Chapter 47

Whatever had happened to Azula, Ren was all for it. Koshi and the bodyguards were strangely mum about things, feigning ignorance with surprising stubbornness. Xing didn't seem much changed, but the princess had undergone a significant transformation. Oh, she tried to mask it, but the cloak of her old self was a loose fit on the princess.

Most especially around Xing.

Azula probably didn't know that she was smiling whenever she looked at the boy, or that she occasionally licked at her lips as well.

"Way to go, Xing," Ren had muttered to herself when she had first noticed. There was hope for the two of them after all. And the massive betting pool that had accumulated around them. By now Ren's many bets would amount to a hefty enough sum to buy Fan into the capital's school for noble girls. All she needed was for Xing and Azula to take a few more steps.

Oh, they weren't trying to sneak about or find some excuse to get some privacy, but it was only a matter of time. Which reminded Ren to keep a closer eye on her daughter; the last thing the princess and the colonel needed was for their burning passions to be snuffed by the child stumbling into them.

At least her spouse was around to help monitor their little girl. Kai might be busy training up the new batch of officers, but the big lug was always ready to drop things for Fan. Not that he cared any less for Ren though. She only needed to give him a particular grin to get her husband to quickly finish up his briefings or tie up social conversations before they both snuck into the nearest empty room to quickly scratch each other's carnal itch.

Occasionally, they'd run into Ping and her prey of the month, usually the princess' off-duty bodyguards. Other times it was the other men and women of the regiment. Hopefully, they wouldn't have to interrupt Azula and Xing (or Xing and Azula…Ren had a bet on that too) in the near future.

"So, dragons, huh?" the training captain asked through soft, heavy breaths as she lay beside Kai on the ruins of their bed (it lasted eight days - this carpenter was a master of his craft). She'd been made privy to the regiment's biggest secret (Xing's plans for a new home and Shiluo's death taking second and third place respectively), mostly because Xing knew that Kai couldn't keep a secret from his wife indefinitely.

Quite true, too. All Ren needed to do was 'tickle' him just right for as long as she needed to. The big turtle duck always gave in within minutes of her edging sessions, which Ren carefully used to secure some extra comforts like getting Fan her own room or promising to cover some of her training shifts.

Xing was wise to keep Ren in the loop.

"You'll see them soon," the captain of the 1st Battalion said with a wide smile tinted with exertion. "He's just preparing for contingencies."

"What contingencies?"

Kai shrugged, and Ren knew that he truly didn't know. No blue balls for him tonight, then.

She did find out a day later, and it was not what anyone was expecting. "This is for Fan." Xing handed over a pair of rather cute stuffed dolls. Dolls that were made to look like dragons, one in red silk and another in blue. "Get her as attached to these as possible. That way, if she happens to run into the real ones, we can lower suspicion if she runs around talking about dragons."

That was rather ingenious, and surprisingly farsighted. Just as expected of her cunning little brother.

Keeping aside the stuffed toys, Ren followed Xing, Kai and Mozi into the colonel's room. Inside, Azula was sitting on the bed, while Ping, Weikong and Rufen stood nearby and watched as two creatures, one a brilliant, glittering red and the other a deep sapphire blue, each the length of Ren's arm and dancing like ribbons in the air in front of the princess.

Both sported wings, though the red one had an extra pair. The blue one had far more tails to compensate though, whipping about like…well, a multi-tailed whip.

Their wings fluttered with the delicateness of butterflies as they swirled about before the entranced princess, yipping and sending out small tongues of flame.

Ren had seen the sculptures and drawings, but to see a dragon in the flesh…

"They're beautiful."

The two magnificent creatures stopped their dance to turn towards the captain, and for a moment she felt a flash of panic about interrupting them. But their keen gazes held only curiosity, and together their heads tilted adorably to one side.

"Ren, meet the dragons. Dragons, meet Ren."

Ren almost squealed with delight as the two serpentine beasts let out soft yips and flowed towards her. They brushed up against her, nuzzling at the captain's neck and face briefly before flying towards Xing, who was nodding at something.

"Well, they like you."

"I'm…I'm glad they did," Ren managed, and then noticed the other captains smirking at her. "What?"

Kai chuckled. "Nah, it's just fun to see someone go through what we did as well."

"I dare say Fan might have some competition," Azula of all people snarked.

"Oh hush, you," she returned, though her gaze remained locked onto the dragons. The way the light sparkled off their scales was almost hypnotic, and their cute little yips gave Ren a protective impulse she'd never felt with Fan before.

"Anyway," Xing interrupted, "Meet Quai Yin…" Ren turned to the red dragon that actually nodded slowly at her, wings flapping laconically. "...and Orochi." Its sibling nodded as well.

Xing then glanced at Azula, and the two exchanged silent looks. "I'll be taking them with me for a while, until Azula has completed her preparations. Keeping them here would also be problematic, so the plan is to build up a suitable place for them in our Zilang barracks."

Ren nodded at that, quickly understanding the risks of having the two dragons on the home islands. Before her thought could go any further, the colonel grinned at her. "Don't worry, I'll have you rotating your work over there as well, so you get to play with them."

She snorted at that, though the nod she gave right after was one of gratitude. Xing was as considerate as ever.

"In any case, Azula has agreed that this remains a secret for the time being, and we'll be making preparations towards the time we cannot keep it anymore. Hopefully by then, we'll be able to properly protect our two new members of the regiment."

They all nodded seriously at that, reminded of the dangers harboring these wondrous creatures would bring should they be discovered. Likely charges of treason being probably the most serious of them. Still, Ren would do her part. After everything she'd seen and done, what's a little bit more of secrecy from the higher ups among the veterans of the 11th?

Speaking of secrecy, Ren gave Xing a leery glare. "So…when did you go from 'your highness' to 'Azula'?" The other adults quickly caught onto that, and their attention zeroed in on their colonel. Admirably, neither Xing nor Azula were too flustered by the collective teasing that followed. The princess instead surreptitiously snuck out a hand to wrap around the colonel's as she half-heartedly retaliated with sharp words and dismissive snorts.

They made a cute couple. Ren would have to remember to pass on the list of herbs Azula would need to keep her eventual nights with her new boyfriend trouble free. On the other hand, Kai better not peddle the snake powder crap to Xing…that stuff was a definite scam. Long lasting nights Ren's sweet ass, the stupid concoction almost ruined the night by inflicting Kai with sudden bowel actions.

*****​

Iroh sighed as he read the latest news from home. Xing had killed himself a dragon, Ozai had destroyed a clutch of dragon eggs, and that sent a new wave of eager dragon hunters out into the world. This was…concerning. If the reports are true, then the boy had managed to face down a restless dragon spirit that Iroh and the other nobles before him had avoided at all cost.

The eggs though? That was new to the prince. Along with the whole tale of resurrecting them. There was much to consider. This Xing once more proved himself to be a highly talented boy. He would have to ask Piandao to reach out and further discern the colonel's ambition. Especially since he was a potential White Lotus recruit, Xing's path should be monitored with some degree of caution.

With Bumi brought down and Omashu lost, the war was taking on a second wind. What the prodigious earthbender saw in allowing himself to be defeated was still beyond Iroh, but the prince was certain that it was not Bumi's idea alone. Whatever Xing had planned, it had been interesting enough to get Bumi to play along. That alone was something to deeply consider.

A shame that the hunt for the Avatar would not be going anywhere near Omashu, else Iroh could sneak in some time with the eccentric king to hopefully draw out more details.

For now though, he had to pass along the report to Zuko, who was still keeping up a stoic mask after the incident at Seedy Merchants Pier. The boy was being too hard on himself, Iroh thought, and no doubt hearing about Xing's new accomplishment would make him push himself harder. At least Zuko took some of Iroh's advice, otherwise the young prince would have likely burned himself out by now.

"Zuko?" Iroh inquired, knocking on the door to his nephew's quarters.

"Yes uncle," came the reply, and Iroh slipped into the room to pass the scroll. As expected, Zuko's gaze hardened as he read through the report, but he managed to steady himself with a slow, careful exhale.

"I thought you killed the last dragons?"

Iroh could only shrug. The other answers he had formulated would likely draw out more unwelcome questions. "It seems I was wrong, then."

"So you think Xing's tale is true?"

"After all he's done, it would be more outlandish if it weren't," he admitted. "I only hope that the Fire Lord's attention on him doesn't push him too hard."

Zuko nodded slowly, staring off into the other end of his room. "Yeah, Xing's a good commander. Hopefully the expectations on him don't become too great and he's not mistreated."

Like me, Iroh knew Zuko refrained from adding.

"We can always stop by Zilang to meet with him and extend our congratulations," the older prince offered, knowing better than to exacerbate the self-pity by addressing it with attempts to cheer Zuko up.

"I'd rather not," Zuko answered with a shake of his head. "Not now. We've lost sight of the Avatar, but I'm sure he's close by. We'll continue searching, until our supplies run low. Then maybe we'll drop by Zilang."

Iroh sighed. "As you say, my prince."

"I do," Zuko replied resolutely. "I know I cannot match Xing, but I must at least try my best uncle." The boy's face twisted briefly into an amalgamation of shame and disgust. "I've disgraced my father. I'd rather not lose what little credibility I have left with the closest thing I have to a friend."

"I'm sure Xing will not see you in such petty light."

"He won't!" Zuko snapped, almost shooting up from his seat. "You think I don't know that?" The young prince then slumped, almost melted down into the chair. "That…that's what makes it worse. I don't deserve his respect, but he gives it so freely…"

Iroh held back a sad sigh and simply laid a comforting hand on his nephew's shoulder. "You know that Colonel Xing does not hold anything against you, he does not see you in any bad light. You should do the same, Zuko."

"I-I can't, uncle. I…I just can't. Not until I've regained my honor. Not until father welcomes me back again."

Iroh could only sigh again. He'd done this whole exchange several times already, all he can do is slowly, patiently chip away at Zuko's stubbornness. Maybe after a few weeks, he'll try again.

That, or he could actually consider sending a message out to Azula. She's the new colonial minister, so maybe Iroh could negotiate some arrangements with his niece…