Hi everyone.
I want to thank everyone out there who reviewed, favorited and followed since the last update.
And as always, enjoy.
The Royal Fire Academy - Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Four
That same morning.
Sia stood gazing down at a letter in her hands while her golden eyes flashed with a surprised gleam.
'This girl Elle…the one with the power to challenge the Avatar. She is going to be attending the Royal Academy for Girls…Princess Azula actually managed to get her in.' Sia thought with a cognitive expression in her eyes.
And seconds after that she lit the letter aflame as she watched it burn with a contemplative stare.
'Maybe…I could pull a few strings and resume my old tutoring post at academy. That would allow me to get closer to the girl when Princess Azula isn't around.' Sia thought as she held a thoughtful hand underneath her chin.
Perhaps…this way she would be able to meet the girl for herself.
And maybe then she would be able to get more information on the nature of the girl's power that she wouldn't otherwise be able to obtain from her sister.
Elle knelt at her desk with an overwhelmed expression on her cheeks while she felt the stares of all of the aristocratic girls gawking all around her.
"A commoner is going to academy with us?" A noble girl asked in a bewildered voice while she gazed at the nervous girl in still present shock.
"And she was escorted to academy by Princess Azula." Another noble commented in a fascinated voice as she gazed at the girl's anxious face in disbelief.
"And she has golden hair!" A teenage girl exclaimed with awe in her voice as she gaped at the now blushing girl with a look of amazement in her eyes.
"I have never seen a girl with golden hair before!" A fourth girl exclaimed as she turned around to ogle the trembling girl behind her.
"Neither have I." Tei remarked in a voice of her own curiosity as she glanced back at the reddened faced girl behind her.
Only for the entire class to snap out of their ogling of Elle when their teacher loudly banged her desk to get their attention.
Elle obediently spun around with her hands in her lap in the hopes of making a good impression.
"Now class! That is enough. The princess explicitly stated that we are to treat her well and I will not permit her wrath to be drawn upon this school by doing otherwise." Yeinah instructed in a strict voice while her students swiftly nodded their heads in understanding.
Elle's gaze relaxed somewhat as the teacher's eyes then turned to gaze at her.
"It says here…Elle. That you do not write in the same written language as us. Is that true?" The teacher pondered with a margin of intrigue to her otherwise stern voice.
The students turned to gaze at Elle with fascinated looks in their eyes once more as they watched the girl hurriedly nod her head.
"That's so. I don't yet know how to read much of it or write in your language. The princess has been instructing me when she has free time. I can make out some of the basics, like read the labels on spices in the kitchens. But not much beyond that." Elle explained in a gentle voice as she knelt straight gazing back at the instructor's nodding face.
"I see. Now I have another question for you. What do you know about our great nation?" Yeinah asked in a firm voice while the young girl held a thoughtful hand under her chin.
"I know that the Fire Nation is the dominant world power. I also know that the Fire Nation went through an industrialized period and is far more advanced than the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribe. I don't quite know much more than that though. As the majority of my time has been spent with the princess in battle against the Avatar and her other enemies. But I am eager to learn all that I can!" Elle responded in a jovial voice as she smiled brightly back at the teacher's still amazed face.
The rest of the class still listened to the girl with all of their eyes glued to their strange new classmates unusually cheerful face.
"Well, it is certainly an admirable quality that you are willing to learn. I will do all that I can to educate you for as long as you are a student in my class." The teacher stated in a stoic voice as the young girl smiled back at her.
And with that she opened a book while the entire class gazed on obediently from where they knelt before their desks.
And just like that the class continued on.
A few hours later.
After finishing with her first class.
Elle had went to meet her language teacher.
And now after spending several hours working on her language lessons.
She was now carrying a lunch tray in the academy cafeteria while she felt countless eyes on her once more.
Until she shyly sat down by herself with her amber eyes fearfully avoiding gazing at any of the girls that were staring at her as if she was a rare species that they had never seen before.
Tei sat at an opposite table with her still intrigued golden eyes gazing back at the petite girl.
As noble girls muttered amongst each other as they stared at the increasingly apprehensive girl.
And then Elle began to bashfully nibble at her vegetarian meal.
Only to find herself turning to gaze over her shoulder when she saw three noble girls approaching her table.
While a twinge of redness appeared on her cheeks when she noticed the way the girl in the front was gazing at her with fascination in her eyes.
Until the girls came to a stop standing before the timid girls table with all of their gazes fixated on the skittish girl's blushing face.
The leader of the three girls was a girl named Suna and she was from a very wealthy clan called the Yosa clan.
Suna was by all accounts a beautiful Fire Nation girl.
She was a fairly tall girl for her age, with fine dark hair and she was an exceptionally skilled firebender to boot.
"Wow, she really has golden hair!" Suna commented with unusual interest in her voice while she blinked back at the girl's flushed face.
"H-hello." Elle greeted in a bashful voice as she smiled back at the noble girl while Suna appraised her with a slight smile on her lips.
"I still can't believe that a commoner got into the Royal Fire Academy." Another noble girl named Toh stated off to the side of Suna while the small blonde twiddled her thumbs in her seat.
"Yes, well. Princess Azula personally brought her to school. Everyone is saying that she has the power to kill the Avatar in her veins." A third noble girl named Nea informed from where she stood by her friend with a food tray in hand while she too gazed at the petite girl in amazement.
"Hello." Suna replied in an oddly captivated voice as she glided towards the shy commoner girl.
"I-is it really that big of a deal for a commoner to get in here?" Elle questioned in an uncertain voice while she shifted nervously in her seat when she felt the gaze of every noble girl linger on her.
"Are you kidding me? This is a military academy is for daughters of nobility only." Toh answered in a factual voice while Elle sunk back in her seat.
"O-oh. I didn't know." Elle responded lamely as she picked at her food as Suna hovered behind her with her golden eyes still gazing at her in bewilderment.
"It's pretty huge that you got in here. Commoners aren't even allowed to enter Hari Bulkan unless it is to serve as house servants or to work in the shops in the royal market. Much less attend our academy." Nea explained with a trace of arrogance in her voice while Elle's amber eyes took on a bothered gaze.
"I-I…wasn't aware of that either…I apologize if my presence offends anyone." Elle muttered in a somewhat downcast voice while the noble girls gazed at one another before glancing back at her.
'Azula-sama never told me that commoners weren't allowed to enter Hari Bulkan unless it was to serve…' Elle thought with a disconcerted expression in her amber eyes while she chewed on her lip.
There was something about that just didn't sit right with her.
It was…classist discrimination.
And to her it felt wrong.
Only for Suna to turn to her two friends with the playfulness in her golden eyes giving way to a cold stare that silenced the two almost immediately.
"Quit that. I am trying to say hi to her." Suna ordered with a commanding edge to her voice while her two friends quickly shook their heads in fright.
As Elle meekly sat in her seat with her nervous eyes gazing down at her food.
Just when she heard the sound of Suna stepping up beside her.
And not a second later Suna plopped her butt down on the bench beside the abashed foreign girl.
Her eager golden eyes stared back at the other teenager's lovely face as she took in the cloth collar wrapped around her neck.
"My name is Suna. What's yours?" Suna inquired in a slightly kinder tone than her friends as she set her food tray down on the tabletop.
"M-my name is Elle. It's nice to meet you, Suna." Elle answered in a mousy voice that was a bit cheerier than before.
She still blushed as she felt the way that the young aristocrat was staring at her with keenly focused golden eyes.
"Elle…what a fascinating name. Is that your real hair color?" Suna asked in an absorbed voice as she leaned in uncomfortably close to peer at the trembling girl's hair.
Tei quietly ate her food as she stared at Suna in mild annoyance from where she sat on the opposing table.
She was one of the two wealthiest girls in the school.
The more wealth a noble had the more power they possessed.
And that meant that Suna was one of the two self-appointed queens that 'ruled' the school with an iron fist.
And because of that, very few students were willing to challenge the spoiled girl to her face.
And soon enough Toh and Nea sat down on the other side of the table while they watched their leader check out the new girl's blushing face.
"I-it is…" Elle stammered in a lovably bashful voice with the color of pink adorning her cheeks while many noble girls still gawked at her from all about the cafeteria.
"You're a shy one, aren't you?" Suna queried with a small smile still on her lips while she observed the smaller girl avert her eyes from her gaze.
"I-I…suppose I am." Elle admitted sheepishly as she resumed nibbling on her lunch.
Only to find herself taken aback when the girl reached out to touch her hair.
"You're an adorable commoner." Suna commented with a purr as she surveyed the shorter girl's flattered face.
"O-oh. Well, thank you for saying so." Elle stuttered as she swallowed her bite of her noodles while she still felt the girl trace her finger through her hair.
'What lovely hair…she's cute. The princess is so lucky. It must be nice being royalty. I wish I had a servant like this.' Suna thought with her golden eyes taking on a spoiled stare while she touched the girl's silken hair.
And for the briefest of instances a frown formed on her lips.
As she pondered if it was possible that the princess would be willing to part with her.
Only to shake her head as she sighed knowing full well that the princess was unlikely to if the rumors about the girl having such a rare power in her veins were really true.
'It's too bad that I can't purchase her.' Suna mused as she still gazed back at the girl's adorable face with interested golden eyes.
Before a charming smile made its way back onto her lips as she leaned in to gaze back at the commoner girl's madly blushing face.
The girl was blushing.
Maybe she likes girls too?
Tei still chewed on her food as she gazed at Suna with rising irritation in her eyes.
Only for all eyes in the cafeteria to turn towards another girl sauntering in with a food tray in hand.
It was none other than the second 'queen' of the academy, Yani with her own group of noble friends in tow.
Yani was also what most boys and girls would consider attractive.
She was slightly shorter than Suna, and her hair was a nice shade of brown.
And on top of all of that, she was also a very talented firebender.
As soon as Yani stepped into the cafeteria her golden eyes instantly locked on Elle's hair in amazement.
Only for her gaze to narrow into slits not a second later when she saw that her rival had beaten her to the girl's table.
And that was all it took for her to begin to stride over to the table while she glared back at the other noble girl.
"I thought I smelled bitch in the air." Yani insulted as she came to a halt before the table gazing down at Suna while the other noble girl turned to glare back at her.
As Elle fiddled with her chopsticks with an adorable expression on her cheeks as the two noble girls glared back at each other.
"Not as quick as I smelled you." Suna replied with snap in her voice as her fingers fell from Elle's quivering head.
Her golden eyes formed a glare when she watched her rival slip in on the other side of the girl.
And just as quickly Yani's own friends sat down on the opposing side of the table
"Hey there. You don't have to sit with Suna you know. You can sit with me." Yani greeted with interest in her voice as she ignored her rival noble's glare while she peered at Elle's reddened face.
While both Suna's and Yani's friends also glared back at each other.
"H-hello. T-that is kind of you to offer. But I don't mind if you both sit here." Elle answered in a meek voice as she nibbled on her lunch while Suna smirked back at the other girl.
"See? She likes me. Not get lost Hasho. I was sitting here first." Suna sneered with her chopsticks in hand as she began to eat her lunch beside the bashful girl.
Yani glared back at her rival from on the other side of Elle.
As Tei watched the two girls with an aggravated expression in her eyes.
"I am pretty sure that she is just too timid to tell you what she really thinks. So, what is your name new girl?" Yani chatted as she slid her butt in beside the commoner girl while Elle fidgeted beside her.
Suna still glared back with a colder gaze than she had graced Elle with before.
"I-I am Elle!" Elle exclaimed with cheer in her voice as she turned to smile at the newest noble girl seated beside her.
She glanced bashfully between the two spoiled girls as they glared back at each other.
And for reasons that she couldn't figure out.
She found herself almost enjoying how the two girls were admiring her hair.
"That's a cute name." Yani purred as she took a bite of her lunch with a confident smile on her refined lips.
Elle still twirled her thumbs with a shy expression on her cheeks as both overbearing girls glared at each other.
Only to find herself jumping in fright when Suna pounded her fist on the tabletop.
"Beat it bitch." Suna snapped with fire almost spewing from her lips as the smaller girl quivered beside her.
"No. You beat it. She clearly wants to sit by me!" Yani retorted in a cold voice with fire burning from her fist as she hit the table while the girl trembled beside her.
Only for the two spoiled girls to pause in their feud when they turned to the new girl to see that she was flinching as if they were going to hit her.
"Now, look what you've done. You scared her. She was perfectly fine before you came to the table." Suna stated in a cold voice as she chewed on her food with her eyes glaring back at her rival.
"Me? You're the one who pounded the table first." Yani countered in an equally spoiled voice while she leaned in to glare at her rival's narrowed face.
"You can come sit over here if you want Elle." Tei offered in a calmer voice than the other noble girls as Elle turned to gaze back at her in surprise.
While both queens of the school turned to glare back at the other noble girl with anger in their eyes over being directly challenged.
And that was all it took for Elle to timidly stand up with her food tray in hand as she padded over to sit beside Tei.
The two wealthy girls frowned as they glared back at one another with accusing stares in their eyes.
And then Elle sat down beside down with a light blush on her cheek while the other girl tried to offer her a reassuring smile.
"I'm Tei by the way." Tei informed in a softer voice than her fellow nobles while the small blonde smiled back at her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Tei." Elle replied in a sweet voice as she smiled warmly back at the other girl's face while the dark-haired noble girl cracked a smile back at her.
And then she returned to eating her lunch while the noble girl ate beside her.
While both Suna and Yani still gazed at the young blonde with interested looks in their eyes.
Later on, at the end of the school day.
The royal carriage sat outside the gates of the academy once more.
Azula stepped one boot outside of her lavish carriage with her callous amber golden eyes already eager to reclaim her pet.
While she strode with swiftness in her step through the opened gates.
As countless nobles that were exiting their classes bowed to her as she strode past them.
Her ruthless eyes scanned about in search of her young girlfriend just before she spotted a crowd of at least ten noble girls gathered around someone.
Only for her eyes to widen with jealously when she realized that it was her girlfriend that they were crowding around!
Elle stood bashfully at the center of the young aristocrats as she held onto the straps of her backpack.
Suna still glared back at Yani who was also glaring back at her.
As other noble girls were staring at Elle in awe of both her hair and her supposed power to defeat the Avatar.
Tei just sighed as she gazed back at her new commoner friend with a flicker of sympathy in her eyes.
"I am sure that Elle would rather wait with me than you Yani." Suna remarked with a huff as she eyed the little blonde's adorable face with a keenly interested eye.
"Oh, please! She clearly likes me better than you!" Yani scoffed in a conceited voice as she glared daggers back at her rival.
All the while unaware of the death that was rapidly approaching towards them.
Until Tei turned around to gaze over her shoulder only for her eyes to widen in fright as she rapidly sunk to the ground into a deep bow of respect.
Azula strode past her with her merciless amber golden eyes glaring back at the crowd of noble girls.
As one noble girl after another immediately dropped down to kowtow as soon as they saw the princess approaching.
Until she came to a halt towering over the two arguing girls with her possessive amber golden eyes glaring down at them.
As the two were so engrossed in their bickering that they had yet to notice their princess's presence.
Only for Elle to turn around with a wide smile already pulling onto her lips when she saw her mistress standing behind them.
"Azula-sama!" Elle cried out as she hurriedly scurried back over to her mistress's side while all of the noble girls spun round to gaze back at the princess with widened looks in their eyes.
And just like that bent over in a courteous bow with her head inclined in reverence to the older girl.
The princess now stood at her imposing height with her small girlfriend happily bowing at her side once more.
As she glared monstrously back at the gulping faces of the noble girls as they sunk the ground into speedy bows on all fours.
"Why are you two trying to flirt with my servant?" Azula questioned in an utterly terrifying voice with her piercing amber golden eyes back at the two hurriedly bowing noble girls.
"W-we weren't trying to flirt with her princess. We were just saying hello." Yani assured in an intimidated voice as she bowed low.
Truth be told she wasn't truly trying to flirt with the girl.
Even though she couldn't deny that the girl was cute.
It was more about beating her rival than anything else though.
"Really? Because I could have sworn that I saw otherwise." Azula commented in a frightening voice with her mighty fists clasped behind her back while her handmaid bowed faithfully beside her.
Her chilling gaze turned to stare right back into Suna's imposed golden eyes.
She was able to impeccably read people within moments after meeting them.
And while it was possible that the other girl wasn't truly trying to flirt with her pet.
It did not escape her notice that this one was actually staring at her girlfriend with far too much interest than she approved of!
"Y-yeah. We were just trying to get to know her Your Highness." Suna answered in a rapid voice as she bowed before the scowling princess.
She made sure to keep her intrigued eyes off the adorable commoner girl as her princess stared down at her.
And not a second later Elle let out a squeak when her princess seized her by the back of her shirt in her domineering fist.
"This one belongs to me. She is mine. I advise you girls to remember that." Azula declared in a beyond controlling voice with her fist gripping her little quivering girlfriend's shirt.
Her conquering amber golden eyes glared back at the faces of the intimidated noble girls.
As the noble girls stared back at their powerful princess in awe over how effortlessly she was able to exert control over a girl that had the power to defeat the Avatar.
And then the princess released her yelping handmaid from her steely grip as she wordlessly turned to saunter away.
"Elle, come." Azula commanded in a supremely domineering voice as she lazily snapped her fingers over her robed shoulder.
She listened to the sound of her girlfriend hurrying after her heels.
"Yes, Azula-sama!" Elle exclaimed as padded after her mistress's footfalls while she held onto the straps of her backpack.
But not before she waved back at Tei while the noble girl gazed back at her in slight surprise before she returned the wave.
Azula glared out of the corner of her eye but made no comment as she continued on her way to her carriage.
As Suna arose from her bow she stared after Elle's bouncing back with a still fascinated expression in her eyes.
'She's so pretty. If only she was mine.' Suna thought with a pout on her lips as she folded her arms over her chest.
She would give any sum of gold to have such a lovely exotic girl all to herself.
If only…
Only to sigh as she turned to head home while she shook her head.
Minutes later.
Elle stood in an obedient bow as she held open the door of the carriage for her mistress.
Azula glanced her way with her scowl finally giving way to a pleased smile once more.
And then the tall princes stepped into her ride with her young girlfriend soon closing the door behind her.
Before Azula settled her posterior on her cushioned bench with her possessive amber golden eyes turning to watch her handmaid shyly seat herself beside her.
"I missed you Azula-sama!" Elle chirped as she embraced the older girl's side while Azula's callous eyes gazed greedily down at her.
And soon the carriage began to roll down the road in Hair Bulkan while the princess once again found herself allowing her girlfriend to hug her belly.
"I do not like how that girl was flirting with you." Azula spoke in a moody voice as she sunk back in her seat with her domineering eyes staring down at her pretty pet.
"Who? Suna?" Elle asked in a sweet voice as she peered up at her older girlfriend's scowling face.
"Is that her name? How long was she flirting with you Elle?" Azula questioned in a glacial voice with her cruel eyes taking on a violently fixated glare.
"Flirting with me…" Elle trailed off with a finger under her lip in seemingly deep thought while her princess gazed down at her with a deadpan stare.
"Yes, peasant. Flirting with you." Azula said with a haughty snort as she sat there with her girlfriend holding onto her robed belly.
"Hm. Well, she and her friends tried to sit with me at lunch. She seemed to take an interest in my hair!" Elle replied with a smile while the princess's amber golden eyes narrowed into a furious glare.
"She took an interest in your hair?" Azula asked in a stony voice with her amber golden eyes glaring ahead in her carriage.
"She kept trying to stroke my hair while I was eating. And she also told me that I am an adorable commoner." Elle admitted with a blush on her cheeks while an expression of absolute jealously overtook Azula's murderous face.
"She what! She petted your hair? And you allowed her to do this?" Azula demanded in a disciplinary voice as she watched her girlfriend quiver under her glare.
"I-I wasn't aware that I could tell a noble no. I thought that I would get in trouble and lose my school privileges." Elle muttered in a soft voice while a glower still graced her princess's lips.
"Elle. You have my royal backing. If someone tries to do something to do you that I wouldn't approve of. Just tell them to stop. If they refuse. Then I will just simply eliminate them." Azula explained in a smooth voice of natural authority while she stared down at her pretty handmaid's contemplative face.
"If that is your will Azula-sama then I shall do what I can to abide by your order at all times." Elle responded in a lovable voice only to find herself smiling shyly when the older woman reached down to pet her head.
And then she found herself unable to resist leaning into the princess's patting palm while domineering amber golden eyes stared back down at her in approval.
"This brat is not allowed to touch you Elle. Only I may pet you." Azula growled in a beyond assertive voice with her callous amber golden eyes gazing down at her girlfriend's sweetly radiant face.
"Only Azula-sama may pet me." Elle murmured in a shy voice while the princess's lips curved into a pleased smile.
"Good girl. So, how did your day go otherwise?" Azula purred in a naturally silken voice that flowed like honey into her young girlfriend's love-struck ears.
Only for her smile to quickly lessen when she noticed that her girlfriend's face seemed less excited than when she had dropped her off in the morning.
"Um…it went well. I have some concerns though." Elle muttered as she fiddled with the sleeves of her school unform while Azula rose an elegant brow.
"And just what might these concerns be Elle?" Azula inquired in a voice of effortless royal elegance while she removed her hand from her companion's golden hair.
"W-well I am grateful that you enrolled me into school. But…but I like my old commoner school that I used to go to better." Elle admitted in a hesitant voice as she avoided gazing back into her princess's taken aback amber golden eyes.
"What? I enrolled you into the Fire Nation's highest ranked junior school and you are telling me that you liked some old commoner school better?" Azula questioned in a disbelieving voice as she stared aloofly down at her young girlfriend's timorous face.
"I…I did. Because I wasn't surrounded by a bunch of rich girls who constantly ogle me like I am some exotic animal that they have never seen before." Elle stated in a quiet voice as she gazed down at the floor of the carriage.
While the powerful Fire Princess sat in a bewildered silence as she gazed down at her loyal servant with surprise in her ruthless eyes.
"Did they not treat you well? Perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough on my first visit and I should take a tour of the entire school." Azula commented in a cold voice with her emotionless amber golden eyes gazing in disapproval down at her handmaid over her sensitive nature.
"I…I don't want to go to a military school with stuck up rich girls Azula-sama. I…I want to go to school with other commoners. I would…rather go to a normal commoner school. Can't I go to one of those?" Elle pondered as she turned to peer up at the princess's stunned face while the older girl scrunched up her nose in contempt.
"Absolutely not! The girlfriend of Princess Azula does not go to school with commoners and I will not permit you to attend a commoner academy." Azula remarked in an unfathomably hubristic voice as she scowled down at her little girlfriend's confused face.
"But Azula-sama. I am a commoner." Elle answered in a confounded voice as Azula turned to glare down at her with strict amber golden eyes that made her heart race.
"While that may be true Elle. You are a higher class of commoner, far removed from the others." Azula stated in an arrogantly sophisticated voice as she folded her hands gracefully in her lap while her girlfriend stared up at her in puzzlement.
"I…I don't understand Princess. How am I a higher class of commoner?" Elle asked in an innocently confuddled voice while the regal woman reclined in her seat beside her.
"Because I have deemed it so Elle. Because I have raised you up to a higher status above the others with my divine right to rule. Just like how I am going to elevate you into a noble." Azula announced in a voice of great pride in her high status while a regal expression graced her stoic face.
She turned to peer down at her young girlfriend's genuinely baffled face as she listened to the carriage riding down the road.
"Y-you're going to elevate me into a noble Azula-sama?" Elle inquired in an earnestly baffled voice while her princess rolled her brilliant amber golden eyes over her.
"Of course, I am silly girl. Why else do you think I enrolled you into a noble school? Did you really think that I wasn't going to elevate you to a greater status?" Azula snorted with her trademark smirk curling onto her lips while stared down at her little beloved's adorably speechless face.
Only for her brows to raise in a questioning manner when she felt a dainty hand reach out to gently touch her own.
"Azula-sama…my queen. I love you with all of my heart and I look forward to serving you with pride for all of my days." Elle stated in a boundlessly devoted voice as she stared up at her mistress's beautifully smiling face.
The princess sat there with a vastly gratified expression already growing onto her lips.
"But I am a proud commoner and I will never be a noble." Elle informed in a completely honest voice while her princess's lips parted in a display of disbelief.
"A proud commoner?" Azula repeated with a poorly suppressed snort as she gazed down at her pretty girlfriend in bewilderment.
She scowled as the young girl smiled up at her.
"You were the one who told me to be proud of who I am and now I am. I am a commoner with pride and that is what I will always be." Elle declared in a genuinely proud voice while she gazed up at her princess's scrunched up countenance.
Only for the princess to let out a heavy sigh as she sunk back in her luxurious carriage seat with her strange little girlfriend seated beside her.
"Yes, I did say those words didn't I. But even so Elle…mark my words. I will shape you into the highest class of noble." Azula insisted with a smirk still on her lovely lips while she stared possessively down at her girlfriend's grudgingly cute face.
And on some level, she couldn't help but find it adorable that the girl actually thought that she could tell her no on any matter.
Much less a matter as critical as raising her beloved up to a higher status.
"If you say so Azula-sama…. I have a question for you though." Elle commented in a mousy voice as Azula smiled as she reclined over her.
"And what would that be? There is no woman more knowledgeable than me. Just ask me whatever is on your little mind and I will provide you with an answer." Azula purred in a voice of elegant brilliance as she stared arrogantly down at her little girlfriend's pensive face.
Only for her brows to furrow when she once again noticed a troubled expression in her handmaid's eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me that commoners weren't allowed to enter Hari Bulkan unless it was to serve?" Elle asked in a deeply bothered voice with her smile giving way to a frown while her princess gazed down at her in a taken aback quiet.
And that was all it took for the princess's lips to crease into a scowl once more while she glared down at her overly sentimental girlfriend.
"I didn't think it mattered. Because you were elevated to a highly generous position at my side in Hari Bulkan." Azula remarked with a margin of snap in her voice with her strict eyes gazing down at her frowning pet in a disciplinary manner.
If there was one thing that annoyed her it was the fact that even when they were alone together the girl couldn't stop worrying about every last peasant in the world!
Before her scowl deepened when she noticed that her girlfriend was gazing up at her in a pitiful attempt at glaring at her.
"I thought the Fire Nation was more progressive than the other nations. So, why do you segregate your own people Azula-sama?" Elle questioned with a distressed tone to her compassionate voice while Azula groaned as she held a palm over her irate face.
"It isn't segregation Elle! There isn't enough room in Hari Bulkan for all of the commoners. Which is why they reside outside Hari Bulkan." Azula explained in a much colder voice than before as she still glared sternly down at the young girl's overly emotional face.
"Yes, it is. It's classist! Out of all of the nations of my homeland that were prominent world powers before the great war, the United Kingdom, China, Australia, Mexico, the United States, Canada and more! No matter their faults or their own corruption! The common people were allowed to freely walk into their capital cities and even stand outside the gates of the seat of their ruling government." Elle retorted in an adamant voice as she stared up at her princess's glaring face while the woman glowered down at her.
And yet despite Azula's aggravation she couldn't help but find herself intrigued over the names of the countries that her companion was rattling off.
"Classist? Now that's a funny complaint coming from a lowborn girl seated beside me in my personal royal carriage." Azula stated with bite to her moody voice as she stared down at her pet with annoyed amber golden eyes.
Yet she forced herself to control her temper.
As she had long since come to accept that her beloved would always be prone to sentimental outbursts.
"We're not talking about what you give me Azula-sama. We're talking about the needs of all of the other commoners." Elle countered in an insistent voice as she bit her lip while Azula rolled her eyes above her.
"What is it that you expect me to do Elle? Give every commoner and peasant in the Fire Nation a ride in my royal carriage?" Azula questioned in a flat voice with her chiding amber golden eyes staring down at her young girlfriend's excessively compassionate face.
"This has nothing to do with your royal carriage Azula-sama. This is about how the aristocracy segregates the commoners. In Reiko's New World Empire, she allows the people to roam as they please in her Capital. There is no division. I have even heard that she meets with people large and small to personally to hear their grievances." Elle explained in a gentle voice while her mistress listened with an irate expression on her face.
'Curse Elle and her weakness! The last thing I need is for the nobles to come griping and moaning to my throne room when I become Fire Lord because this girl wants hundreds of thousands of commoners to overrun the streets of Hari Bulkan!' Azula thought with a groan escaping her elegant lips while she massaged the bridge of her nose with a frustrated fingertip.
Only to turn to gaze down at her naïve girlfriend once when she felt emotional little eyes staring back up at her.
"W-when you become Fire Lord Azula-sama. Are…are you going to change the way that the Fire Nation separates people based on social class?" Elle stammered in a hopeful voice as she watched Azula sigh with her hand sweeping through her beautiful hair.
Azula shook her head in a way that was almost akin to a mother lecturing her child.
Only for Elle to quiver with renewed worship in her eyes when a perfect finger raised her chin upwards.
As she now gazed up into her princess's mighty amber golden eyes as the older woman sighed yet again.
"Why must you constantly worry about everyone else? Why can't you just focus on yourself for once?" Azula questioned in a regal voice with a sigh as she gazed strictly down into her young girlfriend's trembling amber eyes.
"T-that's just how I am Azula-sama…" Elle murmured in a self-conscious voice as she shook under the older woman's possessive amber golden stare while the princess's fingertips fell from her chin.
Only for her amber eyes to stare up in adoration when she watched the much taller goddess of a woman sat back against her seat like a true queen.
The princess stared back down at her with a dominating amber golden gaze that sent a pleasurable shiver down her spine.
"I trust that you still remember our previous talk about how as your dominant I make choices for you?" Azula inquired in a voice of absolute control with her sternly possessive stare never leaving her little beloved's adorably intimidated face.
"O-of course I do Princess. I know that you're the leader in this relationship…" Elle trailed off in a bashful voice as she twiddled her thumbs as she gulped under Azula's penetrating amber golden gaze.
She gulped when the older woman narrowed her eyes down at her as she felt her heart began to beat rapidly once more.
And that was all it took for legs to feel like they were beginning to turn to jelly under the woman's powerful gaze.
There was something captivating about this woman that made her want to bow.
And the more time she spent around her the harder it grew to resist the urge to just allow the woman to take care of all of her worries.
"Just leave the ruling to me, be a good girl and I will make the right decisions for you and the rest of this country. Is that understood Elle?" Azula commanded in a voice of unfathomable authority as she stared imperiously down at her submitting girl's pretty face.
Only for her strict lips to almost curve into a pleased smile when she watched the girl bow her head to her in reverence.
"Y-yes Princess." Elle agreed as she bent her head in respect while the older woman gazed down at her in approval.
And not a second later she found herself blushing when the woman lowered her hand into her hair once more.
And just like that she found herself falling back into the seat as she melted underneath the princess's patting hand.
"That's much better." Azula purred with her lipstick covered lips curling into another smile as she patted her girlfriend's little head.
She sunk back on her posterior as she savored the way that her companion fell back alongside her underneath her hand.
"I-I'm sorry if I overstepped Mistress." Elle mumbled in a loyal voice with her amber eyes still gazing on in worry while the older woman smiled in approval above her.
Only for her bashful smile to return when she felt the woman pat her head again.
"That's alright. You serve me well. You are allowed to speak your mind Elle and I will always hear you out. But all the same, it is important that you accept my rule when I give it and that you understand that my word on all matters is final." Azula spoke in an effortlessly controlling voice with a spoiled smile on her lips while her hand rested in her handmaid's hair.
Only for her refined smile to grow when she watched Elle nod her head as she smiled sweetly up at her.
"I understand perfectly Azula-sama! I must have trust in your rule." Elle chirped in a worshipful voice as she slid in next to her princess's side with a more relaxed expression her face while the princess grinned down at her.
Her princess was right.
She was the heir to the throne, not her.
And it was essential that she have confidence in Azula's ability to rule.
'She'll do better when she takes the throne…I…I know she will. I just have to believe in her.' Elle thought with devotion overcoming her eyes as she grasped onto her girlfriend's expensive blood red robes.
As the princess gazed down at the young girl leaning into her upper belly with a satisfied smirk on her lips.
The girl could be a difficult little thing to manage at times.
But she was well worth having around.
Of that she was certain.
A short while later.
The royal carriage smoothly rode through the street at a leisurely pace.
Azula sat with her face resting in her right hand and her girlfriend curled up underneath her left arm.
As she periodically peered down at her pet with a strict yet fond gaze as she found herself curiously permitting the girl to use her as a pillow.
And oddly enough…she had ordered the royal coachman to drive at a slower pace so that she could enjoy as much time with the girl as possible before returning to the palace.
Only to find herself turning around to glance down at her young girlfriend with her elegant brows raising when the girl released an excited cry.
"Azula-sama! Can we please stop in the royal market at the candy store!" Elle cried out as she tugged on the princess's sleeve while amber golden eyes narrowed down at her.
"You already have plenty of candy back at the palace." Azula snorted in a completely authoritative voice only to scowl when she felt the girl pull on her robes once more.
"P-please Azula-sama! Please!" Elle pleaded as she sat up in her seat while Azula's amber golden eyes shook with annoyance.
"Peasant…." Azula trailed off in a warning voice as she glared down at the young girl's grudgingly cute begging face.
Only for her callous amber golden eyes to turn to gaze down in delight when she watched the girl lower her upper body into a servile bow.
And that was all that was required for her lips to pull into a supremely pleased smile.
"Please Queen." Elle stated in a voice of endless adoration as she bent her head in respect while her princess's lips now adorned a vastly pleased smile.
"Very good Elle. You do remember our talk after all." Azula remarked in a vastly gratified voice with a smirk on her lips as she stared down at her young girlfriend's submissive face.
"I…I do Azula-sama. And I request that you give me your ruling on if I am allowed to visit the candy store." Elle answered in a tone of profound loyalty as she peered up at Azula's grinning face.
The princess held a fingertip underneath her lip as she pretended to think the matter over.
Before the princess lowered her hand back into her robed lap as she folded both of her palms together.
"Hm. Oh, so be it. I suppose…that I could allow it." Azula commented with a smug smile on her lips as she gazed down at her girlfriend's adorably excited face.
Only for her grin to grow when she felt dainty arms embrace her lower belly as the girl flew into her lap.
"You're the greatest Azula-sama!" Elle giggled as she pushed her face into the older woman's finely robed belly.
She enjoyed the way two strong hands lowered onto her shoulders.
As the spoiled princess smirked as widely as can be as she gazed greedily down at the young girl in her lap.
"I know I am Elle. I know." Azula spoke in a boundlessly pleased voice as she took to sitting back with her small girlfriend in her lap.
A short time later in the royal market.
The two Song sisters were going for a walk through the market.
The captain glanced out of the corner of her eye when she noticed the bandages on her sister's left hand.
"Sia…what happened to your hand?" Zoi questioned with sisterly concern breaking through her stoic voice.
"Oh, that. I accidentally cut it in the kitchens the other night. You know how I prefer to make my own food." Sia answered with a margin of a sheepish expression on her face as she turned to offer her older sister a slight smile.
The warrior still gazed back at her younger sibling with her stony golden eyes shimmering in a trace of emotion.
'Sia…isn't telling the truth. Why…would she lie to me about that?' Zoi thought with her composed eyes gazing back at her sister's wrapped palm in bewilderment.
Only to find herself snapped out of her reverie when her little sister turned to face her.
"Don't worry yourself over it Zoi. Considering how you many times over the years that you have returned home mangled from countless war injuries. A cut on the hand…is nothing." Sia assured as she placed her hand on her big sister's arm while the captain still frowned before her.
"I am a warrior Sia and it is only natural that I would sustain routine injuries on the battlefield. But that doesn't apply to you and in any event. You are my little sister; how can I not worry about you?" Zoi responded in a caring voice as she cracked a small smile while she set her hand on her sister's shoulder.
Sia nodded her head in appreciation as she smiled gratefully up at her older sister.
Only for the two sisters to be removed from their moment when they saw a familiar face approaching from the other end of the market.
It was none other than Azula.
Sia followed her big sister's gaze as she watched the princess walk their way through the market.
Only for her golden eyes to quickly notice a small golden-haired girl rushing alongside the tyrannical woman.
Her eyes widened a flicker of a fraction as she stared back at the young teenager's blonde head in fascination.
'So…the rumors are true. She…actually has golden hair! That…has to be Elle!' Sia thought with her observant golden eyes staring back at the brightly smiling girl.
Her gaze then swept over the girl's Royal Fire Academy uniform.
Only for her eyes to briefly stare at the cloth collar around the girl's neck with a blue Fire Nation emblem.
As Azula stared back at the two Song sisters with callous amber golden eyes as she came to a stop before them.
Elle peered back at Sia's interested face with a sunny smile on her lips that bewildered the older girl.
The young noblewoman took note of the way that her older sister was turning to gaze at the girl with a fond smile.
"Zoi…I wasn't expecting to see you and your sister here." Azula remarked in an impassive voice while her amber golden eyes briefly glanced over her subordinate's sister's face.
She coldly watched as the girl bent over to offer her a momentary bow with her hands held together in the customary greeting.
"I could say the same to you Princess." Zoi stated in a stony voice as she gazed back at the two.
Sia arose from her bow with her golden eyes still gazing at the smiling girl in curiosity.
"You're Zoi's sister!" Elle chirped in a sweet voice as she approached the girl while Sia offered her a mild smile.
"I am and you must be Elle. I have heard so much about you." Sia commented with a hand under her chin as she stared back at the younger girl's radiant face.
She was never failed to take note in the way that the princess's amber golden eyes were watching her closely.
"So, how was your first day of academy Elle?" Zoi questioned with a noticeably affectionate edge to her voice while Elle beamed back at her.
Sia watched calmly from where she stood beside her big sister.
"It wasn't bad! Other than the fact that almost every girl in the school was staring at me all day long…" Elle replied with a finger underneath her chin while her princess sighed with her arms folded over her robed breasts.
"Staring at you? Did they treat you poorly?" Zoi inquired with a colder voice while a frown graced her lips.
Sia still stared back at the girl with a flicker of sympathy in her eyes.
"Well, they were just looking at me like I was a rare exotic pet of some sort all day. I don't understand why they would think that though…." Elle trailed off in an innocent voice with a thoughtful expression on her face.
The two Song sisters gazed back at Elle's collared neck with understanding in their eyes.
Before the captain turned to gaze at her princess's spoiled smirking face with a gaze that said 'I thought you were going to remove that before she went to school.'
"There just must be something about you that makes noble girls think that you're a pet of some kind. It must have something to do with how you carry yourself." Azula advised in a voice of feigned uncertainty as she shrugged her robed shoulders.
The handmaid folded her arms over her chest in contemplation as mulled the matter over.
As both sisters stared back at the princess's smiling face from over the innocent girl's shoulder.
"Yes, Princess. That must be it." Zoi stated in a deadpan voice as she snorted while she stared back at her leader's smirking lips.
Sia's golden eyes were less amused than her older sister as she had to fight down the urge to express any signs of disgust.
Both over the way the noble girls at the school had acted towards the girl and the princess's own behavior.
"There were even two noble girls who were trying to fight over me and one even kept touching my hair while I was eating lunch. I don't get why everyone is so fascinated by the color of my hair. Where I come from…a lot of people have blonde hair. It isn't really that special." Elle commented with a pondering look in her gentle eyes.
The two Song sisters now gazed back with incredulous looks in their eyes.
And even the princess's smirk had begun to transform into a cold expression once more.
"What? She was trying to fondle you while you ate lunch? Tell me her name and I will straighten her out for you." Zoi remarked in a scarily focused voice with a violent gaze flashing over her golden eyes.
Sia gazed at her older sister as she rose a brow as she once again took note of her sister's fondness for the girl.
"She told me that her name was Suna." Azula said in a voice of cold authority as she stared on with aloof amber golden eyes.
"Suna? Very well. I shall take a squad of soldiers…go to her house and…talk with her." Zoi declared with the promise of pain lacing her voice as she nodded her head.
Azula just lazily shrugged her shoulders as if to say that she didn't care if the girl was brutalized.
Truth be told.
She had an urge to punish the girl for daring to touch what was hers.
Only for all three highborn women to turn to the innocent girl when she quickly shook her head.
"No! Don't do that oneesan. I don't want you to hurt her. It's…not like she was mean to me. She just thought that my hair was pretty. That's all." Elle assured with a compassionate smile on her lips while Zoi scowled with an unconvinced expression on her face.
And Azula rolled her amber golden eyes as she just shook her head over her little girlfriend's naïve personality.
"Oneesan?" Sia pondered with a tilt of her head while her golden eyes gazed at her big sister's suddenly uncomfortable face.
And then she took note in how the princess began to smirk once more as if she was about to ruin her sister's life.
"It means big sister." Azula informed with a purr as she took delight in watching her captain's face cringe when her little sister turned to face her.
Sia's eyes flashed with a spark of jealously as she stared back at her big sister's silent face for an explanation.
"You made another little sister in the eight months that you didn't send me a single letter?" Sia questioned with a trace of offense to her voice while she glared back at her big sister's nervous face.
As Elle bit her lip as she gazed on with worry in her eyes.
The last thing she wanted to do was to make her adopted sister's blood sister feel unloved.
Azula still watched the scene with an amused smile on her cruel lips.
"Now Sia in my defense I met her a few weeks before we saw each other in Fire Mountain and she didn't start calling me that until afterward…" Zoi trailed off in an unusually guilty voice as her little sister still glared at her.
Only for the two Song sisters and even the princess to be taken by surprise when a blonde blur darted towards the younger noblewoman.
And then before Sia could even react she gazed on with blinking golden eyes when the shorter girl affectionately took a hold of her hands.
"It wasn't my intention to make you feel like I was stealing your big sister! I am sorry Sia!" Elle explained in a sweet voice as she stared back at the older girl's surprised face in concern.
"It's alright. I am not mad at you. I was…just taken aback is all." Sia replied in a softer voice as she gazed at the younger girl curiously when she smiled sunnily back at her in confusion as she still held her hands.
"I know! You can be my big sister too!" Elle announced in a chipper voice as Sia now stared back at her in complete bewilderment.
And Azula was heard groaning in the background as she held a hand over her annoyed face.
Zoi stared on with a small smile already making its way onto her approving lips.
"Come again?" Sia asked in a genuinely baffled voice only to blink when the girl thrust her hands into the air.
"Oneesan Sia!" Elle cheered in an exuberant voice as the older girl still stared back at her in confusion.
"Me your big sister? But we just met." Sia remarked in a gentler voice as she stared back at the girl with a thawed expression in her golden eyes.
"Congratulations Sia. You're Elle's fourth adoptive big sister." Zoi stated with a grin on her lips while her younger sister gazed on with still recovering golden eyes.
"Ugh. Is every noble girl that you meet your big sister? How many big sisters do you need?" Azula snorted with a roll of her ruthless amber golden eyes while she shook her head over her pet's behavior.
"The fourth huh?" Sia questioned with a margin of fondness in her voice as she offered the sweet girl a moved smile.
It was a strange notion to her.
And yet she couldn't deny that she could already tell that the girl had an innocent heart.
And there was something welcoming about being someone's big sister for a change.
"Zoi is like family to me! And since you're her sister that means that you're my family too." Elle spoke in a warm voice as she smiled widely before she embraced the stunned girl around the neck.
Azula's amber golden eyes formed a murderously jealous stare as she pursed her lips into a violent glower.
As Zoi just stared fondly back at the two with a pleased look in her eyes to see that they liked each other.
"I…don't quite understand Elle. But if you see Zoi as your family and wish to view me as the same…then I welcome you with open arms." Sia spoke in a softened voice with a smile pulling onto her lips as she gazed at the beaming girl embracing her around the neck.
The princess just released a loud sigh as she stood gazing back at the two in annoyance.
"T-thank you." Elle stated in a pure-hearted voice as she smiled on the older girl's shoulder.
Only for her smile to grow when she felt the young noblewoman wrap her arms around her in a compassionate hug.
Azula scowled with her frigid eyes glaring at the scene as she began to tap a boot on the floor.
"No. Thank you…for what you did for my sister." Sia responded in an appreciative voice as her golden eyes expressed a true sense of gratitude.
"There's no need to thank me! It was just a shirt! Zoi's arm was much more important than my shirt!" Elle assured in a loving voice as she smiled back at the older girl's thankful countenance.
Zoi smiled with genuine fondness in her stoic eyes.
As the two girls hugged each other for another moment before they disconnected from heir embrace.
And even though the handmaid and the young noblewoman had only just met each other.
The two were now gazing back at each other with a newfound sense of affection for the other in their eyes.
Only for the sound of two fingers loudly snapping to echo into the air as the serving girl spun around to gaze back at her mistress's stony face.
"We've lingered here long enough Elle. You can talk to the Song sisters more another time. Let's just get what we came for." Azula commanded in a cold voice as she began to resume her walk with her icy amber golden eyes staring back at her handmaid's adorable face.
"I'll see you two later then oneesans!" Elle called out as she waved back at the two noblewomen as they both stared back at her fondly.
"See you later…little sister." Sia stated in an earnestly kind voice as she smiled while she watched the girl smile brightly back at her.
"Yes, we'll see you around later Elle." Zoi assured in a protective voice as she watched Elle scurry off alongside her princess
The princess strode away with her callous amber golden eyes watching her girlfriend hurry after her footfalls.
As she glanced back at the two Song sisters as her gaze momentarily passed over the younger's face.
There was something…off about that girl.
As for what…she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
But she intended to find out.
And with that the princess and her servant soon departed further down the street.
The two siblings were left standing there alone once more.
"I see what you mean Zoi. She really is a kindhearted person." Sia commented with her hands at her hips as she resumed her walk alongside her older sister.
"She really is. I confess that I have grown quite protective of her. And even though you wouldn't be able to tell it from her smile…she has lived through more suffering than I could ever put into words." Zoi commented with a trace of anger in her voice as she trudged along.
Sia turned to gaze at her big sister with her golden eyes reflecting a questioning gleam but she knew that it wasn't her place to pry.
And just like that the two siblings continued their walk back to their family estate.
Before the warrior turned to her younger sister when a thought crossed her mind.
"I couldn't help but notice that you are staying in the Capital much longer than usual." Zoi spoke with a curious edge to her sisterly voice while her young sister held a hand underneath her chin as she walked.
"That's because I am resuming my old tutoring post at the Royal Fire Academy." Sia admitted in a casual voice as she strode with her golden eyes gazing ahead.
The warrior turned to gaze back at her little sister with surprise in her eyes.
"I thought that you hated tutoring girls at the Royal Fire Academy." Zoi replied with bewilderment in her voice as she walked alongside her younger sister.
And yet at the same time she found that she was glad to hear it.
Because she knew that her sister would be sure to look out for Elle and that Sia would not hold her tongue if any of those girls try to pull any of those stunts in her presence.
"I do hate it there. But a summer of tutoring counts as extra credit towards my medical schooling and it allows me to be closer to you Zoi. So…I am going to try to tolerate it." Sia responded with a slight smile on her lips as she gazed back at her older sister's moved face.
The warrior's lips curved into a smile of sibling affection as she stared back at the younger woman's face.
"Thanks, Sia. I truly appreciate that." Zoi answered in a stoic voice as her little sister nodded her head as she continued her walk.
Before she turned to gaze back at her younger sister once more.
"Can you do me a favor Sia? Can you look after young Elle while you are there?" Zoi questioned in a hopeful voice while her little sister adopted a slight smile once more.
"Of course. I would be more than happy to do so Zoi." Sia assured in a genuine voice as she turned to smile back at her big sister's grinning face.
Before she turned to gaze away from her sister while her golden eyes momentarily flickered with a resolute gleam.
Today she unexpectedly gained a little sister.
And at the same time…everything was working out according to her plan.
And now…she'll be able to work one on one with the girl as her tutor without the princess staring over her shoulder.
She will be able to precisely uncover what her power entails.
And most important of all.
She will discover if the girl with the power to defeat the Avatar stands for revolution.
AN:
Jigoku-kage and loligang, thank you both for your kind messages.
For those who are curious, I went to the Mayo Clinic on November 18th. I ended up staying in a hotel for a week while they ran some tests. I came back home after. Nothing was found other than the artery compression in my neck. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Mayo has anyone who can or will do the decompression surgery.
I spoke with my UOM neurologist and he told me that there is a surgeon in New York City who has a technique and experience fixing this type of compression. It is looking like I will probably end up flying there for a consult eventually.
My neurologist is trying to set up highly specialized nerve blocks for me at UOM that target the compression directly with fluoroscopy guidance. Doing a nerve block directly over the compression is more risky than a regular nerve block. But at the same time, because the injection is direct it has the potential to temporarily make the pain go away. So, I am waiting on him to arrange that and talk with the guy in New York.
I am not doing well right now, because the pain is so severe it hurts to look at anything and I can't think clearly. The problem is that I don't have any real treatment until I get the injections. But I am crossing my fingers that he will get those nerve blocks scheduled shortly.
Anyhow, onto the afterword.
So, if anyone is wondering what the deal with Suna and Yani.
Yani wasn't actually interested in Elle in a girl/girl sense, she was just trying to talk with her in the hopes that if Elle is close to Azula, that speaking with her might earn her clan the favor of the Royal Family.
Suna on the other hand, actually has a bit of a girl/girl crush on Elle.
Suna is like Azula on a smaller scale in the sense that she is a spoiled noble girl who is used to everyone doing as she says.
Suna wasn't in the classroom that Azula introduced Elle in, and she doesn't understand that her behavior towards Elle is probably crossing a line.
Despite Suna's girl crush on Elle, she isn't looking at Elle as an equal. She is thinking of Elle more along the lines of something that she jealously wishes that she could keep all to herself. Much like how Azula viewed Elle back when they first met.
And because Elle wears the cloth collar that Azula gave her, Suna is under the mistaken belief that Elle might be Azula's slave and therefore why she was wishing that she could purchase Elle. And we'll see if this gets her in trouble with Azula and the others eventually.
What I am trying to showcase here is how out of touch from the rest of the world most of the Fire Nation elite have become.
Elle being troubled by commoners not being allowed to enter into Royal Caldera City unless it is to serve. Shows that it is only inevitable that she won't think highly of the Fire Nation once she discovers the darker things that the Fire Nation has done and is still doing in the name of imperialism.
Elle almost stood firm in her beliefs to Azula in their discussion in the carriage, and came close to going against what Azula was saying until she made her cave in.
This shows us that Elle has a way to go before she learns to be more assertive in expressing her beliefs in her relationship with Azula, and letting Azula know that she isn't going compromise her ideals regardless of what she tells her.
And even though Azula and Elle's relationship will always lean towards Azula being the one that takes the lead. We are working towards their relationship becoming more equal, as Elle learns that she can make decisions of her own. And Azula learns that she needs to let Elle have an equal voice if she truly wishes for her to stand by her side.
And finally, Elle's newest big sister is none other than Sia, the leader and founder of the Fire revolution movement. And this will be interesting because at the moment neither Azula or Zoi knows that Sia is the revolution leader that they are looking for.
Sia is a highly unusual noble in the sense that she doesn't have the arrogance that the rest of her fellow nobles have. And as we will eventually come to find out, that is why she has been successful at forming a revolution movement.
She doesn't look down on people, regardless of their social status. She interacts with people on an equal level, which results in her gaining support for her movement to win commoners right.
When she isn't around Yoko, and when someone gets to see her true personality, she is warm and welcoming. Which is why she and Elle were already starting to hit it off even though they had only just met.
The thing about Sia is that she isn't planning something evil like Silah or some of the other enemies that Team Azula are facing. She just wants to help make life better for all underprivileged people, of all nationalities. But at this time I am sure that Azula and many of the other aristocrats would not be pleased to know that Sia is conspiring against them in favor of the commoners.
Anyhow, that will be all for now though.
Stay tuned for next time.
For chapter one hundred thirty-five! Blood and Chocolate Covered Cherries!