His shoulder was sore when he woke up, and he opened his eyes to find he was in the living room. He had been sleeping on his side, in a slightly uncomfortable position that could only result in his arm being numb for at least a few minutes once he stopped supporting his weight on his shoulder.
The morning always started accompanied by countless bird songs, and the light of dawn drifted into the house through the windows in a lazy haze. He lay on his back, blinking blankly as the memories from last night returned to him slowly. He didn't sleep on the couch normally, so it wasn't too difficult to recall the circumstances that had landed him there.
He'd had trouble falling asleep, fidgeting nervously about Azula, for she was upstairs, sleeping in his room, in his bed. How he wished to join her… there was nothing he would have liked more than to do so. Holding her in his arms was a blessing he still didn't think he deserved, being able to kiss her still filled him with a thrill that he could barely control, that made his heart beat uncontrollably fast. Being with her was everything he could ask for, just being allowed to stand by her side… but despite her reservations, Sokka knew Azula wanted more than what they'd had so far. She had given him the chance to reach out for more. And how many times could he hold back until he finally gave in? He didn't know. He was afraid the answer to that question would be a very small number, if it wasn't already zero. Because the next time she looked at him with those golden eyes, and asked him to stay with her, he wouldn't dare refuse…
To think her eyes were so warm towards him now… when they had first met they were unyielding, colder than ice. But now she was warm to him, in ways he had never expected her to be, warmer than she was towards just about anyone else. Who could blame him for feeling the way he did towards her? He couldn't have stood a chance: falling in love with her was just the natural order of things, after everything they'd been through together.
Knowing she was barely a flight of stairs away compelled him to get up from the couch, his mind set on checking on her. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to do so, for he might just end up joining her in bed… but he wasn't going to do anything stupid while she was unconscious, definitely not! Though there was no telling what would happen if she woke up…
He climbed the stairs slowly, being as careful as he could be not to make a sound. Song wasn't up yet, so hopefully Azula wouldn't be either. He suspected she would be awake soon, but she might still be sleeping…
And once he glanced into his room he found that indeed she was, with her arms wrapped tightly around his pillow.
The sight of her took the breath from him. He was completely mesmerized, and a slow smile spread over his features. She looked adorable like this, with her loose hair spread over the mattress, her face peaceful as she clutched the pillow tightly. Oh, he really just might prove too weak to resist the urge of at least sitting down next to her on the bed as she slept soundly…
But as soon as he took one step forward he heard a strong knock on the door that made him stop on his tracks. He glanced back, panic in his eyes. Had someone come for Azula? How had they known she would be here? Furthermore, would she be in trouble for spending the night in his house, regardless of if she was still untainted?
He thought he felt sweat rolling down his brow as he sped downstairs, the knocking becoming more urgent now. At this rate it would wake both the girls, he thought. He opened the door quickly, his heart racing and his stomach sinking… but there was no battalion of Royal Guards outside the house. Instead…
"Sokka! Finally!" Ty Lee exclaimed. Sokka blinked blankly and stepped back, allowing her inside instinctively. He found himself beyond confused by why she was here, and why she looked more serious than he'd ever seen her before. "Is Azula here?!"
"Uh, y-yeah?" Sokka said, tentatively. "What's going on? Is she in trouble?"
"No, no, not her!" Ty Lee denied briskly. "She needs to come immediately, something terrible has happened and…!"
"What's going on?"
Ty Lee only seemed to process the fact that she had found Azula in Sokka's home, of all places, when she saw the Princess standing at the top of the stairs, wearing clothes that most definitely didn't belong to her, with her hair disheveled after getting up. Sokka felt his heart catch in his throat as he turned to look at her.
"Azula…" Ty Lee said, a flicker of her curiosity regarding this situation showing in her eyes briefly. But she soon shook her head and returned to her former uncharacteristic seriousness. "Azula, it's terrible! It's Zuko!"
"Zuko?" Azula repeated, frowning. This could not be good. Had he taken action upon hearing the news of her new position as Crown Princess? If so, then what on earth had he done?
"You have to come, fast," Ty Lee said. "Nobody else has managed to get any sense into him, so I was hoping maybe you would be able to do it…"
"Wait, what exactly is going on?" Sokka asked, confused. "What is he up to?"
"He is… he's going to leave the Fire Nation again" said Ty Lee, swallowing hard.
Azula's eyes widened, her lips parting as she stared at her friend in disbelief. Sokka's confusion only grew at that, and he glanced at his sponsor, wondering if she'd find any sense in Ty Lee's revelation. Given the troubled expression on her face, it seemed she did.
"I… I see. I'll get going, then," Azula said, gritting her teeth and climbing downstairs quickly. Ty Lee sighed and nodded.
"We don't know what's gotten into him…" she said. "I thought that he wouldn't be happy about you being Crown Princess now, but this was not what I expected him to do. And Suki's so heartbroken…"
"Well, it's not the first time Zuko acts without taking anyone else's feelings into account," Azula muttered, striding towards the house's backyard. "I'll gather my things and return with Xin Long. I'll talk to Zuko as soon as I can."
"Great! Thanks, Azula! I'll catch up with you in a bit!" Ty Lee exclaimed, sighing in relief as Azula left quickly.
Sokka stared after the Princess hopelessly, aware of how selfish he was being by wishing he could've at least had her for himself through the morning. There were more pressing matters for her to deal with, and now that she was to be Crown Princess, the circumstances were likely to pull her away from him even more often than usual.
"Is Suki alright, though?" Sokka asked, forcing himself to stop suffering over Azula's quick departure by focusing on something else. "Things weren't all that great with those two the last thing I knew, but then they were dancing…"
"I don't get it myself, actually," said Ty Lee, shrugging. "It looked like they had made up but then this happened… and really, I don't know what happened. Suki has barely managed to say anything, she's so upset…"
"Would it help if I talked to her?" Sokka asked, raising his eyebrows. "If Azula's going to deal with Zuko…"
"Well, you could try," said Ty Lee, with a grimace. "But I don't know just how much you could do for her. She's really depressed."
"Well, we won't know if I can help if we don't try, at least," he said, sighing. "Can you give me a lift? I figure you didn't come here on foot…"
"No, I've got my carriage right outside. Drove it myself, Haru stayed with her at home…"
"Then we can do that," Sokka said, turning back to his room. Ty Lee watched at him as he went back upstairs, somewhat surprised by his reaction. He seemed upset as well, though of course not to the same degree as Suki was. Although Zuko's departure was the main priority right now, Ty Lee couldn't help but wonder if she had interrupted something important…
Azula flew home as quickly as possible, unsure of why, of all possibilities, Zuko's response to the latest events was merely to leave the Fire Nation. Granted it would be the most convenient thing for her in the long run, but it still didn't feel right. Why would he want to run away instead of fighting back? Had Iroh convinced him to do this? Azula clenched the reins of Xin Long's saddle harder, her worries increasing by the minute. She needed to talk to her fool of a brother… but first she needed to change into a better attire than Song's sleeping gown, naturally.
She headed straight to her room once they arrived in the Palace, and she did her best to avoid the servants so they wouldn't see her in such a getup, with her dress and ball accessories tucked under her arm. She dressed up quickly in her room, fitting her armor and finally feeling like herself again. She breathed out several times, brushing her hair and composing her top knot – an operation that was successful, despite the result was not quite as perfect as it usually was – before leaving to find her brother.
Her stomach grumbled, for she hadn't quite had any dinner to begin with and she'd gone without breakfast so far, but she did her best to ignore the unpleasant sensation as she marched to Zuko's room. If he was planning on leaving, surely he'd be there, packing… and indeed he was.
His back was turned towards the door when Azula swung it open as he rummaged through an old bag, filling it with clothes. Azula's brow drew together, not knowing how to proceed now. Would he lash out at her if she announced herself? It was likely, but if she was going to stand on the threshold doing nothing she might as well have avoided seeing her brother in the first place, right? She took a deep breath, scrutinizing Zuko's now short hair, dreading the disappearance of his topknot would mean what she suspected it did.
"So, it's true?" she asked, startling him. "You're leaving again?"
To her surprise, he didn't turn to glare at her accusingly. He didn't attack her for having taken his future away from him. Instead, he only looked at her over his right shoulder, almost with remorse in his gaze.
"Yeah," he said, nodding and turning back to his gear without further explanations.
"Ty Lee told me as much," Azula continued, still confused by his lack of reaction. "And… I can't say I understand why you're doing this. I have my suspicions, but…"
"If you think I'm just throwing a tantrum because Father has appointed you as his Crown Princess, you're wrong," Zuko said, and Azula frowned. "It's not about that."
"If it's not about that, then what is it about?" Azula asked, stepping forward.
"It's about our father, alright," said Zuko, closing the bag and turning to look at Azula. "And about how he's always seen me as a problem to get rid of. Well, I'd rather get out of here before he finally finds a way to kill me without everyone suspecting him for it."
"Aren't you…?" Azula started, about to say he was exaggerating matters, but she caught herself before finishing the sentence. As much as she'd hate to admit it, her brother was right. Ozai had already conveyed interest in murdering his son before, discarding the idea merely because it would be too suspicious… she shook her head and looked at Zuko sternly. "Aren't you merely giving him what he wants if you leave, then? Is this your idea of being a loyal son to him?"
"Like hell it is," said Zuko, scowling. "Azula, I… I talked to him last night, for the first time since the Agni Kai. And a lot of things were cleared up in that conversation. He hadn't declared you Crown Princess yet, and still I realized that he wanted you as his sole heir. He wants nothing to do with me, never did, and by now the feeling is mutual. I'm done crawling to his feet begging him to love me. I was an idiot for thinking that was going to get me anywhere."
"Regardless, Zuko… what are you going to do outside of the Fire Nation?" Azula asked, frowning. "What exactly do you think this is going to accomplish? You've already been at sea for ten years to no avail, and now you're going to repeat that experience? Pray tell, what is this supposed to lead you to? Did you really think this through?"
"I… I probably didn't," said Zuko, with a weak smile. "But at this point I can't find any reason why I should've done things differently. None of the reasons for me to stay outweigh the ones for me to leave."
"Does Iroh know of this?" Azula asked now, sighing as she rubbed the bridge of her nose with her fingertips.
"He's probably heard of it by now, but I haven't seen him since yesterday," said Zuko. "I guess he's going to come talk me out of it, same as you…"
"Or offer to go with you," said Azula, and Zuko frowned.
"Well, he's not joining me this time," he said, to Azula's surprise. "I've already contacted my old crew, and they're willing to take me to the sea again. But I don't mean to force them to stick around with me for much longer. In all honesty I just need passage to the Earth Kingdom, whatever comes next I'll decide for myself."
"You do realize, though, that if you're going to banish yourself again from the Fire Nation, going to the Colonies should probably be out of the question for you, right?" Azula asked, and Zuko frowned.
"I… didn't really think of that. Well, I'll figure it out, I said," he grumbled, returning to his bags as Azula sighed and shook her head.
"Zuko, honestly? You've had bad ideas, but this is really amongst the worst you've come up with," she said. "I understand you suspect he wants you dead, but he can just as well send a murderer after you while you're here than while you're there. So, for that matter…"
"It's also because I just want to get as far away from him as I possibly can," said Zuko, heading to a closet, where he kept his dao swords. "I'd think you'd understand… you used to feel restrained back when Mother was here, didn't you? Once she was gone you were free. Well, I can't expect Father to just go away, so…"
"Just go away?" Azula repeated, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that? Are you merely saying that, or do you know anything…?"
"I asked Father if he'd killed her," Zuko said, and Azula's eyes widened. He had done what? "That seemed to offend him… as though he weren't capable of that. Seeing how he's treated me and you, how far-fetched can it be to think he might have done something to her?"
"I don't… well, I don't know whether he did something to her or not, but damn it, Zuko," said Azula, shaking her head. "Do you have a death wish, really? How could you simply blurt that out to him as you did?"
"Putting it simply, I just don't give a damn about how he feels towards me anymore," said Zuko. "If I anger him, if I disappoint him, if I make him wish I'd never been born, I couldn't care less. If I could make him feel as worthless as he's made me feel, I sure as hell would. But I think he's just incapable of feeling that bad about himself, just as he must be incapable of empathy… heh, maybe he actually isn't incapable of that last thing. He sure must imagine how I felt, and that's exactly why he made sure to make it worse for me with every chance he got."
"And so, you figured the best way to make him miserable was claiming he had murdered our mother. Figures," said Azula, raising her eyebrows.
"He said he hadn't killed her," Zuko said. "But I don't know if I can believe him. If she's not dead, then… then where is she? Why did she disappear, and why has she never contacted either one of us?"
"That I don't know," Azula replied. "To this day it's a mystery for me too. But if Father has the answers to those questions…"
"It's better not to ask altogether, isn't it?" Zuko said, skeptically. "Else you might end up like me. Scarred, dishonored, banished…"
"Wait, he banished you? You didn't choose to do this yourself?"
"Well, it's more of a self-imposed banishment this time, truth to be told, but last time it sure wasn't," said Zuko, clasping his blades and swinging them over his shoulders. "He didn't send me away last night, but he wanted me gone regardless. And I don't mean to come back until…"
"Until he's dead?" Azula asked, raising her eyebrows. "Or is it you hope to find the Avatar and bring him back to prove our father was wrong about you?"
"I'd like to do that, if it'd mean the Avatar will beat him up and leave him to ponder his life's choices for however long he might live," Zuko said. "But I really have no hopes to find him. I'll just…"
"Just sail through the world and hope the day will come when our father changes his ways?" Azula asked, raising an eyebrow sarcastically.
"Or when you take over his duties," Zuko said, and Azula froze. "I already told him that you'll make a greater Fire Lord than he ever could hope to be. At least he made the right call by making you Crown Princess."
"Zuko…"
"Come on," said Zuko, looking at her earnestly. "It's what everyone expected. I didn't really think it was going to happen so soon, but I always knew it. Father wanted you as his heir ever since we were children, and tried as I might to surpass you, I never could. I'm done trying to be better than you at everything, Azula. I've got nothing to gain from it because no matter what I do, I'll never be good enough in his eyes. But you are. You're… you're practically perfect."
"Zuko, I'm not really…"
"You are bound to be a better Fire Lord than anyone realizes you can be," said Zuko. "Simply because it's you, and you always overcome anything that stands in your way. So… so good luck. I know you'll do a great job. You can change the world for the better, I'm sure."
"That's wishful talk, it's easier said than done," said Azula, frowning. "You're just stepping back, then? You could be Fire Lord too, you know? You could even fight me in an Agni Kai to prove you still have a right to claim the throne…"
"What for, if we both know you'll win?" said Zuko, raising his eyebrow.
"Zuko, a lot of people won't want me as Fire Lord," she said.
"A lot of people won't want me as Fire Lord either. I don't think either one of us will be able to make everyone happy," said Zuko, shrugging. "Nobody will ever have a fully approved rule, I don't think that's ever happened in Fire Nation history anyways…"
"Be that as it may, it doesn't change the fact that both of us needed as much support as we could in order to gain the position of Crown Prince," Azula said. "Without approval it was never going to happen. And you still have the approval of many, Uncle included, who surely will be beyond outraged when he finds out about his."
"And what can he do?" said Zuko, looking at Azula with confusion. "I mean… who's going to stand up to my Father? Who's going to tell him that he made the wrong decision and that I'm a better choice for an heir? Uncle? Whoever else wants to support me? Just how likely are they to achieve anything by defying him?"
"I'm not going to say they'd succeed at it," Azula admitted. "The likelihood is actually rather low. But that doesn't mean they won't try."
"Well, they can't try if I'm gone, can they?" Zuko said, shrugging. Azula looked at him in disbelief.
"Are you serious, Zuko? After all this time, you're just… giving up?"
"I told you I was tired of this rivalry between us," he said. "And I'll be better off accepting certain things I can't change. I know I'm not supposed to give up without a fight, but I've fought long enough to realize I have no way of winning this time around. You're better than me for the job, most likely, and there's nothing wrong with that. Maybe I just… maybe I just wasn't cut out to be Fire Lord. If you think about it, neither of us were raised under the belief that we'd get that throne one day. It was meant to belong to cousin Lu Ten, not to either one of us."
"But he's been gone for well over a decade now, Zuko," Azula said. "Years during which we both were ready to do whatever it took to make sure that throne and that crown would belong to one of us."
"And look at all the good that did us," said Zuko. "If we'd stopped fighting and started working together maybe we'd have been better off. But we never did. So, for once I'm going to do the right thing… and not stand in your way. Maybe I could be Fire Lord too, but I'm not fighting you over who's going to carry Father's legacy anymore. I want nothing more to do with his legacy myself anyhow."
"Are you sure of what you're saying right now, Zuko?" Azula asked, looking at him sternly. "If you want us to work together, then maybe with my new authority I could help you somehow. I could…"
"You don't have to do anything for me, Azula," Zuko said, smiling a little. "I want to deal with this myself. I needed you to help me with the ship and crew the last time I was banished, but I'd like to think I'm not so helpless anymore. Thanks for your offer, but…"
"Zuko!"
Azula froze upon hearing that voice. She turned instinctively, but Iroh raced past her at haste, without sparing so much as a glance in her direction.
"Uncle…" said Zuko, gulping. This was going to be harder than he had realized…
"Zuko, is it true? Is it true that you've decided to leave again?" Iroh asked, aghast, as he placed his hands on Zuko's shoulders.
"I have, Uncle," Zuko said, nodding. "I think it's time for me to face the facts and acknowledge my future isn't here. I have to find other options, seek out new paths and…"
"Then I'm coming with you! If you mean to do this then we both shall…!" Iroh exclaimed, and Azula could have sworn she heard a hint of pride, even hope, in the old man's voice. That hint disappeared as soon as Zuko clasped Iroh's hands and removed them from his shoulder.
"No. Not this time, Uncle," he said, sternly.
Iroh remained silent for a moment, his mouth opening and closing as he looked at his nephew in utter confusion. Azula watched him warily, knowing his reaction wouldn't be good.
"What do you mean, not this time?" Iroh repeated, frowning heavily. Azula wasn't sure she had ever heard the man speaking so seriously, not even during the crisis they had faced together in Ba Sing Se. "Zuko, what are you talking about? If you're leaving…!"
"If I'm leaving, then it's me who's leaving and nobody else," Zuko declared, frowning. "Uncle, I'm not a kid anymore. You don't have to look after me"
"I'm not saying this because I think you're a child, I simply won't let you to do this on your own!" Iroh exclaimed. "Is it you mean to travel nowhere, with no goals, no purpose?"
"Maybe I do," said Zuko, frowning. "But the first purpose is to get away from here. That's all…"
"You cannot just make these decisions without thinking them through, Zuko!" Iroh said, repeating one of Azula's qualms to Zuko's plans unknowingly. "You could die out there and then what would be the point of this journey? Be reasonable, Zuko, and…!"
"I'm being reasonable, Uncle. I'm… I'm seeing things clearly for the first time!" Zuko exclaimed. "And that's exactly why I'm not letting you come with me. You already wasted ten years of your life at sea with me, I'm not putting you through that once again."
"You wouldn't be putting me through anything I don't want, Zuko, I could…!"
"Uncle, you have a life here right now, don't you?" Zuko asked. "You have a gladiator who needs you to stand by her. Are you just going to abandon her?"
"I could find someone else to sponsor her…"
"What for?" Zuko asked. "Uncle… I want to do this on my own. I need to do it on my own, without making anyone else sacrifice their lives for me! I don't belong in the Fire Nation Palace anymore…"
"Well, I don't belong in it any more than you do! Zuko, I have…!" Iroh started, but he froze mid-sentence and stiffened. His gaze darted towards Azula quickly, his only acknowledgment of her presence throughout his conversation with Zuko.
Azula looked at him with suspicion briefly before allowing her gaze to shift to her brother. Surely this meant Iroh refused to speak any further so long as she was here. She could only wonder why…
"Azula…" Zuko muttered.
"Do whatever you feel is right, Zuko. It's what you'll do anyways," she whispered. "Just… don't get yourself killed out there, Zuzu."
Zuko smiled a little at her and nodded, not bothered by that nickname for the very first time.
"I won't. Thank you, Azula. For everything," he said, and she looked at him apprehensively. She hardly felt there was anything he ought to be thanking her for. Regardless, she bowed her head curtly in his direction and turned to leave the room. She would have rather stayed to hear whatever Iroh had to say to her brother, but it seemed unlikely he would speak freely if she was there…
Her reservations regarding her uncle's link to the White Lotus had returned to her again in full force. She had grown more amicable with the man as of late, but that didn't free him from her suspicions altogether. If anything, his behavior right now made her feel just as uncertain towards him as she always had. She could imagine easily what sort of ploys could be in motion if Iroh was working together with the White Lotus, with Zuko as the center of their plans. It would add up, considering Piandao had accepted him as a pupil despite the irregularity of his training regime…
Unveiling a conspiracy of this category would have amused her in any other circumstances, but this time it wasn't all that enjoyable. If Iroh had been setting Zuko up to become little more than a pawn Fire Lord for the White Lotus, chances were he would have meant to use Zuko to take Ozai down, perhaps. Why Zuko, though? Azula frowned as she stepped out of the room, her thoughts jumbled. If he didn't want Ozai to be Fire Lord, why not act when he still had a chance to take back the throne that had been meant to be his?
Or was she just seeing monsters in shadows where there were none? Maybe she was being paranoid, maybe Iroh was only being the concerned uncle he always was towards his nephew…
Before she could finish assessing the possibilities, she found someone in the hallway. Someone with a remarkably guilty behavior, going by her tense stance and the fact that her head was hung, as opposed to how it usually was. Her long dark bangs covered her face, as usual, so it was hard to pinpoint her emotions, but Azula had always been skilled at reading people.
"Bandit?" she asked, and the girl jumped. It wasn't like her not to notice Azula's presence, regardless of her blindness.
"H-hey, Spicy…" Toph muttered. Her behavior now was in perfect contrast to her bitterness and pride from last night. She seemed ashamed, and even remorseful. Why?
"Came to see my brother off, or were you hoping to convince him to stay?" Azula asked, and Toph grimaced. "Are you alright?"
"I just…" she said, biting her lower lip. "I didn't think he'd go this far."
"I don't think any of us did," said Azula, sighing. "I tried telling him that leaving wouldn't help, but I know his stubbornness far too well by now. He's not likely to change his mind."
"Iroh is pissed about it, isn't he?" Toph asked. "Does… does he know it's my fault?"
"Your fault?" Azula asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why would it be?"
"I kind of… said things to Zuko last night that maybe I shouldn't have. I mean, I don't think I was wrong about most of what I said, but I probably shouldn't have done it anyhow," said Toph, swallowing hard. "I just… he said things that bothered me and I returned the favor. And I think that's why…"
"Why he ended up doing this?" Azula asked. "You prompted him to talk to our father?"
"I did," Toph confessed, and Azula sighed.
"Well, then, it must be your fault," she said, simply, and Toph grimaced. "Though I doubt whatever caused this was really your responsibility. From the way he's acting, it seems like it had been a long time coming. Don't beat yourself up that much over it."
"I wouldn't, but… but he's leaving now, nobody knows where to, and Iroh…"
"Toph…" Azula said, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "If you're sorry for what you did, go apologize. Stop tormenting yourself. If Iroh can't accept his nephew's decisions, that's his problem, not yours."
"But…" Toph said, frowning. She sighed soon and shrugged, nodding weakly. "You're probably right."
"I am" Azula said, simply, with a weak smile.
"I didn't peg you for the type who'd compel me to do the right thing, but I guess you're a better person than I am" Toph said, and Azula snorted.
"I'm afraid that speaks quite badly of you, Bandit," she said, with a smirk. "I've never held onto any illusions of being a good person, Toph, and I doubt I ever will. I'm only telling you to do whatever will bring you peace. What you do with my advice is beyond my control."
"Yeah. Still… thanks," said Toph. Azula raised an eyebrow. She had been at the receiving end of two expressions of gratitude in less than ten minutes today, coming from very unlikely sources… it was odd, but she found she didn't mind it.
"You're welcome," she said, patting the girl's shoulder just as she saw someone turning around the corner. Her heart sank upon noticing just who it was. "Captain…"
"Ah, Princess, finally," he said, breathing out in relief. "The servants have been trying to find you throughout the Palace for breakfast, but you were nowhere around…"
Going by his behavior, it would seem he wasn't aware of Azula's escapade from the previous night. Or if he was, perhaps he didn't know the full extent of what it entailed. Had he known she had spent the night in Sokka's house he surely would look a lot less anxious and worried, and a lot angrier instead.
"Yes, breakfast… that sounds good," Azula muttered, eager to finally put something in her stomach. She left Toph behind without another word as she headed off with Rui Shi, eager for a proper meal at last.
The earthbender sensed them as they left, biting her lower lip nervously as she made up her mind to follow her sponsor into Zuko's room. For whatever was worth, she really was sorry. As much as her words had been spoken with the intent to hurt the prince, she had never expected them to have such nefarious consequences.
She approached the doorway, finding, to her surprise, that Iroh was speaking insistently to a very confused Zuko. The scarred young man inched away from his uncle, his brow drawn together.
"… It's a safe place, Zuko, trust me. Just northwest from the Swamp, and you'll find…"
"Uncle, what are you talking about?" Zuko asked, looking at Iroh in disbelief. "You expect me to find safety in a… a former Earth Kingdom fortress? What is this about?"
"Zuko, I'm begging you to listen. You are heading into nowhere and blatantly refusing to take me with you, so I'm seeking to aid you in the only way I can!" Iroh said, and Zuko shook his head. By doing so, he realized they weren't alone anymore.
"Toph?" he said, startling Iroh.
The Blind Bandit stood in place, swallowing hard as she felt more nervous and anxious by the minute. Whatever she had interrupted was clearly important, even though she was slightly confused regarding what it was. Iroh was giving Zuko advice, as per usual, but this time it seemed the prince was reluctant to follow it, for one reason or another. Given the way Iroh's heart was beating, the old man was rather desperate.
"Uh… hey, Zuko," she said, for once not coming up with nicknames to insult him. "I've heard that… that you're leaving."
"Yeah. That's the idea," he said, nodding. "But don't worry. Your sponsor isn't coming with me this time. You won't have to forsake the Gladiator League because of me."
The words stung, mostly because her investment in the League was what had prompted her to argue with Zuko in the first place. Were his words a display of respect towards her, or was it spite? Surprisingly, it didn't sound like the latter, given his voice tone.
"Huh… thanks for that. Really," said Toph. "But Zuko, you… you don't have to do this, do you?"
"Here I thought the last person who'd miss me would be you," Zuko said, with a smile.
"I just…" said Toph, insecure. To her embarrassment, but also her relief, Zuko seemed to read her as easily as Toph used to read everyone else.
"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault," he said, and Toph tensed.
"It's not? I mean, after… after what I said…"
"You know what?" said Zuko, with a deep breath. "I think… I think I needed to hear it. You helped me put a lot of things into perspective. So, thanks."
"Thanks? F-for… for messing with you as I did? Are you crazy, or are you just stupid?" Toph asked, and Zuko scowled.
"You could've just accepted it and let it rest, but just you had to insult me, did you?"
"What is this?" Iroh asked, frowning and looking at Toph. "Were you…? D-did you say something to Zuko?"
The seriousness of the old man's voice daunted Toph, who wasn't easily daunted to begin with. She had never heard him like this. But before she could figure out how to answer his questions, Zuko had placed a hand on Iroh's shoulder.
"It's fine, Uncle. She's not the problem here," he said. "My father is. He always has been, I was just too naïve to understand it until last night."
"Regardless, Zuko…"
"Uncle," said Zuko, taking a deep breath. "I'm grateful for everything you've done for me. You became my father when my own would barely spare a glance towards me, and I owe you a lot more than I realize for it. I'm… I'm really glad you were with me all these years. I'll see you again one day, I'm sure. But this is… it's a trip I must take by myself this time. So, thanks for everything… and I'll see you again one day. I promise."
"Zuko…" Iroh said, as Zuko surprised him with a hug.
The old man returned the gesture slowly, as though he couldn't give credit to what was happening just yet. Zuko released him after what felt like ages, rubbing the man's back before picking up his bags and turning to the door. Toph still stood there, her head ducked, a guilty expression on her face. Zuko placed a hand on her shoulder before passing her by, leaving his room for good.
Toph sensed his footsteps moving further and further away, a very unpleasant feeling sinking in her gut. Something told her Zuko's decision to leave was going to change certain things in her life… and not in a good sense.
For she could tell Iroh was displeased, disappointed, upset. He would miss his nephew, no doubt, and he couldn't understand why he was so determined to refuse his company. There was no plausible reason for that, not in his eyes… but there was a reason behind why Zuko was departing. And even if Toph's words didn't comprise the entirety of it, they had been the trigger, if nothing else. And the Blind Bandit suspected Iroh would never forgive her for that.
Sokka would have been proud of her, Azula thought, if he could see her eating so ravenously. Fortunately, he wasn't likely to barge through her room's door anytime soon, so she felt free to continue eating as she pleased until she'd had her fill. She had spent well over twelve hours without any food, which just might have affected her body in ways she hadn't realized.
It was likely close to noon when she was finally satisfied, and she informed a servant of it, so they'd know not to bring her more food. Someone snuck into her chambers just as the servant was sliding out of the room: Azula was quick to identify who it was, despite the girl wasn't quite as boisterous as usual.
"Hey, Azula," said Ty Lee, with a weak smile.
"Hey," Azula said, as her friend too her seat beside her in the dining room adjacent to Azula's sleeping accommodations. "Took you a while to catch up. I was starting to think you wouldn't come to the Palace at all."
"Well, Sokka asked if I could drop him off at my place in case he might be able to help out with Suki," Ty Lee said, with a sigh. "I don't think there's much he can do, though. She's all withdrawn by now, like a turtle-duck in its shell…"
"Can't be helped," said Azula, with a shrug. "I figure you found out through her, didn't you?"
"Yeah," said Ty Lee. "She was gone for a long time during the Ball, Haru and I were ready to go home, and we were trying to find her, but she was nowhere around. She was a sobbing mess when we finally tracked her down. We took her home and she didn't explain what had happened until then…"
"And that's when you came to find me?" Azula asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, I tried to talk to Zuko first. I told him about how upset Suki was, but while I could tell he was sorry to hear of it, he didn't change his mind. He… he just asked me to watch over her. I have to say, it's the first time I've wanted to slap your brother this badly…"
"It's curious, really," Azula said, tapping the table. "Because while his decision feels extreme and absurd, he seems so serene about it, determined in a different way than usual. It's not his typical stubborn bouts, it's not a tantrum, it's… it's something else."
"So, you've already talked to him?" Ty Lee asked. "And I guess you didn't accomplish anything…"
"Well, I didn't change his mind," Azula replied. "As much as I tried, it seems he's sure that this is the right thing to do. And surprisingly enough, he doesn't want our Uncle to come along this time around."
"So, he wants to do this alone?" Ty Lee asked.
"I think he doesn't want to do it alone, but he doesn't want to make Iroh waste more years of his life following him around hopelessly," said Azula. "He's being selfless, looks like, but my Uncle doesn't seem to like that."
"He's worried, is all," said Ty Lee. "I know I am. What if he never comes back, Azula? I mean… Mai had been waiting for him, but even she lost hope after some time. What if this time it's not ten years? What if it's more than that?"
"I'm pretty sure he's aware of that," Azula said, sighing. "But even though he is, he doesn't seem to care all that much about spending so many years at sea. I guess it just shows how little he wants to be in the Palace at this point…"
"Did he do it… because you're Crown Princess now?" Ty Lee asked, looking at her worriedly. "You two have always had problems, but I thought you were figuring things out…"
"Huh. And you figured having me talk things through with him might help, even if you suspected that my father's announcement had been the source of this mess?" Azula asked, skeptical. Ty Lee shrugged.
"I didn't know what else to do. I thought maybe he'd listen to you. I figured I'd get Mai too, but at this point I doubt she'd be able to convince him not to do it."
"Knowing her, she might even support him on this," said Azula. "In any case, it wasn't because of me, or so he told me."
"Well, I guess that's good news for you," said Ty Lee, biting her lower lip. "If it'd been your fault then it'd be even worse…"
"I don't see why, he'd still leave one way or another," said Azula, shrugging. It wasn't really her fault, though, no matter how they looked at it. Their father had been the one to give Azula this new title, she hadn't demanded for it herself either way. "Still, who knows? Maybe Zuko's decision isn't as bad as it looks right now…"
"You really think so?" Ty Lee said, looking at her sadly. "What's he going to do out there at sea anyhow? I mean, he's already been out traveling…"
"I don't know what he's going to do, honestly, but maybe he'll figure something out," said Azula, shrugging. "We did what we could already, Ty Lee. Maybe what we think is best for him isn't really what's best for him at all. Might be he's better off away."
"If you say so," she said, sighing, before giving Azula a small smile. "But, say… setting Zuko aside, what were you doing at Sokka's place this morning?"
"I was fleeing from the noise in the Palace and getting actual sleep someplace quiet," Azula replied, truthfully enough. "And yes, I slept soundly up until I heard you knocking on the door"
"Well, it took him a while to open the door, so I thought maybe…" Ty Lee said, her smile turning into a smirk. Azula rolled her eyes.
"You thought wrong. There's absolutely nothing noteworthy to share with you about my stay at his place," said Azula. Not that she would feel inclined to sharing if anything had happened, anyways. "Feel free to allow your imagination to run wild, but that's the truth."
"Are you serious? Well, damn… how do you even do it, Azula?" Ty Lee asked, looking at her in disbelief. "Having that hunk right there, within your reach, and doing absolutely nothing about it… your self-control is scary."
"I'm glad it is," Azula said, smirking a little. Oh, if only Ty Lee knew… though Azula intended to keep her friend from knowing the truth; she refused to tell her about all the times her self-control had bailed on her. Normally, her ability to restrain herself from acting erratically was commendable, but Sokka had proven himself well above her skills. What was truly scary was how easily he could persuade her, how he could melt her into his arms without barely even trying…
"I know I would've had some of that ages ago if he were my gladiator," Ty Lee said, and Azula glared at her.
"Well, you've already had plenty of yours, from what I understand. So, don't get any funny ideas about mine," Azula told her, and Ty Lee giggled.
"Come on, I wouldn't mess things up with you and Sokka," she said. "I have a bet to win after all. Besides, Haru is wonderful in every sense!"
"Then stick with him and leave Sokka alone," Azula said, curtly, and Ty Lee chuckled.
"I intended to," she said, smiling at Azula. "You're awfully territorial about Sokka, though…"
"I literally own him, don't I?" Azula muttered. "So I have every right to be. Lay off."
"Oh, fine…" said Ty Lee, but her smile soon waned and turned into a sigh. "I admit you do take great care of him, though. He's pretty happy most the time and seems to like you well enough. I guess I've failed to look after mine in the same way…"
"In all fairness, you were doing fine when you only had Haru," Azula said. "I'm sorry I forced Suki onto you like that. And now you'll have to deal with the heartbreak she'll remember Zuko by…"
"It's just so wrong," said Ty Lee, sighing. "She loves him, I'm sure of it now! She always had a soft spot for him, always treated him differently, but it's clearly love. And he's… he's turning his back on that, he's hurting her, and even though he cares about her, he's still not giving in. I mean… he's thinking about his uncle's wellbeing, but not about Suki's?"
"Might be he thinks she's better off staying here," said Azula. "He has no idea where he's going, after all, or whatever he's doing. She has a better chance for a future here by staying with you."
"What future?" said Ty Lee, frowning. "You know it's not like a slave can live a normal life either way… I don't know if she really thinks she has a future of any sort by being my slave. I really doubt she does."
"Well, then, if she has no future with you and he's not going to be swayed regarding his journey, then she really should just go with him," Azula said, simply. "She'll be a bother for you if she's crying over him all day long: if she goes with him they can go be happy in their bubble of lovey-doveyness. So, this just might be the perfect solution for everyone."
She was surprised when Ty Lee didn't reply to her statement. Her eyes shifted towards her friend to find she was looking right back at her, eyes wide, her mouth agape. Azula raised an eyebrow.
"Ty Lee? Are you okay?"
"She should… go with him?" she repeated, her eyes now alight with hope. "She… she could go with him!"
"Uh, yeah. Of course she could," said Azula, looking at Ty Lee matter-of-factly. "If you're not going to use her for anything important…"
"Well, of course not! I was just looking after her and making sure she was okay, but now that you've said that…!" Ty Lee exclaimed, jumping to her feet, her hands together as she became her usual cheery self. Azula looked at her skeptically. "Oh, it'd be perfect! Why didn't I think of it earlier?! Oh, I must tell her! She has to go with him, it should've been obvious from the start!"
"Probably," said Azula, with a weak smile. "Ty Lee…"
"Oh, Azula, you're brilliant!" she exclaimed, before racing out of the room as quickly as her legs could carry her.
"I… don't think that was brilliant," Azula said aloud, to nobody in particular. "But I guess a display of logic can look like brilliance when nothing else makes sense…"
Still slightly amused by her friend's reaction, Azula almost felt as though she had nothing to do for once… getting a little more rest would be a good idea, perhaps. But that moment's respite was over quickly when someone knocked on her room's open door, announcing his presence with the gesture.
"Well, now that's more like it. You look a lot more like the Azula I remember by now," Zhao said, looking at her armor with his typical smirk. Azula nodded in his direction, in acknowledgment.
"I feel a lot more like myself this way as well," she muttered. She tried to contain all antagonistic thoughts towards the man, to hold back all her suspicion that, as ever, he only spoke the words mockingly…
"Then I hope your father's next present sits well with you," said Zhao, to which Azula frowned. "You just might be far too used to that armor, though, it could take you a while for you to get adjusted…"
"His next present?" Azula asked, her eyebrows raised, and Zhao snickered before ushering her to follow him to the Fire Lord's quarters.
Suki wiped the tears from her eyelashes with a cloth Ty Lee had given her earlier, trying to breathe evenly now. She felt as though she'd spent the entire day crying, to her displeasure. She would have been severely dehydrated by now if Haru hadn't kept boiling tea for her, aided by Sokka. He looked extremely uneasy about the current situation, most of all because he had no idea how to be of any help to Suki.
They thought she was out of earshot as they spoke in the kitchen, but she could hear them easily enough as they whispered about what to do. The two of them were visibly concerned about her, but completely clueless on how to actually be of any help for the heartbroken girl. Suki would have enlightened them on that front, but she had no idea what they could do for her either. She was grateful for their support, and she truly wished she could respond accordingly to it, but as she was, she couldn't bring herself to show them the gratitude they deserved. The situation looked so hopeless at the moment… and she was feeling hopeless, too. She wanted to stop feeling sorry for herself, to stop being miserable about this situation, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
More than ever she longed for the simpler times when she had been the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, the times when her biggest concern was how to keep misbehaving children far from the dangerous Unagi. When the war had touched down upon her island she had known her life would change for the worst, but she never realized just how badly. When would it stop? How much more misery did she have to put up with? How many times could someone lose what they cared for until they broke permanently? She feared she had reached her limit by now, loathe as she was to admit it. She wasn't sure she could take it anymore…
As she buried her face on her flexed knees, crouched in the living room cushions as she was, the door bolted open, startling all three current occupants of the house.
"Ty Lee?" Sokka called out, as Suki turned her head towards the door to find the girl striding quickly towards her, her hair in mild disarray, as though she had just forced her personal carriage's dragon moose to race his way back home.
"Suki!" she exclaimed, heading towards the slave, who was surprised to the point where her tears stopped at last.
"W-what's going on…?" Suki asked, as Ty Lee dropped on her knees, clasped her by the shoulders and shouted.
"Go with him!"
Time seemed to stand still as both Sokka and Haru reached the living room, finding both Suki and Ty Lee staring at one another. The slave's eyes were wide with confusion, while her master's brow was drawn together in a determined frown.
"W-what did you just say?" Suki whispered, blinking blankly.
"You heard me!" Ty Lee cried out, as she pulled Suki to her feet. "Go with him, Suki! You need to catch up with him quickly, his ship will probably set sail in a few hours. So, hurry, gather your stuff right away and I'll take you to the port! We don't have much time!"
"Wait, but… just like that?!" Suki asked, confused.
"Does Zuko want her to come along?" Sokka asked, raising his eyebrows. "I mean, it's great if he does, but…"
"W-well, I don't know if he does, but why wouldn't he?!" Ty Lee asked, exasperated. "Come on, are we going to waste our time here thinking about it?! The solution is clear as day! Azula just suggested it so easily, I can't believe I didn't think about it sooner!"
"Azula…" Sokka repeated, a small smile forming on his face upon hearing whose idea this had been.
"But Ty Lee, I'm your slave!" Suki exclaimed, her eyes wide. "I can't just bail on you and go with him, can I? I mean… it's not that simple, or is it?"
"Come on, Suki, what on earth are you going to do from now on if you stay with me?!" Ty Lee asked, looking at her in disbelief. "I already have a fighting gladiator, and I don't think you're eager to return to the fighting pits, so what, are you going to be my maid? You'd be miserable all day long doing chores when you could be with Zuko, being happy and free!"
"Wait, but then are you… are you saying you're setting me free?" Suki asked, her eyes widening in amazement now.
"I am if you want to be, and I know you want to be, so come on, Suki!" Ty Lee exclaimed. "Get your things, and I'll take you to him before he can leave! You know it's what you want, and it's the only solution, so let's do this!"
"Let's… let's," said Suki, her eyes brightening now as she looked at the girl in gratefulness. "T-Ty Lee, you…"
"You can save all you want to say for the carriage, now go!" Ty Lee said, and Suki nodded before racing past her, headed towards her room.
As she packed up, Haru took care of feeding and watering the dragon moose for the next trip. Ty Lee fidgeted nervously at the vehicle until Suki finally showed up. Her luggage was comprised of only a pair of bags, so it hadn't taken her that long to get ready. And so, with Haru holding the dragon moose's reins, they were ready to set out.
"Good luck, Suki," Sokka said, the only one who wasn't going to watch the reunion at the port. He smiled at the girl warmly, relieved to see her hopeful and no longer in tears.
"Thank you, Sokka. F-for all of this," she said, grinning at him before giving him a powerful hug, which Sokka returned gently.
There was no telling when he'd see her again, Sokka realized, as the girl climbed the carriage with a jump. Yet, despite heading towards an uncertain future, suddenly she appeared much more like her old, confident self than she had been ever since she was rescued from Hui Yi. Before long, Haru shook the beast's reins and they set out, with Ty Lee ushering Haru to press the creature on further. Sokka smiled as Suki waved at him from the window.
If Suki thought about it, none of this would be happening if it weren't for the Water Tribe man she was leaving behind now. He seemed genuinely happy for her as he watched the carriage speed its way through the streets, his grin becoming impossible to discern as the dragon moose picked up the pace. Suki sighed, still watching him from a distance. A gladiator fight that, at the time, hadn't been particularly note-worthy, had changed her life in ways she would have never imagined it would. It was hard to believe, but if it hadn't been for that fight with Sokka, she wouldn't be racing her way to Zuko now. She owed him so much more than he realized…
"Come on, faster!" Ty Lee muttered, biting her lower lip. Suki couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her, and she placed a hand on one of Ty Lee's fists.
"Whatever… whatever happens next, Ty Lee, I just want you to know I'm…" she said, smiling warmly. "I'm really grateful to you. For saving my life before, and… for giving me my freedom now. I never thought I'd be free again, actually…"
"How could I possibly get in the way of love, though?" said Ty Lee, smiling back. "I've really liked having you around, Suki, but you should be with him. You want to be with him, don't you?"
"I do," said Suki, laughing softly. "I… I do, so badly that…"
"That you don't mind taking off to this crazy adventure, as long as you're with him," said Ty Lee, grinning and Suki nodded.
"Yes. So… thank you. If you weren't the generous, free spirit you are, I surely wouldn't have had this chance…"
"Hehe, well, that's flattering to hear," said Ty Lee, giggling and hugging Suki, who grinned and hugged her back.
"I'll miss you," she said, and Ty Lee looked at her with gentle eyes.
"And I'll miss you. It was fun having another girl at home!" she said, laughing a little. "Take good care of yourself, and of that hopeless dork Zuko. You know he's a mess…"
"Oh, I do," said Suki, grinning. "And I mean to, Ty Lee. I promise."
"Great!" said Ty Lee, as the carriage started moving uphill. They were getting close to the edge of the crater by now.
It took another half hour for the carriage to reach the port, for the place was still heavily crowded. A lot of people were going home now that the festivals had ended, so the traffic was heavy and difficult to navigate on their way to the prince's ship. His vessel was on the furthest dock to the right of the port: it was a remarkably outdated model, and not one of the biggest ship in the premises by far. But Suki didn't quite care about the size or model of the ship that she would be riding from now on, she didn't stop to ponder that it was bound to become her home for several weeks, if not months… all because her eyes were glued to the silhouette of a tall man on deck, who was facing the city's crater solemnly where he stood.
"Zuko… Zuko!" she cried out, throwing the carriage door open harshly and jumping out of the cabin even before the vehicle had stopped.
The Prince frowned upon hearing someone call his name, and it took him but a moment to identify who was calling for him. His eyes widened when he saw the auburn-haired woman racing towards the ship's ramp, which was about to be lifted by the sailors Zuko had called back to service on his ship.
"Wait, let me up!" Suki exclaimed forcefully, to which the men were left to gawk at her in confusion as she rushed on board. Not long afterwards, a girl in pink and a young man in green clothes climbed up the ramp as well, but merely to deposit some bags on the deck. The sailors paid those two no mind, for they were far more curious about the exchange between their prince and this sudden arrival.
"Suki? What are you doing here?" Zuko exclaimed, unable to give his eyes credit. When he caught sight of Haru and Ty Lee leaving the bags on the deck he turned to Suki again in confusion. "Suki, are you…?"
"I'm coming with you!" she cried out, a smile spreading over her features as she looked at him in delight. Zuko's jaw dropped as he shook his head in confusion.
"Y-you… why would you want to come with me?!" he said, baffled. "I get Uncle, he came along the last time, but you…"
"What do you mean, why?!" Suki scoffed. "Zuko, you said it yourself, you offered me just about anything I could ask for and then took it all away. Well, guess what? I'm taking it all back now! I'm… I'm taking the life you said we could have, right here, right now! I'm choosing to be with you, wherever that may take me, because this is what I truly want!"
"But… Suki, you're supposed to belong to Ty Lee!" Zuko exclaimed, and Suki shook her head.
"She wanted me to come too. S-she was the one who told me to, actually," said Suki, with a sad grin. "I didn't think it was a possibility, coming with you, but truth is, it's the only thing that makes sense! So, Zuko…!"
"Suki, no!" Zuko said, looking at her in confusion. "You're… you're not bound to be safe with me! Hell, I have no idea where I'll end up! You can't expect me to drag you into this as well…"
"You're not dragging me into anything, I'm inserting myself into your plans," Suki said, proudly, and Zuko looked at her in further disbelief.
"B-but… but why?!" he said. "You could live comfortably with Ty Lee, she'd treat you well enough! You'll be sure to have good food, a warm bed, no uncertainty in your life…!"
"I'd rather my uncertainties are regarding where we'll find food, or a bed for the both of us, than regarding if I'll ever see you again," Suki said, swallowing hard. "Zuko, I'm touched that you're so concerned about my wellbeing, but you know what? I'm doing what I told you to do, that time when we spoke in your room! I'm cherishing what makes me happy, because life is too damn short to waste it wondering what might have been if things had happened any differently! I'm not… I'm not losing you, Zuko. Not after everything. I want to be with you. So, stop pushing me away for my own good, because looking out for myself has never turned out so good for me either way. So please…"
"Suki, this is… spirits, you're crazy," he said, looking at her in disbelief… yet by now it was inevitable that he would smile, even if just a little
"Do you still think I shouldn't do this?" Suki asked, stepping towards him, looking at him with gleaming eyes.
"Well, I just… I just don't feel worthy," he said, gulping. "You're you, Suki, and I'm…"
"And you're you. And there's nobody I'd rather be with," she said, and without giving him another moment to think things through, she surrounded his neck with her arms.
Zuko froze in place briefly as she kissed him, his arms responding after a moment to surround her body gently. Suki pulled away to smile at him, her hand cupping his cheek, her fingers touching his damaged skin.
"And if you're still wondering why… I'm pretty sure it's because I love you too," she said, with a tender grin.
Pressed as she was against him, she could feel his heart beating wildly against her chest. His eyes filled with tears as he looked at her, and she found herself reciprocating the gesture, laughing as they both cried with joy. Zuko buried his face in her shoulder, surrounding her body tightly and shaking his head before kissing her again, still in utter disbelief. She was too good for him, he'd always known so, but by now he was absolutely certain of it.
Yet she had chosen to come with him. She wanted to be with him, against all logic and reason, Zuko found. She would rather live at sea than have a comfortable life as Ty Lee's slave. She was making a choice that Zuko never imagined she would make… and unlike how it was with his Uncle, he actually couldn't find a reason why she shouldn't come along. He would still make the decisions he had to make, he would still travel and learn everything he had meant to learn for himself, but now he'd have her by his side. That alone seemed to promise a much brighter future for this voyage than what he had imagined so far…
Ty Lee and Haru climbed off the deck, and the sailors removed the ramp after they did. It took a little time for the ship to begin moving, time that Suki and Zuko spent embracing one another tightly, finally calming down after a most stressful day for both of them. The two of them waved at Ty Lee and Haru as the ship started making its way through the sea, and they were amused to find that the more emotional of the pair on land was the earthbender, who was even crying as he watched them leave. Ty Lee rolled her eyes at him but smiled, hugging his arm tight as she waved with her free hand. It was hard to say when Zuko and Suki would return… but this was for the best, Ty Lee was convinced of it, just as both Suki and Zuko were. This journey was a brand-new beginning for them.
From that day forth, their destinies were joined together definitely. They had chosen to make it so, for they had chosen one another for good. From here onwards, they would be more than ready to face everything fate might bring for them, together.
A/N:
So here we are! Since this is in the Avatarverse we couldn't have a cliché airport scene, so instead we have it at the Capital's bay. As many of you guessed, indeed, the obvious thing would be for Suki to join Zuko in his travels, so, despite his initial protests, there she goes! :D
Anyways, thanks to all of you for keeping up with this story so far. We're past one million words already! How ridiculous is that? xD
In any case, there's still a lot more to come, so this ride is nowhere close to finished. In fact… I think I've mentioned it before, whether here or on my blog, but I usually break down this story in three parts in my head (don't worry, that's in regards of my mind, I'm not going to make a sequel fic, it's all going to stay here), and you see, we're only about to finish the first one.
I can't promise that the next two parts will be of the same length, they probably will be a little shorter, but I do know that there are many fun things in store for the rest of this fic. Stick around and you'll see them for yourselves! :D
Anyhow, we're around fifty reviews away from 2500, which is the milestone that will lead us to our third Reviews Party. If you're new to this crazy fic, and you missed out on the Author's Notes in two of our previous chapters, you may not know what this means… well, the Reviews Party is an event I hold over at my Tumblr and Gladiator's Tumblr (the links to both are in my profile, erase the spaces and you'll get there). There's no need to have an account of your own, you can simply head into either blog, hit the link that leads to the askbox and ask absolutely anything you want to know about this story. I will likely hold this Reviews Party for at least two days, so you'll have forty-eight hours to hit me with ANY question, no matter what it is, and I will answer as truthfully as I can. Granted I'll try to keep certain things hidden xD but I'll do my best to reply to every ask as honestly as possible. Of course, you can just not participate if you don't want to, but whoever does is free to join in with the craziness!
There have been several questions I've gotten that I haven't answered, likely because they were far too spoilery to be replied to outside of a Reviews Party, so if you sent one of those unanswered questions, feel free to send them again once the Party begins (most of them have gotten lost in the depths of my inbox, sadly, and trying to find them would be kind of hopeless at this point…) and this time I will answer them for sure.
I will be announcing when the Party begins, but it will only start once that review counter is at 2500! Depending on my schedule, I'll set the dates for replying to the questions. I'll let you guys know when the party will start on the update after we hit 2500. Though I really think/hope we'll hold the Party after chapter 97… I suspect that one chapter might have the answer to a certain question that a lot of you have been asking since you opened this fic for the first time XD just bear with me for a little longer! Well, you always have, such patient readers… you guys are really great!
So, in any case, thank you very much for all your support so far! And 2500 Reviews Party, here we come!