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We Meet Again – Chapter Two
It has been six years since she struck down the Avatar in the Crystal Catacombs beneath Ba Sing Se.
For years she had begun to think that her suspicions had been wrong, and that the Avatar was truly dead.
That was until about a year ago when she heard a report about a small group of people with a comatose boy.
From then on.
She knew that he was out there.
Somewhere.
It was around that time.
That it had come to her attention that her escaped fuddy duddy uncle was the current leader of an ancient secret society called the Order of the White Lotus.
From there she was able to connect her tea loving uncle to the rebels in question.
It was then that she realized that Iroh was aiding and abetting the rebels in evading capture.
And so, she dispatched one of the greatest warriors in the Fire Nation to hunt them down.
A highly famous soldier.
And a well renowned captain of the Royal Procession.
A soldier that also happens to have a particular admiration for her more than any other member of her Royal Family.
This soldier has fought many battles in her name and won many victories in her honor.
Her name was Zoi Song.
She was her most devout and deadliest soldier.
And she was well known for showing no mercy to traitors.
Needless to say, the Order of the White Lotus are now no longer a secret society.
And they have since come to know her wrath.
And the wrath of her strongest soldier as well.
She had also learned six years ago during her conquest of Ba Sing Se from the Earth King that the rebels had knowledge of the Day of the Black Sun.
She investigated further.
And she discovered several months ago that the rebels were preparing an invasion on the Day of the Black Sun.
She warned her father and they prepared accordingly.
Well, now the Day of the Black Sun has come and passed.
And the Avatar has been revealed...to be alive.
Just as she had first suspected all of those years ago.
The Avatar and his friends escaped.
And her brother had betrayed their nation as well.
She hadn't expected that Zuko would turn traitor.
She has always taken her brother to be weak and foolish.
But never a traitor.
But it would seem that she was wrong about Zuko.
And now she could only feel disgust and anger towards her brother for his betrayal of their nation.
She was currently on a walk back from the Royal Plaza after overseeing an inspection of their defenses after the events of the previous day.
As she watched commoners bow down to her as she walked by while she paid little mind to their existence.
When she suddenly turned her head when she caught the unmistakable gleam of exotic golden hair moving through the street.
Her piercing amber golden eyes zoned in on the peasant girl while her lips pursed into a frown.
'She is just a peasant…golden hair or not…so why does this girl plague my mind?' Azula thought as she gazed at the young girl through the corner of her eye.
And yet despite her best efforts to deny it.
She found that her eyes were once again drawn to her lovely golden hair.
Just as quickly as the girl caught her gaze, she averted her eyes before she turned away with her eyes glued to her feet.
"Peasant." Azula called out sharply as the girl paused in her footstep while they stood mere paces apart.
Many other commoners in the market briefly paused in their activities as they instinctively bowed down when Azula's voice rang into the air.
Most likely due to a fear of angering their princess in the highly unlikely event that she was addressing one of them.
"Y-yes, Princess?" Elle answered softly while grasping at her shirt shyly as she began to twiddle her thumbs once more.
"Are you following me? It seems…strange that I keep running into you." Azula spoke in her usual stern voice while turning to gaze at the timid girl.
"N-no! I'I am not following you, Princess." Elle responded as her heart began to beat faster when the domineering girl approached her back.
"That is a blatant lie, and you know it." Azula sneered as she now stood looming over the tiny girl.
She wasn't certain just why she was wasting her time speaking to this peasant girl.
Perhaps she was intrigued by her bashful nature.
This girl may very well be the meekest person that she's ever met
Perhaps it was her exotic hair color.
Or perhaps it had something to do with the fire lily.
For whatever reason.
Her eyes were drawn to her.
"I…apologize. You are correct. I was following you…but not with malicious intent." Elle mumbled while shaking as she heard the older girl snort in amusement.
"You couldn't harm me even if you wanted to." Azula scoffed while folding her arms over her breasts as she stared at the girl's back.
"No…no I could not. You…you are so strong, Princess." Elle agreed with admiration in her voice that seemed to pique the older girl's interest.
"There is no one greater. Now why are you following me today?" Azula queried in a seemingly disinterested tone as she tilted her head regally.
"I…just…wanted to see if you were okay." Elle answered to the taller girl's bafflement as she still gazed down at her feet.
"See…if I am okay?" Azula repeated with clear surprise in her voice as she stood staring at the peasant girl in disbelief.
"There…was an invasion yesterday. I…was worried that they may have hurt you. I…am relieved to see that they haven't." Elle admitted while turning to finally peer up at the elegant young woman's surprised face.
"You…were worried for my safety? That is why you followed me?" Azula questioned in a break from her usual cruel voice.
Yet another first.
This was the first time that anyone has expressed such genuine concern for her wellbeing.
"That's so, Your Highness." Elle stated with a warm smile on her lips as she gazed up at the princess's lovely face.
"Once more you waste your time. I am not wounded so easily." Azula remarked in a return to her colder voice while the girl turned away grasping at her backpack strap.
"I…know. But I still needed to see for myself. Have a good day, Princess." Elle spoke as she began to slowly walk away while Azula gazed after her with curious amber golden eyes.
"What is your name, peasant?" Azula pondered as her sharp voice cut through the air like a whip.
Elle paused with her eyes widening in surprise as she clutched at her bag with a joyous grin adorning her visage.
"E-Elle. My name is Elle." Elle declared while the princess stared at the back of her head while holding a hand to her chin.
And Azula could not help but think to herself as she eyed the girl how her name sounded so foreign.
It was like no other name she had ever heard of before.
And yet it felt pleasing when she rolled it around in her mind on her imaginary tongue.
It was…lovely.
"Well, peasant…if you are going to follow after me like a lost puppy then I may as well make use of you. Come walk with me." Azula announced while gesturing for the smaller girl to follow after her.
Then to the princess's puzzlement a cry of joy pierced the air.
"Y-yes, Princess!" Elle cheered with an innocent grin on her lips as she began bouncing after the stoic woman.
'What a strange girl.' Azula thought while eying her seeming golden admirer with cold amber golden eyes.
"Obedient. I like that…" Azula trailed off while tracing her finger along her chin as they walked through the market of the commoner city.
It did not escape her notice that the petite girl's mood brightened the longer that she spoke to her.
"I have always been courteous…" Elle answered while briefly peering back at the much taller girl's stony countenance.
"Pick any fire lilies today?" Azula asked in an almost taunting voice while observing the peasant girl's face turn crimson.
"N-no, Your Highness. I have not." Elle stuttered as she trailed alongside Azula with the princess watching her closely.
Azula's lips curved into a smirk as she began to muse that this girl may amusing to keep around.
If nothing else it was another way to pass the boring day by.
Then her eyes became drawn to the girl's beautiful hair once more in captivation.
And she was golden too.
"I am going to purchase a few things…you will carry the bags. Understood?" Azula purred in a domineering voice while Elle blushed once more under her stern glare.
"Yes, Princess. As you say. I am at your command." Elle agreed much to the older girl's delight as she padded after the older girl.
For reasons Azula did not understand those words pleased her.
It made no sense really.
She had endless royal servants at her beck and call eager to please her every order.
And yet…she finds herself drawn to this street wandering peasant.
It wasn't long before the naïve girl found herself carrying a large bag all the while smiling shyly at her crush's flawless face.
"Where do you live, peasant?" Azula inquired as she continued to walk with the timid peasant girl walking beside her carrying her bag.
"Um…nowhere fit for a woman of your status…" Elle muttered while she peered down at her feet with a noticeable break from her cheery demeanor.
"Obviously not." Azula snorted as she walked with her palms folded behind her back with her brows furrowing in confusion.
Why would she even care if the peasant was homeless…it's not like it was her problem.
Even if she was pretty.
Soon after that Azula came into view of her palanquin with her royal servants and guards waiting for her before it.
As she turned to peer back at the smaller girl holding her bag.
"That will be all. You may go now, peasant." Azula stated curtly as she removed the bag from the girl's trembling hand.
The girl even looked like she may be ill…by the look of it.
"U-understood, Princess. It…was good talking to you. Have…a good evening." Elle responded as she dropped down onto the ground while she prostrated low before the princess's boots.
Azula stared down at the peasant girl with harsh amber golden eyes as the young girl's face pressed into the dirt.
"A small piece of advice, peasant…if you are going to follow me, you ought to learn to be more discreet." Azula informed as she turned to step into her palanquin while her royal servants parted the cloth open for her.
"If you say so, Princess…" Elle stated while she smiled with her hands gripping the straps of her backpack.
As she watched the beautiful princess glance back at her for a moment just before her royal servants pulled the cloth shut.
No further words were spoken as Azula seated herself with her hands folded in her lap while her royal servants lifted her palanquin into the air.
Her callous amber golden eyes stared down at her boots as her gaze drifted to the bag sitting beside her.
'Why did I almost give that peasant girl new clothes?' Azula thought as she glanced inside the bag with her lips curving downward in annoyance.
She had purchased several pairs of robes and very nearly gave them to the girl.
She just scowled as she shoved the bag aside before she folded her arms over her chest.
"Whatever. It isn't any of my concern." Azula scoffed before she gazed ahead as she forced herself to think of other thoughts.
What a grating little peasant indeed.