Meeting the Royal Family
Years went by, Ash spent his time encased in his shell by trying to perfect and master his firebending prowess. He found out that if he could concentrate a lot of his power in a specific area. He could manifest a dragon like creature that was purely fire and energy. After many years, his shell wore out and he was ejected out of the volcano. He used firebending to stay airborne. He witnessed the destroyed island. He grimly remembered his father's words and promised him to fulfill his wishes. After hours of flying, he landed in the harbor. He was still wearing traditional fire nation robes. As he wandered through the streets, a few boys smirked at him, obviously at his robes. He ignored them and continued on his way. He saw the royal palace looming in the distance. When he reached the gates, he heard children playing in the garden. They all looked his age. As he had been suspended in animation, he looked about 11 years old. He watched amusedly as the two of the girls played a trick on the third. He watched the boy complain to his mother. He realized that the boy was most probably a prince. He looked at his reflection in an evaporating pool of water. He saw a disheveled boy with a determined expression with a burnt scar in the shape of a flame on his forehead. He inhaled and exhaled for a while. "Hu!" he let loose a burst of fire. In the palace garden the children and woman noticed it. the boy ran towards the source and was surprised to see a boy in rags. "Did you release that fire?" asked the boy. "Of course not" drawled the girl with a skeptical expression. "Actually, I did." Ash replied. "Anyway, what do you want?" asked the girl in a bored voice. "I ask you politely for a place to stay". Ash asked. "Okay!" the boy said as he was bored of his sister's constant taunting and as he wanted a friend. "Not so fast Zu-Zu" said the girl. "How about him and me duel ? he wins he stays, if I win he leaves". "Azula!" exclaimed her mother who had come to see what had held up her son. Ignoring her mother, Azula turned to Ash. "Well boy!" "As you wish, Your Highness" replied Ash. "Excellent, let's begin."