"So, Aki," Azula emphasized my name with intonation, "here we are, as I said, sailing on a ship, here is the "wise and experienced" Ueli Maurer, maybe now you can tell me a secret: what are we planning to do with Basingse? You seemed to so easily mention revolutions and stuff like that, you probably already have plans A, B, and C ready.
"First, tell me what exactly our mission is and what specific forces we have for this," I easily dashed her hopes with a question.
"Capture Basingse and kill the avatar," Azula answered, "no news, Aki," for some reason it seems incredibly funny to her to highlight my name in a sarcastic tone, "but we have... any strength." Within reasonable limits, of course, but these limits are very, very weakly perceptible. For example, a drill is currently being developed according to the drawings of one colonel...
- Wow, is it already in development? - Uli was surprised. From which the princess turned her gaze to him.
"This colonel was not so long ago arrested by me personally," I chuckled, answering an unspoken question from Azula, "and all the inventions actually belong to the so-called "Mechanist." And he told me about various devices and mechanisms, including a drill. The purpose of which is not quite difficult to guess, isn't it?
"Hmm," Azula responded to this, "I'll keep that in mind." In any case, this drill will be ready for use after some time, and it is quite possible to use it...
"This is not a very good idea," said Uli, "there is also a breeding ground for various earth bendersians." Well, you break through one wall at a huge cost and then what? Several dozen bendersians will stand on the other side and simply will not allow you to pass through the not very large pipe of the drill.
"But it can be used as a distraction," I added thoughtfully. Some kind of rough outline of a plan began to emerge in my head - to lure as many earthbenders from the area as possible to one point...
"And we, in turn, will be inside under cover..." the princess continued after me, thoughtfully biting her thumb and looking at the table where there was a rough map of the continent of the earth and the capital.
- We will now have to understand who is who at the top of power...
"And calmly cleanse them, depriving the city of centralized control," Azula finished contentedly, slamming her fist on the table. Uli only chuckled at this, but the princess did not pay attention, all her attention was absorbed in the Plan. That's right, with a capital letter.
"I don't agree here," I shrugged my shoulder, "besides us, we need more people who will cleanse the top of the army in other places in the same way."
- Meaning?
Hmm, how can I admit that I've already been there? Okay, let's look at the matter. Unfortunately, the Fire Mages do not even have information about three different levels, as well as the fact that the population is not aware of the war, let alone the political or military structure inside the capital of the Earth Mages.
"Hmm," I answered instead of the truth, "then there's another plan, we penetrate much earlier and reconnoiter the main military and political points."
"It takes a week to simply move from one end of the city to the other, if on foot," the princess raised her eyebrows, "are you proposing to settle there for three years?"
"No, but we don't have to specifically spy and sketch everything," I rolled my eyes, "our experience is enough to understand the main points." I'm not saying to provide literally step-by-step instructions. Just launch other agents a little later with at least basic information. A month before hour X - the two of us, two weeks - more agents. They will need to get to a certain point, scout out who specifically to eliminate, and that's all.
— And who are you ready to appoint as "agents"? Do you have people in whose hands you are ready to entrust the success of the operation and our lives? - Azula asked, and even though it was said with some sarcasm, in fact the question was more than serious.
"Yes," I answered, "even if only a little." My poor fellows in full force are quite qualified. Let's let them in along the back roads into the city simply as support for a diversionary maneuver. Attack in the back. Kyoshi warriors: there are not very many of them, but their professionalism is impressive. They can be placed on one point.
There is more... however, that will come later. Let's discuss 100% options.
"Okay," Azula nodded, wondering something, "I have two people who can be used at another point." But this is not enough. Too few.
"We're working with what we have," I shrugged, "which means we need to recruit more people before the mission begins... Okay, I already tried to raise this question, but I changed my mind." But still it is necessary. The question is: how do you feel about Zuko? And Iroh?
Given the context, Azula loaded up pretty well. It is obvious that the attitude towards them is very bad, but we need strong people. And no matter what anyone says, Azula is not stupid and understands perfectly well that both of these people are very advantageous pieces on the board and will complete their task clearly.
"Zuko is most likely passionate about capturing the avatar..." the girl drawled hesitantly, "and he will simply refuse."
"He's eager to beg his father's forgiveness, not to catch the avatar." "And in what way, it's not particularly important," I answered and continued to the princess's questioning look, "we crossed paths with him often." Just like with Avatar. Again, we need Iroh. Very necessary. Not as an agent, but as someone who will command a diversion or at least an advisor. Because he has enormous experience, as we all know.
"Knowing my uncle, he's unlikely to agree," Azula chuckled.
- But try, don't you mind? — I clarified, "I will most likely be able to find words to convince them, but the question is that everyone agrees to act together, and not remember all their old grievances in five minutes."
"You would be punished for such words at court," Azula clarified dryly, "you are meddling in the affairs of the royal family... But, considering the things we are discussing here, I understand the need for this topic." I won't push him...too much.
Already good. Very good. This is the maximum that could be heard from her in this situation.
"Next, in addition to my poor fellows, we must find those dissatisfied with the regime inside," I continued, "there will be many of them, I'm sure the city is completely autonomous, as far as we know, which means there is a privileged class and a disadvantaged one...
- Organize a real revolution in a month? Azula raised an eyebrow. "Are you really not kidding?"
"I'm not sure," I admitted, "we need an ideal reputation so that we can get to the main palace in a month and not be nailed somewhere in a ghetto for trying to start a revolution." On the other hand, revolution is a very good idea.
"You need some kind of revolutionary speaker," Uli intruded, with slightly overacted interest in his voice, "does anyone have one in mind?" But seriously, you, of course, sang so well and made such complex plans. This, of course, is very nice to watch, but first you should find out how realistic it is for someone to get into Basingse. Otherwise, one is already thinking of sending his entire army there, and even filling it with people. Another is thinking about how to organize a revolution in a month and kill the Tsar. And the second point, you still better decide. If you want to start a revolution, then it's not worth destroying the entire senior staff quickly and abruptly. The revolutionaries themselves will sweep away and will not choke. And if you want to neutralize the entire top of the city in a few hours, then it's better to do so, without starting unnecessary background noise, which can then interfere. There is no power, there is no command, the people are rebelling, which can only lead to a not the best outcome of events.
Impressed by the captain's rebuke, Azula and I both fell silent and looked at each other. As if everything was more than factually said, I even felt a little ashamed. To hell with it, the princess had a slight blush on her cheeks!
"That's why I said to discuss this already here," I couldn't help but prick the girl, "then which plan takes priority?"
- Hm…
- Again, what are the priorities? - Uli said, rolling his eyes and continuing to lecture the careless children, at least in this voice, he said it, - you can't penetrate into the city right away tomorrow, first gather people, see how it is, find ways to the city, and then , when you assess the situation inside, I think a few days will be enough for you, you will think about starting a revolution and whether it will succeed at all or quietly and quickly eliminate the top. You better think about the composition of the first group. Considering the value of both of you...
"I'll go," Azula and I said in one voice and narrowed our eyes at each other. Appreciatively so.
"... it would be better if one of you went," Uli finished, "but apparently, this is not our option, well then, train so as not to interfere with each other during the battle." Learn habits, build tactics so that your duet can be called a thunderstorm even for your avatar. But these discussions of a plan with variables, literally, in every question, are stupidity," Uli typed and somehow suddenly came to his senses and got up from the table, "I'd better go and have a smoke, otherwise you'll now decide that the poor guy is to blame for all the troubles." captain…
And with these words he left. That last one was in vain, thank God, Azula and I had enough brains to understand that Uli was more right than ever.
- Why is he still captain of the ship? Azula asked.
"The question is not for me, I'm not his boss," I answered, "and the answer there is almost always the same - nepotism and bribery."
"Burn," Azula pronounced the sentence.
"Although it's true that it's a bad idea for the two of us to get there together," I said, "on the other hand, maybe only we have a chance of destroying the very well-guarded elite."
"Maybe," the girl said at length, and then continued slightly off topic, but it seems that the question "who will go" is not relevant in her head, lost in thoughts, "and what legend will we use to get there?"
"It depends on how we make our way," I chuckled, "the most realistic option is brother and sister." Or a guy and a girl. But you can tell the truth: two friends are traveling, and our communication is friendly.
- Like a friend? — Azula narrowed her eyes, fixing her inquisitorial gaze on me, "are we already friends?"
- Do you have something against it? — I grinned.
"Hmm," was all the girl answered, parodying the Uchiha clan, "I have nothing against it." I'm going to come to terms with the new information. I'll see you at training in an hour. Our duo must destroy the avatar without a chance," with these words Azula turned around and left.
For about a second I looked at the closed door, and then I fell into a cold sweat. The end of the dialogue that just took place between us, and her reaction...
I already had exactly the same dialogue with one girl once.
Who was a genius in fire bending, had an aristocratic appearance and a caustic character.
I hope that at least I saw a slight blush on her cheeks, honestly.
***
My thoughts about Azula and our dialogue, which surprisingly coincided with my first conversation with May, did not leave me.
The coincidence is, of course, incredible, but it cannot be that sarcastic little May is a princess. Whatever one may say, they are not alike. May is a kind girl, even if she is caustic, and the princess cares for her like the moon.
On the other hand, their appearance is somewhat similar. But on the other hand, the appearance is archetypal for the aristocracy of fire bendersians.
Although the sarcastic nature... in any case, too few coincidences.
But if she is May, then the good news is that she didn't get married and developed her talent, the bad news is, well, it's Azula. Azula, fuck.
Okay, so far these are all assumptions, which, frankly, I don't believe in, it doesn't seem like it. You can't deceive your heart, I would definitely recognize my friend.
In any case, at the extraordinary planning meeting - to rub our tongues, which was necessary for all of us, unfortunately, when the princess is on board, I don't want to demonstrate that I periodically drink with my poor fellows, so there is no one to communicate with, neither me nor Azula , nor Uli. So we are going to discuss this and that.
Now the speech flowed sluggishly and slowly from one thing to another, until I remembered a point that I would like to clarify. Uli, as always, went off to smoke for about thirty minutes, but in fact went to his sailors to have a little fun. Of course, he is interested in the princess's views and my stories, but not enough to sit sober in the evening.
"Azula, you mentioned "two people" who are loyal to you and can help us in our difficult, so to speak, task," I began, "can you tell me who they are?" Just wondering.
"My close friends," she waved, without even turning her head in my direction, "Ty Lee and May." Very good warriors.
May? Hm. I won't hide the fact that the logical part of me insisted that I wasn't Lee at all, and that May had given a false name, something that we hadn't discussed a bunch of times.
On the other hand, if you want to hide something, hide it in plain sight.
I'm sure she would have had enough brains for such a simple formula at that age.
May, an aristocrat close to Azula, that is, from the highest aristocrats, who is now clearly somewhere in the colonies, which can already be classified as "close to combat" places, and my May was exactly like that: with an awl in her ass.
All thoughts about the similarity between Azula and May flew out of my head, now, despite the logical inconsistency, I wanted to see this May. After all, everything can happen.
"Everything can be, everything can be," my voice in my head repeated after me, in a slightly mocking tone.
"Let's do without your much-needed sarcasm," I replied, "needed in quotation marks if you don't understand."
"Yes, I'm generally a good girl, I'm silent almost all the time," answered Vatu, "Although I must admit honestly, sometimes I just want to say something."
"Well, then, either speak to the point or remain silent," I answered irritably.
Well... frankly, yes, it's a bit spectacled to mess around with a spirit of his age and strength, but he doesn't behave like his age, which unsettles me a little. That's why something like this comes out.
Glory to Agni that at least he doesn't hold a grudge. Sort of. Hehe.
- What is it? - Azula raised one eyebrow, - why are you so interested?
"I just remembered," I shrugged.
"Well, then tell me," Azula said, fixing her gaze on me, "you promised to tell me about someone "later." I'm interested. Tell me.
"Hmm," I thought. I meant Toph, of course. Of course, no matter how much of a genius in bending she is, she is a little blind girl, and even if she has the strength to claim a separate unit, she cannot be sent alone to the point. At a minimum, because she will have to kill. Damn, that's also the moment...
We will need to make sure that all our "units" are ready for murder. To the murder of an unarmed person, perhaps even next to his family.
Hmm, are you ready, damn it, Rimbaud?
Okay, in any case, the question is to test the waters for me, too, as a non-Firebender.
- Tell me, how do you feel about non-Fire mages? - I asked.
"I'm killing," the princess of a country fighting against everyone looked at me like I was a fool.
- No, but what if they agree to help for you? — I clarified, "well, we're ready and everyone is here." By your side. I mean a theoretical event where you know for sure that he is on your side, but he is not a firebender," he posed the question well, and already loaded the poor little head with black hair for about two minutes.
"In principle, I use it," Azula nodded, apparently really putting herself in such a situation.
Well, already the result. She uses everyone this way, so the answer is good.
"Great," I smiled, "during my escape from captivity I met a girl—an earth mage." She is blind from birth, but she is, I repeat, a very good earthbender. At the current eleven years of age, I have personally never met anyone equal to her. And I fought with many dugouts.
- A-and-and? - the princess drawled, - why are you sure that she will not betray?
"Heh," I twitched my lip, "she's from the Beifongs." I think you understand who they are, and how aware is she, being able to listen through walls, sense whether a person is telling the truth or a lie, and make her way underground anywhere, how aware is she of the geopolitical situation? There was no trace of patriotism; her father was even in your palace. And she knows about it. In general, you understand.
"It still doesn't sound reassuring," the girl bit the corner of her lip, clearly deep in thought. She knows my experience, as well as the fact that the words "the most powerful earthbender I have seen" are not idle chatter.
"And her parents don't know that she is a brilliant earth bendersian and they consider her to be a blind girl who they most likely want to sell to someone in marriage," he decided to throw in another argument, "but she really doesn't want to." She won't run away with us, she'll run away on her own. Therefore, I consider it an ideal unit.
"Okay," apparently, my rebuke touched something in Azula's soul, so her face sharply straightened out and stopped showing emotions. Well, that's a person's defense mechanism, what can you do, but first we'll take Ty Lee and May. In any case, as far as I know, the Beifong house is located further than where my friends are supposed to be.
— And where could they be, if it's not a secret? - I asked.
"One in a traveling circus in the colonies, and the other in Omashu," Azula shrugged. Okay, back to Omashu, it was recently captured, I can understand what Mei can do there, who, as I understand it, is a good soldier, but a traveling circus? This is the question I asked.
- Traveling circus? - without forgetting to raise an eyebrow, of course, - I don't want to say anything, but... a strange place for a person who lives in the circles of a princess.
"And I think so," Azula snorted and, taking a sip of aromatic tea from a mug, looked at him thoughtfully, "white jasmine, right?" My uncle's favorite tea..." but then she clearly pulled herself together and continued, "so, that's what I think." She has nothing to do there. But she got it right and that's it.
"This is the favorite tea of many old people, including my Master," I chuckled, "and what could she have gotten up to?"
"I have a pink aura in this place," Azula tried to parody, "and something like that."
"It happens," I shrugged. What can I say? — everyone has their own ways of expressing themselves and their goals in life. Maybe by this she wants to say that she is comfortable there?
"Pfft, why would a decent aristocrat be comfortable being in a place... in that place," Azula said.
"For that matter, a decent aristocrat should marry whoever they say and have children, and then it's important to stand behind her husband's back," I answered harshly. I really didn't like this princess speech.
— Was this an attempt to offend a member of the royal family? — Azula narrowed her eyes, however, with all her appearance trying to show that she didn't care. In general, she went into sarcastic bitch mode, where there is a threat in every sentence, - You mean me?
-Where do you see an insult to a member of the royal family? - I also decided to move to a more formal level of dialogue, - I'm just stating a fact, a conclusion from the words from the etiquette textbook that I took at school. Or do you think that I tried to hurt you because it seems to me that you treat and think about your close friend lightly and think that you know better what she needs? — I said in one breath and added, "no, of course not." It was just an attempt to make small talk.
Our narrowed gazes met and we began to play a kind of staring contest to see who would give back first. Because if you develop the conflict even a little more, this is already a direct path to Agni Kai, which neither I nor she really need. For now we are standing on a very thin line.
And at such a tense moment, the door swings open, and Uli, who is already slightly tipsy, enters.
"Can you imagine, Somo dolphins swam past there," he shared with us, not catching the atmosphere, "a rare sight." Due to the exquisite taste of their fin, there are few of them left in the surrounding waters... am I at the wrong time?
"No, you're on time," Azula answered, looking away from me and again picking up a bowl of tea, "just Aki," "yes, she, of course, highlighted my name again," pointed out to me my misconceptions about thoughts about my loved one to a friend. And I agreed with him.
Wow. Apparently, my arguments really resonated in her cold heart, that she actually admitted that I was right.
Apparently this Ty Lee is really a close friend of hers.
- Well, that is, if I understand correctly, no one will go to look at catfish dolphins? — the sea wolf pursed his lips, "are you having fun here and with each other?" Eh, she's so young, yes.
And also, perhaps it seems to me, but Azula is extremely pleased and even a little discouraged by the simple attitude of me and Uli towards her. Well, that is, we both have a certain understanding, but there is not even a trace of servility. And it seems that this captivates her.
Well, let's see what happens next.
Hmm, by the way, I wonder what her reaction will be to Kyoshi Warriors? And we are arriving literally tomorrow afternoon. Straight to the city, where Suki can't wait for me, who is tired of solving all the problems for me.
Okay, as they say, these are the problems of tomorrow's me. Now, I'm sitting comfortably in my cabin, at the same time, walking on incredibly thin ice, rudely communicating with the princess of my country, and also with one of the strongest Fire bendersians.
Maybe I'm an adrenaline junkie, huh? Otherwise, why do I like it and even feel some nostalgia?
***
Well, we finally arrived at the port.
What can I say, looking at the city where I left the warriors of Kyoshi. It seems like not so long ago, judging purely by time, but according to my personal feelings, it's an eternity. A bunch of swims back and forth, Capture of the North, Piandao and Azula. Too much has happened for me not to feel the passage of time.
But in reality, how long has it been? Hardly a couple of months. And there are more events than in the previous two years. What is there, for a lifetime, considering the significance of the events. Suddenly I somehow felt the whole weight of what was happening on my shoulders. I wanted to hide somewhere and just relax, and not start a new harsh journey.
Of course, I'm a bit sour. Apparently, I'm slowly catching some kind of retreat, one might say, I've returned to my native land, no surprises or surprises for you, so I'm somehow thinking about the eternal.
We need to get together. There is still a lot ahead of me and the events are most likely much more difficult than those that I went through. Although there is little that can compare with the same world of spirits, honestly?
It's almost impossible to surprise me now. Well, like, just in general. Although I won't swear. In any case, I missed the fuss of unloading and notifying the Warriors about our arrival. It's good that there is a kind Azula who understands my mood, who came and gently hinted that I was stuck and clarified what she saw.
- Aki! - she shouted, - why the hell do I see earth warriors in our colony?
- A?
- Don't make a fool of yourself, they're standing there to meet you! - she's hiding something specifically from this, perhaps she should have explained herself already.
- These are the Warriors of Kyoshi. If you look closely, you will see red elements in the clothes," I said, "I think you know the history of the Island very well, but Zuko, apparently, is less savvy in this matter, so in my time I very successfully resolved the situation. In general, they are my mercenaries, I officially signed them up in my squad, plus the main one among them is a very good logistician and, in general, my deputy. Well, it was when I visited the colonies.
"Did you trust her that much?" Azula fixed her gaze on me. The look, of course, was not the best, something like: "Are you a fearless idiot or just an idiot?"
"It just happened that way," I shrugged, "it so happened that through her I always sent orders to the other mercenaries, and over time to my poor fellows too." Even though at first she was brought up on fairy tales of the Army of Fire, which eats people, over time her views changed completely.
- M? Azula raised one eyebrow. I will soon see this gesture of hers in my dreams. The worst thing is that I don't know which ones: bad or wet.
"It's not so easy to think that the Fire Nation is bad when you're traveling with a person who makes sure that the colonies have a good life." Plus, even our most run-down colony looks much better than the villages of the people of Earth. Especially the front lines.
To this Azula just sighed heavily, without even trying to somehow find out the details. Even if she doesn't show it, she's also a little tired of my antics. And if Azula gets tired, then sarcasm and anger are pouring over the edge, and only I can accept this without conditional "damage" on myself.
True, both were tired of joint sparring. We feel each other's elbows, as they say, and in the end it turns into some kind of test of endurance, a kind of eternal battle, where we wait for the opponent's mistake.
In general, nothing interesting. And here, well, you can't think of anything. Without bending, of course, I win. With bending, most often it is her. It happens here, I win, but still she is too good at fire bending.
On the other hand, no matter how I look at it, I'm just as good at airbending, if not better. Somehow it turned out that way. Most likely, the elements themselves play a role here.
Fire, of course, is strong at any stage, as is water, but air and earth are much stronger for experienced bendersians.
Theoretically, if you take two novice bendersians with air and fire bending, absolutely equal in experience and strength, the fire bendersian will win. Moreover, if you take strong bendersians, like me and Azula, just equalize the strength and experience, the Airbender will win.
But this, of course, is just a theory. In practice, such moments play almost no role, if only because strong bendersians are most often with support or something like that. In general, their meeting in a bare field one on one is already close to fantasy.
The majority, no matter how proud they are, wield their bending somewhere in the middle. Some are on the borderline with the entry level, while others are on the contrary knocking on the roof of the experienced, but in any case, the elemental strength factor does not play a role there. One raspberry.
But in my case it's very good. It's good that I'm very strong, and with the avatar state from Vatu, even incredibly strong, an airbender. If I were the same firebender, there would be almost no chance against the balloonist Aang. And so, my element at the peak of a bendersian's abilities is the best.
Sort of. It used to be like that.
The fact is that it is standard bending that is taken into account. Add, say, Azula's blue fire. What is this? Why is it blue? No one knows. But Azula is extremely strong and that's a fact. There can simply be a lot of different magical twists like this. Someone will invent something similar, and the same earth bending will become the strongest.
In any case, as a bendersian, if I use my element, I am not inferior to Azula for sure.
And all this leads to the fact that you want to train and fight, but not with each other. All this again leads to a dead end and a test of endurance.
- Aki! - was the first thing I heard when I descended to the ground from the ship. Suki threw herself on my neck, not paying attention to her surroundings. Hmm, maybe I should have warned them - are you back?
"Yes," I nodded, maintaining an official appearance. As far as it can be preserved, when Suki didn't even plan to let me out of her arms, let me introduce: Princess of the Fire Nation Azula. A genius in Fire Bending and most likely a future ruler. Considering that you are now in the army, your relationship with the ruler should be appropriate.
For some reason, instead of the surprise and reverence I expected, Suki just let me go and narrowed her eyes. Oh, damn, I realized too late that she hardly knows how to communicate with the aristocracy. Okay, the main thing is that they don't kill you on the spot.
"Hi, I'm Suki," and extended her hand.
Azula just raised her eyebrows and looked at me. I sighed and closed my eyes for a second as a purely reflexive action and said:
- Suki, in order to properly greet the crowned person, you need to bow and make fire with your hands.
"But..." said Suki.
- And this is your former deputy? Azula asked in her best bitchy voice. "Are you sure she... well, at least knows how to count?"
"She grew up in different conditions, Azula, and, I'm afraid, our traditions are a little alien to her," I said, "don't take it as rude, but she showed maximum friendliness."
"I'm very happy for her," Azula continued to recoup all the good things, "but I don't need anyone's friendliness." Fear or admiration, perhaps servility, but not friendliness.
- What?!
Suki is too simple a girl for such a showdown. It's so good that one of the poor fellows already understood what was going on, and, coming up from behind, grabbed the girl's head and tilted her, bowing down himself too. And then he took her away from sin. Apparently to introduce rumors about our princess.
"Aki," Azula said in a less demonstratively bitchy voice, even allowing a note of fatigue into it, "do you want to lose your assistant?" Tell me? Why is she not aware of the basic rules of decency? Aki, just one more mistake of this kind from your subordinates, and I will already take action, is that clear?
"More than," was all I answered.
And what to say? She whipped me unpleasantly, but to the point. My personnel did not care, did not train. True, she most likely understands that if she makes gestures, then I can challenge my subordinates to Agni Kai, and there victory is not guaranteed, but, let's say, to show that she is in charge here is, one might say, her duty . And she will show.
A little later, when everyone had said hello to everyone and the princess had been allocated a room, I had another dialogue with Suki. It started in a peculiar way.
- Why are you working for this monster? - neither hello nor hello, just such a question right off the bat.
"Rumors are just rumors, Suki, to keep them in mind, but not to believe them," I replied to this.
- Yes? That's why everyone in front of her, except for some reason you, was practically crawling at their feet?
"Suki, this is Princess Azula." One of the strongest fire bendersians in the world. And, in principle, bendersians. And she's only nothing years old. Future ruler. "Everyone must crawl before her," I said, massaging my eyes.
"But you're somehow in no hurry," the warrior narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Why does it sound like the wife is reprimanding her husband?
"I recently received the title of Dragon of the North," I said casually, "this gives me some kind of conditional right in her head to communicate with her almost as equals." Plus, Firebenders value strength. And I proved that I am strong, very strong.
- And how? Suki raised an eyebrow.
"Okay," I exhaled, "let me clarify." "Dragon" is a very honorable title. There is simply nothing higher than him. The second is only for Prince Iroh. And they gave it to me for the successful assault and capture of the North Pole with fairly minimal casualties on our part, while defeating the spirit of the north one-on-one.
- A…
"And I did my best to save the people," I said, sighing again, "you can be proud of me." Of course, casualties among warriors were inevitable, but water mages would not fade into oblivion.
"That's good," the girl said, slightly confused, "but nevertheless, we will fight each other, apparently, is it really impossible...
"You can't, Suki, you can't," I interrupted her, "Azula can be an ordinary person." She can be happy, laugh and communicate normally, but if you just lightly touch the conventional red line, as you did today... I'll be honest, she could very well kill someone, and she won't get anything for it. Moreover, most likely, sooner or later this will happen, because my communication with Azula can relax the others, and the irreparable will happen. And she will be in her right, Suki. The ruler of such a hot nation must be the hottest. Literally. "She must show everyone that she is strong, independent and unforgiving of mistakes," I said almost in one breath, looking into the girl's eyes and trying to convey my thought.
- It's kind of... wild, no?
"Unfortunately, the Fire Mages are not ready to accept another leader. That's how we are made. There's no other way yet," I sighed.
"Okay, I... understand," said the warrior, "and I'll try to behave well."
"Well done, that's good," I exhaled as if I had not just spoken to a subordinate, but had defused a bomb.
- Don't you want to go to the circus? - Suki remembered, - a traveling circus came here recently, and they say that it is simply very good, especially the performance of the gymnast.
- Hmm, circus you say? Stray? — I raised my hand to my chin.
It seems that you won't have to go far to find Azula's first friend.
***
- You say there's a traveling circus in the city? - whatever one may say, the princess can only eat in certain places. I was surprised to be honest because this is the first time I can remember seeing Azula eat.
Observing all the rules of decency, without turning into demonstrative food, so that everyone can see how cultured she supposedly is. It was easy and simple, and most importantly, she took food quickly.
So, I was surprised that the guards following her did not try the food before the princess. Apparently this is overkill. Or they don't fight here yet using the dagger and noose method, only with the sword.
So, we had dinner, surprisingly, in a regular soldiers' canteen. It's clear that we had a separate menu and table, but, as they say, the menu is separate, but the products and cooks are the same.
My opinion of the princess rose from this, and I think I'm not the only one.
This is how it combines some kind of simplicity in some moments and the arrogance of a crowned person. I really feel that it's unlikely that she consciously decided to carry out a PR campaign by eating here.
If only because people here are not familiar with this, and there is no need for it. The princess will earn more respect if she burns someone with fire. Preferably an enemy. And that's not necessary.
"Yeah," I nodded, throwing food into my mouth with a fork, "a traveling circus." I'm sure Ty Lee will be there.
"The probability is too small," the princess shrugged, "you understand, there are many such circuses."
- How do we even plan to find Ty Lee then? — I raised one eyebrow. Azula looked up from her plate at this gesture and chuckled very quietly, glancing at my eyebrow.
I didn't practice it in front of a mirror to make it more demonstrative. No. Dot.
"Ha-ha," said a voice in my head, "I still can't calm down from the morning performance."
"Leave me alone," I said.
"Somehow," Azula answered after a second pause, "it doesn't matter."
Yeah, he doesn't want to talk about his informants. Well, okay.
"Then I invite you to take a walk to the nearest traveling circus to appreciate the performance," I invited the girl to... to search for her friend.
Azula, having already made an indecent pause, put down her cutlery and looked up at me. Your inquisitorial gaze.
Brrr.
"Because in any case, I think it's worth checking whether Ty Lee is there or not," I added, and my face did not waver at her look, as if I interpreted it as a questioning one.
"I think we can go," Azula graciously agreed, nodding her head and continuing to eat the dish.
Why do I have the feeling that I was misunderstood? Whether by chance or on purpose, it seems as if I invited you on a date.
Well, it's okay, I'm a simple person - I'll build an oak tree. The solution is ten out of ten when you do it with a princess and almost the strongest fire mage, but what can you do?
"Don't be an idiot, maybe?" - said a voice in my head, - "Well, you know, as an option?"
"Leave me alone," I answered as usual.
As I expected, something happens that I don't understand and don't want to understand. Azula has a standard set of combat clothing, the only ones I've seen her in: red robes with protective inserts, but flexible enough to not hamper her agility.
Now these clothes have been replaced with something more... decent. There are no combat inserts, and the clothing, in principle, is clearly not combat.
In general, the gesture is understandable. No matter what you meant, I assumed it was a formal invitation to a date or something, period.
What about me? And I just went to my poor fellows, to Suki, talked a little about this and that and came at the appointed time. Of course, not only did I not change my clothes, I didn't take off my mask.
Yes, I rarely take off my mask, so what?
Azula was mercifully silent about this, but looked at me with a look. Well, to put it bluntly.
"Oh, you fool," said a voice in my head, "Well, you invited the princess to the event, not down the aisle, right? What stopped you from dressing up at least a little? Just for the sake of decency? Now she will look like a fool. Because next to you, you look more like security than an escort. And she dressed up, clearly expecting accompaniment."
Well... I was stupid. I'm not used to such situations.
- "Are you really an aristocrat?" — Vatu even said somehow tiredly, "How can you not understand such simple situations?"
"Listen, somehow you're too savvy for a spirit that shouldn't understand people at all," I said sarcastically.
"It's none of your business, little man," he said somehow too woundedly and fell silent.
It seems he was even offended. Anyway. By and large, I don't care what Azula will look like and that Her Highness will lose face a little.
In front of whom, after all? Will there be someone there who will understand this? Well, maybe Ty Lee, yeah. So what.
- You found out where the traveling circus is now, right? Azula asked, not forgetting to add some venom to her voice.
"Of course," I replied. It's good that Suki mentioned this, let's go.
For some reason, it was tempting to ask, "Why did she dress up like that?" Somehow the breeze in my head is going somewhere wrong. Why the hell am I tempted not to pull a tiger's whiskers, but rather to try to jump from the roof of a high-rise building at random.
The circus was not far away, and thank God, because walking with a princess who is angry with you is still a pleasure. It's good that I'm wearing a mask. Yes, still. Because it makes it easier for me. Morally.
It's as if I hid from the world, it's just psychologically easier.
The circus arena stood on the main square, and there was already a sizeable crowd around. My brain made an error when trying to imagine the princess in line, but she made it simple and just went towards the main thing - behind the arena.
I intervened at the moment when Azula was asked to kick out all the guests so that the circus would perform exclusively for the sake of the princess. And she was inclined to agree, apparently, it stroked her ego quite well. But I decided to intervene.
"Oh, I think Ty Lee will like to perform solely for the sake of her friend," I said absolutely seriously, "after all, you haven't seen each other for a long time."
For a second, for one second, Azula thought. I directly saw how quickly and lightningly the thought process took place in her pretty top of her head.
Apparently, her desire to receive an individual attitude towards her person went against the understanding that Ty Lee was unlikely to like it. And she obviously wouldn't want to force her friend to go with her; on the other hand, the question that she is the resource we need is settled, and if she doesn't want to, we'll have to take extreme measures. True, I will do this now.
We didn't say it out loud, but we have too few "units" to throw around.
"It's not worth it," the princess answered condescendingly, "perhaps just separate places from the crowd will be enough."
No sooner said than done, and here we sit and watch the performance. Well what can I say. Not very impressive. I've been through so many things that clowns and duck-bear training can't cause me anything other than boredom. Even Azula, who had clearly experienced less than me, looked at this, almost falling asleep.
No, she didn't show it, but judging by Kamenmo's face and the fact that she sits motionless, she has long mastered the method of sleeping with her eyes open. Heh, as it turned out, our ideal warrior was not without her lessons at school, during which she simply slept off.
We both perked up a little when the gymnasts entered the arena. Well, it's strange, honestly. Now, I could repeat this, without unnecessary modesty, except perhaps for such strange arches, but Azula, already trained and strengthened by bending, is not.
An interesting fact came to mind: I discovered my bending because I am a very strong naturally airbender. She just overwhelmed me and found a way out. But some, even with above-average strength, simply could never have known that they had their own bending. Why? Because in each country they only test for bending that corresponds to that country.
And in this way you can unknowingly release the same air bending.
While I was thinking about this, it turned out that the performance had ended, and everyone had already begun to leave. Well, we went, without hesitation, back to the main building.
But we didn't get there, Ty Lee was found at the emergency exit, through which they let us in so that we wouldn't stand in the crowd, and through which we exit.
- Azula! - she exclaimed joyfully, rushing to hug the princess. To my great surprise, even though the princess pretended that she didn't really like it and had to endure it, I didn't believe it at all. Firstly, the corners of her lips were raised, which signaled that she didn't really dislike her, and secondly, we know what Azula does with people who really allow themselves too much in relation to her - I I saw you from above! I am so glad to see you.
"Hello, Ty Lee," the princess smiled as sincerely as she could, in fact it looked forced, but it was sincere, "how are you doing in this... place?"
- Great! My aura has cleared, and I feel that I am in my place - and she is supposedly a joyful person in life who sees only good in everything? Well, at least there is some positivity in our team - who is this with you?
Another girl asked in pursuit, however, this was the moment - she clearly wanted to clarify about the outfit, she even looked around Azula's body, but, apparently, she decided to prudently remain silent.
- Uh-uh, this is great, - no, nothing good, and Azula and I understand this, they tell us in no uncertain terms, they say, I like it here and would not want to change my decision - this is Aki. The Dragon of the North, my companion on our mission...
"You may know me under the name "Kira," I helpfully suggested.
And if at the words about the "dragon of the north" her eyes widened a little, clearly in slight misunderstanding, then at "Kira" they already became the size of a coin.
- The one? - Tylee asked, "I thought these were stories of different hunters and sailors there," she added somehow even childishly.
- Well, as you can see, I'm real.
- Why the dragon of the North? — Ty Lee continued to bombard us with questions, not allowing us to get to the essence of our dialogue. She seems smarter than she lets on - I've only heard about the Dragon of the West.
"For the successful capture of the North Pole and victory over the spirit of water," Azula answered dryly, clearly not happy with the fact that she was praising me again.
- Wow! And why…
"Ty Lee, we are on an important matter, actually," Azula interrupted her, clearly realizing that this could go on for a long time, "I want you to help me with my mission."
The expression on the gymnast's face clearly turned sour from this, even though she tried not to show it. Judging by the descriptions of Azula, I was building a slightly different portrait in my head, a more frivolous person.
But in fact, don't put your finger in her mouth, she understands everything. Well, apparently, the environment and the school were not in vain. Well, the original approach needs to be changed. Putting pressure on her is not an option, she, of course, will follow, but personally, I will calmly question her devotion and dedication to the cause. Therefore, without allowing Azula to continue, he began to speak.
"The Avatar has shown himself and he is categorically against the Fire Nation," I said with a sigh, taking off my mask so that there would be closer contact with the person, so she would trust more, "moreover, he is determined to defeat us in this war." Considering that, even if we wanted to, we have no chance, after he learns all the elements, and he has already mastered two: water and air, then time began to play categorically against us. We have a maximum of about six months before the avatar comes into its power, and then it will only be a matter of time before it becomes a matter of defeat. Therefore, we all make every possible effort to win quickly. The princess and I have been given the most difficult task to take Basingse within a few months. But for this we need people. Not ordinary soldiers, but more skilled ones, and those whom we trust more. Azula chose you.
At this moment, I took a slight pause, looking into Ty Lee's eyes, where the stages of acceptance were already passing. The fish was hooked and after the question was posed in this way, she couldn't help but agree. Patriotism is something that is very well instilled in the minds of the subjects of the Fire Nation.
"Without you, your skills and abilities, it will be much more difficult for us to complete the mission on which we will win this war or lose miserably," Azula picked up, which I, of course, didn't like, but from her lips these words sounded better.
"So we really hope that you will respond to our call," I added.
The patient is ready, take him out. I concluded, looking at her face. How could it be otherwise? In addition to such a patriotic itch, I most likely touched her childhood complexes with the recognition of her abilities. Growing up in a family with so many children seems to imply such complexes.
"I... of course, I agree," Ty Lee said, returning the smile to her face, "but you will tell us about who you are and your adventures." There have been too many different rumors, and I'm just interested.
"Of course," I nodded, clearly relieved. It's good that it worked and I wasn't forced to resort to threats.
"I'll go and notify the director," the girl said cheerfully, doing a cartwheel towards him. "And there was no need to put pressure on my childish complexes by appealing to my particular need," Ty Lee casually added when she walked away some distance.