A. N. : You have no idea how long I have wanted to write Azula. On a wording note, I am referring to something called 'stone oil' in this chapter - it is petrol. That's literally all there is to it. (I mean, I could ramble about how this word comes from greek for stone and oil, or how it used to be called literally this, and not only in greek/latine languages but also in chinese and japanese, but I won't.)

Azula is coming home.

She can't wait to walk into the palace again, to see the look of pride in Father's eyes once she'll tell him – she took Ba Sing Se, took the Avatar's life, captured that traitor Iroh and exposed Zuko for what he really is –

That stupid, cowardly traitor, she can't believe she underestimated Iroh's influence on him, can't believe she overestimated Zuzu's love for his country – well, she always knew he was weak, what happened is only a confirmation.

She'll just have to make him pay the next time she sees him.

Ty Lee smiles and asks what color Azula would like for her nails. She hasn't stopped trying to manicure everyone's nails – Dai Li agents included – ever since she discovered Earth Kingdom nail polish is of a much higher grade than Fire Nation one. Apparently bending is involved in the making – no wonder these Earth barbarians are so weak if they use their bending for such frivolous purposes.

Well, red is obviously the only color worthy of a Fire Nation Princess.

Mai went with black as usual, and is eating grapes with one hand while the other one is taken care of by a surprisingly complacent Dai Li agent. The others are nowhere in sight – Azula suspects they decided to sacrifice one of their members to the nail-painting and hid somewhere.

Clever, but sort of cowardly. It's not as if Ty Lee wanted to train her chi-blocking skills on them after all. It's just some nail polish.

Azula is much more comfortable making fun of these people afraid of some color than with admitting she used to be the same, avoiding all girly Ty Lee things at all costs – be it manicure or a makeover, she used to do all she could to get the idea out of Ty Lee's head.

But then she started understanding just how important a neat appearance is in order to have people take you seriously. Power is a birthright, but to effectively control people, you have to carve your blood in your skin, you have to show people – powerless, ignorant people who can't even understand – who you are.

The sharp nails of a dragon – danger – and the deep red of blood – fire and power – and pink, seductive lips – age and experience, the only lie in her appearance, but she needs it. All to tell who she is without having to say anything.

And with time and Mai joining in with gossips and Ty Lee getting better at all this, it somehow turned into a ritual – stopping only when they separated.

But now they are back together and Azula won't say she missed this, but it is… calming, to have Ty Lee take care of her while Mai makes sarcastic remarks on whatever subject. Almost like they aren't afraid of Azula, almost like they actually care – it's obviously wrong, as love and trust are only illusions, lies good for the weak like Zuko, and she doesn't want them, doesn't need them.

But it is calming. To the point where Azula could almost forget she is on a ship – she doesn't mind them specifically, but travelling just isn't her thing. She would much rather stay in one place, in the palace where she can control what happens and what is said.

Or, at the very least, travel with something that doesn't reek of coal and stone oil – the latter only when the catapult is used, but it smells so bad and the smell stays –

Maybe she does have something against ships actually.

The Dai Li agent has green nails now and Mai is carefully painting white and gold details on the top of the first coat. Just how many colors did Ty Lee buy exactly ?

Looking at her own nails, Azula sees Ty Lee is going with a flame pattern in gold. Perfect. Not only is the drawing fitting – and pretty, Ty Lee has a good eye for that sort of detail – but Azula noticed before that having gold at the tip of her fingers makes lightning bending much easier for some reason.

She will have to investigate that.

Azula smiles. She will have all the time she wants to do that now that the Avatar is dead. All that's left is stopping this ridiculous invasion plan and the War will be won for good. Then research will be feasible.

Ba Sing Se is hers, the Avatar is no more, Iroh is in chains and Zuko is no longer a threat.

Perfect.