"She's kind of strange," Toph finally declared. "She didn't even ask how Chan knows the princess."
"That's Ty Lee," Azula replied. There was a curious blend of condescension and—who would have thought it?—genuine affection in her voice. "She accepts the world exactly as she sees it and doesn't waste time asking unnecessary questions."
"Even so," I said, stating the obvious, "you're planning something to bring her over to your side."
"Yes. I need her, and I'll have her." There it was again—that unmistakably imperious tone.
"Ooh! Are we talking ropes and tying people up?" the little bandit asked with an impudent, eager grin. "Count me in!"
"...Huh?" For the first time, Azula gave Toph a long, thoughtful look. "Good girl..." she murmured almost automatically a second later, sounding genuinely at a loss.
"Pfft! You're not bad yourself!" Toph shot back without missing a beat, beaming like a newly minted gold coin. "You've got style!" She even nodded with obvious respect.
The little menace...
"Speaking of tying people up," I cut in quickly, redirecting the princess's attention, "as your advisor, I'd recommend not overdoing it. Otherwise you'll only make things worse."
"Are you teaching me how to deal with my own friend?" The diversion had worked, and now I found myself pinned beneath a distinctly displeased stare.
"I'm offering advice that may help your friend remain your friend, rather than becoming a prisoner on a leash. Whether you choose to follow that advice is entirely up to you."
I met her irritated gaze calmly.
For several seconds we simply stared each other down...
Until the princess yielded.
"Very well. What do you suggest?"
"Ty Lee is an exceptionally compassionate girl. Just convince her that she is the one you need—not merely an assistant for your mission or another member of your entourage, but Ty Lee herself. And you can always emphasize the adventures ahead, the opportunities she'll have to prove herself. From what I've observed, having other people recognize her talents means a great deal to her."
"Fine." After a moment's hesitation, she nodded. "But you're coming with me."
And before I could object, I found myself all but dragged along in tow.
***
How exactly we managed to persuade Ty Lee deserved a book of its own. Possibly two volumes.
One thing, however, I could say with absolute certainty: Azula revealed a side of herself I'd never seen before.
I'd long since grown accustomed to the fact that the princess instinctively tried to bend everyone she met to her will. In that respect, the way she dealt with me was no different from how she treated anyone else—except that, in our case, she'd simply found an immovable object. Even so, her style never really changed.
So imagine my surprise when I saw her chatting with Ty Lee with genuine warmth and obvious delight. Then again, it was difficult for anyone to maintain a serious demeanor around that inexhaustible fountain of positivity. Considering that, Azula held out remarkably well.
Altogether, convincing Ty Lee took nearly two hours. It included sharing memories (during which I tactfully took a walk outside), appeals to the promise of exciting adventures (that was where I got roped into recounting where the hell I'd been, what I'd seen, and what I'd been up to; the princess, incidentally, listened just as intently), and finally the argument that, without Ty Lee, Azula herself would simply wither away. Naturally, she never said anything of the sort outright, but strip away all the diplomatic wrapping, and that was essentially the message.
In the end, we managed to talk Ty Lee into coming.
As a bonus, we received an invitation to her "farewell performance."
When the circus director learned who had honored his troupe with a visit, he practically offered to put on a private performance just for us. That was where I stepped in, quietly pointing out to the princess that if her friend truly craved an audience, then giving her final performance before leaving to an audience of barely a dozen people—the very same people she'd continue traveling with afterward—wasn't exactly the best idea.
Azula agreed and informed the esteemed Master Peng that she was traveling incognito and preferred not to attract unnecessary attention.
The Herald's presence alone would be quite sufficient.
Peng respectfully bowed to the silent Blast standing nearby, assured us he understood perfectly, and hurried off to issue his final instructions, leaving Azula and me alone for a while. Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors, just as befitted the Herald's entourage, remained beside Blast. A few of the girls had already started making eyes at our stern, intimidating companion.
Ah...
"I have to admit," I said, breaking the silence, "I didn't expect to see this side of you."
Standing there in silence seemed rather pointless, and talking with an attractive young woman was infinitely preferable.
Provided, of course, that the attractive young woman wasn't trying to roast you alive.
"Hm?" The princess arched an eyebrow. "Am I not allowed to relax around a friend?" The look she gave me managed to convey, all by itself, exactly what she thought of my insignificance.
Heh.
Some things in this world never changed.
"Why wouldn't you be? It's just... I'd gotten used to thinking of you as a sort of..." I searched for the right words. "...Iron Lady."
"The Herald disapproves of conduct conduct unbecoming a princess?" Azula inquired in an entirely neutral tone.
"The spirits forbid! To be honest, I find this version of you far more appealing than the cold mask. How should I put it... Etiquette, traditions... all those things are necessary, but they also turn people into..." I frowned thoughtfully. "...hmm, something like parts of a machine. An efficient machine, a useful one—yet people are still people, not gears."
"Curious words coming from one of the Fire Lord's most effective executors of his will."
"Even so, my effectiveness comes from thinking outside established patterns rather than remaining within them. That's why I chose the navy instead of the army." And, admittedly, because having an admiral for a father was considerably more useful at sea than it would have been in the infantry. "A ship's captain enjoys far greater freedom in making decisions than a line officer ever does. I think I'd have made a rather poor soldier."
(End of Chapter)
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