On what was once the rearmost frigate of the small squadron, the men were busy gathering the crew of the Gonvesten, including one man, attired in a lavish blue coat with gold embellishments and full epaulettes, his short, hazelnut hair soaked, along with the rest of him. Once he made it onto the Wrrak, Captain Coen Van Dyke greeted him. "My apologies, Count," he said as the man's hand glowed violet and his clothes quickly dried. "We didn't think they would do something so reckless."
The younger man shook his head. "Nonsense, my good man," he replied. "Besides, we accomplished what we came here to do," he said before sighing. "Even if we lost one and half ships, it's easier for us to replace them than for the Ruskians."
The Captain nodded, surprised he'd taken the loss as well as he did, especially the loss of his favourite ship. "Very well Count. Should we return to Ufanika and inform your Mother of the confirmation of the Ruskian presence here?"
The Count prepared to reply, but the topmen had other plans as they began shouting. Van Dyke rushed to the forecastle, followed by the Count, and grabbed one of the sextants from another officer. "Sir, that ship is heading right for us!" came a cry from one of the men.
"I can see that," the Captain replied before his hand glowed violet, causing the sextant to display the ship even closer than it ever could. He noticed what looked like a young man taking the red banner on top of the superstructure and tearing it down before replacing it with a large white banner. "What!?"
Count Diederik Van Brederode, despite his calm demeanour, felt the opposite. He'd lost his beloved flagship, and the Visser had lost her mainmast and a sizeable chunk of her port broadside. Of course, his words to the Captain still held: It wasn't that difficult to replace the ships or their weapons. But the men were another matter, especially the officers, whose families would no doubt make a fuss while stating the obvious. His mission was merely to confirm if the Ruskians had a presence here. But once he noticed the Ruskian ships, he waited in the opposite lake after arriving there that morning, thanks to the image provided by his nation's informants and the scouts he sent to measure the distances and ensure everything would be in place for the ambush. The Count couldn't resist! So, they'd sailed through the channel once they determined the Ruskian ships were too far to intercept them in the channel, and when they thought it couldn't get any more ideal, the vessel he was approaching now appeared. Though he hadn't imagined the Ruskians would put up such a struggle as they had, especially that girl. Even now, her laughter haunted him. As for the current situation, large ships were nothing new to him, especially given the massive size of his Mother's prized ship, but it had to be the biggest metal vessel he'd ever seen! It carried no visible guns. But it bore a terrifying prow, which he imagined could slam down on a ship in front of it. However, when the crew tore the flag off and presented the classical symbol of surrender, he felt glad he would get something other than two sunk Ruskian patrol ships. Or at least so he hoped. So, once the Wraak got close enough, he cupped his hands as a purple aura surrounded them. "Ahoy fellow seamen!"
"Ahoi medezeelieden!" Hakoda heard from across the water. He didn't know how he heard it so loudly, but it seemed he wasn't the only one, as everyone else on deck looked around, trying to find who had said that before turning to the foreign ship as it began pulling alongside. Near the end of the bow, he could see about a dozen men staring through telescopes while looking somewhat disappointed before cupping his hands around his mouth: "Ik zei: Ahoy!"
Hakoda sighed as he realized it was the same voice from earlier: now he knew its source. The man speaking, while older than either of his children, at least that he could tell, still appeared young, with strikingly orange sideburns and short wavy hair. Surprisingly, he was paler than the Ruskians, and his clothes consisted of a dark blue jacket with gold highlights and dark blue pants with a sash and sword at his waist, and under his arm was a large, black hat with a feathered lining. "Uh, hello!" The Chief called back from the deck of the Fire Nation cruiser.
"呃，你好！" (Uh, hello!) Was the reply from the other ship as Diederich sighed while pinching his nose.
"Great, they speak Pogyinese," he groaned. "Well, at least my adoptive sister isn't here, otherwise she might mess this all up," he cracked his knuckles and channelled his inner magic as his mind began translating what the other man said before preparing his response.
"Uh, are they going to say anything back?" Zuko questioned.
Toph blew a raspberry from beside him. "Who knows? Maybe they still wanna fight," she said, pounding her fists together.
Sokka punched her side. "Well if they don't, maybe don't make threatening gestures at them," he responded. "Besides, you didn't see what they did to those Ruskian ships."
Katara nodded, feeling a tingle up her spine. Of course, after the battle, a part of her was thrilled to see the Ruskians lose after what they had done, but she agreed it was best to avoid conflict with the people who'd dealt the fatal blow. "Yeah, I agree with Sokka. Let's not forget the last time you decided to fight a battle you couldn't win."
Toph seemed ready to retort when the foreigner replied, "Hello! May we come aboard!?" He shouted across at them.
Hakoda, while not expecting such a clear answer, took a moment to ponder before replying: "Yes!"
Not a moment after he said this, they saw a purple flash on the foreign ship, followed by a swirling violet vortex large enough for a single individual. Out walked the man they had seen earlier, accompanied by several men in less lavish blue coats carrying similar weapons to those of the Ruskians. "Ah, why thank you," the lead man stated as they were still reeling from shock, then he turned around and shut the vortex with a snap. "Now, to whom do I owe the pleasure?"
Once Hakoda snapped out of his confusion, he stepped between the man and the teens. "I am Hakoda, Chief of the Southern Water Tribe. I have commandeered this ship from the Fire Nation to slip through their blockade," he explained, thinking it better to be upfront with the enemies of the Ruskians.
The man seemed to ponder this. "So, what you are saying, is you captured this ship from your enemy?" The Chief nodded. "Then why the ruse? Don't you know it is dishonourable to pretend to be the enemy?"
"Hey," interrupted Toph as she marched up to the man. "We're not exactly in the best state pal, so-" She was going to say, only for Katara to rush in and restrain her.
"Toph, none of that," she said before turning to the man.
Diederik hadn't paid the little girl much mind until he caught sight of the older one as she came and began taking her aside. "I-I'm sorry to interrupt, but-" Her voice, as insecure as it sounded, was music to his ears, and as her eyes looked up at him pleadingly, they glowed like sapphires, and her tan skin glistened in the sunlight.
But, as much as he enjoyed hearing her voice and seeing her, he had more pressing matters. "It's alright, Miss. Think nothing of it," he said with a nod and a slight smile before clearing his throat. "Now, where are my manners? I am Diederik Van Brederode, Count of Ufanika," he said before focusing on the Chief. "Anyway, why have you surrendered to me? Are you an ally of the Ruskians?"
Azula and Ivan continued watching the meeting on the ship from afar while most of the others had returned to the fort, save the artillerymen who remained at their posts. "So... What do you think is going to happen to them?" Azula asked as she watched through a spyglass.
Ivan sighed. "I don't know. The Genish aren't exactly known for their kind treatment of prisoners, or at least, the GIC aren't."
Azula lowered her spyglass and turned to him with a cocked brow. "The GIC? What's that?"
Ivan shook his head as he lowered his own. "The GIC, or Genish Intermundial Company. They are the body these men belong to."
The Princess scrunched her brows. "How do you know that?" She questioned. However, instead of a verbal response, Ivan gestured to her spyglass, which she took before he gently guided her direction. She wasn't expecting the touch but didn't flinch away, and eventually, she found their flag in her view. It was Orange on top and blue on the bottom, while the center was white, with the characters "GIC" written in black. "What are those characters?"
"That's what I meant," Ivan told her. "Those are the initials of the company," he explained as he let go, and Azula lowered her instrument.
"Wait, but, why does a company have warships?" She asked with a cocked brow.
The Grand Duke sighed deeply. "I was going to explain that," he began. "You see, unlike most nations, which run their colonies directly, the Genish opted for a rather... Unique approach: All of theirs are under the control of a joint-stock company which operates out of Genleen for the prosperity of the nation," he explained as the Princess's eyes widened.
"What? Surely you jest!" She questioned aloud. It sounded preposterous, a single company running all of a nation's colonies? Ridiculous! Outrageous! No King would be stupid enough to do such a thing, but judging by the Grand Duke's expression, it was no joke.
"I assure you, I do not," Ivan replied. "Their economy relies on conquest and trade, so who better to do both than a single entity entirely focused on raising money for the state and its people?" He explained. She blinked once as she processed that information. It still shocked the Princess, but the more she thought about it, Azula could understand the logic. Of course, she still questioned how it worked in practice, but Azula opted against asking, at least for now.
Following the introduction and Hakoda's explanation of the events leading up to the current time, from capturing the two Fire Navy cruisers to his earlier encounter with the Captain of the Ruskian ship. "Hm, so you mean to tell me you have prisoners?" Diederik questioned.
The Chief nodded. "Yeah, we do. I guess you probably want to meet them?"
The Genish man smiled. "I most certainly do. At least that way. I wouldn't be leaving entirely empty-handed," he replied, tapping his chin. However, the more he thought about it, the more he wondered if he should take them with him. After all, while they would have to remove the complex steam engines, they could at least fit the ship with plenty of cannons and magic reinforcements. It could become one of the most powerful ships in the Company's arsenal. But how would he convince the man to return with them? Then he got an idea. "Speaking of which, how would you wish to return home with us? I am certain I can find places to stay for all of you, and, if you would be willing, we could hash out an arms deal."
Hakoda looked at the man skeptically. "Arms deal?" He questioned, his eyes flashing to the muskets carried by his soldiers.
Smirking slightly, the Count nodded. "Why of course. After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and you look like you could use all the help you can get. Tou'll need more than swords and spears to fight Ruskians," he explained, noting as the little girl who'd spoken out of turn seemed to prepare to do so again, only for the boy and the other girl to hold her back.
The Chief appeared to consider his offer as he scrutinized him. "And how would your weapons help us? You lost one of your ships and another is badly damaged," He retorted.
Diederik shook his head. He was right, but the reason wasn't a mere matter of weapons, but the men behind the steel. He would never disregard the Ruskian fleet again. "This is true, but even with a ship as great as this, the Ruskians would have suffered no loss to sink you," he replied. "But, if you agree to my offer. Not only will you have much better weapons: But the GIC will instruct your men how to use them. But, I need your answer now."
Hakoda pondered his answer as he turned to his children, comrades, and their allies. Considering what Sokka told him, the invasion on the Day of Black Sun was the only chance the world would get before the comet arrived later that summer and the Firelord would wipe them out, now that their allies controlled Ba Sing Se. But, if they could at least knock the Fire Nation out of the war, all that would be left would be to defeat Ruskia, something the Avatar nor the largest Earth Kingdom army could accomplish. So, with a heavy sigh, he turned toward the foreigner. "On behalf of the Southern Water Tribe, I agree to your offer."
The Count felt taken aback by this, but it didn't show as he extended his hand, and both men shook on it. "Very well. I promise you won't regret this, Chief Hakoda," he replied before turning to his fleet and cupping his hands as they lit up with magic. "Have our ships return home, we'll follow after you, just keep one open for us!" He shouted, with his voice projecting outward the further it carried. Not long after, massive purple vortexes appeared before his remaining ships, and they slowly made their way through. "Chief, have your ship head toward the closest portal. I'll hold it open for you!"
Azula felt shocked as she watched the titanic vortexes open before the foreign ships. "W-What!" The Princess screamed before turning to Ivan, who bore a noticeable frown. "Ivan, how are they doing that?"
"Magic," he replied as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "How do you think they got here so quickly?"
Her eyes widened. "Wait, is that how you got here? How you practically appeared out of thin air when we first met?" She questioned, her eyes narrowing.
The Grand Duke sighed. "Yes and no," he replied. "You see, our faith works differently from their magic. We had no idea where we were going before we arrived. They no doubt knew exactly where to go," he explained, his brows scrunched in thought. "Кто-то из-за этого лишится зубов..." (Someone will lose teeth for this)
Azula cocked a brow. "What did you say?"
Ivan shook his head. "Nevermind. I'm certain my Father will handle it," he replied, though he knew there was no easy answer. The Genish had an informant, but the spy could've been anyone from the supply convoy. However, before his mind could drift any further, he noticed a commotion on the deck, and Ivan raised his spyglass to see the ship begin heading for the portal. "What on earth!?"
Hakoda watched with apprehension as the massive purple vortex drew ever closer. The Count remained on deck, his focus singular as his hands raised toward the swirling mass. He said nothing as the ship began entering it, and soon, the entire front section vanished through it, followed by the rest, until he found himself going through it. There was nothing but darkness, but then he opened his eyes and found his surroundings had changed: Gone were the mountains, the hills, and the Ruskian fort. The ship began bucking more violently as tall ocean waves hit the sides of the cruiser. When he noticed the cause, he felt his heart beat faster as he saw one of the most horrifying yet incredible things: Above him, a swarm of waterspouts had descended and struck the sea close by, explaining the rather severe waves on what was otherwise a clear day. "Is that normal?" He questioned, turning to the Count, who looked slightly worse for wear.
"Yes, we typically get waterspouts this time of year," he replied as the two watched the tall, lean tornados bend and morph in shape as they began moving further away. "HAHA!" The Count cheered, waving his hat.
Hakoda, confused, turned to see the man had turned his attention to the front, and the Chief found the other two Genish ships and beyond, a massive port city the likes of which he'd never seen. Hundreds of ships of differing sizes moved across the bay, and on the way in, they passed some of the largest he'd ever seen, including a titanic vessel which dwarfed the Fire Nation Cruiser by half, which sat anchored in the busy bay. "What is that?" He questioned, pointing at it.
Diederick turned to see what he was asking about. "That's the Princess Wilhelmina, my Mother's flagship, and the largest ship in our fleet," he explained. "She's what we like to call a Heavy First Rate, though even that is an understatement. She alone carries two hundred guns."
The Chief didn't understand what he meant by that, but there was no denying the majesty of the vessel, with the gold embroidery which shimmered in the light on her stern and bow. Aside from her, however, there were several other ships, each boasting a similar style, though they were noticeably smaller. "And those are other warships?" He asked, to which the Count nodded.
"Indeed they are. Though most of the ships you see here are trade ships," the Count explained, pointing to the dozens of ships lining the peers or sailing through the shipping lanes.
Hakoda's eyes widened as he looked closer at the less impressive vessels. Some were larger than his ship, though most were around a similar size or smaller, and between them flowed tiny boats which seemed to guide their course. Some were coming into port, others were leaving, and once they got far enough, they would open a vortex similar to the one his ship came through and disappear to places unknown. There were no words he could summon to describe the scene. All these ships bore distinctive paint schemes and decorations, driven by massive sailing rigs and magic portals. He couldn't wrap himself around the fact this was real. "Is it normally this busy?" The Chief questioned.
Diederik thought for a moment. "Not really. Today is surprisingly light on traffic, which should be good for us. Now, have your helmsman steer us to the right. We don't need any accidents today, and the last thing we need is a collision," the Count replied before giving him the command. Which momentarily confused the Chief, though he quickly nodded as he realized what he meant.
Of course, Hakoda wasn't used to such busy ports, as he and his tribesmen operated outside of them, aside from when he needed supplies, but even he understood the need for sea lanes, especially in a place like this. So, he rushed to the bridge and quickly informed the helmsman of what to do before he returned to the Count. "Now, where exactly are we supposed to lay anchor?"
The man seemed to ponder for a moment. "I think it would be best if we stop here and continue to the port on a boat since I'm not sure this vessel is shallow enough to reach the harbour without hitting the white bank."
Once again, the Chief nodded before heading back to the bridge and asking Bato to relay the information before going below deck to fetch his children, who he found eating lunch together, along with Toph. "Oh, hey Dad," Sokka said once he entered the small cabin.
"Sokka, Katara, you might want to come upstairs. There's something you need to see," he expressed before turning and leaving.
Gregori stared with dread at the Genish-controlled port. Of course, he'd never been here, but he knew where he was when he saw the waterspouts and the mass of ships entering and exiting the harbour. This place was Ufanika, one of the most important hubs for Genish trade, and it lived up to its reputation, with its beautiful Genish tarraces running the length of the harbour and the more expensive homes further on. Behind rose large hills and small mountains, all covered with forestry, but even as he looked upon its beauty, a sinking feeling developed in his chest as he felt the ship cease moving. It was only a matter of time now- Then he heard the door open, and the men he once thought to be his allies entered bearing rope. "Time to go," One said as he took the Ruskian's hands and bound them. The man complied as they tied his hands and led him out of the room and into the bowels of the ship, where he met Lieutenant Ivanov, who appeared worse than he did. But there was no time to speak as their guards led them down one of the corridors, where they came to a small outlet with a single boat—a launching station. "Get in," The guard said as the Captain nodded before sitting in the boat.
After Zuko, Katara, Aang, Toph, and Sokka arrived on deck, the teens found themselves enamoured with the beauty of the city, save Toph since she couldn't see, and the banished Prince, who found himself reminded of the Fire Nation Capital, or at least of Harbour City. Of course, he'd never seen so many ships in a single place, with the closest being Zhao's combined fleet prepared for the failed siege of the Northern Water Tribe, but he shook that thought away. At the same time, he wished his Uncle was here, but alas, he'd requested to remain at Chalmelon City. "Now, ladies and gentlemen, I suppose it's time we depart," they heard the foreigner as they approached him and the crowd of Water Tribe warriors that had gathered around, though notably, they had changed into their national attire. Suddenly, he stretched forth his hands, and a small portal appeared, similar to the one he came through when boarding the ship. "Everyone, go on through."
Without a word, the teens followed the warriors and Hakoda through the portal and arrived on a large path leading to a massive house of foreign design surrounded by a thick stone wall. Before it stood a pair of soldiers wearing blue uniforms with cylindrical hats similar to those of the Ruskian soldiers; only these bore silver badges with the characters GIC in the center, and their uniforms had red piping, and they also wore crossbelts and carried the same weapons as those on the ship, if a little longer. The Count and his men marched up and spoke with them while Toph began rolling on the ground. "Dry land!" She cried as Katara, Sokka, Zuko, and Aang turned to her.
Aang found himself feeling highly conflicted. Of course, he reacted in the same manner as the others to Toph's antics, but there was a strange feeling in the air, as though something was missing. "Hey, are you okay?" He snapped out of his stupor when he heard Katara's voice, and he turned to find her standing before him with a concerned expression.
"Uh, yeah, I'm okay," he replied sheepishly, and while the girl seemed suspicious, she didn't argue as the foreigner returned.
"Alright, everyone, follow me, I'll show you around," he replied before turning to the Water Tribe Chief. "Though your soldiers will have to stay in there," he said, gesturing to a small building to the side of the house, with small windows and a much plainer exterior.
Hakoda nodded. "That should be fine," he replied before turning to his men. "Bato, you and the rest of the warriors will sleep in that building tonight," the man nodded before turning to his soldiers and gesturing for them to follow as some Genish soldiers escorted them to the building.
"Very good. Now, if you would follow me," said the Count, gesturing for the group to follow as he marched up to the entrance of the large house. "My Mother is currently out on business and should return in two days, so I will take that time to show you around."
So, for the next hour, he led them through the house, explaining the history and the purpose of each room they entered. Katara found himself astonished by the beauty of it all, and the blue and white interior reminded her of the Palace in Agna Qel'a, only without the ice. At the same time, she found herself struck by the various artworks adorning the walls, which were far more realistic than what she'd seen. Interestingly, many of them were portraits, with their clothes differing drastically from one to another, though their features seemed to match those of their host. Another thing she found curious was the sheer volume of weapons hung in some of the living rooms, and one even contained various suits of armour the likes of which she'd never seen before, made up of intricate plates and lacking any form of cloth to hold them together. "Get a load of these," Sokka said before beginning to flex the arms of one of the suits, only for Diederik to swat his arm away.
"No touching! These have been in my family for generations, and I will not have them tarnished!" He scolded as the boy nursed his hand.
Following the visit to the armoury, Diederik showed them to their rooms until only Katara was left. "This is yours," he said, opening the door for her. Like most other guest rooms she saw in the house, it was spacious, with a plastered interior with gold patterns lining the wall. The bed was massive, with many pillows, blue silk sheets and a curtain wrapping around it. Aside from the bed was a small cabinet with writing tools, a portrait of lush fields hung above it, a white and gold patterned dresser and closet, and a small fireplace devoid of fire. "I hope it is to your liking."
Katara didn't know what to say. Of course, she'd slept inside several palaces, but for some reason, this room felt more intimate than most, perhaps due to its privacy. Typically, she and the others would share rooms divided only by paper walls or curtains save for their stay in Omashu the first time they visited. Yet here, they had an entire wing of the house, and her friends and family had separate rooms. But, as she thought more about it, she struggled to wrap her mind around this being real. When she woke up earlier that day, she'd slept in an uncomfortable cabin on a Fire Nation warship, yet now the Water Tribe girl was looking at one of the most beautiful and inviting spaces she'd ever seen. However, as she studied it, she found herself growing suspicious. "I-I really appreciate this, but why did you bring us here?" She asked, turning to him.
The Count, for his part, seemed taken aback by the question. "I thought that would be obvious. I wish to discuss a deal with your Chief. After all, you cannot fight the Ruskians on your own."
Though he likely hadn't intended it, his statement felt like a knife through her chest as she remembered how every encounter had gone with them, save today. At first, the Ruskians felt similar to fighting the Fire Nation, but as they encountered them more often: First, it was Toph's reaction to their weapons. Then, just when it felt like they would defeat them before they became more of a problem, they killed Aang, and there was no need to forget what happened several days ago with Toph getting wounded. Toph! The strongest person she knew! Of course, she recovered, and it seemed her mood returned since then, but it disturbed her. "Okay, maybe you're right. But how would you help us?"
The man pondered, and as he did, Katara realized something. He was handsome. She didn't know where the thought came from, but as she examined him, she couldn't disagree. Of course, she'd gotten a good look at him on the ship when he first arrived, but there was something special about the candlelight from the chandelier. "As I told your Chief, I would be willing to provide weapons and training to your nation's soldiers, but I'll need to figure out the details. In the meantime, I suggest you get some rest, Miss?"
"Katara," she replied, realizing she hadn't introduced herself. "And the Chief is my dad."
Diederik's eyes widened sharply as the realization dawned. "Forgive me, Princess. I should have noticed the similarities," he stated as he bowed, his cheeks flushing pink in embarrassment.
Katara chuckled at his antics, though the title struck her. No one had ever addressed her as a Princess, but as she thought about it, she realized there was truth to it. Her Father was the Chief, so by definition, she was a Princess, even if no one ever treated her as such. "It's alright," she replied while looking away, her cheeks also beginning to flush. "But please, just call me Katara."
The man seemed puzzled by this as he straightened himself but shook his head before smiling. "Very well, Katara, if that is what you wish. Though, if you wish me to address you so casually, I will ask that you do the same when addressing me. Sound fair?"
She smiled softly at him. "Yeah," she replied. "Anyway, I should probably be heading to bed now. Is there any time we need to be up?"
Diederik pondered. "Most of the household is up by 7:30, and breakfast is at 8:30, so somewhere in between would be best, though if you wish to get up earlier, be my guest."
Katara nodded. "Okay, uh, when is that?"
His eyes widened. "Oh, right. You probably don't know how our time works," Diederik said before gesturing for the Waterbender to follow. "Come, I'll show you."
Following the Fire Nation ship's departure, Ivan and Azula returned to the interior of the Bulwark, where they finished preparations for the trip across the desert to return to the portal and from there to Ruskia. Following this, the Grand Duke ate with his men and did their evening drills, but before he retired for the night, his Father called to meet with him. When he arrived, he was also surprised to find Azula. "So, he called you too?" She asked as he approached the door.
"Yes, though he did not say why," Ivan answered before the men guarding the door allowed them entry.
Inside, they found Nikolai seated at his desk. "Ah, good, you came," he stated as the two sat in the chairs opposite him. "Now, I suppose I should begin by stating the rules for our trip to Ruskia: Firstly, Azula-"
"Wait, wait, wait. You brought us here to tell us rules?" Azula questioned with a cocked brow.
The Grand Duke nodded. "Indeed I did," he replied as she folded her arms. "Now, as I was saying. Azula, between you and your guards, there will be no Firebending," he stated as her eyes widened.
"Wait, what? Why?" She questioned.
Nikolai sighed. "Do I need to remind you of what happened when you first revealed your fire to us?" He asked with narrowed brows.
The Fire Princess felt a chill down her spine as she remembered how that nearly turned out, and she couldn't help the embarrassed blush that spread on her features. "Fine, no Firebending," she sighed and folded her arms. "Anything else?"
The Grand Duke took on a thoughtful expression before shaking his head. "No, not really. I just hope you are all ready?"
Ivan nodded. "Yes, everything is ready, Papa," he chimed in.
His Father smiled. "Good. In that case, I think it would be best for everyone to get a good night's sleep, especially given the day's events," he stated as the Princess huffed and stood as the young Grand Duke followed. "Ivan, why don't you walk Azula to her room?"
The Firebender paused. "Of course, Papa," Ivan replied before walking up to her. "Let's go."
She shook her head before walking alongside him, exiting the room soon after as the door shut behind the pair. "I can't believe he brought that up again."
Ivan shrugged. "Well, he does have a point. Besides, I don't know how well that would go down with the family, especially my Uncle, since he probably doesn't know," he retorted.
The Princess pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ugh. It's just so frustrating! I've only just recovered. Now I'll have to go without my Firebending again!?"
The Ruskian sighed. "Azula, I know it means a lot to you, but we probably won't be staying for long," he began, though she merely glared at him in response. "Besides, once Papa explains your abilities, I'm sure you'll be able to practice."
The Princess groaned. "Fine. Though I'll have to remember to tell the Captain to enforce the rule for everyone else. But, if things go as you say, hopefully my stay will be more tolerable."
Ivan grinned at her. "See? That's the spirit!" He shouted, and not long after, they reached her door. "Well, we're here. Goodnight, Your Highness," he said with a curt nod before turning and marching off to his room, which happened to be next door, not noticing her longing gaze before she shook her head and retired. When Ivan reached his room, he nearly felt his legs give out as the day's events caught up with him. His thighs and knees ached from the long ride and standing on the rampart too long, and he had to wipe the sweat from his brow with a cloth before stripping out of his uniform. With that done, he read his scriptures and said a small prayer before practically collapsing onto the bed, only to realize the light was still on. "Ugh, why now?" He complained as he forced himself to his feet, put out the light, and fell into his bed, not even bothering to tuck himself in as his eyes shut. As he slept, images of blood, gore, and terror filled his mind, faces of those he loved, friends gone to better places, the sounds of battle and the roar of cannons while tears spilled from his eyes, and he began to hum an old song.
"Lovely, brothers, lovely. Lovely tis' to live.
With our brave Lieutenant, who has time or will to grieve?
Lovely, brothers, lovely. Lovely tis' to live.
With our brave Lieutenant, who has time or will to grieve?"
He sang quietly, thinking no one would hear but him. Little did he know someone listened through a crack in the wall. Azula didn't understand the words nor their meaning. But much like earlier, something stirred in her breast. A longing, nawing feeling clawed at her insides as she heard him sing. Unlike earlier, which was melancholic but proud, this song was gentle, like a lullaby, yet Ivan's tone carried something she couldn't place, a feeling most unfamiliar: Mourning. As the realization struck like lighting, she recalled her brief interactions with the men whose bodies had traveled with them from Ba Sing Se. She remembered the tea and meal she shared with his commander, and the drills he let her conduct. He reminded her of her Father, yet gentler somehow. Of course, she hadn't known any of them long, but there was one man she had who died: General Chi, the man her Father put in place once Uncle gave up the siege. She hadn't known him long either, and in the time she had, he'd proven himself to be a stubborn old crow, yet the Princess couldn't deny he was a good commander, and he balanced out Xang's more aggressive attitude. It was also thinks to them that the fiasco with the Drill hadn't turned out worse. When it first happened, she was angry at them for not doing more to help, but now she found herself grateful they hadn't thrown more forces into the frey, as she doubted a few extra Divisions would have stopped the Avatar. But, soon enough, she dozed off.
So, here we are, the first of several instances where we go off-world throughout this series. I'm sorry this took me longer than the last one, but I'm glad we've finally arrived at this point in the story as we're offically introduced to the Genish Intermundial (Trade) Company. Anyway, tune in next time to see Azula and Co. offically arrive on Ruskian soil, and for Team Avatar to meet a certain orange-haired gremlin. Also, I hope to see more engagement, and be prepared for the annoucment of a YouTube voice-over by your's truly. In the meantime, don't forget to Fav, follow, and review, and follow the group on Discord to get exclusive announcements, artwork, and more: /K79nWsrs