My crappy plot's starting to pick up! Huzzah...
"Azula." Zuko said. The two princesses turned, one at the sound of her name, one at the sound of her father's voice.
"Zuzu." Azula greeted.
"Dad." Kazura smiled.
"Kazu, hurry on ahead, please. I need to talk to your aunt alone." Zuko said. Kazura pouted but nodded.
"See you, aunt 'Zula!" She said. "I'll be with Kya, Bumi, Tenzin, and Lin!"
"My child listens more to you than either of her parents." Zuko muttered.
"Wasn't it the same with you and uncle?" Azula shot back. Zuko conceded defeat, much to Azula's amusement. "Give it up, Zuzu, you're never going to win as long as you and I are both alive."
"Don't say things like that." Zuko admonished. Azula gave him a wry smile.
"You and I both know that one of us is going to leave first, and nobody knows when they're going to go." She said. "There's no point avoiding the topic."
"Still." Zuko grumbled. "You're my baby sister. I don't want you to die." He said. Azula swatted his arm affectionately as they walked toward the war room.
"I'm not your baby sister. I'm only two years younger, Zuzu." Azula rolled her eyes, pulling open the curtains. "After you, my lord brother." She smirked. This time it was he who rolled his eyes.
"Zuko." Aang greeted. "Why have you called us here?" He asked.
"Have a seat, everyone." Zuko said first, walking up to the throne and sitting there, but the customary firewall was not present. "Alright. Everyone knows that ever since Republic City was set up, problems have sprung up everywhere." He said. "The city has been separated into three sectors as of now, by its own people." He said.
"The benders of the city have formed a gang called the Triple Threat Triad." Toph informed them on the situation. "My metalbenders are new to the city. As powerful as the skill is, they cannot handle everything." She said grimly.
"Which is why we have set up a council with one representative from each nation to take care of the problems surrounding the city." Sokka said. "I will be the representative from the Southern Water Tribe. There will be someone from our sister tribe. Toph is the chief of the metalbending police, so she is out as a candidate for the earth kingdom. Luckily, we found someone who is experienced enough. Haru will be waiting for us in Republic City when we get there. Aang, of course, will be the representative for the air nomads as a whole." Sokka said. "The problem lies in finding a good representative for the Fire Nation."
"I have duties to attend to here as Firelord. I cannot run back and forth between here and Republic City to be the representative. Uncle declined the offer, saying that he has the tea shop to take care of, and mother isn't really much into politics anyways." Zuko said, looking at Azula. "Which is why we've chosen you, Azula." He said. "You will represent our nation in Republic City."
Azula sat there with a neutral expression. "That I can accept, if the people will have an ex-convict as a representative." She said wryly.
"They will." Zuko said firmly in a voice that held no room for any arguments. Azula smiled to herself. Her older brother was truly meant for the throne. Over the years she realized that she was too much of a free soul to be confined to the life of a Firelord, and was actually glad that she didn't become one and lose herself even further along the way. Then a question popped into her mind.
"If I leave, who will finish teaching Kazu firebending?"
Everyone was silent for a while.
"I will." Zuko said.
"Hmm." Azula regarded him critically. "Are you sure you can juggle the two jobs? Kazu is very demanding." She said. Zuko nodded.
"I am her father." He said.
"Good." Azula murmured. "I will brief you on her progress after the meeting."
"Alright, so now that we've got the council sorted out, we need a name." Sokka declared.
"How about the United Republic Council? Simple yet effective." Aang suggested.
"That could work, Twinkletoes." Toph nodded.
"So you, Aang, Sokka, and Toph leave for Republic City at dawn." Zuko said.
"What?" Azula cried in surprise. "That leaves me less than twenty-four hours to pack and say goodbye!"
"Sorry for the late notice, Azula. I hope you won't blast us with lightning." Aang said. Azula's mouth twitched.
"Is this meeting over?" She asked as Aang chuckled.
"Dismissed, princess." Zuko smiled apologetically.
"Come find me later for Kazura's training progress. Right now I've got to break the news to your daughter. You so owe me." Azula muttered as she stalked out. She quickly made her way through the palace halls to the garden where her mother, Katara, Mai, Ty Lee, and Suki were playing with the children.
"Aunt 'Zula!" Kazura looked up from young Lin.
"Hey kids. Mom, girls." Azula greeted with nods, sitting down next to Ursa with a sigh.
"What's troubling you, Azula?" Ursa asked.
"The meeting was to tell me that I am needed in Republic City as the councilwoman representing the Fire Nation." Azula said.
"Wow, that's great, aunt Azula." Kya said with shining eyes. "You're working with dad and the others now, right?"
"Right." Azula confirmed, smiling at the firstborn of Aang and Katara. "But I have some bad news too."
"You're leaving tomorrow, aren't you?" Katara said. Kazura gasped.
"Yes. So I suppose you and the children will stay here while Aang goes to the city?" Azula asked. Katara nodded.
"And you, Suki?"
"I'm staying with my warriors." Suki said. Ty Lee grinned at her leader.
"But…auntie…you can't leave." Kazura said. "You still have so much to teach me!"
"I know, Kazu." Azula said, sighing again. "But I have to. I have a duty to our nation like you, princess. You just stay here and let your father train you while I'm gone." She turned to Katara. "Has Aang told you the details of his departure? As in how long we will be gone?"
"Well, since the council is new, I suppose it will take some time to get used to it, so Aang informed me that he was going to be away for at least a month." Katara said.
"Sokka told me that he wouldn't be back until the triad is subdued." Suki said. "Which, of course, could mean a month to a whole year." She mumbled angrily.
"Hey, I'm sure he'll come and visit regularly." Ty Lee comforted her. "And you, 'Zula?" She chirped.
"Of course." Azula said. "I'm packing lightly. Those criminals really don't want to get on my bad side." She said. "The sooner they're thrown into prison, the sooner I can return." She said, cracking her knuckles.
"Yeah! Go aunt Azula! Kick ass for us!" Kya hooted. Katara scolded her, but she also had a smile on her face. Kazura grinned at Kya, and they high-fived.
"Azula." Zuko said, coming to a halt in front of the group of ladies and children.
"What do you want now, Zuzu?" Azula asked, annoyed. "Can't you see we're having quality girl time?" She smirked.
"I need a full report on Kazura's progress." He said.
"Can't this wait until evening?" Azula sighed.
"No. It can't." Zuko replied just as annoyed.
"Is that an order, your highness?" Azula mocked, standing up. Zuko scowled at her and just walked away.
"My study, now." Zuko tossed back. Azula rolled her eyes.
"You really should stop antagonizing him." Mai drawled.
"It's too fun." Azula smirked.
"You two will never change, will you?" Ursa sighed with an affectionate smile.
"We're siblings, mom. Besides, consider whose children we are first." Azula said, and Ursa smiled slightly sadly.
"Yes…you two do remind me of better times." She said. Then Azula did a very surprising thing—she hugged her mother.
"I once promised Kazu I'd take her to see him." Azula murmured in her mother's ear. "Kazura was five when she asked. Now she's eight. If I don't return in two years, take her to see him with Zuko."
Ursa looked at Azula worriedly.
"Why would you not return for two years?" She demanded.
"You never know, mother." Azula smiled grimly. "In a place I hardly know, dealing with three types of benders, it might just take more than a few months to handle them, especially if I think they're doing what they're doing."
"What do you think they're doing, then?" Katara asked worriedly.
"I have a hunch." Azula's eyes darkened. "But I hope to Agni and the spirits that I'm wrong." She muttered, heading after Zuko.
Stay tuned for Azula's hunch. *ominous music* Well, on that cheerful note, I ask you to review please ;)