Gladiator

by Seyary-Minamoto

In a world where the Avatar wasn't found, the Fire Nation took over two nations and they strive to overcome the last one. Water Tribe warrior Sokka seeks to fight for his people's rights, but he's captured by his enemies. His life is no longer in his hands as he fights as a Gladiator, and his fate will eventually depend on the Fire Nation Princess, who needs him for her own ends...

352. Chapter 352: Downtime-Defenses 3

Downtime/Building defenses

3

The carriage stopped at the building Azula was most familiar with in Yu Dao: her heart ached upon reminiscing on her past visits to the Morishita home, some uplifting, some frustrating… some disheartening, just as well.

Kori and her father had spoken quite cheerfully across the trip to their house, and Azula had responded appropriately to everything they said – naturally, neither one dared inquire about any of the heavier subjects that hung over them still. The Princess's attempts to fake normalcy, to pretend she hadn't lost her inner balance, weren't bound to be paying off: a bag sat by her feet, in which nestled all the documents pertinent to her leadership of Yu Dao's defenses. Her father's announcement continued to grate at her thoughts, to gnaw away at her spirit, deepening her fears and uncertainties, as well as bolstering the urgency of what she needed to speak about with Kori.

"And here we are, here we are," Mayor Morishita smiled as he climbed off the vehicle, urging Azula and Kori to follow. "Welcome anew, Princess."

Azula smiled a little, her eyes falling upon the two-story building: flashes of an easier past came back powerfully, reminding her of a day of training where she and Sokka had first joined forces against Kori and Sneers… a day that had concluded with a tender, quiet moment of intimacy between her and her gladiator, the first one they had been able to steal across that stay in Yu Dao. Her heart warmed as she let herself return to those moments… as she tried to ignore the reality around her, in which Sokka was evidently absent.

Mayor Morishita stepped through the front lawn, opening the door: Kori smiled, encouraging Azula inside as well. The Princess collected her documents and followed the Mayor, overhearing from outside the house as he greeted his wife.

"Ah…! She's here! Princess!" Mrs. Morishita exclaimed, beaming brightly as Azula entered the house's vestibule. Kori, behind her, grinned awkwardly as her mother, tears in her eyes, walked past her husband and wrapped her arms around Azula.

Azula froze up briefly: Kori's hug had been expected, but her mother's was a much more surprising development. Despite herself, she managed a small smile, patting the woman's back as she pulled away, with a joyful chuckle.

"It's so good to see you again, I… oh, do excuse how inappropriate I just was, but I couldn't help myself…"

"It's… it's alright," Azula said, with an earnest smile: she might be too selfish to reject that kind of genuine affection when offered so freely.

"Oh, look at you," Kori's mother sighed, smiling fondly at Azula. "You're pale, I'm sure you haven't had enough to eat today…"

"I, uh, I didn't, admittedly," Azula said. Mrs. Morishita shook her head.

"That's something we shall remediate, then!" she announced, before offering Azula a warm grin. "I'll make certain to offer you an adequate feast for a visitor of your standing, Princess."

"You always do," Azula said, nodding. "I thank you for your hospitality."

"Will you be staying with us throughout your time leading the Fire Nation's forces?" Mrs. Morishita asked. Azula flinched.

"I… I will need to arrange certain matters before I can do that. For now, I think I'll stay in my Barge instead."

"Oh, but that can't be practical for you, it's so far away…!"

"I'll relocate inside the city in due time," Azula said, nodding. "Organizing the war effort isn't a task I take lightly… but for now, I do have certain matters to take care of first. I'll handle that, then consult with your husband and daughter to ensure that I give you prior warning before I start spending nights here."

"Oh, you don't need to worry about that, we were almost done preparing a room for you already," Mrs. Morishita said. Azula balked, with a weak grin. "But if you're quite sure, Princess… still, that room is yours. You only need but ask."

"Thank you," Azula said, bowing her head respectfully towards the earthbender.

"I should get to work, though! This celebratory feast isn't going to finish itself, of course," Mrs. Morishita laughed, smiling at Kori. "Though, I'm sure the two of you have so much to catch up on! You can take the Princess to the sitting room while dinner is served, right, Kori?"

"I thought I might," Kori said, nodding.

"I'll send Sneers with some tea shortly, then," Mrs. Morishita said: Azula raised her eyebrows upon hearing those words. "Please, relax and make yourself at home, Princess. It's truly a blessing to see you once again."

"Thank you… truly, thank you. I'm glad to be here as well," Azula said, earnestly.

Kori nodded, guiding Azula to the sitting room her mother had mentioned: the Princess's heart clenched upon entering it: Sokka had lain on that very couch, in the middle of a harrowing recovery from the severe wound Jeong Jeong had dealt him… her heart clenched again, as it often did, upon remembering that her true husband had joined forces with far too many men who had once sought to murder him. It was no surprise, considering how entirely contradictory he was, how easily he had managed to charm her when they were supposed to be natural enemies, too… she couldn't help but fear for his safety, though, not only due to her father and his eagerness to destroy Sokka, but due to the unreliability of Sokka's allies as well.

Kori sighed as she stretched a hand towards the couch. Azula nodded, taking her seat first, and Kori followed a moment later: a tense silence hung between them, but it was soon broken by a soft laugh by the earthbender.

"I… I had a million things to say, but it feels like I can't remember any of them all of sudden," she said. Azula offered her a sympathetic smile. "I guess I'm just that relieved to see for myself that you're okay. Or, well, in one piece? What you've been through… I can barely imagine how bad it must have been. I'm so sorry, Princess…"

"It's… it's fine," Azula said, with a sad, dishonest smile. "I've survived it, somehow. Not in the best shape, but I have. You don't have to apologize, as I said… I'd much rather you're safe and sound than jumping into unnecessary trouble to try to help me. My father would have held nothing back if anyone had attempted to take a stand against his designs during my wedding to Zhao."

"Still, maybe afterwards, I don't know…" Kori sighed. "It just felt so wrong that you would have to bear with everything alone. Because, well… I've jumped to conclusions, but he… the reason why your father did everything was because…"

"Because of the obvious, indeed," Azula sighed, her voice charged with resentment now. Kori gritted her teeth. "A moment of carelessness, an opportunistic bastard ready to run to my father with the tale… and everything came crashing down. I… I had to save him from being executed by Combustion Man, no less, and I left him in the South Pole. He was supposed to stay there… and of course, his rebellious nature determined otherwise."

"I'm really sorry about that too," said Kori, gritting her teeth and clasping Azula's hand reassuringly. Azula sighed, with a resigned shrug. "Bad enough that your father has been tormenting you because he learned of your relationship… but then Sokka went and started all this? I… I can barely believe that he'd do something like this. I mean, even if he's doing it to avenge what happened to the two of you, he had to know this was going to be terrible for you in the long run, right?"

"Heh," Azula said, with a skeptical grin. "I doubt he's ignorant about it… he's probably just trusting that I'll be able to stay strong and endure everything until he comes to my rescue."

"Your rescue?" Kori repeated, perplexed. Azula sighed.

"Unfortunately… as desperate as I have felt to see him again, I don't want it on these terms," Azula said. Kori gritted her teeth and nodded. "I told him to stay put with his people for a reason… I didn't ask him to save me. At least, I don't recall having done that… maybe I did and I just forgot? I don't know…"

"Well, he should've known better than to put you in this kind of position," Kori sighed. "I mean, I can't even pretend that he would be wrong to fight back against the Fire Lord after everything he's put you through, but…"

"But it's not just about us, Kori," Azula said, startling her. "It's not like that for Sokka. At least, I hope not. If his only motivation is to come back to me, well… he's definitely not the man he used to be, if that's how it is. But ultimately… Sokka was always rebellious. He never wanted to accept the Fire Nation's control, he always wanted to fight back somehow, even if in small ways. I… I tried to reroute those urges of his, to channel them into positive change in Fire Nation society, such as with the creation of the Enforcers. I believed, as did he, that war wasn't the only possible answer. We wished to reform the Fire Nation from within… but then all this happened."

"You wanted to reform it?" Kori asked. Azula eyed her remorsefully. "You mean…?"

"I mean… I would have changed the Fire Nation into a place where you and Sneers could have been free to be whatever you wanted to be," she said. Kori's cheeks flushed, and she clasped her chest with a hand. "Slavery… I would have ended it. Wouldn't have been easy, but I would have. There were so many things that could have changed for the better… and I'm sure Sokka still means to change them. But in this way, well… he's going to change them on his terms. And that means defeating my father, as well as the Fire Nation's campaign of conquest as a whole."

Kori shivered: the words didn't seem to sit right with her, and Azula wasn't surprised to see that. Fire Nation people had been born and raised under the belief that their war was correct: Kori was no different, fundamentally, than Azula had been in the past. Perhaps due to her upbringing, due to her parents' mixed marriage, she would have a chance to see things differently much more quickly… but right now, all she understood was that Sokka's actions would endanger her world, as well as the people she loved.

"And… and now you have to fight him even though you loved him," said Kori, swallowing hard. "Though, after all this, do you still…?"

Azula sighed, a wistful smile on her face. Kori might think her crazy… but she might just understand, too.

"I'll always love him. It's not something I can shrug off," Azula said. "Love is not so easily disposed of."

"I know, but… you'll still be fighting against him. You were sent here to do that, and, well…" Kori said, eyeing her with uncertainty.

"Putting me in the most uncomfortable positions frequently was one of his uncanny talents," Azula said, her smile souring slightly. "I won't pretend to be too surprised by it. He'd been doing it in less harmful ways for years, after all. I'm as good as prepared for it."

"It seems like a very cruel moment to do it," Kori sighed, shaking her head and eyeing Azula with uncertainty. "After you had to be married and… oh, Princess, please tell me the announcement about your pregnancy wasn't…"

"Wasn't true?" Azula asked, with a weak smile. "It was."

"Then… y-you have a child now?" Kori asked. Azula raised her eyebrows. "His child? I-I mean… Zhao's?"

"That's a funny question for reasons you can't quite fathom," Azula smiled with unexpected fondness. "I… I am a mother now. Of two children, actually. One's a newborn… one's already an adult. One's Zhao's child indeed… and the other isn't."

Kori froze where she sat, utterly perplexed. Azula couldn't hold back a few chuckles, reaching out to pat her shoulder gently.

"That's… a very strange riddle. I don't get it," Kori admitted. Azula nodded.

"I didn't expect you to, not without more context," she said. "Zhao… he had a daughter out of wedlock, many years ago. She was serving as his maid, he brought her with him to the Palace once we were forced to marry, and… after being my maid for a few months, I actually wound up adopting her. Her name is Rei, and she's one of the kindest souls I've ever known. Nothing like her father, of course."

"Huh… then, you adopted her," Kori said, blinking blankly. "Wow. That's… wow."

"It wasn't nearly as much work as you might have thought," Azula smiled. "I'm not sure which of us helped the other more."

"Then… you weren't all by yourself," Kori concluded. "You had her, at least… your grown-up daughter, heh."

"Exactly," Azula smiled. Kori grinned too. "My midwife was with me as well. The two of them have kept me afloat across more strife than I ever imagined I'd have to face."

"I'm glad they did. I'm really grateful," Kori said, with a small smile that then shifted into an uncertain frown. "Though… you said one of your children was by Zhao. The other wasn't…?"

Azula gritted her teeth, casting a knowing glance at Kori. Her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with a hand before shaking her head.

"I knew it. Oh, I knew it, as soon as the Fire Lord announced it, I…!" she gasped. Azula sighed and nodded.

"But you're to keep it quiet. I… I meant to tell you all along, but your parents shouldn't know," Azula told her: her hushed tone compelled Kori to contain her explosive reactions some more. "I… well, I had no choice but to marry Zhao anyway. My father took my dragon as his hostage, it was his worst threat at the time, but he was threatening me all around anyhow. When I learned I was with child… the situation was even more grim. Passing off the pregnancy as Zhao's was no easy feat, fortunately I had help from reliable allies, but… my situation is no less complicated than it was before. If anything… it's worse in many regards."

"I can only imagine… but I really did figure that had to be the case," Kori sighed. "I mean, I hoped, rather… because I figured you would have preferred bearing Sokka's child rather than Zhao's. Though you still adopted Zhao's, but…"

"I suppose, once you start being a mother, things can gain a slightly different perspective," Azula said, with a slight smile. "I don't know how it's become so easy to differentiate Rei from her father, to cherish her for who she is with no connection to Zhao, whereas Hotaru's every gesture reminds me of Sokka…"

"That's got to be surreal," Kori said, with a weak smile. Azula sighed.

"If you ever have kids of your own, I guess you'll understand. I, honestly, never thought I'd do this… but I don't think it has been a bad change, in the end," Azula reasoned.

"Hotaru, then? That's… her name?" Kori asked. Azula nodded and smiled. "It's a sweet name. I… I'm really glad. Though I'm sure your situation is even more complicated, but… does she look like Sokka? Or…?"

"Well… she does. Far more than she could look like Zhao," Azula said, with a skeptical grimace. "Ever since she was born, I've done my best to keep her from being seen by anyone who might report the truth to my father…"

"And then he sent you here," Kori said, with a snarl. "Is it that Rei and your midwife are looking after her right now? While you're in Yu Dao…?"

"In a sense, yes… but they're not in the mainland either," Azula said. Kori blinked blankly as Azula breathed deeply, eyes gleaming with hope. "Kori… I know this is a lot to ask. I know it's going to be a very difficult challenge. But I… I need your help."

"Princess… whatever you need, I'm ready to help you out," Kori said, earnestly. Azula smiled a little. "I never imagined you'd need me, but I'll be damned if I don't do everything in my power to aid you. What do you need? What can I do?"

"Well…" Azula said, biting her lip. "I need protection for the three of them. They're currently hiding inside my cabin, in the Barge, and they've been there for hours now."

"W-wait… oh. Oh, damn," Kori grimaced. "I kind of thought you might have sent them elsewhere and wanted me to send word to…"

"I couldn't afford to do that," Azula said, gritting her teeth. "I can't let them too far away from me. Most people I'd trust to protect them are out of my reach, have been for a long time. That's why, upon being assigned to Yu Dao, I felt some hope upon knowing you'd be here. I know this is going to be challenging, and I have no real clue of what kind of solution you can think of, but if there are any hiding places where the three of them might stay, where you and maybe Sneers could look after them, I… I'd be in your debt forever."

"Oh, no. Don't say that, what debt?" Kori laughed, shaking her head. "You wouldn't be, I'd never hold onto anything like this to make you repay the favor or so. But… a hiding place, then?"

"The building next to your home, is it still available?"

"I'm afraid not," Kori said. Azula gritted her teeth. "I mean, we could try to bring them here anyway. I know you don't want my parents involved, but they're not going to be a problem. I'm sure they'd be happy to support you…"

"I don't question their integrity, Kori… but I don't want more people involved in this than necessary," Azula said, earnestly. "The less your parents know about Hotaru, the better for them. If they have no idea that my daughter might not be Zhao's…"

"I, uh… well. I wouldn't exactly say they have no idea, actually."

Azula frowned, eyeing Kori with confusion now. The girl looked anxious, and she breathed deeply as she answered Azula's unasked question.

"After your wedding… w-well, I was distraught. It got worse yet when, a few months later, an official announcement declared that you were expecting a child. You could say that I… reacted a bit too strongly."

"How so?" Azula asked, her voice ringing with concern.

Kori bit her lip: flashes of that moment rushed through her mind again, the anguish she had felt on behalf of the Princess… the way her parents and Sneers had stared at her, in this very same room. Her behavior had been impossible to justify, she knew that much…

"That can't be! She's not expecting a child! She couldn't be…! Not Zhao's! That's impossible!"

"Kori…" her father had said, clasping her shoulder firmly as she covered her mouth with her hands, tears spilling down her cheeks as they spoke in the sitting room. "The Princess is going to be fine. I understand your concern, but this is out of our hands."

"I don't care if it is, I…! T-that child doesn't exist! And if it does, then it's not…!"

She should have never said those words. She knew so as soon as she cut herself off.

"It's not… what?" her mother repeated her words, eyeing her questioningly. "Kori, dear, is there something you know? Something you should tell us?"

"N-no, I… no. I didn't mean… I just…!" Kori started, shaking her head, but her parents knew her too well: the look of recognition that crossed her father's eyes spoke for itself.

"It's not… Zhao's?" he finished. Kori winced. "Kori. Kori, why would you… why would you be so certain of that? I understand that… that you're quite upset about the Princess's marriage to Admiral Zhao, you always were, but you know that kind of match is common in the high class. Yet… you were very upset. More than I would have expected you to be."

"Dad…"

"Kori," her mother said, frowning. "The child… could it be someone else's? Is that what you're saying?"

Kori shook her head, but she couldn't speak. She covered her mouth with her hands, and her pitiful attempt to lie spoke for itself. Her father gasped, bringing a hand to his head, as her mother stood in place, processing quietly what Kori had unwittingly revealed.

"It's no wonder…" her father said, shaking his head. "The marriage, the swiftness of it all, too sudden, too blunt… the Fire Lord did this in a rush to cover up, perhaps, that the child was someone else's? Or simply… to conceal that she had been dishonored out of wedlock? That might just be…"

"That's horrible," her mother said, shaking her head and hugging herself. "Oh, that poor girl…"

"I know it must be truly anguishing for her, and I understand your sorrow, dear…" Kori's father said, clasping his wife's shoulder gently. "But… I'm afraid this is tradition. The Princess had avoided marriage for so long, and now… curses, but if the child is truly not Admiral Zhao's, she will be in a world of peril. The Fire Lord's punishing nature would not forgive her for this. It would be so much safer for her if that's not the case, Kori. I don't know what certainty you hold to regarding what you've told us, but perhaps the explanation behind this is different. Perhaps she didn't have any relationships out of wedlock, it is the Princess…"

"Would… would you think less of her, if I'm right?" Kori asked. Her father frowned. "Would she be… well, not as dignified, as important, if I'm right, Dad?"

"I never said anything of the sort, but…" Mayor Morishita frowned. "I'm afraid this is Fire Nation culture, dear. The Fire Lord is only acting the way all noblemen do if their daughters make the mistake the Princess did."

"Mistake?" Kori repeated: standing by the wall, Sneers, who had been quietly witnessing the discussion so far, suddenly pushed himself upright and frowned in her direction. "You think… you think that she made a mistake? That falling in love with someone her father didn't approve of, that Fire Nation society wouldn't accept, would be a… a mistake?"

"Kori…" her father frowned, staring at her in confusion. "For someone of her position, a risk like that was one she never should have taken. I have no doubts she had her reasons, but the likelihood that this would only cause trouble had to be clear to the Princess. Whoever you believe might be the child's father, he had to know, just as well as Princess Azula did, that incurring in a risk this great as this was not something to be done lightly. They had to be…"

"It was her gladiator."

Kori said the words without question, fury blazing in her tearful eyes. Sneers winced, staring at her in disbelief as her parents fell silent, astounded by her revelation… one that made perfect sense, even if it was difficult to believe all the same.

"She… she loved her gladiator," Kori continued, her voice almost failing her as she spoke. "They were the greatest team there ever was. It's no surprise, no, that they'd… that they'd grow closer. That the Fire Lord would then… retaliate by destroying the League and by marrying her off to Zhao! All be it to punish her for… for breaking tradition. For going against what was expected from one of her station!"

She didn't know why she dared raise her voice to her parents, but she had no time to think of what she was doing: neither the Mayor nor his wife would respond yet, however, shocked not only by Kori's revelations, but by the realization that she had kept these truths to herself for so much longer than they ever realized.

"Is that really how you think of this, Dad?!" Kori asked, tears spilling down her cheeks. "After you saw her in that horrible wedding, do you actually think that… that loving her gladiator was something so terrible that she had to pay such a price for it?!"

"I didn't say anything like that, Kori…!" the Mayor said, shaking his head, but his daughter's righteous fury would not fade just yet:

"Because… because if that's how it is, I'll just leave our home and spare you from having to follow in the Fire Lord's example."

Out of so many surprises, that one certainly forced her father's hand: the Mayor gasped, as did her mother… but no one was as anguished as Sneers. Standing tensely by that wall, he looked at her in utter disbelief, understanding exactly what she was doing… and disagreeing with it entirely.

Kori's eyes met his, an apologetic message conveyed through her heartfelt gaze: she might have ruined everything, broken off the only safety net in Sneers' life… she might have just lost her own noble life, just as well. Maybe he wouldn't forgive her for it. Maybe he wouldn't understand why she'd done it.

But she wasn't about to live her life by lying to her parents, by hiding her truths, by standing with them if they chose to abide by the Fire Lord's egregious choices.

"So… so I'm sorry if you can't accept what I've done either," Kori said, sniffing, dabbing at the tears in her eyes, but remaining resolute in her determination anyway. "I'm sorry if you think… that I made a mistake that I didn't measure properly. But I know I didn't. I… I know I made the right choice. I'm not ashamed… but if you can't live with this, I'll walk out. I won't force you to… t-to set up an unwanted marriage for me with some bastard like Admiral Zhao. At the very least… I can ask for that leniency, can't I?"

Her father shook his head, stepping closer to her, gazing at her in disbelief: Kori didn't back down. She stood her ground, fists tight, tears still burning in her eyes.

"W-what are you even talking about…?" he said, shaking still as he placed his hands upon her shoulders. "Kori, y-you and… you didn't do the same thing the Princess did. Or… or did you? Are you saying… you and Sneers…?"

Kori swallowed hard, staring down her father firmly. His hands reeled back from her shoulders as he turned towards the man standing by that wall, behind him. Sneers tensed up, nervously, and he seemed moments away from running…

It was Mrs. Morishita, however, who approached him. Sneers breathed heavily, wary of any aggression, any reactions uncharacteristic of the family that had never treated him poorly… for Kori had given them away. She had told her parents the truth, and now…

"Do you love my daughter?"

Her question was simple, earnest. Sneers felt his chest caving in with tension as he raised his eyes towards Kori. Her tearful gaze, the bravery with which she had just expressed her truth… it was madness, it was reckless, she had done something unthinkable, and yet…

"I do," he answered, with a thread of a voice. "I… I do."

Mrs. Morishita's breath caught for a moment… and then she smiled.

Her arms wrapped around him, and Sneers winced as he glanced at Kori: her eyes were wide with astonishment, as were those of her father.

"Oh… oh, my boy. Oh, goodness… I did wonder if we might be needing to seek suitors for our Kori, but there was no need!" Mrs. Morishita laughed, pulling back and smiling at Sneers with tearful eyes. "Very well, very well. You have been part of the family for all this time, not much would change, simply… simply that now we know! Right, dear?"

"R-right. Right!" her husband exclaimed, cheeks flushing as he turned towards Kori again: her eyes were wide, lips parted as her heart pounded painfully in her chest…

"W-what?" she said. "Y-you… you don't mind, Mom? Dad? You… you think this is okay?"

"I… w-well, it's going to take some time to adjust, I admit that much," said Mayor Morishita, clearing his throat and frowning. "Sneers isn't an Honorary Citizen, though, and when I offered to help him become one, he refused me…"

"Because I don't… don't want to be one," Sneers said, simply. Mayor Morishita grimaced.

"I understand your apprehension, but a proper marriage won't be happening unless…"

"A proper marriage doesn't need to happen," Kori said, cutting off her father, who turned towards her in confusion. "I mean… I'd love for it to happen, but not if it's not on Sneers's terms. If he doesn't want this yet, then I don't either. Not like this. I know why it worries you, but…"

"Kori, I don't… I don't have any reason to protest, do I? He's a good lad," Mayor Morishita sighed. "But if things stay this way, no one else will be able to learn of this relationship anyway, dear. If they did…! Well, it would be scandalous. You're my daughter, after all…"

"So… you're saying now that the four of us would keep it a secret?" Kori asked, puzzled. "You… you'll let me be with him, but only if everyone's quiet about it?"

"I… I can't offer you anything else right now, not unless he becomes an Honorary Citizen," said her father, remorsefully. Kori gritted her teeth and met Sneers's gaze.

"Sneers…" she called him. "You… you're still sure, aren't you?"

He gritted his teeth and nodded.

"I… won't be Fire Nation," he said, firmly. Kori breathed deeply and nodded.

"Then… we keep it quiet," the Mayor sighed, nodding. "We… goodness, Kori. This… this is no small secret. Is this why the Princess's situation mortified you so? Did you… did you think we would treat you the same way the Fire Lord has treated her? Or…?"

"I care about her… she's always been someone I admire," Kori said, frowning. "It was a coincidence that she and I would be in the same situation when it came to our gladiators… when she found out about me and Sneers, she kept it quiet. I did the same for her. I knew… I always knew why the Fire Lord had done everything he's done. I always figured… it had to be this. It has to be because of this. I… I didn't think you'd be as bad as him, Dad, but… but he had no reason to be this terrible either. I don't care if she's the Princess… she didn't deserve this. No one could have…"

"You… oh, you're right. You're right, Kori. I'm so sorry," Mayor Morishita said, regret ringing powerfully in his voice as he wrapped his daughter in his embrace. Kori's sobs gained strength in his arms… knowing just how lucky she was to have a father like her own, instead of one who resembled the Fire Lord, in any way.

Azula's eyes widened while Kori retold her story, breathing heavily as she finished: regret rang clearly in Kori's voice and eyes as she breathed out slowly, biting her lip as she fidgeted slightly in her seat.

"I… I know it must sound so awful to hear this when you went through what you did," she said. "When your own father betrayed you like that, I… I'm so sorry that you had to face the worst of Fire Nation high society in such a way, but…"

"Wait… you think I'm upset?" Azula asked, before smiling slightly. "I'm not quite so selfish as to wish misery unto others solely because I had to face any. Kori… I'm glad. Your father… well, he's definitely a good parent. Your mother is one too, of course… they welcomed Sneers properly into your family, just like that?"

"They really did," Kori said, with a sad smile. "I was afraid we would be driven apart, once the League ended… but he wanted to stay here. He offered to help with chores and such – he's very good in the kitchen, actually! And, well, we're not exactly allowed to sleep in the same room, but…"

"I suppose the permissiveness only goes so far," Azula said, with a sad smile. Kori laughed and shrugged.

"It went much further than I thought it would," she said, looking at Azula remorsefully again. "You… you deserved parents like mine too. What you did, what you had with Sokka… it wasn't a crime."

"Well… maybe it wasn't back then. Sure is one now, considering he's the biggest menace against the Fire Nation at the moment," Azula said, with a dry grin. Kori smiled sadly and shrugged. "But then… your parents know about my relationship with Sokka. And they knew you suspected that my daughter wasn't Zhao's. Then… you really think they could help protect Hotaru, Rei and Song? Just like that?"

"Well… you did bring up a good point earlier. It might be safer for them to not know exactly what's going on?" Kori sighed. "But if worst comes to worst, everyone could hide here with us, absolutely. Right now, though… I had an idea. There's another place where they could hide that would be within reach for them right now."

"Really?" Azula frowned, eyeing Kori with curiosity. "Then…"

Footsteps approached: Azula raised her gaze to find Sneers, clad with an apron over his body, bringing a tray with steaming teacups to the pair of them. Kori smiled as she rose to her feet to help him.

"Princess," Sneers said, offering her a weak smile and a bow of his head. "I'm glad to see you're okay."

"It's good to see you too, Sneers," Azula smiled earnestly as he set the tray on the small table before them.

"Is Mom working on dinner by now?" Kori asked. Sneers nodded, standing upright. "Well… can you wait a moment before rejoining her? I think this might end up involving you, actually."

"'This'?" Sneers repeated, glancing at Azula. "What, exactly…?"

"The Princess needs our help protecting her daughters and her friend," Kori said, with determination. Sneers balked.

"D-daughters? Were they… twins?" he asked, unsure. Azula smiled and shook her head.

"They're not twins, one of them is a girl I adopted a few months ago," Azula explained. Sneers hummed in acknowledgement. "But as grown as she may be, she's defenseless anyway. If you can help as well, then… yeah, I think this would be much better for us."

"Sneers… you don't want to have anything to do with protecting the city from the rebel army, right?" Kori asked, earnestly. Sneers flinched, eyeing her guiltily. "We both know where you stand when it comes to this, I know I never even asked this of you, but… I didn't plan on making you fight alongside me anyway."

"I… I could have, for your sake," Sneers said, almost reproachfully. Kori sighed and shook her head.

"You don't have to," she said, clasping his hand gently. "This… this is a far better duty for you. You're a strong fighter, and you can protect the three people the Princess needs safe. They're innocent, never had anything to do with the war…"

"My midwife, Song… she's actually Earth Kingdom-born," Azula said: Sneers' eyes widened. "She was a slave as well. She's managed to slip through the cracks of the system to stand by me… but she's in a similar situation to yours when it comes to this conflict. She doesn't believe in the Fire Nation's ideology anymore than you do."

"Right…" said Sneers, frowning. "But… that doesn't bother you? That I don't believe it…"

"Sneers… you're right not to."

Kori froze in place as Azula sighed, shaking her head and taking one of the teacups. Sneers glanced at Kori in disbelief, and she swallowed hard before nodding in his direction.

"I'm not here… to fight my father's war," Azula explained. "I'm not here on his behalf, even if he indeed sent me: I'm here to protect the people of Yu Dao. That's my true priority."

"Then, when you said in the meeting that you didn't want us to evacuate nearby towns and villages forcibly…" Kori said.

"I want to believe that Sokka didn't ally himself with a horde of monsters, even if I fear that he did," Azula said, sharply. "I want to hope that they'd actually remember what they're supposed to be fighting for. I want to trust that they'll respect and protect those who never gave up hope on the Earth Kingdom's eventual rebirth. It wouldn't make any sense for them not to. So… while I certainly can argue over the risks of spies among us if we evacuate the towns and villages forcibly, that's not the real reason why I don't want to force anyone under our protection."

"Damn," Kori said, biting her lip. "I guess you're always ten steps ahead… always reading through whatever the military leaders want and saying what they would be more likely to listen to, too."

"Navigating these waters can be tricky," Azula said, breathing deeply. "But you get used to it when you've been lying intensively about a myriad of things for as long as you can remember. Reading through whatever they're more likely to respond well to isn't so hard."

"But then… you want me to help you protect your daughters and your friend," Sneers repeated. "They're not supposed to be here, are they?"

"They should have stayed in the Fire Nation, yes. I can't trust that they would be safe if they had," Azula said. "I simply need a place for them to hide in while I conduct this mission in Yu Dao. And Kori said she had one in mind… and then she also decided you'd be involved in keeping them safe."

"I can do it," Sneers said, reassuringly, looking at Kori next. "As long as you're sure, though I don't really know what this entails. But if you really think I can help this way…"

"You won't be turning against your people by doing this," Kori said, with an earnest smile. Sneers breathed out slowly and nodded before turning towards Azula anew.

"Then… I'll keep them safe. But when do I start? And where?" he asked. "What am I expected to do, exactly?"

"You're to bring them food, that's an important priority," Azula said, breathing deeply. "I'll drop by as often as I can, nurse Hotaru as often as possible, but… of course, the question is what, exactly, you had in mind, Kori. What was the safe place you were thinking about?"

Kori's eyes blazed with determination as she spoke: Azula frowned, but she nodded upon hearing her idea. In a matter of moments, her plans to extract her daughters and friend to safety took firmer shape: Kori and Sneers would offer their support, and they would ensure to protect Azula's companions throughout the rest of her stay in Yu Dao.

Two hours later, after a hefty dinner, the Princess took her leave politely, returning to the Barge with her guards. The Morishita family saw her off peacefully, but Kori startled her parents upon revealing that she and Sneers would be setting out soon as well. Their perplexity was palpable, seeing how late it was, but Kori's reassured them quickly. Knowing that she would be doing a personal favor to the Princess sufficed to tranquilize them, though they worried for their daughter's safety, nonetheless.

Within another ten minutes, Kori and Sneers set out furtively through the streets, in dark hoods, marching side by side in the darkness of the night. The city still saw some activity in these hours, but less so these days, ever since the threat of war had emerged so dangerously. Kori got them through the walls with her earthbending: she dug a small tunnel from a back alley, from which they emerged outside the city, ensuring that they wouldn't need to give their identities to any of the guards standing by Yu Dao's walls: they would be stealthier this way, and the night's cover would help them keep their entire operation quiet and as secret as could be…

Or so they hoped.

One soldier patrolling the wall frowned, narrowing his eyes upon noticing unusual movement in the darkness, in the direction of the harbor.

"Hmmm… and what do we have here?" he whispered, lips curling into a smirk: perhaps proving his worth would be much faster, much easier, than he originally anticipated.

---

Azula marched on the Barge's deck, head held high, flanked by the guards of the Third Squad: she stopped, however, before entering the tower, and she turned towards the ten men she didn't quite trust just yet. Recognizing her intent to speak, the firebenders stopped around her, patiently awaiting her upcoming words.

"The current situation is delicate," she expressed. "And as much as the Third Squad has long stopped being my personal squad, I intend to ensure that every single one of you is ready for the threats we will face in the coming month, regardless of whether your services are tied to me or not."

"We are prepared, Princess…" said one of the guards, but Azula shook her head.

"You may believe so, but you're not. I will hold a briefing for the Imperial Guards in thirty minutes. I'll have Captain Renkai prepare a meeting room for that purpose," Azula said: all guards were perplexed by her declaration. "I expect all of you to be there punctually. I'll explain the likely foes we'll be facing, the strategies they might resort to, and we'll ensure to be ready for the rebel army, its spies and its forces, no matter when they might show up. Understood?"

"Understood, Princess," said the same guard: the others nodded and bowed their heads.

"Thirty minutes. Don't be late," Azula reiterated before marching into the tower: she drew in a calming breath, heart pounding fiercely over the latest scheme she needed to perform to perfection… and in which she would require everyone else to play their roles flawlessly too, Renkai above all else.

The Captain of the Third Squad had been inside the tower, and Azula called him over unceremoniously: Renkai rushed to follow, marching upstairs with her as she informed him of the upcoming meeting she intended to hold.

"Right now?" Renkai asked, as they rose over the last flights of stairs before reaching the Princess's cabin. "Can I ask why, exactly…?"

"The situation doesn't allow for anything else," Azula answered, bluntly. Renkai raised an eyebrow. "This is a very urgent matter, Captain Renkai, and the sooner you and your men are ready to face whatever's coming our way, the better for all of us. Anyway: was everything safe and sound on the Barge while I was gone?"

"Indeed, Princess. Most the sailors have taken the night off, the staff as well…" he explained, as Azula pushed her cabin's door open. Once inside, her demeanor changed as she stared at Renkai firmly. He closed the door behind himself and sighed. "And you're up to something."

"Indeed I am," Azula said. "My plan to find safety for Rei, Hotaru and Song is already underway. We have to put into effect now."

"Right…" said Renkai, frowning and eyeing her warily.

He knew, without needing to ask, that she would explain everything once the others were free from the hidden room where they had been concealed for the day. Azula knocked the code into the trapdoor quickly before pulling it open with her bending, and a relieved sigh reached her ears then.

"Finally," Song sighed, smiling as she sat up: soft whimpers gave away that, while she wasn't ostensibly loud, Hotaru had been crying for a while already.

"Oh, Hotaru…" Azula said: Rei and Song helped her scoop the child into her arms, and Azula rocked her reassuringly as the baby cried. "I'm here. I'm back. I… damn it. Renkai, turn around."

The guard grimaced, covering his helmet's slits with a hand as he did as he was told… though even then, the harm had been done. The very kind of harm he had been avoiding for a long time.

For the first time, he had seen the child directly, with no blankets in the way, and confirmed that she was evidently not Zhao's daughter.

Naturally, Azula's concern was of another nature entirely: she helped Song and Rei out of the secret room before removing her armor hastily. In a matter of moments, she cradled her daughter against her chest, soothing her helpless tears by nursing her.

"Her father's daughter," Song smiled a little. Azula grimaced, though, at her remark.

"I… I don't know how we're going to handle this, going forward," she admitted. "You weren't wrong about how much she would need me. I'll try to come see you at least twice a day, if I can't do it more often, but…"

"Do you have a plan yet?" Song asked. "Did your friend…?"

"We do," Azula said, nodding. Song's eyes brightened. "Her family has a small ship they seldom use: it's anchored by the very last docks in the bay, at a fair distance from the Barge. For now, the three of you will be staying aboard that ship… I know it's not the same as staying on land, but if things move along well, I might be able to secure other arrangements soon."

"A ship, then?" Rei said, with a small smile. "That should be okay."

"We haven't been seasick, neither has Hotaru… we'll be alright with that," Song nodded.

"Good," Azula said, breathing deeply. "I won't accompany you there: I'll stay here, distracting the Third Squad with a thorough briefing about the battles we may need to face in Yu Dao and the enemies we'll be contesting the city with. You'll take off while I handle that. Renkai?"

"Yes, Princess?" the guard said, still pointedly staring at the door.

"You'll be joining that meeting as well, at first," she said. Renkai frowned. "After around ten minutes, maybe more, if need be, you'll excuse yourself. Fake a sickness, maybe, or an unbearable need to go to the bathroom…"

"Right…" Renkai frowned.

"After that's done, you'll come here to fetch Song, Rei and Hotaru," Azula told him. "I'll keep the rest of the guards distracted for at least an hour: that should give you enough time to head to the rendezvous point where Kori and Sneers will be waiting for you."

"And that place would be…?" Renkai asked: Azula slipped a hand into her pocket, handing Song a small piece of paper while still holding Hotaru to her chest.

"That's a map that will lead you there," she said. Song nodded promptly. "You'll meet up with them, then you'll head to the ship together. Once everything's in order, Renkai, you'll come back to the meeting, I'll scold you and demand that you stay well after the others are gone so that I can repeat whatever you didn't hear… and you'll tell me how things turned out by then."

"Very well," Renkai said, breathing deeply. "The Barge won't be too crowded tonight. The port as a whole doesn't seem too active at night, either."

"I hope that will help you move undetected," Azula said. Renkai nodded, and the Princess focused on the girls once more. "Bring all essentials with you: if there's anything too difficult to carry over right away, we'll figure out how to get Renkai to bring it later."

"We can carry Hotaru on the basket," Rei said, nodding. "The bigger cribs can either stay here or be brought later."

"We'll have some food, blankets, clothes…" Song recited, running a hand over her hair. "And of course, all the diapers and everything needed to keep Hotaru safe, clean and healthy."

"If you need anything, Sneers will most likely come and go often," Azula said. "That's Kori's gladiator, he's going to help protect you. He'll be the one bringing food and ensuring the three of you aren't found."

"If we're very stealthy, nobody should pick up on where we're hiding… or that we were here at all, right?" Rei asked. Azula breathed deeply.

"Ideally, yes. Unfortunately… things might be more complicated than that," she admitted. "I can only hope we cover our tracks thoroughly, and that Sneers will be subtle enough to do the same when he comes and goes from the ship. As for me, I'll try to visit quietly as well, hopefully every morning and night… but I can't be sure that I'll be able to do it every day."

"Is it too dangerous for you to take Hotaru to the Mayor's house…?" Rei asked. Azula grimaced. "I mean, I know it will be dangerous, of course, but… she really does need you. I think twice a day could be okay, but less than that might be…"

"We'll do our best to keep her calm," Song said, clasping Rei's hand gently. "It's not ideal… but children have been raised without their mothers, at times. If twice a day is the best we can get, we'll work with that. If worst comes to worst, we'll try to come up with another plan of action, a new hideout that's less complicated for the Princess to reach us in, for the next weeks."

"The problem is… I will either be expected to spend my nights on the Barge, such as tonight, or in the Mayor's house," Azula said. "Not being accounted for, being nowhere to be found for too long, will set off all sorts of alarms and I have no way of knowing if spies would inform my father of that, or worse, Shaofeng."

Renkai tensed up upon hearing that. His grip over his folded arms tightened: the General was certainly likely to set matters in motion to sabotage the Princess even from another continent. If his suspicions about his reach were accurate, that wouldn't be beyond him.

"So, the ship might be a temporary solution… maybe, in the end, I'll have to take Kori up on her offer to keep you safe at her home," Azula said, shaking her head. "I don't like the idea, though."

"You think your father might question them about us, about Hotaru, if we stayed there?" Song asked, frowning. Azula nodded.

"I don't know how desperate he is about confirming the truth. I don't know for sure that Seethus was honest when I confronted him, even if he sounded genuine," Azula said. "And of course, there's Shaofeng as well. If that bastard really wants to tear me to pieces, all he needs to do is send his goons to strike away at the Morishita family. As much as they may be loyal and understanding towards me… I don't know if none of them would break under torture if Shaofeng reached that extreme."

"This is so messed up," Song sighed, shaking her head. "Not that we weren't expecting it to be, of course, but…"

"I feel like I've made bad decisions one after the other when it comes to protecting people ever since… ever since I took Sokka to the South Pole," Azula said, truthfully. Song eyed her with uncertainty. "And yet every single time I think of the possible fallout, the consequences of doing anything else, I just… I can't find another way out. Same thing's going on now, and… and I have to find a way to come see Hotaru, no matter what."

"Lady Morishita is an earthbender, isn't she?" Renkai asked. "Perhaps… well, it wouldn't be easy, but you could request for her to craft a tunnel for you to use to approach the ship undetected."

"Under water?" Azula asked. Renkai grimaced.

"Somewhere in the port, rather… but perhaps that could be too noticeable," he admitted.

"I wouldn't write off that possibility, admittedly. Everything else I can think of seems less reliable still," Azula said, matter-of-factly, shaking her head. "Everything's a complication in the end."

"Maybe… the tunnel could be for us to use instead?" Song said, frowning. Azula raised an eyebrow. "A tunnel that we could take to the Morishita home, or maybe we can meet halfway there? It wouldn't be the safest solution, no, but… you need to look after Hotaru. There's no question about it."

Azula sighed but nodded, stroking her daughter's soft hair: she seemed to have finally settled down, with no more tears spilling down her round cheeks.

"That could be the best way out, yeah," Azula said. "Tell Kori about it once you meet up with her. It might take some time, but we should try to set it up, if just until we devise a more thorough solution."

Song nodded, aiding Azula once Hotaru was finished eating: the restless baby continued to wiggle in the healer's arms as Azula made her way to her cabin's bathroom, taking advantage of what was left of the thirty minutes' deadline she had given the guards to clean up much more thoroughly. Even so, she exited the room still dressed in the clothes she always wore underneath her armor, picking up the golden breastplate and cladding herself in it once she was ready to take off again.

"Seeing you in that outfit again really is something," Song admitted, wistfully. Rei swallowed hard and nodded at her assessment.

"Reminds me of… of when I first met you," she told Azula, with a shy smile. Azula smiled too, locking the last buckles.

"Feels like forever ago, huh?" she said. "I'm not even sure of how to feel about it, myself. It feels heavier than it objectively is."

"Hopefully you won't have to keep wearing it constantly," Song said, with a deep sigh. "Alright, then… we'll wait for Renkai. Good luck with the guards."

"I'll keep them busy for as long as I can," Azula said, breathing deeply before leaning over Hotaru's basket, where the child had been nestling so far.

She cried out softly, hands reaching for Azula, and the Princess humored her by taking her small hands in hers. She pressed a gentle kiss upon the tiny fingers, and Hotaru gasped in surprise for it before letting out a happy giggle. Her mother smiled too, reaching to stroke her dark hair now, pressing her lips to her brow.

"I love you, Hotaru. I'll be with you again as soon as possible, dear. I promise," she whispered: her heart seemed to break just upon thinking that her next reunion with Hotaru was actually up in the air, rather than a certainty, for once.

She breathed deeply, pulling back and offering Rei and Song a powerful hug. They responded in kind, and Azula gripped them tightly.

"Stay safe. Keep her safe. Take no risks, lie low…"

"We'll be careful," Rei said, with a gentle smile. Azula breathed out deeply and nodded, pulling back as well, hands on either of their shoulders.

"Please," she said, breathing deeply. "We can get through this somehow. We'll figure it out, little by little."

"We will. This is a good step forward," Song said, with a certainty and trust that Azula feared might not be rewarded. Even so, the Princess nodded in her direction. "Go. We'll be okay."

Azula breathed deeply as she turned towards the door: Renkai still stood with his back towards them, and he nodded as Azula pushed the door open.

"I'm, uh, quite sorry. I didn't intend to… to see Hotaru," he said, once they stepped out of the cabin. Azula raised an eyebrow in his direction.

"I'm sorry you did, too. We've both ensured you never did so far, but… it's hardly the first time I'm forced to trust you, right?" she said. Renkai sighed.

"Even so, I shouldn't have. You want everyone to be safe, to have plausible deniability…"

"I'm afraid my father wouldn't think it's all that plausible that you have managed not to look upon Hotaru's face once in the three months since she was born," Azula said, patting Renkai's shoulder. "We'll work with this, Renkai."

He nodded as Azula turned around, glancing one last time at her companion and her daughters. Rei waved shyly at her, Hotaru let out a soft cry: Azula responded to the two of them with a gentle nod before closing the door.

Renkai marched downstairs first. Azula waited two more minutes before doing the same thing: by then, the captain had started preparing the meeting room, and while Azula didn't aid him at it, she nonetheless entered the room to supervise his work.

Little by little, the guards arrived. That all of them turned up punctually was a good sign, Azula decided: the meeting room in question was below the ship's deck, and its windows didn't allow for any view of whatever might be happening on the deck itself, oriented in the opposite direction from the ramp that Renkai, Song, Rei and Hotaru would make their escape through quite soon. Azula hoped their footsteps would be quiet enough not to echo across the deck… but if they were, she'd find excuses to raise her voice and divert the guards' attention towards her.

"Everyone's here, I see," Azula said, bluntly, once the final member of the Third Squad entered the room. "Very well. Let us begin."

Renkai closed the door, standing near it while most the others took their seats by the low tables set within the room. Azula's place was at the larger table, at the very end of the room, up on a small dais that ensured their attention would be centered on her.

"I have spoken with the current leaders of the city's defenses regarding what threats we'll be facing in the coming weeks. As of this moment, the projected arrival of the enemy forces in Pohuai Stronghold is three weeks: plans will be set in motion to deal as many blows against them at that stage of the battle, but it has been as good as assumed that we will be unable to hold that position once the rebels reach it."

The guards, with helmets in place, seemed not to react to her words, but one of the firebenders sitting closest to Azula tightened a hand into a trembling fist. Enough of a reaction, she supposed.

"You'll have a duty to perform in the evacuation of these forces from the Stronghold, before and during the battle that will take place there," Azula continued. "Has any of you been taught how to operate the train-tank?"

The silence in the room brought a frown to Azula's face. She breathed deeply and shook her head.

"With any luck, the instructions scroll will still be aboard it somewhere. One of you, I don't care who, will learn to drive it," she said, her voice charged with a menacing tone that certainly daunted the guards. "You'll operate the vehicle and use it to evacuate the Stronghold gradually. They have been given orders to evacuate all their non-military staff already, therefore, your job will be to preserve the lives of as many soldiers as we can possibly save after the battle begins. Understood?"

"I… I volunteer for this job," one of the guards standing near Renkai said, stepping forward and bowing to Azula. "If it's alright by you, Princess."

"Any other takers?" Azula asked, eyeing the rest of the group: one raised a trembling hand and she nodded. "The two of you will learn to operate the train-tank, then. I'd rather no one charges into such a dangerous battlefield alone: I want no heroics, no wild displays of greatness, no attempts to earn further promotions, if any of you were thinking of doing that in any of our upcoming battles. You have a job, a duty, and nothing will grant you more glory and approval than performing it to the best of your ability. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Princess," the two soldiers said, and she nodded.

"Then that would be the very first matter," she said. "The battle in Yu Dao is a whole other ordeal… and a much more crucial and dangerous one, at that. It's not only the city itself that requires protection, but the port too: should our hold in the city prove too strong for the Deserter's forces to break, he may just choose to skirt past the city and attack the port through flanks…"

"Why the port?" asked the guard with the tightened fist. "You're certain that…?"

"I'm certain indeed," Azula cut him off, harshly. The man flinched. "The rebels' true intent is not simply overtaking the Earth Kingdom or taking revenge against the Fire Nation's occupation: the enemy's ultimate goal is the end of the Hundred Year War by dealing a final defeat to the Fire Nation."

Silence settled in the room for a moment, and Azula shifted in her seat, arms crossed over her chest.

"I know that my reputation is far from stellar," she said. "And that many of you must think I'm part of the problem, rather than a solution. While I have no intentions of persuading anyone of my innocence, let alone anyone who is determined to think I'm guilty, I have unique insight into the enemies that we're going to face. I know them far better than anyone else in the Fire Nation's side, and that's why I can attempt to predict what they'll be up to next. Their ambitions are much greater, far more dangerous, than you might have expected them to be. We cannot underestimate them, under no conditions."

"I understand as much," said the same guard, his voice ringing with emotion. "I believe we all do. But… how much insight will you offer us, Princess? You're not speaking only of… of the Deserter, are you?"

Azula's eyes narrowed. The guard winced, and Azula drew in a deep breath as she straightened up on her seat once more. Thoughts crossed her mind, many ways in which to respond to the insolent words the man had directed towards her… but emotion could not guide her now. This was about so much more than her feelings, than her past history, than the destroyed reputation of a Princess who had once been respected and admired by her people…

"I had a battle of wills with the Deserter once," she said: some of the guards seemed startled by the revelation. "I can go into details about it if you'd like… but I certainly can say that I learned much from that conflict with him. Chief among those lessons was the fact that I cannot hope to defeat that man if he has every advantage in any battlefield. I could have outsmarted him, I'd dare say I was close to doing it… I failed at the very end. You might actually wish he had succeeded fully, of course… the Deserter's goal at the time was to kill my gladiator, not me. None of this would be happening now if he had pulled it off, right?"

A sudden, heavy tension tightened in the room. Azula's eyes glowed coldly as she regarded the bold guard without mercy.

"And that's, indeed, what you wish to know. What he would do… what his intent must be. What to do about Sokka… not what to do about the Deserter," she finished. "Am I right to believe so?"

"W-well… he is the greater threat," the guard said. "And no one knows him as well as you did. A-at least… that's what we've been led to believe."

"Thus, you want me to give you information on what kinds of tactics he might resort to?" Azula asked, raising her eyebrows. "To tell you what to expect from his fighting style, his leadership skills, his strategic mind?"

For a moment, it seemed as though the Princess might just set the entire room on fire. Every guard within it watched her warily, daunted by the harshness of her glare, but they challenged her nonetheless to make a single misstep, anything that might betray her true loyalties…

She breathed deeply, brushing her hair back with her fingers before placing her hands, with intertwined fingers, upon the table.

"My projections regarding what the enemy might do aren't simply due to the Deserter's history and likely course of action," she said. "The Deserter is not the leader of that army: the Blue Wolf is. Indeed, I know him far too well, hence why I believe that his goals are as ambitious as what I said they are. His intention will be to end this war, and he won't settle for anything less."

The guard seemed to balk, but it wasn't long before another one took the Princess's confession as an opportunity to exploit:

"Then… was it all true?" he asked. Azula's brow furrowed as she leveled her glare at him, next. "We… well, we weren't informed in full. But if the Gladiator wants… w-well, if he wanted you, then…"

"Me?" Azula repeated. "And when exactly did I say that was his goal?"

"You… you didn't," said that guard, nervous. "But it's only… if he wanted to conquer the Fire Nation, isn't it over revenge? O-or… in hopes of reclaiming you for himself? Your relationship, well…"

"Wasn't strictly professional?" Azula finished, with a dry grin. The guard froze, this time apparently daunted into silence. All the better – Azula's blood was beginning to boil, and she couldn't afford to lose her cool in this specific instance, let alone when Renkai hadn't left yet. "I have absolutely no interest in disclosing anything regarding my personal life to any of you. Suffice to say, I have known Sokka for a long time, I understand the way his mind works, or rather, I hope I still do. He is unpredictable, he banks on being underestimated due to being a non-bender, he takes advantage of every foolish assumption that he's not as powerful as he truly is, and then turns all such mindless beliefs against whoever stands in his way. You think all he wants is to return to my side? Worse yet, perhaps, to make me into the slave while he's the master this time? You don't know what you're talking about… you don't know who you're talking about. Sokka's goals would never be as crude and simple as that."

"Then…" the first guard intervened again. "You think… he wants to destroy the Fire Nation? To use Yu Dao to attack the capital, like you said earlier?"

"I don't believe he wants to destroy the Fire Nation altogether, no. The Fire Lord is his goal, and we're supposed to ensure that he doesn't reach him," Azula said. "This being said… while I know that he was a man of integrity, while I believe that his display of respect by sending back as many of the Fire Nation dead, as well as prisoners, was genuine, the same is not true for all his allies. I know nothing about the Avatar, to say one thing: I know for sure, however, that the Deserter had no restraints when it came to sacrificing his men for a worthless cause. If he wouldn't be bothered to see his own allies killed, just how much mercy do you expect him to show his enemies?"

"None…" whispered one of the guards. Azula nodded.

"None," she repeated, arms folded over her chest. "And it's not just him… it's the Dragon of the West, too. Maybe he's not in the highest circles of power in the rebel army, I couldn't begin to know… a coward of his magnitude isn't likely to be fighting directly in the frontlines, if at all. But he would not hesitate to sacrifice and kill whoever he cares to for his own convenience. He lacks any manner of shame, dignity, hell, basic human decency: he wouldn't shed a single tear for the fate of the people in Yu Dao, just as I'm sure he didn't for the dead in Ba Sing Se or any of the cities their conquest has struck at.

"Therefore… I don't think the rebel army can be trusted to uphold any honor or principles. Their leader is another matter, yes, but I have no doubts that his allies would turn against him if he so much as urges them not to destroy the Fire Nation beyond any repair. It's hard to fathom that he could ever keep them on such a short leash that they'd actually listen to him…"

"You don't think he would want to lay waste on the Fire Nation altogether…?" asked another of the guards, his voice charged with disbelief. "Can anyone be certain of that, at this stage? Even if… if you're sure that he's fighting for something more ambitious than what many thought he did, isn't it possible that what he experienced over his last days in the Fire Nation could have changed his mind? I always imagined that it was a quest for revenge…"

"He held onto his convictions and beliefs for far too long to discard them as easily as that," Azula said, firmly. "That's but one more aspect in which I advise none of you to underestimate the enemy: Sokka is not some mindless goon with a penchant for murder, desperate to lay waste and feast on the blood of his enemies. He is a highly intelligent and capable warrior, the strongest non-bender any of you could have ever hoped to come across. You want information on his abilities, on the extent of his agility, on how many of you might need to join forces and fight him simultaneously, should you come across him? I certainly can give you that. But I am not going to let a single one of you walk out of this room under the belief that he's some ignorant nobody who just got lucky: he is a greater threat to the Fire Nation's army than the Avatar, no matter if he's a non-bender. He knows us every bit as much as I know him: he is unpredictable, he is dangerous, and the first step to being prepared to face him includes respecting his potential, first of all, so that you'll be ready to unravel methods to counter him next. Understood?"

"U-understood," said the guard, nodding promptly.

Azula breathed deeply, looking at the guards intently: everyone was listening, but she suspected they were waiting to hear something other than her words. Anything she might let slip, any indication of treason on her part, willingness to abandon the Fire Nation's side and join Sokka instead… she gritted her teeth, knowing she couldn't afford the Third Squad to think that of her. They were far closer to Shaofeng these days than Renkai had been in almost a year now: anything she gave away to this group was bound to reach Shaofeng's ears sooner than later…

"So, with that cleared up… I must also bring up thatthere's no guarantee that Sokka will turn up in the battle for Yu Dao," Azula said. "I can prepare you to face him, and I will, but he might remain in the North Pole regardless. Our odds of success will certainly increase if he doesn't show up, but in case he does, I will need you to be ready. For starters, I'll explain his weapons, how he uses them, and then his skills. I can try to predict how he'd respond to our defenses, try to think from his point of view, with his potential resources, on what he'd likely choose to do to counter us… but ultimately, he may just outdo my imagination by being as painfully unpredictable as he ever is."

"Do you have strategies in mind to counter him, though?" the first guard asked again. "You should know his weaknesses… I mean, if you're not one yourself, surely there are other things you can take advantage of?"

"If I'm not one…?" Azula repeated, raising her eyebrows.

"If the Gladiator was truly, well… smitten with you?" the guard said, pausing for far too long before picking that word. Azula's skepticism only grew more apparent. "I think it could be useful for you to serve as bait, perhaps, to capture him…"

"Unlikely," Azula said, bluntly.

"But it might help if he's unbalanced…"

"Sokka isn't the kind of enemy you want to upset or enrage," Azula said, curtly. The guard winced. "Trust me when I say… pushing his buttons is a death sentence. I've seen him beat people half to death by accident when he enters blinding fits of rage in the throes of battle, whenever he feels his survival is threatened: it's all the worse if he's deliberately seeking to kill someone. Give him any reasons to believe that I'm in danger, or that he can reclaim me in this absurd romantic fantasy you keep envisioning… and he might just massacre half the city to overcome that challenge. I don't think that's what we should be going for, is it?"

"R-right, but… what would we do, instead?" the guard said, wary.

"First of all…" Azula said: against the wall, Renkai began fidgeting by the door. "I would say that the Avatar needs to be taken out. You lot? You could certainly bait Sokka into attacking just by showing up. He'd immediately assume, I imagine, that you might be some of the guards responsible for the beatings he received during his final days in the Fire Nation. And if you're not? He'd think you're no better than them, anyway. As I am trusting you to be highly qualified firebenders, I can assert that he was capable of fighting against four of my former guards at a time and prevail… though he certainly did that when he was using my sword too. Without it, his odds might be slightly less favorable, provided his skills haven't improved beyond my imagination."

"He… he could beat four Imperial Guards?" repeated one of the men. "When they fought him four-on-one?"

"Indeed," Azula said, bluntly. "For further evidence… the strongest firebender and gladiator of the League, with an immaculate victory streak and a penchant for killing enemy gladiators, was killed in a fight against a weakened, beaten, bloodied and starved Sokka. What does that tell you?"

Now the guards looked visibly uncomfortable – though none more than Renkai. He started inching towards the door, and he whispered something to the closest guard, who nodded weakly in his direction. Azula only registered that from the corner of her eyes as she regarded the rest of the group sternly.

"I'm under no delusions that the lot of you would be able to stop him… especially if he has allies like the Avatar on his side. Like my brother, too," Azula said. "Unless War Minister Aonu finds another solid candidate for the job and brings them here at haste, I will be the one tasked with taking down the Avatar: your group would serve as far better bait than myself, at least initially, by taking on Sokka yourselves. He wouldn't have it easy, fighting eleven highly qualified firebenders, right?"

"Nobody should…" said the first guard, frowning.

"Thus, he may need the Avatar's help," Azula said, matter-of-factly. "If it comes to that? As soon as the Avatar shows himself, I'll kill him with lightning."

The room fell silent again. Azula eyed the group with a raised eyebrow.

"Any questions on that front?" she asked.

"W-well… no. But that sounds very dangerous," said the first guard who had spoken in the meeting, wary.

"It will be. And yet it would be our only shot at keeping the threat of the Avatar in check," Azula said, simply. "At least, unless War Minister Aonu finds another solution. It's the main reason why my father sent me here. Now, then, at that stage, it would be obvious to Sokka that I'm there… that I'm his enemy. I cannot presume to say what his reaction might be, but you would have to be extremely cautious about fighting him at that stage. As I said earlier, I am not interested in foolish displays of bravery that will only result in unnecessary deaths: if it comes down to it, I may be able to distract him before the rest of you reduce him… but he might just remain sharp enough to break free from any restraints. The Avatar's loss would be a severe blow against their morale, perhaps sufficiently to make them slow their assault or even stop it completely… but all this is, of course, under the assumption that those two would show up at all, and they might not. We need plans, both for the cases where they do turn up, and where they don't."

Halfway through that speech, Renkai had slipped out of the door. Azula did her best not to react to it, though…

"The Deserter is the one enemy leader that we know for certain we will face. He knows these lands thoroughly, but this time I'm not defenseless, trying to save myself with only two allies at hand," Azula said. "This time, many of our allies are people who actually know the city and territories as well, or better, than he does. He will be able to strike against us from the sky, our scouts confirmed he has brought one airship with him and, if Pohuai Stronghold fails to destroy it, this airship will be yet another resource for him to rely on to attack us. There are waterbenders in his group, too: we can certainly expect attacks from water, and not solely on land. I intend to develop protection for the port as well. While I want us to focus the new weapons on the land battles, we cannot leave the port undefended for the reasons we already know: they need ships to reach the Fire Nation, and the more we delay them from finding them, the better. Thus… I have thought that, perhaps, half of you might take defensive roles in the port while the other half stay with me through the battle in Yu Dao itself."

"Half… would that be enough, if the Gladiator turns up?" asked one of the guards.

"I will seek to properly distribute all our forces for the upcoming battle, there will be many more soldiers besides your group in either location," Azula said. "The Enforcers might help bolster the port's defenses, or more of the local soldiers… there will be a minefield surrounding Yu Dao, and I intend to create one around the port, too. The mines will only deter land attacks, however: I don't know how many waterbenders Jeong Jeong will have in his service, but if they strike at us from sea, the disadvantage might overwhelm us, regardless of their numbers."

"Then… we should think on strategies to counter Jeong Jeong and his waterbenders," said one of the guards, nodding. "Is… is Prince Zuko a threat we should brace ourselves for, too?"

"He's a firebender with prowess in swordsmanship, so yes, I'd say you should," Azula said, and the guard nodded. "Again, it's entirely possible that the Deserter will strike at us alone, and that the most threatening members of their army won't be part of this attack… but that is no reason to take him lightly. We have a very dangerous task ahead of us, and there will be no half-measures. If we give Jeong Jeong even an inch of room to do anything, he will exploit it and immolate his enemies and allies just for a chance of victory: we won't give him that chance… though it's not a bad idea to trick him into thinking that there is indeed a chance, only for there to be none.

"He's a master of mind games… I cannot say for certain that he would fall for any deception: even if he doesn't, it will give him pause and it should force him to back down, if only briefly. Our position is defensive: our offense will be about breaking their resources rather than leaving the safety of our walls to strike back at him. We might not be able to annihilate his troops… but if we wear them down, if we take down their siege weaponry and airships from a distance and prevent them from capturing military or civilian vessels, their position will be even weaker than it was when they first attacked, and that will help us keep the Fire Nation safe for a while longer. We will create obstacles for them, stop them from seizing another city… we will defeat the Deserter, and we'll do it while protecting our people to the very best of our ability."

The guards nodded, and Azula breathed deeply before turning her gaze towards the man standing nearest to the door. He flinched upon realizing her attention was specifically on him.

"What, exactly, happened back then?" she asked. "Where did Captain Renkai go?"

"He… he said it was an emergency. I think, uh, a stomach emergency…" the guard said. Azula didn't hide her disgust in the slightest, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.

"Spends a year standing by a door without fail, but gets stomach cramps in the middle of a crucial briefing. Sounds about right," she hissed. "At any rate, let us continue. I'll inform Captain Renkai of whatever we determine next… including who will be most likely to take his job as captain, if he continues to behave quite so erratically."

The others seemed slightly disturbed upon hearing that threat, but they offered no manner of protest as Azula began speaking of the city's layout and the likely locations from where the enemy might arrive and stage their attacks. The meeting would continue for at least another half hour, she hoped… she would drag it out as best as she was able, at least until Renkai returned.

The captain in question had stealthily rushed upstairs, collecting his charges, and then guided them quietly through the Barge's tower and deck in the dark. The occasional shadow crossed their path, and he would ensure to stop Song and Rei whenever that happened… but once the coast was clear, they continued onwards.

The Barge's ramp had been kept in place ever since they had docked in the port: it was the most exposed area of their escape, so Renkai urged them to follow him quickly.

They tried to move as quietly as possible, and Renkai couldn't help but appreciate that both Song and Rei adapted at once to running without making noise. He stepped forward, ahead of them, once they reached the very end of the Barge's dock: the lanterns in the port shed a much stronger light than what would be convenient for their escape. Not a lot of people were still in the area, but enough that would notice the uniformed Imperial Guard guiding unknown, hooded people out of the docks. He breathed deeply, urging the girls to wait behind crates as a pair of laughing sailors marched by the streets, talking animatedly, fortunately too distracted by their conversation to pay any attention to them…

When the coast was clear, Renkai had the distinct feeling that he was being watched.

He scowled, glancing over his shoulder, back at the Barge. No one was there.

"Renkai…?" Rei asked. He gritted his teeth.

"We have to be very quiet… very quick, too," he said.

Song and Rei nodded. Rei held Hotaru's basket, cradled in her arms, while Song carried all their luggage in multiple bags strapped over her shoulders. The sooner he got them to safety, the better… but that safety would definitely be compromised if a spy was already lurking nearby.

They crossed the main street of the port, dashing into dark alleys that didn't feel all that safe either. Renkai guided them often, but sometimes he would lag behind to check the rearguard, constantly on the lookout for whatever was setting off his caution quite so much. He didn't locate it, however, even when they finally reached the agreed-upon rendezvous point: two people in dark cloaks and hoods were waiting there, and one of them jumped out immediately, in a defensive position.

"Sneers?" Renkai asked, immediately. The tall, thick man lowered his hands.

"You're the Captain, then," he said, and Renkai nodded: the other hiding individual stepped out then, lowering her hood and nodding in his direction.

"I'm Kori," she said, eyes shifting towards the two other arrivals: "You're… Rei and Song?"

"Yeah, it's us," Song said, with a weak smile.

"And Hotaru…?" Kori said, her voice hopeful: Rei hugged the basket tighter.

"She's being quiet right now, so… it'll be better not to disturb her," she said, with a small smile. Kori nodded.

"We'll get all of you to a safe place to rest right away," Kori said, with determination. "Come, follow me."

With Kori and Sneers aiding in the protection of the Princess's companions, Renkai was free to lag behind, ensuring to protect the rearguard while Sneers scouted ahead: he helped their group navigate across the back alleys in the harbor, guiding them to one of the furthermost docks, the very last occupied one in the port. A modest wooden ship was anchored there, not quite as small as a fishing raft, but nowhere near the scale of the Princess's Barge. Fortunately, it seemed that most the nightly activity in the port was reserved to its more centric locations, closer to where the Barge was docked: in these parts, it seemed that nobody would be around to watch as the Mayor's daughter led her new protégées all the way to her family's private ship.

"It was in good shape still, the last time we used it, so it should be alright…" Kori said, smiling awkwardly at Rei and Song as they approached the vessel: Sneers leapt aboard skillfully, finding the ramp and setting it in place, allowing them to climb aboard.

"Thank you," Song said, with a grateful smile as she and Rei climbed aboard the ship first.

Renkai, yet again, lagged behind on the pier and scowled over his shoulder: he had to get back to the Barge… but he didn't want to do that yet. The unwelcome feeling persisted, an unwanted reminder that he couldn't quite leave these girls alone, at least not just yet. Kori and Sneers might be very talented fighters of their own, but three able-bodied, experienced combatants should be better than two. Still… from where were they being watched? By whom, exactly?

The ship's inner cabins weren't too spacious, but Kori guided Song and Rei inside so they could pick whichever one they liked best.

"This is the one I always use, that one's my parents…" she explained. "There's a couple more cabins over here. I think we may need to bring new sheets, though. I can't remember when we last changed them… oh, I brought some food too! In case you need any…"

"We won't turn that down," Song said, with an awkward smile, as Kori handed her another bag along with the many she was carrying. "Thanks again. I know this is a complicated situation, so it means a lot that you're helping Azula like this."

"I've always hoped to be helpful to the Princess," Kori said, with a shy smile. "I've looked up to her for years now. It's probably the first time that it feels like I'm doing something for her, rather than the other way around. I'll do my best to help her, and all of you."

"Thank you," Song smiled kindly again.

"Well, then… pick your cabins, you really should set down all that luggage," Kori smiled reassuringly at Song. "Feels like it has to be quite heavy…"

"Could be worse," Song admitted, chuckling as she glanced at the open doors to the cabins. "Which one do you want to…?"

Rei bit her lip, eyeing Song with uncertainty. Song blinked blankly.

"I… don't think I want to pick a different cabin from yours," she admitted. Song smiled, and Kori raised an eyebrow.

"Well, there's enough room for…"

"For safety's sake, it's not a bad idea if we share," Song said, nodding at a smiling Rei. "That way, the two of us can stay close to Hotaru constantly."

"Oh… well, that is a good point," Kori admitted: she dared glance at the still covered basket, a foolish urge to see the child dawning inside her…

"Then… this one?" Rei said, looking through the cabins in hopes of finding the most spacious one.

The girls continued to work on settling inside the ship as Renkai paced on deck now, arms folded, eyes sharp and focused on any motion, any movement whatsoever, beyond their ship. The moonlight and stars were the only ones that lit up any of what was happening in this area of the port. Song and Rei would need to be very cautious about lighting any lanterns that would give away their presence aboard the boat…

"You'll be staying here to protect them, then?" Renkai asked Sneers, who nodded promptly.

"The Princess and Kori wanted me to, so I will," he said. "You have to go back to the Barge, I assume?"

"I do," Renkai said, gritting his teeth. "But I… I don't know. I feel like there's a threat looming. Like we're being watched."

Sneers frowned, casting a glance across the port: he couldn't quite see anything just yet… but his fists tightened, nonetheless.

"I had the same feeling when Kori and I were making our way here," he said. Renkai grimaced.

"Perhaps it's only my imagination, then. The situation is tense and stressful…"

"Maybe… but you might be right. Someone might be out there," Sneers frowned, eyeing him with uncertainty.

Renkai sighed: he glanced at the next ship, unable to ignore the prickling sensation on the back of his head…

A shadow shifted, right behind the neighboring vessel.

He didn't think twice of it: Renkai rushed down the ramp without saying a word, and Sneers reached for his weapons, the axes on his belt. The firebender would handle the threat directly, but if he failed, Sneers would stand his ground here to protect the girls.

Renkai rushed as quickly as his feet could carry him without a firebending boost: the spy knew they were being chased. Whoever it was, all the caution they had displayed earlier was well and truly gone now as they openly ran towards the lanterns by the center of the port. The lurker, the spy, might have hoped to incriminate the Imperial Guard by presenting himself as a victim to his relentless pursuit… so he had to reach him before anything like that could happen. The least attention he could bring upon himself and what was happening aboard the Mayor's ship, the better…

He charged a small burst of fire in his right hand, and it flashed brightly as he prepared to launch it: light was starting to reach the figure of the individual he was pursuing, who glanced over his shoulder, in his direction…

His thick beard gave away that it was a man, wearing the clothes of a sailor from the Princess's own Barge.

Renkai didn't doubt at that it had to be a spy for Shaofeng.

He had to attack. He had to act. Whatever the cost, that man couldn't spread his knowledge to anyone else in Shaofeng's pocket. Even if his sudden disappearance would represent a risk, Renkai had no other choice.

The bearded man, distracted by the blazes in the Imperial Guard's hand, yelped and attempted to rush away faster still…

Then, he tripped.

Someone else had been hiding behind a tall set of crates, merely a couple of docks away from the Morishita family's own… and they had stuck out their foot, intentionally, so the spy would crash against it.

The spy cried out, nearly falling face-first on the ground: the person the leg belonged to, however, wrapped an arm around his waist and flung him backwards, right into Renkai's arms.

The fire Renkai had been preparing dissipated as he caught the spy: he hardly had a moment's notice before the second lurker leapt out of his hiding spot, spinning in midair to deal a powerful kick right at the head of the spy.

Renkai fell over too with the impact: the man he was holding was out cold… while the one who had attacked him smirked proudly, rising to his full height.

"Heh. Not even a challenge," he said, smugly.

Renkai jumped back on his feet, setting aside the first spy to glare at the man before him… a man dressed in the uniform of the Fire Nation's army.

"I'd say you should thank me… but you're next," said the soldier, smirking smugly as he rubbed his fist confidently.

"Who the hell are you?" Renkai hissed. The man chuckled… and then his amusement receded, once his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness.

"I, uh… oh. Uh… huh. Wait a second. Is that an Imperial Guard's uniform?"

Renkai snarled, glaring at his apparent opponent, who seemed far more clueless in this situation than a spy ought to be… but could he be one? Hadn't he just taken down Shaofeng's likely spy already?

"Just a moment now, dude, you're… yikes! What kind of sketchy business are you up to?" the soldier said, hands on his hips. "Aren't you… wait. That uniform isn't just any guard uniform, you're… the captain? You're the captain! An Imperial Guard…!"

"Shut up!" Renkai hissed, and the man pouted at his harshness. "What do you think you're doing, screaming about this in the middle of the night? If you're a man on a mission, you certainly are performing it even more poorly than I am!"

"Well, what kind of mission could you possibly be on? You're… a corrupt guard. Of course you are!" the man exclaimed, scowling as he eyed the ships nearby with a scowl. "And whatever you're up to, I've caught you red-handed! I…!"

Footsteps, coming from the direction of the Morishita family's ship. Renkai gasped: to his utmost horror, it wasn't only Sneers but also Kori, stepping in, surely hoping to help.

"Captain? What just…?" Kori's voice reached him… and then she stopped cold on her tracks upon noticing Renkai wasn't alone.

The man standing there recognized her before she could do the same: he yelped, raising an accusatory hand in her direction.

"You… Lady Morishita!" he exclaimed: Renkai's eyes widened as the man walked past him, approaching her in a rush. "It's you! What exactly is…? Wait. Wait, is the Princess behind whatever this is?! Is the Princess actually…?!"

"Captain… oh, no. Captain Chan?!" Kori gasped: the man stared at the Morishita family's ship with wide eyes, his jaw dropping…

"I don't know what's going on here… but hey, I saved you guys from a bad guy!" he exclaimed, beaming. "I so did! I took him down, I flung him at that corrupt guard, he grabbed him, and I went BAM! And then I knocked him out cold, Lady Morishita, so see? Now you can go tell the Princess that I totally mean business, that I'm a highly competent soldier and that whatever sketchy shit she's up to, I know more about it than she wants me to, and…!"

"That's not a good thing for you!" Kori exclaimed, looking at him in disbelief. Beside her, Sneers elbowed her gently.

"Should I…?" he asked: Kori shot him a warning glare.

"No! He's a highly ranked soldier in the army, we can't just attack him or do anything to…!"

"She's soooo going to writhe at my feet, damn it, I just know it!" Chan laughed. "So much for mocking me, and for making fun of me, but I've got her now! Oh, I've got her, and she's going to have no choice but to admit that I…!"

A blow to the side of his head caused Captain Chan to flop over, unconscious, on the ground.

Kori and Sneers froze as they watched him collapse… as Renkai stood right behind him, his hand outstretched, his chest heaving. They couldn't see the way his eyes widened with fear behind his helmet… knowing that his key mission, the difficult job the Princess had given him, was about to become more difficult still.

For he didn't know for sure if Chan had seen them… but by now, Rei and Song had returned to the deck, if without Hotaru, upon hearing the ruckus Chan had caused. If he had caught sight of them at all, once they arrived there, then…

Renkai swallowed hard, eyes shifting back, first towards the unconscious spy, and then to the newly unconscious soldier, the so-called Captain Chan.

"We're in trouble."