𝓐𝓬𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓒𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓷 {𝓐𝓣𝓛𝓐}

Part 17: I don't like it

Note: No important shpeal, sorry.
Originally, wanted the Mc to learn and love to play an instrument and make Ozai cut a finger off so she can't play no more. But felt like that was too over the top. English is not my first language so there might be some miss spells and grammar mistakes, sorry

When it comes to the other nations, she hadn't got much of an impression.
Within the four elements, Fire is superior. Unlike water and earth, they can conjure up their own element.
Waterbenders are the cheap replica that didn't quite get the memo. They are underdeveloped, uncivilised and unwilling to grow and adapt. And, from what they send for their representatives, they can be rather loud and emotional. They had no etiquette, complete fools, that's what they were.
As for the Air Nomads, well, there is nothing to be said. If they were any powerful, maybe they would have survived long enough for her to meet one. It has been almost a hundred years since they were eradicated. What was that word her father used?
Ethnic cleansing.
Yes, that's the one. They even had the avatar amongst their numbers yet they still failed. It simply goes to show who was the most inferior.
She couldn't help but let out a hum, her eyes focused on the metal deck and large body of water. The ship swayed from left to right, providing her a rather entertaining view of the new soldiers toppling over one another. They wouldn't be able to bend from how unstable they are, much less light a candle.
She tapped her finger on the table.
Her current destination was one of their Eastern borders where a relatively large unit of Earth Kingdom soldiers were trying to "take back what they lost."
Her rigorous training regiment seemed to have paid off as her grandfather and father had finally taken notice of her greatness. They now know just how far she has come. And as a reward to her achievements, and to further add on to the improvements, she will be accompanying you on your assignment.
She felt her eyebrow twitch.
They say it's best to learn from experience but... her first ever time being on the field is when they are against a hoard of earthbenders. Benders which she has no experience in fighting.
She was not worried. She was annoyed.
Yes, she was adamant in being able to fight alongside you but even Zuko knows that property preparations prior to a battle is crucial. And this is not just any battle, this is a war. Fight back to back against undisclosed amounts of opponents.
There is no such thing as a perfect plan and certainly no one knows for certain what exactly would transpire. Especially in a war. Her grandfather did send enough soldiers so the ration would be one against three, favour tipping towards the fire nation. But just as there are master firebender there could be master earth benders. And those very same rookie soldiers and officers that failed to stand straight on the rocking boat could and would fail to stand against the rock chuckers.
She has read countless reports of greenies running away or immediately going into the fetal position.
She'd seen a water bender fight, they had a more fluid motion, passive compared to theirs. From what she has observed from the duel between the chieftain and Zhao, she could at least be able to predict what and how they move, to an extent.
But, as her current opponent, the Earth Kingdom, she has not faced, much less interacted with an earth bender. Though she wouldn't just interact with anyone.
She clicked her tongue before resting her chin on her fist. Her finger still tapping and her brow still twitching.
This would be the first step towards her goal. With this battle, she will make sure her name echoes through the skies and seas, so everyone would know just who will be ruling them.
This will be her debut.
And if any of her soldiers were to dare to even step foot out of formation, she'll be sure to snuff out their flames. If they are so afraid of the enemy that they are willing to abandon their posts, she simply needs them to fear her more. She will not be embarrassed on this field, not by her own troops, and especially not in front of you.
Believing that she gave you and the company commanders ample time to brief over your plan, she slammed her hand on the table before jumping off her chair in search of you.
Though she knows that she will not have a major role in this battle, since she was sent here to simply observe, she can fight if need be. You still needed to be promoted to general.
When she made it to the metal door, she didn't waste her time knocking before simply walking in. Upon seeing her, the occupants of the rooms greeted her with a bow.
"Tell me, Major. How long till we hit land?"
You kept your head down along with the others, "Not long, Princess. We shall be docked within the hour."
She let out a hum, tilting her head just a bit before walking closer to you. "You all are dismissed, go back to your stations. I would like to talk to the Major, in private."
She kept her hands behind her back while the older men walked out. Once she heard the metal door close shut, she asked you to kneel.
You did as you were told. Your fist and knee connected to the floor, your gaze still swam low.
Now, it was her who looked down at you. She pushed a loose strand away from your face, lifting your chin up like how you used to when she was younger, she noticed your lips spasm.
She kept her hand on your jaw as she looked at the bandage on your cheek. With her free hand, she ripped it off. There, on the apple of your cheek, laid a mark that now perfectly fit her palm. Your number just barely peaked from under it.
"I think it's been long enough, don't you think so?" She didn't want the burn to fully heal, just let it scar over it a bit. "Why so quiet, Major? Worried that you might fail now that I'm here?" She smiled, her thumb grazing over the burn, testing out the texture of the skin.
She notices you bite back a hiss at her gentle probing, "No, Princess. This should be a low casualty mission compared to my prior assignments. The Fire Lord would not have permitted your presence if it weren't so."
She lets out a sigh, it's just not the same. She picked at the flaking skin around the discoloration. Maybe she was too brash in calling in the palace doctor, maybe she should have waited a bit before getting it treated. Or, getting it treated was the fally. Getting the burn infected would have given a different outcome. And for bonus, she could have had an excuse to look after you for a bit. 
The hand that held your face remained, her pointer finger extending while dragging her nail under your chin. The side of her finger dipping along the valley of the bone of your jaw.
She could feel your heartbeat spike up, just at her fingertip.
Yet you still didn't look up.
Strange.
Why won't you look at her?
Despite your beating heart, you still remained stoic.
The grip on you tightened. You're at it again, aren't you?
She bit the inside of her cheek. Does she have to hurt you to get a reaction? Are pained expressions all she's going to get?
Her hand twitched once, twice, and thrice.
Why are you being so difficult?