Azula Amongst the Stars

by CrimsonKaiju

Azula goes into hiding in the earth kingdom to escape imprisonment from Zuko and is being chased by the Avatar but after a strange ship from the sky crash lands Azula finds herself on board when it takes off unwillingly taking her into the stars with it. Now Azula finds herself amongst a crew of alien creatures traversing strange alien worlds.

18. Chapter 18

This is a message to all of the readers who have stuck with this story since its first chapter and to the new readers who found something interesting out of this, I just want to say thank you all for taking the time to read this silly little fanfic and I also would like to apologize for the incredibly long three month gap in-between uploads this time around. I feel like I let a lot of you down for possibly making you think that this story was just abandoned or not making a new chapter in time, especially after missing the one year anniversary of this story. My day job had completely taken over my life draining me of all my energy and drive to continue writing both physically and emotionally.

This story will still continue however I cannot promise that the next chapter will come sooner or later, especially now that the holidays are coming up, so all I can say is that chapters will be finished whenever they are finished. All I can ask is that you stick around until the conclusion and that you leave a comment letting me know what you think if you have any opinions you feel you can share. If not that's fine, I wont beg for support.

I love Avatar the Last Airbender, I love sci-fi, I love Azula and I love this story that combines them all. It may take awhile but I will try everything in my power to do everything I want with this fanfic and I hope you stay for the ride because it's going to be one wild one! lol

Thank you for your patience again. And now with that out of the way please enjoy the new chapter!

---

Chapter 18

Azula sat in her bunk writing in her journal, one of the very few items Azula brought with her when leaving earth and has been what has kept her grounded.

"It has been almost a week since my abduction from earth and I find myself still being surprised by what I continue to witness out here. My bending seems to take on different properties under the influence of different stars, something no fire bender could have ever predicted. However the experiment to see the limits of my bending was interrupted thanks to a run in with a group known as the Gold Sun syndicate.

This group is no run of the mill crime organization, as from what I can tell they hold major influence across the galaxy and have close ties with the Pendaren Empire. Allying myself with them could be very beneficial for myself in the long run, however the more I hear about this group's leader, Euretta Sareno, the more I am uncertain this alliance will be mutually beneficial. For the time being I'll keep Slater's card on hand as insurance, although that leads to a new problem. I need to learn the common tongue, it is quite frustrating being forced to wear this uncomfortable ear piece for long periods of time just so I can understand what everyone is saying, same goes for having to drag that talking box around with me as well. I've already lost one and it was a pain to speak with anyone.

The visions still plague me and they don't seem to be going anywhere for the foreseeable future. My only solace being the visions of father. Perhaps he represents the part of my mind keeping me focused on what I need to do in order to keep what's left of my sanity. Mother still won't go away."

She quickly dated the note, blowing the ink dry before hiding Slater's business card within its pages. She pulled a loose panel from the wall and hid the journal amongst the wires.

She found this little hiding spot while surveying the room her first night and it was an excellent place for her to hide it. They were able to translate her spoken language for the translators in a matter of weeks so it wouldn't take them long to translate her writings and the last thing she needs is for her journal filled with incriminating information to fall in the hands of the Crimson Storm.

She couldn't let anyone know of the possibility she could switch over to the side of the Gold Sun, lest it cause her trouble in the future.

The door slid open as Chani entered their room prompting Azula to put the panel back in a hurry.

Her alien roommate let out a tired yawn as she threw some paperwork onto the desk and stretched before jumping in surprise when she noticed her, "Azula! How have you been?"

"Decent now that I don't have to worry about being chased by Golden Sun's."

"Oh, that explains all the talk I've been hearing about that yacht parked outside. I'm glad you made it back safe and sound, those syndicate people can be ruthless."

"Oh I know. I received first hand experience, but I have proven to be more ruthless than them." She proudly said, leaping off her bunk, "There's also something I wish to speak to you about." She grabbed the jewelry box she plundered, "While on Ginza I was forced to part with the bracelet you so kindly let me borrow, so to make up for that I thought I should share something with you."

She opened the box with Chani's large eyes growing wider at the display in shock.

"Take your pick of whatever you want and I'll keep the rest." Azula said with a fake smile that anyone who truly knew her would have seen through.

"They're so beautiful. You didn't have to do this." She said, pulling out and admiring an amethyst necklace.

"Nonsense! It's just as I said, friends share our belongings with one another."

Chani threw her arms around her, embracing her in a tight hug, "I knew we would become good friends!"

"Of… course. That's what… friends are for." The amphibious skin made Azula shudder a bit making her have to regain her composure to keep the friendly act up.

She pulled away from the hug, "I also wanted to ask you something."

"Of course, anything."

"Well you see, I've had to rely on these translators in order to communicate properly and even then I still can't read or write the common language."

"You want me to teach you primary? Of course! I'd love to." Chani finished for her.

"Great! We can start today, I have the day off."

"Oh, not right now though. I'm just dropping off some things before going to the surface with my brother and Sev. You should come with us."

"For what purpose?"

"Just to get out of the station and spend some time on the ground, breathing real air and feeling real ground beneath our feet."

Azula scrunched her face, it sounded like a waste of time and she'd rather spend it sharpening her skills, "Maybe some other time. I need to train."

"What no, you've spent just about all of your time doing nothing but work and fight. Come into town with us, see the sights. Have a little fun."

"I did see the sights last time and they led me straight into a Ke'Kuvon camp and then a jail cell."

"This time will be different. We'll stick to downtown and stay out of the slums."

"No really, I think I'll-" she clenched her stomach and covered her mouth as a wave of nausea took over.

"Are you alright?" Chani asked, coming to her aid.

"Space sickness… it's been coming and going for a while now."

"Oh I see, a good home remedy for space sickness is hrandi fruit. A few slices should be able to help."

"Hrandi fruit? Got it." Azula said as she felt herself about to heave and ran out of the room.

"We'll be in hangar bay four if you change your mind! Oh and for the hrandi fruit…" Chani called out, however Azula didn't catch the last portion. She was more focused on not getting sick.

Azula wanders around the station looking for the medical bay before she hurls her dinner. She finally did find it only to find that Dr. Bevel was currently busy with surgery for someone who had broken their hands, most likely the person Skeeve replaced, and had to settle for waiting for one of the other medical staff to help.

She had to sit in agony, her stomach felt like a pair of hands was twisting and squeezing it like trying to wring out a wet towel.

"What's wrong with you?" The ever so blunt voice of Angara came from her side. She stood there now dressed in casual wear with a bloodied bandage wrapped around her hand.

"Space sickness." She replied just as bluntly, "What happened to you?"

"Cut myself while sharpening one of my knives."

Azula thought that maybe putting Angara down will make her feel better, "So clumsy with your own weapons? And here I thought you were a master-" She felt her stomach lurch and caught her mouth fearing for the worst.

"You blow chunks on me I swear I'll give you a real reason to be in the medical bay!"

Azula managed to save herself this time, "I'm really not in the mood to argue with you right now, so if you wouldn't mind pointing me in the direction of some hrandi fruit I would really appreciate it!"

Angara chuckled with a satisfied grin at seeing her in such a sorry state, "Oh you mean this hrandi fruit?" she said grabbing the last fruit from a trey meant for anyone to grab. It looked like a bulb of garlic the size of an apple that was white and covered in green and blue spots.

"Great, hand it over." Azula reached for it only for Angara to pull away.

"Ah-Ah! I'm feeling a bit space sick myself, maybe I should eat this so I can feel better. I might be willing to part with one or two slices of this if you give me a good reason to."

"How about I don't torch you alive?! That should be a good enough reason." Azula practically roared.

"Think you can fire bend without puking your guts out?" Angara challenged.

"Why don't we give it a try?"

"Maybe later pup, I don't have time to deal with you now." She shoved her out the way.

"Running away? Too scared to face a master duelist?" She taunted prompting the Ke'Kuvon to snap in her direction, ready to throw a fist but stopped herself.

"You know what? You ain't worth it pup. I'm going back to the planet to enjoy my day off and I don't need you ruining that again."

"That wouldn't happen to be with Sev and Chani would it?"

"Yeah, so what? Wait, don't tell me you're tagging along!"

"Chani invited me, I declined of course but perhaps I could come along to pawn off my new trinkets. Hopefully I won't get sick all over you on the way there, unless you hand over that fruit."

Angara growled, "Damn it Chani. Gax should really talk to his sister about inviting people out of the blue." She grimaced before tossing the fruit, "Just take the damn thing!"

"Pleasure doing business with you as always." She said smugly as she caught it.

"Whatever, just make sure you eat the whole thing or it won't do anything." Angara scoffed as she walked away.

Now with what she came for she figured out how to properly eat it, splitting it open revealing green citrus innards. She ate a piece, finding it tasted sweet, almost like cherries, all the while failing to notice the devious smirk on Angara's face. After all, she left out a very important detail about hrandi fruit.

---

Lectro sat within his quarters as he watched B3 sit in his charging station with My'Rell at his side reading over a report he had written up regarding his recordings on Azula's bending and Chani trying to convince him to accompany her and the others.

"Why not?" She whined.

"Because I have a slew of data to analyze."

"It'll only be for one day and besides you've been cooped up in here ever since you got back. It's making your inner thalm's color change into a dreary blue."

"Well I like my dreary blue thalm, thank you very much. B3, how are we on data transfer?"

"Forty two percent." the robot said from his charging station.

Chani pouted, "Captain! Can't you make him get out of his room?"

My'Rell never took her eyes off what she read as she answered, "I told him he had the day off, if this is how he chooses to spend it then that's his prerogative."

She pouted some more.

"Thermal vision? Interesting, maybe we can utilize her as a recon scout in brown dwarf systems." My'Rell commented putting the data pad down, "Red dwarfs might be an issue for her bending, so we might have to steer her away from those if we can."

Lectro typed away at his computer, "I just wished we could have been able to go to more star systems. But no, the Gold Sun's had to ruin that."

"And now they have Ginza, meaning we'll have to get our supplies someplace else." She sighed heavily cursing Euretta and saying her silent condolences to Cetro's friend. Knowing he's going to throw himself into his work to keep his mind off it despite her telling him to take some time off, she'll probably have to end up ordering him to do so.

"A good way to forget about that would be to come and hang out with us." Chani commented.

"Why do you insist on bugging me? Can't you see I have important things to do?"

"Error. Data transfer interrupted." B3 announced.

Lectro looked at his computer only to find that it had frozen, "Son of a- piece of junk! I am long overdue for an upgrade."

"Well you've got plenty of stuff you got from that star yacht. Why don't you pawn it off and get a new one?" My'Rell suggested.

"That's right! That would be a good excuse to get out of the station and liven up your spirit!" Chani agreed.

B3 beeped, "Do not worry doctor. I will continue the data transfer in your absence."

The scientist sighed dramatically, "Fine, I'll go to the surface with you. But only to buy a new computer."

Chani cheered in triumph before wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace.

A knock at the door caught their attention with Lectro telling whoever it was to enter.

Azula came into the room plopping the last bit of the hrandi fruit in her mouth before greeting them all, "Lectro, I was hoping to hear anything new about my bending."

"I would love to tell you but unfortunately I can't due to a technical error!" He said in frustration as he closed his computer down.

"It's a sign from the outer world that you need to get out more." Chani said sweetly.

"I get out plenty."

My'Rell deadpanned, "Lectro, your idea of a day off is you sitting in front of a computer and analyzing data."

"When you do what you love for a living you never work a day in your life." He retorted.

Chani turned to Azula, "How are you feeling? Did you find some hrandi fruit for your stomach?"

"I did and I'm actually feeling a lot better."

"Great! So now will you join us?"

"I'd still rather stay here and train." Azula responded flatly to Chani's dismay.

"Hold on." My'Rell interrupted, "Azula, what have you done since you joined up with us?"

Azula raised a brow to the question trying to find any hidden meaning behind it, "I began learning the ins and outs of working here, got into a fight with Angara that led to being chased by laugh cats, arrested and narrowly escaped the clutches of a crime lord."

"And you did all of this in less than a week. Take some time off, don't think about training or doing any kind of work. Go hang out with Chani and friends and try to unwind a little."

"With all do respect, captain, sharpening my skills is how I unwind."

My'Rell rolled her eyes, "Good lord, it's like I'm talking to Cetro all over again. If you keep this work ethic up you'll only burn yourself out."

"Ma'am, the only reason I am as good as I am is because of my work ethic." She argued back with a subtle hint of authority to her voice.

My'Rell sensed this authority as a challenge, "Alright, I didn't want to do this but you leave me no choice. Private Azula, as your commanding officer I order you to take the day off and relax. Oh, and go do it with Chani and her group." She then returned to reading the tablet.

Azula looked at her incredulously, "Are you really going to order me into taking a day off?"

"It's either that or I could order you to empty the septic tanks."

Before Azula could even formulate a response she found herself in Chani's embrace once more, "Yay! You can come with us and do some shopping, we can go to the Horizon city zoo and the carnival at the beach!"

All of these things sounded like hindrances but she had to respect the authority of My'Rell no matter how much she hates it.

A sudden sharp pain in her stomach pushed her out of the hug, it wasn't a queasy nausea she was feeling before.

"What's wrong?" My'Rell asked seeing Azula's sudden discomfort.

She grunted as her stomach made a strange gurgling noise, "I don't think that hrandi fruit agrees with my stomach all too well."

"How much of it did you eat?" Lectro asked.

"All of it."

All three of her companions gasped and gave her a look of shock.

"Oh you poor thing." My'Rell said, pity visible in her expression.

"Why? What's going on?" Azula's voice started to take on a menacing tone, "Was it poisonous?"

"No! No! Of course not. I would have never suggested it if it was." Chani stated.

"Then what's the problem?"

"Well… uh… there's no easy way to say this but…" Lectro fumbled his words as he scratched his head trying to figure out what to say, "Okay well… the juices found in hrandi fruit are great for solving issues like nausea but they are very high in soluble fibers, things that species with your type of digestive system can't digest very well, so when you eat a lot of it, those fibers tend to… build up and basically…" Lectro was very hesitant to continue fearing how Azula would react.

"Meaning?" She pushed him to continue.

Lectro paused for a long while before turning to his robot, "B3 you want to explain this?"

"Certainly sir. The high concentration of soluble fibers will cause an effect within the digestive tract similar to that of a laxative."

Azula's eyes went wide as the room was plunged into silence.

"Laxative… as in…"

"Yup." Lectro confirmed slowly backing away just in case fire began to spew out.

Azula's eye twitched as the vein in her forehead began to pound in fury as her teeth grinded, "Angara." The name left her lips dripping with venom, "She said to eat the whole thing or it wouldn't work!"

My'Rell rubbed her forehead exasperated, "Of course she would do that."

Azula began to pace, "Maybe it won't work. I mean… I-I feel fine. I feel better than fine! Perhaps it doesn't have that effect on me?" She said no longer feeling her guts churning.

"I mean… it's a possibility." Lectro said, although his tone betrayed his words.

"Then there's a chance. My luck has always been high so it'll definitely help me in this situation, I was born lucky after all." She kept a self assured smile believing she would get through this with no problem, until a sharp pain in her stomach returned, almost making her double over.

"I guess not lucky enough." My'Rell said under her breath, "Bathroom is down the hall to the right."

Before Azula could say anything she bolted out of the room.

"I'm going to make sure she's all right!" Chani said going after her.

Once they were gone the room was plunged into another long awkward silence until Lectro spoke to the Captain, "And those two are going to be working together?"

"Seriously reconsidering it now." She put the tablet aside, "I'm going to go find Angara before she immolates her." My'Rell left the scientist and robot alone.

"Shall I arrange for a sample to be collected, doctor?" The robot asked.

"I wouldn't."

---

Sev walked around the hangar testing out the mobility of his new foot with Gax at his side. They had just loaded Sev's large six wheeled truck into the cargo bay of their ride to the surface and were waiting on the rest of their party.

Sev did some quick kicks and stomped, feeling satisfied with its range of motion, "Feels just like the old one."

"CHUNGATA GA EEN!"

"Yes, you always do good work my little slimy friend."

Gax gave him a crooked smile and two thumbs up in response.

Angara came to their side, fire extinguisher in hand.

"Hand's all patched up and I'm ready to go." She said leaning against the shuttle.

"What's the fire extinguisher for?"

"Self defense."

Sev's metal brow scrunched, "Against what?"

Angara let a mischievous smile spread, "Let's just say, a very angry firespitter is gonna show up at some point."

Sev shook his head, "What did you do?"

"Nothing bad. I promise." She defended with a false innocence.

"I doubt that." Sev crossed his arms.

"Angara!" My'Rell said approaching her, "A word please."

The Ke'Kuvon princess rolled her eyes as both Sev and gax teased her.

"Ooooo, you're in trouble." Sev taunted.

"Shut it!" Angara addressed the captain pretending she didn't know why she was there, "My'Rell! What can I do for you?"

"Hrandi fruit, huh?"

"Tastes great but I'm not feeling space sickness right now. Why? Do you need some?" My'Rell only stared her down with a neutral expression, one only a disappointed parent would use.

"Did you tell Azula to eat the entire thing without mentioning what would happen if she did?"

Angara looked away knowing My'Rell would see through any lie, "Maybe…"

Sev and Gax gasped with the cyborg saying, "That is just evil." while Gax shook his head and tsked.

Angara growled, "It was just a little bit of hazing, that's all! And… maybe a tiny bit of payback for the hangover."

"The hangover you gave yourself?" My'Rell deadpanned, "Last time I checked she didn't pull your mouth open and poured the Mi'beck down your throat."

Angara opened her mouth to say something but knew that My'Rell was right and only growled in frustration.

"So mature, Angara. Truly you are a paragon of acting like an adult." Sev sarcastically commented.

"Do you want me to hit you with this fire extinguisher!"

My'Rell ran a hand through her hair trying to destress a bit while dealing with adults that like to act like children, "Whatever it is it ends here! No more pranks, no more hazing and no more anything that'll make the princess torch the place."

She rolled her eyes from being scolded, "Alright My'Rell, I've had my fun so I'll play nice. Just be sure you tell the pup about that."

Sev cleared his throat, "You know if you actually sat down and talked to her instead of being the angry little maniac you are, you'd probably see that you two have a whole lot in common."

Angara snorted, "Oh yeah, like what?"

"Well for starters you're both stubborn as all hell, you are both scary when mad and are both great fighters."

"I still don't see it." She said stubbornly.

"Now you're just being a baby."

"GRESHA KIRARI!"

"You said it buddy. Huge baby."

She scoffed, "Whatever. I'm nothing like that pup."

"Well you better get ready because when she finds you she's gonna-"

"ANGARA!" Azula screamed as she entered the space.

"Aaaaand there's the inferno… good luck." Sev and Gax took several steps back as Azula approached.

Azula marched towards her with heavy footsteps, her eyes locked on target, steam rising from her head, her face a bright shade of red as spurts of fire shot out of her nose with each exhale like a deranged bull. Chani and Lectro trailing behind her in a vain attempt to calm her down.

"Azula! Your inner thalm is at critical levels of red, very not good for your mental being or your soul." Chani struggled to keep pace, "If we could just take a few deep breaths and repeat a calming mantra then maybe we could-"

"I AM CALM!"

Lectro was next to try and calm her, "Azula, getting upset over something as immature as this is beneath someone of your status." He tried a more diplomatic approach, "This whole hrandi fruit business is nothing more than just a little prank many senior staff do as a little hazing ritual for new comers. From what I hear pendarens in the imperial navy do it all the time."

His pleas fell on deaf ears as Azula pushed him out of the way.

"You gonna step in, captain?" Angara asked.

My'Rell sighed as she stepped aside, "I'll let her get some of that rage out and get involved when it gets too hairy."

Angara brought the extinguisher up to defend herself, "Hold it pup! Any closer and I'm shooting."

Azula paused a few feet away with her furious gaze still locked on the Ke'Kuvon, her fists clenched so tightly that her already pale knuckles seemed to glow white as they shook in intense fury.

She was silent for a while as it took every ounce of her being to keep herself from burning the station to the ground and keeping her dignity.

"I have… NEVER been so… thoroughly humiliated before in my entire life! Zuko, arguably the person I hate more than anything in the entire universe has NEVER sparked the amount of HATRED I feel for you in this very moment then he has in my entire SIXTEEN YEARS OF LIVING!"

"Glad to see I made an impression." Angara sneered.

"YOU'RE NOT HELPING!" Lectro shouted.

"I will NEVER forgive this and I will NEVER forget it! Do you hear me?!"

"Good, call this payback. Now we're even."

"Even?" Azula let out a humorless laugh that bordered on being unhinged, "I don't play to get even." She stomped forward into Angara's personal space, "I play to win!"

Azula may have been shorter than her but she wouldn't allow that to make her look weak as she stared defiantly up at Angara who met her with an equally intense gaze.

"Alright pup, you want war then you got it!"

"ALRIGHT, LISTEN YOU TWO!" My'Rell interrupted, "This whole song and dance of yours has gotten old, like it or not you two have to exist in the same space and we all don't want to have to deal with this every time you cross paths, so instead of acting like a bunch of petty children fighting on the playground, act your age and settle things like adults! Without violence, without name calling or I'll be forced to discipline you like children, understand!" She emphasized her point with a loud cracking of her belt, letting the two princesses imagine what she had meant by that, "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yeah what she said!" Sev said now even further away and hiding behind the shuttle with Gax.

They both agreed to her orders.

"Good. Now hug it out, you two."

"What?!" Angara questioned.

"Why?" Azula followed up.

"You fight like children so you'll resolve things like children. Oh and don't even try crushing the other's spine or burning the other's rear."

They both looked at each other with their own expression of disgust, "Do we really-"

My'Rell cracked her belt like a whip once more echoing loudly in the hangar, her eyes holding a hard imposing look that could rival Ozai's and spoke through gritted teeth, "Hug. It. Out."

They swallowed their pride and awkwardly embraced each other. All the while they could hear the childish snickering of Sev and Gax in the background, Chani being happy that this ended well and taking a commemorative picture and Lectro who could still feel the tension between them.

"Spoiled brat!" Angara whispered into her ear.

"Savage peasant!" Azula whispered back.

They both quickly pulled away from each other acting as if they had hugged a rotting corpse, "See, now was that so bad?" My'Rell asked warmly as if she didn't give them the most fear inducing gaze either of them had ever seen, "Now you two go down there and have some fun. Also stay out of trouble, I mean it this time."

They awkwardly got into the shuttle and within a few minutes it departed for the planet's surface landing in Horizon city with the group taking Sev's truck.

Sev drove the vehicle down the highway with Chani and Gax seated in the front passenger seats with the ladder sticking his head out the window like an excited animal while Azula sat in the back seat with the rest of the group.

"This is fun? Right, you guys?" Chani asked looking to the back seat to find both princesses sulking as they stared out the windows while Lectro sat awkwardly between them feeling every little drop of resentment each had for the other.

"Yeah… fun. So, what's on the agenda today?" He asked.

Chani was more than excited to explain, "I was thinking we should start today off with a shopping spree at the outlet downtown."

"Pawn off Slater's crap." Sev added.

"Yes, I believe there's a pawnshop there. Then I thought we could go to the zoo, they've got some new exhibits, and then end the day at the carnival by the beach!"

Azula grunted in annoyance, "Wastes of time." she repeated under her breath.

Angara heard this and wanted to make a comment but remembered My'Rell's command to get along and forced the need to say anything back down and instead chose to focus on something else, "Sev, turn up the thrasher."

Sev's head bobbed to the energetic beat, "You got it!"

Azula winced at the sound of a rift from the electronic string instrument that was present in all thrasher songs that was followed by vicious screaming lyrics, "Honestly, you call this music? It just sounds like noise."

Sev chuckled, "Thrasher ain't just noise, firespitter. Thrasher is the music of nonconformity. It's about passion; truth, rebellion, it's about-"

"This song is about getting high and stabbing law enforcement." Azula deadpanned after listening to its vulgar lyrics.

Sev paused trying to find the right words to respond, "It's metaphorical. You just wouldn't get it firespitter, thrasher is all about anti-establishment and you…"

"Are the establishment where I come from?" She finished for him.

"Yeah, but given how you're in the grunge with us, maybe it'll rub off on you and you'll become a little rebel."

"I suppose I could chop off my arms and have them replaced with big unwieldy metal fists." She said sarcastically.

"If you're ever interested, me and Gax will hook you up."

Azula rolled her eyes. Like she would ever willingly give up any of her body parts that could have a serious effect on her bending.

It didn't seem like the growling distorted sounds of thrasher music didn't have an effect on the others making her the minority. Even the bubbly feminine Chani didn't seem bothered by the obscene songs. She didn't seem like the type to actively listen to this but more like someone who is used to hearing it.

"So, our first stop is the outlet, right?" Angara changed the subject.

"Yes, after that the zoo is pretty much within walking distance."

"Let me contact someone to meet us there, they've got my helmet." Angara said, pulling out a transmitter.

"In the meantime can we listen to something else? This poor excuse for music is giving me a headache." Azula said, covering her ears as another wave of growly screams came.

"It'll grow on you firespitter, just watch. But I guess I'll comply with the demands of the princess." Sev said changing the station.

The next station played a more mellow and upbeat song with lyrics that were easier to listen to about partying with friends.

"Oh I love this song!" Chani said and began singing along with it.

As she sang along Sev soon joined in along with Gax, Lectro and even Angara after she sent her message, although it was only because she wanted to annoy her. Azula was now trapped inside this vehicle forced to listen to this horribly offkey sing along to a sappy happy song. The universe truly did enjoy torturing her.

She covered her ears looking out the window to try and find something else to focus on with Ozai's face appearing in the window's reflection, "Bear through it Azula. Do not waste this opportunity to gain their trust."

"Trust is for fools." She stated.

"And you are surrounded by fools. Use it to your advantage."

---

They arrived in the shopping district, it was a large open multi level area filled with shops of all kinds. It was much more organized and clean then the market area in the ghettos on the city's outskirts, with its colorful architecture, countless holographic signs and open park area covered in lush vegetation giving off the impression that it was a safer environment for people to spend their hard earned money.

"Hang on guy's, I gotta meet someone real quick." Angara said before walking off.

Azula watched as she left them and went to a street corner where she saw two familiar faces. The young Ke'Kuvon thug Tyto standing next to the ever mysterious Mystic sitting with a vast array of trinkets before him. Normally Azula wouldn't care about whatever company Angara met with however the Mystic and his connection with the outer world drew her attention, she still had many questions for him.

Tyto stood there on the sidewalk ringing a bell to catch the attention of passers by as he spoke in a less than enthusiastic voice that suggested he wanted to be anywhere else but there, "Come get a one of a kind magic talisman to protect you or your loved one from evil spirits! Dirt cheap! Magic charms for sale! Come and get some magic charms! They'll save your hairline and help you find love!"

"These charms are not made to save a receding hairline." The Mystic corrected him.

"They don't know that though."

"HEY TYTO!" Angara shouted inches from his face after sneaking up to him and sending the teenager screaming to the floor.

"Why!? Why would you do that!?"

"Told you I was coming. How are you going to be a hunter if you can't see little ol me sneaking up on you?" She bowed her head and greeted the Mystic.

"That's not funny, big sis!" he said, pulling himself up.

She flicked his forehead, "Not your sis. Let me guess, your uncle is making you help out the Mystic after the trouble you caused?"

Tyto rolled his eyes, "Uncle thought it would teach me some important life lesson or something."

"Mischief is the nature of youth, however mischief left to its own devices can fester into greater troubles. Guidance of the elders can quell a child's trouble seeking nature." The Mystic said cryptically.

Tyto gave her a flat look, "This is what I've been dealing with all day."

"Serves you right for putting your cousins in trouble again." Angara said, flicking his forehead again.

"Yeah whatever! So, you deal with that blue fire breathing psycho yet?"

"Blue fire breathing psycho is still alive, thank you." Azula said, appearing at his side.

Tyto screamed out in even greater fright before hiding behind Angara. The Ke'Kuvon princess didn't know what annoyed her more, the fact that Azula decided to bother her or that Azula elicited an even greater fear response in Tyto than she did.

"What is she doing here?!"

"Clearly to piss me off. What do you want, pup?"

"Nothing with you. You're Mystic however I would like to speak to. Alone preferably."

Angara growled, "Screw off. He's busy."

She glanced at the various wears that look as though they hadn't moved since being placed, "Doesn't seem so, not a lot of customers today from what I can tell."

The Mystic raised a spindally hand before Angara could bark back, "There is always time for friendly words."

She scoffed before walking off, "Fine, let's go Tyto."

"Right behind you big sis!" he scampered off after grabbing a metal box.

Now alone the Mystic addressed her, "You seem well, Serpent of Blue."

"I am well, thank you for noticing." she said not really thankful in the slightest, only really saying it to get pleasantries out of the way.

"You've been on a journey since last we met. A dangerous one."

"I assume the outer world told you of this?"

He took a deep inhale from his pipe and puffed out a cloud of blue smoke, "They speak of your encounter with the Opulent Fox, a dangerous foe. One that will appear in your future."

She figured the Opulent Fox must be his way of referring to Slater.

"Has the pendant brought you good fortune?" He asked, gesturing to the serpent bracelet still around her wrist.

"If I'm being honest, I completely forgot this was still here. It's done a lousy job." The thought of the hrandi fruit came to mind.

"Some things that may seem unlucky may lead to roads that are. Do not be too quick to dismiss the unfortunate events of today."

She rolled her eyes at his overly dramatic use of words and refocused the conversation, "So they can tell you the future?" she asked, a bit skeptical.

"The voices share tidbits of possibilities, but I do not believe that is your main reason for wanting to speak."

"It could be one, but for now I have a different question for these voices of yours."

"The voices of the outerworld are open to you. I will interpret their will and answer to the best of my ability."

She had many questions however there was one that rattled in her head for a while, "Can the voices tell me about my father, Fire Lord Ozai? I wish to know of his status."

"Very well." The Mystic lowered his head and grew as still as a statue for a few minutes before stirring back to life, "He still remains on the world of the bridge, caged by the scarred brother. But the fires of ambition still burn within him."

Azula let out a breath that she didn't realize she was keeping in almost as if she was relieved to hear that last part, "So he hasn't given up. Good."

"Is there anyone else you wish to know the whereabouts of?"

She thought for a moment, as much as she didn't care for Zuko she couldn't pass up the opportunity to use the Mystic's abilities to keep tabs on him, "What is my idiot of a brother doing right now?"

The Mystic went still again and returned even quicker than before, "The Scarred Brother governs the nation of fire."

She was somewhat annoyed that he didn't go into specifics but took the information.

"What of your mother? Do you wish to know of her?"

The mask of calmness Azula wore cracked at the mention of her mother, "No."

"Are you certain? Would it not be prudent to face the one who haunts your mind?"

Her voice took on a threatening edge, "Perhaps another time."

"Very well, what else do you ask of the Outer world?"

"I want to know of any threats that will come in the near future." Truthfully she wanted to know the outcome of her entire plan but given how the outer world would shut itself off she didn't want to waste her time with something far into the future and focus more on the threat that is Courtix.

The Mystic murmured to himself as he took another drag from his pipe, "A storm of vengeance and rage drifts towards you. A son who was robbed of a father seeks retribution and will leave a trail of destruction in his wake. Take caution, Serpent of Blue, and be wary of those who speak with a false tongue."

"False tongue?"

"You should be familiar with this, Serpent of Blue. Have you not spoken to many using a false tongue?"

She clearly knew what he meant and chose to ignore that comment, "When will he come?"

"Soon…"

"Could you be any more vague?"

"This is all that the outer world will share."

"I guess asking for specifics is out of the question." She sighed in discontent.

Leave it to the spirit world to be as ambiguous as possible when it comes to fortune telling. Was it too much for the spirits to be direct?

"Hey firespitter! You coming or what?" Sev called out to her.

"Your friends call to you, Serpent of Blue. Perhaps you should join them and enjoy the calm before the storm."

She snorted, turning back to her group seeing them smiling and laughing amongst each other. The sight reminded her of the time she, Ty Lee, Mai and Zuko burned down that house on ember island two years ago. The thought of it left a dull ache in her chest. It was a fond memory, the last time she and everyone she truly cared about were happy. The last time she felt happy.

She pushed these feelings down and the memory out of her mind wanting the heart ache to stop. They were her pawns that she would discard when they were no longer useful.

"They are not my friends. Just a bunch of fools trying to distract themselves and me with trivial little things."

The Mystic let out an old croaky chuckle from the back of his throat, "One cannot be too rigid as you are. Our time amongst the universe is short, Serpent of Blue. Embrace the role of a fool for a day, and enjoy these trivial little things when they occur, they often have the greatest impacts on our lives."

She scoffed as she stood back up reiterating her feelings, "Colleagues, not friends."

She returned to the group with Sev being the first to speak with her, "Was that homeless guy bothering you?"

"No, he's just a delusional old man."

---

Angara stood in the alleyway between two shops with Tyto. He handed her a box, "Here's your helmet. The armorer replaced the visor with reinforced glass so even if you get shot in the face again it shouldn't melt all the way through. Also, he says, don't get shot in the face again."

Angara pulled the helmet out to inspect and found that it looked almost brand new with a fine polish. She was grateful that her mother's helmet was back to being in good shape, "Tell him thanks and that I owe him one."

"Can do." He said holding a hand out expectantly.

"What, you want a high five?"

"No, my courier fee."

"Courier fee? HA! That's rich." She laughed and ruffled his hair with him slapping her away.

"Come on big sis, I'm trying to make an honest living here."

She flicked his forehead, "Not your sis, and this coming from the boy who used his two kid cousins to pickpocket people. They're not here rummaging through people's pockets right now, are they?"

"Of course not. They're back at camp doing chores with my aunt while I'm stuck here helping the Mystic sell his junk."

"You reap what you sow, dummy."

"Whatever." He waved her off, "So, why's the fire girl still alive?"

Angara rolled her eyes knowing she was going to get this question eventually, "Because I don't have a good reason to kill her yet."

"Don't have a reason? Sis, she knows who you are, I think that's plenty of reason if you ask me."

"Have you also forgotten that she and I work for My'Rell and that she doesn't approve of employees killing each other. Besides, I'm keeping an eye on her."

Tyto gave her a skeptical look, "Word around the camp was that you were supposed to kill her in her sleep. What happened to that?"

Angara snarled at him then grabbed and yanked his ear hard, "I don't have to explain myself to you! So why don't you worry about hauling the Mystic's junk around and I'll worry about my issues?"

"Okay! Okay! Just don't tear off my ear!" She let him go, "Just make sure that psycho stays away from me!"

"What, you scared of her?"

"Yeah I am! She shoots fire and lightning out of her hands! That's not normal, Pendarens shouldn't do that but she does."

"She's not a Pendaren dummy, and don't worry, if she gives you trouble I'll put her in her place." She corrected already making her way out of the alleyway.

Tyto scoffed, muttering under his breath, "Yeah right."

She snapped her head back at him with a glare, "What was that?"

Tyto realized his mistake and immediately tried to back peddle, "Oh uh… nothing."

"No, you said something so out with it!"

"Uh… the Mystic is calling me back to help him with something through that psychic thing he does. Y-You know. Gotta go! He's uh… surprisingly impatient." He fumbled trying desperately to get out of there only for Angara to grab him by the caller and yank him back into a headlock.

"He can wait, now why don't you tell your big sis what's on your mind?" She said in a way that was supposed to be friendly and inviting but ended up sounding like a threat.

"I thought you didn't like being called big sis?" He struggled to break free only for her arm to tighten around his neck.

"Spill it brat!" she began dragging her knuckles against his head making him cry out in pain.

"OKAY OKAY! JUST LET ME GO!" She did, letting him get back on his feet, "It's just… well… you said you'd take care of her back on the train, then you showed up to camp with her and then you fought her only for her to beat you. I guess I just thought she was someone you can't beat."

"I BEAT HER ON THE TRAIN DAMN IT!" Angara shouted, making him jump back.

"I didn't see that tho."

She growled some more.

"Anyway, I really should get going." Tyto quickly left as Angara fumed allowing her to return to the group.

---

After visiting the local pawn shop and gaining some spending money the group separated with Lectro going to find a new computer with Sev and Gax tagging along with him. Chani insisted that the girls get together to bond through shopping with both princesses being apathetic to the idea but soldiered on.

Azula found herself dragged into one of the many clothing shops by Chani perusing the wears. Azula stood by Chani's side holding various outfits the pink girl had picked out for her.

"This one matches your inner thalm so much!" She said holding out a deep red top and adding it to the pile, "This one is in season now." She added a chrome colored reflective vest, "And this could tie so many things together!" She excitedly added hot pink pants.

"I appreciate your willingness to help me shop, but…" Chani added an obnoxiously bright yellow jacket to the pile, "Don't you think this is a little much? I don't even think I have enough money for half of these."

"We're just trying a few things on and seeing what works."

Azula took a glance at the large stack she was carrying, "Yeah… a few things."

"I think we have enough. Let's try them on!" Chani pushed her towards the changing rooms where she helped her in creating her outfits.

"Oh this should be good." Angara commented as she put away a spike studded leather jacket.

The first outfit had Azula dressed in a metallic chrome colored coat, white top, baggy metallic pants, platform shoes and a pair of large blue sunglasses.

"What do you think? The chrome look is really popular in wealthy circles." Chani asked.

Angara squinted her eyes in distaste at how obnoxiously eye catching it was, "That outfit is so loud I need earplugs to look at it."

Azula observed her appearance in the mirror, "I can see the appeal, but I don't think this is me."

The next outfit saw her wearing a bright blue crop top sweater with extremely long shoulder pads, a green top, black trousers so baggy she felt she was wearing a parachute and open toed heels that made her stand a few inches taller.

"What about this outfit? Long shoulder pads are the big fashion statement now."

Azula stared at her reflection observing the outrageous clothing with a critical look, "I look ridiculous."

Angara didn't hide her opinions about it as she laughed loudly, "There's something we can agree on!" She flicked one of the pads.

"There's no way I could possibly fight in this outfit. These pants are so loose I feel like I might trip over them and these polls on my shoulders limit my movements by a lot." Azula said while trying to stretch.

"Ideally you wouldn't be fighting in this outfit though." Chani said as Azula attempted another action move only to strike Angara in the eye with one of the shoulder pads that was followed by a string of long curses.

"I think we should try something else."

Azula stepped out of the dressing room once more clad in a pink sweater with a fuzzy white cowl and an opening that left her midriff exposed, a teal skirt and white wedge heels.

"This one definitely looks good on you! This outfit is all the hot styles right now!" Chani beamed with excitement.

"Yeah, you look like every other preppy teenage girl." Angara responded.

Azula didn't share in Chani's excitement finding the outfit to be garish. It honestly looked like something Chani would wear. She noticed that her sweater had an extra pair of sleeves dangling under her arms, clearly indicating that this was meant for a four armed species.

"I think you picked the wrong sweater for me. I only have two arms."

"Right now girls your age are wearing shirts with extra sleeves and tying them behind them, it's a big trend right now." Chani commented as she tied the extra sleeves behind her into a neat bow, "So what do you think?"

After turning around and getting a good look at the outfit from every angle and giving her her answer, "No. Just… no."

"You don't like it?" Chani asked, slightly hurt by her blunt words.

"No. All of these outfits so far have made me look like a clown." Azula began removing the various accessories.

"Alright fine! Azula, what do you want to wear?" Chani sulked.

"Something that isn't ridiculous, for starters. Perhaps something regal."

Angara snorted, "Sorry pup, but regal isn't in our price range."

"Fine, then something practical… and maybe a little less colorful. I feel like a rainbow vomited all over me."

"Then why don't you pick something for her, Angara?" Chani suggested.

"Why would I do that?"

"I refuse!" Azula said after stepping back into the changing booth.

"Oh come on. You two seem like you would have similar tastes in fashion. Why not give it a try? Think of it as some way you two can bond without violence."

Azula poked her head out from behind the curtain, "After the little hrandi fruit incident I can't trust anything she does that could be in my benefit!"

Angara couldn't help but chuckle at how she was able to manage that, "Oh come on pup, you're still mad about that? That's all in the past now." The mischievous grin she held told Azula otherwise, "Besides, My'Rell told us to get along. So I'll take pity on you and help your primitive tasteless self find some style."

Azula only gave her a deadpanned look at the back handed compliment, but supposed the Ke'Kuvon princess may actually be able to help given she had a preference for outfits with practicality in mind, "You swear you won't make me look like a clown?"

"I swear, princess." she said with a mocking tone.

"Swear on your honor as a Ke'Kuvon warrior."

Angara's brow twitched at that, "Fine, I swear on my honor as a Ke'Kuvon warrior that I, Angara, will not dress you up like a clown. There, happy?"

"Very." She went back into the booth before shouting her next command, "Now go get me something to wear, preferably something red!"

Suddenly being ordered around like she was a servant made Angara regret wanting to help her.

After gathering the necessary garb she returned, tossing them into the booth.

"Is this a jacket or a pin cushion?" Azula asked from behind the curtain.

"Just put it on pup!"

Azula stepped out now clad in a heavy black leather jacket covered in metal spikes along its shoulders, a bright red shirt with an incomprehensible scribbled graphic covering it, pants covered in a red splatter pattern with torn holes and spiked combat boots.

"Hang on, one more thing." Angara said before pulling the ribbon from Azula's topknot and letting her hair flow free, "There we go, now you look somewhat decent, just got to slap some dark makeup on you and it'll be complete." Angara said pleased with her choice in attire.

"Well… it matches your aggression." Chani said not knowing how else to compliment her, "What are your thoughts?"

Azula took a look in the mirror and began her harsh criticism, "You didn't make me look like a clown at least, instead you made me look like some common thug."

"You don't like it?" Angara asked, almost offended.

"Not in the slightest."

"Are you serious? I give you gold and this is how you repay me!"

"Gold is stretching it. More like very rusty copper." Azula inspected her torn pants, "I should have known you would have made me look like an idiot! I mean look, you couldn't even get me a pair of pants that weren't ripped."

"Those rips are on purpose!" She defended, "They're supposed to make you look tough, like you just got out of a scuffle!"

The realization for Azula kicked in that Angara was being serious with her claims and was genuine in believing her idea of fashion was good.

"Are you saying that you would actually wear this garb?"

"Yes I would! As a matter of fact, give me that jacket! It's too good for you anyway!"

"Take it. Let's see what other questionable choices you've given me."

She stepped out of the booth now wearing a dark red sweater that left her shoulders exposed, dark short skirt and shoes, all splattered with skull shaped markings.

"Skirts aren't really my thing but I figured why not give it a shot with you." Angara said.

"Aw! You look so cute!" Chani followed up.

Azula held onto the edge of the skirt as if she was trying to hold it down with her face slightly red from embarrassment, "I-it's too drafty… and I-I don't like how exposed this makes me feel…"

"Should've figured, but I see where you're coming from. Don't much care for skirts unless it's plated and attached to my armor." Angara said before tossing her another outfit, "If you don't like this last one then you're on your own."

After one last change of clothes she exited the booth now in a plain red tank top, black pants that seemed to be made of some elastic leather, sporty shoes and a black crop top jacket with the sleeves rolled up.

"Please tell me you're happy with this because I'm getting tired of playing dress up." Angara said.

She tested her movements finding she had excellent flexibility. The design itself wasn't anything flashy but at the very least she didn't look ridiculous or like a thug. She seemed like any other commoner.

"Congratulations, you managed to pick an outfit I don't hate. I actually quite like it."

"Thank the outer world because if you didn't I would probably strangle you with a shirt or something."

"You look really sporty, like you're ready to take on the galaxy!" Chani cheered on, "Right Angara?"

"Meh… she looks passable."

The nicer girl pouted, "Would it kill you to say something genuinely nice to her?"

"Honestly, it probably would."

---

With her new clothes now purchased Azula wore it out visiting a menagerie of other stores until Chani seemed mostly satisfied with her shopping and thought it was a good time to find the boys.

"I think today was a great day for us! We were able to find some great deals and everything." She declared with a big grin as she swung her bags around as she walked, "Did you guys have fun?"

"It was fun, I suppose. It has been a long while since I was able to spend the day shopping, even if most of it was questioning why anyone would wear some things." Azula admitted while holding an uncharacteristically humble amount of bags.

"It was alright." Angara grunted only having a single bag, "Most of those places didn't have anything my style."

"Except for that jacket that you could probably use as a weapon."

"Yeah, because it looks awesome on me."

Azula rolled her eyes, "To each their own, I guess."

"Aw, look at you two actually having a civil discussion for once." Chani teased with both princesses making a noise of disgust.

They turned a corner and almost ran into a parked police vehicle. On the hood of the vehicle a teenage alien was pressed against it as the head of planetary security himself, Proxly, applied a pair of cuffs to his wrists.

"This is police brutality! You hear, police brutality!" The teenager shouted.

"Really, it's considered police brutality to arrest shoplifters, huh?" Proxly asked in a snarky manner.

"I didn't do nothing! You can't prove anything!"

"So you didn't get caught stuffing this here unpurchased communicator into your book bag?" Proxly held out a small box with said item.

"Uh… that's not mine." the teens' disposition changed, "You can't prove I did anything!"

"We have video evidence of you shoplifting, so save it. Get him out of here." He then shoved the boy towards one of the other officers as he lit up a cigarette and noticed Azula and her companions, "Well, well, well. If it isn't the Crimson Storm's finest. Not shoplifting like this one are you? I only ask since I know you two like breaking my laws."

"Sorry to disappoint, officer, but all my purchases are legal. I even have the recipes if you would like to view them." Azula said sassily, holding out one of her bags to him. She didn't forget how rude he was the last time they spoke.

"Careful pup, the dirty cop here might plant some evidence." Angara sassed as well, "So what's the head of security doing down here arresting kids? Thought you would be sitting at a desk filing papers. Not grunt work." Angara scoffed.

"I do that as well, but being cooped up in an office dulls your skills. I need to keep myself sharp for whenever you lot finally get out of line and the governor brings the hammer down." He said pleased with himself as he watched the hover car leave with the arrested teen.

"And your answer is to try and relive the glory days of arresting petty criminals and harassing onlookers? Bravo, I'm very impressed." Azula said while giving him a sarcastic clap.

He bent down to her level, "Better watch it little girl. I still got my eye on you. You may be a kid but as you just witnessed I won't hesitate to throw the book at you."

"Unless the bribe is big enough." Angara muttered loud enough for him to hear.

All three of them continued to glare at each other like rival predators fighting for territory until Chani cleared her throat making her presence known to him, "Excuse me sir, but if you don't mind, we are just on a simple shopping trip and have done nothing wrong in the eyes of the law. We are not suspects in any case so your questioning and harassment of us is unwarranted, so I kindly ask that you be on your way and let us continue to enjoy our day." She spoke formally as she looked up at him, her diminutive stature making her look like a child compared to the seven foot tall monstrosity that was Proxly but she stood erect with confidence not allowing him to intimidate her.

He sent a scornful gaze her way, "And you are?"

"A concerned citizen who is afraid that an officer of Kazima's law is getting too comfortable with his position and could be abusing his power. Sir."

Proxly growled, turning back to his vehicle in annoyance, "Stay out of trouble. And remember this. I'm always watching." His vehicle ascended and joined the air traffic leaving the three of them alone.

After he left Chani exhaled dramatically falling to her knees as all of the bravado left her, "That was scary. I thought he was gonna try and arrest me."

"I have to say though, I'm impressed that you even managed to say anything that would upset that ego." Azula admitted.

"My brother always says, the best way to be brave is to look like you are. But someone had to say something." She got up and brushed herself off, "That was the first time I met him and My'Rell was right, he's a bully."

"One of these days he's gonna push his luck too far and find an even bigger bully that'll put him down." Angara spat, "Hopefully it'll be either me or the captain. Let's find the others and get a move on."

---

The trio found the rest of their group within the tech store gathered around a computer.

"This is a nice portable computer, and it's at an affordable price." Lectro said, pondering the device.

"Then buy it." Sev said.

"But… my current one is still running pretty good."

"Then don't buy it."

"However…"

Gax screamed out in frustration, pulling at his head fins while muttering to himself.

"What is he-"

"Violence. He's threatening violence if you don't make up your mind soon." Sev deadpanned as the three girls arrived.

"What are you three up too?" Azula asked, looking at the device sitting on a display table.

"Waiting for the doc to decide if he's buying something or not. Nice new look by the way, firespitter."

"This thing costs a lot, okay! I'm just weighing the pros and cons." Lectro argued back, "Although, I think I did see this same computer on the omni-net for a cheaper price."

"Then buy it on the omni-net." Angara suggested.

"But shipping costs will jack up the price and then I have to wait for it to show up and this one is right here."

"Doc, I'm about to start threatening violence if you don't make up your mind soon." Sev said.

Azula remembered hearing about the omni-net several times and has yet to receive any explanation of it. Now may be a good time to get one if it requires these devices.

"Tell me, what is the omni-net?"

They all looked at her in surprise with Sev being the first to speak, "No one tell you what that is yet?"

"I asked Cetro while we were cleaning mines and he said something along the lines of, "ask someone else I don't have time to explain every little thing to you." she said doing her best impression of the grouchy engineer.

"Of course he'd pawn that off to someone else." Lectro said, "Well now is the perfect time to explain that, given that we are in a computer store." He drew her attention to the device before them, "So, think of the omni-net as a digital realm of information that can only be accessed by devices such as this that are able to connect to it. With a proper connection you can access just about any type of information you want, send messages across the galaxy or see anything you want that others have uploaded."

"So what you're saying is that by accessing this omni-net I have a treasure trove of information at my disposal and can speak to anyone in the universe?"

"So long as they have a connection, yeah."

"So these device's send the signals we use to communicate across the universe like a high speed messenger hawk. That is quite fascinating."

"Well not exactly. Our communicators use different kinds of signals. Signals like that can travel through space at high speeds but due to just how massive the universe is it will take years if not centuries for it to travel from here across the other end of the galaxy."

"Then how are you able to communicate? What's the point of communicating with someone across the universe if the message only gets to them years after I die?"

"That's the neat part! Tell me, how do we get from point A to point B when traveling through space?"

Azula crossed her arms slightly annoyed that he was being as indirect as possible, "Extra dimensional space."

"Exactly. Extra dimensional space and it can send more than just ships across the universe at faster than light speeds. You see in each and every device meant to connect to the omni-net there is a component called a distortion generator that creates a microscopic rift into extra dimensional space that sends and receives signals through, meaning we have instantaneous communication no matter where in the universe you go. Well, so long as you can receive them."

"So the omni-net exists partially within our space and partially in extra dimensional space." She concluded.

"Yup."

"Look at that, you blew her primitive mind." Angara commented, "Can we go now?"

"Hang on! I still haven't decided if I'm going to buy it or not." Lectro said.

"Buy it." Azula commanded, "I'd like to learn how to use this device and I'd like to have the latest and greatest hardware."

"Wait, but isn't this about me getting a new computer?"

Azula looked at him with a smile that would have looked sweet and innocent on any other person but on Azula was meant to portray that anything she requested was non-negotiable lest she feel the need to get ugly, "Buy it."

Lectro now feeling he was under the gaze of a predator decided that it was probably best he oblige, "O-okay… I-I guess buying it here and now is a better option."

With the computer purchased the group left the shopping district and went to their next destination, a large gate with a statue of some strange animal displayed in the center of a fountain. Azula looked up at the large sign displayed above it, completely unable to read it.

"What is this place supposed to be?"

"This is the Horizon City zoo and aquarium." Chani answered.

It's been some time since Azula visited a zoo. The last one she saw was in Ba Sing Se when she took a tour after overthrowing the Earth King. She had heard the Avatar built it and was curious and she needed something to do with Ty Lee while Zuko and Mai caught up. She supposed she was also curious as to what the fauna of the galaxy was like, especially from a safer distance than her first experience.

"Hey guys check it out. They're taking scans of guests." Sev pointed out.

"Oh! We should take one! It'll be nice to have a souvenir." Chani said excitedly as she went for it.

"Isn't that what gift shops are for?" Angara said less enthusiastically.

"Oh come on, a commemorative scanner isn't going to kill you." Lectro said following her.

Azula followed them to this scanning machine where she saw an alien family of four standing together posing on a platform as two rectangular machines rotated around them.

Before Azula could ask what this device was she found herself pulled into it by Chani.

"Everyone smile and remain still." The machine's operator said before activating it.

Azula did not smile as the two machines spun around them in a perfect circle, "What even was that?"

Her question was answered once they reached another machine nearby. Within a glass compartment they could see several gray statues being made in a similar way to the fabricator functioned with several arms appearing and spraying paint on them. After several minutes out came six miniature statues of all of them posing on the platform in surprising detail despite it being only large enough to fit in the palm of Azula's hand.

"Crap, I think I blinked." Lectro complained seeing that his figurine's eyes were closed.

"GARRAH KA MEEN!" Gax said mischievously.

"You are not using that for target practice!" His sister snapped at him.

Azula admired her own figurine standing in the center of the group, seeing once again in awe at how much detail it captured, almost as if they had been frozen and shrunken down, "So it's like a fabricator, only it prints souvenirs?"

"Kinda sort of." Sev responded.

"Except it only uses plastic and wax." Lectro finished.

"Now we all have a fun souvenir to remember this day. Now let's go see the animals. I heard they've got a new exhibit for gas giant creatures." Chani beamed as she led the group.

The zoo was larger than any Azula had ever visited, large enough to accompany a small village, with long walkways snaking between exhibits of Kazima's diverse array of wildlife and exhibits of creatures from other worlds. They saw great beasts of the wilds from the six legged rhinos the Ke'Kuvon mounted to well fed laugh cats that lounged about on rock outcroppings, toured the aquariums that housed dozens of strange fish within lavender colored water, walked through tunnels where low gravity dwelling balloon like creatures from gas giants drifted like jellyfish, they participated in attractions to feed large long necked and humped backed herbivores from platforms and visited the petting zoo were both Azula and Angara laughed at local children getting chased by the animals for pestering them.

What Azula saw was mostly local wildlife with her noticing that all animals native to Kazima had six limbs which made her speculate that the tharks from the Ke'Kuvon camp must have been brought over from another planet, likely Tunbani.

As much as Azula would prefer to train, she had to admit that she was having some fun in learning about this strange planet and wonder about the ecosystems of others. It also made her realize she hadn't had a true break from action since she had escaped from Zuko into the forgetful valley. In all that time she had been constantly looking over her shoulder, plotting, managing incompetent underlings and trying to survive. Before that she was locked up like a caged animal, similar to how these beasts are except they seemed to be satisfied with their living situation. For now she'll enjoy this time away from peril.

She separated from the group wanting to take a break from their shenanigans and looking down into a pen where several large reptile-like creatures sat in a mud pit with skin that resembled stone. She tossed a nut from the bag she had purchased at a vending machine at one of the creatures hoping they would react and do something only to be disappointed.

"Why are you standing here alone and not with the others?" The hallucination of Ozai demanded as if he were the real thing, "The whole point of wasting your time here is to gain their trust."

She sighed, tossing another nut at the creatures, "I am doing that. I have been doing that since I got here. I just need a break."

His brow tightened, "Did you take a break when learning the dancing fire ferret form, or when you learned how to bend lightning? What about when you chased the Avatar? You don't take breaks, you've always powered through it until you've gotten what you wanted. Now is the time to continue the plan, the sooner you manage to establish trust the sooner we can overthrow Zuko."

"I know that! I already have Sev and Lectro in the palm of my hand, it won't take long to get the rest." She argued back. Normally she would never so much as raise her tone to her father in fear of how he would react, however knowing that this wasn't really him emboldened her to be able to speak more firmly to him.

"The walking tank and the scientist will be useful in the future but you should focus your efforts on the frog siblings. The sister is a financial advisor and as you've seen money makes the world go round. She could put the Crimson Storm's entire treasury in your pocket and she's far too trusting. It'll be almost too easy to manipulate her. As for the brother…" Ozai glanced back at Gax hanging off Sev's shoulder swatting at a bug in his face before shooting a long tongue out and eating it, "Honestly I can't tell what goes on in that one's head but I'm sure there's a purpose he can serve."

"You're forgetting one. Angara."

Ozai's expression tightened, "Yes. The troublesome princess."

"She won't be swayed so easily." Azula threw another nut at the head of a sleeping animal.

"She's not entirely unable to be manipulated; however she already seems suspicious of you. You should just kill her at the earliest opportunity."

"If only it were so easy. She's the best bounty hunter in the Storm and I need to learn how to be one if I am to be useful."

Ozai stroked his beard in thought, "That is an annoying prospect. Are you even sure she is capable of being a teacher? What if she just treats you like an errand girl the entire time?"

"Then I'll remind her who she's dealing with." Azula punctuated by snapping her fingers and summoning a small blue flame.

"So quick to choose violence?" Ursa said now at Azula's left, "Did the captain not order you two to get along?"

"She humiliated her in front of her pawns! Such an act against our family deserves no lesser punishment!"

"Oh I haven't forgotten. I just need to find an even worse humiliation for her." Azula tossed another nut.

"You also humiliated her twice already, or do you not remember how you made her admit her loss to you in front of the others. It seems she's willing to forgo that one now that she was able to do that trick with the fruit. There shouldn't be any more trouble unless you cause it, Azula."

Azula groaned, "As much as I appreciate the pep talk, having both of you here defeats the purpose of being alone."

She tossed another nut at the head of another creature with it stirring awake. It looked into the direction of the sun before opening its five pronged mouth displaying its vibrant purple coloration. This weird transformation made it resemble a large fleshy flower and made her wonder what its purpose was.

"You know you're not supposed to feed the animals right?" Angara said, appearing at her side.

Azula only rolled her eyes, "Just wanting them to do something. Although, I don't suppose you know what… that is?"

Angara looked over at the fleshy, purple flower creature, seeing several others mimicking its behavior, "Back at the camp we call them flower lips. They're cold blooded, in order to warm up they use that mouth of theirs like a solar panel to soak up the sun's energy."

"I was being sarcastic. Although that is rather interesting. I didn't think you would actually know that."

"All Ke'Kuvon hunters need to know how to survive in the wilderness, one of the basics of that is knowing about the beasts around you, like how these things use their flowery faces as traps for smaller animals that like to drink nectar."

"Fascinating." Azula said in a disinterested tone.

"So pup. You… uh… got a favorite animal or something?" She said awkwardly as if she was forcing herself to speak.

Azula turned to her with a raised brow. She couldn't help but wonder why Angara of all people would be trying to start a friendly conversation with her. Especially one as mundane as that.

"What?" Angara barked, not liking her accusatory stare.

She studied Angara hoping to find some kind of hint of deceit for some prank, "What do you want?"

"To know what your favorite animal is?"

"No, what do you really want?"

Angara growled before forcing herself to speak, "I'm attempting to be… friendlier to you. We're going to work together and I'd rather not have the urge to gouge your eyes out every time I see you."

"Is that some kind of apology for the hrandi fruit trick?" She asked, still incredibly angry about that.

"Do you apologize for giving me that hangover?"

"You did that to yourself."

"You did it in an indirect way!"

"You should have been the responsible adult and not fall for such obvious bait."

Angara growled further, fighting the urge to toss her into the enclosure, before calming herself with a deep breath, "Like you said before, we don't have to like each other, we just have to not be hostile towards each other."

Azula let out a chuckle, "Funny how you come around now that I know your little secret."

Angara snarled further, "I'm not just doing it for that. The Captain wants us to get along so I'm complying with orders."

Azula only remained silent and ignored her.

Angara quickly changed the subject, "My favorite animal has to be the black canyon Adler. It's a big flying creature from Tunbani. We used to see them flying through the skies all the time with these huge wings that had all these neat patterns on them. We rode them all the time when I was little…" A hint of sorrow overtook her expression, "But now I guess they're all gone."

Azula said nothing.

Angara scoffed, annoyed that she was being ignored after sharing a small part of herself and went to rejoin the group as they discussed the new aviary exhibit.

"Coexistence is possible Azula, perhaps if you got closer you'd be able to become good friends." Ursa said.

"I agree." Ozai responded.

Her brow raised in confusion at hearing that the hallucination of her father agreed with her mother, "Why would you ever agree with her?"

"Think about it, Azula. If you can become friendly with her, she'll lower her guard around you, inadvertently revealing her weaknesses to exploit. Case in point, her favorite animal."

"How does her favorite animal reveal anything?"

"It's a creature that reminds her of a home she cannot go back to. They're creatures that can be ridden therefore she has happy memories riding them and given how close these Ke'Kuvon are with one another she probably rides them with friends or family who are long dead." Ozai explained eloquently, "Don't you see, she's homesick, she longs for something that she can never have again. You can use this against her, taunt her with the fact that there was nothing she could do as a princess to save her people and that there is nothing she can do for them now. Or you could use this information to uplift her, make her see her true worth as a princess and rally her people to become a furious fighting force under you. Because of her honor she will be indebted to you, she will have no choice but to follow you."

The idea was a great one, after all Angara would make a more useful tool if she followed her instead of being dead.

"Do not listen to your father, his words are poison! He's trying to turn obvious facts into pointless schemes." Ursa urged her.

Ozai glared at Ursa, "I am making her aware of any opportunities to get ahead of Angara, she still poses the greatest threat to the plan. What have you done for her? All your words have ever achieved was to confuse her, lead her astray from her destiny!"

"Enough!" Azula said, "Both of you are giving me a headache. I swear you two never argued this much when I was younger."

"Who's to say we didn't." Ursa responded solemnly, "You've always been a perceptive child, you knew there was no love in our marriage."

"Not even for your daughter." Azula let slip out.

"You know I love you Azula."

Ozai chuckled, "There she goes lying once more. I'd say you picked it up from her but then again she wasn't really there for you in your formative years like I was."

Unconsciously Azula found herself moving closer to the apparition of her father glaring daggers at her mother, "He was there when you never were."

The weight of those words came down on her. They made her remember how true they were. Whenever Azula did anything great Ozai was there to let her know, whenever she failed at something he was there to set her straight and when she was upset and in need of guidance his words were the ones that drove her forward, not Ursa's.

"Hey pup!" A hand coming down on her shoulder brought her back to reality making her cry out in surprise.

Angara stood by her side with a brow raised in confused suspicion, "We've been calling you like crazy! You coming with us to the aviary or not?"

"R-right. Let's go." She rushed past her and rejoined the others all the while Angara eyed her suspiciously.

---

The aviary was a large series of domes connected together that housed a lush forested environment that was sectioned off into separate enclosures for various species of flying creatures. In the opening area the flying creatures were small and allowed to walk freely and interact with the guests. The birds of this planet weren't even birds but instead four winged rodents whose long incisor teeth jutted out of their mouths resembled beaks. Various flying creatures soured around them as they traversed the path with Chani and Lectro stopping multiple times to collect pictures with their communicators with some of them perching onto Sev much to Gax's dismay. Angara and Azula stuck to the back of the group admiring the animals from a distance.

They followed the path that led to the enclosures that housed the more predatory creatures that flew through Kazima's sky that weren't meant to interact with due to their more aggressive temperament and long talons. The path continued to the upper levels of the aviary where they had to traverse catwalks encased in cages. Clearly something much larger was meant for this section.

"This place is new. I don't remember the aviary having this section open." Sev said as he looked through the bars searching for whatever it was that was meant to be housed here.

Lectro walked ahead of them with a map in hand, "Says here on the guide it was just recently finished and is supposed to have… wait that can't be right."

"What?" Angara said, "Don't tell me you led us somewhere we're not supposed to be."

"No it's not that it's just what's housed here is supposed to be extinct."

"What is?" Azula questioned.

Her question was answered when a sound like a fog horn came from above and a large shadow passed overhead.

They were all stunned by the sudden noise, none more so than Angara who rushed to the nearby viewing platform, her eyes widened in disbelief.

The creature that startled them glided down to a rock outcropping to rest. It was a large avian beast with long leathery wings that folded up neatly by its side, a long forked tail like that of a swallow, short clawed legs that had a sturdy grip on the rocks beneath it, a long billed head held up by an equally long neck and was black in coloration along its dorsal side. It was a majestic creature that was large enough to allow for someone to ride along its back but despite its great size it had a gentle demeanor.

"I can't believe it." Angara said in astonishment.

After studying the animals appearance, and by Angara's reaction, Azula quickly deduced what it was, "Wait, that isn't a-"

"Black Canyon Adler." Angara finished as another one landed on top of the catwalk with its weight shaking the cage as it peeked down on them curiously.

"I don't get it, how are they here?"

Sev looked at a plaque reading it aloud, "After the destruction of Tunbani it was believed that the Black Canyon Adler had gone extinct with the rest of Tunbani's wildlife. However thirteen Black Canyon Adler's were rescued from extinction thanks to the efforts of the Intergalactic Wildlife Preservation Society who managed to keep these Adler's in an off world zoo for study. It is the hope of the Society to preserve this marvelous species through breeding programs with other rescued populations and cloning so that the Adler may continue to roam the skies."

The Adler above them squawked loudly leaping off and glided down through the forested environment being joined by several others. The one on the outcropping preened itself flashing the group with its striking sky blue underbelly covered speckles and stripes in darker shades of blue and purple.

Angara was at a loss for words at the sight of these creatures, completely transfixed by their beauty believing she'd never see it again so much so she didn't even notice Azula by her side.

"I thought they were gone forever… that I would never hear their calls or see their belly patterns again…" A tear ran down her face as the one before them flapped its wings and dove down to join the rest, "You know that last time I rode one I was probably around your age, pup, maybe younger. Back on Tunbani, I had just earned my tattoos and to celebrate Kowari took me to the Adler stables of the great plains and let me ride one on my own for the first time." A serene smile came over her as the memories returned, "I remember it like it was yesterday, I almost fell off like three times. We flew across the golden fields and forgot that we were at war. Nothing else mattered but just seeing how far, fast and high we could go. I… haven't felt like that since I was a child."

Azula didn't know why she was telling her this, Angara probably didn't know either but perhaps seeing these creatures brought so many feelings that she just needed to express it to someone, anyone, and she just happened to be there.

She didn't like hearing sappy stories like this, they always made her feel strange and uncomfortable. She would always just say something mean to anyone who told them to her just to dissuade them from doing so in the future and she wanted to do that now but something about Angara's revelation kept her from doing so. Maybe they are more similar than she had thought as Azula has had many moments where she misses her home greatly, so much so that she couldn't bring herself to sour the moment of someone else who felt the same.

"Dragons…" She then said, catching Angara's attention, "Dragons are my favorite animal. They are great and powerful beasts that represent the element of fire. It was said that the first fire benders learned how to bend from them. Some of the greatest firebenders were even able to tame them and would fly across the world on their backs with them breathing fire down on any who would dare go against them."

Angara wiped the tear, finally noticing it, "Must be nice to have one of those things to fly around in." She said with no hint of malice.

"Maybe it would be, if any were still around." Azula bowed her head as it was the one thing she believes the fire nation should be shameful for, "Dragons have been extinct for over a hundred years now. My great grandfather Sozin started the tradition of hunting them for sport. I understood why he did it, power is everything and if you can display yours by slaying the beasts that are fire then you yourself are the master of it, but it has always felt… wrong to me. Especially since Sozin owned his own dragon." She went back to admiring the Adlers as they flew around them, the beating of their wings sounding like drums, "Unlike your Adler's, I've never seen one before, not alive that is and I never will."

"Wow… that's just depressing." Angara said not really knowing how to react.

Azula just shrugged her shoulders, "It's nothing, the dragons were becoming a problem to my people anyway. It was said at the start of the war a hundred years ago all dragons suddenly began to grow aggressive towards my people. They started burning down villages, eating livestock and striking at their owners. It had become a necessity to hunt them." She remembered all the lessons her private tutor told her about in her younger years that justified their extinction.

"Besides, I may never see a dragon but I have seen things no human has ever seen before." She said looking up through the aviary at Kazima's ring, "I've spoken with aliens, rode in ships that sail through stars and got to see these Adler's that were thought to be extinct. Seems like a fair trade off if you ask me."

Angara looked back at the animals, "Guess that's one way of looking at things."

This moment of peace made Azula aware of just how tired she was of their back and forth arguments and perhaps making peace is the best option, for now at least, "I suppose burying the hatchet between us would be best. But if you ever do anything like the hrandi fruit thing again I swear I will not hesitate to blab about your little secret!"

Angara exhaled a chuckle, "Okay. Can't think of anything worse than the hrandi fruit anyway."

Azula was relieved to hear that.

They remained silent as their group continued to admire these animals and go through the rest of the zoo. They saw all of the animals present within the span of a few hours and were ready for the next event. The Horizon City carnival.

---

And we got through a new chapter! With the Ginza adventure being almost nothing but action I felt Azula needed a much needed break and we also got to check back with some other characters from earlier. Playing dress up with Azula was fun and took awhile due to all of the various strange outfits I came up with and I wanted to go into greater detail with some of the creatures we saw at the zoo but figured it would probably be best to leave something to the imagination.

Little fun fact, the souvenir scanner at the zoo was inspired by a real life peace of technology in china I saw online called 3D photography. Really makes you realize that we are living in the future. lol

Also, If you are interested I had drawn out some more sketches of some of the original characters such as; The Mystic, Slater, Duritax, Copello, Shaul and Suldon. I was able to draw them out quickly and post them on my Instagram and Deviantart.