Azula and her friends had left Ba Sing Se as soon as they had spotted the Bison, but not without causing Fires wherever they could without being detected. It had not been so easy to find a ship. Once they had found one, forcing the captain to bring them home was easy. But the ride home was long and quite unpleasing. Azula had no good news for her father. Despite she was pretty sure Zuko was dead by now, the Avatar was still alive, and her cousin and uncle were still alive and most likely had joined team Avatar, after what had happened to Zuko. And into the bargain they were hit by a storm some days before their arrival. Therefor she was in a very bad mood as they bumped into a search-party two days after the storm. The leader of that party informed them that general Iroh had been seen on a fire-navy ship heading for the Homeland-havens, but the ship had disappeared since the storm.
Azula didn't know what to make about that. If Iroh had headed home on a ship, then maybe he had had team Avatar with him. That would mean the Avatar saw himself in the position to face the Firelord. But their ship disappearing… could mean that they sunk… but it also could mean that they went into hiding. And the latter option Azula really didn't like. It meant that Iroh planned something… Something to overthrow her father, regaining the throne, and that meant for her that she wouldn't become Firelord as he had promised her since the day her mother had disappeared. It meant that most likely Lu Ten would become Firelord. Not her. But she deserved it, didn't she? What had Lu Ten done to deserve being Firelord? Hiding in Ba Sing Se was not an accomplishment! The only one who deserved the throne was her. Because she had done everything her father had asked of her. She had obeyed all his demands. And for that he had promised her the throne.
"Where were they last seen?" she turned to the leader of the search-party. "They were expected to arrive at the havens this morning…" was the answer "As they didn't arrive, messenger-hawks were sent to ask us to look for them. But they have vanished. Not even the storm could have dragged them so far out. And we have searched everywhere." "Well, obviously you haven't." Azula answered "Now get off my ship, I have to talk to my father as soon as possible." The man bowed and left the ship in a hurry. So her reputation had not faded during her absence. Good. They should fear her. She watched with a smile as her ship took speed again and left the pity search-party behind them.