Gladiator

by Seyary-Minamoto

In a world where the Avatar wasn't found, the Fire Nation took over two nations and they strive to overcome the last one. Water Tribe warrior Sokka seeks to fight for his people's rights, but he's captured by his enemies. His life is no longer in his hands as he fights as a Gladiator, and his fate will eventually depend on the Fire Nation Princess, who needs him for her own ends...

378. Chapter 378: Out of Smoke and Ashes 2

Out of the Smoke and Ashes

2

It seemed unlikely that the small family would ever leave the room they had been reunited in, but despite everything, Sokka spurred Azula to the threshold, still holding her and Hotaru closely. The Princess sighed in relief, letting herself savor the fragile but valuable happiness she had reclaimed: it was apparent that this placid feeling wouldn't last forever, but she wouldn't let go of it for as long as she could do so.

Halfway down the stairs, she seized the railing and coughed. Sokka grimaced, slowing down beside her and rubbing her back.

"Again?" he asked. Azula shrugged.

"Guess so. It… feels like it's gone, at times. But it flares up at random, I guess? It's… odd. I suppose I'll need more treatment eventually," she sighed, reaching over to pat his shoulder. "Don't fret, I…"

The sound of her cough had seemingly caught the attention of someone on the lower floor. Footsteps approached them, and Azula glanced in their direction quickly, glimpsing their arrival even while she and Sokka remained halfway up the stairs.

Her heart clenched when her brother stepped into view. His face, scarred as it might be, nonetheless evoked another one in Azula's mind, even if he was naturally much younger than their father.

"You're up," Zuko said, eyes widening. "Azula…"

"Zuko," she responded, with a small grin.

Despite the earlier discomfort, Azula finished climbing the stairs, pulling away from Sokka as she regarded her brother with genuine appreciation…

He enveloped her in his arms as soon as she reached him.

The affectionate gesture might have seemed far more shocking if only the circumstances had been different. If he hadn't lost his father just as much as she had. If he hadn't been away from his family for just as long as she had been. If she hadn't known that he had most likely worried for her fate, just as she had inevitably worried over his, more so after learning that he had been wounded in the North Pole.

Thus, no jokes, no mockery, no teasing was exchanged as Azula buried her face in her brother's shoulder and hugged him just as tightly as he hugged her.

Sokka smiled as he watched them, cradling Hotaru carefully in his arms fully now, as he reached the lower floor. The contentious relationship between the siblings had been on its way to mending, but seeing it so healed, so improved after everything they had faced, warmed his heart. Zuko had come a long way from the man who had first clashed with Sokka in this very house, so long ago…

Azula breathed heavily, shivering in Zuko's arms. He shook his head, rubbing her back kindly.

"I… I'm so sorry," he said. Azula swallowed hard. "I know… I know you've been through hell, Azula. I wish so many things had turned out differently… I'm sorry, I…"

"You… you're not at fault, Zuzu. Don't apologize," she smiled, even when tears bloomed in her eyes. "You didn't… didn't even need to come all this way to help me. So… thank you. I'm the one who's sorry for… for so much. I…"

"Well, now… I think I had to come," Zuko said, with a growing smile. "Don't get me wrong, I threw a tantrum about it at first, but…"

"Ha. Couldn't be so easy, now, could it?" Azula smiled. Zuko chuckled, pulling back and smiling at his tearful sister.

"I don't even know how much use I was, across this whole ordeal… guess you'll have to ask Sokka for his opinion on that," Zuko smiled. "But I'm so… so relieved to see you again. How are you feeling? I heard you coughing, but…"

"It's… not as bad as it could be, I suppose. Been through worse," she said, with a dry grin. Zuko sighed. "Don't fret, I'll… I'll live, apparently. Surprising as that may be."

The way she said the words sat ill with both Zuko and Sokka: the banished Prince sighed and roped his sister in for another embrace, and she didn't protest it. A fierce protectiveness appeared to have risen inside him, a greater appreciation for his family than what he usually was ready to acknowledge…

"What happened last night…" he whispered. Azula tensed up in his arms. "You saved this entire city. The nation, I'd dare say… and most hopes of restoration of balance in the world. I know it sounds like a lot… but it's still true that you did. I just… I just hope you know that, even if it was just for a moment, you… you achieved the unthinkable. You… you didn't just save him for that instant, but… you saved me, too. From… from making his mistakes. From becoming more like him than I ever wanted to be."

Azula sniffed, her grip on Zuko grew more desperate, and he rubbed her back kindly still.

"Thank you for that… and I'm so sorry that I couldn't do more," he said. Azula shook her head.

"D-don't be, I said… wasn't your fault," she whispered. "He… he fucked up enough times with the both of us as it was. I… I know that much. I just…"

"He was our father," Zuko said. Azula's shoulders shook with a sob. "Even if… if it was easier for me to pretend otherwise for a long time. But… but the truth is that he was. As much as he might not have deserved to be."

Azula sighed before nodding. Zuko rubbed her back gently as she pulled away, wiping her tears with her fingertips. Zuko offered her a pained smile, with tearful eyes of his own: clearly, Azula would need a long time to overcome the anguish upon losing the father she had been able to love even in the darkest of moments. The wound was too fresh to heal into a scar just yet… but Zuko knew more than enough about such wounds as it was. Whatever he could do to ease his sister's pain, he'd ensure to do it.

Though he was quick to suspect that he might not be the main person to help her cope with her new reality in a world where their father no longer existed: he finally raised his gaze towards Sokka, standing a few steps behind Azula… holding a small child in his arms.

"Well, now…" Zuko smiled, eyeing Sokka skeptically. "Didn't waste any time getting to know her, did you?"

"Was I supposed to?" Sokka responded. Azula, despite everything, laughed at their exchange. Zuko chuckled.

"Definitely not," he said. "And I wouldn't have expected you to. She looks… quiet. Cute. Calm. Hmm. You sure she's your kid, Azula?"

His sister responded to that question with a lighthearted smack against his chest. Zuko laughed as Azula stepped closer to Hotaru: only she could have succeeded at taking the baby out of Sokka's arms right now.

"So many people to meet today, huh?" Azula said: Hotaru cooed happily when she held her. "That's right, that's right. That guy over there, making fun of me? That's your uncle Zuko, Hotaru. He's very annoying. You're allowed and encouraged to tease him whenever you meet him, understood?"

Zuko laughed as Azula stepped closer to him, with Hotaru in her arms. He leaned over, raising a hand to stroke her hair.

"Look at that… my sister's a mom. I'm seeing it for myself and it's still hard to believe…" he smiled kindly at Hotaru. "Still feels like it was yesterday when she yanked me into ponds in Piandao's mansion…"

"Or made you jump into fountains just to tease you and Mai… ah, good times," Azula smiled: Zuko laughed, shaking his head as he rose to his full height again. "See? Those are the things you can do to your uncle because he's silly that way. And now that he's all grown up, he'll do silly things just to amuse you, too. That's in his requirements as an uncle, simple as that."

"I don't remember signing any agreements that said as much…"

"You don't need to. You've been saddled with this reality by virtue of our blood bonds, sorry to say," Azula smiled at him, dabbing at the remaining tears in her eyes. "That's the agreement you signed without meaning to."

"Definitely need to figure out a loophole there, can't have that kid thinking I'm less respectable than her father, now, can I?" Zuko said, raising an eyebrow at Sokka, who smirked at him.

"Here I thought I'd been pretty respectable as of late. You actually followed my orders and everything…"

"Me? Yours? That's absurd…"

"You're just trying to put on some big charade for your sister's benefit, are you?" Sokka called him out, and Zuko chuckled. "Truth be told… I can bear with it, if you were. If you're going to be an ass, it better be for the sake of her amusement."

"Thank you for your authorization, General. I'll get right on it, then," Zuko said, mockingly. Sokka rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

"Someone's really dialing up the goofy today. Must be he's fulfilling his uncle duties, huh, Hotaru?" he said, leaning over towards his daughter anew. Azula smiled, offering her to him again.

"You said you didn't want to let go of her…" she said. Sokka chuckled, taking her in his arms anew.

"It's okay. You had to introduce her to her uncle. Guess it's up to me to do the same with her aunt?" he said. Zuko hummed.

"You can go ahead and do it already. She's back in the dining room right now," he said, gesturing at them to follow him as he started on his way there. Sokka wrapped an arm around Azula's shoulders, and Zuko's eyebrows rose at the sight. "Heh. That's… going to take time getting used to."

"Here I thought you'd had plenty of time to wrap your head around it as it was," Sokka huffed. Zuko smiled.

"Theoretically, yes. In practice, well…"

"Remember the first time he tried teasing us about our relationship?" Azula asked. Sokka raised an eyebrow, and Zuko hummed. "It was in Ember Island. Called you my boyfriend…"

"Oh. Uh. That," Sokka grimaced, shooting a glare at Zuko, who chuckled.

"This whole thing of being uncomfortable around us is more of the same. So don't mind him, he's just being an idiot big brother," Azula smiled at Sokka.

"Come on, siblings are allowed to be jerks over each other's relationships. We'd get bored too easily otherwise," Zuko chuckled. Azula rolled her eyes, but she nestled comfortably with her head against Sokka's chest as they progressed to the dining room.

Voices gave away that the place might just be packed: Azula picked up Rei's soft tones, as well as some unknown voices… and a particularly familiar, aggressive and bold one, too. Her heart churned as she loosened her grip on Sokka, stepping past that threshold just in time for that particular person to fall silent first, and then, the rest of the group followed.

Azula swallowed hard, focusing on Toph, with no chance to identify who else was in the room at the moment: she had been sitting near the dining room's door, but she dropped the gyoza she had been eating and jumped to her feet at once.

"Spicy?" she said. Azula's heart churned upon hearing the word.

"Dirt Worm?"

Toph's lips curled into an emotional, wild smile: in the blink of an eye, the earthbender had leapt the distance between herself and Azula, flinging her arms around her neck. The Princess laughed softly, hugging her friend just as tightly.

"I… I wanted to do this earlier… b-but you just had to go and save the world or something, I don't know…" Toph sniffed: her words caused some laughter to stir in the room, and with that, voices began speaking anew, even before Azula responded.

"I missed you, you shithead," Azula said, earnestly. Toph laughed.

"Damn right, you did," she said, biting her lip. "Say… who did you miss more?"

The unforeseen question caused Azula to snort and pull out of her hug: Toph's bright grin was nothing like any she had shown anyone ever since her final fight with Sokka in the Grand Royal Dome.

"You… don't actually want me to answer that question," Azula laughed softly. Toph snorted.

"C'mon, just say it was me! Doesn't matter if it's a lie, his reaction's going to be priceless…" Toph said. Sokka rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Not all of us are as childish as that… but I'd know it was me, no matter what she says," Sokka hissed, reaching over to Toph and making to flick her forehead. Toph leaned back, quick to evade him.

"Ha! Didn't get me!" she announced, proudly, as Azula laughed and shook her head. "Slowed down much, are you? Is it because you haven't gotten any rest, or…? Or… oh. Oh, fuck, you're holding a… damn."

"You may or may not have heard about your weird aunt Toph," Sokka smiled, rocking Hotaru gently: Toph's jaw dropped. "She's always ready to pick a fight and mess with people, so we'll train you to be ready to mess her up right back…"

"H-hey! You don't have to train a kid that way, I… shit. You guys really just went and… made a whole baby," she laughed, turning towards Sokka: she could feel the child's presence, even if she couldn't properly discern her while she was in Sokka's arms.

Nevertheless, Sokka held her out carefully, allowing the curious and confused Hotaru to reach over and touch Toph's face. The earthbender froze up as the child's small hands roamed over her features.

"Heh… heh," she smiled. "That's a tiny kid. You… you blind too? Figuring me out with your hands like that…"

"She can see you… but babies are a little given to touching everything they can," Azula said: on cue, Hotaru gripped one of Toph's bangs and pulled it gently.

"Ow. Hey now, you're as rude as I am. Good on you, kid," Toph smirked.

"Her name is Hotaru," Sokka smiled, helping Hotaru ease her grip on Toph's hair before reeling her back into his chest. "Which you already knew, but I guess you'll keep calling her 'kid'."

"Suits her, don't you think?" Toph smiled. "Though I guess, since she's your kid… I ought to call her the Spicy Cub, huh?"

"Well, we don't know if she'd like spices as much as I do but… we'll see, as she grows," Azula smiled. Toph snickered.

"It's… it's so wild that you two have a kid. Makes sense, though!" she said. "Considering how often you two went at it, guess it was just a matter of…"

"Toph," the two of them cut her off in unison, even if the damage had been done: the whole room burst with laughter, and the earthbender grinned with unrestrained deviousness.

"Oops?"

"Shithead indeed," Sokka smiled, shaking his head as he cradled Hotaru in his arms.

Toph's time in the center of attention drew to a close, for others approached by then: Azula winced upon feeling a strong hand upon her shoulder, and she wasn't surprised in the least to be on the receiving end of a new tight, wild hug.

"Y-you… you see? We told you! We told you…!" Ty Lee sobbed in her shoulder. Azula laughed, despite herself, as she hugged Ty Lee back. "Oh, Azula…!"

"I'm okay. I'm… I'm fine," Azula said, nodding. "I'm sorry things were so tense and dark, but… but you're all fine too, right?"

Ty Lee sniffed, pulling back: Haru stood over her shoulder, and he smiled at Sokka as he stepped past everyone along the way, offering him a tight reunion hug as well.

"Welcome back," he said. Sokka smiled, responding at Haru with one arm.

"Hell, it's good to see you again, Haru," he said.

"Say… am I still forgiven for the mochi theft?" Azula asked Ty Lee, teasingly. Ty Lee scoffed, though she laughed through her reproachful glare.

"I'll… think about it," she said. Azula laughed, shaking her head as Mai stepped up, next.

"I already said I told you so back when you were unconscious, so I shouldn't do it again… but for the record, I did it by now," Mai smirked, hugging Azula as well. Azula sighed, patting her back. "This time… you don't have to return my clothes. Just this once."

"Heh… thank you," Azula said, with a dry grin. "Come to think of it, I lost most of mine, actually."

Mai grimaced: the reality of the burned down Palace, the gravity of the situation, would only become apparent as time went by. So much more than just the symbol of Fire Nation power had been lost in that fire… memories, valuables, treasures of all sorts were gone. Fixing what was lost would take time… but perhaps it truly had been a necessity. Perhaps this was, in itself, a symbol of renewal for the Fire Nation: its corruption burned to its roots, destroying the structure upon which it had built itself, providing its people at long last with the means to reclaim their place in the world order as a nation that existed harmoniously with the others, rather than seeking to raise itself above them.

"We'll get you a whole new wardrobe…" Ty Lee sniffed: evidently, everyone had seen the disaster at the very center of the Fire Nation Capital. "I'll give you whatever clothes of mine you'd like to wear, and…!"

"T-that's… not bound to happen," Azula smiled. Ty Lee gasped. "Ty Lee, your style never matched mine…"

"Oh, but Mai's does? Mai's does?!"

"It's a little closer, at least, but…!"

"Azula needs sharper shapes and more demanding colors than what I can provide, too," Mai said, shaking her head solemnly. Azula snorted, shaking her head. "It will be an ordeal, yes… but we'll fix this, of course we will. You have enough things to worry about as you are, don't you?"

"I mean… I most likely will," Azula admitted. "But he… told me not to worry about all of those things yet. So…"

"True! He's right about that, absolutely, so… sit down! Eat!" Ty Lee encouraged her, rubbing her shoulder gently.

Azula raised her gaze then, to finally take in the occupants of the room properly: it didn't surprise her to find Rei and Anorak in one corner, talking and eating, while Ruon Jian sat along with Jet, Azula realized… him, his friend Longshot, and someone else she hadn't seen since the very beginnings of Sokka's gladiatorial career. Beyond them, there was the Avatar, too… and Sokka's sister, who finally approached her brother with eager, gleaming eyes.

"You… are absolutely adorable," Katara smiled brightly, leaning over to look at her niece. "Hello there. Little Hotaru… I'm your aunt Katara. Hope you're not overwhelmed with so many new people to meet…"

"She seems to adapt to new people surprisingly easily," Sokka chuckled. "I feared she might not be too comfortable in my arms, but look…"

"Oh, she knows her dad, of course she does," Katara smiled, reaching over to caress Hotaru's hair: the child grabbed her hand, though, cooing softly. "And her aunt, I hope. Hi… damn it, she's really cute! Sokka, how did you do that? Any kid of yours ought to be as much of a mess as you are…"

"Her mom's to blame for her adorableness, if you ask me," Sokka said, smiling and kissing Hotaru's head softly. "I sure as hell didn't pass that on to her, you said it yourself."

Katara laughed, as Hotaru glanced back at her father. He grinned, bouncing her gently in his arms.

"Hi, Hota-… oh, here we go again," he laughed: the baby reached up, gripping his stubble and giggling in utmost glee. "Good think she has similar taste in facial hair as her mom does, huh?"

"No doubt," Katara smiled, glancing over at Azula now. The Princess appeared to be reassuring her friends still, but she appeared so much livelier now than she had been earlier. "How is she feeling now?"

"Still coughs but… seems to be less intense," Sokka said. "She said it seems to come and go, somewhat?"

"Guess we'll have to give her another round of… lung purging, later?" Katara said, grimacing. "Is that a good name for it?"

"Might be," Sokka sighed: their stares upon Azula certainly caused her to notice their attention, though.

"Oh. Heh. Sorry, just… thinking about when to next try to help you with your throat," Katara said, with a smile. Azula blinked blankly.

"Well… probably after eating. Shouldn't disturb anyone with the sight of whatever's going to come out of there," Azula said, reaching up to touch her throat with her fingertips. "Thank you for… for everything you did to help me."

"It's us who should be thanking you, considering… well, we'd all be goners, as far as I can tell, if it weren't for you," Katara said.

Her words certainly sank in heavily: Azula swallowed hard, nodding as Katara sighed, bowing her head towards her.

"So… thank you. And… well, welcome to the chaos?" Katara smiled. "Sit wherever you guys want to, just start eating, there's no protocol here…"

"Never ought to be any when a war's just finished," Jet said. "If it were nighttime we'd be drinking, too…"

"Why, I'm quite sorry we didn't drag out the fight until sundown for your celebration's preferences," Azula said, with a teasing smirk. Jet chuckled. "Guess I should've expected you to join the White Lotus."

"Didn't really join them. This loser did," Jet said, elbowing Longshot: he grunted at him, an arm still firm around Smellerbee. "I can barely believe I'm saying this to a Fire Nation Royal, but… it is good to see you again, Princess. Glad you made it out of this whole ordeal, Toph would've been inconsolable otherwise…"

"Inconsolable…? You wretch, stop making me look like a wimp!" Toph grumbled, cheeks flushed as she stomped up to her laughing lover, who continued to do so even after she caught him in a chokehold. Azula laughed too, shaking her head.

The last person left for her to meet within the crowded room, however, rose to his feet and approached her, an expectant smile upon his face: it was easy to identify him through his tattoos, through the unique attire that only Air Nomads wore… but for Azula, his features weren't quite as unknown as they should have been.

"I… uh, should probably introduce myself properly," Aang said, with a gentle smile. "Don't know if you can tell, but… this isn't the first time we've met."

"I… thought it wasn't. Even when I'm not sure why," Azula admitted. Aang bit his lip.

"Well… imagine me with short hair, and a bandana over my arrow? And dressed in Fire Nation clothes?" he asked, with an awkward grin. "My real name's Aang… but you met me as Kuzon."

The words took a moment to sink in: Kuzon wasn't a name Azula recalled hearing many times before… but even though it had been a brief encounter, she had certainly crossed paths with her brother, Sokka's sister and their friends once before, in Whaletail Island…

"It was you. You… all along, you were the Avatar?" Azula said. He smiled and shrugged.

"We weren't sure about telling either you or Sokka… he found out when we told him in the South Pole," Aang admitted. Azula's jaw dropped. "So, uh… surprise, I guess. Was here all along, sort of?"

"Here I was wondering where on earth Sokka had found you… but it wasn't really him?" she said, glancing back at Katara. Zuko, behind the waterbender, shrugged.

"All Katara's doing. Thawed him out of a chunk of ice or so," he said. Azula blinked blankly. "You're not the only one who gets up to surreal stuff around these parts…"

"I can see that now," Azula said, with a disbelieving smile. She nodded at Aang again, and he grinned brightly. "Then… I suppose it's good to meet you again, Avatar. I think… it's easier to understand why you were so fearless now, back then."

"Fearless enough as to ask invasive questions I probably shouldn't have…?" he asked. Azula laughed.

"Indeed. Only someone with an Avatar's power would have cared to risk my wrath that way, on that day," Azula said. "Nonetheless… thank you for everything you did. Not just you, but… all of you, too."

"Safe to say you saved us all right back with what you did last night," Aang said. "Multiple times, at that. So… thank you, too."

Azula smiled and nodded: she might not know how to feel about his gratitude, but she wasn't about to reject it when it was so kindly presented by a man who, ultimately, was almost a total stranger. Her eyes raked the room, finding a mix of familiarity and the unknown, even in people she had known for as long as she had: countless things about Sokka's journey remained a mystery to her, Toph's clearly realized relationship with Jet was no different… even her brother displayed this new, empathetic, kind and even somewhat teasing behavior that had very little in common with the man she had known him to be.

A part of her couldn't help but wonder if she was imagining everything. If any of this could truly be real. If perhaps this was the corruption's doing, after having seized her entire being, sapping her of all life and gifting her one final vision of the bright future her father's mistakes had stolen from her…

Nothing would feel real until she left Mai's house. Until she saw the remains of her destroyed home for herself. That was when reality would take shape anew. For now, she'd do best to bask in this dream without burdening others with her ever-growing guilt and self-doubt. The fact that any of this was possible was nothing short of a miracle, and she'd do best to cherish it.

Mai, overseeing the food cooking by the kitchen, asked Rei to deliver a full plate to the table next: the girl smiled as she approached, gesturing at her mother. Azula responded with a grin of her own.

"Mai says she'll send a bigger one for Sokka in a bit," Rei chuckled. Azula nodded.

"A wise choice, I'm sure," Azula said, glancing at him: he appeared entirely taken with Hotaru anew, bouncing her gently in her arms. "You'll eat, won't you?"

"I… what? Eating? Huh. Sure," Sokka said: the brightness in his voice actually spurred several people to laugh in amazement.

"I knew you'd switch gears that fast as soon as you had your kid in your arms," Zuko smirked, before nodding at Azula. "And… as far as I've understood, that's Rei?"

"Ah. I suppose you've realized by now that this is my brother Zuko, Rei?" Azula asked her daughter. Rei nodded, as Azula took the plate from her hands. "Indeed, Zuko… this is my older daughter, Rei."

Zuko smiled: clearly, he didn't understand how this had come about at all, and most likely had only heard of the adoption in passing, but he nodded respectfully in Rei's direction. The girl smiled kindly at him: the sight of that scar across his face had taken her by surprise at first. Nobody else seemed to make any mention of it, not out of fear of consequences, but out of being quite so used to the sight of it that they no longer appeared to think much on how painful it might have been. She hadn't heard the story of how he had obtained that scar at all… but she guessed she'd hear it in due time, if it mattered. For now, she only smiled right back, bowing her head towards Zuko as her family and her world grew slightly larger, as it always did ever since she had found her way to Azula's side.

Anorak was the one to deliver Sokka's larger plate, the sight of which caused Sokka to laugh in guilt – people in the Fire Nation certainly hadn't forgotten his ravenous appetite. Cradling Hotaru to his chest, he stepped to a chair with other available seats nearby, ensuring that Azula would be able to sit with him. She did as much after he smiled at her, with Hotaru perched over his shoulder.

"Does she… eat any normal food yet?" Sokka asked, raising an eyebrow as he regarded his child with curiosity. "I feel like I don't understand a single thing about her…"

"You certainly don't act like it. And she's taken quite the liking to you," Azula smiled, raising a hand to brush her daughter's hair gently: the child's voice softened when she saw her mother. "Hi there. Yes, it's me. I'm sure you're realizing now that your father's going to spoil you rotten far more than I ever have, aren't you? I knew he'd be your favorite parent right away…"

"Come on, now…" Sokka chuckled. "She's looking at you like you're her whole world. Which, well, I can relate to that feeling a lot. No doubt that's why we're bonding."

Sokka smiled carelessly, rubbing Hotaru's back kindly. Azula sighed at the sight of him… at the words he had uttered. He shouldn't see her that way, as far as she was concerned… but how could she ever convince him of such a thing? He was hung up on thinking the world of her indeed… he had been for years. That was bound to change once she came clean about countless things he needed to know… but she certainly hoped that he would nonetheless continue to love Hotaru as he did thus far, regardless of whatever their relationship evolved into in the coming days.

Impulsively, she raised a hand and placed it upon his, on Hotaru's back. Sokka smiled, meeting her gaze with that same warmth and kindness… the ones she had thought she would never see anew. The ones that had been gone from his gaze last night, as they fought in a frenzy that appeared to herald the very end of their bond, along with the end of the world they'd found each other in. No doubt Azula was grateful to receive his kindness anew… but she could see something else in those eyes that hadn't usually been there before. A heaviness, sadness… exhaustion, too. He had been through so much, and she didn't even know half of it, no more than he knew what she had faced.

"We… should get started with that?" Sokka said, pointing at the food with his free hand. Azula smiled and nodded. "You haven't had anything to eat in ages, you said…"

"I… don't remember the last time I did," she said, breathing deeply before taking her first gyoza – it appeared that had been the chosen quick food the group had taken to preparing in a rush, to feed as many of them as possible. She breathed deeply, only growing keenly aware of her body's weakness once the chunk of gyoza hit her empty stomach. "Hmm… maybe we'll end up swapping plates. I'm a lot hungrier than I thought…"

"You can have as many of mine as you need," Sokka said, leaning over her and pressing his lips to the top of her head. Azula smiled as he started to eat, too.

"I… think I'll be setting out after I finish my food," she said. Sokka frowned.

"What? Setting out… where?" he asked.

"I have to see… see what's going on in the city. See the Palace… well, if it's even possible to still call it that, for myself," she said, breathing deeply. Sokka bit his lip. "You can stay here with Hotaru, if you want. I… don't really want her out there. Not until I gauge how harmful the situation might be for her, at least."

"I get that, but… I'm not letting you go out there alone either," he said. Azula raised an eyebrow. "I'm not saying you can't handle yourself, but… there's the matter of Shaofeng's goons. Hard to believe all of them were caught by now. And even beyond that… neither of our armies are exactly trustworthy if you ask me."

"Neither?" Azula asked, amused. "I thought you ran yours with an iron fist…"

"That might not begin to cut it," Sokka said, with a slight smile. "But between the possibility of Fire Nation assholes pretending you've betrayed your people, and White Lotus morons pretending I've betrayed mine…"

"Would they really see it that way?" Azula asked.

"Don't know, but I'm not about to risk it," Sokka said, sternly. "Anyone who tries to mess with you is going to get what's coming. I guarantee it."

Azula smiled. Sokka eyed her skeptically, and she shook her head.

"Been a long time since I heard you say words of the sort. Feels like old times, to a fault," she said. Sokka smiled. "I mainly thought you could stay here, though… because you must be tired. Everyone ought to be. I… rested about five hours, I guess?"

"Falling unconscious after breathing in corruption doesn't really count as rest, if you ask me," Sokka said, skeptical.

"Probably not, but I was still out of it for a while. Better than being up all night fighting wars without rest," she said. Sokka shrugged.

"I mean, theoretically, but… you couldn't get me to fall asleep with so many things going on today," Sokka said, caressing Hotaru's hair anew. The child squirmed in his grasp, turning around and facing the table now. "Oh? Want to have some, do you?"

"Just… small bites at best," Azula told him. Sokka chuckled, tearing a small chunk of the gyoza and tucking out some of the stuffing.

"There. That's all mush, and I bet you can have mush, right? Right," he said: Hotaru accepted the offering quickly, clamping her mouth over the gyoza stuffing he offered her. "Hell, how's she cute even when she's eating? I blame you."

"Me? Really?" Azula laughed. Sokka grinned proudly. "I kept wondering who she takes after, honestly. She's too well-behaved to resemble either of us."

"That's a good point," Sokka said. Azula chuckled: Hotaru finished the gyoza stuffing, and she continued to chew even after swallowing, looking around herself as though hoping for more. "Looks like she's a glutton, though. That she did get from both of us."

"Both?"

"Must I bring up spicy noodles? Mochi?" Sokka asked. Azula laughed, covering her face with a hand as he smiled at her earnest reaction. "There you go. We're one and the same when it comes to food we love."

"Difference is you seem to love all kinds of food. I'm more selective than you are with what I stuff myself with," Azula said, shaking her head as she took the next of her gyoza.

"Yeah, sure, just got to douse everything in spice and you'll gobble it down like there's no tomorrow…" Sokka smirked. Azula chuckled again, shaking her head.

All fear that they might not be able to return to their usual selves seemed to have faded quickly. The urgency in her condition, the difficulty in what they had faced the previous day… all of it appeared to have been swept away, and they managed to tease each other with the fondness and nostalgia of their days long gone, but that hadn't passed them in vain.

One thing, however, was wildly different, if in a positive way: not only were they holding their child, talking to her, teasing her as often as they were… but there was no hiding their relationship's true nature anymore. It wasn't merely that the group within Mai's home, comprised by many of their closest friends and allies, had already known of it… it was the fact that, at this point in time, the world at large was aware of what they meant for each other. Would they face resistance for it, once they left the house? Would they be judged if they so much as dared to hold hands in public? At this point, neither one knew… but Sokka's response earlier had made it starkly clear that, as difficult as it would be for him to leave Hotaru in someone else's care, he meant to do it and stand by Azula's side once she left the house.

Nothing would remain the same, going forward. Sokka had risen to the heights of his army, being the commanding officer behind whom everyone else rallied… and now, Azula no longer had to answer to her father. Even if she hadn't sought this outcome, even when she had fought against it, it still appeared to be the one way she would be free to stand by Sokka's side anew, without needing to hide their truth from anyone anymore.

They would have to face that world soon. Rei, surely, would be happy to watch over her sister while her mother set out anew. Life would go on, the world would continue spinning… and the Fire Nation, now bereft of its leadership after being defeated on the last legs of the Hundred Year War, would need answers soon. Whether Azula would be the one to provide what her nation needed, however, was something that remained to be seen.

---

The Fire Lord's body lay upon a pyre, within the Temple's most sacred rooms. He hadn't been changed into different attire, but a cloth had been placed upon his corpse, concealing the wound that had cost him his life.

The Head Sage had emerged from the underground in the midst of that second evacuation: he, along with most sages, had witnessed the firebending feat of Princess Azula with utter disbelief: the dark cloud rose from the Palace and consumed as much matter as it could, poised to devour their whole city until she had unleashed her gold fire, and her dragon his blue flames, to save everyone. Yet again, everything indicated to the Head Sage that Azula, ultimately, had been born for greatness beyond any of their imagination… for only someone as extraordinary as her could have ever vanquished the cloud of destruction that had been moments away from consuming the very heart of the Fire Nation.

Now that her father lay dead, it should have been easy to proceed. To move forward with what came next. As soon as Princess Azula awoke again, as soon as she appeared before the public, she would have to be regarded with a new kind of reverence…

But would that happen at all? The Head Sage's eyes narrowed as he glanced back at the approaching footsteps of a man whose presence he had grown aware of earlier. Someone he had once admired and believed in… someone he no longer found as impressive as he did in the past.

"You're Head Sage now. I'd congratulate you for it, but I'm certain I'm several years late," Jeong Jeong said. "I admit… I never expected our paths would cross anew, Jizang."

"I regret that they must in these circumstances. Though… I would have regretted it regardless of how it came to pass," the Head Sage said, bitterly.

"The Fire Lord's death pains you so?" Jeong Jeong asked. The Head Sage scoffed.

"He and I never were of the same mind when it came to anything," he said. "We were at… a silent war, through all his tenure as Fire Lord. It isn't the outcome I looked forward to, but I do not grieve him as much as I grieve… that you may see his demise as an opportunity to do as you see fit in this nation. You turned on the Fire Nation… you joined the enemy ranks, and I have no doubts that you intend to have a final say on who sits upon that… throne."

"Deem it a figurative throne now, for the time being," Jeong Jeong said. The Head Sage sighed. "Whether or not there is a crown or a literal seat of power, someone will need to take the reins of this nation. And I surmise you would prefer Princess Azula did, instead of her brother?"

"Did you not see what she achieved?" the Head Sage finally tore his eyes off Ozai's dead body, glaring at Jeong Jeng in disbelief. "Her flames… could you still pretend to understand fire, to believe in the drivel you used to speak, with which you filled my heart and mind with doubt? Fire… fire is not destruction. At the very least, it is not solely destruction. The flames with which she could bend…"

"They are the product of love, yes. I'm aware of that."

The Head Sage's eyes widened: he certainly hadn't been ready to make such a statement… but it became apparent to him quickly that Jeong Jeong knew more than he let on right away.

"I will not deny that your Princess has caused me to question much of what I have taken for granted," he said, turning to face his former admirer. "Perhaps my certainties in the past were misplaced. Nevertheless… a bending feat, a display of greatness, are not any unquestionable means to determine that someone is ready to become the leader of a nation. Call me a wretched old fool if you will… but what will come next in the history of our world was not determined last night. Fire Lord Ozai's preference in heir makes no difference: it isn't up to him to decide who will take the reins of a future he is no longer part of. Not that he deserved to involve himself in deciding anything before his death, anyway."

"And you do?" the Head Sage asked, affronted. "The nation you abandoned, that you fought against… that has produced answers you hardly wish to acknowledge, answers to your accusations and your loss of faith! What makes you better suited to determine the next steps? I am the Head Sage, Jeong Jeong, not you! If… if there is any hierarchy left in this nation still, it indicates that, beyond the Royal Family, I am the most powerful man in the Fire Nation. Is that why you've come to me? To convince me to do things your way?"

"I have come to you… to make certain that you understand that it is not up to you, alone, to determine the course of the Fire Nation's future," Jeong Jeong said. "Fire Lord Ozai's body is barely cold as it is. Crowning Princess Azula at once, when there is another perfectly suitable candidate for the role, isn't the ideal decision you've convinced yourself it is."

"Her brother?" asked the Head Sage, with a scowl. "Much like you, he fought against the Fire Nation. Why should our people ever accept his rule, anymore than they'd accept yours? Or General Iroh's, for that matter?"

"I have never intended to take power myself," Jeong Jeong said. The Head Sage scoffed.

"How reassuring. You'd rather a puppet did it in your stead, then," he said.

"Prince Zuko is not nearly as deep in my pocket as you'd like to believe he is," Jeong Jeong said. "But it makes no matter. This isn't merely about succession: it's about the full-blown surrender of the Fire Nation in the Hundred Year War. Without proper leadership, the war is as good as still raging, no matter how ravaged and damaged your city may be. The next seating Fire Lord will have to compose a document of surrender, with proper concessions and acknowledgements, as well as prove themselves willing to make reparations to the rest of the world for the harm caused across the years…"

"After what we just lost… after everything that's gone now, you cannot expect the Fire Nation to make amends for the sins of a hundred years in a matter of days!" the Head Sage exclaimed.

"I do not expect the amends to be complete that quickly, don't accuse me of being far more unreasonable than I was," Jeong Jeong said. "But no surrender will be acknowledged if it does not include a willingness to make up for much of what has been lost. Clearly, the lives wasted in this endless conflict cannot be brought back… but we require efforts, commitment to truly restore balance in this world. It wasn't truly restored merely with the battle, last night… efforts to bring it back will continue for many more years still. Recovery after a war of this magnitude is no small matter."

"All you say only convinces me further… that the only mind as gifted as to truly address all your concerns would be hers," the Head Sage said, stubbornly. Jeong Jeong sighed.

"And yet it is not up to you to decide who shall sit on that throne."

"Nor is it up to you. Or do you expect to determine the Fire Nation's course because your army won? Pardon me for my bluntness… but would I be mistaken as to believe that your actual leader would agree with me regarding the future of this nation?"

Jeong Jeong's brow drew together. The Head Sage almost smirked at his reaction.

"I would sooner speak with him, if your side demands to be included on the making of these decisions for the Fire Nation…"

"It's about the future of the world, at large," Jeong Jeong said, firmly. "This isn't merely about one nation's internal matters. The leader chosen needs to be someone the rest of the nations will acknowledge… one who will offer them respect, just as they will earn it. Therefore… as you appear to be quite so confrontational about this, you' d do best to listen to my proposal to make this decision as transparent as can be."

"Transparent?" asked the Head Sage.

"Gather the higher ranked, the surviving leaders of the Fire Nation's civilian and military forces if you will," the Deserter said. "I, in turn, will gather the White Lotus's authorities, as well as the Gladiator himself. The Avatar, too. We shall convene here, in your temple… and we shall determine the course of action in a meeting, including the decision of who will take the Fire Nation throne."

The Head Sage swallowed hard: it wasn't a bad idea… even though he feared it was rather idyllic, even wishful of Jeong Jeong to think that such a decision would be reached easily, in a single meeting. The Fire Nation needed new leadership, that much was obvious… but the priorities of the rest of the world were bound to clash with that of the Fire Nation itself.

"This… is not a bad plan. But it may not be as simple as you expect, Jeong Jeong," said the Head Sage. "A decision over something so delicate might take time to be completed."

"I can imagine so. But perhaps the willingness to concede, or to prioritize the right things, will be what will determine who is the better suited candidate for the role," Jeong Jeong said, simply. "Seek out your people. I will find mine. I believe this would be the best location for such a meeting… though not at the Fire Lord's pyre, evidently."

"I… can prepare another room for it," the Head Sage said, bitterly. "The Fire Lord's funeral… as well as that for the rest of the dead, must be held soon."

"As you wish. Whether we have decided on a course of action or not by then, the rites will be followed," Jeong Jeong said, surprising the Head Sage with his concession. "The coronation may have to wait longer as we determine the successor."

"It no doubt will," the Head Sage sighed: Jeong Jeong's idea certainly made sense… but it sat ill with him, nonetheless, to reach out to every Fire Nation leader after the heavy losses and chaos they had faced since the previous day. "If the Princess has not woken yet…"

"We may begin without her," Jeong Jeong said. The Head Sage scoffed. "But if she has woken… then you needn't worry about finding her yourself. I have no doubts she will be with General Sokka. I will reach out to them."

The naturality with which he said the words caught the Head Sage by surprise. Jeong Jeong turned, skulking off, and the Head Sage glared at the back of his bushy-haired head.

"You… accept their bond?" he asked.

"Do you?" Jeong Jeong asked, slowing down, even though he didn't stop walking.

"If… if you say it is love that powered gold fire, it is evident that… that he is the reason for it," the Head Sage said. "I never begrudged the truth behind their relationship even before knowing this about her fire… so now that I do, I have less reason to do so. But you…?"

"I am too heartless for such matters?" Jeong Jeong finished, finally stopping and glancing over his shoulder at the Head Sage. "I underestimated the power of that bond many times before. I have no intentions of finding out what the consequences might be, should I do it anew."

"You fear them, then," the Head Sage said, with satisfaction.

"Who wouldn't?"

Despite himself, the Head Sage smirked as Jeong Jeong walked away. While a change in the world order was imminent, recognizing a change in Jeong Jeong's demeanor hadn't been a guarantee. It certainly pleased him to see it.

But he had no time to waste: not many military leaders would still be around to take a stand in the Princess's favor, but the Head Sage would ensure to reach everyone he yet could to obtain the results that would favor the Fire Nation the most.

---

Hotaru's unwillingness to be apart from her parents warmed Sokka's heart. Even if she didn't fight much upon winding up in her older sister's care anew, Hotaru whimpered and reached for them right before they could set foot outside.

"We'll be back soon," Azula said, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her daughter's head. "Don't give your sister a hard time, okay?"

"She's always a good kid," Rei smiled. "Even when she's crying."

"Right," Azula smiled sadly, pulling back and sighing: the very chance to see her daughter again, the one that had been granted to her today, was one to be cherished deeply. Knowing that she could indeed count on returning again in a few hours, that she would hold and nurse Hotaru, sent small but significant bursts of happiness across her heart.

And the man who was responsible for granting those to her watched Hotaru with helplessness, no doubt wishing it were safe to bring her with them. Azula smiled at his remorse, but she marched towards the front door of Mai's place, regardless.

She breathed deeply as she placed her hand upon the door. She only hesitated briefly before pushing it open.

The midday sun gleamed powerfully over the city. Only a handful of gray clouds lingered in the sky, perhaps the product of the smoke from the previous day, but even so, the bright sunlight appeared to be entirely impervious to the dark thoughts that sought to batter and tear down Azula's defenses…

The thoughts won out, naturally, once she stepped out into the street and raised her gaze, seeking the Fire Nation's Royal Palace.

Her eyes only found the sky anew.

She tensed up as she lingered on the spot, rejecting a reality so painful and yet so obvious that it served no purpose to refuse it.

She heard Sokka walking up behind her. The feeling of his hand slipping into hers was perfectly right, necessary even, in the face of what she had lost. The absence of that place echoed inside her, a disappearance as painful as that of her father. Her home wasn't merely gone: she had to burn it down herself.

"Azula…"

She breathed deeply, sharply, squeezing his hand before tugging hers out of his grip.

"We… should gauge the situation first," she told him, surprising him. "I… would rather not give your forces any reason to be upset at you. Or… or the Fire Nation's."

Sokka breathed deeply and nodded, conceding her point quickly.

"Just let me know if this is too difficult," he said. Azula nodded. "Asking anyone to face all these changes is already hard… cruel, even. You don't need to force yourself to do it."

"Thank you," she whispered, nodding.

Thus, she took the first step forward, into the street, her heart aching and heavy anew as she faced the reality Sokka was willing to protect her from. There would be no fixing this, no preventing the pain that would overwhelm her, whether she confronted it now or in ten years.

He walked behind her, at first… beside her, soon enough. The street hadn't been too crowded, but a handful of people nonetheless spotted them, and where the sight of them standing together had become so commonplace and casual in the city once before, it seemed to catch people off-guard this time around. Nobody bowed to Azula, whether out of shock upon seeing her on her feet or standing with the enemy leader… but she didn't expect them to.

Her eyes fell upon the street, instead. They raked the buildings, finding some walls damaged, some rooftops charred. The closer they came to the Palace, the heavier the damage would be. By then, the amount of people out in the streets also increased considerably: troops still in uniform appeared to handle the civilians across the unsettling, confusing situation taking hold of their city. Some appeared to have taken to resting against building walls, but most seemed to be quite busy handling any eventualities that arose among the common folk. Further away, it appeared that the wounded were being tended to in what appeared to be an impromptu healing site, with whatever supplies might be available, as well as a handful of stretchers for those who needed them most.

Azula's eyes took all of it in without saying a word. This was the world left in the wake of her father's death… the world after the war's long-awaited conclusion. The Fire Nation, boasting of greatness, glory, golden streets and halls, was nowhere near as ruined as any of the Earth Kingdom towns their assault troops had marched through…

"Was it always like this?" she asked, finally. Sokka frowned.

"What was?" he asked.

"Your operations. Your reclaiming of the colonies for the Earth Kingdom," Azula finished. Sokka frowned.

"You mean… this much chaos?" he asked. Azula shrugged.

"Should you call it that… but it ultimately feels too meek compared to the things I can imagine the Fire Nation armies were capable of, in the past. The things I know they did for sure, in certain places," she said. Sokka swallowed hard.

"Well… some more than others," he said. "Omashu wasn't nearly as violent as Ba Sing Se. The Northern Water Tribe was far worse than this."

"Of course," Azula said, lowering her downcast eyes. The outcome there had been her personal responsibility, too.

She breathed deeply as her feet carried her forward, knowing the way home by heart: that she would find a blackened ruin in the place she had called by that name didn't stop her from making progress in that direction… from stopping right by the place where the Palace walls had stood, merely a day ago.

For even those protective walls were gone now, on the most part, mowed down by the earthbenders who had either used the stone within them in fights, or to building up the defenses to contain the corruption that had threatened to spill out of the Palace's premises.

That allowed Azula to peer into that darkness so much more easily… to find, indeed, nothing where so many of her memories, dark and bright, had once stood. Her chest clenched as she stopped on her tracks, tears surging in her eyes, but she didn't let them spill this time. She breathed deeply, knowing that a reality she had taken for granted, the certainty of having a place to come back to, was gone now. The fear of losing the Palace had been a brief, ephemeral thought once, in the mind of a desperate Princess, one who had feared she would never find her way out of the forest she had been lost in, alongside the man who had become the greatest partner she could have ever asked for. Back in one very dark night, that had given way to a rainy day, she had considered the dark possibility that she might have to let go of her ambitions, her dreams, her every certainty in life… upon failing to come home at all.

Now, there was no home to come back to. No father to report to. No symbol of greatness that singled her out as the heir of some impressive firebending lineage…

She had that thought occasionally, too. She had been offended by it the first time it arose in her mind, in the middle of a discussion with Xin Long: the next times, she had welcomed it far more impulsively, for being with Sokka was more fulfilling than being a royal…

But on that day, for the first time, she faced the possibility of losing her status for good. She stood there, by Sokka's side, without a hairpiece crowning her undone hair, clad in fine clothes, but not in her gleaming golden armor… people might fail to recognize her if it weren't for Sokka, right beside her.

She breathed sharply, releasing the air gradually as she allowed those thoughts to grip her: there would be no need to live her life under the weight of a million expectations. No one would care one way or another if the fire she could bend was blue or gold. She could simply become… nobody. A common, ordinary person with no greater concerns than raising her children and living a humble life to its fulfillment. The very thought would have outraged a younger Azula… but the misery she had faced over the past year sufficed to change her mind on that front.

"Are you…?" Sokka started, but he cut himself off without finishing the question. He didn't need to, but Azula could tell he was berating himself for asking the obvious. Instead, he breathed deeply and shook his head. "Is there something I can do to… help?"

"You've done more than anyone would have ever asked," Azula said, gritting her teeth. "Standing here with me is… is enough. I guess it's not easy for you either, but…"

"It's definitely harder for you," Sokka said, eyeing her mournfully. "I… I never meant for any of it to come this far."

"I know. You didn't push yourself this hard on a whim anyway," Azula said. "It's just… strange. I never pondered before how… how you could see it from every spot in the city. It didn't matter where you might stand… you could always glance around you and find your bearings so long as it stood where it did. Now… it feels empty. It's hardly like the building was more valuable than… than the people that have been lost, all across a hundred years of war, but… its absence certainly speaks clearly of what the war's outcome has been."

The blackened seat of power of the Fire Nation, a void where luxury, richness and misplaced glory had once stood. If it had come undone as easily as that, some might think, rightfully so, that all talk of Fire Nation greatness had been an empty illusion, in the end.

"I suppose… the main thing to ask ourselves is 'what now', huh?" she said, glancing over at Sokka with uncertainty. He shrugged.

"It should be. But I'll go on and admit that… I don't even know what to brace myself for," he said.

"I mean… you've pretty much won the war," Azula said, skeptically. "Not that it's too surprising, coming from you…"

"Oh, really? You'd have assumed I'd pull that off, just like that?" Sokka asked, with a slight smile. Azula smiled back and shrugged.

"If someone had told me there was a man in this world who would be capable of it, I'd have cast my vote on you well before you did it. Even if I'd known there was an Avatar out there, still," she said, with a sigh. "My point is, you're the one who won. As far as I understand, the winner determines the course going forward, so…"

"Uh… maybe," Sokka said, uneasy. "But I don't exactly feel like… like it's up to me and me alone to make choices in a situation like this."

He glanced about himself, as did Azula: the chaos left in the wake of the battle greeted them as their eyes scanned the city. Even though several people gazed at them intently, others appeared so overwhelmed by the circumstances, so confused by what had occurred over the previous night, that they didn't seem ready to so much as follow them with their gazes. The wounded, by the street further ahead, would not be likely to be concerned about whatever choices Sokka might make… he hardly felt worthy of making them at all, to begin with.

Two people marched among the wounded just then: Sokka's gaze softened upon glimpsing them, and Azula didn't take long to notice them, too. Her heart jolted at the sight of their joined hands, at how right they felt, by each other's side… she smiled, unable to help herself, a profound relief surging in her heart for their sake, along with genuine relief upon seeing them again. Had anything turned out differently, she might have never witnessed two of her closest friends, finally together once again.

Tense and aware of her surroundings, not even Song's natural exhaustion after a turbulent night could keep her from noticing that she was being watched. Rui Shi, too, squeezed her hand gently before glancing to the side.

Song's heart pounded at the sight before her, so right, and yet so absent over the course of the past year. Her lips parted: in their current get-ups, they seemed so vulnerable instead of imposing… and yet Sokka's strong stance near Azula spoke for itself regarding how ready he was to protect her from anything that might do her harm. Just as expected.

The sight of him by her side, of Azula on her feet, brought tears to Song's eyes. She released Rui Shi's hand begrudgingly, but she sprinted towards the other two as fast as her tired feet could carry her.

"Azula!" she called out, her voice trembling: both Sokka and Rui Shi watched with astonishment as the healer jumped forward, throwing her arms around Azula with familiarity and camaraderie they had never witnessed between the two before.

Azula smiled, hugging Song back, tears spilling down her cheeks now as she felt Song's soft sobs against her shoulder. She rubbed her friend's back reassuringly, chest tight with gratitude.

"I'm okay. I… I'm alright, Song. Believe it or not," she said, softly. Song sniffed before pulling back, wiping her tears with the heels of her hand.

"Y-your throat? How's it feeling? I... I thought you might not wake up for a while. Figured I'd go check on you soon, but I wasn't sure you'd be out and about already…!"

"It appears that I owe you for that. I've been told it was your doing that I survived at all… not that it surprises me," Azula smiled. "I've burdened you by putting my life in your hands too often… and as unfair as that has been, you've never failed me."

"Don't… don't say it that way," Song said, with a soft laugh as she hugged Azula again. "Fuck, I'm just… I'm just so glad you're okay…"

Azula sighed, closing her eyes as she comforted the healer as best she could. Still, it wasn't long before she felt the questioning, amused stares upon them both: she glanced at Sokka first, finding a tender smile on his face.

"That's new," he pointed out. Azula bit her lip and shrugged a little.

"Doesn't feel like it to me, but… guess it is," Azula smiled: Song pulled back again, turning towards Sokka before wiping another tear.

"And you…" she said. "I'm sorry I couldn't really say hi properly earlier, but…"

"Pfft. I was a mess, and you kept your cool like nobody's business," Sokka laughed, reaching a hand to clasp her shoulder: Song sobbed again before reaching in for a hug too. "Fuck, it's good to see you, Song."

"You too, Sokka. I… I'm so glad you made it in one piece," she said, with a chuckle. "Must've had… one hell of a healer with you. Seeing how many times I had to patch you up in the past… or is it you're less injury-prone if I'm not around?"

"Heh, I wish," Sokka smirked. "My sister was pretty helpful whenever anything stupid happened, but… maybe gladiators are scarier enemies than the Fire Nation armies, eh?"

"I mean… you're scarier than them. I'd believe it," Song laughed, pulling back and smiling at him with warm eyes. "Welcome back, Sokka."

The words struck him deeply, coming from the friend who had often seen him coming home years ago, greeting him with fully ready meals, with her unassuming smiles and insidious comments on occasion, too. He had come back after all… and as different as she might look, she was still every bit as much herself as all of them were.

Nothing went untouched. No one had endured this period without great sacrifices or hard decisions… none of them appeared the same as they had been the last time all four friends had been together.

And perhaps the one whose image was most distant from his usual, pristine appearance was Rui Shi: Azula gazed at him with heartfelt gratitude, almost trembling as emotion ravaged her at the sight of her former captain of the guards: Rui Shi, too, smiled warmly at her as rare tears arose in his eyes.

"It took quite a long time. But… we did it, didn't we?" Rui Shi told her. Azula laughed softly and nodded, dabbing at the tears. "It's… it's all of us again."

"It hardly feels real, but… but say, that long hair looks fine on you," she smiled. "Same as the stubble."

"Mainly helped me hide who I was, but… I'm glad you approve," Rui Shi said, stepping closer to her. "You'll have to excuse me for being as improper as this, in such a public venue, but… I must breach protocol now, Princess."

"You… have no need to worry on that front, Captain," Azula said, teasingly. Rui Shi's smile widened. "Hardly feels like I'm a Princess anymore… just as you haven't been a captain for a while."

"Then… there's no protocol to be had?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Azula smiled and shook her head.

"No… just use good sense to know that, if you play a prank on me now, I'll likely retaliate…"

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Azula laughed between the tears as Rui Shi swept in, taking her in his arms anew: they hadn't hugged remotely as often as they should have, in the past… but the relief upon doing it in a new way, without the despair of their final farewell on the Barge, thrilled both their hearts deeply. Azula tightened her grip around him, pressing her face to his shoulder as Rui Shi sighed in relief: the future might remain uncertain… but he had returned to the woman to whom he had sworn his absolute loyalty long ago. So much had changed since then, when the Princess had been a cold-blooded teenager who chose him, among his peers, as her captain out of sheer logic… for now, she was an affectionate woman, offering him as much kindness and gratitude as he held for her.

"You must have kept him going every bit as much as Song did for me…" Azula whispered. Rui Shi hummed. "Still don't know how… how any of it happened, but… I'm glad you found your way to him, Rui Shi. I'm so glad… so glad you and the others made it this far."

"We stood by our oaths all along… we still do, Princess," Rui Shi said, earnestly. "We fought alongside him… the man you chose. It seemed the best way to honor you… and the best way to make sure that we'd play a part in helping him come back to you."

"All of you… I'm glad all of you were safe," Azula said, sniffing as she pulled away, smiling at her proud, devoted guard. "Even if… if a rational part of me thinks none of you needed to take such risks, but by now I'm just… I'm just glad you did, in the end. Thank you."

Rui Shi smiled and nodded, bringing a hand to his palm in a gesture of reverent respect.

"We never once doubted that the right path would bring us back to you one day. Not just me and the others… Sokka, as well," he said. Azula's heart pained her, as nostalgic and powerful emotions surged inside her. "Whatever you may need of us… you need only ask. As it always has been."

"It… it really doesn't have to be that way anymore," Azula said, swallowing hard. "I… don't know what the future will bring. But that means a lot regardless, Rui Shi. Thank you."

He nodded, offering her a reassuring smile. Azula breathed deeply, emotions threatening to run away with her anew: this new reality hardly seemed to be anything but a dream… right until the acrid stench of smoke emanating from the Palace's ruins reached her anew. Until she remembered she hardly knew whether she still counted as a Princess or not.

"Are you certain you're well enough to be walking this way?" Rui Shi asked. Azula shrugged. "I certainly am pleased enough for it if you are, but…"

"You might need more rest," Song concurred, looking at Azula with concern.

"I feel like all of you do just as much," Azula pointed out: all three of them smiled guiltily. "Not that it was all that restful but I'm quite sure none of you have slept more than I did over the last twenty-four hours…"

"Not true. Hiding underground as I was, I sporadically fell asleep here and there," Song pointed out. Azula smiled.

"Did everything go well, though? By the time you were evacuated… the smoke didn't reach any of you, did it?" she asked. Song shook her head.

"Didn't hurt that we hid closer to the edge of the city," she said. "You'd told us to be ready to flee with Haru's earthbending, if things got any worse, so… it was a little surprising that they did get worse, but that we would be officially told to get out anyhow."

"Managing this is going to be tricky," Sokka frowned, eyes scanning the crowd that appeared to group around them: curious onlookers, as well as a few open admirers, stood at a safe distance from the four of them, perhaps waiting to know what the next developments might be... now that the daunting Gladiator stood side by side with their Princess once again. "It's part of why we came out here, too, to gauge the situation. I would've much rather stayed put with Hotaru, but…"

"Ah… I missed the look on your face when you met her, damn it," Song laughed. "I can imagine you were ecstatic, though."

"She's the cutest thing I've ever seen," Sokka smiled blissfully, prompting the others to laugh. "I did worry that she might not take to me, you know? Should still be a stranger for her, but…"

"She's mostly wary of people if her mom's not around," Song explained. "As long as Azula is anywhere near her, she… feels safe, I think. Throws way more tantrums whenever Azula isn't there, I can tell you that much…"

"Well, now… she does throw a few when I'm around, too," Azula said, with a weak smile. "I'm not some magical remedy for her bad moods…"

"You sure?" Song smirked. Azula laughed and shook her head.

"I could tell just how much she loves her," Sokka smiled fondly at Azula. "Always smiled her brightest when she looked at Azula. Which, well, comes as little surprise…"

"Oh, really?" Azula scoffed, skeptical.

"Not only was I always sure you'd be a great mom regardless of your thoughts on the matter… but that kid's my kid. There's no way she wouldn't think the world of you, she inherited that from me," Sokka declared, proudly: Song laughed, and Rui Shi shook his head as he smiled, too.

"Good to see some things truly don't change," he said. Sokka snickered: it might just have been his most genuinely careless smile since he had defeated Toph over a year earlier.

Even so, many things had indeed changed since the early days of their friendship: heavy burdens weighed on each of them, evidencing the struggles they had faced, the challenges they had nearly been overcome by. As things stood, it felt like a bleeding wound had finally been treated: whether it would be fully mended, whether scars would remain, or if all treatment might be futile, it remained to be seen still.

But there would be no discovering that just yet…

"Heeey, hey, Lady Wen! There's a guy over at the crumbled towers that…!" Chan's voice reached them, startling Azula: she turned around towards the voice with astonishment, finding him walking among the wounded, down the street, with Renkai by his side. "Oh. Oh! Princess, you're…!"

"Oh, Captain Chan," Song smiled, waving at him before glancing at Azula. "They've been helping me by gathering the wounded, or leading me to them, if the case requires it…"

"Good to know," Azula said, smiling a little as they stopped before her. Renkai smiled just as warmly at her, and Azula nodded in his direction. "I'm glad you've supported her."

"Of course we would," Renkai said, his eyes gleaming with relief. "Princess… we knew you were wounded, but now…"

"Couldn't be that bad, she's on her feet now! And she looks… fine?" Chan said, with a smile of his own. "Good on you, Princess! Everyone was freaking out a bit after what happened, but if you're recovering by now, it's… u-uh… Huh."

Chan's eager rambling paused when his eyes rose past Azula towards the man standing behind her. His lips parted, and he blinked blankly: perhaps he had been seeing monsters where there were none, but it alarmed him to find that the terrifying man he had witnessed fighting the Princess merely a few hours ago, the dangerous gladiator who had defeated his own so easily, would seem to be nothing but a perfectly ordinary man, up close.

"Uh… hello," Sokka said, with an awkward grin. Azula tensed up, glancing between the two of them as Chan's jaw continued to gape. "Guess this is, uh… one of your soldiers?"

"Well… yes," Azula said, breathing deeply and stepping aside so the two would face each other directly. "This is Captain Chan. Chan, this is Sokka."

Chan yelped, outright: his eyes inevitably drifted to the visible muscles on the Gladiator's arms, and he confirmed with utter horror that they were, indeed, better defined and even stronger than his own. No wonder the Princess had said what she had…

This was the man who had charmed her. The man who had loved her. The man who had torn the world apart for her. He seemed so perfectly normal… but Chan swallowed hard, knowing he was anything but that.

"G-greetings. You're… uh, the Gladiator. The Blue Wolf?" Chan said. Sokka nodded slowly. "Damn. Heh. Damn. I'm not really sure what to say, but, uh… t-thank you for sparing the Princess?"

His words caught Sokka off-guard, much as they confused Song while sinking in an awkward spot for Azula and Rui Shi. Renkai, too, scoffed and elbowed him in the back.

"You couldn't think of anything else to say?"

"B-but what else am I supposed to say?" Chan squeaked, glaring at him before turning towards Sokka again, warily. "D-did I… offend you?"

"No, you… you didn't," Sokka said, with a tight grin. Chan sighed in relief.

"You're embarrassing yourself," Renkai declared, bluntly. Despite herself, Azula smiled at the guard's tactless remark, even though it was apparent that Chan didn't appreciate it much.

"Hey!" he scoffed.

"Well, I should thank you too, I suspect… for standing down when you did rather than fighting on," Sokka said. "And if you were among the people who helped keep Azula safe for the past year, then my gratitude is greater still…"

"O-oh, well, I only… showed up a little while ago," Chan admitted, blushing slightly. "E-either way, nice knowing you! Maybe we should just go now…"

"Is something the matter?" Sokka asked, perplexed.

"I-I just, w-well…"

"I suspect he feels rather self-conscious around you," Azula said: Chan tensed up, glaring at her warily as Azula sighed. "This isn't the first time he's seen you, even if it is the first time you do."

"Oh?" Sokka eyed her in confusion.

"Life takes strange turns," Azula said, with a small smile. "I'd meant to ruin this guy's life once, and in the end, he wound up becoming my ally. Seems to happen to me quite a bit, huh?"

"I'd say so," Sokka smiled at her. "When did you try to do that, though? When I was around, or…?"

"Actually… when you first became my gladiator," Azula said, with an earnest smile. Sokka blinked blankly as she sighed. "I suppose a more thorough introduction is in order… Sokka: this is the Spawn of the Volcano's former sponsor."

"Eh…? Heh?!" Sokka exclaimed, eyes wide as he stared at Chan with a wholly new understanding. "Wait a second…!"

"I-I'm not going to try to marry her again, I didn't even want to do it the first time, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you have nothing to fear from me…!" Chan, sweating profusely, took to bowing repeatedly before a flabbergasted Sokka. He stared at the soldier before him in utter shock as Azula laughed softly beside him.

"You've got to be shitting me. This guy… wait. This guy?" Sokka said, eyeing Azula with a raised eyebrow. She sighed and shrugged… and Sokka scrutinized him again before smirking. "Heh. I suppose… some things make some sense now, don't they?"

"In my defense… I was young. Hadn't refined my standards sufficiently yet," she said, patting his arm. Sokka chuckled and shook his head.

"No worries. But… damn. I never imagined I'd meet the sponsor you wanted to defeat that badly," Sokka smiled. Chan eyed him with unease now, torso bent forward still. "Hey, it's… it's fine. I think. If Azula thinks you're trustworthy now, it's not for no reason."

"Oh, you really think she does?!" Chan smiled, rising to his full height. Sokka blinked blankly.

"She doesn't? You don't trust him?" Sokka asked. Azula smiled and shrugged.

"Only once in a while," she said. Chan pouted, and Sokka chuckled. "Either way, he joined the army after I unceremoniously destroyed his father's life… chance saw it that he'd wind up fighting under my command eventually."

"I… I did," Chan said, his face darkening by then. "I… I've done my best to be a good soldier. But… well, there's something I probably should've said before we set out to fight in this battle. I didn't know how to go about it back then, but… I think it should be fine to do it now."

"Huh?" Renkai raised an eyebrow.

"Well… the General you guys don't care for? He contacted me eventually," Chan confessed: all levity fled from Azula's face. "And, well… he gave me this."

He tucked something from his pocket: a thin hairpin. Azula frowned, and Sokka stepped forward.

"Why did he do that?" he asked, his leadership instincts kicking in immediately. "What orders did he give you?"

"To… to stab the Princess in the back, should she join your side."

Azula's eyes widened. Sokka tensed up. Chan swallowed hard, grip trembling around the inconspicuous weapon… he offered it to Sokka, who glared at it with disgust.

"Do whatever you want with it. I… I'm not going to use it, that's for sure," Chan said, earnestly. "But I've heard he's alive, and… surely you'll need someone to help put him behind bars for good, or execute him, if that's what you would prefer instead…?"

"That's… not up to me," Azula said, startling everyone. "I'm not surprised in the slightest by his command, but… I am surprised that he chose you for the task. I can only wonder if others were given similar orders… either way, I don't know who will determine Shaofeng's fate. It might not be me, so…"

"It has to be you," Chan said, puzzled. "I mean… it's obvious! Who else is the Fire Nation going to follow?"

Azula wanted to answer the question, to tell Chan not to take anything for granted… but someone else, approaching behind Chan and Renkai, beat her to it.

"There are other options. Another heir to the Fire Nation Throne."

Chan nearly leapt ten feet into the air before taking up a defensive stance, ready to confront whoever had spoken. Renkai stepped aside, glaring too… and Azula's breath caught in her throat upon recognizing a man she had only seen from afar, once before… in a battlefield in Yu Dao.

Jeong Jeong, ever humorless, offered their group a judgmental stare, quickly taking in who comprised it. His eyes, however, drifted towards the Princess before long: her fists clenched up, and her calm façade faded immediately.

"Jeong Jeong…" Sokka said, frowning and stepping between him and Azula defensively. "Now is not the time for that kind of nonsense, alright? I already told you…"

"You've said many things, General Sokka. I will have to ask you to say them anew," Jeong Jeong replied, puzzling his leader. "While I understand that you believe any choice is superior to Fire Lord Ozai, that does not settle the matter of succession over the Fire Nation Throne."

"And what will?" Azula asked, her voice ringing with contempt. "You intend to appoint the role yourself, perhaps?"

"I do not," Jeong Jeong said, seeking to glance at her past Sokka's form. "The war is said to be over now. If that truly is the case… the Fire Nation must capitulate in an official capacity. The Fire Lord's death implies a defeat indeed, but that isn't enough. An official document, a proper declaration, needs to be issued out to ensure that the Fire Nation, all of it, obeys the mandate that decrees this war is over. It is no frivolity: it is a necessary choice, as it has been in every armed conflict that has been waged across the world."

"Something tells me that didn't happen when Omashu was built," Sokka said, skeptical. Jeong Jeong shrugged.

"I cannot say. But it must happen here," Jeong Jeong said.

"And you're in charge of setting it up?" Sokka asked.

"I have come to seek you, as well as the Princess. I expect her to be the leader that represents the Fire Nation, at this point. Her people are most likely to rally behind her. You, however… you have been the Gladiator Army's true leader since well before it took that name. Clearly, the two of you will have to be part of this negotiation. Have all your most trusted advisors join you. I have already established the location where the talks between both factions shall take place: the Fire Sage's Temple."

"You decided that on your own?" Azula asked, worry rising inside her. "The Head Sage…"

"I have spoken with him," Jeong Jeong revealed, startling Azula. "He has agreed to my course of action. He, too, believed my intent was merely to force my will by any means necessary. That is not the case. I understand that a negotiation requires agreement on both parts… and I do believe it is possible to reach one, provided the two of you make a display of your fabled partnership even now. Only when a treaty has been signed, and a new Fire Lord has been crowned so that a new era can begin, shall we be able to declare that the Hundred Year War is truly over."

The fact that it was Jeong Jeong speaking those words didn't make them any less true, unnerving as it might be to admit it. Sokka gritted his teeth and glanced at Azula with uncertainty: the brief respite upon finding Rui Shi and Song anew had ended far too quickly.

"Are you alright with this?" Sokka asked her.

Azula breathed deeply, lowering her gaze: reality was barreling back in with no remorse, seeking to destabilize her anew with all its unpleasant reminders… not only had she betrayed Sokka numerous times during their separation, but her father was dead, and she remained at the head of a political faction that would look to her for guidance…

It might be too much pressure. She might not be in good enough shape to face it.

And she couldn't refuse for those reasons anyway.

"I… I think so. We should do it," Azula said, meeting Sokka's doubtful eyes with her own.

So far, they had given each other no explanations regarding most things. So far, they had merely set aside the difficult matters, the painful ones, and relished in their reunion… but they couldn't afford to do that forever. Azula breathed deeply, glancing at Chan and Renkai anew.

"I will require… War Minister Aonu to join me, should you find him," she said. Chan grimaced.

"That's… kind of what I was going to say before," Chan said. "Apparently, someone by the towers saw him cradling the dead body of, uh, a big gladiator?"

"Renzhi," Sokka said: Azula's eyes widened. "He fought fiercely, but… I'm afraid your War Minister may not wish to join this meeting. Upon coming across Renzhi on the battlefield, he…"

"He fought against the Fire Nation," Azula finished for Sokka. The Gladiator nodded. "And that still… still wasn't enough to keep Renzhi alive."

"I'm afraid not," Sokka said, gritting his teeth as grief for the kind, burly, powerful gladiator threatened to burst inside him.

Azula sighed, but she shook her head before glancing at Renkai and Chan anew.

"All the more reason to find him, then. Go. I'll see if I can… contact Mei Xun, too. Whoever… whoever's left."

Her words pained Sokka: it wasn't that he would regret the deaths of many Fire Nation military leaders, many of whom were guilty of more deaths than their own could ever hope to expunge. But knowing Azula's situation was no easier due to his actions, that she now had to unravel who to count on, who to trust, who to rely on for this diplomatic encounter, triggered protective instincts he hadn't known how to restrain.

Jeong Jeong nodded towards them, and Sokka shot him a reproachful glare.

"Thank you. Be at the Temple in two hours," the firebender said, before setting out just as abruptly as he had arrived.

"Azula… are you sure you're feeling well enough to handle this so soon?" Song asked, stepping towards her. Azula shook her head.

"Doesn't matter. I'll… finish healing after it's done. This is necessary," Azula said, staring back at her. "As much as I hate that he's the one who brought it up… it has to be done, for everyone's sake."

Song wanted to protest, but the intent died quickly: Azula couldn't delegate this to someone else. It was clear as day that, if anyone with less authority than her attempted to take a stand against the Gladiator Army, they would be entirely out of their depths and overcome quickly. Only Azula could ensure the best deals were reached… only she could keep the worst of the White Lotus at bay simply due to her association with Sokka. Should anyone else attempt to do this in her stead, it was possible that even Sokka would fail to keep someone like Jeong Jeong at bay.

"You should find the Avatar," Rui Shi told Sokka, who breathed deeply and nodded. "Prince Zuko must know, too."

"We'll get to them, we will," Sokka said, running a hand over his hair.

One more exchanged glance between him and Azula. One more moment of not knowing where they stood, of fearing that the terrible things they'd done might just undo what they had built across the years…

But Azula nodded, and so, Sokka did, too. They had never shied away from challenges, and this one would be no different: they were the respective leaders of their forces… and now that they inhabited those roles fully, they would secure the peace that was long overdue in their war-torn world.