Ashes of Devotion [ATLA - Azula x OC]

[Lucernello]

Oh, by the way, Luce, how are you? You said you were sick on Sunday, are you feeling better?

Click to shrink...

I'm better, thanks for asking! My sleep schedule got messed up but other than that, I'm all good now. I hope you are doing great as well.

 

[Lucernello]

AN: Happy Friday, friends. I hope you have a lovely weekend.
​

---

98 A.G

"Who are you really? And don't you dare try to lie. I will know if you do." the young girl said.

"Are you sure? I'm a pretty good liar." Azula challenged.

"I'm sure, I will feel it if you do." replied Toph.

Feel? So the young noble probably was feeling vibrations in the earth, being blind probably made her use her powers all the time. Much like her chi, this young girl polished and refined her skill, until she could also feel their heartbeat and blood pressure changes. It wasn't a wild guess.

"That's a handy skill to have." said Lin. In her world there was a machine able to measure muscle activity, blood pressure, and breathing changes invented not long ago. If this girl was telling the truth and was able to do so by just bending, it was truly impressive.

Good to know that Toph said it up front as well. Lin could control such conditions with her machines and chi. Of course, actively doing that all the time was quite exhausting and it was easy to make a mistake if she wasn't focused correctly, but she could do it if needed; manipulation was still on the table.

"I am a hundred and twenty meters tall platypus bear with pink horns and silver wings." said Azula all of a sudden.

Lin was totally thrown off by the ridiculous lie and couldn't help but stare at the princess in disbelief.

"I… I admit you are good." replied Toph in a more quiet voice now.

Lin cursed the timing of Azula and her jokes. Now that her certain belief in her lie detector skill was proven faulty she wouldn't trust it anymore. A wasted opportunity just to prove a point. Lin sighed, deeply disappointed.

"Well… Never mind that, how long can you stay, Toph? I do want to tell you more, as I said… but it's the middle of the night, I'm sure your family will be missing you." Lin said.

"Not long actually… I have to go back soon or they will notice." replied the young girl.

Lin nodded. As she expected, the young noble was escaping her house without them knowing.

"How about this then, tomorrow at sundown we will meet here again if you are able. We can talk more then. Our names are not lies, in any case." said Lin.

"Alright, I can be here tomorrow night." said Toph.
​

---

Lin still found it difficult to not be surprised by the events that followed. Toph was actually part of one of the most powerful noble families there was in the Earth Kingdom as a whole: Beifong. The family's influence over Gaoling was immense; they were even respected along the entire continent and for generations they had trade deals with the entire world.

Discovering that Toph belonged to that household felt like they had gone searching for copper and found gold, a baffling situation that gave her so many opportunities to take the city even faster.

Over the past few days, Lin had fed the girl information carefully, never lying outright, but also never offering more than she requested. She let curiosity do the work, allowing Toph to pull truths loose once Lin knew the girl wouldn't react badly to it.

The girl spoke freely about feeling trapped in her home, how they treated her disability as a weakness and that overprotection always made her feel like she was made out of glass. It was enough for Lin to feel some sense of familiarity as she explained to the young girl that she was also part of a noble family.

Although in her case, it was more like they wanted her to excel at everything and she was just good at being a soldier which is why she had enlisted so young in the first place. They also both approved of the military. But she didn't want to participate in politics.

Toph showed little interest in the war or the idea of national duty, which concerned and confused Lin at first, then she was able to see it as an advantage. Disinterest in the war created flexibility, and she was clearly more open to the idea of them being part of the Fire Nation.

When Lin revealed where exactly they came from, Toph barely reacted, her attention drifting immediately toward a more relevant question: whether Lin could actually bend fire. The young girl got mad at her for not using her full strength in the duel and demanded a rematch immediately.

She also let her know that Azula was actually the princess of the Fire Nation. Something that Toph found fitting but didn't explain further as to why.

They returned to the arena at night, sneaking in when no one was around. When there was no tournament going on, it was just empty and looked like any abandoned cave. Lin carried their own supplies, including Fire Nation healing salves for burns just in case, and Azula didn't want to be left behind and also came with them.

The spars were fun and relentless. Toph adapted quickly once Lin stopped holding back, her earthbending aggressive and inventive even under unfamiliar attacks. Lin still tried her best not to hurt the young girl.

Lin exploited the blind girl's limits by using low flight, attacking her without touching the ground. Instead of frustrating Toph, it sharpened her focus and drove her to push harder, but still Lin managed to secure more wins.

"So how did you end up with metal arms and legs?" Toph asked her at one point.

"Well… my brother and I wanted to be the best firebenders in the world. We were both training quite hard with father. At one point, however, he began experimenting with a complicated firebending technique, something he had discovered in our family library. He made me draw on his face. At the time I didn't realize just how dangerous this technique really was, it was a costly mistake."

"So he used this bending technique on you?" Toph asked.

"No… more like he used the bending incorrectly and he ended up hurting us both. Imagine having the power to make rocks explode outwards with the strength to pierce through a human being in the blink of an eye. Now imagine having the ability to throw that power so that it explodes far away from you. That is the technique he was trying to learn to impress our father. It is called combustion bending." Lin continued to explain.

"Something I didn't learn." Azula noted.

"It is quite dangerous, it requires a certain affinity to it as well. If at any point you are unfocused or you are disrupted while bending this way, explosions will happen all around you. I refuse to teach it, and my brother Raizo wouldn't either. Even though he is still actively using it, I know he still feels guilty about hurting me, he barely looks me in the eye. I don't blame him for it." Lin answered.

"Why does he keep using it then?" Toph asked.

"It is too powerful a skill to abandon, he is a dedicated assassin. One who leaves nothing behind but a crater and can attack from so far away they never see him coming."

"Whew… remind me not to piss your brother off." Toph said, making Lin chuckle.

"Well, do you guys want to continue with the spars?" Lin asked.

"You are on, princess!" Toph shouted.

Lin observed without comment as Toph managed to keep pace longer than expected, forcing the princess to dodge and duck without getting too overwhelmed by her blue flames. They were quite even in terms of skill, and the remaining time of the night they spent going at it against each other.

When they finally stopped, both looked exhausted and a bit hurt. Lin quickly got to heal them both. With emotions high and bonding done, Lin presented Toph with a simple exchange.

"Toph, how about you come with us wherever our unit goes and I will even let you challenge Bumi or whoever we face strong enough to merit the challenge."

"Do I have to follow your orders?" Toph asked.

"Just like Azula, I cannot give orders to you. The princess is higher ranked than me and you are a civilian from another nation, not a soldier under my command. So no, you can go wherever you want, but it would be more fun if we remained together."

"Sounds fun, yes..."

"We only need a little bit of help. You see, our goal is to take Gaoling city for our nation." Lin continued. "If you help us, I can assure you, I will do whatever I can to take you anywhere you want."

"Mmm, well, alright. But with a condition. My parents are not to be harmed." Toph said.

"Done." replied instantly Lin. To be honest, she wasn't sure the Fire Nation would even want to harm the Beifong family. They even had a hand in the weapons trade and had dealings with elements of the Fire Nation in the past as well. Another reason why Gaoling remained mostly isolated from the war.

She informed Toph of what she needed from her and how she could get to where Azula and her team were hiding. With the agreement set, they parted ways with the young earthbender. Lin told Azula that she needed to go back and that the next time they saw each other, Gaoling would be under their rule.

"We shall see each other again soon, Princess."

"Don't be late." answered the young royal.

Lin turned toward the mountains, beginning the long walk to the glider that would carry her back to Chin Village.
​

---

Lin was pushing her men to the limit, exhaustion clearly visible on their faces. She was confident though, they would be ready soon to assault the city of Gaoling. Of course, that was the moment someone decided to interrupt her.

A runner reached the edge of the training ground, boots skidding slightly in the dirt as he slowed himself enough to deliver the message without collapsing.

"Ma'am! A Fire Nation cruiser is approaching from the west, we cannot confirm its affiliation yet!"

"Easy, corporal. I want you to get Captain Zhou and Lieutenant Kaida to meet me at the docks." she answered before addressing another of her men. "Sergeant, get me a squad ready in full armor. If it is a hijacked ship we will delay it. And get a cannon aimed at the docks as soon as possible! Move it!" she barked and turned in the direction of the dock.

A western approach made little sense. Beyond that stretch of coast lay only the abandoned remains of the southern air temple and long strips of sea that no longer held strategic value, territory already purged and stripped clean during earlier campaigns.

A storm could have pushed a ship so far but she had been on one of those ships and it only drove her south, not west. No supply routes ran that way, and there were no patrols worth reinforcing that area. There really was no reason for a cruiser to approach under standard orders.

Still, if it wasn't a hijack situation, as the acting commander she should meet it head on. Captain Zhou and Lieutenant Kaida joined her as she descended toward the docks, the training field already fading behind them.

They quickly descended towards the dock and Lin directed her vessel captain to move and leave room for them to dock.

The cruiser was easing into position with painfully slow movements, and she could faintly hear the steam engine making strange noises. She quickly assessed the crew as they came into view; it was a reduced one and they were wary as they saluted them.

The ship carried Fire Nation markings, but they were poorly maintained and only the main watchtower looked clean. The deck activity suggested long travel and limited resupply. As the gangplanks dropped against the dock, Lin approached, flanked by her captain and lieutenant duo.

Commander Lin was not prepared to see Prince Zuko step down first, followed closely by General Iroh. Lin felt the brief, involuntary widening of her eyes before discipline and her thousands of hours of training kicked in.

She had never seen the prince in person, she had only seen drawings in portraits that no longer matched the man approaching her. The burn scar across his face disrupted the image she had carried for years.

She didn't let the surprise of their visit show in her face. She straightened, saluted, and bowed with correct form, acknowledging both the prince and the general with equal composure.

"My prince. General Iroh. It's an honor. I'm Commander Lin of the red battalion."

She had met Iroh before during her enrollment to the army parade. He was there to see the new recruits. The respect she held for him was not diminished by his failure at Ba Sing Se. He had pushed further than most officers ever before, had reached the wall through sheer persistence and strength of will.

She could understand his loss at his son's death. She had seen capable leaders falter after losing family to the war, their resolve eroded by grief, and she did not fault him for that. The attempt itself had been a feat.

"No need for that, commander. I'm a retired general." Iroh said.

"Your honor in service was earned through your decades of experience in the war. It does not go away with age, General. Even when you retire, the army will still see you as their general." Lin answered.

The general accepted this with a small nod, his expression warm, and Lin turned her attention back to the prince.

"My prince, I'm the acting commander of the entire southern theater in the war, we will be moving to capture Gaoling and Omashu soon enough, but know that you can take command of the battalion as you see fit. Do you have a mission for us?" Lin asked.

"Err… nothing like that, commander. I just need repairs done to my ship, and a resupply of the resources you can spare."

"Of course, my prince. Whatever you require." Lin answered

"Do you have any tea I could take? I ran dry sadly." General Iroh said.

"At once." Lin ordered Lieutenant Kaida to see to it, adding instructions to prepare food, to assign a platoon to inspect the cruiser, address any structural or mechanical issues, and replenish supplies.

Her soldiers moved fast doing as ordered, and Lin noted the Prince watched the process with a lot of focus. As to what had caught Zuko's attention, she could only guess.

"If you could please follow me, you can rest easy, my men will take care of your crew and your ship."

Lin led them inland. "I will gladly provide any information you need, I'm not informed about your journey or what it entails but we can share maps and routes we have of the area around the peninsula. We even had a few of our scouts map Kyoshi Island to the southwest." Lin said.

"Impressive, commander. I think I need the tea first." Iroh replied.

"Of course."

Lin had two main reasons to help them to this extent. The first was that she really admired the General. The second being that while true, the prince was banished, that didn't necessarily mean that it would stay that way. It could pay well in the future to extend the hand to them here.

As they walked toward the village center, the soldiers they passed stopped their work for a few seconds, acknowledging the prince and the general with proper bows. Lin noticed that the Prince seemed to get rigid with those interactions but no comment was made so she just decided to note it as an observation for now.

"Also, I merely want to assist in your mission, you don't need to share any information with me if you don't want to." Lin said as they arrived at her temporary office.

But now, as she said that, she found herself facing another challenge. Deciding which tea would be adequate for the duo; a hard task.
​

---

Iroh had grown accustomed to more reserved welcomes. Since his nephew's banishment, Fire Nation ports had become places of tension and hostility. In most ports there was no respect for them and they were only met with glares.

Chin Village stood apart from that pattern, and he was pleasantly surprised with the warm welcome at the southern peninsula port. They were respectful and kind, showing none of that pity or hostility they were getting used to.

Iroh had seen Commander Lin before, with her metal limbs it was hard to miss during her enrollment ceremony. It was still hard not to stare, something his nephew was not used to, but the commander didn't seem to mind. She really had ascended through the ranks quickly.

Lin moved through the settlement as if she owned the place, which was a bit arrogant, but the retired general could see in the eyes of the soldiers close by that they really admired the young girl in command.

Those same soldiers stopped whatever they were doing, just to acknowledge them and bow to the prince. They would then continue with their work normally, while civilians moved freely among them, carrying tools, supplies, and materials without fear. It was a sort of casual calm and respect for each other that felt like a breath of fresh air for Iroh.

He observed the rhythm carefully, noting how infrastructure was being built with the cooperation of both Fire Nation engineers and Earth Kingdom civilians. It was the sort of peace and cooperation he had dreamt they could achieve once the war was over.

He followed Lin into her office near the plaza. The office was simplistic in nature, with little decoration and everything set as practical as possible. She brought tea swiftly, and they sat beside a small table in the center of the room.

As he held his cup, steam rose with a familiar comfort that Iroh accepted with gratitude. It was a beautifully prepared tea, Lin was clearly knowledgeable in the art, although he would have preferred his favorite Jasmine tea instead of the traditional ginseng the commander had prepared for them.

"So… May I ask how your journey has been so far?" Lin asked.

Zuko stiffened immediately, his frustration surfacing as it often did these days. And Iroh couldn't even blame him, for many the search for the Avatar was just an excuse for the prince to be banished indefinitely.

Commander Lin didn't seem to notice, or simply ignored his nephew's glare. Iroh chose to speak then, Lin seemed to respect them enough to even offer some aid to them. It would be rude to be guarded here.

"Well, our travels began on the western air temple, the closest temple to the Fire Nation isles. The climb was harsh and unrewarding, its ruins only offer death these days." Iroh paused, and seeing as he had the commander's full attention, he continued.

"After not finding the answers we wanted, we traveled through the northern colonies on the west coast. It was a struggle to get the supplies we needed, but luckily my good friend Shinu helped us."

"Ah, Colonel Shinu. My unit trained with his archers a few years back, he is a competent leader." Lin commented while nodding.

Iroh was surprised someone would train with the famous Yuyan archers, especially firebenders. They were always so quick to dismiss nonbender abilities.

"He is also kind, and we could continue our journey, thanks to his help, to the south. For the past eighteen months we have been trying to find any clues to the avatar's whereabouts in the southern air temple isles and its surrounding areas. Some of the places up there we couldn't reach. The climb was too dangerous, but my nephew hasn't lost hope we can find a way. The problem is, our ship needed maintenance, supplies, and the crew a bit of rest from the long months at sea. We had to halt our attempts at it." Iroh said.

"Rest assured that your ship will be repaired fully and we will supply you with anything you need. Our dock will always be open in the future as well if you need to come back. Around seven hours to the north, if you don't lose sight of the coast, you will also find Ketu Harbor where you will find help as well. I believe Commander Zhao is in charge of that port at the moment, last I heard." Lin informed them.

"Zhao? Well, I guess he should be happy with the promotion. Thanks for the information, and we appreciate your help with our ship." commented Iroh. The truth was that he didn't think Zhao would be friendly with them, it was a good thing she mentioned it, now they knew they should avoid Ketu harbor.

"I may have a solution to your problem regarding the climb to the southern air temple. We have developed a vehicle capable of flying as high as any airbender could." Lin said.

"Really?!" exclaimed Zuko, suddenly standing up.

"Zuko, patience, I'm sure the commander will explain." Iroh said, calming him down.

He had watched his nephew chase hope blindly, and anything that gave him the slightest hint of hope made Iroh feel so sad for him. Zuko wanted to restore his honor and go back to the Fire Nation, not realizing that his father never intended for him to find the Avatar.

"It is as I said, we have a vehicle capable of flying with the help of a firebender. I will have my people prepare one of the gliders to give you a demonstration, you can wait here and finish your tea meanwhile." Lin said, saluting them and swiftly exiting the room.

The tea had warmed him enough, it was really the best they were treated in a while. He hoped his nephew at least gave them a few days to rest.

"What are your thoughts, Zuko?" Iroh asked.
​

---

Prince Zuko found himself in better spirits than he had expected the moment they committed to docking at the first port they saw with Fire Nation banners. True, it was a small dock and hugging a cliff which at the beginning brought suspicion.

He was glad the decision proved sound almost immediately; the reception lacked the hostility he had grown accustomed to, and instead they were met with the familiarity and order he was used to before his journey began.

The soldiers held respect for him and his uncle, and no one looked at him with pity or suspicion. For the first time in weeks, he felt as though he still occupied a place within his own nation.

"Err… do you know why she wears armor on her arms and legs?" asked Zuko.

"I believe she lost her arms and legs and those are not armor but rather limbs built for her." his uncle answered.

"Wow… uhm, well… I think we should hear her offer out, Uncle. It could be useful." Zuko said.

"I suppose so." Iroh answered.

For once, his path forward did not feel like a series of closed doors, and the sense that his luck might finally be turning was a happy thought.

Which of course had to be shattered straight away as soon as the commander returned.

"They are already getting everything ready. I forgot to ask, my prince. Do you want to see your sister? I can get Princess Azula brought to you here in two days time."

The words barely left her mouth before Zuko's temper surged, heat flaring instinctively in his chest as his thoughts raced.

"What?! Explain yourself, commander!" His voice cut across the small room. Commander Lin looked genuinely taken aback by the reaction.

"P-Princess Azula arrived in the south months ago, she is currently occupied with espionage and intelligence missions in Gaoling. Her ship remains close to the shoreline of that city just in case there is trouble. I assure you she can be retrieved easily." said Lin hurriedly.

Zuko felt a tangle of emotions tighten inside him. Relief followed immediately; Azula was not present, and he would not have to face her or her usual cruelty.

Jealousy came just as fast, because she was already contributing to the war effort, while he continued to roam the world chasing the avatar who no one had seen in a century. He did not want to see her.

"There is no need to send for my sister, and I want to depart as soon as my ship is repaired and resupplied."

Lin accepted the request, bowing slightly. "It will be done as fast as possible."

Zuko felt his uncle's hand on his shoulder before he could storm out. "We appreciate that, commander. Now, I seem to have finished my tea, you promised us a demonstration."

"Right away."

Lin led them out of the village toward a clearing near the cliffside. Zuko followed, trying to get thoughts of his sister away from his mind. As they approached what looked like a small street they saw the vehicle she was talking about, surrounded by a few engineers working on it hurriedly.

The machine rested on small wheels, it had huge metal wings on each side. It looked strange, and Zuko felt a ripple of doubt that this was going to work.

"This is a glider, it generates lift on its wings as it gains speed, powered by a firebender in the back."

She directed him to the forward position, placed Iroh in the center, and took the rear herself.

"I will be controlling the glider for this demonstration, but we can train one of your soldiers to man it, it really is not that hard once you get used to it."

A lieutenant handed them goggles to protect their eyes from the wind. Zuko climbed into his seat reluctantly, his gaze fixed on the open air beyond the cliff's edge as he tried to understand what he had agreed to.

"Is this safe?" Iroh asked.

"We have hundreds of hours of training on this glider, it is perfectly safe. But just in case, the glider can now land in water with pontoons, which are those blocks you see above the wheels; they float. In case of an emergency, you can jump out using firebending to land safely in the sea." Lin answered. "Ready?"

"Err, yes!" answered Zuko.

As Lin started firebending, the glider began to move, its speed increasing as it rolled toward the cliff through the narrow street. Zuko's heart pounded hard enough that he felt it in his throat, his grip tightening on the frame as the edge rushed toward them.

Instead of plunging downward, the glider lifted smoothly, wind roaring past as they climbed, the sensation unfamiliar and exhilarating all at once. The sea fell away beneath them, the coastline shrinking as altitude increased, and Zuko felt a rush of awe.

They climbed higher than he expected, the land below flattening into shapes and colors, and the air grew colder against his face. For a moment, all of his troubled thoughts stopped. He felt a sense of tranquility and excitement at the same time, up there where nothing could touch him.

"I imagine this is what flying on top of a dragon felt back then!" shouted his uncle.

They flew for a couple of minutes, gliding, occasionally turning to stay close to the cliffs and the sea.

"Alright, I'm going to lower us close to the dock!" shouted Lin in the back, the sound of the wind making it hard to hear.

The commander guided the descent, controlling the glider smoothly, circling back toward the docks. It really was a wonderful vehicle, the way it could maneuver in the air was astonishing.

"I'm going to land us close to your ship!" she said.

The glider responded as if alive, and a sense of vertigo sat on Zuko's stomach as they descended. Finally, the glider settled onto the water with surprising gentleness. Soldiers moved quickly to secure it with ropes to the wooden dock.

Zuko remained seated for a moment longer, breathing hard. Landing this thing was definitely scary. When he was finally helped to climb out, he saw that his Uncle had the same look on his face close to what he was feeling.
​

---

"I will have the glider ready for your departure, while I understand you won't have a strip of land to gather speed, you can tow the glider with your ship and gain speed in the water enough to lift from there." explained Lin. "We will add a few hooks so that you can pull it up to the side of your ship."

"Thank you, commander. That was exhilarating." replied the general.

She hoped to have given the prince and the retired general the respect they deserved on their mission. Lin didn't think they would find anything but her help would be remembered. If something happened to the royal family and Zuko was forced to return, he would remember her help, she was sure about it.

"Lieutenant Toma here will crash train someone from your crew, shouldn't take you longer than three days. You are in good hands." Lin said.

Still, the air around them had turned awkward once she had mentioned princess Azula, so she figured it was time for his men to handle them, and for her to go back.

"I will let you rest while my people work on your ship. Let me know if you need anything. I have to go back to work." Lin said.

"Don't worry about us, Lin. Thank you for the tea, it was delicious." replied Iroh.

With a deep bow and a salute, she left the docks back to the village. She would have to request her engineers to build one more glider, but they had the resources luckily. Her family had recently sent a shipment of supplies for them.

There was still a lot of work to do, Gaoling was not going to be taken by itself after all.​

 

[Lucernello]

Age: 17
Affiliation: Fire Nation Army.
Current Rank: Lieutenant Colonel (Battallion Commander)
Family: Renshi noble family. Lord Kaien (54), Lady Shyno(47), Heir Raizo(26).

Appearence:
Hair: White-burnt, bleached, Black.
Eye color: Golden.
Height: 5'6'' (168cm)
Weight: 299lbs (136kg)
*More than half of her body are replaced by metal parts.

Personality:
Goal/Motivation: Victory for her nation.
Likes: Strategic planning, combat.
Dislike: Politics & Religion.
Fears: Losing control.

Abilities:
* Firebending.
* Close-quarters weapons training.
* Marksman.
* Enhanced body parts.

Weaknesses:
* Heavy maintenance
* Affected by loud noises (PTSD)
* Difficult to heal when wounded.

 

[vickoFM]

Age: 17
Affiliation: Fire Nation Army.
Current Rank: Lieutenant Colonel (Battallion Commander)
Family: Renshi noble family. Lord Kaien (54), Lady Shyno(47), Heir Raizo(26).

Appearence:
Hair: White-burnt, bleached, Black.
Eye color: Golden.
Height: 5'6'' (168cm)
Weight: 299lbs (136kg)
*More than half of her body are replaced by metal parts.

Personality:
Goal/Motivation: Victory for her nation.
Likes: Strategic planning, combat.
Dislike: Politics & Religion.
Fears: Losing control.

Abilities:
* Firebending.
* Close-quarters weapons training.
* Marksman.
* Enhanced body parts.

Weaknesses:
* Heavy maintenance
* Affected by loud noises (PTSD)
* Difficult to heal when wounded.

Click to shrink...

Who's a little murder machine? You're yes you are

 

[BxHero]

I did not realize she was that heavy and she is damn tall for a seventeen year old especially a girl at that. If not for the metal bits weighing her down she would probably be like 5'8 or higher.

 

[Rotceh]

Awasome cap, and awasome image, ....I realy surpresed that Azula dont jump on Toph ahah

 

[Lucernello]

I did not realize she was that heavy and she is damn tall for a seventeen year old especially a girl at that. If not for the metal bits weighing her down she would probably be like 5'8 or higher.

Click to shrink...

She is very heavy. The way she is able to move fast enough for combat is by actually bending or similar to. To move her limbs she has to constantly cycle chi through them, so to move faster and not be weight down, she has to cycle more than usual and that energy helps her carry that added weight. Since she is doing this from early age, her chi reserves grew with her enough to do that. But I imagine she is at that limit where she cannot progress anymore unless she cuts some of that weight, which could happen if her engineers or the mechanist finds a way to help her with that. It is not in my plans yet, what do you think?

Also yes, she is tall and she would be taller if she never had that accident. I based her height on her brother who is 7'2. A tall family.