So sorry I didn't post any new chapters last week. I had to put my dog to sleep and I wasn't able to do much of anything last weekend. So, to make up for it, I'm posting SIX chapters today, instead of my normal three. Enjoy!

Zuko

It was the day of the celebration and everyone who was going to arrive, was here already. All, except for the Earth Queen. I hadn't expected her to get here early. My suspicion is, she will make an appearance and then leave. If she's smart, that is exactly what she will do. I doubt that she will even stay the night, although we did have a room prepared for her just in case.

Sam and I were getting our clothes on for the celebration. My manservant, Sin, was helping me get dressed while Nan was helping Sam. I know Sam doesn't want Nan to help her dress everyday and Sin didn't help me everyday either, but for special occasions we needed them. We were both separated by a partition so no one could see the other. That didn't stop us from talking though.

"So, what do you think will happen with the Earth Queen? Do you think she will make a scene?" Sam asked me.

I echoed my thoughts from earlier, "not if she is smart she won't."

"Do you think she will show?"

"Oh, yeah, she will show. If nothing else, to be nosey and to try to find something she can use against us later."

"Do you think she has found out about my bending yet?"

"I'm not sure. If she hasn't, she will know about it before she leaves here." I didn't like it, but there was nothing I could do about it. Servants gossiped. It was par for the course. "Don't worry about it. Everyone will be very respectful to you, regardless of what they think."

Sam didn't say anything, but I could tell there was apprehension in the air. I guess there was a better way I could have said that I thought critically to myself. I didn't mention it again, to not add fuel to the fire.

"How many people do you think will be here?"

"In the palace? Probably about 100."

"WHAT?!" Sam shouted, surprised. Sin and I both jumped at her outburst.

"Yes. That is customary."

"One hundred people?! Here just to see me?! What if I mess up?! That's a hundred people I will look like an idiot in front of! What if they know about my bending? Will they give me weird looks? It's bad enough I'm an outsider!"

"Sam breathe!" I said. I had stepped away from Sin and rushed over to Sam when I realized she was starting to panic. I stood in front of her, with my hands on her shoulders, trying to calm her. "Breathe with me, Sam." I said, exaggerating my breaths so she can mimic them easily. Her breathing started to become more steady and her tension started to ease. I pulled her into a tight hug. "It'll be alright Sam. Just breath. It will all be OK. This will be over before you know it. Trust me."

Sam had calmed down but I noticed Nan standing, averting her eyes and blushing. It was then that I realized I was only my under garment pants and had no shirt on. She was trying to be respectful. I quickly ducked back to the other side of the partition and continued dressing.

We finished dressing and we were ready to leave the bed chambers.

"You ready?" I asked offering my arm to her. She accepted it and tried to smile, though it did not reach her eyes.

"As ready as I'll ever be." I noticed her voice was a bit shaky.

"So, what will this whole celebration entail?" she asked, trying to distract herself.

"We will gather in the throne room, you and I in our respective places, and I will announce you as Fire Lady. You will be able to say something too if you're up for it." She looked up at me and my eyes slid down to meet hers as I gave her an encouraging smile. "We will then come off our thrones and stand on the common ground of the throne room while everyone greets us and formally meets you. Once that is completed, we will all eat and toast to your good health. After dinner, you and I will mingle with the guests." I stole a look at Sam and she looked very overwhelmed. "Don't worry. I'll be with you the whole time." I gave her hand a small squeeze with my arm. She smiled at me, looking reassured.

We walked down the hallway until we reached the throne room and she and I both took our seats on our respective thrones. We waited a few minutes for everyone to gather together. It was time to make the formal announcement. I stood.

"Everyone, thank you for coming to the celebration of my new wife. It truly means everything to us that you would take time out of your busy schedules to spend it here." I signaled Sam to stand, which she did. "Everyone, I would like to announce my wife and the new Fire Lady of my great nation, Fire Lady Samyah. She comes to us from the Earth Kingdom and has graciously accepted my proposal to rule by my side. In the short time she has been Fire Lady, she has made great strides and is already earning the respect and admiration of our people." I looked over at Sam and signaled it was her turn as I took my seat. She took a deep breath. She usually kept it short and sweet, but I wanted to give her a chance to address everyone.

She looked out over the crowd and stood tall, looking regal as ever, "Thank you to everyone who made the journey to welcome me as The Fire Nation's new Lady. It is an honor and privilege to share this room and celebration with all of you. May we have many more pleasant encounters in the years to come." She didn't think she did public speaking well, but she always spoke from the heart - and that's what counts. She looked down at me and I smiled in approval.

"Thank you Fire Lady Samyah. Now, I would like everyone to meet Samyah and introduce yourselves to her." I rose to join Sam. I offered my arm and she accepted as we descended the stairs and waited for the people to line up and meet her.

People walked through greeting her kindly and respectfully. I had only heard a couple of "outsider" comments, which I had anticipated. Not everyone is as open and kind as Aang and the rest of my friends. They came, women kissed her cheek and men kissed her hand. They introduced themselves to her and Sam did the same. She engaged in short small talk with everyone and it went more smoothly than I had expected. After everyone got through, I walked up the stairs again to make another announcement.

"We shall now convene in the dining room for dinner that my exemplary cooks have prepared for us. Please join us for a communal meal." I walked back down the stairs and Sam took my arm once more as I escorted her to the dining hall.

Sam

The "meet and greet," as I called it in my head, went really well. I was surprised and yet relieved. One person I did not see was the Earth Queen, and I was glad for it. However, when we went into the dining hall, she was there already. How rude of her. Here just for the meal. Only interested in gossip.

I made eye contact with her. I didn't mean to. Her eyes shone with hatred as she glared at me. I felt like a fly caught in a web, unable to break free of her stare. Suddenly, I felt Zuko tug my arm. I looked up and he was glaring at the woman but looked down at me and smiled. "Don't let her get to you. She isn't worth it." he whispered. He was right of course. He usually was, I was learning.

We made our way to our place at the table. I had never seen a table this big before. Even in Kondai, our biggest table was probably half this size. I couldn't imagine everyone eating together at once. But it seemed these people were used to it. Zuko took his place at the head of the table and me to his right and Iroh to his left, while our friends were all seated near us. After everyone took their seats Zuko raised his goblet.

"To Samyah. May she have a long and prosperous reign." Everyone called out "cheers!" as we all took a drink.

Everyone sat at the table mingling and just chatting with the people near them. I stole a look at the Earth Queen. She sat, fiddling with her silverware, not speaking to anyone. Good, be miserable I thought cynically.

Suddenly, the room became quiet as we heard the guards shouting in the hallways. I looked up at Zuko and his eyes were wide with alertness. I heard a poof that could only be firebending. Zuko and his friends stood at the ready. I looked at their faces and it was a look of recognition. Whoever this was, they knew them. It didn't take long for them to come into the dining hall.

"Well, hello there, Zuzu. What a pleasant meal you all are having." Zuzu? Who calls him Zuzu? I looked up at Zuko and rage covered his face. The hall was so silent, you could hear a pin drop.

"Azula! What are you doing here?" Azula! That was his sister. I had never met her and was hoping I never would based on what I'd heard about her from Zuko and the staff. She was cruel and had no regard for other people.

"What am I doing here, Zuzu? Isn't it obvious? I'm here to enjoy the celebration, of course. I had to just show up since you weren't courteous enough to send me an invitation. Where have your manners gone, dear brother? Is this trash you married rubbing off on you?"

"Do NOT speak of my wife, your Fire Lady, that way!" Azula sneered at that but said nothing, "And where was I supposed to send the invitation to? You are always on the move." Zuko said through clenched teeth. This wasn't good. I stood up next to Zuko, ready to fight if I had to. I had only fought with my bending on rare occasions, which were all on the outside, but I guessed this would be another time to add to that short list. When I stood, Azula's eyes glared at me. I recoiled a bit behind Zuko. Her eyes then went back to Zuko.

"And is this your new 'wife'?" she said using air quotes.

"Yes." he said simply.

"You know, Zuzu, I never thought that your treachery could be any worse than ending the war, throwing Father in prison and usurping the throne, but I guess I was wrong." Her eyes slid back to me. Cold. "But then you had to marry 'this'" She said gesturing to me. "You marry an outsider. Someone who doesn't belong here. Someone whose very existence in the Fire Nation is a black mark on the entire country. But then, on top of her being an outsider vagrant she also thinks she's the avatar. Go on Outsider scum. Show me what you can do." Next thing I saw was lightning coming barreling at me. Zuko quickly stepped in front of me, absorbed the lightning, then shot it out the window. Just as quickly we were flanked by Iroh, Aang, Katara, Sokka and Toph in fighting stances. No one else in the room dared to intervene or even move a muscle.

"Azula stop! You can't win this fight!"

"Zuko, you can't trust her. We have to subdue her!" Sokka shouted. I wasn't against it.

"But you haven't met my friends yet, brother. Meet Jun and Sun, they're sisters, and friends I made in the asylum YOU threw me into! They have been with me ever since." Suddenly, she was joined by two girls, their eyes wild. These girls did not appear to be what you would consider sane. They both pulled out bolas and throwing knives.

"Azula! You just tried to kill my wife, your Fire Lady. This is treason! I'm giving you one chance to leave now!"

"NO! IT IS NOT TREASON IF THE PERSON WE ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF IS NOTHING BUT OUTSIDER FILTH! SHE WILL NEVER BE MY FIRE LADY TIL MY LAST BREATH!" Azula shouted, a crazed look in her eye. Zuko had told me about her mental break. It appears I was seeing it unfold again before my very eyes.

I looked up at Zuko again, and a pained expression appeared on his face, "Take them out." he said to the team. They all responded in kind. Zuko ran full stride after Azula. I watched in horror, terrified for him. I instinctively followed, sprinting after him.

Her friend with the bolas threw them at Zuko and were quickly quelled by Aang's airbending. I noticed he used the same move I had the other day on the bolas. They were working on the one with knives when I left the room.

Zuko was chasing Azula, shooting fireballs at her feet, trying to trip her. She was quick. I took a stance, stomped the ground and shot a marble ball from the floor at her, knocking her down. She quickly recovered though and continued running.

"Get out of here!" Zuko shouted at me as he pursued her again.

"No!" I responded defiantly. Azula disappears into a room and Zuko and I filed in. She shot a large blue fire ball at me but Zuko was too far away to do anything. I took the stance he taught me and moved my arms to quell the flame. It worked although I stumbled backwards, falling. She was powerful.

"Azula, stop!" She continued to run until she was outside. Big mistake. I thought. She turned around to stand her ground.

I ran beside Zuko and bent the air, circling it around me, I shot it at Azula, soaking her with water. This transference from airbending to waterbending caught her off guard and she fell to the ground - she wasn't expecting to get hit with water. I quickly encased her body in ground so she couldn't move. Once she was beaten, she started to cry and scream, unable to move - fire shooting out of her mouth and nose. I felt sorry for her but took a sigh of relief. The rest of his friends ran outside behind us, seeing Azula laying on the ground.

"Great work everyone," Zuko said, his eyes not leaving me. "Sam, I've never seen bending like that. That was incredible."

"Aw monkey feathers! I missed it?!" Aang exclaimed, disappointed.

"What do you mean?" I asked directed at Zuko, "I just bent the air."

"No, you…more than bent the air." he said still astonished.

"What do you mean?" Aang asked looking at me, "What did you do?"

I was nervous, suddenly in the spotlight, "I just bent the air around me and then hit her with water."

"It was more than that, Aang. She bent the air and then it turned INTO water."

"So she pulled the water from the air?" Katara asked.

"No. It's like…she transformed it somehow." Zuko said, eyes still wide in disbelief. Aang deliberated for a moment but said nothing more. We had more pressing matters to attend to.

The three women were swiftly arrested and put in jail until Zuko could deal with them. Azula was put in a special cell that prevented her from bending. How it did that, I did not know, but logged it in my mind to ask Zuko later.

Zuko regained his composure, "we have guests we have to get back to." He said. We walked back to the dining room, disheveled, and everyone was still sitting in shock, horror and fear.

"Don't worry, we have arrested the perpetrators." Zuko assured everyone.

"Your sister tried to kill your wife." One of them said. It wasn't a question.

"It appears that way." Zuko said simply. I wasn't sure how he did it, but he said it in a way that would not leave room for follow up questions.

We went back to our dinner and finished it without any further interruptions. Sometime during the shuffle, the Earth Queen slipped out.Good riddance I thought, dryly. Afterwards, we mingled as best as we could. There was still apprehension in the air, so it did not go as smoothly as we would have liked. Honestly, I didn't care about mingling. I wanted to talk to Zuko and find out what he was so fascinated about. Find out what that was with Azula. But for now, we finished our evening in pleasantries and conversation. Then we all went to our respective bedrooms for rest. Little did Zuko know, I had so many questions I wanted answered - I had no intention on sleeping.