- Who? Vatu? - I asked the question to myself, knowing that this devil would hear.
"Vatu, Vatu," said the spirit, as if nodding for confidence, "you apparently don't know who the avatar is, right?" Eh, even my name is being erased from history. It's a shame. In any case, you and I are on the same path, and we both have a simple goal - to kill the avatar, am I right?
"It's enough for me to just neutralize him," I said with doubt in my voice.
"Not enough," the spirit said tiredly, "I told you about the Avatar's luck." Everything is easy here, she is playing into his hands in bad faith. Even if he gets to the chains and the dungeon, there will be a group of compassionate people there who will free him. Not now, but in a year. Can you even think? - he said slightly irritably.
- I can. And for now, I think that we need to somehow get rid of the parasites," I snapped, "and not conduct a dialogue with them, where they lure me to the dark side with some far-fetched arguments.
"Do you remember the power I gave you during the fight with the avatar?" - the spirit asked, rejecting the causticity, - you need it. And I'll give it to you. Then we'll talk, without unnecessary witnesses, otherwise you sometimes like to tell me the answers out loud.
Indeed, it was at that moment, in the zone of my sensitivity, that someone came out onto the deck, approaching me with quiet, smooth steps. Well, what do they want in the end, I have a schizophrenic dialogue here, and they keep interfering.
"I told you not to disturb me until the princess arrives," I said, slightly annoyed, to the man who had boarded.
"I'm ALREADY here," someone said behind me, in a rather sarcastic voice.
- Damn, it's already eleven o'clock, right? - I asked awkwardly, staring at the princess, I wonder if the two perfectly identical eyebrows are genetics or she keeps them that way.
In general, the first thing that caught my eye was that the princess was still a beauty. There is no taking away, no adding, there are no flaws at all. Beautiful black hair styled in a hairstyle, amber eyes looking at me slightly squinted, a good figure that is hard to hide behind clothes.
And the second thing is that she is most likely a complete bitch. It's good at least that she's not a crybaby bitch who is simply used to the fact that everyone around her owes her and she's nothing of herself, but a genius bitch who is too strong for her age and demands from everyone either the same results or complete submission . Just an archetypal fire magician.
Well, it will be difficult for me with her. Airbenders rarely get close to firebenders without quarrels, I have already learned this from my own experience. They just have different characters with different values for this.
"If you'll excuse me, Princess Azula, welcome aboard." It's an honor to welcome you on board..." I came to my senses and turned on my pre-rehearsed speech. It's a pity that I forgot it almost completely, so I was very happy with the following words:
— Did you memorize it? — the girl raised one eyebrow.
"Smartly, she miscalculated you," the spirit chuckled in my head.
"... yes," I relaxed, "I absolutely cannot communicate with higher ranks, so the captain, at my request, prepared a speech."
- Why weren't you taught how to communicate with a princess as a child, Kira? — the princess continued, highlighting the address sarcastically.
- We taught. But my master dug up all the grains of knowledge on this basis and threw them away," I stretched my lips in a smile, even if it wasn't visible behind the mask.
"Hmm," was all the girl answered. Obviously he knows who my Master is and understands what I mean.
"Is something wrong, princess?" — I decided to clarify.
- Maybe you will observe at least the minimum rules of decency and take off your mask in front of the crowned person? - wow, so much poison. How nice.
- Ha, crowned lady. "And the girl knows her worth," the crazy girl chuckled.
"Oh, right," I answered, taking off the mask and seeing that it was stuck, I said, grinning, "Well, how?" Liked?
- Am I sure I chose the right container? Maybe you're an idiot? — the spirit in my head did not subside and continued to insert its valuable comments.
"It will be suitable for an accompanying person," Azula waved it off easily. "Do you know what the essence of our trip is?" — the princess focused her narrowed gaze, looking straight into my eyes.
- Mmm, well, shall we take Ba Sing Se? - I shrugged, - and if possible, perhaps also an avatar?
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to listen to whispers here and there and put together a picture of why the Fire Lord is releasing his most valuable asset, along with another... decently valuable asset, that is, me. Dragon of the North, by the way.
"You won't die from modesty," the spirit sighed, "and I don't think you came to this conclusion yourself?"
Well, yes, yes, General Lee sent me a letter, outlining approximately what the task would most likely be. But can I make fun of a pretty girl?
"Hmm," was all Azula answered, "and you, of course, have ideas on how to do this?"
"No," I answered simply. - Let's think of something. Personally, all I know about that fortified city is that it is surrounded by large walls. Although we are not titans to just try to break through them, are we? So along the way we will formulate a plan for how we will penetrate there. Maybe we'll organize a revolution - there are always oppressed classes, or maybe we'll just quietly kill the tsar and say that's how it happened. Let's see.
Oh, the look she gave me after my speech was worth it. In any case, I'm not going to lay all my cards on the table. With such a special person, the main thing is to understand how she breathes and what motivates her, and then we will have frank conversations over a cup of tea.
So far I haven't understood anything. Does she need something from me or is she unhappy with her father's decision? Is she aware of every step in my life or just the broad strokes? Nothing is clear, but in any case, it's time to get used to the new circumstance. To her.
"Yeah, and you'll get used to it quickly," said the spirit, "she'll watch you very carefully, and now, if you can't add a little bit of light to mask your air, with an attentive look it'll bake once or twice."
And that too. Now I need to forget about air magic in general, otherwise I might get burned and who knows what will happen.
"Go give the order to leave," Azula said, turning her gaze to the sea, "and then come back here, let's see what you're worth in a direct confrontation."
"As you order, princess," I calmly responded to the order.
Yes, but now this is the most offensive thing, I didn't feel the conditional leash of bondage before. And now here she stands and holds him straight on the leash. He can order something for me at any moment.
- What did you want? So that she blushes from your charisma and achievements, the hem of my dress with both hands? Naive. Ahead of you lies walking on very thin ice with this fifa.
Yeah. Also, what to do with a "direct collision"? If I lose, then it's all over. It will be counted among the rags on which you can wipe your feet and throw them away. And if I can win, then I'll also harbor a grudge. Maybe we should somehow try to get a draw?
"Don't make any guesses there," the spirit interrupted my thoughts, "lose, win, draw." You speak as if you are a priori stronger than her. As it goes, so it goes, everything is not as categorical as you describe, there are good sides everywhere. In general, it's better to immediately show her her place and win. To make it easier to seduce later.
What? What does this have to do with it?
- Oh, I don't need to be here. "I know you people very well, your whole life is based on sex," the spirit said, "become better in order to find a better partner, earn more in order to find a better partner, become stronger in order to find a better partner, and so on. Do you understand.
Great. In addition to the princess, a spirit-pimp, obsessed with sex, settled in my head. What's next?
And I know what's next. We must once again somehow break through all the crap, improve our magic, defeat Aang and finally enjoy a well-deserved rest.
The main thing is to once again experience future adventures.
And maybe even seduce the princess, who knows?