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Chapter Text

A hotel as large as the Glass Unicorn would always collect eccentric oddities. Backup beds, in case some of the clientele grew too rowdy. Statues that were in vogue years ago, but didn't fit the current trends. Decorations for various seasonal affairs. Nothing that could be considered crucial, on a day to day basis, just kept around because it would be needed later or because the owner hadn't gotten around to selling it or, in some cases, simply because it was forgotten. There were rooms upon rooms of the things, waiting in rooms without heating, only brushed across every once in a while as a way to keep inventory. So the presence of the mirror, shrouded as it was by the curtain, could easily be excused.

And it wasn't the mirror itself Cinder was interested in, at first. Rather, the curtain--it was her first night here, after all, and she needed something to huddle beneath to keep the cold away. She pulled it off quietly, setting it on her sleeping mat, and then looked back toward the mirror in a half-tired daze. A long golden Feilong curled around the top of the frame, reminding her of stories she had heard sometimes in Mistral. The base of the frame, in contrast, was set to resemble a skeletal drake, its ribbed wings extending in dark contrast. On the left and right of the mirror were even stranger creatures, though carved in odd wood.

The ten-year-old child pulled out her hairbands and looking at her exhausted reflection. She sighed as she ran her hand along the mirror's frame, letting the events of the day drift over her. Maybe this place would be better than the orphanage...?

No.

The way the woman had looked her. The way the girls had looked at her. No, this place wouldn't be better, just a different, wealthier sort of terrible.

Cinder rested her head against the mirror, shutting her eyes tightly enough to keep the tears from leaking out. The light of the shattered moon poured through the thin windows, outlining her form across the glass, and as it reached the eyes of the golden dragon her aching heart yearned for something, anything that could make her situation even the slightest bit better than the rest of her life.

She didn't notice the dragon's eyes briefly glow a deep and resplendent silver, nor the shifting of the reflection through odd shapes and colors, nor the final scene it finally rested on. The creak of a hinge made her jerk back, swinging her head to look at the storage room door--but it was still shut, thankfully shut. She let out a breath of relief, turning to give the mirror one last look--

--and her breath caught.

There, in the mirror, was an ornate room, with reds and golds covering accentuating every surface. Tapestries with stylized black flames hung from the wall, and the poster bed wouldn't have been out of place in the hotel. And yet there was something strange about the room--the candles, the wooden floor, the ink and quill on the desk, it spoke of a place that didn't have any Dust at all.

Strangest of all, though, was the girl staring back at Cinder. The molten eyes, the dark hair, the slant of the chin... it could have been her, perhaps. But the clothes were all wrong--an elegant and comfortable red gown as opposed to her clean but practical white smock. The way the other girl stood, ready to strike back at a moment's notice, was a contrast to Cinder's own wary and cringing stance. And where the girl in the hotel had a face lined with exhaustion and sorrow, the girl in the mirror had a confidence that shone even through her shock.

Cinder hesitantly rose a hand, wincing as her apparent reflection didn't mimic the action. She waved, in what she hoped was a greeting.

"You have one minute to explain what you did with my mirror before I set you on fire," the girl stated, crossing her arms.

Cinder flinched. "I... don't know," she admitted hesitantly. "I just found this mirror and... it wasn't like this a second ago!"

"You really expect me to believe you snuck into the academy and somehow changed this mirror behind my back?"

"The... which academy?"

"The academy." The girl quirked a brow. "The Royal Fire Academy for Girls."

Cinder blinked. "I... I just found this mirror in my room--"

"This is my room!"

"No, I mean this room. On my side of the mirror. I don't... hang on." Cinder grabbed the edge of the mirror, carefully levering it a bit.

"What are you doing?" the other girl asked.

"I'm trying to see if there's any Dust on the back of this mirror."

"Dust?" Cinder could hear the disgust in the other girl's tone. "Is your room really that dirty?"

"No, I mean... Dust. You know, like fire Dust, lightning Dust, ice Dust, gravity Dust--"

"I've had enough of your drivel," the girl declared. "I'm ending this--oof!"

Cinder frowned, looking back at the mirror's 'reflection' again and watching the other girl rub her head. "What happened?"

"What hap--?" The girl glared at her. "Nothing happened!"

"...did you just try to walk through the mirror?"

The girl scowled, glancing away.

"I mean..." Cinder rapped on the glass carefully. "It's a mirror. It's... pretty solid."

"...so it would seem," the girl growled. She took a breath, looking at Cinder again. "Where exactly are you?"

"Um..." Cinder looked at the room on the other side of the mirror. "I'm... at a hotel. The Glass Unicorn. It's in Atlas."

"And where is Atlas?"

"...The kingdom of Atlas? It's..." Cinder thought for a moment. "It's on Solitas. The northern continent."

"You're at the north pole?" The other girl looked Cinder over. "You don't look like you're from the water tribes..."

"The what?"

The other girl scowled. "Don't play dumb!"

"I'm not!"

"You really expect me to believe you're at the north pole and you've never met a water tribesman?"

"You really expect me to believe you go to an academy and you've never heard of Dust?"

The girl sneered. "I don't have to listen to a peasant like you! I am Princess Azula, daughter of the Fire Lord, and you will bow before me!"

"Wow, a princess?" Cinder pretended to gasp in shock. "How amazing! I always heard princesses were spoiled brats, but I never realized just how stupid they were!"

With a furious snarl, the other girl pointed at her and--for a brief moment--the entire mirror was awash in glowing yellow.

Cinder put a hand on her hip, waiting for the strange fire to pass and reveal the panting form of the princess.

"Fancy semblance," she said, smirking smugly. "Still solid glass, though."

Azula's glower was lessened, slightly, by a look of confusion. "...That should have damaged the mirror, at least." She leaned in closer, her eyes roving along the edges of the glass. "My firebending isn't nearly that weak..."

"...yeah." Cinder frowned to herself. "That is weird, actually. Fire Dust is one of the most dangerous kinds of Dust to work with..."

Azula shot her a glare. "I wasn't using your weird magic Dust. I was firebending."

"Oh, I know what a semblance is, I'm just saying--"

"A what?"

"A semblance. The... the powers that Huntsmen and Huntresses have."

The princess narrowed her eyes. "What kind of animals do you have that you need firebending to hunt them?"

"Not animals," Cinder explained. "The creatures of Grimm--they're big, shadow things that try to kill everyone."

Azula hummed thoughtfully. "...Dark spirits. Hmm. Even ordinary spirits are rare, these days, but--"

"Spirits? What, like ghosts?"

"No, they're more--" Azula gestured vaguely. "Manifestations. Spirits of rivers, and forests... the sun and moon."

Cinder snorted, moving a lock of hair out of her vision. "I don't think beowolves are spirits of the forest."

"Well, maybe they're spirits of destruction. Or dark spirits, ordinary spirits that have been corrupted by... anger and stuff." She saw Cinder's expression and huffed. "I'm not an expert on spirits, I'm only ten."

"Huh. I'm ten too."

"How very interesting," Azula drawled dryly. "But beside the point. I've never heard of these 'Grimm.'"

"Never--? They're everywhere!" Cinder cried. "All across the... world..."

The two girls fell quiet, as the implications sunk in.

"...Globe." Cinder rushed to a wardrobe, opening it. "I'm sure I saw a globe in here somewhere--"

"I know there's a study map in one of my books," Azula muttered, running her finger across a bookshelf.

"Aha!" Cinder dug the globe out, carefully shoving everything else back in and running back to the mirror. "Here it is. The world of Remnant!"

"Remnant?"

"Yes, that's what my world is called. What's your world called?"

Azula pulled her book from the shelf, flipping through the pages. "...the Elemental Nations."

Cinder narrowed her eyes. "You hesitated."

"No I didn't."

"Yes you... does your world not have a name?"

Azula glared at her. "Well, it's the only world we know of! Except for the spirit... world..." She shook her head. "Never mind! Why is your world called Remnant?! What are you a remnant of?!"

Cinder held up a finger... and lowered it. "Huh."

"You don't know, do you?"

"Give me a break, they didn't teach me that sort of thing in the orphanage."

Azula smiled slyly. "Ooooooh, the orphanage, you say? Interesting..."

Cinder glared at her.

"Well, whatever. You have your globe, I have my map, and... we can show them to each other."

"Right." Cinder held up the globe, spinning it a little. "See? Atlas. On Solitas. It's... yeah. It's here."

"Hm. Those are some very distinctive continents," Azula noted. "Definitely nothing like that over here." She held up her own book. "Do you recognize any of this?"

"No, that's not like Remnant at all. Hey, what are those squiggles?"

"What?"

"Those things in the corners."

Azula looked at the map. "...That's... writing. You can't read?"

"Of course I can read!" Cinder snapped. "But that's not writing!" She flipped the globe over, showing the MADE IN MISTRAL embossed on the bottom. "This is writing!"

"...That's not like any writing I've ever--" Azula pinched her brow. "Two worlds. Of course. We're from different worlds, so we have different writing."

"Yeah, that... makes sense. It's... weird that we can understand each other, though."

"Maybe it's something to do with this mirror," Azula mused. "It's obviously not a normal mirror."

Cinder nodded, looking at the mirror again. "...is it... magic?"

"I'm no expert on spirits. But... maybe?" Azula shook her head. "What's a magic mirror doing at the academy? In my room?"

Cinder shrugged. "What's a magic mirror doing in a storage room in a hotel?"

"...I thought you said that was your room."

"It is!" Cinder said quickly. "It... is. It's just... also... a storage room." She rubbed her arm. "The Madam says... it's... affordable."

"The Madam."

"She... owns the hotel," Cinder explained. "She... just... adopted me, today. So..."

"Huh." Azula was quiet for a moment. Then she shook her head. "It's late. Too late to go investigating magic mirrors and other worlds. We should go to sleep."

"We... should, yeah." Cinder looked at the four-poster bed in the mirror. "I guess I'll just... put this curtain back on the mirror--"

"What? Why?"

"I don't know how to turn it off. I don't even know how it turned on!"

"Hmmm." Azula looked at her for a moment, before waving a hand vaguely. "Very well. But we will certainly be talking more in the morning."

Cinder's eyes rose. "What... really?"

"This is clearly a spirit mirror, and my uncle says it's not a wise idea to upset the spirits." Azula shrugged. "I don't know why this mirror is here, but it clearly means something. And if we can figure out how it works, the Fire Nation will be able to coordinate our forces even better than they do now." She smirked. "Our march of conquest will be unstoppable!"

Cinder stared at her blankly.

"...We're taking over the world," Azula explained. "Well, this world. Maybe yours as well, but I suppose that can wait until I'm the Fire Lord."

"Mmhmmmm..."

"Don't you dare doubt the power of the Fire Nation! Our army is the strongest in the--hey!"

Cinder grinned smugly as the curtain draped over the mirror.

"Don't you dismiss me like that, you peasant! I am royalty, I dismiss you! Not the other way around!"

Cinder pulled the drape off a chest in the corner, still grinning. "Good night, Azula!" she said cheerfully over her shoulder.

"Get back here! I am not done with--"

Cinder laid down on her mat, yawning loudly and dramatically.

An audible growl came from behind the curtain. "You---I... Hrm. Uuuuugh. Fine." Azula's voice was filled with annoyance. "May you have a pleasant night's rest. Or horrifying nightmares. I don't care. Whatever." After a few moments, the glow from behind the curtain cut off.

Cinder smiled to herself as her eyes shut. That had been... kind of fun, actually. Maybe, she thought as she drifted off to sleep, things might just be bearable, if she had a princess trapped in her mirror she could needle every night.

Chapter Text

Azula's eyes snapped open, and she pushed herself into a sitting position as she banished her sleepiness to the spirit realm. She reached into herself, toward her fire, and grinned as she felt her connection with the sun; by her judgement of the power flowing through her, it was early morning. Enough time, she thought as she swung out of bed, to run through a few firebending stances. As she moved to the center of the room, her eyes fell on the mirror, with a frame carved into the shape of dragons and spirits...

...and she frowned, thoughtfully, at the lack of reflection. The folds of whatever fabric that strange peasant girl had tossed over the mirror were still visible. Such disrespect for a princess would normally not go unpunished, but... well, what was Azula supposed to do? Burn her? Set the guards on her? Even more subtle machinations of the royal family wouldn't work, the Fire Nation had no presence in her world. A girl who she could not conquer, one that looked so much like herself... it was most vexing.

The curtain was pulled back, and the surprisingly clean peasant had--for a moment--a look of surprised relief, which swiftly melted into an all too smug smile. "Good morning, Azula. Sleep well?"

"Well enough," Azula replied diplomatically. For a moment, she considered reprimanding the girl for looking in on her while she was dressed only in her sleeping robe... then the memories of last night fluttered traitorously back, and she decided to just start her morning routine instead.

The peasant watched her for a few moments. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going through some basic firebending stances."

"Oh, right, your semblance..."

Azula shot a look over her shoulder. "You used that word before. Semblance. What does it mean?"

"Well... semblances are personal, uh, powers that Huntsmen and Huntresses have. Some of them have semblances that let them move super fast, others can move things around with their mind--There's a family from Argus that's famous for having semblances that let them manipulate water. And there are people who increase their strength, or can manipulate minds."

"Hmmm." The princess inhaled deeply, releasing some flame on her exhale. "So semblances are spiritual powers?"

"I guess? I know that you need your aura unlocked to use them--"

Azula snorted. "Oh, Ty Lee would love to hear about that."

"Who?"

"Another girl here. She's a little... off, but nice enough I suppose."

The peasant watched her go through a few basic motions, her eyes drifting to the fiery strikes as they glowed. Azula put a little extra flourish in some of her strikes, smirking smugly at the faintly awed expression in the mirror.

"Huh. Does... does Ty Lee have a semblance too?"

"She's not a firebender, if that's what you're asking." Azula punctuated her statement by holding a small ball of fire above her hand. "She does know some sort of method of chi-blocking, though."

"Chi--?"

"Chi. Spiritual energy. It flows through the body, fuels our bending."

"Oh. So it's aura."

Azula huffed, snuffing out her flame. "No, it's not."

"Spiritual energy, fuels your semblance, sounds like aura to me! Although I've never heard of anybody 'blocking' aura," the peasant admitted. "Maybe it's some sort of special semblance?"

"Chi-blocking is supposed to close the paths chi takes through the body." Azula shrugged, going back to her stances. "I've seen Ty Lee stop some other benders with it--they got really floppy for a bit."

For a few precious moments, the peasant was quiet, watching Azula work the fire around her in confident, practiced motions.

"So... you're a princess?"

"Yes. Daughter of the Fire Lord and second in line for the throne." Azula rolled her eyes. "Not that my brother is going to be a problem. He doesn't have the spine to win a fight, let alone rule a nation."

The peasant tilted her head curiously. "So what's being a princess like, anyway?"

Azula mulled the question over in her head. "...I'm in a position of power," she said carefully. "But that power comes with a lot of expectations. I need to be perfect in everything I do."

"Perfect?"

"The royal family leads the fire nation, with every command affecting all our citizens. Trade agreements must make our nation more prosperous, so I need to learn economics. Laws must bring stability, so I need to understand legislation. Our armies require supplies, so I must master logistics. And of course, I must be the best firebender in the entire fire nation. The Fire Lord must be ready to prove their strength. Any of the nobles can call an Agni Kai--a firebending duel--at any time. They don't do that, of course," she added smugly, "because the Fire Lord is the strongest firebender, but they'll quarrel among themselves from time to time, try to use their wealth in ways that don't benefit the Fire Nation, all the usual abuses of power that comes with rank. That's why we need to be ready to reign them in."

The peasant glanced away for a moment. "...so how do you know when they're doing something wrong? Do the other nobles... tell you?"

"Some of them do," Azula said. "The loyal, smart ones. And sometimes... sometimes they stand back, and see what happens next." She snorted. "Politics, alliances, treachery... more things for a princess to handle. It's a tough job, but I handle it well."

"Wait, you handle... all that?" the peasant asked. "But... you're ten!"

"Yes, I'm ten. And I'm still royalty. With all the power I have, I could do anything I want... or anything somebody else wants." Azula finished her stances with a shrug. "And being a child, they think I'm easier to manipulate, especially if they act through their children. Any friendship I make comes with... strings."

The peasant girl looked away. "I... see."

"...On the plus side, I get the fanciest of lodgings and possessions." Azula smirked. "A lot better than some storage room in a hotel."

"Hey!"

"What? It's true!"

The peasant inhaled strongly--but, then, let her breath out. "You... have a point."

"Of course I do. I'm always right."

"No you're not."

"Yes I am."

"You thought I was talking about ordinary dirt when I was really talking about Dust!"

Azula waved a hand dismissively. "Fine, fine, I'm always right about my world. I can't be expected to know anything about how your world works, can I?"

"I thought princesses had to be perfect," the peasant pointed out with a grin.

Azula scowled. "If you weren't on the other side of this mirror I would make your life a living hell."

"Well you can't do anything to me!" the girl proclaimed. "Which... sucks, really, I--"

She paused.

"...You can't give me anything," she slowly said.

"Yes." Azula crossed her arms. "I thought we'd established this--"

"Okay." The girl held up a hand. "Hear me out. You can't make friends in your world, because they'll always be trying to politically manipulate you. But, you can't do anything for me, so I can be your friend, and you'll know I'll always be there for... friend... stuff."

"Friend stuff," Azula deadpanned.

"Yeah! Like... uh... talking about... things!"

"This has got to be the third most idiotic attempt to court my affections I have ever encountered."

"Okay first of all I am NOT crushing on you--"

Azula rolled her eyes. "I meant affection as in friendship."

"And secondly, we're going to be stuck with this mirror anyway, so why not just... talk to each other? Like friends do, I think."

After a moment, Azula sighed. "I suppose if I'm going to suffer through the constantly inane rambling of a scullery maid, I might as well make it bearable."

"You're lucky you're over there," the peasant said with a scowl. "We got rid of all our princesses long ago!"

"My heart weeps for your loss. Oh, by the way, if we're going to be quote friends unquote, I think I need to know what your name is."

"It's Cinder. My name is Cinder."

"Hm." Azula nodded. "Well, 'Cinder,' I have classes to attend, and if I don't miss my guess you have chamberpots to clean."

"The hotel has working bathrooms, I don't need to--HEY!"

Azula smirked as the tapestry draped over the mirror. "Now now, can't have any spies seeing that this mirror is magic, can I?"

"Ugh. Fine! Go on! I'll... talk to you later."

"Of course you will." Azula walked over to her wardrobe. "Now which of my incredibly expensive and well-crafted outfits will I wear today...?"

Cinder growled and, after a moment, Azula heard the flap of the curtain covering her side of the mirror.

Well well well.... score another point for the Fire Nation. Whatever game the spirits were playing... Azula was determined to win it.

Chapter Text

Clean the linens, sweep the floors, shut your mouth and do your chores, scrub the dishes in the sink, no one said that you should think...

The entire family worked on keeping the hotel running, after all. The Madam handled the finances, her oldest daughter organized the reservations, and her younger kept an eye out for problems to crop up. That wasn't all they did, obviously--there was so much more to their jobs, they said, but Cinder was still settling in. It wouldn't be reasonable to expect her to understand all the complexities of running a highly rated establishment immediately. Doing manual labor, for now, was a good way for her to learn...

It all made sense when the Madam lectured her about it. It was just... an awful lot of manual labor. There were so many rooms in the hotel, so many beds to make, tiles to clean, plates to gather... getting an entire floor clean took all her effort, all for the Madam to call her efforts 'adequate.' She rubbed the pain out of her shoulders as she entered the storeroom, looking up at the shattered moon through the thin windows. At least she'd had enough time to eat a slice of bread. It had been a good slice, too. And now she was going to sleep on her mat! It might not have been a bed, but at least she had it to herself. Didn't have to share it with any other orphans, it was hers.

Cinder tricked her neck, checking her reflection in one of the metal pipes and wiping away a few smudges on her face. She wasn't going to give Azula any ammunition, if she could help it. In fact, tonight, she was going to show that prissy little princess up. She'd had a whole day to mull it over, try to figure out how she could show off, and the answer had hit her when she had pushed a cart of sheets into the laundry room and seen the machines stacked against the wall.

Dust. Azula hadn't know what Dust was. Which meant...

With a cunning little grin, Cinder whisked the curtain off the mirror.

A moment later, Azula pulled the tapestry off her side, rolling her eyes. "Good evening, Cinder."

"Hey, Azula." Cinder put a hand on her hip. "How was your day? Fight back an army of power-hungry suitors?"

"Oh, only three," Azula replied with a casual smirk. "Most of the sycophants were too busy learning the glorious history of the Fire Nation today, since they think somehow telling me things I already know will impress me." She waved a hand at Cinder. "How about you? Did you have a hard time changing out a hundred chamberpots? I must say, I'm glad I can't smell you through this mirror."

Cinder shook her head. "Already told you, we have working restrooms here, so there's no need for those. But I guess today was a little straining. I had to wash a thousand different sets of bedsheets in only a few hours..."

For the briefest of moments, an expression of disbelief flickered across Azula's face--something Cinder wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't been deliberately looking for it. She readied herself...

"A thousand, really? I suppose everyone on the staff was busy helping--"

...and pounced. "Oh no, it was just me."

The expression of disbelief returned. "You?! But you're one girl! One ten-year-old girl!"

"Hmm." Cinder looked over herself. "So I am."

"You can't possibly expect me to believe you washed a thousand sets of sheets in an hour!"

Cinder tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well, I guess you're right. It was more like... five hundred sets. A hundred for every floor... well, a little over a hundred. Maybe it was six hundred. I lost count because I was too busy being a productive member of society--"

"You're making that up," Azula said flatly. "A hotel with five floors? That's as big as some of the noble houses."

"Oh?" Cinder asked, innocently.

"Not as big as the Royal Palace, of course," Azula added quickly. "It's a glorious edifice of power, nine floors tall and filled with the spoils of our many victories."

"Only nine stories?" Cinder nodded. "How quaint. Atlas Academy is a hundred stories tall."

"You're lying."

Cinder smirked. "I can show you. Right here, right now."

Azula crossed her arms. "Really."

"Yep. Let me just..."

She took hold of the mirror, carrying it over to the windows. It wasn't heavy, exactly, but it was a little bulky, so it took a minute or two for her to leverage it to a point where Azula could see through the thin strips of glass. But Cinder was determined to prove she could play at the princess's little game.

"Unf... ah. Okay, so--"

"What in Agni's name is wrong with the moon?!"

"Huh?" Cinder looked through the window. "What do you mean?"

"What do I--? It's broken! Shattered! That... well, obviously it's not impossible, but... how?!"

Cinder shrugged. "I don't know. It's been like that for all of history. What, is your moon not like that?"

"No! It's... It's not!"

"Huh. Well that's kind of weird."

"Oh, kind of weird. Yes, that's one way to put it--do the people in your world have to protect themselves when shards of the moon fall down?"

"No. What? No! The shards aren't falling down," Cinder told Azula. "They're too high up to fall... I think. They've been there for thousands of years, there's no danger."

"I don't think you understand just how imbalanced this makes your world," Azula insisted fervently. "I mean I don't even know that much about spirits, but... your moon is shattered!"

"Well maybe that's why we have Grimm everywhere," Cinder offered casually.

"...yes. Maybe... that would make sense..."

Cinder cleared her throat. "So, if you're done freaking out about something the rest of the world considers perfectly normal..."

"Yes, yes, I see the giant tower on top of the mountain. I suppose the architects of your world are... somewhat ingenious," Azula granted, regaining some of her usual collected nature.

"Somewhat," Cinder agreed smugly. "Would you believe this entire city... is on a flying rock?"

"No."

"It is."

"I don't believe you. And I'm saying that while looking at a shattered moon and a tower that is, frankly, unreasonably tall."

Cinder hummed thoughtfully. "Weeeeeell... you see that?" She pointed out the window. "Those things flying around the academy?"

"...I can make them out, yes."

"Those are airships."

Azula sighed in resignation.

"They work with gravity Dust," Cinder continued cheerily. "It lets them make their own source of gravity, and so they can just fly. And the city of Atlas? Well, they installed a lot of gravity generators in the ground, linked them all together, and lifted the whole thing into the sky--"

"Alright, yes. It's impressive. Your fancy magic dirt is impressive."

"Ground up crystals, technically."

"Whatever." Azula huffed. "So is that it? You just wanted to show off... what, your technology?"

"Oh, no!" Cinder assured her, in a gleefully unassuring way. "No no no no. I just thought, maybe, we could talk about what Fire Nation technology is like? You're a princess after all. You have to know all about the most incredible devices in your world are capable of."

"...I do," Azula allowed carefully, "but... well. It's late, and if we stayed up all night comparing notes, we wouldn't get any rest, would we? I think I'll just... spend some time collecting a list, and we can compare notes tomorrow evening."

"Oooooh, of course." Cinder patted the mirror sympathetically. "I understand. You're royalty, you need your beauty sleep." She carefully maneuvered it back to where it had been before. "It's such a shame, though, I was really hoping to hear about all the wonders of technology firebending has given you."

"Oh I bet you were," the princess grumbled. "Well. You've certainly given me a lot to think about, Cinder."

Cinder grinned at her triumphantly.

"...And I will endeavor to return the favor," Azula said, returning her grin with a wicked smirk.

"Oh believe me... I'm looking forward to it."

Chapter Text

Azula snapped the book shut with a huff. The Fire Nation's industry was the most powerful and impressive in the world, and yet it didn't even approach her brief glimpse into Cinder's world. She'd searched through every book, even deigning to look at records of the Earth Kingdom just in case. Omashu's delivery system, Ba Sing Se's walls and trams... and nothing, nothing that could compete with a tower a hundred stories tall that held a fleet of flying ships. Even the legendary formation of Kyoshi Island, cutting it off and moving it away, paled in comparison to the feat of setting an entire city up in the air! And the worst part of it all, that egotistical peasant had known it. Even before Azula had slipped up--

....

...even before Azula had rightfully expressed her disbelief at Cinder's outrageous claims, the scullery maid had known full well what she was doing. She'd toyed with her, hinting at the capabilities possessed by her world, before revealing that insufferable impossible night sky. Cinder even had the nerve to call the royal palace quaint. The royal palace! Treating Azula as if she was some backwater yokel, a representative of a minor town who wrongfully thought themselves a noble, and taunting her with knowledge of impossible devices and constructs...

The memory of that condescending smirk made Azula's blood boil.

On a whim, she looked into the various uses of crystals and powders. There were the expected stories of fireworks and explosives and blasting jelly, but Azula was surprised to stumble across some old records detailing odd hand cannons. A Fire Nation invention, of course, though they had never been very widespread, the power and versatility of firebending was obviously preferable to weapons that could only fire one (admittedly devastating) shot. Maybe hearing about that would put Cinder in her place...

...unless, of course, those spirit huntsmen of her world used hand cannons regularly. And if they weren't benders, they probably did.

She sighed, putting the scroll down. Alright. Technology was out. But she was still princess of the Fire Nation--and future Fire Lord of the entire world--and there were strengths other than technology she could muster. Bending, obviously, could be used to impress. There were displays of wealth that a peasant would have to respect--well-crafted clothes, expensive foods, the finest linens, nothing that could easily be found in a common hotel. What else... some people put weight on having good family relations, which Cinder obviously didn't have. And Azula had--...

...well.

Not her mother, anymore. If she'd ever had any good relationship with her. And Zuzu was fun to toy with, but not exactly 'impressive.' Lu Ten might have fit the bill, but he was dead now, and uncle Iroh seemed more focused on Zuko these days for some inexplicable reason. She could bring up father, but... using the Fire Lord as a show of good family seemed exceedingly crass.

Hmmm.

Maybe it was best to avoid bringing up family, for the moment. Friends, though, oh Azula had those. Mai, and Ty Lee, both of whom would be her devotees when she graduated. And somehow Azula suspected the scullery maid didn't have any friends at all.

She stood up from the table, smiling to herself as she gathered up her research materials. Bending, wealth, connections... all things she could flaunt, in the full knowledge that Cinder wouldn't be able to match them. Not even with her frustratingly overwhelming technological advantage, or her oh-so-precious magic crystal dust. Those were things, mere objects. When it came to power, true power, Azula still dwarfed the scullery maid in every way. Tonight, she'd be able to get one over her strange mirror friend, and make up for her... indiscrete reactions to what she had seen before.

The books were put away in perfect order, and it was a matter of inordinate ease for her to direct the academy staff to send up a plate of komodo chicken with spiced rice to her room. Azula mused on the tapestry over the mirror for a bit; it did look a bit suspicious, draped over the glass, and honestly quite tacky as well. Maybe she'd commission a cabinet for the thing... with a lock and key, to ensure no would-be spies broke into it. A trip into town to find a carpenter wouldn't go amiss...

She hung the tapestry back on the wall and sat down to wait, picking up a brush and inkwell as she eyed the mirror out of the corner of her eye. It would be a few minutes yet before Cinder arrived, time enough finish some of her coursework. Every stroke was nothing less than elegant perfection, of course; soon enough a thorough report on the trade coming in from the colonies was inked out, ready to be decreed a masterpiece by her professors when she presented it tomorrow.

The curtain behind the mirror ruffled just as Azula put down her brush. She picked up her plate casually, taking a few grains of rice with her chopsticks as she turned to look at her otherworldly counterpart, and smirked smugly when she saw the pair of molten eyes drawn toward her meal. "Good evening Cinder. How was your day?"

"Just... another day of backbreaking work," Cinder replied, smiling back. "Not all of us have the luxury of lounging about lazily all day, princess."

Ah, and so the jabs began...

"Oh, of course," Azula said, swiftly taking the bite from her chopsticks. "Of course, of course. I suppose without an education, you have to contribute something more... base to society."

Cinder snorted. "Yes, and all the guests are very grateful for my efforts. Keeping the floors spick and span, making sure they have towels for the baths, bringing food for room service... frankly, you of all people should understand how important all that is."

"Hmm?" Azula glanced, oh so casually, at the plate. "Oh, yes! I did ask the staff to bring me komodo chicken. I must say, they did an excellent job."

"It... does look good," Cinder conceded.

Oh, was that a crack in her facade?

"Oh, of course. The Fire Nation has some of the best chefs in the world. Being able to directly manipulate the cinders--sorry, the coals in the ovens, it really brings out the best taste." Azula twirled her chopsticks casually, picking up another clump of rice. "I'm sure it's better than--oh, I'm sorry, I don't know what foods exist in your world. What did you eat today?"

"....nothing."

The chopsticks paused halfway to Azula's mouth.

"...Nothing?"

"Weeeeeeeell," Cinder casually drawled, "I didn't really have the time to eat. It's a big hotel, after all, and even with all the incredible Dust-powered machines we have there's--"

"You. Ate. Nothing." Azula put aside the plate, laying the chopsticks on top of it. "At all. All day."

"I told you. I was busy."

"Is not eating normal over there?"

Cinder huffed, crossing her arms and glowering, but she wouldn't meet Azula's eyes. "The Madam said that I had to keep focused on my duties. I... just didn't get them done in time."

Nothing...

A kernel of fury formed in Azula's heart, one she handled as she always had. Here she was, ready to show off the riches of the Fire Nation, and this impudent little girl wasn't even willing to rise to the challenge? Because her job was more important than her?!

She stood up, pointing toward Cinder's door. "Go. Get. Something."

Cinder blinked. "Uh--"

"Go get something to eat," Azula commanded. "Your hotel has a kitchen, doesn't it?"

"Yes, but the Madam--"

"I don't care what some trounced-up noblewoman says! This is my mirror, you are my otherworldly contact, and I will be damned if I let you waste away before I can bring your world to heel!"

"But if she sees food missing from the shelves--"

"Take the food from the back of the cabinet, she won't notice then."

"But--"

"GO!" Azula snapped, the candle flames rising to emphasize her order.

Cinder held up her hands. "Alright, I'm going, I'm going."

Azula huffed as she watched Cinder scuttle away. Honestly, if Remnant was that poorly organized, then it desperately needed the wise guiding hand of the Fire Nation. And all she had was a mirror and a scullery maid who couldn't even be trusted to take care of herself, much less set the stage for her eventual domination. This would clearly be a much more intense, in-depth project than she'd predicted.

As she waited for Cinder's return, her eyes fell on the plate of komodo chicken and rice. She picked up the chopsticks for a moment...

...and, after a moment, set them down.

"Damn it, Cinder. I could have shown you up, but noooo, you just had to be so... Ugh." Azula pushed the plate aside. "I wasn't hungry anyway."

Chapter Text

The next day was one of the most nervous Cinder had yet experienced.

She'd stolen food from the cabinet. Azula had assured her, repeatedly and with great exasperation, that the Madam wouldn't notice. Logically, she wouldn't notice. Cinder kept reminding herself as she went through her chores that there was no reason for the madam to notice a slice of bread missing from the kitchen. It was just bread, after all. There was plenty of it. And Cinder had cleaned all the crumbs off her face and from her room. The only way for the Madam to notice was if Cinder herself somehow revealed it. There was absolutely no evidence of her crime, and she was definitely not going to be shirking her duties and getting the Madam's attention. In theory, she was absolutely safe from any retribution.

Cinder kept reminding herself of that. She wasn't sure she believed it, but she kept it at the front of her mind the whole day.

Somehow, despite the tension in her fingers and her wary eyes, the Madam didn't even once confront her. Maybe she hadn't noticed... or maybe she was just waiting for more evidence of Cinder's misdeeds. Being kicked out into the streets of Atlas wasn't nearly as dangerous as being kicked out into the wilds of Mistral... but it might still be dangerous. And she wouldn't be able to talk to Azula. Not that it mattered that much, it was just...

...Azula was the first person Cinder could remember who actually listened to her.

Well, sure, she listened to her in order to come up with some way to rub her nose in how stupidly wealthy and powerful and intelligent she was, but that was at least more effort than anything her new sisters tried. It was almost infuriating, the way they didn't put any effort into demeaning her, how breezily they insisted they were superior...

...which, admittedly, they were. Fancy clothes, fancy home, fancy work, and here she was sneaking food away (for the second night in a row!!), only around by the mercy of their mother. But they treated it as a given. As something that just was. The way the world worked. At least the prissy little princess put effort into her insults. Maybe if she put her sisters in front of the mirror--

Cinder rejected that idea vehemently. The mirror was hers. It had woken up, or turned on or whatever, in her presence. Not the Madam's, not her sisters, hers. There was no way she was going to share it with anybody, no way she was going to let anyone else have the satisfaction of watching Azula fume at just how far behind her oh-so-precious Candle Province was.

Hmmm.

Candle Province.

That was a good one, she decided. She could use it. Not tonight, but maybe later, when Azula needed to have the wind taken out of her sails. Oh, it would be so fun to see her fume--maybe her hair would literally burst into flame! That would be hilarious!

Ciner entered her room and finished the last of her bread slice--making sure the crumbs were all taken care of, because she was not an idiot. Then with a flourish, she pulled the curtain off the mirror. "Oh, ~priiiiiiinceeeeeeeess!~"

"Ah, you're in a good mood. How droll." The tapestry vanished from the other side of the mirror, and Azula gave her a dry look. "What mindbreaking revelation are you planning on inflicting upon me tonight?"

"Oh come on Azula. Can't I just be happy to speak to my favorite girl in all of the Fire Nation?"

"I'm the only girl in the Fire Nation you know."

"Huh." Cinder smirked. "So you are."

Azula rose a finger, paused for a moment, then waved it off. "Well, at least I know where I stand with you. Did you at least get a decent meal this time? Because if you pass out from hunger while I'm talking to you--"

"Yes, yes, I snuck another snack out."

"Hmm." Azula grinned. "And did the Madam notice?"

Cinder rolled her eyes. "No, she didn't. Yes, you were right. All hail the wise and brilliant princess of the Fire Nation, who is unfortunately trapped in a world where the fanciest tech is metal boats."

"Ah, there it is." Azula crossed her arms. "For your information, we have trains--"

"Amazing."

"--and the rough designs of armored vehicles for our conquest of the Earth Kingdom."

"The rough designs, you say?"

Azula narrowed her eyes. "And what are the war vehicles of your world like? Are they all flying machines?"

"Oh, Atlas has some armored automobiles, and I suppose there are metal boats in the navy--"

Azula smirked smugly.

"--and I guess there's the colossus," Cinder finished, far too casually.

"The what?"

"Oh, you know, just a fifty foot tall walking machine with a hardlight shield that has a multifunction cannon on one arm and a drill in the other," she explained dismissively. "I mean, it was built to fight Leviathans attacking Argus, I suppose, but it's... well, it's pretty new, not exactly tested out in the field, might be a little buggy--"

"You do realize that the onus is on you to produce proof of these outrageous claims?"

"Oh?" Cinder tilted her head innocently. "You don't believe me?"

"You are coming up with some pretty unbelievable stories," Azula pointed out. "Just because you've proven one doesn't mean the rest aren't made up."

Cinder smirked. "You're just jealous you don't have your own giant robot."

"Giant what?"

"Oh, riiiiiight, you wouldn't have even basic robots!" Cinder gasped gleefully. "Well, princess, let me tell you the story of metal made into the shape of man and beast, and how Atlas uses them to fight their battles."

Azula shook her head, picking up a piece of paper and a brush. "Oh, please, do go on."

Cinder looked at the brush. And the paper.

"I'm listening," Azula prompted.

"Are you taking ~nooooootes?~" Cinder gasped, putting her hands to her face. "Oh, you ARE!"

Azula sighed.

"But I thought that the Fire Nation had all the wealth and power possible!" Cinder continued, her shock as real as the tundra was warm.

"You're going to be like this for a while, aren't you."

"What could you possibly have to learn from a poor little girl like me, Azula? What could I possibly have to offer you?"

Azula rolled her eyes. "Go on, get it out of your system I guess..."

"Oh Azula!" Cinder draped herself on the glass, bringing a hand to her forehead in a swoon dramatic enough to rival a Mistral theatre. "Such royal interest in my mere words! Do you know just how shocking this is? How many people would be taken aback by the focus of your attention? I could faint from astonishment!"

"Or starvation," Azula deadpanned.

Cinder snorted. "I'm tougher than that, princess. But I suppose, I could be convinced, maybe, to possibly spill some of the deepest secrets of Atlesian technology, if you're really that interested. You see..."

Azula leaned forward.

"...robots run on Dust," Cinder explained, with a smug grin.

"...I'm going to bed," Azula stated flatly, putting the brush and the paper aside.

Cinder giggled, picking up the curtain. "Oh alright. Have a good night's sleep, Azula!"

"Try not to freeze to death in the night," Azula replied dryly.

Chapter Text

Days turned into weeks, weeks of droning lessons taught by ponderous professors. That Azula excelled at all of them was of course not a surprise at all, but it did not make the lessons any less... tedious. The periods between classes were somewhat more engaging, manipulating the small dramas that qualified as schoolyard politics to her own wishes, and navigating alliances with the more skilled students. Apparently, her father had arranged for her to have a pair of personal firebending mentors instead of joining the group training, which had been a welcome change at first; she pushed herself, becoming more proficient in her skill, and even mastered a few new forms.

And yet...

Cinder's fanciful stories about metal soldiers, dark spirits, and superpowered huntsmen provided Azula numerous ideas for her future as a Fire Lord--as well as important information for the eventual invasion of Remnant. Well, she wasn't sure how she was going to get to Remnant, but the mere existence of the mirror in both worlds indicated it was possible. Perhaps research into the spirit world would produce some results. Even beyond that, though, she found herself enjoying their verbal sparring sessions, countering the claims of technological superiority with actual evidence of her own magnificence. Showing off a finely stitched outfit, or retelling stories of besting others in duels of wit and skill... Cinder could have capitulated at any time, but even in defeat, there was still a gleam of determination in her eye. She would never admit it to the peasant girl, but their chats were the most interesting parts of her day.

Azula glanced at the rising moon as she headed to her dorm, her memory once again flashing to its shattered counterpart in the other world. That was something she would have to figure out...

Later.

Maybe much later.

For now, as she entered her room, Azula set about changing into her nightclothes. She glanced at herself in the mirror--not the mirror, of course, but a smaller one that she had purchased on a trip to town--and nodded at how perfectly her hair was arranged. Cinder's own bedraggled locks would likely never match her own well-groomed hair. The tapestry was swept aside, revealing the shadows of the curtain on the other side of the mirror. Azula smirked, folded her hands together, and waited.

It was a few minutes later--a minute or so longer than normal in fact--that the curtain was dragged off the mirror. Azula opened her mouth to speak--

...and stopped.

Cinder's posture wasn't filled with the confident sass she usually bore. Nor the amusing infuriation she had when Azula won their spars. She wasn't even the cringingly worried servant she'd been when they'd first met. No, Cinder's slumped shoulders, loose grip on the curtain, and diverted eyes made her look...

...tired.

"Hey Azula." She drew herself up, trying for a cocky smirk but winding up with something of a more exhausted acknowledgment. "How are things over there?"

"Another glorious day in the Fire Nation," Azula replied, projecting confidence like a wall of fire while she looked Cinder over.

"Sounds nice..."

Azula smirked. "Nicer than your day, I'm sure."

Cinder rubbed her neck, not quite looking at her. "Yeah, you're probably right."

Warning flares went off in Azula's mind at that. Cinder always rose to her challenges, matching her prods with pointed jabs of her own. For her to just roll over like this...

...it wasn't fun at all.

"And how was your day?" she asked, with only the slightest amount of her caution showing through.

"Oh, just... work," Cinder replied, waving a dismissive hand. "Sheets. Room service. Cleaning floors."

"Did you at least get something to eat?"

"Oh, yeah, did that." She nodded vaguely. "The most expensive sliced bread in all of Atlas..."

Azula narrowed her eyes. Even Cinder's bragging was oddly weak, a sopping flag that barely waved at all. Her verbal sparring partner hadn't even taken a ready stance. She was wide open, not ready for even a basic strike...

Something was wrong--obviously wrong. And she couldn't just toss it aside--tracking down any other magic mirror would take time and effort, especially since they were apparently rarer than Air Nation artifacts these days. So Azula would have to fix it herself. There was no doubt in her mind that she could--she was the princess of the Fire Nation, the future Fire Lord!

All she needed to do was figure out how...

"...Hm."

Cinder looked at her. "What?"

"Oh, I'm just... distracted," Azula decided. "The strangest thing happened today."

"Stranger than fining a mirror that lets you talk to somebody in another world?"

"This is clearly spirit nonsense. No, today I saw Mai sketching a picture of my brother!"

"Mai... she's the knife girl, right?"

"Shuriken, yes." Azula shook her head. "I knew she was hiding her feelings, but I never expected her to be one of Zuko's fangirls."

Cinder cocked her head, confusion coming over her features. "Your brother has fangirls?"

"Well, he is the prince of the Fire Nation," Azula conceded dryly. "And while he has not inherited the will it takes to be the Fire Lord, the royal family has spent generations refining our bloodline for both firebending power and... charismatic presence. So, from a purely objective standpoint, I am forced to admit that Zuzu is actually something of a catch. If she still admires my brother after actually meeting him, though, I'll have to start questioning her judgment."

"Yeah, I guess that all makes sense." Cinder's smile peeked out of the fog of exhaustion. "How old is he again?"

"Oh, he's two years older than me. Not that it helps him. He's such a pushover, and his firebending is pathetic."

"Compared to you, or just in general?"

Azula allowed herself a little bit of preening at the implicit praise. "We had to send our old firebending teacher to the colonies, Zuko was falling so far behind. I suppose Mai could be a decent match for him," she mused, "he clearly needs somebody to protect him from all the nobles that will no doubt be trying to leverage his bloodline... or on the off chance I have to exile him when I become Fire Lord, she could be his bodyguard."

"Ah. Foisting off responsibility on somebody else." Cinder nodded, regaining some of her usual confidence. "Typical princess behavior."

"What, you expect me to somehow whip my brother into shape while juggling all my other duties as future Fire Lord?"

"Well, you manage to squeeze talking to me in the middle of everything else."

"You're actually interesting to talk to," Azula countered. "Zuko's just so annoyingly..." She rolled her hand, trying to think of a good word. "...acquiescent."

"I can see your fancy education is paying off nicely," Cinder quipped dryly.

"You'd be surprised how much the right word can change things. If Zuko had more drive of his own, maybe he'd be worth more than a pretty face. As it is... well, he's not actively a threat, so I suppose I can suffer him to live."

Cinder shook her head with amusement.

Then... she glanced at Azula. "I'm... interesting to talk to?"

Azula rolled her eyes, tapping the edge of the mirror meaningfully.

"Oh... right."

"You're certainly more interesting than Zuzu ever was," Azula assured her. "And frankly, more interesting than most of my classmates. Can you believe none of them had even considered how we're going to conquer the Earth Kingdom? They just think it'll all work out."

"You do too."

"Yes, but I actually think about how to do it. I'm even coming up with a few basic ideas to invade your world." Azula shrugged. "None of them hold any promise yet, but maybe one day you'll be my personal servant."

Cinder rolled her eyes. "Now why would I want that sort of downgrade?"

Azula smiled at the jab. "Working under a princess is a downgrade?"

"You don't even have indoor plumbing!"

"Ah, I suppose that might be a minor annoyance. But it won't be a problem by the time I invade your world."

"Bold of you to think you'll succeed."

"Your island in the sky may have Dust and airships, but the Fire Nation has something Atlas will never have--drive." Azula crossed her arms and smirked haughtily. "Atlas has rested on its laurels for the past eighty years, while we've spent that time refining our armed forces to be the greatest in the world! As soon as your military feels the burn of our fire, they will melt and fall apart!"

"Oh, sure, sure, but you'll have to get here first. Tell me, can firebenders fly?"

"Yes."

"...Really?"

"It's called jet-stepping. Advanced technique, but I've been working on it."

"Oh, of course you have..."

The two settled back into their well-practiced banter, and Azula allowed herself a moment of pride. She'd fixed Cinder... somehow. She wasn't sure how, but she'd done it. Truly, she was an expert at everything she did, as befitting the princess of the Fire Nation.

Cinder was, frankly, incredibly lucky to have such a skilled mentor like her in her life. One day, she'd actually admit it.

Chapter Text

Perhaps, in retrospect, the stealing of food made Cinder overconfident. Food vanished regularly--it was meant to be consumed, after all--and such small trinkets were easy to slip from notice. Maybe she should have gone up to portraits, or lien cards, or... well, anything that would fit in a pocket. A sword was something of a major leap up, and maybe she should have thought it over more before stealing it.

But Azula was so gods damned annoying!

"Oh look at this rare artwork, Cinder." "Hey Cinder, let me show you my sextant!" "Do you like this armor, Cinder? Finest make in the Fire Nation!"

It didn't matter that Atlas had the superior technology, absolutely none of it was in Cinder's possession. Could she have stolen a scroll? Maybe. But as much as a scroll could do, a sword was so much visually cooler--and it was a huntsman weapon, so it probably turned into a gun as well. That would shut the prissy princess up!

For a while, anyway.

So the heist had been planned, and Cinder had gotten away with a sword. Well, not cleanly--the huntsman noticed it was missing, of course--but nobody suspected the maid had snuck it into the vents. She was a little disappointed it was just a sword--Azula probably saw hundreds of those--but at least she could show it off.

Of course, something went wrong. Something always went wrong.

She'd just taken the curtain off the mirror, ready to show off her ill-gotten goods, when she heard her door unlatch. Cinder dropped the sword and kicked it back toward the wardrobe as she spun around, cringing preemptively--but it wasn't the Madam who stepped in.

The huntsman looked at her, then behind her. "Now that's not yours, is it?"

Cinder quickly glanced over her shoulder, biting her lip as she saw the sword had not gone under the wardrobe like she'd wanted.

"Huh. That's weird, how did that get there...?"

She knew how weak the lie was the moment it left her lips, and from the huntsman's expression he knew it too. Worse yet was the flap of the Fire Nation tapestry on the other side of the mirror--Azula was listening in, and she would likely have words of her own about Cinder's failure to do even one basic thing.

"...I'm not here to hurt you," the huntsman assured her.

"Not the first time I've heard that," Cinder replied, dryly.

For some reason, a flicker of amusement crossed the huntsman's face. "No, I didn't think so. Look, I've seen you around, and I think it's safe to say you're not getting the most fair treatment, yeah?"

Cinder narrowed her eyes, watching him warily as he walked over to pick up his sword. She didn't say anything yet.

"I can't really blame you for what you're thinking," the huntsman continued. "But hurting them isn't going to make your life any better."

"Is that what you think I was doing?" Cinder snorted. "I'm ten, not stupid."

The huntsman gave her a flat look. "You tried to steal a huntsman's weapon."

"You have your maces," Cinder countered. "A sword--"

"You know some people say weapons are an extension of their user?" The huntsman shook his head. "Look, my point is your situation sucks, but this? Stealing weapons? It doesn't help."

"And what would? Running away?"

"You could do that, but you'd be running for the rest of your life. Or... you can find another way to handle it."

Cinder glanced at the mirror for a moment. The huntsman hadn't seemed to notice the non-reflection there, yet.

She crossed her arms, glaring at him. "And what do you suggest, oh noble protector? Maybe you can do whatever you want, but I don't exactly have options."

"You've got an inner fire," the huntsman said. "If you had the chance... you could shape your own fate."

"And where exactly would I get that chance?"

The huntsman looked at the sword in his hand. "You said you were ten, right?"

Cinder nodded, cautiously.

"Then we've got about seven years."

"...to do what, exactly?"

The huntsman tossed the sword to her, and smiled when she caught it. "To train you for the Huntsman exam."

Cinder blinked, looking at the blade in her hand.

"...you... think I could become a huntress?"

"Maybe. That's up to the academies, and to you. But I know your guardians can't legally stop you, once you come of age. And even if they try anything... well, you did manage to steal a sword out from under my nose." The huntsman had a wry grin. "You could easily sneak yourself to Atlas Academy in the middle of the night."

"I could..."

Cinder tilted the sword in her hand thoughtfully. A huntress... that would open up a lot of options, wouldn't it? She could go anywhere... do anything... gather the most incredible technology to show Azula up--

She glanced at the mirror again. Hm. She'd have to take it with her, but... well. Seven years to think up an answer to that.

And even if she didn't become a huntress, here was a man willing to train her. Her! She'd be a complete idiot not to take advantage of that.

"You want to train me? Teach me how to fight?"

"It's the least I can do."

Cinder glanced at the mirror again.

"...but don't huntsman academies expect more than just fighting?" she asked, carefully making her tone nervous. "I'd--I'd need to study a lot of... books I don't have--"

"We can figure it out," the huntsman promised.

She looked at him, at his face... and at the sword in her hands.

"...okay."

There were a few minutes where he taught her how to hold a sword properly, and a few basic exercises, and then he glanced at his scroll. "I do have to head out tomorrow. But I'll be back in a month, and if you keep training... we might be able to go to the next level when I get back."

"I will," Cinder promised, holding the sword tightly.

She listened at the door after the huntsman left, waiting until she could no longer hear his footsteps, and then returned to the mirror. "Soooooooooooooooooooooooo, Azula--"

The fire nation tapestry fell aside, revealing a very annoyed fire nation princess crossing her arms. "You know, I'm a trained warrior myself."

"Mhmm, mhmm, but can you give me a sword?" Cinder asked, showing off the blade with a smirk.

Azula huffed. "The mirror's limitations are not my fault."

"Fair enough. Still... me! A huntress!" Cinder grinned, hugging the sword close. "This is the best day of my life!"

A flash of... something crossed Azula's face, too quickly for her to identify. And then she shifted her stance into something more... relaxed.

"What's his name?

Cinder blinked. "...what?"

"Your mentor," she clarified. "What's his name?"

"I... can check the... registry..."

"Of course you can." Azula examined her fingernails idly. "You know, every one of my tutors has a full and thorough background check."

Cinder rolled her eyes, lowering the sword. "I don't think that he's a criminal or anything, Azula. And it's not like anybody would send an assassin after me."

"Oh, no no, but... well, one of the things the checks are for is if a tutor is competent. A princess deserves only the best of the best, after all." Azula brought her hand up, letting sparks dance between her fingers. "Your new friend, though... how good of a huntsman is he? How good of a teacher is he? Can you really learn everything you need to succeed from him?"

"He's a professional."

"You stole his sword. Easily."

Cinder rose a finger... then lowered it, looking at the sword.

"...He can get me books," she pointed out. "Books about Dust mechanics, landing strategies--even if he's not a good teacher himself, there's a lot I can learn from him."

"True, true. I suppose there's that." Azula rolled her shoulder, idly sliding into a more precise pose. "But there are going to be times you don't have a weapon. Times you need a more direct approach..."

Cinder watched the fire dancing along her hand. She glanced carefully at Azula's face, at how Azula was watching her.

"...Aaaaaah." A slow smirk spread across her own face. "Azula... I'm so sorry," she said in a thoroughly unapologetic tone.

"Oh?"

"I didn't realize you wanted to train me," Cinder continued, putting a hand on her hip. "I shouldn't have made you... jealous."

The fire snuffed out as Azula glowered at her.

"But, you know," Cinder mused smugly, "I guess you're right. I can't just trust him to teach me everything. I need a skilled and brilliant teacher, one I know can actually match their claims. I sure do wish I knew somebody like that!"

Azula crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "What's in it for me?"

"I teach you how to read my language and show you all the books on technology I get that guy to bring me."

"Hm. I suppose that's about as much as I could expect," Azula allowed. "Fine. Get some sleep, we'll begin your training at dawn."

Cinder twirled her sword with a grin. "You got it, princess."

"Sifu. The proper address for a firebending teacher is Sifu." Azula narrowed her eyes. "So during our lessons, you will address me as Sifu Azula. Understood?"

"Yeah, I got it." Cinder picked up the curtain. "Have a good night, princess."

Whatever Azula was going to say in reply was cut off by the fabric. Cinder smiled to herself at the exasperated growl coming from behind it, carefully stashing the sword under the wardrobe before she flopped onto her sleeping mat.

Between the two teachers she'd managed to net in one night, there was no doubt in her mind: she was going to become a huntress, and then nobody would be able to control her ever again.

Chapter Text

"Ordinarily we'd start by teaching you breath control," Azula said as she ran through a few very basic katas. "Power in firebending comes from the breath, and learning control is necessary to keep fire from spreading... well, uncontrollably. But you are somehow not a firebender despite your evocative name, so we can skip to the interesting parts."

"Maybe my semblance will be firebending," Cinder pointed out, mimicking Azula's motions as best she could.

"Wouldn't that be something. But until we know that, you're going to learn how to use firebending style without actually firebending. I can see a major problem already: Your stance isn't stable. You're going to fall over the moment you start your punches..."

And so it went. Every morning, she would drill Cinder in fundamental katas and strikes, and every evening Cinder would go through her sword exercises. Well, almost every evening--some nights, she entered with that strange weariness Azula had noticed, barely able to rise up to match their verbal spars. Despite that, though, Azula had to admit the scullery maid was picking up the skills at a fairly decent pace. Not one that matched her own prodigious skill, but then again she was the princess of the Fire Nation, honed from a far younger age, and to expect Cinder to match her skill level or even half of it would be entirely unrealistic.

Between the mornings and the nights, though, Azula's own days were consumed with the academy lessons, schoolyard politicking, and continued research into the various possible avenues of Remnant's eventual conquest. The information she'd managed to gather so far was unhelpful, to say the least; most mentions of other worlds were either about the spirit world or, more rarely, the planets in the night sky. Still, some of the scrolls had described the planets--and even the stars--as floating in a sea of some mysterious aether... an interesting idea, to say the least.

There were spirits on Remnant, obviously--what else could the Grimm be?--and that meant a connection to the spirit world. Perhaps... Remnant and her world were like islands, and the Spirit World was an ocean. Which meant, in theory, all Azula needed was a boat of some sort. A ship that could sail the spirit world. And a way to chart a course across it...

Well, more like a lot of ships. A whole navy. Azula had no doubt the Fire Nation could make such a thing, but convincing her father to try something so esoteric in the middle of the war would be foolish--especially when she didn't have a working model to speak of. And they couldn't just get there by meditating--an army of souls without bodies, without their bending, would not make a decent invasion force.

Still, she knew there was one person that could answer her questions.

So one afternoon, Azula made her way to a specific room in the palace. She took a breath, entered the room, and bowed formally. "Good afternoon, uncle."

Iroh looked up from his tea set. "Azula? This is an unexpected surprise."

"I thought it would be nice to check in on family," Azula replied, looking him over. "I may not have that long, after all, you're starting to go grey."

"Age does come with a degree of austerity," the old man admitted as she sat down across from him. "But I assure you that I still have a ways to go yet."

"Oh, I hope so. The Fire Nation would lose much if your wisdom were to be taken from us."

Iroh sipped his tea thoughtfully. "Wisdom... ah. Yes, I suppose my experiences would have given me a degree of that. And it is of course always a pleasure to guide my family," he added, inclining his head toward her.

Azula took a cup of tea herself, careful to watch its taste on her tongue before swallowing. She seriously doubted that her uncle would poison her, or even that an assassin would sneak in to poison his tea, but she could never afford to let her guard down; her grandfather had done so only once, and she knew full well what had happened to him.

"Hmm. This tea is quite good," she admitted.

"I'm glad you like it. Brewing a good cup of tea is a good way to find balance within one's own firebending, but I must admit the joy of such a fine drink is in many ways its own reward."

Azula kept herself from rolling her eyes. "Oh, I'm sure it is." She put the cup down, considering her next step carefully. "Did you learn that on your travels?"

"In a way, I suppose." Iroh's smile was somewhat wry. "Travel can broaden one's horizons, but only if you are willing to allow it."

"Broaden one's horizons... like your trip to the spirit world?" Azula asked, casually.

"A rather literal interpretation, but I can't say I didn't learn quite a bit on that journey."

"How did you get there?" she pressed. "I mean, I have to suppose meditation would have been difficult for you, given... well." She let her face fall, a carefully crafted mask of regret and sorrow.

"My son." Iroh sighed. "Yes, I was... distressed, in those days. Too distressed to walk the path most would. No, my path was guided by another, an older soul who knew of... other ways."

He paused to examine her, and she straightened to become the picture of attentiveness.

"...Ways," he continued, "that are dangerous in their own right. To entrust such knowledge to one so young would be to endanger you, and I do not wish for that to happen."

"It is good to know you care so much about me," Azula replied, bowing her head and pushing back her frustration. He'd at least confirmed there were other ways to the spirit world--that her plans weren't a waste--and everything else could come with time. "May I know what happened once you were there?" she asked instead.

Iroh stroked his beard in consideration. "It isn't easy to describe. The spirit world is fluid, in a way our world isn't. A forest may be a collection of trees, or of spirits, or it may be a spirit in itself, or perhaps all three, and it may change when angered or displeased. Making a coherent tale out of my journey through such places is quite difficult... though I suppose I can tell you one thing with firm confidence."

"Yes?"

He looked her straight in the eyes, his expression completely serious. "Frog spirits enjoy songs about the simple things in life."

Azula forced herself to smile. "I'm sure they do, uncle."

"When dealing with spirits, one should first strive to understand them," Iroh explained solemnly. "They have their own desires, their own lives and natures, and trying to manipulate or control them in the same way you would the courtiers of the Fire Nation may well backfire on you. Do not forget, my niece, that the greatest of destinies can often be shaped by the most minor of things, and the most well-planned of endeavors might fail because of the unnoticed details."

"Of course, Uncle. I shall always remember that."

"Hmm." Iroh nodded gravely.

Then he broke out into a smile. "But enough about an old man! Come, tell me, how have you been doing in the academy?"

"Ah--well, my grades are exemplary--"

"No, no, I know you are skilled Azula, that much I needn't doubt. Have you made any friends? Found any stories you enjoy?" He leaned in conspiratorially. "Perhaps caused some 'issues' for troublesome professors?"

Azula blinked, trying to shake her confusion. "What? I... what?"

"Pranks, Azula. Oh, don't give me that look," Iroh told her, "I know full well that youth is a time for certain enjoyments. To bond with others, imagine new futures, and indulge in joys that us old folk have had to leave behind." His smile faded for a moment. "Not all people have as much freedom as you do, Azula, and your freedoms will be curtailed with the responsibilities of the royal family. Enjoy it while you can."

"...Of... course, Uncle." Azula managed to recover quickly, keeping pace with the old man's strange ways. "I haven't... pulled any pranks on professors, though. That would be disrespectful."

"Ah, of course. And it would be unwise of me to encourage the princess of the Fire Nation to engage in such behavior."

"Certainly. But, I suppose I have made a few friends," Azula admitted. "Have you met Mai?"

"Ukano's girl?" Iroh took a sip of tea. "Yes, I have. I'm not surprised you two are friends."

Azula narrowed her eyes at that. "Well... perhaps you might be surprised to learn she's harboring affections for our dear Zuko."

"Oh?" Iroh put his cup down. "That is interesting..."

Chapter Text

"Why does your language have no actual written words?"

Cinder rolled her eyes, gesturing at the book the huntsman--Rhodes, she had to remember that name--had brought her that month. "I see plenty of words."

"No, there are plenty of characters," Azula corrected. "No individual words, just... sounds, strung together. I mean, look at that," she insisted, pointing over Cinder's shoulder at one of the diagrams on the page. "V... E... L... O, C, I T, Y? Ve-loki-tya? What does that even mean?"

"It says velocity," Cinder corrected. "Cs are soft when they come before I. Or E," she added thoughtfully. "Or Y, I think."

Azula crossed her arms grumpily. "That makes absolutely no sense."

Cinder grinned smugly. "Oh? Is the great and powerful princess Azula... frustrated?"

"I am learning an entirely new language that exists in an entirely different world, from a high-level textbook I'm seeing through a mirror, a language that seems designed to contradict its fundamental rules on a regular basis, and my teacher is a ten-year-old scullery maid. Just because I can do it doesn't make it easy." The princess gave her a challenging look. "I'd like to see you try to learn my language."

"...You know what? Sure. Why not." Cinder put the book down, turning around. "I think I can master your silly little squiggles."

"Really? On top of learning psuedo-firebending, practicing sword fighting, and unclogging all the toilets in your five-story hotel?"

"Yep."

Azula rolled her eyes, but Cinder caught the indulgent quirk of her lips. "If you really want to fry your own brain, I am only too happy to oblige."

Cinder rubbed her shoulders as she turned herself around to face the mirror. "Aren't you the one that said mastering many skills is paramount to perfection?"

"Strictly speaking, I was reciting a quote. Ah, here we are, the Art of War."

"Why am I not surprised you have that on your bookshelf?"

"It's one of the fundamental classics," Azula informed her as she sat against the mirror, opening the book. "Memorizing them all is a requirement if we are to amount to anything. Of course, I had this memorized when I was five."

"Yes, I'm sure being born into the lap of luxury gave you more than enough time to devote to idle hobbies."

"Time, yes, but the skill is through my own effort. Now then." Azula gestured at two characters at the top. "This is the title of the first chapter, 'Laying Plans.' Well more literally, 'Beginning Plan,' but that should be clear from context."

"So each little symbol is a word and... the lines are letters?"

"Somewhat. You see how this symbol can be broken into three parts? The one on the left is the primary meaning of the word, modified by the two symbols on the right--which are themselves a compound word."

Cinder frowned. "Okay, so how do you keep all the basic words straight in your head?"

"I would say I'm just brilliant, but I have to admit that there are even water savages that know how to read." Azula smirked at her over her shoulder. "So it's about as easy a skill as walking."

"What was it you said?" she asked pointedly. "New language, other world, through a mirror, ten-year-old teacher?"

"Oh, very well. It's as easy as walking while carrying something heavy."

"Thank you." Cinder's voice dripped with amused sarcasm. She looked at the assemblage of strange glyphs Azula was holding. "You really memorized all this when you were five?"

"The royal family must ascribe itself to excellence in all things."

"Something your parents taught you?"

"My father did," Azula clarified. "My mother..." She trailed off, her hand curling for a moment.

Now that was interesting. Another thing Cinder could needle at, and she almost did, but...

Something about the way Azula's fingers curled seemed familiar. Familiar enough that she decided to proceed with caution.

"Different expectations?" she asked instead.

"No expectations, really. Mother never really bothered to teach me anything, she was always too busy coddling Zuko."

"Was?" Cinder pressed.

"She's gone now," Azula explained in a casual tone. "Has been for... I think it's been three and a half months now. Hmm." She tilted her head. "Now there's a funny coincidence..."

"What do you mean? What's a coincidence?"

The princess seemed silent for a moment, but then she shut her book and spun back around. "Well, I suppose if I can tell anybody, it's the girl in the mirror," she said with a sly grin. "Well, my uncle Iroh had the city of Ba Sing Se under siege--the capital of the Earth Kingdom. His forces had been attacking for a full six hundred days, and even managed to breach the outer walls. And then, one day, his son died in battle, and he pulled out--which of course proved that he no longer had the fire to be the future Fire Lord."

Cinder nodded. "That makes sense."

"Of course it makes sense! It made so much sense that my father pointed it out to my grandfather, trying to get him to name him the new heir." Azula rolled her eyes. "Of course my grandfather was old and stodgy, said something about his insolence and ordered him to kill Zuko so he'd know 'the pain of losing a firstborn.'"

Cinder stared at her in utter disbelief. "You are making this up."

"No, I was there, hiding behind a tapestry." The princess of the fire nation put a hand to her heart. "May my flame be extinguished if I hath misled ye."

"Huh. But... Zuko's alive, right? So..."

Azula sighed. "My fault, I'm afraid. I went and told him. He didn't believe me, of course, but our dear mother just so happened to be listening in." She smiled grimly. "The next day, my father announced that my grandfather had passed 'peacefully in his sleep,' and that his last words were to name him as the next Fire Lord. My mother, of course, vanished without a trace."

"...Wow." Cinder tilted her head. "So... let's see. Your mom hears your brother's going to be killed by your dad, convinces your dad not to by poisoning your grandfather and getting him the throne, then scampers in order to avoid anybody coming after her for treason."

"I, of course, cannot confirm any of that and must deny it all as pure slander and hearsay," Azula replied loftily.

"And I thought my situation was bad."

"Oh it is. I'm still the fabulously wealthy and powerful princess of the Fire Nation that's better at everything, my family just happens to have a bit of a sordid history." Azula folded her hands. "Do you want to know the really interesting part?"

"Oh, it gets more interesting?"

"The day my father was crowned Fire Lord was a very busy one, with a lot of nobles and greetings and speeches, so I was kept up at the palace for a while. By the time I returned to the academy, the moon was up in the sky. I was getting ready for bed, perfectly sure nothing dramatic could happen, and then this ridiculously dirty scullery maid just appeared in my mirror!"

Cinder snorted. "Oh, wow. Now that is definitely mirror shenanigans. Imagine how mindlessly arrogant you would be without me constantly taking the wind out of your sails."

"I suppose you might see it that way. But, yes, I suppose that if it weren't for you I wouldn't have the ambition to conquer an entirely new realm just to see you brought to heel."

"I'm shaking in terror. I'm so scared I think my fear's brought an Ursa to--

Azula jolted. "A what?"

"An Ursa." Cinder shrugged. "Common type of Grimm. Bear-shaped, big, usually breaks through walls and shrugs off damage."

"Huh. That's... interesting," Azula noted. "My mother's name was Ursa."

Cinder actually laughed at that. "An Ursa for a mom! That explains a lot about you!"

"Oh please, she wasn't a spirit of any sort, let alone--"

"No no no, you should definitely say that when you get here. 'My mother was an Ursa and my father was FIRE ITSELF!' It'd be so badass!"

Azula rolled her eyes, though she was smiling faintly. "I'll take it under advisement."

Chapter Text

"Most lar-geh--"

"Large.

"Large settlemen...ts are si-to-ah-ted--"

"Situated." Cinder ran her sword through a few swings. "The first t makes a ch sound, for some reason."

Azula rolled her eyes. "...situated around terrain such as... cliffs?"

"Yeah, hard C."

"Cliffs or hills for defense a...gainst the Grimm, so huntsmen and huntresses will fre-quien-ta-lie--"

"Frequently, I think."

"--frequently find themsel...themselves fighting in... are-ahs?"

Cinder paused her exercises and looked at the page. "Areas. Three syllables."

"Your language is nonsensical."

"Right back at you, princess."

"...frequently find themselves fighting in areas where falling is almost..." Azula paused, examining the next word. "...in-ev-it-a-ble."

She glanced at Cinder, who gave her a nod.

"Conse...quently, a good landing stratahguay--"

"Strategy."

"--strategy is considered one of the fundamental skills one can learn for this car-ear--"

"Ka-rear. Not car-ear."

"...for this ca-rear, and as such the im...pact of ak-kel-are-a-ti-on--"

"What?" Cinder looked at the page again. "No, it's pronounced ack-sell-er-a-shun."

"Again: an utterly nonsensical language," Azula stated firmly. "At least the words never shift pronunciation in my tongue."

"No, they just get jammed together to make new words that sound nothing like the old ones."

"Hrmf." Azula flipped her hair, looking back down at the book. "...and as such the impact of acceleration and velo...si-ti?"

"That sounds right."

"...velocity on the human body is an important subject all huntsmen and huntresses must master." Azula sighed. "And that's the end of the page."

Cinder obligingly finished her current sword set, leaning down and turning the page. "Huh. Interesting diagram here."

"It seems to be an examination of the laws of physics on various parts of the skeleton," Azula mused thoughtfully. "That this has become common knowledge in your world... it has certain implications."

"Which you will no doubt try to use in your schemes to conquer the world." Cinder smirked. "Do you know how much of a cartoon villain that makes you sound like?"

"A villain would be trying to destroy society, I am trying to better it." Azula paused for a moment. "What's... a cartoon?"

Cinder considered the question, clearly trying to figure out how to fit it into what Azula knew about the world.

"...It's a moving picture that's hand drawn," she said finally. "A kind of theatre, basically. Usually over-the-top silly, because hand-drawn images can do things people physically can't."

"That's..." Azula blinked. "...what purpose would... why would people even make such a thing? It doesn't seem to serve any purpose!"

"Entertainment?"

"Even the most basic play has a reasonable plot. Not just... whatever it is you described."

Cinder shrugged. "It's one of those things that just exists, because of course it does."

"Hrmph." Azula crossed her arms. "I suppose I'll have to make sure that nonsense like that is stamped out."

"Of course you will."

"And speaking of which... I have a new sort of lesson for you."

Cinder quirked an eyebrow. "Oh really now?"

Azula sat up straight, resting her hands on her knees. "There are many ways to access the spirit world, and one of the most common... is meditation."

"You want to teach me how to meditate."

"I know, I know, it's ridiculous, but think of it this way: If you can find some sort of landmark in your version of the Spirit World, I can lead the Fire Nation to Remnant. Eventually."

"Still not convinced that's the best thing for us," Cinder quipped.

"Well, maybe one of the spirits can help you with the Madam or something. They don't think like we do... apparently." Azula shrugged. "My uncle is not forthcoming about this sort of thing."

Cinder rolled her eyes as she sat cross-legged herself. "I'm going to have to meditate anyway, Rhodes says it's the best way to learn how to use my aura."

"Chi," Azula stated firmly. "Aura is... most likely just an expression of chi."

"Oh, yes, of course. How could I forget that most fundamental of lessons."

Azula took a slow breath, ignoring Cinder's sarcasm. "There are many ways to connect to one's Chi," she began, calmly. "Even now, you can feel it. It is your very essence, flowing through your body. Every beat of your heart, every twitch of your finger, alters the flow in a noticeable way. Meditation lets you feel it more directly, sense where it is fast and where it is sluggish, and through that you can practice how you interact with it. All forms of bending extends your life energy beyond your body, and the enlightened are able to remove themselves from their body for a time to cross over to the spirit world."

Cinder smirked. "And have you ever been?"

"...no," Azula admitted. "But really, that's probably just because I'm so young. Who ever heard of a child visiting the spirit world? I'm sure that with time and practice I'll find my own way," she declared confidently.

"Oh, sure, sure. And what if I find my way to the spirit world before you do?"

"I'd be incredibly surprised," Azula deadpanned. "But I suppose you don't have the royal obligations to take up your time, so you might be able to achieve it."

Cinder smirked. "So, how do I do this? Just deep slow breaths and focusing on what I feel?"

"Not exactly. To focus on your chi, you must first clear your mind of all other distractions. Which means you must first know what those distractions are." Azula sighed. "So for now... watch your thoughts."

"Watch my thoughts? What does that mean?"

"What you're thinking. The random impulses, the flicker of memory. Learn how your thoughts work. That's what you'll be meditating on."

"...you have no idea what you're doing, do you."

Azula huffed. "Of course I do! I have access to the greatest library of knowledge the world has ever known! Meditation and spiritual enlightenment are just another skill for me to master!"

"And who taught you how to meditate?"

The princess fell silent.

"...Nobody?" Cinder asked, astonished. "Really? You're just making this up as you go?"

"Be quiet and watch your thoughts."

"How?! Just--keep a journal, or something?!"

"If you think it so foolish, then maybe you can just do your ordinary aura exercises instead!"

"You know what, I think I will!"

"Wonderful!" Azula snapped. "That's perfect for you!"

Cinder narrowed her eyes.

"...why is this so important?"

"It isn't."

"It's the spirit world, isn't it?" Cinder pressed. "You want to find out if it's possible to get here at all!"

"Well, yes, obviously, but I have years to plan--"

"You don't even know! Not for certain! All you've got are theories, don't you?"

Azula sighed. "Yes. All I have are theories. Because nothing like this has ever been attempted. If you are really happy with how your life is going right now, if you're actually content to live in that damned basement--"

"Storage room."

"--then you don't have to do anything. You can just... sit there. Not find the spirit world. Not find a way for me to cross. Just let the Madam keep dictating your life. Day after day after day."

Cinder... frowned, for a moment.

"...watch my thoughts. Sounds... crazy, but I'll try."

Azula nodded, keeping her own thoughts to herself. It wasn't much, she knew, but every single step would bring her closer to her goal. Things would get exciting soon enough, she was sure of it.

Chapter Text

"Hi Azula!"

"My, you're certainly chipper tonight," Azula noted, looking over the broad grin Cinder wore. "Did one of your sisters die?"

Cinder hummed thoughtfully. "Well, no. Do you think that could happen? Wait, stupid question, I remember what you told me about your grandfather."

"I never actually confirmed anything," Azula pointed out with a small smirk.

"Plausible deniability," Cinder agreed with a nod. "Anyway, your family drama's not what's important right now."

"I think you'll find most people in the Fire Nation disagree." Despite her words, Azula was smiling. "Well then, out with it, what's the big news?"

"I figured out my semblance today!" Cinder proclaimed, pulling her hands out from behind her back gleefully. "Look!"

Azula watched as her palms began to glow, raising an eyebrow at the haze building above them. "Well now. Isn't that interesting..."

"I know, I know, it's not exactly firebending, but it's pretty close, right? And look!" She pressed her hands together tightly, her look of concentration drawing an amused smile from the princess, and after a few seconds with an intense red-hot glow she produced a small obsidian trinket.

"Hmm. The emblem of the fire nation." Azula nodded approvingly. "I can see you've picked up on my excellent taste."

Cinder rolled her eyes, but she was still grinning. "Not that I get much chance to demonstrate it, you know, here."

"I'll be sure to spread knowledge of your skills once--"

"--once you conquer Remnant, yes, I know, do you have any better idea on how you're going to do that?"

"You don't have to sound so amused," Azula muttered. "For your information, I have been tracking down some valuable leads."

"Sure, sure. I'm certain you'll stumble across something one of these days."

"How did you figure your semblance out, anyway?"

"Oh, well, uh... there was an incident with mud and a scrubbing brush," Cinder offered. "It'd take too long to explain. So, I think we were up to the third level katas, right?"

Azula rolled her eyes, but obligingly began running through the basic exercises. "I suppose these would be more useful now that you can actually apply something other than your basic strength. Has that been improving, by the way?"

"A little bit. The exercise and eating right are helping." Cinder followed the motions with the level of concentration Azula had come to expect from her. "If it weren't for the constant--"

She cut herself off. Azula didn't need to know about... that.

"The constant... what?"

"It's not important," Cinder insisted. "The point is, I'm catching up to you."

"A worthy goal," Azula agreed. "Now, remember, breath control is crucial..."

The lesson, and many others, sunk into Cinder's eager mind over the course of the coming weeks. Weeks which slowly crystalized a realization in the young girl's mind. Every day, the Madame would berate her for every mistake; every night, Azula would help her correct her slip-ups. Her sisters would constantly mock and belittle her for their own amusement, but Azula's sharp tongue urged Cinder to rise to the occasion. She hated her guardian, her sisters, the false family she'd been forced into, and yet... Azula, for all she was similar in her own behavior, had an edge of grudging respect that made her worth talking to.

The Glass Unicorn, and its masters, were Cinder's enemy. But Azula, princess of the fire nation? She was Cinder's rival.

Not that Cinder would ever say so to her face, of course, the prissy princess would probably whine about the idea of having a scullery maid as a rival and she dealt with that sort of thing enough already. Her sisters continued to complain over every little thing, even after the puffcloud incident. She would have thought that they'd realize mocking somebody with an active semblance was not the brightest idea, but then again they always were a little... vapid.

She nearly dropped the stack of towels when one of them tripped her, but the balance she'd picked up from both Rhodes and Azula's training turned her stumble into a quick half-jerk.

"Oops!" Eurwen giggled. "I didn't see you there!"

"I don't blame you," Órlaith said smugly. "She's just so forgettable."

"Yeah, kind of pathetic, really."

"No wonder she doesn't have any friends."

Cinder decided, once again, not to bring up being friends with a princess. The girls would call her delusional--or they'd take the mirror for themselves. Or break it... or at least try to break it. She was pretty sure the mirror was indestructible.

Instead, she decided to try a different tack.

"I guess you're right," she sighed, walking down the hall. "I mean, nobody ever seems to notice me unless I screw up."

"Yeah, of course we're right--"

Órlaith cut off Eurwen with a frown. "The help should not complain," she stated, glowering at Cinder.

"Of course," Cinder agreed, bowing her head. "Although... as your sister--"

She ignored the twin scoffs.

"--can I ask you something?"

"You had better not be wasting our time," Eurwen growled.

"Oh, no, of course not! I know your time is valuable and precious." Cinder opened the door to an unoccupied room. "I just wanted to know when I should prepare the hotel for your friends."

"...What?"

"I mean, I'm so forgettable and pathetic," Cinder continued as she entered the attached bathroom, "and that's why I have no friends. But you two, surely, are incredible, emblazoning yourselves in the memories of everyone you meet. And friends are supposed to invite each other to their homes for visits, or so I've heard." She closed the towel cabinet and turned to her sisters with a sly smirk. "I just want to know when I should prepare the hotel for them."

"You--" Eurwen growled.

"It's good to know you're thinking of us," Órlaith interjected smoothly. "But I can assure you, that won't be necessary. It's not like we'd invite our friends here, after all."

"Why not?" Cinder asked innocently. "This is one of the best hotels in the kingdom, right? Elegant, caters to all the best clientele, I know the sheets on the beds are great quality... oh!" She gaped. "Is it possible that you don't have any friends?"

Órlaith glared at her. Without saying anything, she opened the towel cabinet and tossed the towels into the toilet.

"That's not a no," Cinder noted smugly.

"Get back to work," Órlaith growled.

Cinder shrugged. "Whatever you say." She pulled the towels out of the toilet, humming as she walked away, not even acknowledging Eurwen's slap.

Chapter Text

"...and of course the turtleducks still don't like me."

Cinder snorted in amusement. "Somehow, I'm not surprised."

"Neither am I," Azula admitted, "but it does get rather frustrating at times. I suppose I should leave them to the groundskeepers, but Ty Lee... ah, well."

"Oh no, please, do go on. What about Ty Lee?"

"Ty Lee has opinions about how animals should be treated and respected...."

Gossiping with a girl from another world--and it was gossip, Azula could admit that to herself--was a decent enough manner to entertain herself every night. But when the sun rose, she returned to her many duties as the princess of the Fire Nation. Education, of course, played a great role in that, but there was also the maneuvering between political cliques, and the regular visits to the palace. And, of course, dealing with Zuko.

Truly, the boy had been born into the wrong family. Perhaps he would have been happier if his father had been that peasant lad mother had been courting before being so graciously ascended to the royal family. But alas, he was the prince of the nation, and even if the throne would inevitably fall into her grasp rather than his, Azula had a responsibility to at least make sure he didn't embarrass the fire nation. Admittedly, she wasn't sure how to go about that, but she would at least try.

Now all she had to do was find the idiot boy...

Ah, there he was. In the royal library, of course. Azula could admit that, had he been studying out of passion or with a sense of direction, it might have been admirable, but the desperation that drove him just made it pathetic.

Still… all metal needed to be tempered before it could be used…

So it was that Azula strode into the bookshelves, intent on allowing her brother to benefit from her wisdom. She couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow at the scroll in his hand, a treatise on battle and warfare. As though that could possibly... no, no, she needed to help her brother become an asset to the Fire Nation.

"Hello, Zuzu." Azula trailed a finger along the table as she approached, smirking all the while.

"Azula! What, ah, what are you doing here?"

"Checking in on you, if you can believe it." Azula shrugged. "You may be a disappointment, but you are still family. And that means I care about you."

Zuko gave her a wary look. "...really?"

"Oh, certainly. I did warn you about Father's little 'plan,' after all." Azula smiled. "So, what are you working on here...?"

"I was just... studying... tactics..."

"Really now!" Azula smiled--then, seeing Zuko flinch, realized she was smirking and attempted to soften it. "Fascinating. What have you figured out so far?"

"...I... think the environment affects the tactics a lot."

"Oh, that's true, that's very true." Azula nodded indulgently. "Fortifications can enhance an army's projection of power. And higher ground provides overwatch of the battlefield."

"...Yes."

Azula, awkwardly, looked at Zuko. Zuko, awkwardly, didn't look at her.

Spirits, this was annoying. She so wished she could have a legitimately capable viceroy ready for when she needed to conquer Remnant, but Zuko--being the highest ranked besides her and her father--would likely be the only one worthy of holding another world. And she could mould him into something capable of doing so if only they were able to actually have a conversation. But her... critiques, apparently, had left her brother withdrawn, which frustrated Azula to no end.

"There's also the matter of equipment," she offered. "Firebenders are, of course, superior in every way, but swordsmen and archers have their uses on the battlefield. And naval commanders as well, though sea tactics are quite different from land tactics..."

"I... guess so," Zuko admitted, still looking over the scroll. "I just... how would you keep everyone alive?"

"A battle is a negotiation, Zuzu. You and the enemy have different win conditions, and different lose conditions. And your soldiers are your assets. True, if you use them wisely, you can convince the other side to give up... eventually. But in the end, there will always be pain and suffering." Azula smiled brightly. "So the best thing to do is make sure most of it is the opposition's!"

Zuko's expression of horror was hilarious, but also an indication that her attempt to be helpful was not at all succeeding.

"I don't know what to tell you, Zuzu. War's a harsh thing," she tried. And apparently failed, if his expression was anything to go by. Spirits, why was her brother like this?!

"...it shouldn't cost lives," he finally grumbled.

"It's war. By definition, it costs lives."

"But we're fighting the war so the Fire Nation can help the world!"

"You can't make dumplings without roasting a few coals," Azula declared with a shrug.

"Don't you care that our people are dying for this?"

Azula took a deep breath, reminding herself that her idiot brother was still technically a part of the royal family.

"Of course," she said slowly, "I care. Every drop of Fire Nation blood spilt is another precious bit of oil lost before it can fuel the pyres. That is why it is critical to make sure that every drop is spent with utmost precision, that we gain more than we lose. If I can conquer a town by sacrificing one soldier, I will call it a victory and make sure that soldier's name is honored. The reality of this war, of our lives, is simple: we must prove our right to lead the world, and the world has decided that we must prove it by force."

"And yet often the cost of war is not what we would expect," said a somber voice from the doorway.

Azula inhaled sharply, before turning to the door. "Uncle. What an... unexpected pleasure."

"Family often is," Iroh agreed with a wry smile.

"Unexpected, or pleasurable?"

"Both, I would say. Familiarity allows for more leverage than would otherwise be appropriate." Iroh looked over the scrolls Zuko was examining. "Tactics?"

"I just..." Zuko glanced away. "...thought I should learn. I'm the prince, aren't I?"

A joke of a prince, Azula carefully didn't say. Her eyes shifted suspiciously to her uncle, who was stroking his beard as though contemplating his next move.

"A leader is responsible for the well-being of all they are assigned," he agreed, though there was an odd undertone to his voice. "Be they soldiers or servants."

Zuko nodded, relaxing ever so slightly. "It's the honorable thing to do."

Honorable? Azula scowled. Honor never got anybody anything. She would have said so, too, if Iroh wasn't right there, watching her.

"How is it honorable?" she asked instead. "I thought honor was about defeating enemies."

Iroh smiled wryly. "You are thinking of glory, young Azula. Of the reputation gained by exerting power, be it through impressive destruction or impressive construction. Honor is the fufillment of promise, the willingness to exert that power not just according to whim, but to do so in a manner that can be trusted. Honor your family, for together we are more than apart. And honor your word, for the more your complete your promises the more promise you will show. Glory is a demonstration of your capabilities. Honor is a demonstration of who you are."

"Hm." Azula conceded the point with a small bow of her head. The old man might have lost his flame, but he was once respectable, and he did have some wisdom worth listening to.

For the moment.