Chapter 36
4 Years and 4 Months after the Hundred Year War
Royal Caldera City
Azula stood at the ship's railing as it was slowly pulling into the First Lord's Harbor. She had swapped her winter parka for the red robes of the royal princess a while ago, as soon as the weather had permitted it. Azula had also decided to leave her hair down all the way, regardless of whether it broke the royal protocol or not. She enjoyed the sea breeze blowing her strands in every which direction, even more, she reveled in the imperfection of it all. It made her feel free and liberated.
All things considered, this was a strange homecoming, one she could have never imagined she would experience. Azula had expected herself to feel more nervous as they were about to disembark, but truth be told, she was mostly excited, even giddy, not knowing what to expect, but the feeling in her gut felt right and reassured. Much of that had to do with the girl standing by her side, Katara always at hand to support her with an encouraging word or a smile, for such was her very caring nature.
Throughout their long sea voyage, they had spent many an hour discussing what plans Zuko might have in mind for Azula once she had returned. Whatever her brother had planned, Azula was certain that she had nothing to fear. By now, she firmly believed that her brother wanted to have a good relationship with her, and that Zuko hoped for her to act like the loyal, supportive sister he had always wanted her to be... and that she was now determined to become. Still, Zuko had been keeping his cards close to his chest when it came to her future. He had sent letters to the North Pole almost every week, full of support and concern for her wellbeing, but never telling her much about the events back in the Fire Nation, apart from some general developments. Katara had told her that he probably didn't want her to become distracted by the Fire Nation politics, and Azula had accepted it as a very sensible explanation.
As the crew made the final preparations before disembarking, working to secure the rail, Azula looked around the First Lord's Harbor, relieved that no great fuss had been made about her return to the capital. Zuko had probably guessed correctly that Azula would prefer for this to be a low-key affair, although he had sent the royal palanquin, a pair of Kyoshi Warriors standing at attention next to it as they waited for them to disembark.
"Ready?" Katara asked, taking her hand and smiling at the princess.
"Yes... I think so," Azula replied with a nod. Her hands had become slightly moist with perspiration from slight nervousness, which was most definitely imperfect. And that in itself, was perfectly fine.
"It'll be alright, you'll see," Katara gave her hand a tighter squeeze as they made their way down the rail, Azula placing her feet onto the Fire Nation soil for the first time in more than four months.
The two Kyoshi Warriors immediately stepped towards them, or in case of one of them, dashed hurriedly at her. Azula hadn't expected Ty Lee's greeting to be so enthusiastic, but her childhood friend threw her arms around Azula in the tightest of embraces, and having overcome the initial surprise, Azula was only happy to return the hug, Katara and Suki sharing an embrace of their own. Once they had parted, it was Ty Lee's turn to hug Katara, but Suki obviously did not mimic the gesture with Azula, and the princess was perfectly fine with that. At least the bow that the Earth Kingdom girl gave her was cordial and not in any way hostile.
"Aw, Azula, you look so well!" Ty Lee gushed happily. "And just look at your aura! It's so bright and healthy, almost exactly like Katara's! I can see the North Pole has done you so much good!"
"My aura, of course," Azula resisted the urge to roll her eyes, instead smiling at Ty Lee's infectious enthusiasm.
"You are absolutely correct, Ty Lee, Azula has been doing very well," Katara agreed with a smile, then looking around. "Where's Zuko? He didn't come to meet us?"
"No, he's waiting for you back at the palace," Suki explained. "He knew that the Fire Lord's appearance would create a stir, and he didn't want to draw extra attention to your arrival."
"Good idea, I'll have to thank him for that later," Azula nodded gratefully.
"Perhaps we shouldn't let him wait, then," Katara smiled, pointing at the palanquin. "We can talk more on our way to the palace."
It was a rather tight squeeze for the four girls to fit inside the palanquin, but since it was Katara's knee that ended up trapped between Azula's thighs, the princess absolutely did not mind the squeezing, instead rather enjoying the distracting touch. It was also making Katara blush lightly, but she still recovered to resume the broken conversation. "So, how has the Fire Nation coped these past few months?" she asked. "How's Zuko?"
"It's been rather quiet and uneventful," Suki replied. "Now that we don't have to watch for Azula escaping every other week, our peacekeeping task has been made that much easier."
"Well, if it's excitement you seek, I could go on a little rampage through the pal-..."
"No, Azula, don't go there, not even as a joke," Katara cut in quickly, not allowing her to finish.
"You're right, it's not funny," Azula sighed. "I... apologize." Ty Lee and Suki exchanged surprised stares at her words. Oh right... I guess they haven't heard me apologizing for anything before.
"It's alright," Suki smiled lightly. "I think the most exciting thing was Zuko blowing up when he heard about what Aang, Sokka and your father tried to pull up in the North..."
"Is that so?" Katara asked. "How did Zuko find out?" Neither Azula nor Katara had written to Zuko about what had happened in Agna Qel'a. Azula had badly wanted to do so, but she had then realized that it would put Zuko at odds with Katara's family, and she knew that it would be very stressful for her girlfriend. But it seemed as if the truth had still come out.
"They made a stop at the capital while traveling from one pole to the other, I think Sokka was bugging Aang about wanting to spend some time with me," Suki replied. "And I guess he was feeling really guilty about what had happened, so he spilled the beans to me."
"And then you told Zuko all about it," Katara finished knowingly.
"...no? What do you take me for, a snitch?" Suki blinked. "But I did convince Sokka to tell the truth to Zuko. I simply thought that Zuko deserved to know, considering how much effort he has put in to provide for Azula."
"Right, I see," Katara still appeared a little suspicious as she looked at Suki. "Are you and Sokka still together?" she asked.
Suki again appeared utterly perplexed about the question. "Uh... while I think what he did was completely stupid and I tore him a new one about it, I didn't think it was a reason to break up," she replied, looking confused. "I actually do care about him, you know..."
"Hmm, I should hope so," Katara stated meaningfully. Azula was starting to feel a little sorry for Suki. At some point, Katara had told her about Zuko having a secret mistress, but for some reason Katara was so very certain that it was Suki. Azula wasn't so sure, thinking it was most likely someone they didn't know.
"So, what did Zuko do when he learned about what they had tried?" Azula asked.
"We're not really sure," Ty Lee replied. "Zuko met in private with all three of them, and... well, they came out with their auras really grey and flat, so I think whatever Zuko had told them, made them feel very ashamed about their actions."
"Good," Katara nodded, looking pleased. "That's another thing we have to thank Zuko for. Although, I doubt that he has managed to make my family suddenly accepting of my relationship with Azula."
"Sorry," Azula blurted out, immediately wondering about how and why she was suddenly apologizing so much. Before getting together with Katara, she would have seen it as a terrible weakness, and now it was happening to her instinctively, even in front of Ty Lee and Suki, the latter of whom wasn't all that fond of her.
"You don't have to apologize for that, Zula," Katara smiled, gently rubbing Azula's knee, earning herself a soft smile in return.
"Aww, you're so sweet together," Ty Lee gushed. "Suki, aren't they sweet?"
"Yes, I'm quickly losing my prejudices about you two being together," Suki admitted as the palanquin came to a halt in the courtyard of the royal palace, servants opening the doors for them to climb out.
Returning to the royal palace as a free woman more than four years later was an odd experience for Azula. And despite her still remembering every nook and cranny of the place, coming back did not feel fully comforting. Time and again she heard heavy footsteps in the palace corridors, feeling jumpy as she almost expected to round the corner and be confronted by the displeased and angry face of her father as he bore down on her. Azula felt deeply relieved when they were eventually shown into one of the Fire Lord's studies, Ty Lee and Suki discreetly withdrawing and leaving them alone with Zuko.
Zuko had been busy studying some official looking letter as he sat behind the heavy oaken writing desk, but as soon as he noticed his visitors, the young Fire Lord jumped from his seat and rushed forward to greet them, embracing the two girls in turn. "It's so good to finally see you both!" Zuko sounded excited and relieved to see them again. "It seems like the North has done you a lot of good... there's almost a glow surrounding the two of you!"
"Oh great... you've been spending too much time with Ty Lee, now you're seeing auras too," Azula chuckled. "It's good to see you, Zuzu," she added earnestly before retrieving Yagoda's letter and passing it to her brother, feeling both nervous and excited about his reaction. "This is for you," she said.
"Ah, I see," Zuko nodded, quickly opening the letter and starting to read it. As he neared towards the end of the letter, he seemed to be struggling to maintain his composure, almost about to break down in tears. "This... is more than I could have hoped for, to have my sister back in my life," he whispered, slowly turning to face Katara. "And I know who I have to thank first and foremost for it. Katara... you've given me a gift I will never be able to reciprocate adequately," Zuko managed, hugging Katara tightly one more time.
"Oh... you don't have to thank me... Azula did most of the work herself, she just needed a gentle nudge here and there," Katara whispered back, quickly becoming misty eyed. Azula used the opportunity of Zuko and Katara embracing to quickly dab at the corners of her eyes and recompose herself. This was turning out to be a more emotional reunion than she had expected, but in all honesty... she did not mind it one bit.
"I'll want to hear all about your adventures in the North," Zuko said once they had sat down at his work desk.
"I'm sure there will be time for that," Katara smiled at him. "And while you thanked me for helping Azula, the truth is that we couldn't have done this without your support. Especially, when everyone else seemed to be against us..."
"Yes, I... had a difficult conversation with Aang, Sokka and your father," Zuko winced at the memory. "Honestly, it's a good thing that your father was present, Katara. It was his presence that stopped me from… well, I'm not going to say what I felt like doing. And Aang's eyebrows had not yet fully re-grown since our previous confrontation."
Azula couldn't help but snicker at that, while Katara merely shook her head. "Truth be told, my father probably caused most of the damage," she let out a deep sigh. "I think Aang and Sokka will come around, but when it comes to the rest of my family and my tribe... there's plenty of work to be done, still. I'll have to tackle that at some point." Azula frowned at Katara's words, but decided not to say anything. She felt that the people of the Southern Tribe had to either come to accept Katara the way she was, or just relinquish her entirely, but the princess also realized that the bond with her family and her tribe was very important for Katara and that she did not want to let go of it easily.
"Helping me has really put a dent in your foreign affairs, hasn't it, Zuzu?" Azula asked instead. "You had to pull in favors with the Earth Kingdom and the Northern Tribe, and now there are ruffled feathers with the Southern Tribe as well."
"And don't forget about the one man Air Nation," Zuko rolled his eyes. "But don't worry about that, sister. These things have a way of working out over time."
"Still, I... feel certain pressure to prove myself of being a worthy investment," Azula admitted. "You must have some plans for me."
Zuko frowned slightly at her words. "You only just got back," he sighed. "I just want to spend time with you, the family I've missed. I don't want to talk about duty and obligations, not just yet. Let's just celebrate your recovery, and your blossoming relationship."
"I appreciate the sentiment, Zuzu... but unless I know what you have in store for me, I'll slowly become more and more anxious," Azula sighed.
"It's true, Zuko," Katara stepped in helpfully. "We need to be as transparent as possible with Azula... within reason, of course. It would be better if you just told us the plan."
"Alright, fine," Zuko grumbled, having been effectively cornered by the two girls. "Azula, as a member of the royal family, I expect you to assume certain responsibilities. I am still learning how to properly delegate some of my duties, and sometimes the people I place my trust in, end up disappointing me. You're family, sister... I want to entrust you with certain duties and responsibilities as well, but nothing too overwhelming to begin with."
"You're going to trust me to... rule?" Azula blinked. "Is that wise?" she glanced at Katara.
"I think it depends on what exactly Zuko has in mind," her girlfriend replied uncertainly.
"Well, if we were still at war, you'd probably be given governorship over some of the conquered provinces, to bring them fully under the Fire Nation heel," Zuko said. "Right now, all the domestic provinces have acting governors, there are no vacancies, although..." he quickly cut himself off, looking as if he had said too much. "Anyway, there is another interesting opportunity I'd like you to consider. I've been very disappointed with the Fire Nation councilman to the United Republics. The man has been utterly failing to represent our interests, in fact, I am strongly suspecting him of being bought and paid for by the Earth Kingdom. I have made arrangements to recall him within the month."
"And... you want me to become the Fire Nation councilwoman in Republic City?" Azula asked, her eyes widening in surprise. This wasn't something she had anticipated.
"I'd like you to strongly consider it, Azula," Zuko gave her a confident smile.
"I would be sitting at the same table with Avatar Tofu-For-Brains and Katara's brother?" Azula felt a wicked grin spreading to her lips. "And I'd get to annoy them and drive them absolutely crazy? Where do I sign up?"
"Azula, try to treat it a little more seriously," Katara sighed at her.
"Yes, the point is to represent the interests of the Fire Nation to the best of your ability," Zuko nodded. "Granted... it might put you at odds with Sokka and Aang more often than not, but you know what I mean, Azula. You've always had a shrewd mind for politics."
"Yes, yes, I know what you mean... but it still sounds like something I would like to do," Azula replied excitedly, only then catching the slightly clouded expression on Katara's face. "Unless..." her excitement died as quickly as it had flared up. "Unless I know that Katara won't be happy in Republic City," she said.
"I'll have to think about it some more," Katara replied, looking grateful for her girlfriend's consideration of her feelings. "Perhaps we can discuss it later?"
"Alright, that sounds good," Azula nodded quickly, wondering exactly what Katara might be objecting to. At the first thought, nothing apparent crossed her mind.
"Anyway, I notice that Zuko hasn't shared any news about what has been happening in the Fire Nation," Katara then pointed out, looking eager for a change of topic. "I refuse to believe that nothing of interest has happened!"
"Yes, tell us how your marriage plans are progressing, Zuzu," Azula winked at her brother. "I was half-expecting us to arrive and find a new Fire Lady cracking a wh-..." she froze suddenly, having realized too late what she was about to say. "I mean... I just thought that maybe you would be a married man already," she finished lamely, trying to ignore Katara's concerned stare.
"These things sometimes move very slowly," Zuko replied, also looking a little worried about her slip. "There are many negotiations to manage, legal agreements to sign, especially in an arranged political marriage like this. We have set the tentative date for our marriage a year from now."
"What, a year?" Azula blinked, then shaking her head in disbelief. "I know these things can take time, but not that much! You're plotting something, Zuzu!"
"I have no idea what you mean by that," Zuko replied, sounding very unconvincing. Azula was forced to remark that more than four years on the Fire Nation throne still hadn't taught Zuko how to be a convincing liar, a must-have ability for any skilled politician.
"You have some kind of a plan in mind, I can tell," Azula nodded, feeling confident in her educated guess. "I think you're looking for some legal loopholes to wriggle out of this arrangement just so you can marry this mystery mistress of yours!"
"And we still don't know who she is," Katara added accusingly. "Although I'm quite sure I can guess... in which case, Zuko, I have to say, I do not approve."
Zuko blinked, struck speechless from the two-pronged assault by the couple. "The Fire Lord will not comment on his private matters at this time," was all that he could manage. "Anyway!" Zuko coughed nervously. "You must be very tired after the long sea voyage!"
"Not at all," Katara grinned as she shook her head.
"Exactly, I feel great," Azula nodded with a conspiring wink to her girlfriend.
"Still, I think it would be a good idea for you to retire to your rooms and then rejoin me for dinner," Zuko insisted. "Azula, I have had your old quarters prepared for you... with the assumption that you will be sharing."
"We will," Katara nodded confidently. Azula absolutely adored the slightly possessive look the waterbender gave her at that.
"My old quarters, hmm?" she couldn't help but feel slight unease when thinking about her old room. It did not exactly hold the best memories for her... but then again, nothing about the royal palace did.
"I can have some of the guest quarters prepared if you'd feel more comfortable there," Zuko guessed astutely.
"I... I'm sure that won't be necessary, Zuzu," Azula managed a brave smile for her brother. With Katara at her side, she was confident about conquering any old ghosts of the past that might be haunting her old quarters. As for the unpleasant memories... well, with Katara sharing her bed, Azula was sure that they would create many pleasant memories later that night.