"Long have I waited..."

"What?" Danny exclaimed, dropping popcorn from his mouth, "You were dead, dipshit!" He exclaimed at the screen, his exasperation reaching its boiling point. He then fell back in the sofa, lacking any words to say.

The princess grimaced at his behavior and sat a little bit apart. He was reacting too emotionally to the revelation within the movie. That binge watching of nine movies was getting to him. That was a very bad idea, considering that, once summed up, it would take more than twenty hours. Sleep deprivation was making him easy to aggravate with all the growing stupidity in the last movies. Sighing, both royalties just went back to watching. Just a little bit left.

"Maybe we should go to sleep," Azula suggested tiredly.

"Good idea," Danny shut off the TV, "There is a limit to the intake of stupidity."

Rubbing her eyes, the princess nodded, "You are right. But still...thank you for taking my mind off all of this. It did help."

"Don't mention it," Danny yawned, putting his hands behind his back, "Preparing to overthrow your father...that's a lot to take in. I'm sure you will manage, princess."

As the days had gone by, the plan the princess had concocted was slowly setting in motion. The Fire Sages were under her control, the religious body of the Fire Nation now served her interests only. Despite the cult of personality Danny had come to notice while being in the country, surprisingly many generals and governors were ready to bow before the princess, especially after Ozai crowned himself as a Phoenix King. That Phoenix was limping a bit, but overall he had recovered. The military officers served the Fire Lord, but by this action Ozai had basically discarded his position in favor of being the ruler of the world. It was insulting, the act lowered the importance of the Fire Nation.

Azula, first and foremost, secured the sympathies of the capital garrison, and those of the neighboring regions. An interesting historic account: she had basically done what each prince of Ottoman Empire had accomplished. The key principle — after father's death the son who gets to the capital first becomes the new sultan. Usually it ended with the execution of brothers. And the time to get to Constantinople depended on where the loyalties of bureaucrats lied.

Back to the topic, the stage was set, the play was about to unfold. It was going to be the sight to behold. But Azula was faced by another question brought up by her friend. What was to be done with the world? With Ozai beaten, the Fire Nation was still ruling most of the world, yet many big cities were slipping out of control, especially Ba Sing Se, without the princess around, who could solve the matter. Danny actually had the gall to ask her to leave that conquest. Simply like that, abandon the conquest and make peace.

Azula was not angry at him per say, it was more of a shock. It was a mere suggestion at the king's behalf. They argued a lot, yet Danny brought up the issue of keeping that enormous, bloated giant together. The world was not advanced enough to preserve order everywhere. It could work in the modern world, but not in the one that was in the ancient times in terms of politics and communication. And it could spell disaster for the entire country, even within the borders of the archipelago.

But on the other hand, the signing of peace was going to ruin her entire reputation. What was worse she did not know. The position was indeed dire.

Phantom was more concerned with Ozai's plan. The madman planned on burning the Earth Kingdom to the ground! That moron planned to rule the scorched, lifeless ground, what was wrong with that idiot?! The lives of thousands were at stake. Danny wasn't going to let that happen, lack of intervention be damned. Yet, the spirits just had to thwart his efforts. They claimed that the Avatar was supposed to stop Ozai, and they were deaf to the people's suffering. That's why the ghosts hated that self-centered creatures.

Yet Phantom could step in himself, without the army and with Fright Knight only, to stop the genocide. Azula was happy that he decided to assist, in one way or another. Danny had his own part in executing the plan. The air fleet of the Fire Nation had to be stopped. And hopefully Aang would do the job of his own as intended. Phantom also could free the cities such as Ba Sing Se, it would make the opportunity for signing peace real. With great reluctance, Azula agreed. She cared not for the war, she needed to see her father in the mud. At least, that was her initial intention.

The more time the princess spent with her ghostly friend, the more she realized how petty her scheme was. In the grand picture it seemed so small. Among the Great War about to reach its crescendo, the Spirit world being slowly united by one powerful, yet inexperienced teen, Azula's desire to make her father notice her again seemed so selfish and tiny. The point of pride for her was the fact that she was able to question her own ideas. After all, Danny could not read her thoughts, so no judgement could be passed by an outside mind. But that didn't mean that her own mind wouldn't give her someone to talk to.

Sitting on her bed in silence...that was the thing Azula had been doing a lot. She seemed to have an unusual sense of peace in such silence. The constant rush, the intrigues, she never had neither the peace, nor silence. On that day she was trying particularly hard to relax, as it was the day before the Sozin's comet. Then she heard the motherly voice once again.

"Are you worried?" The question followed.

Azula never answered ever since the first conversation. But something, somehow pushed her into responding. The reasoning behind it...well, the culmination of events was to be just that. And if she would still be haunted by the ghosts of her own past, then what's the point?

"How did you guess?" The princess mumbled. Slowly, reluctantly she turned towards the source of the voice.

Nearby sat the woman of her late twenties, just the way Azula remembered her. Not surprising, after all, her own mother near was indeed a hallucination, an imprint left on the mind. Dressed in the regal clothes, with a beautiful face, long flowing auburn hair went down her shoulders. The golden eyes of the princess were inherited from her mother. After the response only silence was present in the air. Nobody said anything for a good minute.

"Do you...want to talk about the situation?" Ursa asked.

"It will eventually deteriorate into the talk about us. But fine, you, vivid memory given shape."

"Please, don't be like this, Azula."

"Alright, I'll just pretend you are real and feed my insanity," the princess sighed, "Where should I begin?"

"You have changed, Azula."

"Really? You keep surprising me with your observation skills."

"You talk back, snarl...for what? Could it be that you are coping with everything like this?"

"Maybe. I don't know," Azula stood up, rubbing her hands, "I'm not myself clearly. And I now begin to question what is 'myself'. Was it how I envisioned myself, what the others saw...or what you thought of me? Father, the people, each time I talked to the latter, they feared me, father abandoned me like a toy. I am not a toy to anyone anymore, and I have no people to rule over right now. And I envisioned myself as the proud princess of the Fire Nation, yet I am here, reduced to a simple denizen of the dead world. Without all of that there is nothing, but the monster you saw me as...nothing to disprove it yet."

"There is nothing to disprove, because I myself was mistaken in the first place."

Azula looked at her mother in surprise.

"What?" She whispered.

"It was all my fault," Ursa said sorely, "All this time I was just so afraid...so afraid that I was ready to ignore my own child...I've never made a mistake so horrible."

Azula clenched her fists, "Stop it," she demanded, "You are not her! You say what I want to hear, nothing else!" She almost shouted in denial, closing her eyes.

Ursa did not respond, lacking any words to utter. Azula was right. And it seemed that her daughter's words struck deep within, the sharp blades hurting more than cold metal. So many emotions for what the princess deemed as a figment of her imagination. When the princess opened her eyes again, the hallucination vanished. Azula fell on her knees.

"What's wrong with me?" She muttered in exhaustion. Why was it so easy for her to lose herself now? In all that time away from the throne was filled with more tears than ever in her entire life before. There was nobody to comfort her right now. Danny was away, and she was now alone with her thoughts.

'Hold yourself together!' Azula shouted mentally, before getting up and wiping her face. Better just let the events go further.

And on the fateful day, the comet arrived. The flaming arrow in the sky, so bright that it could rival the sun at its zenith. The Fire Lord committed the worst mistake in his life — he left the capital alone, basically unguarded. The puzzle pieces were put together and the instruments of fate were about to play their loudest part. Standing on the hill near the palace, both Phantom and Azula watched the city below. The princess took a deep sigh.

"You alright?" Danny asked in concern, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Yes, I'm fine," the princess responded curtly, "Just do your job and return as soon as you can," she looked at him, "And please, come back as soon as you can," Azula asked softly, "Just in case."

Phantom smiled cheekily, "Sure thing, Your Fiery Majesty."

With that being said, Danny suddenly gave her a hug, before whispering.

"You are the greatest Azula, you will do it."

Then Phantom vanished in the smoke, leaving Azula alone to herself. The closer she was to such triumph, the less confident she felt. Why was it like that, she thought on the way to the palace. Maybe because she had never done something so daring. Azula pushed away the extra thoughts, stepping on the stone floors of the palace grounds. They were full of soldiers, ready to bring her to the throne at the tips of their spears. What an impractical metaphor. Near the entrance to the palace stood War Minister Qin, who looked scared.

"Oh, P-princess Azula, can you explain what's going on?" He asked timidly.

She gave him a deadpan look, briefly glancing at the group of generals.

"It is a coup, War Minister," Azula responded, "So you either step aside or..."

The closest firebenders ignited their hands, making Qin pale to inhuman shade of white. He did step aside, before being put under guard just in case. The victorious stroll through the palace went without any troubles. All the resistance was futile and almost nonexistent. She needed to go to the main yard, to make the coronation a public knowledge. There the Fire Sages would be waiting for her. But as the princess went around the corner, she was greeted by an unexpected sight.

"Hello, Azula!" Ty Lee said loudly, looking very excited.

"Yes, hello," Mai greeted her as well.

To say that Azula was shocked was to say nothing. She ordered the soldiers to go ahead and leave the girls alone. Without arguing, the soldiers did just that. Silence settled in the room for a good minute, because no one knew how to begin a conversation. They had separated on a very sad note, and now were meeting in such circumstances. Finally, Azula found the proper words.

"How did you know?" She asked.

"Danny told us," Mai shrugged, "And so far it is the most crazy thing you have ever done."

"Of course he did," Azula chuckled, shaking her head. She was thankful for such initiative of her friend, "Are you...with me on this?" The princess asked, "I'm not asking you for that, because I realize that I'm reaching for a lot."

Both girls blinked. It was the nicest she had ever been. That was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. Danny's company obviously was a very good influence.

"To go against the Fire Lord himself?" Mai asked.

"And possibly be punished with a death penalty?" Ty Lee added, before grinning, "This is just crazy."

"Yet you have a king of spirits on your side," Continued Mai, "You have already proved that crazy is not something unusual to you. Besides, we can risk it. Your father is already at our families' guts."

"What do you mean?"

"After you left our houses were flipped upside down," Ty Lee complained, "And he threatened Mai's father with execution. The Fire Lord has become a real craze. And if he will rule us...well...it's going to be nasty. Still, we are with you, Azula, whether you like it or no..."

The acrobat was suddenly enveloped in a huge hug, along with Mai. Now Azula was totally not herself.

"Thank you, you two. If not for you and Danny I would have gone insane myself. I even started seeing things, it was horrible," she dropped a single tear, before wiping it away, "Alright. Let's get this thing going already."

Three girls smiled, ready to take on everything just like in good old times. The yard outside was already filled with the soldiers, cheering for her to claim the throne. The seat was already prepared for her, and her puppet sages were already waiting. Azula hadn't bothered to put the ceremonial robes, just getting to the show straight away. The people from afar could actually see the scene and wonder what the hell is going on. Azula sat on the throne, golden, shaped like a torrent of flames. The fire sage coughed, before opening the scroll.

"In these turbulent and uncertain times, the Fire Nation needs a capable leader," he began reading. Azula blinked and took a peek at the list. It was Danny's handwriting. How sweet, apparently he even made a speech for her coronation. Didn't make it less unneeded.

"The one who shall lead our nation through its highs and lows, to take us from the deepest pits and put us on the mountain peak. No person is capable of setting off on this journey alone, but the one who has treaded it can guide the rest. The uneasy path of life has been walked by you, and now you have come to the wider road. In you, princess Azula, we put our trust and faith, and let the Fire Nation will be known for the greatest achievements made during your reign."

Azula knew that through the raspy voice of the sage it was essentially Danny talking to her. And it was touching to hear such words. No matter how she would hide it. He really believed that she was fine now? That was a very bold statement to make. Yet he did believe in her, he always did.

"The Fire Nation has lived through this war, and you have done your enormous part in nearing its end. For such an age you have achieved what very few Fire Lords before you did. For that the country shall be eternally grateful to you. And the wrong accusations, false pretenses and insane blabbering shall not sully your noble name. By the decree of the mighty spirits we crown you the newest Fire Lord."

The headpiece was about to adorn her head, and Azula even closed her golden eyes. But the fire sage stopped. Curious, the princess opened her eyes and saw something shocking. The flying bison, and it landed on the free ground. Katara and Zuko jumped off, ready to give a fight to the soldiers around them, only for Azula to give a signal to back off. She got up and started approaching the two. Mai, meanwhile pierced Zuko with her look, the prince obviously noticed it, but had to divert his attention.

"What's the meaning of this, Azula?" He exclaimed.

"I thought it was obvious, Zuzu," the princess crossed her hands.

"You are getting crowned? You were banished just like me!"

"By an old nutcase who cannot think straight anymore? Don't you of all people tell me this."

Azula's reaction caught Zuko off guard. That seemed to be a common occurrence lately. He then looked around, but Katara beat him to the question.

"Where is your last team member?" She inquired.

"Phantom is...busy."

Another baloon was set on fire. The people around started to scream while attempting to evacuate. Phantom whistled innocently while not even bothered by the soldiers running away and the fact that the zeppelin was falling down, slowly, but inevitably. He leaned against the wall, checking his pocket watch. This one was done in one minute, that was a record. Suddenly he was interrupted by Fright Knight appearing out of nowhere, making the half ghost flinch out of surprise.

"I've sent them to their deaths, sire!" He exclaimed, before the nearest ship exploded.

Danny rolled his eyes, "It still counts as one, pal."

"What?! There were at least thirty soldiers!"

Both ghosts phased through the walls of the zeppelin. The transport fell into the ocean, while they remained floating in the air. Danny assumed a lying position.

"I count mine as such, Fright. No prejudice here. Because I don't kill the people here," he looked down, "Well, at least this way some can actually survive. Not that we should care for them, they did plan on starting another genocide."

Suddenly another vessel was combusted, confusing both competitors. Apparently, someone else was mingling with the ships. Danny scrutinized his eyes at seeing multiple dots on the top of one of the zeppelins. Someone was there, and Phantom had a creeping suspicion that he knew who that was. The king stood up in the air.

"Fright, go deal with the rest. They must not get to the shore."

"Where are you going?" The ghost asked, stopping Danny mid flight.

"I'll help the others, they need my help more than you do."

Fright nodded, before Phantom burst forward himself. Soon he would end up helping the rest of the avatar's team.

"We seem to be at the crossroads, don't we?" Azula asked a rhetoric question.

"And we both have the same claim," Zuko responded, "I will not let you of all people rule our country!"

The princess narrowed her eyes, before looking at the lieutenant of the guards. She ordered them to go over the city, to secure any entrances, to leave the family alone, face to face. The close friends and the Fire Sage remained, the soldiers had left in a matter of minutes. The religious head hid behind the throne, expecting the things to escalate.

"And who is going to stop me, you?" Azula asked, "What do YOU know about ruling? All you have done was running around the world with the sworn enemy of our state."

"The Avatar is not the enemy of the Fire Nation. He is your enemy. And father's."

The other people present on both sides preferred not to interject. Something told them that that was important. Nonetheless, they were ready to fight if something happened.

"Doesn't remove the issue that you don't know a thing about governance. I've learned these things for years. I always was more talented than you. Look around, I have an army of my own. My greatest ally rules the entire world, and the people still love me despite me being banished. You have nothing! Nothing but your idiotic belief that you can just come and proclaim that you are in charge now."

"I have an understanding that the world needs changes. You are only going to pull the Fire Nation deeper into the hole our great-grandfather plunged it into."

"And with this 'understanding' you have have come here. I've done all of this not for you to come, ruin it and take everything for yourself!" Azula yelled.

One man already used all her efforts for his own gain, she wouldn't let any other person to do the same thing again. For a split second it almost seemed like she was going to fry the prince alive, but Azula unclenched her burning fists. She took a deep breath. Zuko stepped forward, actively trying to understand why his sister was behaving so strange. Everyone was wondering, after all, it's been only a couple of weeks since she had disappeared. And yet the change so drastic, she had never looked so uncertain.

"We can solve this in two ways, Azula," Zuko said, and the princess looked at him sharply with her golden eyes, "You either step down peacefully or we can decide everything by Agni Kai."

"You actually challenge me?" Azula raised her eyebrow, before smirking, "Bring it, then."

"Uhm...Azula," Ty Lee put in uncertainly, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"If you have a suggestion on how to settle this, I would love to hear it. What are your thoughts, Mai?"

"I'd rather stand aside on this one," the girl stated, throwing a brief glare at Zuko. His sudden departure was still fresh in her mind.

Katara just saw no other option. She knew Azula would never step down like that. Simply and without a fight. She was right on one thing, after all, the princess had prepared a proper ground for a takeover, they were like flies going after a fresh dish. And thus she did not attempt to stop the two from solving the issues one way and not the other. There was neither the room nor time for arguments, diplomatic negotiations. Katara had to step aside. The duel was to be between the two.

Azula and Zuko stepped within a circle, so conveniently placed in the middle of the square. The damage was going to be immense, both sides deduced, after all, the sky was still ablaze, for the comet was still up in the sky, putting the sun itself to shame. Both heirs were firebenders, and both of their strengths had increased. The first one to attack was the princess.

The torrent of azure flames burst forward, but the prince rolled away, tossing more and more gusts of fire with the short punching moves. Azula raised a wall, and fire absorbed fire. Through it jumped Zuko and continued throwing the flames. The battle kept going without either side getting a breather. Infernal duel went on and on, but it's not the number of landed shots, not the damage caused as their result that were significant and meaningful about the fight.

Katara saw the way Azula moved. It was not how she had used to fight. Swift, merciless and endless bursts were natural to the princess's way of battle. Now her firebending for some reason was like Zuko's: flowing, akin to waterbending. It seemed that the prince noticed this change as well. It was questionable how it affected Azula's power, was she weaker because of the style unnatural to her, or stronger. With how she held up against her brother, it seemed that the princess wasn't that weak, but she couldn't defeat Zuko either.

The ground around the fighters was scorched beyond recognition. But the royals themselves were relatively unscathed. Only exhausted. How long had it been? Half an hour? No, only ten minutes? The teens only looked at each other.

"What's the matter?" Asked Zuko, "Has it got so hard for you?"

"I have no need for killing you, that's it. You should thank me, if anything."

"Neither have I. Just surrender, Azula, not everything is lost yet."

"Yes, not everything. On the contrary, I will get what I want and get all there is. Father has wronged me, but I will make it right."

"Is this what you really want? Is this what drives you forward?"

"You have spent too much time with uncle," Azula remarked dryly.

"And you with a philosophic corpse. This doesn't matter."

"You are right. It doesn't matter. The throne is just a chair I sit on. What really matters is that I have changed, Zuko. I am more than a simple princess, I am my own person. I have changed, and now I see the bigger picture, what I was and what I am, as you can see."

"I cannot see. Because so far you have been doing what you used to."

"Call it a rudiment. You still can walk away, I won't stop you. I won't bother you at all. Is this not good enough?"

"This is not about you and me. This is about the fate of the world. And I wouldn't take the chances. I can offer you the same thing."

"You lie," Azula chuckled sadly, "You really think that the world will simply forget about what I did? They will thirst for my blood. And I have no trust for you. Neither the father, nor the majority of the people around."

"So that's it," Zuko carefully made steps towards her, "You are afraid that your life will be in danger. I promise you..."

"I told you," Azula snapped, "I will not believe that after everything I've done you will forget about it. You will put me away, into prison, or asylum for all I know. And you know what? You will be right to do so. And that's the worst thing."

Silence fell over the place. No one said anything. Mai and Ty Lee looked at each other, before noticing that they weren't alone. Phantom was sitting nearby, quiet and thus unseen by the girls until this very moment. Danny glanced at them with the same thoughtful look without saying a word. He was too busy thinking about his friend, so conflicted right now. He would have stepped further, to stop her mental self beating, but no, he would be an extra person there, he would be out of place. Azula was glancing around, not wanting to look into her brother's eyes, and then saw the half ghost sitting on the staircase. Danny only smiled softly at her.

"I...I don't want to fight, Zuko," Azula stated, "Please, go."

"You know I cannot. Azula, I was just as lost as you are. I of all people would understand you more than anyone. I understand that after everything between us we probably wouldn't be able to be on friendly terms, but...I forgive you, Azula, like uncle forgave me."

Then, the princess's shoulders shook. A tear went down from her eye, then she sobbed, then sobbed twice, and finally it broke her. She fell on her knees and began to cry. Zuko kneeled near her, putting a hand on her shoulder. Azula pulled away. The prince flinched a little when the half ghost appeared out of nowhere right near them. Danny decided that he should necessarily take part in this, he should give comfort to her. Azula briefly noticed him and instinctively grabbed the half ghost.

'No matter how strong you are, inner demons always come to the surface,' Danny hugged the crying princess closer.

In silence they sat, and the other girls did approach, Katara came right near the prince, but Azula's friends, understanding that she wouldn't want too much attention to her weakened state, the girls stood a little distance further.

"Here, here," Danny calmed the princess down, "Everything is alright."

"Yes," Azula sobbed and wiped her face. Everyone had to give her credit, she was quick to calm down no matter what happened. The princess stopped hugging the half ghost, embarrassed a bit, and got up. She looked at Zuko.

"I admit, I don't need the throne. All of this has been only to spite father and," she chuckled, "You will manage just as well."

Everyone blinked, but then many smiles crossed their features. Azula looked at Danny.

"I hope I can still stay at your domain?"

Phantom blinked again, "Ehm...sure. But I thought..."

"I know that my life won't be calm or anything like that for as long as I am here. I will only be a bother to Zuko. His position will be weak from the start and I will shatter everything. You, on the other hand, I want to keep helping you, in exchange for helping me find myself."

Danny smiled, "Azula, you have already helped me. If anything, we are even now. And I will be happy to give you a place to be called home."

He then went for a very daring move. A slight peck on the lips made everyone drop their jaws. Azula stood frozen, looking wide-eyed at him.

"If you are looking for a romantic responding kiss, you are mistaken," Azula smirked lightly.

Danny laughed, before a portal opened behind them. The princess gave a hearty goodbye to her friends, promising to visit them later. The two went through the portal, knowing that for the princess a totally new life was about to begin.

A.N. This story has been a huge pleasure to write, I must say. For me it has been a certain quality mark, although this chapter does seem a bit rushed. Thank you for staying with this book through everything. And just as an announcement, not to stand up twice, I must warn that the frequency of any updates whatsoever is going to diminish. Not because I've lost interest, rather have found new ones. I am half way through with writing my original novel, as I'd like to have some earnings from my hobby, I'll see how it goes. The university doesn't let me slack, so there is little time for fanfics. But I will try to please my readers. We've been together for almost three years, after all.