CHAPTER 19

Sokka was very startled by Zuko's words. For a moment, he thought he might have heard his friend wrong, but just by looking at his expression, he knew he had totally meant what he said.

He stood there not knowing how to respond.

He blinked with confusion. "What? Why are you asking that?" he asked, astounded and perplexed.

Zuko had a dejected posture. He was slouching forward with his elbows over his knees. He was staring at his hands. "It's just… I can't stop thinking that… if something happens to Suki and the girls, it would be my fault." he muttered. The concern in his voice was really noticeable, and Sokka felt bad for his buddy.

Sokka clasped his shoulder. "Zuko, no… Don't think that way," he said, trying to sound as comforting as he possibly could.

"I just…" the Fire Lord rubbed his face with a hand and placed it under his chin. "I can't stop thinking about it. I can't stop thinking that all this was my fault."

"Zuko…" Sokka was trying to find the right words to use, but Zuko continued.

"What happened in Yu Dao, you got hurt because I didn't tell Azula what was happening," he continued. "I was the one that asked the warriors to investigate the Dai Li through the city, and if…" he took a deep breath, dropping his head. "If something happens to one of them while they are out there trying to get information to help us, to help me, I… I don't know. I'm thinking of the worst-case scenario and…"

Sokka could understand the concern of his friend. After what had happened in the past few days, it was not hard. Just thinking that Suki, Ty Lee, or any of the girls could end up like Seiko, made his body shiver.

The Dai Li were no ordinary foes. On the scale of creepiness they surpassed even Fire Lord Ozai. Ozai had been a powerful enemy, cruel and ruthless. But the Dai Li were somber manipulators, and he was sure that they would be willing to achieve their objectives by any means necessary. After all, they had hypnotized hundreds of citizens for decades while they had been ruling Ba Sing Se from the shadows.

Still, his pessimistic friend didn't need to listen to his worries right now, that would only make everything worse. Instead, he needed to encourage him. Even if just a little.

"Buddy, you shouldn't think like that," he advised him. "You're just thinking way ahead. You talked with Suki and the girls and they know what they are getting into. Also, you're underestimating them, they're smart, excellent fighters, and amazing warriors. If someone can deal with the Dai Li, it's them."

He had tried to sound confident in his words. He knew the girls were amazing warriors, all of them capable and fearless. However, the Dai Li were no ordinary earthbenders, they were the best of the best. Very capable men and scary as hell masters. They were probably just right behind Toph in sheer ability.

And there was also another factor that worried him. None of the girls were benders. Yes, all of them had experience fighting masters, -most of all Ty Lee with her chi-blocking abilities- they were outstanding, but even the Gaang had had trouble dealing with them.

Zuko bit his lower lip. "I know, but… what if we're also underestimating them?" he inquired, looking at Sokka. "We don't know what they are capable of… well, no actually we know," he corrected himself, straightening his back and staring at his sister. "They almost killed Azula. And they killed Seiko, a young innocent girl just because… well, just because…"

Sokka gulped. His eyes glancing in the same direction as the Fire Lord. Azula was still sleeping.

"But it wasn't your fault," he said after a moment, returning his attention to his downcast friend. "And it won't be again if something, and I'm not saying it will, happens to the girls."

Zuko fixed his gaze on his friend for a second, before lowering his head again. "But I'm the one that asked for their help. I put them in this mess."

"Yes. And they're helping you because they want to help you, not because they owe you," Sokka leaned towards him. "They are helping you because they are your friends and care about you. Zuko, we're all helping you because we care about you. About your safety and now... about Azula's too."

"I know," he muttered, pressing his lips in a thin line. "It's just… I might be so worked up about this because… She's my sister, you know?"

Sokka smirked. "Yes, I'm well aware of that," he said, trying to lighten his mood, at least a bit.

A faint smile appeared in the corner of Zuko's lips before disappearing. "No, I mean… What would you have done if it had been Katara?" he asked, truly intrigued by what he might say.

The question had taken him by surprise. But he knew exactly how to reply, and he was honest with his answer. Even his posture changed a little and his expression turned serious.

"I would have hunted down the bastards and made them pay," he said firmly, without a flinch.

"Exactly. Yet, I haven't been able to do that. And I feel awful," Zuko admitted, honestly. His attention returned to his sibling. "Every time I close my eyes, I can see the terror in her face when you were holding her, and she couldn't stop vomiting blood. She was so confused, and it was an expression I have never seen on her before, but I know I…"

"You don't want to see it again, do you?" Sokka finished, calmly. He had felt the same way.

"Never again," said the Fire Lord, looking at the Princess with nostalgia. "For me, she was always my little sister. The one that could easily kick my ass. She was who my father and everyone else praised. The Perfect Princess. Smart. Strong. And even after her breakdown, I still saw her… untouchable, you know? But then, this happened and… I realized she's just as vulnerable as any of us."

For him, Azula always had this image of control, perfection, of power. But the day prior, instead of all that, he had only seen a girl, afraid of dying, scared by not knowing what was happening and without being able to do something about it.

Sokka smirked, crossing his arms and leaning back in the chair, taking a glimpse at the Princess. "I'm sure she would kick you in the balls if she heard you using the word 'vulnerable' to refer to her," he said.

"I'm sure too," said Zuko with a little smile, then he turned towards his friend again. "Sokka, it's just… after everything we've gone through, everything that had happened between us… I felt for a moment that I was getting my little sister back.

That I was getting the girl that used to wrap herself under the covers and hide in a corner of her bedroom after being scolded. The little girl that would ask me to sleep with her and keep her company whenever she felt down. Or the annoying little sister that would beat me whenever we played in the gardens," his words were charged with melancholy. "But I ruined it, I keep ruining it." he dropped again his head, crestfallen.

Sokka sighed. He would have loved to keep listening about little Azula. To keep listening about her early years, but right now his friend needed to be cheered up.

He dragged his chair closer to the Fire Lord and patted him on the back.

"Zuko, I think right now, you need to go back to your room and rest," he suggested to him. "You are overthinking everything. Nothing about this is your fault. Not what happened to Seiko. Not what happened in Yu Dao. And neither what happened to Azula.

"And about your fight, it's just a simple fight," he continued. "Nothing you guys can't resolve by talking it through like adults. And I mean, I believe this is your chance. She pretty much can't avoid you right now. So, when she wakes, I suggest you talk to her and make amends, like grownups."

"Did you get a chance to talk to her? About… leaving the Palace when we return?" Zuko questioned him in a low voice.

The warrior shook his head in denial. "I'm sorry, I didn't. But you can do it yourself. I'm sure that you are the only one that can convince her otherwise. You convinced her to return to the Palace, didn't you? I believe you can do it again." he encouraged him.

The Fire Lord took a deep breath. "I suppose I could try. I asked for my uncle's advice and he pretty much said the same thing," he informed him, clasping his shoulder the same way he was doing it. "Thank you, buddy. You're getting wiser and wiser every day."

He had noticed that lately whenever he needed advice about Azula he would go to Sokka for it. Maybe, because of all his friends, he was the only one who could truly understand him and his sibling's struggles. Or maybe because he had noticed that Sokka was one of the few people that could understand how Azula's mind worked the closest. But whatever reason he had, he didn't regret reaching for him, after all, after every single one of their talks he would end up somehow feeling better.

Sokka shrugged and smiled cockily. "I have always been wise," he said, proudly. Zuko grimaced. "In my particular way."

He chuckled. "Very particular. I will say. But either way, thank you," he said, very thankful for once more listening to his complaints, problems, and worries. "For all of it. You've been a really good friend to her. You two have grown close to each other, haven't you?"

For an odd reason, his heartbeat raised, and he could feel his ears getting hotter. He gulped, nervously. "Yeah, w-well you could say we have..." he pattered his fingers with an anxious expression. "I-I'm only being nice."

"Well, I guess that's just what she needed. Someone being nice to her," said Zuko "Also, your humor it's kind of similar."

A little snicker escaped the water boy's lips as his glance went to the floor. "A lot of people have been telling me that lately," he uttered in a low voice.

"Well, it's true. Thank you, again." Zuko gave him an honest smile.

"No problem buddy," he said, smiling back the same way. "Whenever you need me, I will always be there for you."

As he knew he would be there for him, too.

"I appreciate it. And same," he replied.

"Awww…" a voice full of mockery exclaimed, making them turn towards the owner. "Are you two going to kiss or what?" Azula teased them, staring at them from the bed with a little mischievous glance.

"When did you wake up?" Sokka interrogated her, frowning. But pleased that she had woken up, again.

"Just now to find a very surprising scene. But don't mind me, go ahead with... Whatever you were doing" she said mockingly, waving a hand to make them keep going as she arranged herself in the bed into a more comfortable position to enjoy the 'show'.

Both boys rolled their eyes, annoyed. "We were doing nothing." her brother stated.

"Don't be shy," she said before turning towards Sokka with a little malice. "Now, I know why you came to our morning trainings."

"Azula!" Sokka complained, astounded by her assumption.

Zuko clapped his shoulder. "Leave her! She is just messing around."

"I'm not," she denied, deadpanned. "I mean, it was time for you to move on from Mai and if you want to do it with him, who am I to get in the way of love…?" she shrugged, amused.

"Oh, shut up!" both boys exclaimed, grunting at the same time.

Zuko sighed. "At least it's good to know that you are just fine enough to start pissing people off," he said.

"Like she couldn't do it in her sleep," Sokka muttered, annoyed.

Azula made a grin and nodded. "He has a point."

The Fire Lord's lips corners curled into a little smile. "Well, either way, it's good to see you awake," he said, standing right next to the bed with his arms crossed over his chest. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I threw up half of my blood," she said with a grimace. "But, fine… I think."

In fact, she couldn't tell a hundred percent if she truly felt better as she hasn't tried to stand up. Her head still felt a little funny, like if it was floating. And the black spots had diminished, probably thanks to the meals she had gotten and the plenty of hours of forced rest she had gotten the past two days thanks to the drug her uncle had given her.

"I'm glad to hear that," said Zuko with a heartwarming smile. "I-I… I was wondering if we could talk?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

She raised her eyebrows. "About what?" she replied, bitterly.

Sokka cleared his throat to break for a moment their fixed attention between each other. "I'll leave you two alone. I should go get a quick bath and stretch my legs. I'll see you both in a bit." he said. He knew they had issues they needed to talk about, and it was better if they did that alone.

"Thanks Sokka." Zuko said.

"No problem." was the last thing he said before closing the door behind him. For a moment he pondered about listening behind the door. But quickly resisted the idea when he realized he did indeed need to take a bath.

"About what you said yesterday…" the Fire Lord began, "About you leaving the palace. A-Are you still thinking about it?" he asked, warily.

Azula took a moment to reply. She stared at her hands on her lap. She had said those words in an outburst of fury. She was angry at him and wanted to be left alone, but now, did she truly mean those words?

"Yeah. It's for the best," she replied in a low voice, finally.

Zuko reached for her hand. "No, Azula it's not for the best," he stated firmly, looking at her in the eyes. Somehow, he had to change her mind.

She avoided his glance and removed her hand from his grasp. "Zuko… I'm tired," she muttered. "I'm tired of the fighting, of the discussions, the lies."

She had lied, without a problem, the biggest part of her life, but after she had agreed to return to the Palace, she had agreed to not do it anymore. However, one way or another, they keep lying to each other.

"Lies?" he was a little taken back.

"You say you trust me, but it's crystal clear you don't," she declared and didn't allow him to refute. "And I'm tired of you seeing me as the enemy when I have worked so hard to prove to you I'm not. Because no matter what I do, you don't seem to believe me."

Her words were like arrows to him. Arrows filled with truth.

"I care. I do. I swear," he assured her. "I can prove it to you."

She shook her head with a small, sad smile. "No. You say you trust me, but you don't. And I'm exhausted. I just... I tried to trick myself too, you know?" she said, sadly. "I tried to believe your words, that we could be a family, but we are so damaged that I don't think we can

He shook his head and reached for her hand again. "Don't say that. We can always be a family," his words were an entreaty for her to believe in him. "Please, don't go. I'm begging you. In the past year, we have spent more time together than ever before and I know we both have our issues, but we can work through them. I'll try to, I promise I will." he said, practically begging.

After everything they had accomplished. After all the progress they had done regarding their relationship, he couldn't simply allow her to go, to disappear from his life again. For the past year, he had gotten used to having her around, he couldn't imagine going back and not having her close.

She was his sister. His little sister. His family. And he didn't want to lose his family.

"I-I…"

"I'll do better, I promise," he continued. "You were right. You were a better sibling to me than I was to you, but I never cared about seeing it. I swear I'll try my best. I… I'll even allow you to see our father. I have no problem with that anymore. And yes, I was an idiot for not listening to your explanation, and I'm so sorry. But please… Kiyi adores you, and she would be devastated if you leave. Mom too. And me."

"Zuko…"

"Please, you don't need to say anything right now, but…" he gulped. "But please, just promise you will think about it as we return. Please…"

Azula remained in silence for a while, just letting her brother's words sink in. Finally, she opened her mouth. "I-I will think about it," she muttered at last.

He couldn't be more pleased with her reply. That's all he wanted, all he needed, time to convince her to stay. To promise her that he wasn't that insecure, distrustful brother anymore. And that they could trust each other. "And that's all I'm asking for," he replied, hopeful.

…

And just like that, in the blink of an eye, a week passed.

Zuko's friend would eventually come around to check up on her. Most likely they were just trying to be polite and civilized. Either way, she felt thankful for it.

Her uncle came three times to check on her, and during one of his visits, he even brought tablea to cheer her up and also some fortune cookies that Sokka ended up devouring when he thought she wasn't looking.

Zuko informed her they had kept the poisoning a secret from Kiyi and their mother to not worry them and whenever they would ask him about the Princess, he'd make an excuse for them.

He had also informed her that thanks to Kuei's suggestion, the meeting of that week had been suspended until her full recover. According to her she was well by the third day, but when she had tried to stand, she had gotten dizzy and almost fell to the floor.

Sokka opened the door when nobody answered from the inside, finding it odd since he assumed Azula was inside. His eyes scanned the room only to find it empty and his heart sped up, thinking the worst.

"Oh, good. You're here," said Azula, walking out of the bathroom fully dressed and arranging her hair. "By any chance, do you remember what we discussed the previous meeting? This is the last one and I can't afford to leave any details out."

Sokka quirked a brow. "Why are you dressed up? And where the hell do you think you're going?" he inquired, placing his hands on his hips.

"Did you hit your head?" she asked, glancing at him through the reflection of her mirror. "To the meeting. It's the last day," she said like if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh, didn't Zuko tell you?"

She froze and turned around to face him. "Didn't Zuko tell me what?" she questioned him, intrigued.

"He sent me here because he doesn't want you to take part in it," he said. "He believes you're still recovering and that you could use an extra day to rest."

"What?!" she squealed, standing up.

Sokka raised his hands. "Don't kill the messenger," Sokka said, grabbing her by the shoulders.

"He is a fool if he thought for a second that I'd just agree to stay here," she said when he made her sit on the bed. "And what are you doing?" the Princess asked when he raised her legs over the bed.

He ignored her last question. "That's what I told him; that there was no way you would miss this meeting, but he said he was going to come himself to tell you."

She stood up. "Like if that is going to change my mind," Sokka placed his hands on her shoulders again and forced her to sit back on the mattress. She stood up once more. "I need to take part in the last meeting at least," she said, but when she finished Sokka shoved her back onto the mattress.

"Zuko will be fine. He can negotiate alone," he stated after taking a deep breath. He was truly taking into consideration to tie her to the bed. Maybe that would be a better solution than to fight against her.

Azula glanced at him with disbelief. "Seriously? Have you seen my brother negotiate? I would be surprised if he hasn't sold the Fire Nation already."

"You… you know what? You do kind of make a significant point. Even so, no. Your brother said that you should rest until you are totally fine. You're still weak." he said, firmly. Standing before her bed in case she attempted to stand once more.

"I'm strong enough to beat your ass." she exclaimed with mockery.

"And that…"

"Hey," said Zuko, walking into the room just in time to stop their bickering.

Sokka sighed, relieved. "Thank the spirits, you're here. She keeps insisting about going. Tell her something." he pleaded Zuko.

"I'm going," said Azula, raising her chin with defiance.

"No, you are not," replied Zuko, glancing at her fixedly.

"Yes, I am."

The Fire Lord rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Azula, no. I'm your brother and you're still weak. Just one meeting. Nothing big will happen if you skip this one."

"It's the last meeting, Zuko. For all I know you could have agreed to any nonsense the other leaders convinced you of," she said, standing up and pushing Sokka aside without reservation.

"Azula. You're not going," he said, trying to sound authoritative.

"I am." said the Princess, staring at her reflection in the mirror, finishing up her appearance.

"You are not."

"I am. And there is nothing you can do to stop me. Funny of you to think that you could stop me." she pointed out, sneering.

Zuko raised his hands with exasperation, trying to remain calm. "Sokka, please. A little support?" he said, begging for some backup.

"Yeah, well, I think…" he began when Azula opened one of her drawers, taking something and extending her arm towards him. He glanced at her, confused, reaching for whatever she was giving him.

"Here's a copper piece for your thoughts," she said, placing a rounded copper piece on his palm. "And a golden one to not tell them." she placed a bigger, shinier one.

"Hey, that's not nice!" he complained. She had practically told him to shut up and she had even paid him to do it!

Azula rolled her eyes. "Surprise, surprise."

"Why do you always do these kinds of things?" Sokka refuted, grunting.

"What kinds of things?" she asked, glancing at him.

"I was about to help you, you know?!" he squealed, annoyed.

The Princess huffed, placing a hand on her hip. "Oh yeah, sure, Captain Savior. Go ahead then," she said, mockingly.

Sokka crossed his arms, indignant. "No. I won't do it," he pouted, glancing away "You hurt my feelings."

"Really? How old are you, five?" said Azula, teasingly.

"H-How old are you, fifty... twelve?" he refuted, struggling to connect his mouth with his brain.

She scoffed. "The correct number would be sixty-two. Seriously, how dumb are you?" she said under her breath, vexed.

"Stop insulting me!" he chided her.

Zuko rubbed his temple. Listening to them bicker was the last thing he wished to do.

"I'm not insulting you," she corrected him. "I'm describing you."

"I can't believe I spent a week worried about you. You little, ungrateful..." he snarled, riled.

"I'm not ungrateful." Azula retorted.

The Fire Lord closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was losing his patience.

"You are!" he accused her, "Otherwise you wouldn't insult me!"

"Shut up already, I swear I'll chain you two together!" Zuko intervened with a threat, making them stop their bickering and turn their attention towards him. Both of them glanced at him with their mouths open.

He was tired of listening to them fight all the time.

"You wouldn't dare," said Sokka, narrowing his eyes, trying to guess if it was an empty threat or if he was going to do it.

"You're bluffing," Azula replied.

"Am I really?" he said, raising his eyes defiantly.

"He's bluffing," said the Princess, glancing at Sokka deadpanned.

"Don't tempt me!" Zuko warned them, frowning. "And no. You're not going. Stay and rest!".

Then Sokka remembered something that might be useful.

"So cute. You think you can boss me," she said with derision, looking through her nightstand for something to finally get going.

"You know, I didn't want to do this, but Zuko gave me the idea," said Sokka, before handcuffing her wrist and locking the other end to the nightstand.

"Hey!" she squeaked when she noticed her stuck hand.

"You can kill me later," said the warrior, taking a few steps back, away from her claws.

"You better be sure I will!" she grunted, "Let me go!" she commanded.

He shrugged. "Sorry, no can do," he said with a little smirk.

"Sokka!"

"Thank you," the Fire Lord thanked him, pleased. "Let's go before she begins to throw fireballs at us."

"You two," grunted the Princess, coldly making them stop and turn in her direction. "Aren't you forgetting something?" she said, twirling the handcuffs on one of her fingers, the same ones which were imprisoning her.

Their jaws dropped. She was free.

"How did you free yourself?" asked Sokka, astounded

"You'd seriously think, that after I was chained up during Sozin's Comet, in Lian Yu and other times, I wouldn't find out a way to break almost every chain? I learned lock-picking," she said, raising an eyebrow as she walked towards them. "Nice try, though," she said, shoving the handcuff in his chest, before heading out of the room.

"You love degrading me like this, don't you?" Zuko complained as they trailed behind her, as heading towards the meeting room.

"Are you noticing that just now?" said Azula, quirking a brow.

"Tsk! Fine. I'm giving you this one." the Fire Lord acceded, reluctantly. Either way, she wasn't going to listen to him.

"Yeah, giving…" she said with a hint of mockery.

"But as soon as the meeting is over, you are going back to your room to rest," said Zuko, standing in front of her, blocking her way, very serious.

"I'm not a baby, you know?" Azula refuted, getting annoyed by his overprotective attitude.

"Well, you're acting as one, so…" he crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows.

"Excuse me?" she mirrored his actions.

Zuko's friends, who were talking in the little lounge outside the meeting room, had just noticed their arrival.

"You heard me."

The Princess rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, sure. Just so you know, Zuko, you're being a brat." she pointed out.

"I'm the Fire Lord," he said, tilting his head. A brat? "And your brother!" he snapped.

"So?" she replied, deadpanned. "And just so you know Fire Lord; I'm filing a complaint against your abuse of power," she complained.

"A complaint?" his eyes widened.

Sokka stepped in, smiling about finally having the opportunity to use a joke he had been dying to tell. "Listen, Princess, you must be this tall," he placed his hand approximately twenty centimeters above Azula's head, "For your complaint to be taken seriously."

Everyone's jaw fell.

Azula slowly widened her eyes, wondering if she had heard that right and he had just made a joke about her height. "What?" she asked between gritted teeth.

"Yikes," muttered Zuko, gulping hard.

"Oh-huh," said Aang.

"He finally did it," Toph said, leaning back in her chair, ready to enjoy the show.

Katara stared at her brother worried. "He dared to..."

The Princess huffed sarcastically, surprising everyone as they were more likely waiting for an aggressive response. "That's the best you could come up with? Pathetic," she said, before brushing her hair off her shoulder, turning around, and smacking him with it.

Sokka smiled. "Oh, I have more from where that one came, Princess, don't worry." he guaranteed.

Instead of taking a seat on one of the free couches, the Princess headed first to the girl sitting two spots next to Sokka. She extended her a book. She had asked to have it brought from the library of the Barge.

"Here," said Azula to the waterbender, who glanced at her, perplexed. "I heard you're into medicinal stuff. It's about wound treatments and healing techniques from all four nations. It also includes a list of medicinal herbs. And other stuff you might find interesting."

Katara stared at the Princess for a moment.

"Do you want it or not?" said the Princess, offering her the book, expressionless.

Sokka's sibling blinked, amazed. "Yeah, thanks, really," she replied, grabbing it with both her hands. Since Katara had begun to help in the clinic in their Tribe, her interest in healing procedures had increased enormously. And that book was just what she needed.

Even though she was thankful for the book, the Princess' gesture confused her.

"But why?" she muttered.

"Well," Azula began, "I heard you helped me clean up the other day, and also, your brother forced you to heal me twice, and I hate owing people favors. So, with that, we are even."

"Alright," said Katara. "If it's fine with you, it's fine with me."

"Good." and with that, she turned around and dropped in the empty seat next to the water boy.

"Trying to win the in-law?" teased Toph.

Sokka scoffed, annoyed.

"Huh" Azula glanced at her, narrowing her eyes.

"What?"

"I'm thinking how you'd without eyebrows?" she said in a menacing tone. "Keep pushing my buttons and we'll soon find out. Why do you keep teasing us?"

"Oh, come on, Prissy. Like it isn't obvious. Snoozles loves sleeping in, yet he wakes up every morning to go see you guys train and he spent almost all week by your side." Toph exclaimed.

"Do I need to remind you that I'm not the only one training in the morning? Zuko is there too. Not to mention that he takes whatever opportunity he can to take his shirt off so… For all I know he could be doing it for him, not me," Azula stated, teasingly studying her nails.

Katara's attention turned towards them. "What?!" she squealed.

The earthbender laughed.

"Oh, yeah. We didn't tell you, sis?" said Sokka, jokingly reaching over for Zuko's hand next to him. The Fire Lord smiled, following the game. It was always fun to mess with Katara. "We are in love, right sweety?" he said sweety, with the same annoying tone her sibling always used with Aang.

"Of course, Sweety," Zuko replied, winking an eye at him, jokingly.

"Sokka," said Katara, grimacing, annoyed. "You are not gay," she stated.

Sokka opened his mouth, stunned. Affronted. "I could be."

"Not dressed like that," she said, making everyone except him laugh.

Sokka pouted. "So, then what? What could he be?" he asked, referring to Zuko.

"Well… He does kind of dress nicely." Azula began.

"Not even a word," Zuko warned her. She raised her hands defensibly.

Katara pressed her lips in a thin line as she studied Zuko. "Well, I have to say that I would find it more believable coming from him."

"Hey!" he complained.

The Princess failed to repress a loud laugh.

"I mean, he has better hair than I do." complained the waterbender.

"I know, right?" agreed Azula with her statement. "We both go to the Royal Spa, yet, somehow he manages to keep his hair shinier than me."

Zuko blushed, deeply.

"Ugh… I know the feeling. Back in the tribe, Sokka would use the same soap he used to wash his ass with to wash his hair, and somehow, it was smoother than mine," said Katara, "And now, after the war, he began to seriously take care of his hair and he keeps like eight different bottles of shampoo in the bathroom."

"I told you! Each bottle targets a different problem!" he exclaimed, annoyed, "Frizz, dryness, split ends… And I mean, of course I'm going to take care of my hair. It's eighty percent of my charm."

"You have as much charm in all your body, Snoozles, as I have in my pinkie." Toph sneered.

"Shut it!"

And like that, their conversation died off. At least for a while, until it was Sokka, the same one to talk again.

"By the way, Zuko, you still owe me a rematch," he said.

Zuko frowned. "A rematch? Of what?" he asked.

"Of the sword-kai, remember?"

"Oh, dear spirits, here we go again," Katara complained.

Zuko shook his head with a smirk. "I told you once, and I'm telling you again I'm way over your level. "

"I bet I caught up with you in these years."

"I doubt that. I trained with Azula since last year. So… yeah, I don't think so," said the Fire Lord, "Sorry, pal."

"What are these two girls fighting about?" Azula inquired to the rest of them.

"After Zuko joined us during the war and Sokka found out he had been trained by Master Piandao as well as him," said Aang. "He became obsessed with fighting him to find out who was the best swordmaster. Of course, Sokka lost as he had barely months of training while Zuko had years."

"And since then, he just keeps daring him to another 'Sword Kai' as they called it," Katara said. "Remember the first day? They fought for the same."

"Ah… true." muttered the Princess.

"Let's see how good you are. Come on," said Sokka, standing up in a jump.

"Seriously?" Katara and Azula said annoyed. One rubbing her temple and the other one shaking her head annoyed. "Again?"

"Why are you doing this again, before the meeting and not after? Didn't you two learn your lessons last time?" the Princess retorted.

"Don't you want to see your brother get his ass kicked?" Sokka asked.

"Why would I want to see something that I have seen almost every day during the past year?" she refuted. "And there is no fun in watching you do it."

"Oh, Oh I know, guys!" Aang interfered. "Why not we do this after the meeting and, to make it more interesting, we make beats, huh?" he proposed.

"Yeah, I like that…" said Sokka, surrounding the Avatar by the shoulders. "And you, my friend would be the referee and…"

"I'll never understand how these three ended the war," Azula grunted, rubbing the bridge of her nose, with her arms crossed over her chest.

"And one of them defeated your father, the evilest man alive," said Toph.

"I know. I mean, it's obvious these three share one brain cell," she snarled, staring at them. "Any guesses whose turn it is today?" she asked as the Avatar's eyes shined with excitement about something stupid. "Never mind, I'm having a day off. Seriously, how? How did they end the war?" she raised her arms with disbelief.

Just by looking at them and how dumb they seemed, she couldn't still believe these three morons ended the war.

"Honestly, it was mostly lucky shots, and improvising," Katara admitted with a shrug.

"Also, having a flying bison helps," Toph added.

"... Let's go, then. Let's see who the best swordmaster is," said Sokka, confident.

"Good morning everyone." King Kuei greeted them all, returning the three oafs to reality. "Shall we?" he said, leading them inside the room.

"Zuko," Azula called her brother before he walked inside the room. He raised his eyebrows. "I need to ask you a favor… Just like before all this mess, please let me do the talking," she asked him.

He frowned at her petition and crossed his arms over his chest. "What are you…?"

She sighed. "Look Zuko, no offense but even though you have been doing a decent job as Fire Lord, -I know, shocker-… Your negotiation skills could use some polishing."

It was the last meeting, and she was asking for his support in something simple. It was their last chance to get the maximum profit of every deal the Fire Nation was getting into. And she'd make sure of that.

"Hey…" he complained.

"Please, just… shut up, okay?" she pleaded. "I will negotiate. You know I'm better at this and at solving crises."

"I'm good too," he replied, vexed.

She crossed her arms and quirked a brow. "Really?"

"Yeah…" he nodded.

"I can make you a list of reasons why I don't want you to talk." said the Princess, bitterly.

"You… What?! A list?!"

"Yeah… Do you want it chronologically or alphabetically?" she asked, expressionless.

"It's not like that my rule has had many crises." the Fire Lord remarked, riled.

Azula placed a hand under her chin. "Let's see… Hmph, you managed to almost begin a new world war, a year after you helped to end the Hundred Year War…" she recalled, raising a finger.

"That was a misunderstanding." he defended himself.

She raised a second finger. "You managed to piss off a spirit that changes faces…"

"That was Aang's and yours doing too," he remarked.

Azula raised a third finger, ignoring him. "You suffered several assassination attempts…. And not to mention you put the capital under a curfew…" she remembered him, matter-of-factly.

"Because children were disappearing!" Zuko raised his voice. "And that was your doing!" he nodded, irritated towards her. Again, she ignored him and raised a fourth finger.

"You had break out at the Asylum," she said, even though she was guilty for that one.

Zuko closed his eyes, trying to keep calm and not lose his patience. "Again, your doing!" he said, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Yes! And they were six girls -a couple of them with no bending I must add- and you didn't handle it very well, should I remind you of that?"

"Fine, fine, I get your point," he said, defeated. "So, you are not letting me talk? At all?"

Azula took a moment to reply. "No, you can talk. After all, your idealist ideas aren't always that bad," she said, before heading inside the meeting room, where everyone was waiting for them. "Just please, trust me on this. Can you do that?" she asked.

A brief smile appeared on Zuko's lips. "Of course, I can do that," he said, whole-heartedly.

He wasn't dumb. He knew Azula was still upset about their fight, even after everything that had happened. Yet, he couldn't blame her. And now, with that little request she was asking of him, he would try and prove he trusts her.

"I'm glad to see that you seem to be recovering well, Princess Azula," said Kuei, as she took her seat.

"The staff has been really helpful, thank you," she replied with a brief nod.

"I heard from my son that you suffered tremendous blood loss, are you sure you are faring well?" Chief Hakoda asked politely, with a slight tone of concern in his voice. "Judging from the tone of concern Sokka used every time he told me about your state, I was almost afraid you would not make it."

"D-Dad!" Sokka squealed. "T-That's not… That's not true!" he waved his hand frantically, trying to avoid Azula's glance. "I-I wasn't that worried about it… I mean, I was worried, but not like that… My dad is overreacting." he said with a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.

The Princess raised her eyebrows, staring at him.

"Am I?" said Hakoda, leaning back on the chair, and crossing his arms over his chest. "Then, why did you look so gloomy every time I found you in the hallways outside of her room for the past week?"

"W-Well, she was dangerously poisoned. Of course, I was worried!" he exclaimed. "I'd have been worried for any of my beloved friends."

The chief raised a brow. "Really?" he inquired.

"Yes!" Sokka exclaimed.

"Alright!" said his father, raising his arms in defeat, but with a smile. Even if his son didn't know yet, what was the reason behind all the sudden worry for the Princess, he hoped he would eventually find out. "Oh, by the way son, before I forget it," he said, getting something out of his pocket, "Yuta, one of the tribe's youngest is turning four next month, and before departing he asked me for a special favor."

"What favor?"

"Both of you. From you and your sister," he said, and Katara turned at him. He unrolled a blank scroll. "As you two are the heroes of our tribe, he asked for your autographs," he explained, proud of his children.

Both siblings widened their eyes, stunned. "Really?" they said.

"Yes, and he hopes to see you soon at the tribe, as well as another dozen of kids." said the Chief with a proud smile.

Katara and Sokka shared a wide smile.

"Oh, gosh!" Azula complained, rubbing her forehead. "I'm sure it's going to go to your head, huh?"

Sokka frowned. "What are you talking about? It's not going to get to my head!" he exclaimed.

"Tsk!" she groaned, "It already has, hasn't it?"

His jaw fell. "N-No!"

She shook her head. "It has," she affirmed.

"Shut up!" he grunted before taking the brush and writing his name in the scroll next to Katara's.

"Huh…" muttered the Princess.

"What now?" Sokka said between teeth, a little annoyed.

"I didn't know you could use both hands." pointed the Princess, after she realized he had written his name with his left arm.

"Oh…." he relaxed, dropping his shoulders. "Yeah, I'm ambidextrous," he said.

"Really, Sokka?" Aang asked, amazed at the other end of the table. Everyone had been listening to their conversation. The Princess reached for the water in front of her.

The warrior shrugged. "Yeah, why?" he frowned, puzzled by the monk's reaction.

Aang smiled. "Well, if you're happy. We are happy no matter who you date!" he stated, happily.

Azula almost spouted her drink. Toph laughed. Zuko's jaw fell. The water tribe people blinked, astonished.

"Aang!" Sokka yelled.

"The monks taught me acceptance and love, no matter who or how." the innocent Avatar, continued.

"Baldy," said the Princess. "Being ambidextrous means he can use both hands equally."

"Oh," the Avatar muttered, before smiling. "Either way, I stand by my statement," he said, making a few people snicker.

"Can we please begin with this before the Avatar makes another wrong assumption?" Azula proposed.

"Agreed," said Sokka.

"Alright," said Kuei, "I would like to welcome you all to our last meeting, and before anything I wish to thank everyone for everything we have accomplished during the past month. I'm sure and we can all agree that Republic City would be the first among many cities to come where benders and non-benders from every nation can live peacefully."

And like that, the last meeting began.

"... So the Earth Kingdom will be in charge of 50% of the total and…" said one of Kuei's advisors when he was interrupted.

"No," said Princess Azula coldly as she twisted the pen in her hand.

"Pardon?" he asked, blinking, confused.

"I said; no." the Princess repeated with the same tone.

"Azula…" muttered Zuko next to her.

She ignored him and supported her elbows on the table, entangling her fingers. "I'm sorry, but I do not agree with that condition," she said, stoic. All eyes fell on her.

"Why not?" the advisor, asked, intrigued. "May I ask?"

"Yes," she said, looking down at her documents. "The new city will be located in the Earth Kingdom lands, specifically in the renamed Cranefish Town -now called Republic City-," she said, reading out loud. "Which happened to be a Fire Nation colony that prospered. Am I right?" she asked, glancing around.

"Yes." the advisor affirmed, while some others only nodded.

"This deal is supposed to benefit all the nations equally, correct?" she said with her glance fixed on the man before her. Yet, she noticed everyone else also agreeing. "However, why, is the Earth Kingdom taking half of the profits? Is it just because it would be their grounds?"

"W-Well… yeah, in a part…"

"And what will you propose to the Princess?" asked Chief Hakoda, intrigued by his words. Still, he had thought the same since the first moment.

Azula leaned back in her chair. "Let's see... For starters, the Water Tribes will provide medical care, as well as fishing, and will be in charge of managing the ports," she looked down at the documents before her again. "The Earth Kingdom will provide the grounds for agriculture and the livestock, as well as expropriating some lands. The Fire Nation is in charge of the fabrics, spices, metal, machines, and mass production. Am I right?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, for me it looks like we are all going to be providing the same," she said, "Then why does the Earth Kingdom get the biggest part? That's the thing I don't understand."

"Because it's their land," said Zuko next to her.

"Yeah, I get that," said Azula. "But while I was traveling during the war..."

"More like chasing us," Sokka commented and receiving a deadly glance from the Princess part. "Bad joke, I'm sorry." he apologized.

Azula sighed and continued. "I came across a couple of poor and decadent towns…"

"That's because we were at war." another Earth Kingdom advisor replied.

She leaned back in her chair. "That does not justify it. We were at war, yet the nation prospered as well as the North I understand." she glanced shortly towards Arnook's direction.

"Yes, princess." said the chief of the North.

"So, why let the nation who let their population suffer the most, the biggest part?" she asked, cutting to the chase. "The least I'm going to agree to is an equitable division of profits."

"Azula..." Zuko tried to interject, but Azula kicked him under the table. He winced.

"That…" she continued, and once more she leaned forward with her elbows resting over the table. "Or the Fire Nation is backing out of the negotiations. All of them."

Every pair of eyes glanced perplexed at her. Some jaws fell, but everyone was stunned at her words as the silence filled the room. The Fire Lord was frozen in his place. For a moment he had thought he might have heard wrong. But he hadn't.

"Azula." said Zuko under his breath.

The Earth King cleared his throat, making all the eyes go from the Princess to him. He stood up. "I need to talk about this with my advisers. Might we reconvene after lunch?" he stated.

A smirk grew on Azula's face. He was considering it, which was a good sign. Of course, losing the Fire Nation wasn't an option. "Of course. Take your time, King Kuei," she said, smiling with a hint of malice.

The King and his advisors stood up and walked out of the room, probably to discuss the matter.

Aang and the rest of his friends in the room glanced towards the Princess, ready to bombard her with questions, but before they could ask something, she and Zuko were already heading out of the room to talk.

He guided her to the first empty room he could find, and both entered.

Azula got comfy on the chair behind the desk, as she knew it would, most likely, a while.

"... just because you didn't like their conditions for the last deal, it doesn't mean you had to threaten him like that," said Zuko, passing up and down through the room, after forty-five minutes of rambling.

Sokka and the rest of the Gaang were peeking through a small opening they had made at the door. They had seen how Zuko was about to make a ditch in the carpet and how the Princess had her head leaning down with a hand rubbing her temple.

"Azula!" the Fire Lord snapped after he had asked her sibling something and had gotten no reply. If he hadn't seen her rubbing her temple in circles, he would have almost thought she was asleep.

"What?" she grunted back with her eyes closed.

"Are you even listening?" he squealed, standing on the other side of the desk, annoyed.

"No," admitted the Princess, still with her eyes, closed. "I stopped listening after the first ten minutes. And would you shut up? It's going to be fine. Calm down. It's going to work out just fine." she started opening her eyes and staring fixedly at him. As usual, he was drowning in a glass of water.

"And if it doesn't?"

She sighed, and pondered for a moment, even though she was sure that Kuei and his advisors were going to agree. "If that is the case, the Fire Nation will be forced to take the city under our control again," she uttered casually, waving her hand carelessly.

"What?!" the whole Gaang squealed, horrified and at the same time falling forwards and barging inside the studio, making the two royals turn at them.

"You can't do that!" Aang exclaimed, after being the only one who had avoided the fall, while the other three complained on the floor.

The Princess tilted her head. "Why not? It's like hard or something?" she mocked, recalling how easy it had been for her to conquer the biggest city in the world. The one that had taken the Fire Nation almost 100 years to do so.

"Were you guys listening all that time?" Zuko asked, intrigued, crossing his arms.

"Kind off..." admitted Katara, blushing of embarrassment with a little nervous laugh,

Zuko sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose a little irritated before returning his attention towards his sibling. "Anyway… Did you really need to do that?" he inquired.

Azula stood up and surrounded the desk. "Listen, this is supposed to help every nation, not to have one get an advantage over the other…" she said. "It's obvious they want to make you feel pressured after what I did."

He frowned. "What are you talking about?"

She closed her eyes for a moment. Was her sibling that oblivious? "Can't you see it? They are still bitter about what happened during the war. The all, helping me take control of the city," she explained. "So, they are putting all these conditions, because they know you still feel morally responsible for what happened. Lucky for you, I don't… And I can be more objective about it."

"How can you be so sure?" he asked.

"Because I know…" she said, starting to lose her patience. "And also, no offense, but you have let the other nations step on the Fire Nation as a carpet for the last couple of years, Zuzu. I'm not letting it happen anymore," she stated, before walking out of the room and heading back to the meeting room.

Everyone followed her back, and by the time all of them returned, King Kuei and his advisors were also present.

"After, a brief discussion with my advisors," Kuei spoke, firmly, "We have concluded that we should… accept, Princess Azula's demands, and we are willing to make the necessary changes to the agreement."

Azula smiled cockily at her brother and made a gesture of Told you so.

Zuko was amazed and pleased with the result. His sibling had managed to do it once more.

As expected, everyone signed the treaty promptly. Zuko placed his seal and signature as well as the other leaders.

Finally, the last deal needed for Republic City had been discussed, approved, sealed, and signed. They had done it. After a month of daily meetings, the last one was over.

"... It's been a genuine pleasure and an honor to have you all here as guests of the Earth Kingdom. And I'm truly pleased with everything we have accomplished during the past month inside these walls. I have no words to express my gratitude." said the Earth King, thanking all of them.

"Today, we are one step closer to accomplishing the dream Zuko and I once had," said the Avatar. "A city where the four nations can live together, at peace, in harmony. And everything we have accomplished today, wouldn't have been possible without everyone here present. Each one of you has my eternal gratitude. I still can't believe that today we began a new dream," he smiled. "Zuko, do you wish to say anything?" he asked, and the Fire Lord nodded as a response before standing up.

"Well, everything I wanted to say, either King Kuei or Avatar Aang already have," he began. "Republic City had been a dream of the Avatar and mine for years. And to be able to finally say that today we are one step closer to that is an immense success. My thanks to the Earth King for hosting us during the past month, with all the problems we brought," Kuei smiled as a reply. "Thank you to the Chiefs, for guiding us, all the younglings with their knowledge. My thanks to the Avatar, who has been my steadfast support all these years. Republic City and the United Republic of Nations wouldn't be possible if you hadn't believed and trusted in me. And thank you Azula for being my support and kicking my ass whenever I feel too overwhelmed with all this." he said, placing a hand on his sibling's shoulder.

Azula stared at him with wide, perplexed eyes. She hadn't expected him to thank her in front of everyone, but she still felt pleased and thankful for the gesture.

"I guess that's it," Kuei said again. "I will be seeing you all at the feast, and I hope all of you have a wonderful and pleasant last day in the Earth Kingdom," he said his farewells and left the room.

"I still can't believe everything turned out so well," said Zuko in cloud nine.

"It was obvious, Zuzu," said the Princess. "You had me on your side. Of course everything was going to turn out fine in the end.

He rolled his eyes with a smile. He was ecstatic. Finally, all those sleepless nights had paid off.

Finally, his dream after so many years was happening, was turning into something real.

A servant approached the Fire Lord and whispered something.

"Please, tell them to wait outside," he indicated to the servant. "We'll be heading out in a second," he said, and the servant, after a little bow, left the room. "Azula…" he called his sibling.

"Are you going to thank me again, Tok-Tok?" she teased him.

"Kind off," he said, extending an arm towards the door. "Come with me. I have to show you something."

The Princess made a grin. "Thanks, but I would rather pass. I don't wish to see your nail polish collection." she mocked.

He dropped his head forward. "Don't make me regret it, please. Come on," he insisted. "Just follow me." and like that, he left the room.

Azula, intrigued by her brother's request, stood up and followed him without another word.

She followed him through the hallways and towards the front door of the Palace, where outside she found something she hadn't seen in years. For a moment, she thought they were her brother's Imperial guards, but then, she clearly saw their uniforms and she knew instantly who they were.

It had been years since the last time she had seen them.

"Are they…?" she muttered, even though she already knew the answer.

"Yes. They are," her brother replied with a little smile. "All of them."

Zuko's friends appeared from the inside of the Palace.

Before them, ten men were standing. Five at each side. All of them standing tall, firm in their stances. All with their uniforms, spotless.

The closest one to her at her right walked towards them, stood before them and placed a knee on the floor. The other nine did the same in their places.

A smile grew on the face of the Princess, impossible to repress. Her heart was racing. They were back.

Her guards.

Zuko was giving her back her guards.

"Captain Goong Yoo, at your service, your highness." said the soldier, leaning his head forward with the voice she knew very well.

Her eyes looked at each one of her guards before her eyes returned to the one kneeling before her. "It's good to see you, Goong Yoo."

A/N:

And finally you guys would get to meet Goong Yoo and many more characters are yet to come.

So, everyone gave up with the name? Getting closer to know the meaning behind it...

Lastly, sorry for the so late update. This past month was hectic in every aspect and I'm just getting back on track.