she clasped both hands behind her back as she appraised her servant from every angle.

Only for her stern lips to almost smile when her handmaid bowed to her at the waist once more.

"Azula-sama!" Elle began in an unusually serious voice as she lowered herself into a perfect bow while Azula loomed over her with a lovely smirk on her lips.

"Yes, royal servant?" Azula questioned in a supremely strict voice as she gazed coldly down at her young girlfriend's worshipful visage.

"I will not fail you Queen. I promise you that I will give academy my all. So, that I can learn how to serve you in every way possible." Elle declared in a voice of profound passion as she bowed at the hip while the older woman's lips parted in an expression of rare appreciation.

And once more the princess was so moved by her loyal girlfriend's words that she found herself unable to mouth a word of response.

It was all she could do to gaze down at the shorter girl's pretty face with astonishment in her amber golden eyes.

Just as Elle held her hands up before her devoted face with her right fist held over her open left hand in the customary Fire Nation bow.

"On this day to the day that you take your rightful place as Fire Lord to my final day and to all eternity and beyond. For I am yours." Elle announced with ardor seeping from her dedicated voice as she bowed in respect to the astounded princess standing over her.

The powerful princess processed her girlfriend's moving display of reverence for several short moments.

And then for reasons that she couldn't explain.

She held out her right fist against her left hand in response to the motion while she returned the bow of respect.

As Elle stared up at Azula with her mouth agape in shock while the princess stared back down at her.

'This…this is the first time that I have ever seen her willingly bow to anyone that isn't her father!' Elle thought with her widened eyes taking on a heartfelt emotion while her girlfriend gazed into her shocked eyes.

"Elle Turner of the Fire Nation…know that your queen recognizes your devotion." Azula stated in a stonily approving voice as she remained in her slight bow for a passing moment before she arose back up.

Her amber golden eyes still peered down at her servant girl's astonished face as a contented smile curved onto her lips.

"Now rise…my loyal Elle." Azula ordered in a controlling voice once more with her fists falling to her shapely hips.

Her smile grew as she watched her girlfriend spring up from her bow.

"Y-yes, Azula-sama. You have but to speak and I will obey the order. For all of my existence as you command." Elle responded in a voice of tremendous passion as she stood gazing up at her princess's indescribably pleased smiling lips.

"Just remember one thing Elle. If you talk to any of the girls here. Do not tell any of them…even the teachers. Anything that I could not want you to disclose. Understand?" Azula instructed in a stoic voice as she watched her girlfriend hurriedly nod her little head.

"O-of course Princess. I already knew that. I would never do that." Elle assured in a devoted voice as she peered up at her mistress in endless admiration while the woman graced her with another smile.

Only to find herself straightening even further in a trained panic when the older woman snapped her fingers in a beckoning manner.

"I know. I just wanted to remind you is all. Now come Elle. I will walk you in." Azula remarked in a tone of natural royal authority as she gracefully strode towards the door of her carriage.

Only for her smile to grow when her handmaid dashed in front of her to open the door for her.

As gratified expression adorned her lips as she watched the girl bow yet again as she held the door for her.

'She's such a courteous little thing…always getting the door for her queen.' Azula thought as she shook her head with a tiny sliver of fondness in her callous amber golden eyes.

Before she hardened her face into her usual merciless expression as she stepped one boot outside of her royal carriage.

Her handmaid closed the door behind her as she turned to glance down at the girl with controlling amber golden eyes.

Just as she turned her frigid gaze forward while she ignored the stares of many shocked noble girls to see her escorting a student to class.

And then she began to gracefully walk with her hands folded behind her back while her girlfriend padded after her heels.

Elle gazed all around her with a sudden sense of nervousness in her amber eyes.

Only to find herself staring on in awe when she watched every noble drop to the ground to prostrate themselves in reverence as her mistress strode past them.

As she felt countless lingering gazes on her back as she gulped before she rushed after her princess.

In a classroom of young teenage noble girls in the Royal Fire Academy for Girls.

A standard portrait of Ozai adorned the wall in the back of the classroom.

As a class-full of noble girls knelt at their desks while they stared back at their teacher with confusion in their eyes as many took notice of her unusually frightened facial expression.

Yeinah stared down at the letter in her hand with sweat dripping down her brow.

It was a formally written letter from their headmistress informing her that a foreign commoner girl with the power to defeat the Avatar in her veins would be attending their school.

And that she would be personally escorted to their classroom today by none other than Princess Azula!

And yet she had no time to question or even contemplate the order.

As according to this paper, the princess would be at their door within minutes!

"Class…today it is vital that all of you behave yourselves with only the highest standard of conduct. For…today we will be joined by a…special student." Yeinah declared in a learned voice with her golden eyes gazing back at her curious students.

Only for her eyes to widen when she heard the sound of elegant boots striding down the hall outside the classroom doorway.

"A-and she is being escorted here by none other than our great Princess Azula." Yeinah announced in a dire voice as the eyes of the entire class widened in a sudden sense of rightful panic.

The sound of the approaching footfalls came to a stop near the door as the teacher swiftly rose her hand for her students to rise.

"Now greet your princess with the respect that she deserves!" Yeinah exclaimed as all of her students lowered themselves to the floor without delay.

And then the entire classroom and their teacher sunk to the floor to prostrate themselves in respect.

They all gazed towards the door from the floor in suspense as they watched it open.

Only for the eyes of every student and the teacher to widen when they found themselves gazing back at a petite teenage girl standing in a bow as she held the door open.

But that…wasn't what astonished them.

It was…the fact that she had…golden hair!

And before the class could even so much as take another breath.

They all watched with widened eyes when their princess stepped in front of the bowing girl.

While utterly intimidating amber golden eyes were now staring back in at the classroom.

As every individual present prostrated themselves with their faces in the floor as if their lives depended on it.

And with that the frightening princess strode into the room with the young girl closing the door behind her.

Elle now gazed around the classroom with intimidated amber eyes as she took note of all of the girls prostrated on the floor in expansive garb.

As her mistress stood before her with her hands folded behind her back.

Azula's callous amber golden eyes turned to gaze between the prostrated teacher and her students.

And then the mighty princess took her position in front of the class with her companion bowing faithfully behind her.

Her gaze swept about the classroom at each and every person present.

As she then raised one hand into the air while she opened her mouth to speak.

"Rise." Azula commanded in a resonating voice of absolute authority as she elegantly held her hand before her face.

And just like that the whole classroom immediately stood up on command as they all bowed in flawless formation.

While they all held one hand straight and the other hand in a fist underneath it vertically in greeting to their princess.

And Elle stared at the bowing class in awe as she watched the entire classroom bow to her princess in mass.

"Greetings fellow Fire Nationals." Azula greeted in an impassive voice as her frigid eyes gazed back at the gathering of bowing people.

"Greetings Princess Azula!" The entire classroom replied in a voice of intense worship while the princess gazed imposingly back at them.

Elle gazed on from her bow behind her mistress with an expression of marvelment in her eyes over how quickly the class greeted her princess.

And all of the students now stared back in bewilderment at the girl bowing behind their princess with a blue version of their nation's insignia wrapped around her neck.

"I would like to introduce you to your new classmate…. Elle. She is a commoner. But she is no average commoner. In truth she is by no means average. For you see she is the holder of an ancient opposing force to the Avatar. In her veins…she holds the power to kill our nation's greatest enemy once and for all." Azula remarked in a callously dignified voice as she pointed a prideful finger back at her bowing serving girl's face.

The classroom stared on with their eyes agape in disbelief to hear that a commoner was going to join their class.

And not only that…

She had the power to kill the greatest enemy of their nation!?

As even the teacher bowed with her golden eyes gazing back at the strange girl in fascination.

'Commoner? Am…am I the only…commoner here?' Elle thought with a profound sense of anxiety suddenly taking over her eyes as she stood nervously in her bow behind her princess.

And just when she feared that she was going to be demeaned for her status as a commoner.

She felt reassured when her mistress glanced back at her for a short moment with her usually strict gaze.

A gaze that made her feel safe.

"She is my most faithful servant. And even though she may not look it…she is also my battle partner. And that makes her more than worthy of attending this military academy." Azula stated in a completely glacial voice as her hand fell back to her hip while she began to walk the length of the classroom.

The stunned students and their teacher stood in their intimidated bows as the princess began to walk around the classroom.

As Elle stood at the front of the class in her bow with her amber eyes widening in a show of heavy emotion.

So, this was a military academy!

'Azula-sama…said…that I am her battle partner!" Elle thought with a shy smile on her lips as she watched her older girlfriend encircle the speechless class.

"Elle is of paramount importance to our great nation's victory in this war and all wars to come. I hold her in exceedingly high regard and I happen to consider her irreplaceable…" Azula trailed off in a menacing voice as she stared back at one terrified student after another as she marched past them with purpose in her step.

Before she came to a halt glaring into a random noble girl's utterly frightened eyes as she took delight in how the girl looked as if she were about to faint from fear.

The rest of the class remained frozen in their respectful bows as sweat began to drip down their foreheads.

And Elle found herself unable to resist allowing her lips to curve into a moved smile.

"Which is why I must warn you…that I expect you to treat her well. If I sense even the slightest sign of mockery. If you do anything to jeopardize her commitment in this war…I will not hesitate to snuff you out." Azula explained in a chillingly venomous voice as she stared imperiously down into the noble girl's widely petrified eyes.

The remainder of the classroom gazed on with equal terror in their widened eyes.

As the noble girl swallowed down the lump that had formed in her throat as she trembled under her Crown Princess's penetrating glare.

It was all Tei could do to not faint in terror from finding herself unfortunate enough to be singled out by her mighty princess.

And not a second after that she breathed an audible sigh of relief when the terrifying woman finally marched past her.

Elle bowed at the front of the class with her youthful lips adorning a radiant smile.

As Azula continued to encircle the frightened teenage noble girls like a predator scoping out her next meal.

Until she stopped to loom over yet another young noble girl with her piercing amber golden eyes now staring right back into eyes that were paralyzed with fear.

"If you should so much as mistreat her…demean her…or anything of the sort that has a negative effect on her battle performance. Then I will squash you like an insect beneath my boot." Azula commented in a strikingly foreboding voice as she ground her boot on the floor for emphasis.

While she gazed harshly back into the young noble girl's trembling golden eyes.

The noble girl let out an audibly gulp that resounded throughout the eerily silent classroom.

And just like that the elegant woman strode past her with her fearsome amber golden eyes glaring at every intimidated face that she walked by.

As the servant couldn't stop beaming with a heartfelt look in her eyes.

'That's my Azula-sama! She's a dream come true!' Elle thought with a flush on her cheeks while her mistress still gazed coldly back at the trembling girls.

And with that the princess gracefully strode back to the front of the class before she came to a halt standing beside her companion once more.

She then turned her conquering gaze to the bowing teacher as she watched the older woman sweat under her all-consuming stare.

Before she wordlessly removed a rolled-up document from underneath her sash and reached out to offer it to the frightened teacher.

As Yeinah took hold of the paper with an uncertain hand as she gazed back at her princess's smiling face.

"In that document you will find a list of rules that you and all of the other teachers here must abide by. Consider it a list of things that you forbidden to do. Obey my absolute will and you will be fine. But if you so much as break even a single one of them…I will arrange your banishment to the colonies." Azula announced in a frozenly ruthless voice as she smiled with her hands at her hips while she watched the noblewoman shake in terror.

The entire class stared on in a mixture of fright and awe to see the teacher that had previously intimidated them so deeply.

Is now being rendered into just as great of a state of fright as them before the gaze of their all-powerful princess!

"U-understood my princess. I shall follow this list as if it was written by Agni herself." Yeinah assured in a voice of complete submission as she bowed in reverence to the young woman standing before her.

As Azula's lips curled into a wider smile before her gaze scanned the faces of the trembling noble girls.

And then she turned to glance at Elle bowing so faithfully before her.

The princess and the peasant gazed back into one another eyes for a fleeting moment.

The young girl smiled shyly as she bowed even lower with the older girl grinning down at her in apparent approval.

"Why don't you say hello to your new classmates?" Azula ordered in a silken voice as she stared down at her girlfriend's sweetly beaming face.

And then Elle turned to face the crowd of Fire Nation noble girls.

They all stared back at the peasant girl with still present disbelief in their eyes.

They were shocked that a commoner girl was being permitted to join their prestigious school with the backing of their Crown Princess.

And just as astounded that the girl seemed to have sway with the merciless Fire Princess.

And even more so than all of that….

Was that according to their brilliant princess this small girl possessed the ability to defeat the enemy of their nation!

The Avatar!

And just when the gathering of highborn girls thought that the girl was going to use her favor with the princess to terrorize them.

Each and every single one of them watched in shock when the foreign girl bent over in a bow before them with her right fist held against her left hand.

"It is an honor to meet you citizens of the Fire Nation." Elle spoke in a genuinely kind-hearted voice that took the entire class aback.

She remained in her courteous bow with her lips forming a gentle smile.

As the teacher stared on with equal shock in her eyes as she blinked her eyes in surprise.

The princess stood behind the girl with her hands folded gracefully behind her back.

As Azula observed with callous amber golden eyes that unbeknownst to the classroom shone with a tiny flicker of protectiveness.

Before the princess turned to glance down at the girl with a detached stare in her eyes.

"Well, I suppose that I will leave you to it then. I'll be back to collect you at the end of the day." Azula commented in a voice of more casual sternness than before while she watched her girlfriend nod up at her.

Only for the servant girl to then bow one final time before her looming princess with her hands still forming the hand symbol.

"Yes, my princess! I hope that Your Highness has a pleasant day." Elle replied in a voice of limitless devotion as she smiled up at her mistress's ruthless face while the princess momentarily glanced down at her in approval.

She gazed back up into the older woman's icy amber golden eyes for another fleeting instant.

As she caught the gleam of recognition in her princess's stony gaze.

And then Azula offered the younger girl an emotionless nod before she turned around to walk away as she waved an elegant hand over her robed shoulder.

Elle then rose up from her bow as she watched her princess open the door of the classroom.

And then seconds later Azula was gone.

Azula now strode down the halls of the school with her regal head held high.

As she tried to suppress the foreign feeling of displeasure over leaving her companion behind in the hands of strangers for a day.

Before she shook her head as she squashed her protective instincts with a callous sigh as she made her way down the hall.

And yet despite her reservations…

Somewhere deep down inside her cruel heart she couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride that she was finally inducting her beloved in the ways of her great nation.

And that alone was enough to allow her lips to curve into a pleased smirk as she made her way to her royal carriage.

Elle now stood before the class with an abashed expression on her face.

And all of the sudden all of the nervousness over being alone in the classroom of strange girls increased by tenfold.

As the noble girls started to murmur amongst each other as they stared back at their commoner classmate with still baffled expressions in their eyes.

Before Elle turned to face her new teacher for guidance.

The older woman glanced back at her with a still recovering expression in her eyes.

Only for Elle to surprise the class yet again when she bent over to offer a bow of greeting to the speechless Yeinah.

"It…it is a pleasure to meet you teacher. Which desk do you want me to go to?" Elle stated in a polite voice as the older woman still gazed back at her in astonishment.

"You…you can pick from any of the three open desks in the back." Yeinah informed in a calmer voice as she watched the foreign girl bow once more.

If nothing else…for a foreigner the girl was shockingly well mannered.

And then Elle turned around to pad to the back of the class while she still flushed as she sensed all of the noble girls still gazing at her in fascination.

Tei watched the strange commoner girl walk past her with a measure of curiosity in her golden eyes.

As the teacher then sat down at her desk as she opened hesitantly opened the princess's document.

Only for all of her fear to return as her eyes bugged out when she gaped down at the list of rules in horror.

And soon after that Elle knelt down on a cushion at her desk behind Tei with her backpack resting on the floor beside her.

The noble girl momentarily gazed back at her for a moment as she smiled back at her.

And then the firebender turned away as she focused her attention on the front of the class.

As Elle stared up from her desk with a spark of excitement in her eyes.

For the first time in several years.

She was in school!

And she intended to make the most of it.

She was going to make her princess proud.

AN:

In this chapter we saw Yoko's reaction to the chaos in Shung Wu. Despite Yoko being a cold traditionalist, she is more grounded in reality than Ozai. She is able to see the consequences that large scale occupations have at home when they start to push their citizens too far in order to maintain that occupation.

And Elle expressed a desire to return to school once more so that she can regain a sense of normalcy in her life. And in response, Azula decided to enroll Elle in the Royal Fire Academy.

Why the Royal Fire Academy though when it is restricted for the children of nobility only?

Well, it is only natural that since Azula desires to shape Elle into a noble, that she would only enroll Elle into only the highest class of school. It also fits in with how prideful Azula is in her high status.

Despite Elle's status as Azula's servant, and despite Azula's tendency to call Elle words with submissive meaning such as pet and servant. Azula actually holds Elle in a higher view than other commoners, and because she considers Elle to be her closest companion. It makes sense that she would settle than nothing less than what she deems to be the best for Elle.

And Azula using Elle's power as leverage to gain her entry into the academy, elevates Elle up in status alongside the nobility by stating her importance to a Fire Nation victory in the war.

And Elle being the only commoner in a school of all noble girls, is a great way for her to interact with the Fire Nation elite outside of Team Azula and experience what it is like to be a commoner among Fire Nation high society.

While Lao is a minor character, we got a look into her thoughts and learned that Azula used to be her hero until she finally met her face to face. And ever since she has been frightened of Azula because of harsh demeanor and the way that she looks for flaws in everything that they do.

And also, Azula giving Elle a bow of respect is a huge mile stone in their relationship. It shows that once again, that Azula regards Elle highly and holds a level of recognition for her that she doesn't have for anyone else.

And so Elle's first day at academy is now underway.

We'll find out how that goes next chapter.

Stay tuned for next time.

For chapter one hundred thirty-four! The Royal Fire Academy!