CrackedShot: Thank you so much for reviewing - I'll defenitely pay attention to the things you mentioned in the future!
Azula smiled as they carried her uncle on her ship, stunned and tied up like the traitor he was. It wasn't a happy smile. It was a confident one, filled with pride and determination. 'Put him in the dungeon,' she said. 'I want him guarded by at least six men at all times.' She considered keeping him chi blocked for the entirety of their travel to the Fire Nation, but quickly decided against it. He wasn't that much of a threat anyway. What would he do? Break free and swim back to the Earth Kingdom?
Azula's eyed locked with Iroh's and her grin disappeared. A few seconds they just looked at each other, testing and challenging. Then Iroh was carried away.
Azula followed him with her eyes, mentally scolding the old fool.
'Are you okay?' Ty Lee asked.
'Why wouldn't I be?' Azula retorted as she turned her back on her uncle. She saw the captain of her ship, watching as the other prisoners were dragged towards their cells. 'Captain,' Azula said.
He immediately turned towards her.
'Take us back home,' Azula commanded. 'We've been away for too long.' She enjoyed being able to say these words, although she did realise it was the second time she hoped to be accepted back. This time, no one would escape.
'You don't seem happy,' Ty Lee continued their conversation. Azula sighed and crossed her arms in front of her chest. 'We're not all like you, Ty Lee,' she said. It almost sounded like an insult.
'What do you mean?' Ty Lee asked.
'Not everyone displays their happiness the way you do,' Azula said. 'I assure you, I'm very content.'
'You should be,' Mai said.
'But your aura seems troubled,' Ty Lee said. 'It had a brown colour – that points to worry. A little bit of grey as well, which means…'
'My aura is fine,' Azula snapped. She sighed and combed her bangs with her fingers. 'We should go to bed. It has been a long day.'
'Good idea,' Mai said. 'I'm off.'
Even with just the sparse light of the torches, Azula could see the way Ty Lee looked at her. Not mad or accusingly, but worried. Azula felt frustrated. She was not to be pitied – not when she was finally able to return home.
She'd get everything back. She wouldn't be the banished princess anymore, but a valued member of the royal family. Her father would be proud of her – she could play a role in the politics of her country, just as a princess should do.
It was all she ever wanted. Azula actually smiled, not able to believe that her banishment would finally be over.
Azula wasn't one to cry, but her eyes grew teary as she saw the Fire Nation capital. 'Home,' she whispered.
'Yes,' Mai agreed, although she sounded even more interested than usual. Azula quickly scanned her friend's face, but that didn't give anything away. However, Azula was quite sure Mai was upset. Azula had always been good at reading people.
She decided not to mention in right away. She had waited for more than two years for this day – she would enjoy it.
'Are you excited?' Ty Lee asked.
'Can't you see that in my aura?' Azula asked, teasing her friend. Ty Lee rolled her eyes, before she answered. 'Your aura is a little bit pink.'
'Just a little bit?' Azula said, pretending to be shocked.
'You're teasing me,' Ty Lee pouted. Azula smirked but didn't respond. She didn't notice how hard she grabbed the railing, but Ty Lee did see it.
'Everything will be alright,' she said.
'I know,' Azula responded.
She had received a letter from her father, saying she was welcome again in the Fire Nation. Azula wondered if she would actually see him again.
And would he really be proud of her… or just tolerate her, because he would have to keep his promise?
Ty Lee placed her hand on Azula's. 'Congratulations,' she said.
She suddenly grabbed Mai's hand as well. 'We've been through so much these last two years!' she squealed. 'I'm really going to miss you guys.'
'You'll still see us,' Mai said, trying to stop Ty Lee from hugging her.
'But not as much,' Ty Lee said. 'It was us against the world for so long – but not anymore.' She seemed sad for a few seconds. 'But we still got the memories,' she continued, brightening up.
Azula was quieter as usual. Her eyes scanned the outlines of the familiar yet strange city. Ty Lee could often talk rubbish, but she was right when she said that they had been through a lot. Her banishment had changed Azula. She wondered if she would still be able to fit in.
No, she said to herself. She would. She was a – no, the – Princess of the Fire Nation. She was going to reclaim her rightful place along her father's side. Her banishment had only made her more resilient, stronger and more determined.
Azula knew that no one would be waiting for her in the harbor. Still, she felt disappointed.
'Are you ready?' Ty Lee asked.
Azula took a deep breath. 'I am,' she said. She walked down the gangplank. She only breathed out when she had placed both her feet on the Fire Nation.
Home at last.
She saw her friends coming down as well and for the first time she truly realised what this meant. They would separate their ways now – and they would indeed she each other less often. Mai and Ty Lee had been such a regular part of Azula's life for the past years, that she could almost understand Ty Lee's statement that she would miss them.
'Well,' she said, raising one eyebrow. 'Are you coming to the palace with me, or do you want to return home?'
She had expected them to get back to their own houses as soon as possible, but they both decided to follow Azula to the palace.
'How will we get there?' Mai asked, looking around for a palanquin.
'I suppose we'll be walking,' Azula muttered. It felt slightly degenerating for a princess, but right now all she wanted to do was to return home.
Azula had left her hairpiece behind when she was banished. Therefore, most people didn't seem to recognize her. Some of them did. It didn't take long before Azula could hear some people whisper her name.
'Do they think we're deaf or something?' Mai said. 'I can hear everything they say. It's annoying.'
'They're just excited to have their princess back,' Ty Lee said optimistically.
Azula said nothing. She hoped that Ty Lee was right, but it wasn't her place to worry about the opinions of the people.
'We're there,' Azula said as the reached the gates. She eyed the soldiers standing guard. 'I assume I'm allowed in.'
'Yes you are, princess,' replied the guard she had addressed.
She turned to Mai and Ty Lee. 'I assume I see you two soon,' she said.
'Of course,' Ty Lee said. 'I know you'll probably be busy, but I'll try to visit your this week.'
'Yeah,' Mai said. 'The palace will probably be a lot more exciting than my own house.' She sighed.
'You know you're always welcome,' Azula said, surprising herself by her kind tone. She sighed as well. 'I guess I'll see you around.'
The girls nodded.
It felt strange turning her back on them and walking through the palace gates. They were closed behind her.
She had walked this path a thousand times. It was as if she had walked it only yesterday – at the same time, it felt more than a century ago.
Azula didn't look back at Ty Lee and Mai. She kept her back straight and her head held high up. Some people saw her and bowed before her and she acknowledged them with a small nod. They couldn't see her nerves – she hid them under her mask of calm perfection.
Azula sighed as she looked at her wardrobe. She had grown out of most of her clothes. If her father allowed it, she would have to replace almost every item.
'Princess Azula?'
'Yes?' Azula said. Her voice already started to sound sharper and colder. More demanding, perhaps.
The door was opened slowly. 'Princess, the Fire Lord requests your presence.'
Azula's face stayed unreadable. 'I assume he's in the throne room?' she asked. The servant nodded.
'Yes, princess.'
Azula placed the old shirt she was holding on her bed. 'I'll go to visit him immediately. Thank you.' She saw the surprised look on the servants face. Right, she said to herself. You don't thank the servants. Azula wondered when she had grown so soft. It was almost if Ty Lee had rubbed off on her.
Azula walked through familiar hallways to the throne room. She suddenly reminded the day they had come her after Lu Ten had died. Azula had shown her grandfather her new firebending forms – and her father had been proud of her.
Now she was walking towards her father after she had defeated her uncle. One of the best firebenders alive.
He was still proud of her. Azula reminded herself as the guards opened the doors for her. She entered the throne room without thanking them.
Her father was setting behind the flames. Azula walked towards him, stopped at an appropriate distance and kneeled before him. 'Father,' she said. Her heart was beating rapidly, but her appearance was composed and almost cold.
'Princess Azula,' Ozai said. 'You have returned.'
Azula nodded. 'Yes father.'
'You have captured the traitor and brought him to me,' Ozai said. 'You have proven yourself to be a loyal daughter.'
'Thank you father,' Azula said, her voice sounding hoarse.
Ozai suddenly rose. Azula blinked in surprise as he walked towards her. She didn't know if he wanted her to rise as well, so she stayed in the uncomfortable kneeled position.
'Rise, my daughter,' he said as he stood before her.
Azula stood up and looked at her father. She was surprised to find that they almost were the same height. Ozai smirked. 'Your travels have done you good,' he said. 'You're not a child anymore.'
'Thank you father,' Azula said. She felt as if she kept repeating herself, but she would not break protocol on her first visit.
'You look like your mother,' Ozai suddenly said. Azula felt a pang at the mention of her mother. She eyed her father warily, not knowing why he had brought her up.
'I'm glad to welcome you home again, princess Azula,' Ozai said.
'I am grateful to be home, father,' Azula said.
'So you should be,' Ozai said. 'It's time you return to your duties as my heir to the throne.' Azula blinked a few times, not sure if she had heard him correctly. Did he just call her his heir? But what about Zuko?
'I assume that you have maintained your Fire Bending training?' Ozai asked.
Azula nodded, still confused by his earlier words.
'Good,' Ozai said. 'You'll need it.'
For a few horrible moments, Azula thought he would challenge her to an Agni Kai. But Fire Lord Ozai did no such thing.
'When your brother fails to capture either the Avatar or the North, I want you to do it for him,' he said. 'Accomplish either of those tasks and I'll declare you my heir.'
Azula stared at her father. He looked at her, waiting for her response.
'Thank you, father,' Azula said.
Ozai looked at his daughter. She reminded him of himself in so many ways. They both were the second child. They both were the most talented firebender. They both were hungry for power. And both of them were willing to kill to get what they wanted.
Please let me know what you think about the direction this story is taking. I already have the outline in my head, but some good ideas could help me fill in the blanks. Thanks!