The Royal Barge progressed through the Kuaisu River smoothly. As soon as the Rough Rhinos had been secured in the ship's basement, the Barge's captain had started the vessel on the journey that would bring them home.
It was the afternoon of the third day of traveling, and the Barge was gliding though the large western lake of the Earth Kingdom when the men on deck spotted a dark creature soaring in the sky. They greeted the dragon by waving their arms, excited by their Princess's return, until they recalled the way Xin Long's last landing had gone. They scrambled away from the deck, hoping the dragon wouldn't squash them, but standing by just in case they had to help the Princess out somehow.
Azula told Xin Long to slow down, but it was hard for him to fight the air currents, slow his descent and resist gravity all at the same time. Sokka grimaced and held on to the saddle as Azula attempted to direct Xin Long in his struggle to land on the ship.
"S-steady! Keep him steady or else we're going to…!" Sokka squealed when the wind struck them hard enough to cause the dragon to spin in midair.
It was unavoidable that they both would hang on to what was in front of them. Azula held on to the dragon's neck while Sokka threw his arms around her waist, his cheek pressed against her back. They both bared their teeth, unaware of the awkward closeness between them as Xin Long tried to fight the forces of nature. The dragon twirled in the air, kicking his legs and swinging his tail to find balance. Soon enough he was upside down, staring up at the blue sky while his two riders tried not to fall off his back.
Xin Long managed to find a little stability in that moment, and he turned around again in hopes he would finally reach the ship. But on his latest twirl he swung around too strongly and, because Sokka had just released his grip around Azula and decided to grasp the saddle instead, the force of the dragon's spin threw Sokka off the saddle, down to the ship.
To Sokka's relief, the ship's deck hadn't been too far away and so the crash wasn't as bad as he had feared, but he took quite a nasty blow to the rear when he fell on his butt. Azula had almost been tossed off the saddle as well, but her two arms were wrapped tightly around the dragon's neck and she managed to keep her position. Xin Long seemed quite nervous after what had just happened… but the ship was only a few meters away. He hovered for a moment until his talons touched the deck, and for the first time he managed to land delicately, despite the savage struggle that had gone down just a moment earlier.
"Well, at least the actual landing went well," said Azula, releasing her grip around Xin Long.
"Well?! WELL?!" Sokka squealed, standing up and looking at Xin Long in utter disbelief. "What the hell is your standard for well?!"
"There's room for improvement, I'm not going to lie…" said Azula, climbing off the saddle while feeling a little dizzy after the dragon's shaken-up descent to the ship.
"Princess! Are you alright, Princess?!" called one of the Royal Guards, sprinting towards her.
"I'm the one who flew off the dragon, you know?" grunted Sokka and the man ignored him. The gladiator shook his head at them and rubbed his buttocks, still in pain after crashing against the metallic deck.
"Welcome aboard again," said the Captain, approaching Azula as well. "The Rough Rhinos are secure in the brig, Princess."
"Good," said Azula. "You made the rest of the trip back to the ship safely?"
"We did. There were no setbacks," said the Captain, nodding. "Everything went smoothly, save for…"
"For what?" grunted Azula after the man grew silent. She glowered at him, threatening him to finish his sentence or face her wrath anew.
"We have tried to question them about who they were working with," said the Captain. "But it has been to no avail. None of them will speak."
"Chances are they won't because you just haven't asked the right questions…" said Azula, thoughtful. "Nevertheless, that matter can be settled later. I don't have it in me to interrogate criminals at the moment."
"Naturally," said the Captain, bowing his head towards her. He wished to ask her about the events that had taken place while they had been apart, about what had happened between her and the gladiator as they chased down the Rhinos, and most of all, about how had they had chanced upon the dragon and how she had tamed it, of course. But he knew he would have to wait. Her safety and comfort came first. He could ask his questions later "What shall you do now?"
"Food… I need food. Of the best kind available," said Azula. "Make them deliver the meal to my room."
"It will be done, Princess," said the Captain.
"Get some food for Xin Long as well," the Princess requested, caressing the scales of her dragon. "He's exhausted. Make sure he can rest properly."
"Of course," replied the Captain, nodding.
"And… well, I suppose you should get some for the gladiator too," said Azula, shrugging and earning herself a grateful smile. Sokka had been glaring at Xin Long after being flung off his back, but the mere thought of having some food had helped him forget why his butt pained him as it did. "In the meantime, I'll be in my cabin."
"Of course, Princess," said the Captain, nodding.
"And I'll be in the kitchen," declared Sokka, his mouth watering. He didn't care for having anything fancy, unlike Azula: he only wished to fill his stomach as soon as possible.
The Captain seemed slightly reluctant to let Sokka go, having wanted to question him about what had happened while he had been away with the Princess. Yet given the dark circles around Sokka's eyes and the man's savage hunger and appetite, he knew Sokka wouldn't be willing to talk either. The answers he wanted wound have to wait for later.
Azula left to her chambers after patting Xin Long's snout. She walked down the ship's hall, feeling as if she were treading the road towards paradise…
She couldn't hold back the smile that formed on her face when she caught sight of her bed. Oh, how she had missed her pillows, her sheets, her mattress… she only bothered removing her armor before dropping on the bed, her eyes fluttering close as she smiled despite her exhaustion. Her entire body ached to get some rest, and she really needed a break from all her latest troubles… she didn't even remember by then that she had wanted to have a meal first. As soon as her eyes were closed, she drifted into the first peaceful sleep she had enjoyed in a very long time.
The Princess and her gladiator spent two days focused solely on sleeping and eating, replenishing all the energies they had spent on the most troublesome week of their lives. It wasn't until the third day after their return to the ship that Azula left her cabin, finally well fed and rested, and walked towards her dragon, who had just returned from a short flight by the shores of the Earth Kingdom.
"Princess…" said the Captain, approaching her nervously.
Azula had been communicating with Xin Long, patting his snout as he sent her images about a fishing village he had watched from afar, and thus she didn't welcome the Captain's interruption kindly. She turned around towards the Captain, regarding him with all her displeasure.
"I hope you didn't come to give me bad news…"
"No, there are no bad news," said the Captain, shaking his head promptly. "But I… I figured, since you seem to have rested well enough by now, that you could tell me what happened while you were in the woods."
Azula frowned at first but sighed in resignation. There was a lot of explaining to be done, and she couldn't blame the Captain for asking.
"Sokka and I had been holding a conversation about the Rough Rhinos just before your letter arrived. When it did, I thought I had no way to chase them down, since I had recently sent out my men to search all of Ba Sing Se for the Rhinos. Sokka proposed the two of us could go find them. I wasn't sure I could trust him, but I was tired of this mission and desperate to catch them already. So we took off through the city… in a very ungraceful manner."
"What ungraceful manner…?" asked the Captain, watching Azula twitch as she recalled the occasion.
"He… he dragged me to that wretched train," grunted Azula, shaking her head. "I had to use public transportation. He said it was the quickest way out of the city, and he was right! But it was…"
The Captain gulped, never having even imagined his Princess riding anything fit for peasants…
"Well, it was hardly anything compared to what came next, truth to be told," said Azula, sighing. "We went into the mountains, seeking the Rough Rhinos. We reached a town, where… where we were told what the Rhinos' location was. Due to something I will not explain to you, I left to face the Rhinos by myself."
"W-what? But that's…!"
"Reckless? Crazy? Call it as you will, it didn't end well for me anyways," muttered Azula, sighing. "I paid dearly for it."
"That's why there seemed to have been a struggle…?" asked the Captain. "We found evidence of a fight, and of someone falling down the mountainside…"
"Well, that would have been me. And Sokka. And the burning rhino," said Azula, matter-of-factly.
"Burning rhino? And you just said you'd gone face them alone, so how…?"
"The fight was troublesome, Mongke and Vachir were attacking me at once. Vachir even hurt me, he hit my hand with one of his arrows," muttered Azula, holding up her fist for the captain to see the small scar. "I managed to set fire to Ogodei's rhino, and the creature went berserk. I was standing by the slope when the rhino shook off his rider and came running towards me. Sokka had followed me, and he reached me just before the animal did. He pushed me out of the way… and that resulted in the two of us falling down the slope together. We woke up a few hours afterwards, our lives saved by sheer luck if anything. The burning rhino didn't share the same fate, though."
"He perished? Well, that should have been good for you both…" said the Captain, thoughtful.
"In the long run, it was… but it wasn't fun to survive in a forest eating nothing other than the remains of a komodo rhino," said Azula, grimacing. "Hence why the train wasn't such a dreadful situation, now I look back on it. We were stuck in that forest for days, trying to find a village or a road of some sort. We were following a river, so we had water and food, but we wore ourselves out every day as we walked, and Sokka kept guard nearly every night until he fainted out of exhaustion. On the day after I'd forced him to sleep to regain his strength, dawn broke with a storm. We took refuge in a cave, and we were supposed to wait until the storm passed… but then I sensed some warmth below us."
"Xin Long," said the Captain, surprised. "I never knew firebenders could feel a dragon's fire like that."
"Neither did I, but that's how I found Xin Long nonetheless," said Azula. "We went deep into the cave until we found him. He was scared of us at first, he had never seen a human before and we were foreigners invading his territory. So he attacked, but I deflected his fire and afterwards daunted him with my own, showing him he wasn't the only one who could control fire. Nonetheless, I didn't hurt him. I offered him my fire, and mostly out of curiosity he accepted it.
"From that moment onwards we were bonded, and with his help we left the cave. I'd seen through his memories that he could fly despite not having wings, so I ushered him to fly us out of the forest. And he did. We decided to chase down the Rhinos now that we had the opportunity to do so, and we found them in an eastern village. It wasn't such a complicated battle now, since the dragon helped scare off the komodo rhinos and Sokka took out most of the Rough Rhinos. I took care of Mongke and the villagers thanked us for what we'd done. Afterwards, I told Sokka to lead the Rough Rhinos through the mountains while I found you, and that's all you've missed ever since."
The Captain nodded, although he could tell Azula was lying. She had been stuck for five days in the forest with her gladiator, and nothing of importance had happened between them? She had also left unanswered the reason as to why she had run off on Sokka when they had discovered the Rough Rhino's whereabouts… there was much the Princess wasn't telling him. But he realized she believed he needn't to know about those things. Rather, she didn't want him to know. Whatever her relationship was with her gladiator… it was something far more complex than the Captain wished it were, and there was nothing he could do about it.
"And… how did things go in Garsai?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, Sokka won for the first time against an earthbender," said Azula, patting Xin Long's snout again. "His opponent was strong, but weakened by a past injury. Sokka made use of that advantage to defeat him."
"And it sure came in handy!" Sokka exclaimed, happening upon the deck as they spoke about him. "It was a rough fight anyways, but for once I won."
"I'm afraid you'll need a lot more training, though," said Azula, her attention drifting towards him now. "Not all the earthbenders you'll face will be struggling to fight against you and their old wounds at the same time."
"True," said Sokka, his cheerfulness decreasing a little at the thought, but he shook his head just a moment later. "Well, no point in worrying about that now! We should just rejoice because I won, that's what we should do!"
"Sure seems like you've rejoiced," said Azula, smiling a little. "Just how many meals did you have yesterday?"
"Uh, well…" said Sokka, counting with his fingers. "I think they were nine, if I'm not forgetting a couple of them…"
"Y-you… you're going to take out all our food reserves at this rate!" the Captain scolded Sokka, glaring at him.
"Hey, after surviving on komodo rhino for six days I need some proper food!" Sokka squealed. "And I'm sick of komodo rhino, so I won't be finishing up that reserve anytime soon. You guys can have that, you have nothing to fear from me eating any rhino."
"Ugh, don't even talk about it," groaned Azula, her throat tightening at the thought of eating another komodo rhino product. She would make sure not to have any of it in over a year.
She shook her head and sighed, deciding to focus on Xin Long again and forget about the komodo rhino meat. The dragon communicated a single thought to her, to which Azula nodded in approval, hopping up onto the saddle in a swift motion.
"And where might you be going?" asked Sokka, taken by surprise by her actions.
"Xin Long wants to fly over the coast again," replied the Princess. "He wanted me to come with him, so we'll be airborne for a while. I'll try to rehearse his landing, to see if we can descend on the ship without such a ruckus when we get back."
"Huh… good idea," said Sokka, grimacing at the thought of their last landing. "Maybe that way he won't fling me off his back the next time I fly along with you two."
"And what makes you so sure there will be a next time?" asked Azula, raising an eyebrow and staring down at him with curiosity.
Sokka blinked a few times, taken by surprise by that quick comeback.
"W-well, I… I just guessed there would be. Why wouldn't there be?" he asked, growing uneasy with the conversation.
"The answer to that question depends mostly on you, I believe…" said Azula, smirking a little before patting Xin Long's neck.
The dragon stood on his hindquarters, taking his rider and the nearby watchers by surprise. Xin Long jumped upwards, kicking his legs as he took up to the sky again. Azula smiled at his new take-off maneuver and she leaned on his slender body, in hopes to gain even more speed as they twirled in the air, enjoying the sensations that only flying could provide them with.
"Crazy woman, really," muttered Sokka, watching the dragon's figure shrink as Xin Long flew farther and farther away.
"The Princess just spoke to me of what happened while you were lost…" said the Captain, approaching Sokka eerily.
"Uh… yeah?" said Sokka, gulping at the menacing way the Royal Guard spoke.
"But I'm afraid she left out many details," muttered the man. "Particularly those regarding you. And I'm certain something must have changed between the two of you if she's talking to you and even smiling… last I knew she wouldn't have smiled at you; well, she wouldn't have smiled altogether."
"True, I suppose," said Sokka, scratching his head. "And you want me to tell you what happened…?"
The Captain stared at him for a moment before lowering his head in defeat.
"If she didn't believe I needed to know the details then the likelihood is that she's right," he admitted. "Nevertheless… I could gather from what she said that you saved her and protected her several times. She didn't speak much of your time in the woods, but I'm fairly certain you were more than helpful while you were both stranded. I rather doubt the Princess knew much about survival in such harsh environment."
"Well, I didn't know much about it either, truth to be told" said Sokka, smiling. "But we did what we could."
"And thanks to that you're both back with us, having brought the Rough Rhinos and a dragon along as well," said the Captain. "Therefore, since you did as I asked… I have to thank you, gladiator. Without you I could have lost my Princess forever."
"Your Princess…?" muttered Sokka, feeling slightly uncomfortable to hear the Captain speak of Azula in that manner. He gulped and smiled awkwardly, unsure of how to respond to his gratefulness. "You're welcome, though I didn't do it just because you asked me to… say, I think I told you to call me Sokka. And I asked you to tell me your name as well, so how about you give it to me now before I forget about it again?"
The Captain was surprised by the sudden change of subject. He lowered his head, as if trying to recall what his given name was. It had been such a long time since he had last been called by it…
"Rui Shi," he muttered, his arms folded. "That's my name."
Sokka blinked a couple of times, surprised to discover the man had a name after all.
"Well… R-Rui… Captain Rui…" muttered Sokka, trying to find a way to speak the man's name that felt comfortable or natural.
"You can still call me Captain," said the man, smiling a little.
"Yeah, I guess I've gotten way too used to that," said Sokka, chuckling.
"In any case… I hope whatever you did to her in that forest wasn't inappropriate in any way," grunted the soldier, stern again. "You should have been taught to respect women, be it by your Tribe or by Master Piandao…"
"I-I didn't do anything…!" Sokka started, yet he recalled he had kissed her, and held her hand in the cave, and she had fallen asleep on his bare shoulder… had that been inappropriate? He didn't think those had been sins of the worst kind, but he was certain the Captain wouldn't share his opinion.
"Oh, really?" grunted the Captain, sensing the lie.
"Well, I didn't do anything that would have damaged her for a lifetime, that much I can assure you of!" squealed Sokka. "Besides, do you really think Azula is reckless enough to get tangled with me in… potentially inappropriate situations?"
"I believe the Princess's judgment when it comes to you is, well, far more clouded than it usually is," muttered the Captain, frowning. "And given she's making fun of you again… last time I saw her she was deeply angry and disappointed towards you. Now she seems to have left all of it behind, and she's… she's back to who she used to be, from what it seems."
Sokka walked to the edge of the ship, staring at the still visible figure of the dark dragon. He smiled at the sight, still able to discern Azula's shape leaning on Xin Long.
"Yeah, you could say she's back," said Sokka. "You saw it too, didn't you? That spark we talked about before… it's there again."
The Captain froze at that realization. It was true, the spark had returned. Azula had been quite rough on him, yet she hadn't been as cold as she had been ever since her fallout with her gladiator. Something had changed, and now the Captain knew what it was. The spark…
"And you know what I think?" said Sokka. "I think I didn't bring it back. I don't believe I was the one who made her happy this time around."
"You think it was the dragon."
"I'm certain it was Xin Long, rather," said Sokka, chuckling. "You should have seen her when she found him. And when she protected both of us against the dragon's fire… she was amazing. And once they bonded, when the dragon roared with her fire, she was laughing… and it was the most genuine laughter I'd seen in my life. That's when the spark returned, I'm sure. Because she had found someone she could truly rely on. She thought she could count on me, but I let her down. Yet now she has the dragon, and she can count on him just as he counts on her. And thus… I believe that's why the spark returned."
"Is that so…?" asked the Captain, amazed by Sokka's insight. "Then it's not because of you this time? Are you certain of it?"
"Does it even matter?" asked Sokka, chuckling. "I don't really care about who was the one to make her happy. Chances are she'll spend every waking moment with Xin Long, and she'll throw me aside because she still hasn't forgiven me for what I did…"
"She hasn't forgiven you?"
"She said she hadn't," said Sokka. "But I don't need her to forgive me… I don't think it's important if she accepts my regrets as genuine, as long as she finds a way to be happy. She gets to choose if I'm in the picture or not, and whatever she decides I will accept, so long as the outcome guarantees she'll be happy. And I'll stick around to make sure of that."
The Captain stared at the back of Sokka's neck, stunned by his last confessions. He had just claimed the Princess hadn't forgiven him… but the Captain was quite certain Sokka was wrong to believe that. Chances were Azula had told him she could never forgive him for whatever it was he'd done, but her actions spoke much louder than her words ever could. Perhaps Sokka hadn't been the one to give her the spark back, but the Captain was sure Sokka had helped intensify its glow. The Captain could see it clearly enough, even if the gladiator couldn't… she had forgiven Sokka. She trusted him again.
The trip back to the Fire Nation was uneventful… except for when Sokka's ravenous appetite had forced them to stop by Fire Fountain City to replenish their empty food stock. Azula had attempted to coerce information out of the Rough Rhinos, just as she had been asked to, yet Mongke kept his mouth tightly shut. Normally she would have asked him questions and used his body language to find the right answer, but unless she knew the exact questions she had to inquire about, there was no chance he would yield the information she required. Nevertheless, she didn't fret. Her mission had only been to capture the Rough Rhinos. Her father could take over on the regards of questioning the men; she had already completed her share of the work.
Xin Long seemed rather curious about the Fire Nation, the tropical climate and vegetation were drastically different from what he was accustomed to, yet all of it felt natural to him, familiar, and it wasn't because he shared Azula's memories that it felt this way. It was as if he were coming home just as much as she was.
Azula couldn't hold back the delight she felt when she saw the Capital's port up ahead. She could see it was lined with people who had heard she would be arriving today. The rumors about her dragon had spread faster than any plague, and many people wished to see the creature with their very eyes. It was hard to believe the Princess had actually tamed a dragon considering there were supposed to be none left…
"Seems like you have a pretty big welcoming committee, don't you?" said Sokka, approaching her on the deck as the ship reached port. The ship's sailors ran back and forth passing right by them, shouting orders as they strived to secure the Royal Barge to the dock.
"It would seem half the city wants to see Xin Long," said Azula, proudly. "The rumors from Garsai must have arrived long before we did."
"It would seem like it" said Sokka, gazing at the Fire Nation people waiting for them down below.
"It shouldn't be so hard for us to make our way through the crowd with the help of the Royal Guards," said Azula. "They'll have to open up more room than the usual for Xin Long's sake, and that should work well for you if you walk right behind us…"
"Uh… walk behind you?" Sokka asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, you really don't expect me to arrive to my father with you on the saddle…" said Azula, grimacing. "Most riders didn't even allow their dragons to be ridden by anyone but themselves, and I'm quite certain my father would…"
"That's not what I meant, though," Sokka interrupted her, smiling a little. "I just… didn't think I'd be part of this whole procession now that we're back in the Capital."
"Why not?" asked Azula, surprised. "You saved my life, helped me find Xin Long and capture the Rough Rhinos…"
"I'm not really one for big Fire Nation celebrations," said Sokka, sighing. "I really don't feel like being thanked publicly by your father for saving you or anything… and I doubt he'd want to thank me in the first place. I'm just a petty slave after all. It's your day to shine, Azula, not mine."
"But…" Azula stared at him in disbelief. How about if she said she wished to share her great success with him…? She did, truth to be told. Not once did she think he wouldn't tag along on their return home…
"I really don't belong in this big parade, Azula. But I don't need to belong," said Sokka, smiling reassuringly. "You've already given me more recognition than I ever expected to be worthy of, I don't need to be welcomed as a war hero in a nation I'm not even a part of."
"I guess you don't… I understand it would make you uneasy," muttered Azula, lowering her gaze. She could acknowledge his reasons. They didn't change the way she felt, yet she could respect his decision. "What will you do, then? You'll go home?"
"Home…?" Sokka muttered, surprised at the word she had used. He had never quite thought of the house he shared with Song as home… but it had become that, hadn't it? It wasn't the same home that awaited him down at the Water Tribe, true enough, but it was his home now. He smiled at Azula and nodded. "Yeah. We're both coming home today."
Azula sighed softly and nodded at him as well, unable to mask her disappointment.
"Well, then, good luck making it past the masses," said Azula, as Sokka swung his pack over his shoulder.
"Thanks. I'll see you around, Azula," he told her, smiling gently at her before climbing down the ramp that would lead him to the dock.
Azula watched him until he disappeared within the crowd. She sighed again, wishing she wouldn't feel so disappointed to see him leave. Yet other matters pulled her attention away from Sokka. She heard the sound of heavy footsteps and the rattling of chains, and she turned to see the Royal Guards had brought the Rough Rhinos to the deck, their every limb cuffed and their feet chained to one another, forcing them to walk in a line.
"The Rhinos are ready, Princess," said the Captain, bowing his head towards her. "Ten guards will keep them secure while the others make way through the crowd."
"Good," said Azula, nodding. "Are we ready, then?"
"We are," declared the man.
"Then let's get this over with," said Azula, walking towards Xin Long with strong strides.
She reassured the creature with soft words, letting him know she would keep him safe. He would be free to fly up into the skies again as soon as this ceremonial nonsense was over. Xin Long still seemed uneasy, wondering what the point of walking through the crowd was when they could fly over them… but he complied, thinking that, if it was important for Azula, it was important for him as well.
Azula hopped on the saddle and followed the Royal Guards that climbed down the ramp first. As soon as the dark dragon was visible, the entire crowd shook with a gasp. The tales of the Princess's dragon were confirmed on the spot… the Capital's citizens were so impressed by the sight of the dragon and his rider that they didn't notice that, treading a few steps behind them, walked five criminals who had betrayed their nation, chained and defeated.
The Royal Guards opened way through the crowd, allowing Azula to pass by the people with her head held as high as ever. Xin Long seemed slightly intimidated to be around so many humans, but Azula told him to show pride and strength, to lift his head and show just how powerful he was even if he didn't feel too strong at the moment. Xin Long tried to obey, but he actually didn't feel like anything had improved after lifting his head and staring down at the humans.
They climbed the steep roads that led into the Fire Nation Capital, and the crowd was becoming far more cheerful now. Some of the people would squeal and hoot, congratulating Azula for having found and tamed the last dragon. Azula answered to no words she heard, no matter if she shared their enthusiasm or not. She was a Princess, and she wasn't supposed to lose her composure over her shared excitement with the crowd.
Entering the city was a difficult feat since countless onlookers wanted to glimpse the Royal Procession. Azula couldn't help but wonder if Sokka had arrived safely to his destination. He should have walked with them and changed course when he came close to his house, it would have been a wiser move. She sighed and shook her head, unwilling to allow her thoughts of him to deter her right now. A long avenue spread in front of her, and it would lead her straight to her Palace…
She couldn't hold back a smile as they came closer to it, appreciating the building more than she ever had. She had always cherished her home, but after spending such a long time away from the place where she belonged, it was the greatest bliss to come back to it at last.
Soldiers stood by the gates, watching in utter disbelief as their Princess made it through the doors on the back of a magnificent beast. Azula's gaze was fixed upon what lay ahead, ignoring the servants and people of noble birth who had been waiting to watch her return from inside the Palace.
"Did your niece suddenly turn into a weird, four-legged creature or are my feet messing with me?" said Toph, frowning as she tried to interpret the signals the ground was sending her.
Beside her, Iroh stared at Azula in mild distrust, his bushy eyebrows drawn into a frown.
"She's… she's riding a dragon? A dragon?!" asked Zuko in utter disbelief, at Iroh's other side.
"Oh, well, now it makes sense…" said Toph, chuckling.
"How could she find a dragon?! I spent ten years looking for the Avatar through the entire world, not only the Earth Kingdom, and I never saw a dragon! This is ridiculous! What are the odds for her to find a dragon when I couldn't find anything useful at all?"
"Well, given it's the Royal Jewel we're talking about, I figure the odds are way higher than yours," said Toph, teasingly. Little did it matter to her if Azula came into the city riding a dragon or a wooly pig, so long as it provided her with the chance to make fun of the Fire Nation Prince.
"Besides, the dragons were gone," said Zuko, frowning. "You said you'd killed the last one… didn't you, Uncle? Didn't you?"
Iroh's frown only grew deeper at his nephew's question.
"Indeed, I said so…" he muttered, just as Azula passed in front of them without so much as a nod to acknowledge their presences. "I can only hope your sister's intentions with the dragons do not resemble the ones of the man she was named after…"
Zuko frowned, confused at his uncle's words. Didn't Fire Lord Sozin start the hunt of dragons? Had he mixed them up? He frowned as he tried to remember the stories he had been told as a child, confused now by what his uncle was saying…
Azula could have paid attention to her relatives and the earthbending gladiator, but her eyes were set on the man who stood at the end of the long avenue, on the very steps that led into the Fire Nation Royal Palace. And to her delight, he was smiling.
The Princess mirrored her father's grin when Xin Long halted in front of Fire Lord Ozai. The most important man of the Fire Nation wore magnificent robes of gold and crimson, his hair was perfectly combed and his hairpiece stood in place, light glistening against the golden accessory.
"I'm back, Father" said Azula, proudly.
Ozai couldn't help but chuckle softly, gazing at her entire procession with admiration.
"I can see that, my daughter. You truly know just how to make an entrance," he declared, to her amusement.
"I will admit the dragon wasn't part of the original plans," she stated. "Yet the Rough Rhinos have been caught and chained, just as you commanded."
Ozai glanced at the men who stood behind the black dragon. He didn't miss the way Mongke glared ferociously at him… and said glare only served as fuel to his proud smirk.
"I always knew you would be up to the expectations, Princess Azula," said Ozai, turning his attention towards his daughter again. "But at this point, you have outrun all expectations I could have ever held for you. At such young age your accomplishments are already legendary, no less!"
Azula couldn't help but lower her head slightly, smiling broadly. She was a legend now? She sure didn't expect her father to deem her as one…
"I am most honored to call you my daughter," he said, bowing his head before Azula.
Azula watched him in awe, as the rest of the people nearby bowed down to her as well. She had always been the one to bow to her father, not the other way around. Xin Long also seemed quite surprised, recognizing the gesture as a submissive one. They were being regarded as heroes…
"And I would be quite honored to know what name to call your new steed," said Ozai, lifting his head and regarding the dragon with interest.
"His name is Xin Long, Father," said Azula, patting the dragon on the neck.
"New dragon… he is new indeed," said Ozai, nodding. "Does he fly despite not having wings?"
"It's his favorite thing to do, actually," said Azula, smiling.
"Good, then. He would be a member of a new species, I'm sure. Perhaps even an ancient one that had been lost until now."
"I wouldn't know, nor would Xin Long. He doesn't recall anything but the dark cave I found him in. He has never met another of his kind."
"I see. Is the fabled bond between dragon and rider as the ancient writings say?"
"I'd say it's even better," stated Azula, proudly.
Ozai beamed at his daughter, beyond pleased by her accomplishments.
"So, a cave, you said...?" he muttered, gazing up at the Princess. "There's much we need to talk about. I believe I would enjoy most thoroughly hearing everything about your tale."
Azula rather doubted that would be the case: she had already determined to keep a few of her journey's happenings in utmost secrecy. Nevertheless, she complied with her father's wishes and she dismounted Xin Long, readying herself to enter the Royal Palace with the Fire Lord.
"I would advise you not to bring the dragon into the Palace," said Ozai. "I fear my chambers aren't large enough to accommodate him."
"Of course," said Azula, smiling and nodding.
Ozai stood on the Palace's threshold, watching his daughter turn towards her dragon to communicate him what was next. Xin Long asked her why wouldn't she fly away with him, to see more of what this interesting warm land had to offer, but Azula explained she had to uphold her duty to her father. Xin Long seemed slightly discouraged, but more than happy when Azula told him he was welcome to take off into the sky again if he wished to do so. The bond between them would allow her to call Xin Long once her meeting with her father had ended, and if it was still daytime by then, perhaps they could fly together again for a short while.
And so, amongst gasps from the crowd, the dragon took off, as blissful as ever to take flight into open spaces. There was no doubt that he wouldn't have been comfortable in the Palace's dark, narrow halls, since it would have reminded him too much of the restraining darkness he had known for his entire life. He was curious about larger spaces, and even staying in Zhen's barn at the village had been irritating for him. His love for the open skies amazed Azula, and she knew how unhappy he would have been if he had been dragged indoors against his will.
"We'll need a place for him to stay, father," said Azula, approaching Ozai. "As much as he would rather spend his entire life flying, he needs some form of shelter to spend the night in."
"Indeed," said Ozai, nodding. "The dragon refuges were torn down a long time ago, but I'm certain we'll find a way to build one for yours here, in the Palace."
"That's exactly what I had in mind. Thank you, Father," said Azula, bowing her head towards him as they began walking through the Palace halls side by side.
"It's a true wonder that you have found this creature," he said. "I always believed my father's quarrel with the dragons was much alike the temper tantrums he would scold me for as a child. I'm most relieved to discover his wrongdoings against the species weren't as irreparable as they seemed."
"You were the one who taught me just how wrong Fire Lord Azulon's rage against the dragons was," said Azula, nodding. "Although now I've come to understand more about why dragons shouldn't have been massacred, aside from the reasons you had already exposed to me."
"Is that so?" asked Ozai, raising an eyebrow.
"The bond between a rider and a dragon… there's nothing like it, father," said Azula, smiling. "They're such clever creatures, proud and strong, just like the Fire Nation people. It's true that they could have aided us in battle, and with their help we could have brought down the Earth Kingdom quicker, and then used Sozin's Comet to attack the Poles, but their functionality isn't the only thing that makes them valuable allies."
"You seem to have grown quite attached to the creature…" said Ozai, his semblance darkening at the thought.
"Dragons are so much more than just creatures, father," replied Azula. "To think they were butchered as they were…"
"My father was never known for his wisdom. He was efficient in several of his military tactics, ruthless and skilled on his maneuvers against the Earth Kingdom and the Poles alike, yet the entirety of his knowledge regarded warfare, and nothing more. His thoughtlessness on so many other matters… you might say it was what brought his demise."
Azula frowned at those words, astounded to hear her father admit to knowing something about Azulon's mysterious death. She had never had the courage to ask, but she had always suspected he knew the truth. Had he murdered his own father… or had he made someone else do it for him? The latter seemed the only reasonable option, killing the previous Fire Lord was an offense that could have cost him his life if the truth had been discovered.
Or perhaps he had no part in it? But Azula rather doubted it. She could have believed her father to be innocent in other circumstances, but her brother was supposed to be killed on the very same day that her mother had vanished and her grandfather had died. Deep down she had always suspected her father knew the details regarding Azulon's passing… but she had never dared say a word about it. Questioning him about his potential involvement with Azulon's death would be seen as a form of betrayal by her father. All she could do was gather the clues until she finally unveiled the truth of what had happened that night…
"I'm most proud you have found he failed on his attempts to destroy the dragon population," said Ozai. "Is there a chance there might be more, or are you positive yours is the last one?"
"I'm not certain," said Azula. "It's possible Xin Long is the last, but it's also possible for a certain breed of dragons to exist within Earth Kingdom caverns. I happened upon Xin Long when I entered a cave by chance… who is to say that there are no other dragons hiding in mountains north to the Earth Kingdom?"
"I'm more than pleased now to have held back from destroying the Earth Kingdom as many of my war advisors hoped I would," said Ozai. "With dragons by our side again, we truly shall be unstoppable."
"Father… dragons shouldn't only be seen as an aid to tip the scales to our favor in the war," sighed Azula, looking down to the floor.
"Oh, of course not," said Ozai, not giving the matter much importance. He didn't seem too comfortable by whatever sensitivity his daughter seemed to have developed towards dragons, but so long as it didn't present a problem for him, he wouldn't scold her for it. She had just returned home after months on the road, after all…
Azula gazed about the hall they had just turned into, the one that would lead them down towards the Fire Lord's chambers. The frown on her face grew more accentuated as she caught sight of the decoration, which had been in place ever since the times of Fire Lord Hizuo. Heads of the most magnificent dragons lined the walls, their dead eyes staring into hers in ways they never had before. She had walked by this hall since her childhood… but she had never felt as uncomfortable, as hurt by the sight of what remained of the dragons of old, as she did now. On top of the door that led to the Fire Lord's rooms stood the head of Huoyan Long, Hizuo's very own partner, the dragon he had slain to honor his son.
"Father," she said, feeling sick to her stomach at the sight. She stopped right before they entered the room, glancing at the heads on the walls "If we're starting a new age, a new alliance with dragons… don't you believe we ought to take down these tasteless decorations?"
Ozai, as accustomed as he was to the dragon heads on the walls, was taken by surprise by her question. He knew her reasons were likely based in the strange attachment she was developing towards dragons… but he liked taking down anything that could remind his people of his father's rule. He'd had Azulon's statue in Fire Fountain City replaced by his own, and he would have done the same for the Great Gates of Azulon if only his council would agree to do such a thing. Any opportunities to tear down mementos of his father, he would take without question.
"It seems an appropriate course of action, my daughter," he said, smiling at Azula. She seemed relieved by his response, even though she already suspected the reasoning behind his decision. She was no stranger to her father's enmity towards her grandfather. "I shall order the servants to take them down at once. The Fire Nation is the enemy of dragons no more. Our Fire Nation, my daughter, will follow on the footsteps of Fire Lord Sozin, as it always should have been."
Azula nodded and followed him into his chambers. She took her seat before the living room's small table. Ozai entered his personal room and changed into a more comfortable outfit before sitting across his daughter, his eyes blazing as he stared at her expectantly.
"Well, then, Azula… what happened during your voyage?"
Song had finished watering a plant she had recently acquired when she heard a knock on the door. She was quite startled by it; she had received no visitors while Sokka had been away.
She was already approaching the door when it swung open. Song's eyes widened when she saw who stood at the other side, a half-grin on his gaunt, tan face.
"I'm home," he said, smiling, before she threw her arms around him with a hug.
"You're back!" she squealed joyfully, not having realized just how much she missed having company until she saw him again. "You're alive, and whole, and back!"
"You'll say that again after you hear the whole story," said Sokka, chuckling as Song pulled away from him, a cheerful smile on her face. "How did you fare? Were you alright, Song?"
"Oh, I handled myself well enough, yes," said the girl, her smiling unwavering as she took Sokka's luggage from him. "I'm running out of money now, but I'm still handling myself somehow. But how about you? How was the trip, Sokka? You're the one who must have been through so many exciting things…! Go to the kitchen, I'll make something for you quickly while you tell me everything!"
"Oh, boy…" said Sokka, chuckling as he walked to the kitchen, dropping on one of its stools.
Song ran upstairs and dropped his luggage on his room before racing down to the kitchen again. She grinned happily at Sokka as she got ready to make him a meal.
"So, tell me everything!" she said happily, bringing out her cooking items.
Sokka laughed again, not having expected a reception of this manner from Song. He complied with her wishes, being far more explicit about his tale than Azula ever would be. Song was quite astounded to hear about his losses in the arena, she gaped at him with horrified eyes when he told her all the details about the trip on Ba Sing Se's train, and she actually gasped when he confessed to having kissed Azula to prove he cared for her. She kept silent for most the time, but she had an array of questions she wanted to ask Sokka as the story unfolded.
By the time he was finished answering every single one of her questions, and when he was done eating as well, Song was slightly confused regarding how she should feel about his tale.
"I'm happy that you worked things out… I really am," she said. "But after all that… wouldn't you expect the two of you to reach an even better conclusion?"
"What, a happily ever after?" asked Sokka, raising an eyebrow. "Nah, that's… that's out of the question, Song."
"But… after all that time, even if she says she hasn't forgiven you, I'm sure somewhere deep down her feelings towards you are still what they were…"
"They might be," said Sokka, gritting his teeth. He felt somewhat lightheaded to hear Song say those words.
"And I'm sure yours are still… well… aren't they?" asked Song, raising an eyebrow.
"Without a doubt," admitted Sokka, smiling weakly. "But this is beyond us, Song. I knew from the start that this couldn't work out… and not because of us. It's not a matter of being incompatible or something… heck, maybe we're too compatible, even. But it's because of what it would mean for the rest of the world, what it could bring down on both of us if our potential relationship were revealed."
"But… why would it matter what they have to say?" muttered Song, looking at Sokka sideways.
"It wouldn't, if she weren't the Fire Lord's daughter," said Sokka, sighing. "It's really not as simple as it might seem, Song. It's better this way, really. For both of us."
"If it is… why do I know she must feel as miserable about it as you do?" said Song, raising an eyebrow.
Sokka stared at Song in surprise. The look on her face made him laugh under his breath and shake his head.
"We'll get over it. This mess is about to end at last, and when it does we'll both be happy about it, no question," he said, even though he didn't believe his own words.
Song didn't seem to believe them either, but she shrugged and walked away to wash the dishes.
"And… when will you see her again? When you're up for another fight?" she asked, looking at Sokka with curiosity.
The question took Sokka by surprise. That would be too much time without being around Azula. True, he wanted to get over her for real and she wanted to do the same about him, but that didn't mean they couldn't spend time together. And he had come up with an excuse to be around the other just before this entire disaster had blown up on their faces…
A smile appeared on Sokka's face as he made up his mind to visit the Palace on the very next day.
After the best breakfast she had ever eaten, even when it was the same cooking she'd had for most her life, Azula went to the Royal Palace's gardens, where Xin Long awaited her. She smiled at the sight of her dark dragon and approached him, caressing his snout gently when she reached him. She had conveyed to him that he was not to enter the Palace: he was so large that he was bound to get stuck in some of the halls, and he was prone to scare off the servants as well. Xin Long didn't mind her condition at all; so long as Azula would spend time with him once in a while he would be content.
"My father said he would be building a dragon refuge for you soon," said Azula. "It ought to be in here, in the Palace someplace. There used to be refuges all over the Capital, but they were taken down when… well, you know when."
Xin Long nuzzled her shoulder happily at the thought of having a place to come home to, especially since it would be near Azula. He was about to tell her all about his chase of a group of lion vultures a couple of hours earlier, but he noticed there was someone watching them. He grew uneasy and glared in the direction of the scarred man, not knowing if to trust him or not. Azula's opinion about her brother was so mixed up that Xin Long truly didn't know how to judge him.
Azula turned towards Zuko, who jumped with a start when she gazed at him. Their eyes locked for a moment as Azula tried to understand what he was doing, as Zuko tried to find a way to excuse himself for watching them…
"So… you still haven't done anything to fix that weird haircut, Zuzu?" Azula asked, raising an eyebrow and smirking slightly. "Here I was expecting you to look more presentable after I was away for months."
Zuko fumed and shook his head, not surprised at all by Azula's mockery of him. Of course she would think she was entitled to make fun of him: she had their father's trust, she had found the last dragon, the entirety of the Fire Nation worshipped her as if she were a deity…
"How did you…? Where did you…? Why did you bond with it?" he grunted, not knowing which question to ask first.
"Why?" said Azula, raising an eyebrow. "Why shouldn't I have?"
"The previous Fire Lords would give titles to people who killed dragons…" retorted Zuko.
"Well, take a good look at Uncle and tell me just how much good a title has done to him," said Azula, skeptical. "There's no profit in killing dragons, Zuko. The dragon massacre was only ever a manner of stroking Azulon's ego."
"Huh…" said Zuko, uneasy.
Azula gazed at him in confusion until she read through the signs he was sending. She looked at Xin Long and back at Zuko, wondering just what to do… she could sense his jealousy, how he wished he had been the one to return to the Fire Nation on the back of a dragon. He wanted to meet the dragon firsthand, though, even if it wasn't his… Azula's mind flashed to her childhood, back when she would want to play with Zuko's toys and he would refuse to let her borrow them. She frowned at the thought and shook her head. A dragon was no child's toy. Zuko would truly be a fool if he didn't want to meet the dragon directly. There was nothing he could do to take Xin Long for himself if he wanted him, and if he dared hurt him Azula would deliver him the same damage tenfold, so… what risk was there, truly?
"You can come touch him if you really want to," said Azula, raising her eyebrows. "It's why you came here, isn't it?"
"W-what? I… I never said I'd…" grunted Zuko, his fists clenched. His curiosity had ushered him to approach the dragon while Azula wasn't around, truth to be told… but his timing had been really bad. Of course he wanted to touch it, to ride it, to know what it might feel like to be a dragon rider… but that was Azula's dragon. If anything, it was bound to treat him just as Azula usually did. He wasn't taking any chances with the creature, or with his sister. "Forget it!"
With that, he stormed off down the Palace halls. Azula sighed and shook her head, accustomed at her brother's dramatic demeanor. She turned towards Xin Long again, and he asked her just what had happened with the scarred boy's face. Azula raised an eyebrow at the question, but flashed Xin Long an image of the Agni Kai her father had fought against Zuko. Xin Long was still asking her about her other memories of Zuko when Azula heard a set of footsteps approaching them through the palace halls.
"Well, I'm amazed you had second thoughts about this, Zuk-…" she said, turning around midsentence to discover her assumption had been dead wrong "… S-Sokka?!"
The gladiator raised an eyebrow on her direction, surprised by her surprise.
"Expecting someone else, from what I can see…" he said, chuckling. "Why would I have been Zuko?"
"He was here just a moment ago… being the fool he always is, of course," said Azula, trying to mask her unexpected flare of nervousness.
"Well, that's really unfair, mistaking me to be him just because we're both fools," said Sokka "I'm a very different one, mind you!"
"Of course you are…" said Azula, smiling and shaking her head. "A dumber fool, perhaps. I'd say Zuko has more common sense than you, and that's saying a lot."
"Hey! I meant he's the worse fool, not the other way around!" he squealed, as Azula chuckled and climbed onto Xin Long's saddle. "Well, are you really this desperate to get away from me, Princess?"
"I should be, but were not flying anywhere right now," she said, staring at the saddle carefully. "I'll need a better saddle than this one. It's just… not right. It's getting torn by the scales."
"Well, ostrich-horses and dragons aren't exactly alike, are they?" asked Sokka, smiling. "It's a wonder an ostrich-horse saddle worked until now."
"Indeed, it's a wonder, but I doubt it'll last much longer. We need an actual dragon saddle," said Azula, frowning as she studied the leather even more carefully.
"And you will need one befitting your status, Princess Azula."
The unexpected intrusion into the conversation took Sokka by surprise. Azula felt as if her blood were slowing down in her veins as she lifted her head towards the hall to find just who the new arrival was…
Sokka turned to where he had heard the voice as well, and his eyes widened as he took in the sight.
He wasn't even three meters away from him. In all his opulence and magnificence, with that golden hairpiece in a high knot, very much like his daughter's own… the Fire Lord was standing at arm's length from Sokka, staring at Azula and her mount as if he weren't even aware of the gladiator's presence.
Time stood still for both Azula and Sokka in that moment. Azula knew well enough about the prejudices Sokka held against her father, she knew he blamed him for all that was wrong in this world… she knew he wanted him dead. And she could see that Sokka had come armed, as if he had been expecting a fight today. He could kill Fire Lord Ozai if he just wanted to…
Azula's readings of Sokka's mind were terribly accurate. This was even more surreal than flying on the back of a dragon, than watching Azula bend fire with the prowess of the greatest masters… Fire Lord Ozai was right next to him. And he could kill him. He could end this war in one gesture… or could he? What difference would it make to damage Ozai? It surely wouldn't put an end to the war, and he knew well enough what the consequences would be. No matter how strong Azula's feelings for him might be, she wouldn't even blink at sending him to his death if he ever tried to pluck a hair out of the man's perfectly orderly beard. Not that he'd want to pluck a hair out of it, of course…
What was the point, really? The Fire Nation was violent, unjust and cruel… all that was true. But was he supposed to turn into the same thing the Fire Nation was and finish everything off through violence? Was this war going to end through blood-spilling, just as it had begun? Because… because he'd rather believe there was another way. Perhaps he was just scared of the man, perhaps he was intimidated by his presence and he knew that Azula and Xin Long would cook him alive if he so much as attempted to lift a hand in Ozai's direction… but as soon as the urge to kill him came to his mind, another urge had come forth to subdue it. He couldn't do it. He shouldn't do it.
He had sworn he'd never kill another man.
"I have already sent word to the Royal Workshop. They're already attempting to develop a proper saddle for your use," said Ozai. "I have also sent orders to our leaders in the Fire Nation Colonies to make amends for the damages in the villages, just as you requested."
"I… I appreciate that very much, Father," said Azula, still uneasy about the strange situation unfolding right now. Xin Long sensed her nervousness, and he could also see the strange look on Sokka's face, but he couldn't make heads or tails out of it. Azula's mind was such a blur at the moment that the dragon had no idea how to interpret her thoughts. "And the Rough Rhinos…?"
"Still being questioned. Mongke and his fellow men seem to have been taught by some of our best soldiers how to keep their secrets to themselves," said Ozai. "But it's not a matter of importance. We'll discover the truth about who was supporting them soon enough."
The Fire Lord couldn't ignore Sokka's gaze forever, it made him quite uncomfortable to be glared at in such manner. He turned slowly towards him, startling Sokka, whose heart pounded powerfully in his chest.
"Why… am I right to guess this is the fabled gladiator I've heard so much about?" asked Ozai, raising an eyebrow.
"Ah… yes, he is, Father…" said Azula, her grip on her saddle shaky now that the unavoidable confrontation was happening.
Ozai looked at Azula as she replied, but his gaze darted back towards Sokka when she was done speaking.
"You're not what I expected to find as my daughter's gladiator…" said the Fire Lord, his eyebrow rising higher yet.
"Well…" said Sokka, with an uneasy smile. "I'd say that, if you've heard so much about me, you should know there's more to me than just the first impression."
Azula's jaw dropped at Sokka's reply to her father. Was he kidding her?!
"Why, I sure hope so. Else I wouldn't believe my daughter's tales to be as accurate as I've taken them for," said Ozai, still humiliating Sokka through his gaze and words.
"Well… I suppose it's not every day your daughter talks to you about her slaves, is it?" asked Sokka, raising an eyebrow and mimicking Ozai. "I think that alone speaks loudly enough in my favor."
Ozai couldn't help but regard Sokka with a smirk. The smile frightened Sokka, not because of the displeasure in being smiled at by the Fire Lord, but because of how similar the grin was to Azula's. The Fire Lord's smile felt crueler than his daughter's, though.
"Indeed, you're right on that analysis. You are more than you seem to be, gladiator," said Ozai. "No slave has ever dared speak of me in this disrespectful manner before."
"Oh, don't take it personally," said Sokka, shrugging. "I'm just a snow savage, as your daughter often reminds me. I don't know how to treat your Royal Highness properly, and I doubt I'll ever learn how to do so."
"You wouldn't seem to be such a savage if you're willing to call yourself one," said Ozai, eyeing Sokka carefully. "Well, it is of no importance to me whether you know how to behave or not. So long as you know your place when it comes to my daughter, I shall have no problems with you."
"Huh…" said Sokka, surprised. He would have expected Ozai to tear him to shreds just for his rebellious refusal to regard him properly…
"Very well, then. Expect your new saddle soon, Princess Azula," said Ozai. "In the meantime you will have to put up with that old rag."
"Thank you, Father," she replied, lowering her head towards him.
"Take this as your reward for all your hard work," said the Fire Lord. "Along with the dragon refuge, of course. Plans are already being made to build it by the Palace's South Wing."
"I'm most grateful for your gifts, Father," said Azula.
"And I'm grateful for your deeds. You have honored the Fire Nation greatly, my daughter," said Ozai, smiling at Azula before turning around to leave. "We shall meet again later, Azula."
"Of course, Father" said Azula, as Ozai walked away without another word.
Sokka watched him until he vanished from sight, and even then his entire body was still tense. Azula climbed off Xin Long's back, eyeing Sokka in utter disbelief.
"W-what was… what was that?!" she asked, aghast.
"You're asking me?!" Sokka squealed, turning towards her. "I have no idea!"
"B-but… you hate my father… you hate him," said Azula, staring at him up and down as if he had morphed into someone else without her awareness. "Don't you? Don't you?!"
"I… well, of course," he said, between gritted teeth. "But do tell me, if you kill the king of scorpion bees while in his lair, what do you think is going to happen to you?"
"So… you're saying you didn't kill him only because I would have killed you afterwards?" asked Azula, mildly disappointed.
She had truly hoped Sokka might have changed his views at least a little… well, to be fair, he had changed them a lot if he hadn't tried to murder her father on sight. If he didn't want to die after doing something he would have considered honorable… did it mean he didn't consider killing Ozai honorable anymore, or did it mean Sokka had something else to live for now? She was certain he would have taken the chance to slit Fire Lord Ozai's throat when he first arrived to the Fire Nation…
"You're going to question my motives now, woman? Shouldn't you just be happy that I didn't do anything?" Sokka asked, pouting. "He took me by surprise. Never saw that one coming…"
"You… you said so many stupid things to him," said Azula, dropping her forehead in one hand and shaking her head in disbelief.
"I was just being me, okay?" he said, folding his arms over his chest.
Azula couldn't help but laugh at his claim.
"Which only reinforces my belief that you're quite stupid, of course," she said, smiling at him.
Sokka blushed faintly, and his pout grew accentuated by her response.
"I'm glad you did nothing you'd regret, though," said Azula. "I didn't expect for that encounter to end with either of you alive."
"Neither did I. Your father was surprisingly cooperative," said Sokka. "And I had no idea you'd talked to him about me…"
"Ah, d-don't misunderstand," she grunted, at his inquisitive stare. "He knew I had a gladiator, and he was most eager to know how I'd happened upon Xin Long. I had to tell him the story, and there was no way to tell it without featuring you in it."
"Well, I do hope you kept a few details to yourself," Sokka smiled. Azula's cheeks were the ones to turn redder now.
"You… what are you doing here?" she asked, growing exasperated. "Did you grow that used to being around me during our travels?"
"That… might be true," said Sokka, shrugging. "It was a strange change of pace to be at home again, with nothing to do."
"Huh… so your life is boring when I'm not in it," said Azula, smirking proudly. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Yeah, well… but it's not like I came here just to pester you," said Sokka.
"Why, and here I was certain that was your sole intention!" said Azula. "If it wasn't, though, you're doing a great job at it…"
"You're not kidding anyone with that, Princess," said Sokka, pouting again. "If I were bothering you so much, you wouldn't be smiling!"
The grin Azula had no idea was still on her face froze and disappeared instantly.
"And now it's gone…" said Sokka, gulping.
"Well, then, if that's not what you came for…" she asked, trying to focus on that edge of the conversation instead. "Why are you here, Sokka?"
Sokka smiled and placed his hands on his hips cockily.
"You must have forgotten by now, after all that happened… but I seem to recall proposing to teach you how to handle yourself with a sword."
Azula's eyes widened as she gazed at Sokka in disbelief. Indeed, he had suggested teaching her to use swords about a lifetime ago, or so it felt for Azula. Could he be serious when he proposed to teach her now…?
"Didn't you say I was deadly enough on my own… and that now with a dragon I've become even worse?" she muttered, confused. "Even with that, you want to teach me to swordfight?"
"Aye, that's right. So take it or leave it before I come to my senses. What will it be?" said Sokka, his smile growing more confident by the minute.
Azula had made her decision even before Sokka had asked her the question.
A/N:
This chapter goes to grayjeep. Happy belated birthday to you! I said I'd try to get this up by your birthday but I failed miserably… but it's here at last!
And to anyone wondering… I will be posting soon the conditions for the promised 1000 reviews party and also for an event I'll hold when we reach 50 chapters. Look forward to it!