Hey guys, here is the next update. Sorry for the long wait.

Enjoy

Chapter Twenty-One

Arrival

A little while earlier, Airbender Island

Zhou was seating alone the stone steps of Emi`s house. He was feeling guilt at what had happened to Zula, the Avatar he was supposed to protect. He couldn`t believe that that masked guy had taken him down that easily with the training he had done. He was a great Firebender, with everything that his uncle Sage Mao had taught him.

Even with all that training he had, he couldn`t protect the Avatar from the Equalist.

The sound of footsteps growing closer made him look up taking notice Emi and her mother, Sifu Katara approaching the house, talking in low voices to each other. As the sun had risen this morning, Emi had taken her bison and had flew off into the sky in hope of finding Zula and helping the search and he had went along with her and to their frustration, the search had come up to nothing.

When dinner had finished, Emi had decided to go back to the city and meet her Mother for any further news from the search and Zhou himself had decided to stay here, the frustration in the other strong emotions he was feeling weighting down on him.

Just earlier, one of Emi`s friend, May had come up to talk to him and had spun a few minutes in conversation with him before retiring for the night. He had simply stayed seated there at the steps, watching the ocean beyond the city, waiting for Zula to reappear again…

He stood up from where he was seating and approached the two Airbenders.

"Any news?" he asked them.

The look on Emi`s face was the answer he received and Zhou sighed softly murmuring a swear word under his breath.

"There is no need for such language Zhou," Sifu Katara told him.

"But we still doesn`t have any news of how Zula is doing," Zhou answered her, "If those Equalists really as dangerous as you have told me, then Zula could be dead or worse."

"The Equalist won`t kill her," Sifu Katara told him, "They wanted to capture the Avatar don't they? If they kill Zula then the Avatar spirit will simply be reborn in the Air Nomads and out of their reach for another sixteen years."

Zhou sighed.

"Don't lose hope my young man," Sifu Katara told him, "Zula may return to us before we even know it."

"I hope you`re right," Zhou told her.

"Sifu Katara," a voice yelled.

The elder woman glanced back toward the Airbender that was running toward them, holding a letter in his hand.

"What is it Levi?" she asked.

"A letter addressed to you just arrives a few minutes ago," the man said, breathing heavily, "It bears the Royal Seal of the Fire Nation."

"The Royal Seal?" Emi said, shocked.

Zhou was suddenly taken aback.

"Zula is friend with the Fire Nation Princess," he said, a sliver of hope in his voice, "You don't think she…"

Sifu Katara took the letter from the man.

"It is addressed to me and not Zula," she said, "I wonder what the Royal family needs from me?"

She opened it and pulled out the letter from the envelope and started to read. Her eyes went wide in surprise for a moment as she read through the letter before a smirk crossed her face. She started to laugh a little.

"That girl," she said.

"What is it Mom?" Emi asked.

"Well, Zula is aboard the Fire Nation`s Princess ship," Sifu Katara told them, "and she will be arriving here tomorrow morning."

Emi snatched the letter from the old woman, not daring to believe it and Zhou stepped in beside her to read it along with her. As he read through the lines of the letter, he felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his chest. Zula was safe…

"She is alright," Emi whispered, falling upon her knees, "She is alright."

Sifu Katara chuckled softly.

"See, I`ve told you not to despair," she said, "The Avatar will never so easily surrender to those who wish to detain her."

"Then we are going to meet her at the Port then," Zhou said.

"That will be best," Sifu Katara told him, "I am sure, all of you will want to see her as soon as possible."

When Zula became aware of her surroundings, she was enveloped in a cocoon of warmth, feeling the bed covers around her body. The young Avatar groaned softly and cuddled into the warmth that was near her and tightened her hold upon the warm pillow underneath her head.

Suddenly the pillow moved also as soft hum of sleep and she can now hear a pounding sound beating in a rhythm in her ear sounding a lot like a heartbeat, which was strange since pillow didn`t have any…

Wait…I am sharing a bed with someone, Zula thought.

She opened her eyes and straightened herself up, as her hair fall around her head. She felt the bed covers tightened around her, not letting her move another inches. Zula quickly realized that it wasn`t the bed cover at all, but two arms that were encircling around her waist. Zula blinked at the person that was in the bed with her and feel her mouth dropping open in surprise.

She still couldn`t believe that she had shared a bed with Natsuki, waking up finding the girl cuddling with her. She then had a smile on her face noticing the little drool that was falling from the Princess`s lips with her mouth half opened.

In Zula`s eyes, she looked absolutely adorable. Staring at those lips caused her to think back at last night, feeling those soft lips pressed against hers, and can feel the heat in her skin suddenly rise causing the room to become stiffly hot.

Then the room door opened, and Zivun stepped inside drawing Zula`s attention.

"Good morning, Avatar Zula," the man said giving her a respectful bow.

"Er…morning," she answered, waiting for the man to comment about Natsuki having her arms around her.

But to her utmost surprise, Zivun simply approached the bed and patted the Princess`s head like a father do to his child.

"Time to wake up Princess," he said softly.

Natsuki let out a groan before tightening her holds upon Zula`s waist causing the girl to blush slightly and burying her head into the Avatar`s clothes.

"I`m too comfy to wake up," she mumbled.

"Princess you have an important meeting in an hour, I suggest you get yourself presentable," Zivun told her, crossing both of his arms staring at the girl in the bed.

"Do I have to?" Natsuki whined, and Zula can feel her eyebrows rising at that.

"You are the Princess of the Fire Nation," Zivun told her, "It`s time you do your duty."

Natsuki snapped a silvery blue eye open, glaring at the man.

"Alright, alright, I am awake already," she said, "Go bother Zuko."

"As you wish Princess," Zivun bowed, "But you might want to let go of the Avatar`s waist. I don`t think your cuddling abilities are needed anymore now that you`ve woken up."

Natsuki turned her attention toward Zula, in confusion for a few seconds before her sleepy brain caught up to how she was holding her. She quickly let go, and Zula was really amused to see a blush growing on the Princess`s cheeks.

"I am sorry," she said, "I forgot to mention that I cuddle when I sleep…"

With all of her earlier embarrassment forgotten, Zula let out a laugh.

"Nice to see you blushing for a change," she said, smirking, "and you have a cute little drool there."

Natsuki, if it was even possible, turned a deeper shade of red as she quickly wiped her face with her sleeve. Now she looked like she had a fever because of how red she was in the face. She quickly got off the bed and ran toward the bathroom slamming the door behind her.

"I haven`t seen her that embarrassed in a long time," Zivun said, chuckling a little.

Zula glanced at him.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"She used to be very taken with another girl back when she was in school," Zivun told her as he made the small boy seat up from his bed.

"Oh," Zula said.

She already knew who Zivun was talking about after all, Natsuki had just told her about it just last night. But the man didn`t elaborate further in the subject.

"Anyway, your clothes have been washed and are ready for you to wear," he said giving the Avatar a glance.

"We`ve arrived in Republic City?" Zula asked him.

"We`ve been docked for at least, thirty minutes," the man told her.

Zula let out a smile, knowing that she was back at home again. She decided to step out of the bed and straightened herself as she glanced out of the small window the cabin had. Sure enough, the familiar bustling city was in view, and she can see the many people walking and working upon the docks.

She heard the bathroom door opened and Zula decided to freshen up and taking a shower. When she was done, she stepped out finding Natsuki putting on her clothes and noticed that she was wearing fashionable outfit and she had her hair already tied up in a top knot and she was holding her crown in her hand.

"Zivun sent your clothes," Natsuki told her, showing the Airbender outfit that was upon the bed.

Zula nodded and took hold of the clothes and made her way for the bathroom.

"You`re not changing here?" Natsuki asked her, not keeping the surprise out of her tone.

"N…no,"

"Why not? We`re both girls here," Natsuki said turned toward her.

"It`s got nothing to do with that," Zula told her, "It`s just…I am not really comfortable dressing with someone else in the room."

Natsuki stared at her for a few seconds before nodding.

"Okay, but when you`re done come back," she said, "I want to brush your hair for you."

"Okay,"

Zula stepped back into the bathroom quickly changing into the Airbender outfit she was wearing when she escaped the Equalist and that masked man. She smiled at her reflection before stepping back into the main room and taking a seat in front of the already ready Natsuki.

The Princess wasted no time to start brushing Zula`s hair.

"Natsuki, did last night really happened?"

The Princess chuckled.

"Yeah, why?"

"I don't know," Zula answered her, "I keep thinking that it was a dream or an imagination that my mind made up."

Natsuki leaned Zula`s head backward, startling the later a little before kissing her on the lips. Zula feel her eyes closing at the kiss before the other girl broke it.

"That`s proof enough for you," Natsuki asked her.

"Y…Yeah," Zula whispered, her head still reeling from that, "B…But, don't you have to marry some Prince or nobles?"

"Not really," Natsuki told her, "It`s not the old ages anymore Zula so the Princess don't have to marry the Prince so the Prince could be King. Those are fairy tales. My Father already knows about my…preferences, if you are worried about that."

"But don't you have to have an heir or something?"

"That`s what Zuko is there for…thought, it won`t happen for many, many years," Natsuki deadpanned.

Zula couldn`t help but laugh at that.

Later, the duo along with little Zuko stepped out onto the deck of the ship looking out toward the city in front of them. Zula wasted no time pointing out Avatar Aang`s memorial and the Arena to Natsuki, but the biggest surprise was of the Sky Bison landing in the port which excited little Zuko as Zhou, Emi along with Sifu Katara approached them.

Zula waved at them and then Emi came at her, crushing her into a hug almost knocking Zula down in the process and Zhou tapped her on the shoulder.

"You had me so worried," Emi yelled at her.

"Sorry," Zula said, rubbing the back of her head.

Zhou himself gave a bow to the Princess in front of him.

"Princess Natsuki," he said.

Natsuki gave a nod and a smile. She then turned her gaze toward Zula and that girl that still had her arms around her. She knew that it was irrational but she couldn't help but feel a little…unfriendly as her face seemingly set into the Cold Princess persona.

"Well, glad that you`ve finally returned to us Zula," Sifu Katara said as she approached, "And it`s great to see you again Natsuki."

"Sifu Katara," Natsuki said giving her a bow.

"Wait, you know each other?" Zula asked, taken aback.

"We`ve met in the past," Sifu Katara told the Avatar, "Although, you were just a little girl back then. You look a lot like your mother."

"I have been told so," Natsuki answered.

"Princess," Zivun said approaching, "We will have to go if we are to make it to the meeting in time."

"Thank you Zivun," Natsuki said, "Sifu Katara, will you watch over Zuko for me for the day? I don't think he had it in him to go around the city along with me."

Sifu Katara gave her a nod.

"I can do so," she said, "How long are you staying in Republic City by the way?"

"Probably not long," Natsuki answered her, "I am here on business after all."

"Well, when you have finished with your duties," Sifu Katara told her, "Why don`t you stop by the Island for dinner for old time sakes. I hardly hear from your mother anymore."

Natsuki thought about it for a few seconds.

"Then I accept your invitation," she said, her eyes returning to Zula.

That Airbender girl still had her arm around Zula`s own and Natsuki can feel that unfriendly feeling growing through her again and tighten one of her fist to calm herself down.

"Zula, you take care of yourself, and be careful," she said, "I don't want to take my eyes from you and hear that you`ve somehow got yourself in trouble again."

Zula removed herself from the Airbender`s girl hold and extended a hand forward at her.

"I`ll be safe," she said.

Natsuki ignored the hand and took Zula in a soft hug and her eyes bore straight into the Airbender girl`s gray ones causing the girl to raise her eyebrows in surprise at the glance. Then she noticed Sifu Katara`s eyes showing some amusement probably had seen the display and she quickly removed herself from the hug and walked away with Zivun following her.

That old woman probably figured it out, she thought, Damn it, I got so angry at that girl for touching Zula that I reacted without thinking…

Sifu Katara watched the Princess go, the amusement she was feeling causing her lips to lift a little.

Seems you haven`t changed at all since you were a little girl Natsuki, she thought, I recognize that look anywhere…I wonder…

She glanced back toward the group seeing Zula was already walking off toward the Bison along with Zuko on her back. The little Fire Nation born was talking animatedly and Emi along with Zhou were following after.

"Mom," Emi called at her, "Let`s get back to the Temple."

Zula turned her gaze toward her with a grin.

"I have a surprise for you all."

Yeah, this chapter was a long one coming and i hope you have enjoyed it.

Jacques0 out.

R&R.