It is not a foreign sun that shines down on Yue now, that shines down on the deck of the Water Tribe ship she stands on, that shines down on the glittering ocean around it or the chain of islands ahead of it, drawing closer every moment. Yet it seems the sun she has known all her life has been only a pale suggestion of this one that now casts light and heat on the rapidly approaching Fire Nation. Not even midday, the temperature is already stifling. Yue wears her formal robes and furs, as befits a diplomatic meeting between nations, but now she worries she's going to sweat straight through them, or collapse with heat stroke. A fine first impression on the Fire Nation dignitaries that would be. Not that they or her father's own contingent of dignitaries will be paying the slightest attention to her; Yue's role is strictly decorative. A princess's duty is to dress well, smile kindly, and hopefully one day attract a husband.
She has been allowed to come, however, on this journey far from her home to lands she's only ever heard stories about, even though there's no real need for her, and she feels grateful for that. How many young women, or even men of the Water Tribe will have the chance to visit the Fire Nation? It's a rare honor. And it is a beautiful sight, she thinks, as their ship draws nearer to the ports along the shoreline, this island country and the oceans surrounding it, even the sun, although she cannot imagine living in such heat all the time. She had known, of course, that the temperature would be different from home, but the abstract knowledge had failed to prepare her for the actual experience. Somewhat guiltily she thinks of all the clothes she had packed, passing few of which will be suitable for the weather. She couldn't bear to spend the entirety of their stay here indoors, coming so far and never seeing any more of this country than she is now, so she supposes she'll simply have to become accustomed to the heat.
Their ship is moored by Fire Nation dockworkers, moving through their tasks with practiced ease while Yue watches them in fascination, these strange people who look so different from everyone she's ever known, with their light skin and high cheekbones and unfamiliar clothes. The women, who work on the docks alongside the men, have thin leggings and vests that bare their arms and midriffs, some of the men wear nothing at all above their waists, a fact she notices with a more than idle interest while trying to appear as though she's not looking. She has wondered, at times, if her father had brought her along hoping she might find a husband within the Fire Nation. Though peaceful at present, a marriage would surely go a long way towards cementing positive relations between the two nations, and he is likely not entirely unaware of her lack of enthusiasm for her prospective match within the Tribe. Although certainly he wouldn't want her to marry a dockworker. Perhaps one of them is a lord in disguise. She amuses herself briefly with this idea, supplying her with a smile as their delegation disembarks from the ship.
Fire Nation soldiers fall in ahead of them, escorting them along the dock, towards wide cobblestone stairs leading up into the square of the port city, where palanquins bearing the emblem of the Fire Lord are visible. There are even women among the soldiers, Yue sees, something she had been told but had somehow never managed to entirely believe. More soldiers stand arrayed in the square, holding banners; behind them are servants waiting beside the empty palanquins, and in the center of the square stand a very large man and a very small woman, both wearing armor. Yue isn't sure if this show is meant to be threatening, or flattering. Possibly both, or maybe this is how all of their formal functions are conducted and it means nothing at all. Yue lacks the political knowledge needed to navigate these waters.
Standing behind her father, Yue watches as the woman and man cross the square towards them, and sees that the woman is in fact a girl, no older than Yue herself, though her stance and her face convey such easy authority and confidence that Yue isn't even surprised when she, rather than the lumbering, middle-aged soldier beside her begins to speak after a perfunctory bow. "General Olan," she says, without introducing herself, nodding to the man beside her. "His soldiers have been practicing for this day for quite some time, I'm told."
"Their comportment was impeccable." Her father bows in return, addressing the general, seeming unsure what to make of the girl, who in turn appears amused.
"My father will meet with you tomorrow," she says. "Being Fire Lord is, unfortunately, quite a demanding occupation."
"Ah," Yue's father says, looking at the girl now, appearing even more uncomfortable. "So, you..."
"As Princess, I am empowered to act in the Fire Lord's stead whenever he requires me to do so." Her tone is easy, almost bored. Yue has heard many stories about Princess Azula, and though she seriously doubted the details of most of them, they were enough to create a vague presence in her mind, of blue fire and harsh power. She had never imagined the princess being so young, although this fact must have been mentioned in some of the stories. Her eyes are an unusual, piercing gold, as sharp and fast as arrows and as arresting as a trance, as Yue discovers when they lock on to hers and she finds herself unable to look away. "Ah, Princess Yue." she says, shifting slightly to one side to observe her more carefully behind her father. "I was told that you would be coming."
Her father gestures her forward, and she bows deeply, saying, "It is an honor to meet you, Princess Azula."
Azula gives a return bow that's little more than a nod, the faintest hints of a smile playing around the edges of her mouth. "The honor is all mine. As my parents saw fit to give me a brother instead of a sister, tomorrow's meeting will be the first time my father has held an audience with two princesses."
"Ah," Yue's father speaks, still uncomfortable. "Yue is with us merely as an indulgence on my part. She will not be participating in the negotiations these next few days."
Azula turns back to him, cocking her head slightly to one side. "How will I contribute, if I cannot discuss the future of our two nations with my counterpart?" Her tone is perfectly innocent, transparently so. Yue marvels at the power to speak words no one will believe, knowing that everyone will be forced to pretend as if they do.
"I am aware that in the Fire Nation..." her father begins, and then trails off. He glances briefly at General Olan, perhaps hoping for some rescue. The general's eyes remain fixed forward, looking unwaveringly out towards the sea. Her father turns back to Azula, and tries again. "Among our people, in the Water Tribe, princesses are not politicians. We-"
"Yes," Azula says idly, her tone like a gutting knife slowly descending towards a trapped fish. "I'm familiar with this... tendency of your tribe." Her pause before and intonation of 'tendency' suggests other terms left unspoken. "Yet," she brings up a hand to cup her chin, tapping one finger in mock thoughtfulness. "We are not in the Water Tribe, are we?"
Yue knows her father is fighting between the fury this girl is intentionally stoking within him and the knowledge that he cannot afford to show it. Suddenly overcome with a powerful desire to be like her, to have the power and self-assurance to decide her own destiny, she summons all the nerve she can muster and speaks before her father does. "Of course, Princess Azula, I would be glad to join you tomorrow."
"Wonderful!" Azula smiles, the expression somehow making her face even more difficult to read. Then, seemingly having gotten whatever she wanted from the encounter, she appears to lose interest, the intensity of her gaze and presence lessening. "The servants and General Olan's men will show you to the palace," she says with a wave of her hand as she turns away, marching in precise steps back to her palanquin, disappearing behind its curtain as the servants lift and begin to carry her away.
The Fire Lord's audience chamber is a large, high-ceilinged room with marble floors and pillars. Unfriendly and stark, there is hardly any furniture to be seen. There is a dias, reached by stairs, around which flames dance. It was from here that the Fire Lord had come when the meeting began, walking calmly through the fire and down the steps. Arrayed around the room are military officials, ministers, and other functionaries the titles and duties of whom Yue had quickly lost track, as well as her father and his own advisors. She sits next to Princess Azula, where the other girl had gestured for her to take a seat.
The Fire Lord says little, disappearing behind an unreadable face, seeming content to let his daughter take the reigns of the negotiations. Here Yue also gathers only bits of information, as the discussions move in an unpredictable whirlwind of topics. Imports and exports, pricing of goods and tariffs, crews to man transport ships, division of funds to pay the crews, immigration, establishment of permanent envoys, borders, languages, laws, and on and on. Yue tries her best, but she's never had any experience in politics or administration. She is in awe of Azula, who speaks without hesitation or doubt, who corrects her father's own experts on minute details, like the exact number of vessels departing a particular harbor every month, who drives the policy of entire country without apparent strain, as though she was born for it. Which, Yue supposes, she was.
Of course, women in the Water Tribe have power as well. Wives of chieftains and councilors and advisors can influence the nation through their husbands; women have their own circles where favors are traded and decisions are made. But never do they dictate policy in the same way the men do, in the same room with them, as if no separation existed. Yue wonders if Azula is exceptional in her own country, or if she simply behaves the way any Fire Nation woman does. She wonders if she herself would be like Azula, if she had been born in the Fire Nation. If she would be confident and powerful and feel it was her right to impose her will.
No, she decides, she wouldn't. A person must be more than where they were born, and no matter the circumstances she would never be the same person as Azula. But perhaps she would have been better equipped to serve her country in some way; now, she is without purpose. Then she makes another decision: self pity is entirely pointless, and wishing the past had been different doubly so. But now, she is in the room where history is being made, where the fates of countries are set in place and though she is late, she can begin to learn. She's not so naive as to imagine Azula had bullied her father into allowing her presence for Yue's own benefit, but whatever her reasons, Yue can take advantage of the opportunity.
There are gardens within the palace grounds; small patches of flowers, short, neatly trimmed hedges, wandering streams, and ponds filled with an exotic array of fish almost entirely unfamiliar to Yue, a surprising fact given how central fish are to the Water Tribe's existence. Even Yue, a princess kept from almost any task that might be interesting or useful, knows how to fish, how to clean them and cook them. She's feeling slightly bitter about the lot of a princess in the Water Tribe, not a wholly new emotion, but one she tries to quash whenever it arises. After the conclusion of negotiations for the day, she had been excited to go out into the city, to see some of this new country, as much as she possibly could, only to be told by soldiers charged by her father with chaperoning her that she would not be allowed to leave the palace grounds. Wanting to at least leave the quarters provided for her, large and luxurious though they were, she had wandered into the gardens, determined to see as much as she could within the small area allowed to her.
She sits down beneath the shade of a low, artfully maintained tree, beside a large rectangular pond that appears to have small platforms spread throughout it, just below the surface of the water. She can't guess at the purpose of such a construction, unless it's just a Fire Nation expression of art. Perhaps the only one she'll see on this journey. She feels frustrated with her frustration. On some level, it feels like the height of entitlement to bemoan her life; she is a princess, she will never struggle for food, or a home, she will be taken care of and provided for her entire life. No doubt many envy her position, but even the poorest fisherman has purpose, contributes something to the tribe. She thinks sometimes she would trade her life for theirs, wealth and security given away to at least have freedom, to make choices, to do something meaningful. But would she, really? She doesn't know the answer, or perhaps she does and doesn't want to admit it.
She sighs. Too bitter a chain of thoughts for such a warm evening. At least the gardens are beautiful.
"A firebender can keep herself warm by producing small amounts of heat across her body."
Yue looks up in surprise at the voice, and sees Princess Azula standing beside her, looking out onto the pond, but turning to Yue as she speaks. "I'd wondered if waterbenders possess the same ability but in reverse," the princess continues. "Otherwise you must be sweltering under all that fur."
Yue gives a rueful smile. "I packed poorly for this journey. I think I'm starting to get used to the heat, though."
"It would be an ungracious host that wouldn't provide their guests with clothing suitable for the climate."
It's a moment before Yue realizes this is an offer stated as a fact. "Oh, I couldn't ask you to do that. Really, I'm all right."
Azula waves a hand. "Nonsense. It's not as if I have any shortage of garments; my doddering uncle insists on constantly gifting me things I'm never going to wear. There are closets full of them."
Yue hadn't realized the princess was offering her own clothes. She wonders if there's some sort of symbolism intended there; dressing the foreign princess in the garb of the Fire Nation. The dominance of one culture over another, a presentiment of things to come. Then she decides that she has no political significance at home and certainly none here, and that she hates this twisty way of thinking, trying to imagine the worst of every action. She will treat Azula's offer as generosity whether it's intended that way or not. Clothes are just clothes, anyway. "Thank you," she says, turning and offering a sitting bow, inclining her head and clasping her hands the way she's seen people from the Fire Nation do.
Azula nods, and after a moment sits down beside her. "Tell me about the Northern Water Tribe." she says, in a voice far more used to giving commands than making requests.
"Well," Yue casts around in her mind for what she could say that Azula might find interesting, that she wouldn't already know. She tries to describe the feeling of life there, about the perpetual snow and ice, about the dark months when they have only a few hours of light each day, about the festivals and the spirit lights, about a whale hunt she had once been able to attend. Azula asks more and more questions, about the whales and the fish, about the few hardy crops they're able to grow, about the cold and how they endure it, her sharp eyes locked on Yue, taking in every word. Yue briefly wonders if she's trying to get an upper hand in the negotiations by extracting information from a naive princess, but none of this is secret; she could ask anyone. There's a certain stiffness to her that hadn't been present when she greeted them in the square, or when she was in the Fire Lord's chamber, and Yue thinks that she's just a little awkward and out of her depth when she's just a person and not a warrior princess.
Yue asks about the Fire Nation, and Azula shrugs. "You're here. Anything you want to see, you can see. I can have the servants prepare a palanquin for you if you'd prefer to avoid the sun."
"Unfortunately, I'm not allowed off the palace grounds." A bit of her annoyance creeps into Yue's voice.
Azula frowns lightly. "Who told you that? I'll have them fired. You're a guest in the Fire Nation and entitled to our full hospitality."
"No, no," Yue says quickly, surprised by Azula's sudden vehemence and not wanting to risk the jobs of any palace servants. "My father's soldiers," she explains.
"You are the princess." Azula says flatly. "Soldiers take orders from you, not the other way around." When Yue doesn't respond, Azula huffs out a breath. "Insanity. Your country makes no sense to me. You are born as royalty, the rightful heir to power, then you're required to marry and someone else takes your birthright just because he has a cock between his legs."
Yue almost giggles out of sheer surprise. There's something strangely delightful about Azula's unexpected coarseness.
On the other side of the pond, a girl in pink steps out onto one of the barely submerged platforms, and begins gracefully hopping from one to the next. "They're to teach balance," Azula says, a flicker of annoyance passing over her face as she looks across the pond. "Critical for any firebender, or soldier, for that matter. Of course, it's a bit more realistic if someone attacks you." With this, she raises one hand and releases a jet of blue fire that blows hot air across Yue's face, and races directly towards the girl. She gives a small shriek, jumps into the air, passing over the flame at the height of her arc and then landing on another platform on her hands, before cartwheeling back to her feet, finishing with a front flip that lands her directly in front of Azula and Yue.
"Princess," she says, looking at Azula and bowing. "Princess." she repeats the motion for Yue.
"Are you all right?" Yue asks, although the girl doesn't seem especially phased by having fire thrown at her.
"Please," Azula says dismissively. "We grew up together. She's seen much worse than that, haven't you?"
"Oh yeah," the girl replies, nodding vigorously. "You didn't even set me on fire this time."
"Ty Lee," Azula says with exaggerated patience. "What brings you here on such a pleasant evening?"
"Oh, I was just... around." Ty Lee gestures vaguely. "So I thought I'd see how you were doing!"
"What a tolerably plausible story," Azula rolls her eyes. "However, as you can clearly see, we are quite well, with no particular need for additional company."
"OK," Ty Lee says brightly. "See you later, Princesses!" She scampers off, vaulting over a low stone wall and disappearing from view.
"Did you really set her on fire?" Yue asks.
"Only a few times." Azula says, adding with some exasperation after seeing Yue's horrified expression, "I put her out right after, I'm not heartless. She certainly didn't take it easy on me just because I'm royalty."
Yue is unsure what to make of Azula. Her life is so utterly different from Yue's, it seems absurd to call them both princess. She is strong and quick-witted, but she's harsh as well. Perhaps this whole country is harsh.
"In any case," Azula says, standing after a few moments of silence. "It would be entirely humiliating for the Fire Nation if our visiting neighbors were unable to see the splendors of our capital. Meet me by your quarters after the meeting tomorrow concludes, and I'll arrange for you to see the city." With that she walks away.
When Yue returns to her quarters, stacked right inside the door are box upon box filled with clothes of Fire Nation make, in every conceivable style and color.
On her third day in the Fire Nation, again in the Fire Lord's meeting chamber, listening attentively as the discussions swing back and forth, Yue has begun to wonder how much of her commitment to attend these negotiations is rooted in a desire to learn politics, and how much it's merely an excuse to spend more time watching Azula. There's something strangely compelling about her, that draws Yue's gaze to her, that makes her want to seek out the fire princess whenever she's not around. If Azula were a boy, Yue would think she had a crush.
Perhaps it's the confusing way she exhibits masculine traits. She's powerful and decisive, and reputedly an extremely talented warrior, all things Yue would consider attractive in a man. Her subconscious mind must be picking up on these things, but not recognizing that Azula is also a girl. Satisfied that her explanation makes sense, she returns her attention to the proceedings, which have turned again to exports from the Water Tribe, just in time to hear Azula direct a question at her.
"Princess Yue, would it be difficult for the Water Tribe to hunt more whales than it does currently?"
Yue blinks in surprise at being expected to speak, and then replies. "No, we only hunt as much as we need, and storing excess isn't an issue." Azula asks several further questions; what is the estimated whale population, would increased hunting introduce instability, utility of whale bones and other byproducts. All things that she had heard Yue speak about in their discussion the previous evening. It suddenly occurs to Yue that Azula has specifically engineered this point of negotiation, setting up questions she knows Yue has answers for so she can be seen contributing competently to the meeting. It's so subtle, yet so thoughtful and deliberate that Yue feels a rush of affection for the fire princess. She has rough edges, but she's not at all cold.
Yue looks at herself in the large mirror that takes up the majority of one wall of her palace bedroom. Her Fire Nation leggings and vest are entirely unusual, sturdy but with hardly any bulk to them, to avoid retaining heat. She doesn't exactly look like a Water Tribe princess anymore, but with her skin and eyes and hair no one would mistake her for a Fire Nation native either.
She steps out into the hall outside her quarters, looking around, hoping Azula hasn't forgotten her offer to let Yue leave the palace grounds. She hadn't told her father, knowing he would stop her. Azula wouldn't tell anyone, she would just do it.
"Princess Yue." Yue turns with relief at the voice, and sees Azula approaching with two other girls, Ty Lee and someone Yue doesn't recognize, a bored looking girl dressed in black and dour dark reds. A smile creeps over Azula's face before disappearing again as she looks Yue over. "The Fire Nation suits you," she says, which absurdly makes Yue blush.
"Not sure I need to see this." The second girl says in a near-monotone.
"Mai and Ty Lee," Azula says, gesturing to her companions. "Will be providing your alibi, should your chaperones," she pronounces the word with obvious contempt, "inquire. Mai will inform them that you have been taken monstrously sick from bad fire shrimp, and Ty Lee will provide sounds of distress should additional convincing be required."
"It's a serious problem," Ty Lee says, seeming excited about her role. "Don't eat any fire shrimp."
A palanquin waits at the end of the hall, which opens onto the grounds. Azula steps inside and gestures for Yue to follow, then pulls the curtains closed. They are lifted into the air, a very curious experience, and are carried through the courtyards surrounding the palace. It's a ridiculous luxury, Yue thinks, having someone else carry you. Azula seems as at home in a palanquin as she does in negotiations with people twice her age, although Yue has noticed how muscular she is and doubts she spends much of her time being idle.
"The servants will escort you wherever you'd like to go," Azula says. "I'll return several hours from now to spirit you back inside."
"Oh," Yue says, somewhat let down, having thought Azula would be acting as her guide, but not wanting to appear ungrateful for what was still incredible, utterly unnecessary generosity. "Thank you, that's very kind."
"Or..." Azula uncharacteristically hesitates. "I could accompany you. If you'd prefer."
"That would be lovely," she replies, trying to not to appear too obviously excited and only partially succeeding. "If it's not too much trouble."
Azula waves away this concern. They step out of the palanquin into a crowded city street, smells and plants and architecture and accents all new to Yue in every direction she turns. Azula marches off down the street, and Yue quickly hurries to catch up with her. "You don't have soldiers or anything with you?" she asks, noting how the servants stay behind.
Azula snorts, seeming genuinely surprised. "I'm not in any danger. Neither are you when you're with me."
She begins weaving a tale of the Fire Nation as they walk, its history and traditions, how it was made, how it grew, how it thrives now, every small thing she points out as they walk a single thread in the tapestry. The stones they walk on, carved from cooled magma from a volcanic island intrepid firebenders had learned how to endure, the fruits sold in stall each from a different island in the chain of islands that make up the nation, all here together by way of ceaseless industry, growing and harvesting and shipping. The temples to spirits, the houses of art and music, no detail seems too small to have escaped Azula's study; her passion and love for her country is infectious as she speaks, and endearing. Yue thinks this is the most animated she's ever seen her.
At a restaurant where a firebender cook sears meat with flames from his own hands, Azula buys them both sticks with chunks of exotic meats and vegetables skewered on them. Yue tests the unfamiliar flavors, while taking to care to thank and smile at all the workers who come by their table. It's one of the only things she's able to do for people in the Water Tribe; for whatever reason, the attention of a princess, even one without any real power, is valuable. After a while, Azula rather stiffly does the same, leading to grateful but rather skittish responses. Yue imagines this is not the type of notice they typically garner from their own princess.
When they are leaving, the cook comes up to them, bowing to Azula, but profusely thanking Yue.
"Is this how princesses are normally treated by the common people in your tribe?" Azula asks as they return to the street.
"Sometimes, yes," Yue answers.
"It has its merits." Comes Azula's somewhat grudging response.
The time passes too quickly. Yue feels like she's only just started to see this strange country when she finds herself back at her quarters, bowing to Azula as she departs.
There are training areas within the palace grounds; large courtyards of nothing but stone so there's no risk of anything catching fire. Yue sits at the top of a set of stone steps leading down into one courtyard, watching a few firebenders run through forms unfamiliar to her and occasionally cast gouts of orange flame. If asked, Yue would have said she was interested in seeing the foreign art of bending performed, which is partially true. She and her father's retinue will be departing the following day, and in truth she had heard Princess Azula frequently trained here and was hoping to see her practice her firebending. She is described as a ferocious warrior, which might have at one time intimidated Yue, but having become somewhat familiar with the princess now only excites her.
Her patience pays off, as the fire princess arrives, smiling up at Yue briefly before launching into a complex cycle of forms, far more fluid than that of those around her, who begin to trail away as their princess move from bare forms to bending fire, her blue flames flaring out as she moves through them like a dancer. Yue is enthralled; she has seen amazing feats of waterbending before, but nothing compares to this.
When Azula appears to wind down her practice, Yue descends the steps to her. "You were amazing," she says.
Azula is sweaty and radiant. "I will be Fire Lord." she states, so self-assured, not a sliver of doubt within her.
Three firebenders dressed in training gear enter the courtyard, and Azula smiles. "Finally," she says, cracking her knuckles. "Practicing forms is an essential foundation of firebending, but without application in combat it's meaningless."
"Which one is on your side?" Yue asks as the other firebenders approach.
"My side?" Azula looks amused. "That would hardly be fair to the other two."
Yue steps back as the three encircle Azula, then at an unseen signal, dart in to attack. Azula fights with an incredible economy of motion; she makes no flourishes or unnecessary moves, but she dodges attacks as if they'd never even been aimed at her, her hits are like carefully planned chess moves that impact with an inevitability only realized afterwards. Fire, blue and orange, flares between the combatants. Azula leans back slightly to let a burst rush past her, raising her own hand in the same motion for a return attack. She takes a hit to deliver an even harder one, her moves are precise, deliberate, and devastating.
The bout does not last long. Yue wonders how they find soldiers willing to accept such a task, but she sees their reverence as they walk out of the courtyard favoring their bruised limbs. It's an honor, it must be, for them to witness the fire princess. Young girls in the Fire Nation are very lucky, Yue thinks, to be able to look up to this powerful, beautiful woman as their princess.
Azula looks up at Yue now, smiling again, and suddenly it occurs to Yue that there's nothing masculine about her at all. She still can't pull her eyes away.
A different general accompanies Azula in the square this time, as she conducts the formal sending off of the party from the Northern Water Tribe. She and Yue's father exchange the required words with no flourishes, beyond the glint in Azula's eyes and the excessive politeness in her father's tone. Azula turns to Yue, who stands beside her father this time, instead of behind.
"Princess Azula," she says formally, bowing. "I am indebted to you for the courtesy and hospitality you have shown me. It would be my honor to repay you, should you visit the Northern Water Tribe."
Azula gives her a slow smile and bows back, not strictly necessary given their respective statuses, shared title notwithstanding. "Princess Yue," she says, matching Yue's formality with a glint of playful teasing in her eyes. "It would be discourteous of me to leave you in debt for any longer than necessary, so I will take up your invitation at the earliest opportunity."
When the sun shines down on their departing boat, this time Yue finds its warmth welcome.