A/N: This is a continuation to my previous work, Avatar: Path of the Siblings. While it isn't necessary to have read it to understand the plot, or enjoy it for what it is, it does give an information at the developing relationship between Azula, Zuko and Ursa. Also, on a related note, if you have negative feedback, please do share it with me, I love improving myself. With that said, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 1

Mai was happy to take a moment of peace and quiet. Being alone on the balcony, away from all the music, dancing and people, at least for a moment, was refreshing. Inside, one door away, there was a wedding, her wedding. She and Zuko, after so long, were wed. At first the delay was until he had brought his office into order, then until he and his sister could find their mother. After her husband-to-be returned they have had exhausting preparations to attend to, until finally a few hours ago they said "I do" and locked lips. Now, now her life was complete and nothing could destroy her happiness.

"MAI, OMSWEETAGNI, WHY ARE YOU ALONE!" It sounded like Ty Lee, it squealed like Ty Lee, it moved like Ty Lee, it even had the Ty Lee smile, but it wasn't Ty Lee, it was her other bridesmaid.

Emulating a Ty Lee-like behavior Azula lunged at her, hugging her so tightly she could barely breathe.

"Alright Azula, what's your angle?" as she said it, gasping for air, she saw the devious smile on her friend, that demonic grin that signified the end of all good in the world.

"Just wanting to remind you something Mai." she responded in a teasing voice "We are now sisters-in-law." her bridesmaid's grin grew even wider "We are going to be really close, right sis?"

Mai closed her eyes.

Don't let Azula under your skin, don't let Azula under your skin, don't let Azula under your skin...

- one month earlier -

"You want to make Azula your adviser?" Iroh knew that his nephew wanted to improve his relationship with his sister but that was too far.

"Yes." Zuko said in an even tone.

"You can't trust her, she's crazy!"

"Don't talk about my sister like that!" He snapped back "You think I don't know that? Azula always lies, I know!" Zuko's face turned red with anger "You think I don't know that?" he was screaming "You think every one of my advisers didn't already told me that? Do you know how Mai reacted? Do you?" The Fire Lord tried to calm himself for a moment, but couldn't "Ozai tore my family apart. I haven't seen my mother in years and I was always on the edge with Azula. My mantra is "Azula always lies", remember?" Iroh was standing there, calmly, listening to his nephew "But what am I to do uncle? Tell her that she always lies? Tell her that I don't trust her? Why? WHY!" Zuko was marching in the room, flailing arms uncontrollably. "So that she doesn't trust me either? I'm already giving her a second chance; it will be a lousy second chance if I don't trust her, right? What has she done that is worse than what I've done? Is she less deserving of a second chance? Who's to say that? Me? You? My sister is here, and she is going to stay here. And if she tries to put a knife in my back." he gave a moment pause "If she tries to put a knife in my back, I'm probably going to give her a third chance."

Zuko sat down in the nearest chair, nearly exhausted.

"I'm sorry uncle." he said after a few moments "I'm just blowing off steam." he was breathing heavily "But I lost my family before, now I want it back".

"I understand nephew, "Iroh finally said "but to give her an advisory position?"

"Advisers don't have any executive power." Zuko was right "It's a high position, but she won't be able to do anything without my permission. Also, I need her help. The Earth Kingdom envoy is playing me a fool, I need someone who could read people like him, and in fact I need someone who could read the people around me."

Iroh was about to protest, but he realized that it was futile; the Fire Lord had already made his mind.

"So, you're finally going back to the tea shop?" Zuko said after a few minutes

"Yes!" his uncle said happily "With a complete advisory board you won't need me anymore."

His nephew frowned.

"I can't run the country for you, my nephew."

"I know, I just wish you could stay longer."

"I can't."

"At least until the wedding?"

"I'm sorry about what happened at the docks." Mai had debated whatever to rip his head off or to sympathize with him. When Zuko told her he would go and search for his mother, he forgot to mention that he'd take Azula with him. If she knew, she'd never let him go. "Look, me and Azula..."

"You are friends right?" her husband was worn out, so far his whole day was dealing with people who questioned his decision "You'll work it out."

"I'm still mad at her."

"I know." he looked lovingly at Mai "She's mad at you as well, it'll pass."

Then he took her in her hands.

"About the wedding, are we ready to start making preparations?"

Mai gave him a nod.

"I'll also take Ty Lee as my one and only bridesmaid."

"Alright then" he said, kissing her softly "now I want to spend some time with my wife."

She gave him that look that was reserved only for him and that was the end of the conversation.

The mirror was fixed, not only that but the room was completely repaired. That was expected of course, but she somewhat wished that mirror was still broken; she hated that mirror, bad memories. Maybe she could have it removed from her room?

Here she was, Princess Azula, after a long journey with her brother on the sea, searching for their mother, back home. But what was she doing here? As she stood in front of that...thing...her mirror image stared at her. What was the point of her being here? She was a master of deceit and a war genius. But there wasn't a war anymore, all the military tactics she knew, all the strategies she memories, all of that was useless. Without war her purpose was gone. All her knowledge was thrown down the drain. But that wasn't the worst of it.

She felt irrelevant. Zuzu told her she'll be getting a position on his advisory board. It was true, her brother needed help, as he himself said nothing prepared him for the throne, he was like a child thrown at a lion, but, again, help with what? She had an understanding of economics, art and so forth, but she wasn't exactly and adviser level at it, it was mostly what she picked up at the Royal Academy. Then again, she was Azula, if someone could fight an uphill battle it was her.

She also promised her brother she wouldn't do anything stupid, so killing him was out of the question, and for once she intended to keep that promise. Zuzu had many flaws, but she believed he really did care for her, unlike most people and that gave her comfort. He also seemed to trust her, albeit forcibly so, which was refreshing, since most people had ceased to trust her a long time ago. Even in the palace everyone sooner or later figured out she wasn't exactly trust worthy. Speaking with her brother was...easy, it was even calming. She allowed herself a smile; she enjoyed the way their relationship has changed.

When the servant entered the room he didn't saw any of that. The Princess was as unreadable, as she always was. But the servant wasn't, the boy was shaking, scared. Azula knew why, she remembered his face; this was one of the boys she exiled. Well, she exiled all of her servants, but this was one she exiled face-to-face.

The boy just left a vase with flowers and left. If everyone was acting like that, and so far they all were, she would get annoyed. Didn't matter, now she was tired and needed sleep, she'd deal with whatever issues came up in the morning, now it was time for her to enjoy her own, much-missed bed.

The first issue that came up was the fact that she didn't want to get up. Firebenders rise with the sun, so when the fireball rose from the horizon Azula woke up. She didn't want to wake up. This was the first time in a long while she slept in a nice bed. After sleeping in cells and cabins she wouldn't give her pillow so easy. Not that it matter, she couldn't sleep.

After a futile half an hour attempt she got up, rang a bell and waited for the servants to come in. It didn't take long for two servant girls to bust through the door and start doing their job. And they were terrified, just like the boy last night. It was distasteful really, she didn't mind fear, but people were acting half-adequately around her. Right now she regretted that promise she made to Zuzu, if it was up to her both of those would have their heads chopped. But then again she made that promise didn't she?

From when exactly did she start following through with what she said? She gave a sigh; this wasn't going to be easy. Then again maybe it was for the better? She'd already decided that she'll try and improve her life, might as well go with it.

As she was thinking that she sat in front of a mirror, she hated those things, and let one of the servants to take care of her hair. The girl's hands were trembling, at some point Azula was afraid she'd loose an ear. She had to force her mind on something else, before she actually did something stupid.

Alright, what could she do today? She could get a briefing and she should find someone to start tutoring her into new skills. First she needed a better understanding of economics and a more intricate knowledge of history, and not only military history. Also – go over the changes Zuko made to the court, see who noble is where, learn the name of the new noblemen and people of power, and see who else is on the advisory board. Then see how's the Fire Nation's relationship with the other nations, although she could guess.

Alternatively she could laze around. Go take a warm bath, get her nails polished, get treated like a princess for a while. She could also make the lives of a few servants' miserable and Mai's if possible. She did owe Mai one for that incident on the dock and she still hadn't forgotten about the Boiling Rock. Making her ex-friend life a misery? That was a good thought, a few servants thrown in for a measurement and she'd be in heaven.

As this was going through her head her face was beaming a limitless joy. It was as if she was a kid who just got her favorite candy. The servant girl just needed a peek at her expression to regain all the composure she needed.

There was one logical explanation for the princess's happiness – she was a hairdressing goddess!

For the Fire Lord the morning was a dreadful thing. No, the first few moments when he was with his wife, when he watch her sleep, when he admired her form and was just glad to be with his future wife, those were precious. The moment after that when he realized that he would have to be out of bed and out of the room before she woke up was unpleasant. That same moment when he realized that he wouldn't see her until nightfall was unpleasant. The idea that he couldn't spent the time he wished with her was unpleasant. But he was the Fire Lord; he was the leader of his country. Now he had duties.

He had servants cloth him, ready him and finally leave him for moment with his thoughts. Firebenders rise with the sun, unfortunately Mai wasn't one so he always woke up way before her. He gave a sigh; she wouldn't mind if he woke her up, would she? Probably not, but his heart couldn't bring him to do it. She looked so peaceful, so beautiful that he just couldn't do it. So he gave her a silent kiss and left.

The good news was that the Earth Kingdom ambassador wasn't going to bug him for at least a week, which was a blessing of its own. He just couldn't handle the man, rumor was that this was the reason why he was picked, and he was willing to believe that. Other than that he had to try and convince his uncle to stay until the wedding, something he suspected would be easily done, if he pushed the right buttons. And last but not least, he wanted to speak with his advisers before his regular duties began.

Speaking of them his newest acquisition popped up in the hallway.

"Good morning Azula." Zuko greeted her. "How are you doing?"

"Fine, you know I was just plotting your demise." Zuko didn't laugh, but he took the joke for what it was. "Actually I plan to start going over the new nobles you elected, as well as your new political office." she explained "And the treaties you've made. Could you send someone my way?"

"You're not getting any rest?" he replayed "At least for a week?"

"You know me Zuzu, I need something to keep me busy." after which she confessed "I'm going to take care of myself a little before that though, nails, hair." she gave a short pause, thinking things over in her head "Also, can you tell me if there are special issues we are going over, something that requires a little more attention than usual?"

"Yes" her brother stated "currently we are working on three major issues. Reforming the Fire Sages in order to separate their influence from the Fire Lord, talking over with The Northern Water Tribe so that they could send water benders to clean our lakes and rivers and repurposing factories for non-military production. Other than that it's just the mundane stuff."

Azula was looking at him uncomprehendingly. She blinked several times.

"I understood the last one, "she said in bewilderment "but you'll have to run the first two by me again."

Zuko took a deep breath "Sozin, Azulon and Ozai, and the Fire Lords in general, have done considerable damage to the spirituality of the nation. I want to return the spiritual awareness our citizen had and to do that I have to repair some of the damage my ancestors have done." he exhaled and then took another deep breath "As for the water benders. During the hundred years war there was massive damage done to the environment and in a way to the spirits who embody the environment, cleaning the lake and rivers, and after that rejuvenating the land, should undo the mistakes of the past." he exhaled again.

Azula shook her head "Zuzu, you're doing weird stuff, but I'll see what I can do about it. Anyway, about sending someone to help me?"

"Yeah, I have someone available." if the spirits are willing, he could take out two birds with one stone.