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...

392. Chapter 392: A New Era 3

A/N:

Well, this is Gladiator's Anniversary week, so rejoice in knowing we've been on this journey for TWELVE YEARS NOW! :'D yeah, uh, it's a lot. I'm aware. Blows me away whenever I consider how much has happened in my life and yet it feels like this crazy journey didn't start all that long ago. Feel free to drop by my Tumblr to check out the commemorative artwork that will now be our new cover, as a celebration of our big milestone! And with that, proceed to enjoy this chapter as our characters gear up for a whole new journey of their own...

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A new era

3

Earthbenders had broken the main road of the Capital during the initial invasion into the city. The damage done by flames could not be easily undone, but that of earthbending, Aang found, was easily restored.

"How does it look?" he asked Katara: she hummed approvingly in response, smiling down the smoothed path of cobbled stone that Aang had improved upon, leveling it as best as possible.

"I can't say I know what it looked like before, but I like it," she said, smiling and kissing his cheek. "Good work."

Aang grinned and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, letting her head rest against his chest. His eyes raked the city before their eyes, eagerly seeking something else to do, something else to restore… there was plenty of damage closer to the Palace, but that was where the building guilds were currently camped, and he'd do best not to disturb them… even though a part of him urged him to join them, if anything, to expedite matters and ensure that a new Palace would be ready as fast as possible.

"You okay?" Katara asked, caressing his chest gently.

"I… yeah. I think so," he said, with a small smile. "We're here, huh? We made it this far. I still remember how your dad made sure we wouldn't rush out to do anything too reckless, back when we'd barely just met… he was afraid we wouldn't be able to do this. And, well, back then I don't think we would have, but…"

"No, but we did now. And that's the important thing," Katara said, cupping his face. "If this is guilt over not having acted sooner, Aang…"

"I… guess it kind of is," he admitted, biting his lip. "But at the same time… I'm sure we wouldn't have pulled it off without Sokka leading us all. If we'd just waited until I learned to become a decent leader on my own, well… we would've had to wait forever."

"Maybe you would've gotten the hang of it sooner than you know," Katara said. Aang chuckled. "Come on, you're a wonderful person, Aang. You wouldn't lead anyone who follows you astray. Besides, wouldn't that…?"

Aang raised an eyebrow as Katara froze. Her cheeks flushed slightly, perhaps darkening further under his scrutiny.

"What?" he asked.

"It's just…" she said, breathing deeply. "Well. If we ever find more Air Nomads? You'd be their leader, right?"

"Would I?" Aang asked, amused. "What if they already have some kind of leadership in place?"

"W-well…! Okay, they might but then how about…?" Katara said, swallowing hard. "Say we don't find them that soon…"

"I'd just be the leader of the Air Nomads comprised by… me?" Aang asked, amused. "I'm my own leader?"

"What if new Air Nomads came to be?" Katara said, with a tight grin. "And I don't mean the ones we've theorized about."

"New? Well, how?" Aang frowned. "You think that maybe… maybe airbenders could spontaneously start being born in the world?"

"I mean… sure. If… i-if you're the father?"

That, finally, did the trick.

Aang froze. His eyes were wide as plates, probably rounder circles than his bald head. Katara laughed at his reaction, taking his face into her hands to kiss his lips reassuringly. By the time she pulled back, his cheeks were flushed crimson.

"I-I mean… w-well… we're gonna… huh?" he said, a nervous smile growing over his face.

"Being a father scares you more than leadership?" Katara asked. Aang gasped.

"N-no! But…! We'd have to get married!" he said. Katara laughed. "I don't think your family would approve if we don't do it that way, first, a-and… oh, monkey feathers. Oh, goodness, you want to… I-I mean, I want to too! But I never really thought… with the war going on, I just figured it was something we'd talk about after, b-but… it's already 'after', isn't it?"

"I'm afraid so," Katara smiled. Aang swallowed dryly, running a hand over his head.

"O-okay. Okay. We… we can try to have babies. After marriage, yes! After! But… we can try. A-and… you think they'd be Air Nomads? Airbenders?"

"Well, you are one. Hopefully our children would be, too," Katara said, biting her lip.

"It'd be good if they're waterbenders as well," Aang smiled. Katara returned the grin.

"We'll have to make lots, then," she decided: Aang's face flushed even more. "That way we'll have plenty of both, and maybe a few non-benders here and there… you know, my family's mostly non-benders after all."

"They'd have the best grandfather and uncle to look up to," Aang smiled.

"And hey, we can teach our kids about both our peoples, right?" Katara said, taking his hands in hers. "It's not like we have to reserve either of our cultures only for the ones who were born bending one of the elements…"

"Air Nomads didn't really have non-benders, but… we are in a new world," Aang smiled. "Maybe that, too, was a sign of imbalance. Non-bending Air Nomads would be appropriate. And waterbending ones. And airbending Water Tribespeople…"

"Everything's possible now," Katara smiled. Aang chuckled, biting his lip.

"But… not yet, right? Not until… well, after the Palace is fixed? Or the city? Or… well, everything. We could go to Harbor City next, patch things up over there…"

"We could," Katara nodded. "Or… we could go check on Sokka and Azula for a bit? We've left them to their own devices for a few days, might be they've been busy with important stuff."

"Surely they were," Aang said, with a small smile. "Maybe we can help them with something. Heck, even by taking care of Hotaru, if they let us."

"Do you really think Sokka's ever going to hand her over to someone else?" Katara laughed. "He's a hopeless father. Utterly fascinated by his little kid… and maybe even more fascinated by the kid's mother. It's funny how much he changed now that things are back on track for them, but… it makes me self-aware at times, not going to lie."

"Self-aware?" Aang asked.

"I mean, it often feels like we're just in the way and they would jump each other's bones if we weren't there to deter them," Katara laughed. Aang blushed, though he remained amused by her remark. "And, well, considering how long they've been apart… as much as it grosses me out because it's my brother? I kind of wish they'd be able to take their time to get back on their feet… rather than spending every waking moment fixing this messy world."

"You know, that's why I feel so uneasy," Aang bit his lip. "I guess… I feel like I should be taking on more responsibilities and helping out with more things because they've already done so much more than anyone should have asked. Isn't it the Avatar who's supposed to keep balance? It… it might be scary, because I've never done anything like this before, but I kind of want to give them that break. At least, to some extent…"

"Then maybe we should go check on them and talk about it. Could be there's something within our grasp that we can help them with," Katara said, reassuringly. "How about it?"

Aang smiled and nodded. He wrapped an arm around her waist, then spread his staff's wings open: Momo, perched atop it, squeaked and flew upwards just before they joined him in the sky. To this day, Katara loved flying with Aang like this, even if it was a lot more nerve-wracking than flying on Appa.

"No worries! If you ever slip out of my grip, I'd just airbend and catch you!" Aang grinned.

"That's not nearly as reassuring as you think… but I know you won't drop me anyway," Katara laughed, kissing his cheek. Aang chuckled as he steered them carefully, drifting higher, until they had a proper view of the whole city.

They stopped by Sokka's house, first: once there, they learned from one of Azula's guards that the Fire Lord was holding official business at the Temple nowadays, instead. A second flight saw them crossing the city anew, and this time they were greeted by the sight of Sokka rocking Hotaru in his arms by the building's entrance, as the baby watched him and raised her hand towards his stubble.

"Sokka!" Katara waved at him. He grinned, waving right back. "You brought Hotaru to the Temple?"

"Yeah, well, Song and Rui Shi had to come today, and that meant Rei wasn't going to stay alone in the house with Hotaru, so… we brought them both, too," Sokka explained. "Hotaru was a little restless and distracting her mom just now, though, so… we went for a walk!"

"Sounds like such a punishment for you," Katara smirked. Sokka snickered, kissing his daughter's brow. "You're well on your way towards becoming the most obnoxious dad ever known, aren't you?"

"And proud of it," he said, beaming. "Did you guys need something, or…?"

"Well, we wanted to ask if there's anything we can help with," Aang smiled. "I've been doing some work over the past days, I think I leveled the city streets as best as possible… some still have burn marks, but I can't really fix that."

"Oh. Yeah, well… that'll be something to worry about later, I guess. But thanks for your efforts thus far," Sokka smiled. Aang bowed his head towards him. "Even small things are really helpful. As for other stuff… well, I guess the main thing I ought to do is ask if you guys will be joining us on our big worldwide trip? I think you should be there, Aang… making sure all deals between nations are reasonable, you know? And of course, pressuring anyone who doesn't want to accept reasonable terms…"

"P-pressuring? I… wait. But… when is this trip happening?" Aang asked, eyes wide.

"We'll try to get going in a week or so," Sokka said. "Might be unrealistic, maybe we'll need to worry about other things before that, but… for the time being, that's the plan. Doesn't feel like we can move along with many urgent laws and such until we get this out of the way, though."

"Damn," Katara said, eyes wide. "I guess I underestimated how hard it'd be to bring peace to the Fire Nation without the rest of the world…"

"Colonies need to be taken care of," Sokka said. "Once they're fully back in Earth Kingdom control, the Fire Nation will still need to negotiate deals for commerce between both nations… that's not going to be easy to handle, as you can imagine."

"And a lot of leaders are bound to want Azula to answer for many things, huh?" Aang said, biting his lip. "I'll be there. I have to join you at this… a-and you'll come too, right, Katara?"

"No doubt," Katara smiled, though she froze a moment later. "But… wait, does that mean we're going to the Northern Water Tribe very soon?"

"Yep. All dramatic goodbyes to Kino will have been very brief," Sokka chuckled. Both Aang and Katara smiled. "Well, this way if things aren't going smoothly for him, we can always sweep in to save him, you know? Bring him with us if they're not treating him right…"

"Yue is certain to join us too if that happens," Aang smiled.

"As long as we have room on the ship, I don't think that'd be a problem," Sokka reasoned, nodding.

"And… what's going to happen with the Fire Nation while you guys are gone?" Katara asked. "I know you might think they'll behave themselves and respect Azula even if she's absent, but…"

"We didn't want her to leave too soon after the coronation for that reason," Sokka said. "Unfortunately, the state of the world demands for Azula to do this as soon as possible. But it's okay… she's training Song to hold office in her stead while she's gone."

"Song?" Katara asked, raising her eyebrows. Sokka chuckled, jerking his head towards the inside of the Temple.

"Wanna see it for yourself?"

The three of them entered the dark halls of the Temple, progressing towards the room Sokka had left earlier. He pushed the door open quietly, and voices reached them well before they saw anything inside.

"… so, if any petitioners come, I'll have to tell them to wait for your return unless it's very urgent."

"Correct."

"And if it is urgent and complicated, I'll send a bird to you and you'll tell me what to do."

"Also correct."

Katara and Aang entered the room, finding Rui Shi pacing behind the low table where Azula and Song sat. Rei watched them with interest, resting atop her crossed arms, set upon the table, too.

"I feel like I'll end up sending a thousand messenger hawks to you across this trip…" Song said: her eyes drifted towards the door, and she smiled immediately upon recognizing the new arrivals. "Oh, hey there."

"Hard at work, I see," Katara smiled. "Sokka just told us… you'll be off on this trip soon, then?"

"Quite," Azula said, nodding. "There are a few things I need to get in line before we leave, but… yes."

"And I'll tail you constantly while you do them…" Song said, biting her lip: she had a scroll in hand, and she appeared to be taking notes on it.

"Won't be that bad, Song. You'll see! We'll be back before you know it," Sokka grinned.

"I'm worried about the new Palace, though. How will I know it's looking like… well, what you want it to look like?" Song grimaced. "And would it be finished by the time you guys arrive? There's that, too…"

"Won't matter too much if it's not," Azula said. "We'll keep staying over at Sokka's place if it's not finished, and working here in the meantime. There's no need to rush that side of things, at the very least. We have enough urgency when it comes to other matters."

"Such as?" Aang asked: Azula's face darkened at the question.

"Well… the Fire Nation's dragon laws are drafted now. I completed them, and even without a council to approve them, they're as good as a done deal as things stand. That's one thing out of the way, but I still need to ensure the other nations will refrain from hunting them too. But if there's one thing that's stopping me from leaving as soon as possible, it's slavery," she said, firmly. "I'm not leaving until my men seize the biggest profiteer from slavery."

"Isn't that… Shaofeng?" Katara asked. Azula shrugged.

"Second biggest, then," she said. "Koshing will face his dues. Quite soon, I hope… provided Renkai and his team are efficient about capturing him."

"Will you stay until the slavery laws are abolished, then?" Aang asked.

"Unfortunately… everything suggests that I may be able to set up the laws, but cannot make them official until I've determined how to handle this matter with the other nations' leaders," Azula sighed. "I'd love to, don't get me wrong, but… the Earth Kingdom in particular will need to cooperate with us in order to properly restore every individual's status in society."

"This is more complicated than it sounded like, isn't it?" Katara bit her lip.

"The nets of slavery and my father's corrupt dealings won't be undone easily," Azula said, her voice ringing with remorse. "I wish it were otherwise, but… he left a rather complicated mess in his wake."

"Well, him and all his predecessors," Song said. Azula nodded.

"Feels like I'll spend my whole life fixing all their worst crimes," she said, shaking her head before turning towards Song. "Say… regarding the Palace's staff, there's one thing I doubt I'll have time to do now, but maybe you can start the investigations and I'll follow up on them once I'm back."

"Oh?" Song raised her eyebrows.

"I need… to track down everyone my father fired over his discovery of me and Sokka," Azula said, face darkening: Song winced. "It won't be easy, so don't beat yourself up about it too much, but… he got rid of a lot of people. Especially those who had more direct contact with me."

"Even though they had no idea what was going on?" Katara asked, glancing at Sokka: he, as well, appeared to have hardened upon hearing Azula's words. "Or did they…?"

"They might have had suspicions at best," Sokka said. "I doubt any knew the truth for certain."

"They didn't. And I don't know… don't know if they're alive, if they became slaves… I don't know anything," Azula said, with a heavy sigh. "So, if it's within your possibilities… try and ask some of the recent Palace staff about it."

"I could, but… it'd have to be someone who was working in the Palace all along," Song said, grimacing. "Meaning… I may need to go to, uh, Fei Rou."

Azula's frown was the most menacing one she had shown thus far. Song inched away slightly, nervously, even if the glare across Azula's eyes drifted towards the horizon.

"I-I'm not saying you need to keep him around, but…"

"Fei Rou?" Sokka repeated, scowling. "I mean, no doubt Ozai didn't fire him, but…"

"But I will," Azula finished. Sokka's eyes widened. "He's not going to serve as the head physician of my administration. No matter what."

"I understand that," Song said, nodding slowly. "But… is there anyone else who might know about the missing staff? Shaofeng might, but…"

"He's untrustworthy. Unreliable," Azula sighed, rubbing her brow with her fingertips. "Fei Rou isn't too trustworthy either, no matter if he was acting under orders, but…"

"I can question him. Maybe see if he has any useful information, and… if he does, I could maybe dismiss him myself and, uh, have him sent to a practice somewhere really far away?" Song asked, with an awkward smile. Azula raised an eyebrow. "Unless you'd rather do it yourself…"

"I wouldn't. I'd rather be nowhere near him," Azula grumbled, before shaking her head. "Try him, not just to find the missing staff, but also to find out if anyone else might know more than he does."

"Alright," Song said, breathing deeply and jotting down the new command on her scroll.

Sokka sighed, stepping towards his slightly more irritable lover now. She eyed him with a raised eyebrow, and he slid behind her, setting Hotaru on her lap.

"There. Here's your mandatory antidote to unpleasant thoughts," Sokka said: despite herself, Azula smiled as she caressed Hotaru's hair.

"Did your dad tell you goofy jokes to make you laugh?" she asked.

"I tried. She still thinks it's funnier if I make silly faces, though," Sokka said. Azula chuckled.

"You're innately good at those. Had years of practice before she came along, of course…"

"Is that something I should be ashamed of?" Sokka asked, solemnly. Azula chuckled, shaking her head before sighing and focusing on business again.

"All this is going to be really challenging to handle," she said. "If anything feels like it's beyond your scope, Song… just let me know and leave it for later. Still… you won't be handling everything by yourself. All the darker matters pertaining undoing slavery will be in the hands of the Enforcers… as well as Renkai's group."

"How long do you think it'll take them to find Koshing?" Sokka asked.

"Hopefully, not that long at all. I think we'll stay until they succeed," Azula said. "Once we've managed to get all of that under control… we'll take off to the Northern Water Tribe."

"What's the plan, exactly?" Katara asked. "Northern Water Tribe first, then…?"

"It's basically the same journey that brought us here, but inverse," Sokka explained. Katara hummed. "Ba Sing Se would be next, then Omashu, then the Southern Water Tribe."

"We'll see Zuko again, too," Aang smiled at Katara, who nodded.

"So many goodbyes… and it turns out we would meet again quite soon," she smiled.

"The world is changing," Azula said. "At least, that's what we're working towards. Visiting friends and family is bound to be much easier in the coming years than it ever was before. No more forceful, dramatic separations… well, not that many of those. I suppose anyone whose loved one ends up in prison wouldn't cherish these changes much, but…"

"If they deserve to be locked up, they have no right to protest," Sokka said, running his hand over Azula's back. He frowned, though, as an idea crossed his mind. "Say… I made a promise to Yue, back when we were in the north."

"A promise?" Azula raised her eyebrows.

"Okay, two promises: one will be fulfilled when she gets to meet you, because she really wanted to," Sokka smiled. Azula returned the grin. "But… there was a slightly less pleasant line of business for her. It's… Hahn, actually."

"Hahn?" Azula's eyes widened. Sokka smirked slowly.

"Not that I want to cause Hina to ruin our lives again, or try to … though, if she actually tried, I don't think I'd hold back from making her pay for it this time. I've had enough of selfish pieces of shit getting in our way," he said, his voice dark and menacing. "But… I do think a way to prove your good intentions to the Northern Water Tribe, to show your willingness to cooperate and do right by them, would be to..."

"Bring Hahn back to the Northern Water Tribe," Azula finished. Sokka shrugged. "Huh. I suppose it was obvious, but with so many things in mind, it just… slipped my notice. Then… we'd have to detain him."

"I could handle that," Rui Shi said. Azula glanced at him. "I doubt he'd be much of a challenge."

"Yeah, he's no match for you. I guarantee it," Sokka smirked.

"We can do it before Renkai returns, then," Rui Shi said. "Or do you expect him to be a flight-risk?"

"Not really," Azula admitted. "He's bound to hope he'll go forgotten… maybe the fact that most Northern Water Tribesmen are gone will embolden him, too. In fact… I'd dare say it would be quite suitable if you brought Anorak along for that particular mission, Rui Shi. It seems to me he'll appreciate the invitation."

"He's bound to," Sokka smirked.

"As you command," Rui Shi nodded. "May Renkai return soon so we may wrap up this matter as quickly as possible."

"May he," Azula said, breathing deeply.

With so much to worry about, keeping tabs on every avenue of action was an increasingly difficult challenge: the list of priorities she had started writing with Sokka constantly grew longer, for more complicated, important matters needed to be handled at once. But, with any luck, slavery would be the first of them to come undone under its own weight… Renkai's actions would see to that.

---

Fire Fountain City boasted of the largest settlement in the Fire Nation islands besides the Capital itself. To this day, Fire Lord Ozai's statue remained in place, bathed in gold, spewing flames violently out of his arms and mouth. The sight of it brought Renkai to wonder if Fire Lord Azula would tear down that statue one day, replacing it with a less violent effigy, one that symbolized peace rather than war…

But they hadn't come to the city merely to admire its architecture and urbanism: Renkai glanced at the statue from a nearby hill before turning his attention once again to the estate they were skulking by: Koshing's home and center of operations, as per the information the Light Bearer and the Dark Rook had provided.

"Do we expect him to be home?" Renkai asked.

"It would be unlikely for him to be elsewhere," the Light Bearer remarked. "The situation is too unstable right now. He must want to lay low and make an escape as soon as he can afford to."

"He's a boastful man whenever he can be," the Dark Rook continued. "If he hasn't come out to make a display of his fortune by offering his support to the new Fire Lord? It means he's still gauging what the best course of action is. Or, as my brother said, maybe he has chosen one… and maybe he merely means to run."

"If he did… he'd take all evidence with him, wouldn't he?" Renkai asked. "Everything that ties him to Shaofeng, to slavery trade…"

"To extorsion and blackmail, too," the Light Bearer scowled. "Our… our father is in that estate as well."

"We will save him," Renkai said, nodding. "We have our priorities: capture Koshing, find your father, find all incriminating documents we may dig up."

"Literally, at that," Aonu said: he had remained silent thus far, glaring at their target while supporting his weight against a sturdy rock. "We should head inside by digging a tunnel. Easier than to attack frontally. He won't have it easy to escape that way."

"That could lead us… to his secret room," the Light Bearer said. "It's a basement we never truly had access to, but if you dig that way with your earthbending, you might just be able to enter that room. The documents you'll want will be there. He might even be there himself."

"So… we sneak into this sketchy room, beat him up, tie him down and then do everything else?" Chan said, with a slow grin. "That's simple enough! At least, I'd think…"

"Depends on security, though," Renkai sighed. "If he has paid guards, as he surely does, it won't be easy. We may be able to take them down regardless, but… say, Koshing employed a staff of his own, surely. A man of those means…"

"He did," the Light Bearer confirmed.

"How many of those employees would be likely to turn against him?" Renkai asked. "Were they like you, slaves in all but name, or…?"

"I don't know if in every case… most were slaves, though," the Dark Rook replied. "As for how much of the staff would turn on him, well…"

"Well?" Chan glanced between the twins, awaiting a response. It didn't take long to arrive, as the two smiled knowingly at each other.

"Safe to say all of them would."

Renkai raised his eyebrows. Chan let out a wicked chuckle. Even Aonu smirked slightly upon hearing those words: he had no respect for Koshing, and he relished knowing others shared in his distaste of the man.

"Well, then… almost sounds like we'll have ourselves a little army, eh?" Chan cackled, looking at Renkai eagerly.

"We won't count on them as a conventional one, though," Renkai said, tapping his elbow with a finger. "But… they will know that mansion thoroughly. With the right push, they could help us take down all security from the inside. All we need is for you two to rally them to our cause."

The Dark Rook and the Light Bearer nodded at once upon hearing Renkai's words. The guard breathed deeply, focusing on the mansion once more.

"Very well, then… Aonu, if you'd do the honors?"

A purpose was a fickle, curious thing: having one could change your life entirely, while lacking one left you ambling aimlessly. Aonu wouldn't quite expect this immediate purpose to change everything about his future as easily as that… but in crafting that tunnel, in sensing the land around him, in guiding this small party to the depths of Koshing's lairs, it felt as though he were finding himself for the very first time, and he had no intentions of relinquishing that sensation. He could feel Renzhi laughing proudly at his rebellious choices, at seeing Aonu screw over one of the men he had deeply despised in the Gladiator Business… he couldn't bring Renzhi back, but he could let his memory guide him to the better future Aonu knew he and so many others used to dream of.

The whole group moved quietly in the tunnels: that even Chan refrained from whistling or singing or chatting aimlessly gave away the seriousness of their quest. Aonu parted the land gradually with his bending, ever careful, ensuring to approach the mansion from the right angles…

He stopped upon abruptly coming up on what appeared to be a solid wall, underground, rather than the usual soil.

"I take it this is the secret underground room you mentioned he might hide in?" Aonu asked, quietly. The Dark Rook's chest heaved; his visage lit up by his brother's bright flames.

"This is where any documents would be. Without a doubt," he said.

Aonu breathed deeply before parting the solid wall: there would be noise, there would be a light shake… hopefully, too light for Koshing to notice it, wherever he might be.

The room brightened under the Light Bearer's fire: tall bookshelves, filled with accounting books, were the first thing to greet their eyes. Then, wooden chests, inlaid with gold, piled on one corner. The room appeared empty…

"This is it," the Dark Rook said, scowling as everyone filed quietly into the room.

Aonu got to work at once, emptying the bookshelves at haste, tucking as many of the books into bags as he could afford to before emptying them in the earthbending passage he had opened earlier… then, he came back to collect the rest.

Chan did the same with the treasure chests: it was pointless to attempt to open them without the keys in this circumstance, but what mattered was to confiscate all of Koshing's surely ill-gotten gold and treasure. Renkai provided support to both while the Dark Rook and the Light Bearer continued to scour the room, finding specific, useful information worth providing to the Fire Lord…

"Here, maps," the Dark Rook said, handing over the piles of parchment to his brother.

"Good," the Light Bearer nodded, scouring them quickly: they showed him a glimpse of the coordinated, orchestrated sailing plans for Koshing's fleet, be it the legitimate one or the secretive slave traders.

Renkai's eyes were drawn to a desk. He frowned as he approached it, hoping to gather any other information out of whatever Koshing might have been doing, of late. One cabinet yielded nothing but writing implements, but another, a larger one, featured a pile of garbage, scrapped paper, it seemed. Renkai pulled out many of the discarded papers, spreading them over the table… most were hardly scribbled on, but some were half-finished letters. Perhaps, then, he could find something else. A journal, a diary…

He couldn't seem to find any, though, as he rushed across the rest of the cabinets. Was there a secret compartment? He stared at the table, noticing the ridges of its decorations, the small circles on them...

All the circles were sunken but one.

Renkai's hands moved over the desk, under it, too. He touched a side, then the other, then finally…

Right by his left foot, there was a secret compartment. It wasn't fully closed… and as he pushed it all the way, the circle sunk back into place when the mechanism clicked.

"Very well…" Renkai spread his hands, so that four fingertips would touch the circles in question, all at once.

The mechanism clicked again, and the small cabinet opened anew. Renkai wasted no time yanking out its contents, setting them upon the desk.

"What's that?" Chan asked, stepping up to his ally. Renkai frowned as he pulled back a wooden lid, one that covered the small box of the cabinet…

"I… am not sure," Renkai frowned.

There might be an explanation for each element within that box. One, perhaps, was self-explanatory: the journal Renkai had wondered about sat at the center of the box, leather-bound and thick with what he hoped would be truly useful evidence. But among the objects, there was a long, thin cylindrical box, ornate with red and gold…

He plucked it open, and within it sat a faded, golden hairpin without the ornament it should have been attached to.

Renkai frowned: he had first assumed the faded color might be the result of oxide, corroding impure gold… but a second glance revealed otherwise.

"What's that? A hairpin?" asked Chan. "What does he need a hairpin for?"

"Don't know, but… this is dry blood."

Chan's eyes widened. Renkai met them with uncertainty before tucking the pin back into the cylinder.

"What kind of sketchy shit does this guy get up to in his free time, huh?" asked Chan, grimacing. "Found any other weird stuff coated in blood, or…?"

"I haven't… yet, I suppose," he said, frowning. "But there's also… powders. I don't… I don't quite know. Poison? Drugs, of some kind?"

The Dark Rook and the Light Bearer turned immediately upon hearing as much: the haunted looks across their faces chilled Renkai's heart at once.

"We… we will inspect it all later," Renkai reassured them, handing the box to Aonu. "Be thorough about protecting that. There's… there's something weird about that hairpin. We'll sort it out later, but for now, let's finish the mission."

"Got it," Aonu said.

He tucked the box safely into a pocket of earth, apart from the rest of the evidence they'd harvested. Afterwards, he closed the tunnel, safeguarding their finds for the time being.

"So… where to now?" Chan asked.

"His room… it's on the fourth floor," said the Dark Rook. "If he's sleeping right now, we'll find him there. We just have to get there safely…"

"You said the staff would support us," Aonu said. "How about we see to that first?"

The twins exchanged another glance and nodded: with that, they led Aonu to build a new tunnel, one that, this time, would lead right into the servants' quarters in the grand mansion…

Up high, by the fourth floor, Koshing was restless. He had sent word to Shaofeng's men, seeking to straighten out whatever information they'd gathered thus far… but it had been to no avail. No answer, no true knowledge on his ally's circumstances. For all he knew, he could be dead… and word had already spread that Shaofeng's most dreaded opponent had been the one to take the throne, just as he had anticipated she would. Koshing had built some kind of rapport with her, or so he thought… respect, he hoped, even if she had been so unpleasant during the Gladiator and Sponsor Race. Even so, their personal dealings had been limited, so very incidental… she had no reason to come after him. Shaofeng surely wouldn't point anyone in his direction, would he?

No… he just had to wait. The contingency plans in case of an emergency couldn't be enacted yet, for Koshing would lose everything if he dared do it. It would leave him with a clean slate, no doubt, more so if the Palace truly had been destroyed… but it would mean starting from scratch, far away, under a new identity. He would rather not do that unless it was his only choice…

He huffed, taking a seat, running his hands over his hair. He had to figure something out. He had to make sense out of this mess. He had to dig himself and Shaofeng out of whatever this situation was… a plan. He could make use of Shaofeng's agents, set him free if he truly was imprisoned. He could bribe guards, money often became the answer when all else failed.

He would draft his plans tomorrow. He could afford to wait a little longer. The Princess-turned-Fire-Lord was bound to be too busy changing her wardrobe, trying to ensure her crown matched whatever she wore… she was a noble, frivolous, no matter how bloodthirsty she could be. She wouldn't take action yet… he'd have warning. He'd have a chance to make his move well before she made hers…

The doorknob of his personal bedroom turned suddenly.

"What…?" he glanced in that direction.

He jumped to his feet, near the window. It was no true means of escape if he hoped to keep his body in one piece, but nobody trustworthy would break into his room unannounced…

A servant stood on the other side once the door swung open. A trembling servant, at that.

"What do you think you're doing, you miserable lowlife?!" Koshing exclaimed. The servant shrank under the insults. "You are not to use that key other than for emergencies…!"

"There's… t-there's been a break-in, Lord Koshing."

Koshing froze. The servant gazed at him hopelessly, and the man snarled.

"Have the guards captured whoever's responsible?" he said, rushing out of the room, bumping the servant on his way out. "Answer me!"

"N-no…! We fear they ran away, they gave us the slip…!" said the servant.

Koshing huffed, rushing downstairs at once. The lower he went, the messier the place became: torn rugs, broken vases, portraits damaged past repair, furniture in shambles, even with some burn stains… what on earth had happened here and how had he not noticed it at all?

"Why did no one ring the alarm?!" Koshing huffed. "I didn't hear it, and I wasn't asleep! Do not presume to pretend that…!"

"T-they disabled it, sir, they…!"

"Oh, preposterous! Incompetent nitwits, all of you… you'll be the next ones I'll ship off to the crime dens, you hear me?"

"Sir…!"

Koshing finally reached the ground floor: everything was a mess… but by now, it was an odd one. Food was scattered across the floor tiles, not just furniture and adornments now. They'd raided the kitchen, too?

"Where the blazes did they even come from?!" he roared.

"It seems they used earthbending, sir."

Koshing froze. He glanced at the servant: he still trembled, but there was something else to the young man's voice now… to the glow in his brown eyes, too.

"E-earthbending…?" he repeated. "Wait. Wait…!"

Koshing rushed to his study. A trail of scattered, splattered food led there.

"No, no, no…!"

He reached the entrance to the secret room at haste, slamming his hand on the secret mechanism in the wall: a trapdoor, with a rope ladder, dropped to the basement's hidden room immediately.

She couldn't have. There was no way she had made her move that fast…

He jumped down the trapdoor, hardly using the ladder to keep himself aloft.

His boots hit solid ground… and soon, so did his head.

The wall against which the ladder dangled bent forward, squashing him against the floor abruptly.

He screamed, first out of genuine fright… soon, out of frustration and rage. The weight of the wall grew heavier, as the earthbender attacking him pressed him harder against the ground… but it wasn't the earthbender applying the pressure, in fact. Instead…

"You bastard! You piece of shit! Finally you get what you deserve!"

The very servant who had led him had jumped atop the wall of earthbending. Soon, another joined in. Then, another, and another.

A cacophony of screams, accusations and violence rained upon the confused, horrified noble: the earthbending holding him down soon only restrained his hands, for Aonu bent the earth into makeshift cuffs. That allowed the servants, slaves or no, to give Koshing a piece of their minds quite violently. Perhaps Aonu should have stopped them, but he couldn't be bothered to do so… not unless Koshing wound up close to death, he guessed. For now, he'd let them find their catharsis, watching on coldly as the master slaver, the trafficker of humans, guilty of countless sins alongside Shaofeng, found an unexpected comeuppance at the hands of some of those he had personally oppressed, enslaved and mistreated for over a decade.

The rest of Aonu's allies had left him behind in the underground room to handle Koshing himself: the firebenders and the non-benders had made sure to take down every guard hired to ensure Koshing's protection. As buff as most of them might be, none stood a chance against the might of an Imperial Guard, two top-tier gladiators and a strong non-bender, armed with a hand cannon that set the mansion's doors and walls aflame, preventing their escape once they knew themselves outmatched.

In a matter of twenty minutes after fully organizing themselves, alongside the servants that, as Kei and Sei predicted, readily offered their support to their cause, Koshing and his forces had been defeated entirely.

"Woah! We do good work, now, don't we, Bosskai?"

Renkai shuddered at Chan's latest makeshift name for him, as they oversaw the outcome of their raid. Renkai glared at him pointedly, as Chan grinned proudly, standing by several restrained, unconscious guards… clad in the uniforms of Shaofeng's private army.

"We do," Renkai said, softly: to think he could've wound up wearing that damn outfit if he had continued making the wrong choices in life… "Let's check the rest of the place for good measure."

"The Fire Lord will be pleased," Chan said, proudly: by the mansion's actual entrance, the twins were holding an elderly man, sickly, who took his first steps into the night with a shivering grin.

The Dark Rook and the Light Bearer had set their father free… their fellow servants and slaves, too. Countless papers, documents bearing undisputable evidence had been secured. Koshing, too, was bloodied and beaten, but alive and captured, just as all his loyal guards were…

Oh, the Fire Lord would be pleased for sure, Renkai thought, with a growing grin. Undoing slavery for good might not be guaranteed, even after this… but the secret structure, the backbone of the system of human trade, had faced a killer blow today, or so he hoped. An investigation years in the making had finally seen its course… and with its success, Shaofeng's crimes would come to full light, at long last.

---

The new Fire Lord had taken office a week ago. Not a lot of activity had been noticed in the Capital since then, though plenty of rumors had spread about the future that awaited the Fire Nation, most of all, among the highborn. According to some, the Fire Lord would abolish nobility altogether. Others said she would abolish slavery right off the bat. Others claimed she was but a puppet for the White Lotus… even more believed she was a puppet for the Gladiator.

All such claims seemed to be believable, more so in the stagnant state of uncertainty in which the Fire Nation remained after the destruction of the Palace. Word about that had certainly spread far and wide… nobody doubted its veracity anymore, even if most hadn't dared approach the Capital to confirm it with their own eyes. Stories of how it had happened remained difficult to grasp, same as stories about how the war had come to an end. Some claimed Princess Azula had driven a blade into her father's body, others said the Gladiator had been the one to do it… the most astounding rumor, however, was that General Shaofeng, loyal to the Fire Lord, had been the one to slay him.

None of it made an ounce of sense to Hina, but the disquiet she felt now that the woman she most despised, of all people, had become the leader of this nation, could not be understated. Fire Lord Ozai, for all his faults, had not been as callous, shameless and unworthy as her, for all Hina could tell…

"Darling…" she called Hahn: he lay in bed beside her, and he groaned at the sound of her voice. "Did I wake you?"

"Was trying to sleep," he grumbled.

"I just can't even try, I… oh, I haven't felt this unsettled in my entire life," Hina said, rolling over to him, wrapping her arms around his chest.

"It's too hot to cuddle tonight…" Hahn groaned. He nudged her away, but she didn't budge.

"Do you think the rumors were true? T-the ones about…?"

"Hina, I've told you a thousand times…" Hahn said, rolling his eyes. "If it wasn't true, it might as well be. Doesn't matter if they were fucking or not. They're twisted, heartless, spineless monsters, who relish in hurting as many people as they can. I… I still have scars on my legs after what he did to me! So… yes, I think it's possible, and just so, I couldn't care less. They deserve each other. May they be miserable together forever."

"But… that's the thing. I don't think they'd be miserable," Hina said, scowling.

"Two people as unhinged as them can't possibly get along. They'll eat each other's heads off before they know it," Hahn said: he turned in bed, his back towards her. "Good night, Hina."

"But… oh, fine. Be that way," Hina pouted, sniffing dramatically and turning her back on Hahn.

As if it didn't matter… as if it didn't change everything, if the Princess was actually involved with the Gladiator.

The idea had crossed Hina's mind before. Even if she hadn't thought they might be physical, the way the Princess had spoken to her, on their very first encounter, had never truly faded from her mind. The nervous reactions by the Gladiator, every time Hina sought to grow more closely acquainted with him… and then, the twisted way in which he had behaved in the Arena, when he fought Hahn. There was always something so theatrical about it… he was putting on a show for the Princess. Everything he did, he did to please her…

His adverse reactions to Hina truly could have been a matter of fear that the Princess would torment him if he distracted himself with someone else. But… maybe he had actually liked the Princess all along. The rumors had never dwindled, talk about the strange moments of tenderness between them throughout their partnership in the League only seemed to grow wilder and wilder after Hina married Hahn…

And then, after everything fell apart, the Gladiator was at the head of an army, charging through the Fire Nation and aiming towards the Capital, of all places. That the Princess had become Fire Lord as a result… oh, Hina didn't want to think of it. She truly didn't want to think that the damnable woman had been involved with the Gladiator all along, and yet, that was exactly what all the hints suggested. Apparently, they had publicly kissed, be it on the battle, or on the coronation day, or even after – or before – the Agni Kai she'd fought against her brother…

He had done everything for her. Everything just to get into her pants…

Hina shuddered: she hated that woman, truly… for what she had achieved with her Gladiator was unprecedented, unparalleled. Snakes seemed to twist in Hina's gut as she glanced over her shoulder at the man who had turned his back on her just now… would he have gone as far for her as the Gladiator had for the Princess? Would he ever have fought a war to that extent just to save her from the clutches of any evil force, keeping her from him…? Not that Hina actually thought Fire Lord Ozai was evil, of course, it was his daughter who was evil… but surely, the Gladiator didn't see it that way. He was, likely, just as evil as her…

Which, again, made them the perfect couple, didn't it?

She groaned and whimpered: she truly just wanted to cry. It wasn't fair. The Fire Lord didn't deserve that man, Hina had known so from the start…

Her miserable thoughts were cut off when the distant sound of a knock on the front door reached her ears.

She remained in bed, alert, confused by the noise. Her father, or the servants, would see to whatever that was. She didn't have to do anything but eavesdrop, but…

Why would anyone call on the family, on her father, well past midnight?

She frowned before pushing herself up. Her heart raced: nothing could be happening. Surely, some long-lost relative had an accident, and they were asking her father for money? It had to be something as meaningless as that…

Heavy footsteps gained volume as they approached her room. Hina trembled: some of that sounded like her father's footsteps, but… he wasn't alone.

"Hina? Hina, dear… are you decent?"

"I-I'm…"

"Fuck, what does a man have to do to get some sleep around here?!"

Hahn shouted before jumping out of bed: shirtless, as he ever slept in the Fire Nation, he strode towards the bedroom door with a heavy scowl to give a piece of his mind to Hina's father, Gao. Tensions had never receded between those two, and as Hahn grew less enthusiastic about his life among their family, their clashes became far more frequent. Hina often tried to smooth matters, she always took Hahn's side whenever he argued with her father… and even if they had the occasional calm days, Hina wouldn't quite qualify them as good days, entirely. There was very little intimacy between them anymore, and at no point had Hahn offered her any affection to compare to the one she showered him with…

He would likely spend the rest of the day fuming after this, whatever it was. He had been on edge ever since the new Fire Lord had taken office, too… no doubt due to her closeness with dangerous foreign powers. He would give Hina the cold shoulder, or he'd berate her aggressively… and that was what awaited Hina next, she knew, as Hahn yanked the door open, ready to snap at Hina's father…

His intent froze over upon realizing the man was not alone.

"W-wha…?" Hahn gasped.

"Hahn," the tall, dark-haired firebender spoke his name with disdain. "I remember you."

"I… w-wait, who are you? Who is… w-what is…?"

"You're under arrest by the orders of Fire Lord Azula."

Hahn yelped in such a way that it almost sounded as though he'd swallowed his own tongue.

It happened in a blur, so fast Hina hardly had a chance to react by doing anything but screaming: Hahn, in his sleeping trousers, had his hands cuffed forcefully behind his back and was dragged out of the room by harsh men. Her father stood there, a solemn look on his face… a glint of satisfaction, even, in his eyes.

"How could you?!" she shrieked, rushing to him, pounding his chest with her fists. Her father winced, stopping her from pelting him with weak blows.

"Hina! If he's a criminal in the Fire Nation's eyes, there's nothing we can do!" he said. "If anything, be grateful they're not taking you as well in association with that miscreant!"

"H-Hina! Hina, don't…! Hina, don't let them take me!"

Hahn's panicked pleas, along with her father's words, seemed to combine into a rather strange concoction in the desperate woman's mind: she glanced at Hahn, finding that for once, her husband needed her…

She ran forward, clashing against the leading firebender, who winced at the impact before turning to glare at her.

"Don't… d-don't you dare! Wherever you're taking him, you're taking me, too!" Hina roared. "Hahn has done nothing wrong! He has committed no crimes against the Fire Nation's laws, I know so for sure! He's an Honorary Citizen! He married me in a temple, he…!"

"He's a traitor to the Northern Water Tribe."

Hina froze. Hahn's face paled.

Rui Shi's amber eyes gleamed coldly as his companion stepped forward: Hahn nearly yelped upon recognizing the face of a man he had clashed with, long ago, well before Hahn married Yue, even…

"Been a while, scum," Anorak hissed: it had been a long time since his voice had been charged with such venom. Hahn trembled, shaking his head. "I'd say I hope you're ready to face the consequences of your actions, but… that's not true. I hope you aren't. I hope it's so much worse than you imagine, you treacherous piece of shit."

"W-why…? What are you doing here? Anorak, y-you…!"

"Anorak represents the interests of the Northern Water Tribe," Rui Shi announced, simply. Hina gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. "As a first step forward in the new world that will rise from the ashes of the old, delivering the Water Tribe's best-known traitor is but a courtesy Fire Lord Azula is most willing to offer her allies."

Hahn paled. The intent of the two visitors could not have been more obvious, but that one of them would belong to the Water Tribe only worsened his dread. Anorak's rage would be fearsome to face… for as much as Hahn prided himself in being a great warrior, he had always known he didn't stand a chance against Anorak.

Rui Shi remembered the married couple they were facing: he had witnessed how Azula and Sokka had set them up together in the first place… they had been as dramatic, as unpleasant then as they were now, if not more so. Even without a direct reason to resent them, Rui Shi enjoyed the undeniable satisfaction in dealing the consequences to Hahn's actions.

"W-wait. They… they would just banish me anyway. It would be pointless to bring me back!" Hahn exclaimed, shivering. "Did they ask for me to be brought back? Surely not! Surely…!"

"Princess Yue expressed an interest in your return. No doubt to ensure the proper punishment was inflicted upon you," Rui Shi said, coldly: Hahn's lips parted. "The Fire Lord refuses to offer you harbor as their fugitive. The northern justice will be dealt, no matter what."

"B-but…!"

"You can't!" Hina exclaimed: for once in many months, if not years, Hahn looked at her with hope. She had saved him from the Princess's cruelty once, she could do it again now that she was Fire Lord… "You cannot take him away! He is my husband!"

"A mistake you'll be regretting for the rest of your life, to be sure," Anorak hissed. Hina shrank under his harsh glare. "But your claim of marriage over him means nothing to the Northern Water Tribe: he was Princess Yue's husband, first. You are no voice of authority, and in no position to make demands."

"Well, I don't care if you think so! You… you will not take him from me!" Hina huffed, angrily. "We're building a family, we… I'm pregnant!"

Hahn's reaction to her apparent revelation spoke for itself: he appeared as confused as he was disgruntled by the notion, and Hina's quick glance at him seemed to be a wordless message to beg him to play along. Hahn swallowed hard and nodded.

"Yes. W-we are expecting a…" he started. Rui Shi huffed.

"Is this a lie, lady Hina?" he asked, straightforwardly. Hina paled. "Are you lying to the Fire Lord's emissaries?"

"I…" she trembled: all the men in the corridor, including those holding down Hahn, appeared to be rather threatening…

But Hahn was the love of her life. Even if they had been on a rough patch lately, things could get better. They would be fixed if she saved him. All she had to do was…

Lie.

"I am not lying. It's recent… b-but…"

"Then you shall have to accompany us to the Capital so that you may undergo a thorough health inspection to confirm that you are, indeed, with child," Rui Shi said: Hina's eyes widened. "And if you insist on staying with Hahn no matter what… well, perhaps the Northern Water Tribe will have two jailcells available for the both of you."

Hina gasped: oh, that was not what she was going for. She had no intentions to…

Two men stepped forward, grasping her shoulders.

"W-wait! I didn't mean…! I-I'm not going to the north too, I…! Don't! I'm serious, this isn't appropriate…! Father!"

"Hina…" her father huffed, lowering his gaze and shaking his head. "Why the blazes can you never keep your damn mouth shut?!"

The girl froze upon hearing his furious question. She shrank in the grip of the firebenders, under a fiercer glare than any she had ever seen across her father's features.

"For all this time I've tolerated insolence after insolence, indignity after indignity, shamelessness after shamelessness!" the man bellowed. "You have done nothing but inconvenience me with your whims… this fool you married is a criminal in his land, and you continue to cast your lot with him?! Take it back now, rescind this sham of a marriage to this fool who has only ever been using you to gain a foothold in high society, or be gone from my house and serve your sentence as a willing accomplice to a traitor! Your choice!"

The ultimatum caused her to shiver. She glanced at Hahn, who eyed her pleadingly: they were powerless. Whatever might come next, they'd be torn apart, unless…

Had he been using her? Was that truly all she meant for him?

If she chose him now…

He'd come around.

He'd understand he loved her.

That she loved him back.

That nobody else would ever show him this amount of loyalty.

She would fight for him.

She would stay with him.

She would be his, for good, and he would never be taken from her, not even in prison.

She scowled, and turned her fierce glare on her father too: even before she spoke, he knew what the meaning of that glare was…

"I won't. I will stay with Hahn… wherever we may go!"

"W-wait, your daughter does not deserve to waste away in a frozen prison…!" Hahn pleaded, looking at his father-in-law desperately. "Submit a plea to the Fire Lord, ask her to…"

"I… will do no such thing. I'm done," the man declared, shaking his head and turning towards Rui Shi and Anorak. "Take them away. I… I am too old for this madness as it is."

"No, Father! Father, don't!" Hina exclaimed… to no avail.

Her father had hardened his heart to her… he had changed his mind about supporting her, no matter what. It didn't matter how Hina might shriek, how Hahn might call for the man, begging him to ensure both their freedoms, nothing seemed to work. He merely stood by the threshold of Hahn and Hina's room, in solemn silence, as the guards dragged them to their certain doom.

---

"Wait. She's coming too. She… she demanded to be dragged here, with him?"

"I'm afraid so."

Azula huffed, rolling her eyes and shaking her head as she sank in the pillows of her assigned room in the Temple. Sokka knelt behind her, hands on her shoulders to softly massage the tension away. Rui Shi, standing before Azula, showed no emotion over the news he had just shared.

"Is she utterly stupid?" Azula growled. "Or is she that determined not to live in the Fire Nation if I'll be the one to lead it?"

"Whatever the case, I don't see the issue," Sokka smirked.

"The issue is merely having to travel all the way to the North Pole along with that pair, evidently," Azula huffed, looking at him skeptically.

"Ah, right. Well… let's have loud and raunchy sex so she explodes of envy! How about that?" Sokka suggested.

"Knowing her, she might just want to be a voyeuristic creep over you if she hears that, so no, thank you," Azula declared. Sokka squirmed.

"That's an image… ew," he said. Azula sighed and rolled her eyes.

"The two of you doing private things loud and raunchily is an image most people don't care to deal with, either," Rui Shi remarked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well…! You won't have to deal with it because you'll stay here, so don't be whiny," Sokka huffed. "And along with that…! I'll have you know, we are glorious, we look glorious and any voyeur would…!"

"Sokka."

"Have to die a painful death for trying to see, us, yes, sorry, love…" Sokka smiled, dropping his head on Azula's shoulder after she spoke with that deadpan tone.

"We'll… we'll be traveling with company," she said, frowning. "Your sister and the Avatar will be there with us… White Lotus folks, too. I'd have to bring guards with me, that's for sure, even if I'll leave a lot of them back here…"

"Anorak will be with us. You could have him watch them, if that's what you're worried about," Sokka said. Azula grimaced.

"I mean… it is, to a fault, but I'd rather make this sustainable," she decided. "Say we don't just take the Barge… but that Anorak leads his White Lotus allies and they travel on other ships? Are there any northern ones left in the bay?"

"About four or five, I reckon," Sokka said. "From the group that wanted to lurk about until everything's sorted out, yeah."

"Then… say we take two of those, stuff Hahn in one ship, Hina in the other, Anorak can watch over Hahn since he's the greater threat. And …we can find ourselves some, uh, deaf sailors to handle Hina's. Or we'll find the best earplugs in the world for them," Azula decided, with a sigh. "They're definitely going to need them."

"Indeed. I think her screaming may have damaged my hearing permanently," Rui Shi's eyebrow twitched. "I hear a loud, shrill sound constantly now, even in the silence…"

"I hope it goes away soon," Sokka grimaced. "If not… maybe ask my sister to heal that away for you, huh?"

"Not the worst idea," Rui Shi agreed.

"Then… that's how we'll go about it? I can go let people know we'll be adding a few more ships to our traveling group," Sokka said, rubbing Azula's back. She nodded promptly, and he kissed her cheek. "We've got this, girl. No need to fret too much."

"I'm trying, I swear, but…" Azula said, with a slight smile. "It feels like every little thing is a complication these days. I have to plan for even the dumbest of matters, it's…"

"Plan, or overplan?" Sokka teased her. She eyed him skeptically before playfully making to bite his nose: Sokka inched away with a chuckle. "I know, I know, it's tricky. But… I'm sure this will work out for the best. Hahn's a great means to build a better connection with the Northern Water Tribe. His sacrifice for the sake of world peace shall be quite meaningful…"

He spoke pompously, playfully, and Azula smirked at his declaration. She shook her head, shrugging.

"It will be, but I'm certain that he won't see it that way," she said.

"Well, then… I'll go send word to the White Lotus folks. Renkai and his group should come by at any moment, too…" Sokka said.

"Oh? So soon?" Rui Shi asked.

"They're already in the city, and Koshing is safely in custody. Apparently, they've secured mountains of evidence that we may need to sort through, but… oh, it's a relief to take him down like this," Azula said, breathing deeply. "The second mastermind of slavery, finally in our grasp… it's been a long time coming."

"And we'll get the rest of it once we have the chance," Sokka reassured her, kissing her lips quickly before rising to his feet. "Let's keep up the good work!"

"Then, you'll set out… within the next three days?" Rui Shi asked Azula, as Sokka made his way to the Temple's corridors, towards the messengers' office.

"Yes," Azula said, breathing deeply. "We've made good progress. We'd better continue, so… no time to waste."

"It's quite rushed, but… we shall hold everything down for you, as promised, until you come back," Rui Shi said, with a small smile. "May Renkai watch over you in my stead… as he has, for quite some time."

"I admit, he's grown on me… still isn't you, though," Azula smiled.

"Which is why you trust me to keep things under control here, so… I'll do my best, Fire Lord," Rui Shi said, solemnly. Azula nodded.

"Keep everyone safe in my absence," she said.

Rui Shi offered her a small smile, one that shifted once noise outside brought them both to frown: within moments, Sokka poked his head through the room's threshold anew.

"They're back!"

Azula jumped to her feet. While Rui Shi hastened out, she nearly sped past him to reach Sokka's side.

She held his hand for support as they rushed to the Palace's main hall: there, the Light Bearer and the Dark Rook stood with an elderly, sickly man… while Aonu, Renkai and Chan held a familiar, panicked nobleman in chains.

"As expected… we have delivered!" Chan declared, proud and pompously. "And it was all because of my…!"

"Because of Captain Renkai's great leadership," Aonu cut him off: Chan winced and glared at him.

"Hey! You promised you'd give me credit to annoy him…!"

"I lied."

"Aonu!"

Their petty squabble would have amused Azula far more if her golden eyes hadn't focused only on Koshing: the man was gagged, hands bound, and he appeared utterly terrified of the fate that awaited him…

"Have you unraveled anything about his connection to Shaofeng yet?" Azula asked, raising her eyebrows at Renkai.

"Not quite," Renkai said. "We haven't started interrogating him. I believe it wise to ensure they are not kept anywhere near each other to minimize any possibilities that they might communicate secretly."

"Right," Azula nodded. "Found any documents?"

"We did. We haven't started to study them yet, but…"

"The Enforcers can aid you with that," Azula said. Renkai nodded. "They're far more numerous... they'll be able to provide insight on the subject too, I hope."

"Then… everything's in order, right?" Chan asked. "Do we get, uh, commendations for…?"

Azula rolled her eyes and glared at him skeptically. He giggled, hands behind his back.

"Not everything in life is about getting a figure of authority to pat you on the head for a good job, but if I must… good job, Chan. Renkai, pat him for me, if you will."

"W-what?! No! I don't need that!" Chan winced: Renkai, despite himself, smirked at Chan.

"How much force am I supposed to put into it, I wonder…?" he mused. Azula smirked too.

"I see why you two are getting along quite so well as of late," Rui Shi said, smiling at Renkai and Azula. "It'll serve you well, having a good understanding once you go on the road."

"On the… road," Renkai repeated, losing track of his intent to mess with Chan. Instead, he glanced at Azula. "I'll be joining you?"

"I intend for it to be so. You and your group. White Lotus ships should be traveling with us as well, so it'll be quite crowded," Azula said.

"We'll be a big traveling party," Sokka explained. "Got to bring a prisoner and his irksome wife to the north…"

"That sounds… uncomfortable," Renkai said, raising his eyebrows. The words, however, had a reaction in other people instead.

"The north?" the Light Bearer said. "Is it… the Northern Water Tribe? Or are you intending to go elsewhere?"

"Uh… yeah," Sokka blinked blankly.

"It's only…" the Light Bearer started, but the Dark Rook placed a hand on his shoulder before addressing Sokka himself.

"We've heard of the grand talent of the northern waterbenders… at healing?" he said. "Our father… Koshing seems to have been intoxicating him with moderate amounts of poison across many years. We found the substances in his secret room…"

Koshing made noises, apparently trying to contest the twins' claims, but a single sharp glare from Azula sufficed to silence him.

"Was he ever truly ill?" Azula asked. The twins nodded.

"He was, but… Koshing wanted to keep him that way. He kept him alive, yes, but even if he financed his initial treatments, afterwards it seems he focused on poisoning him instead," The Dark Rook explained.

"If we're wrong about this, then… then so be it," the Light Bearer sighed. "Perhaps he simply was too ill to be healed, and the poison Koshing kept wasn't for our father. But if there's any chance that the northern healers could help him… we would be forever in your debt, if you could help us get our father there."

Both siblings bowed to them. Azula frowned, her heart churning over their plea. The old man between them, their frail father, hardly seemed to be all there… his eyes rose towards her, with the confusion of someone who didn't quite understand his bearings, who didn't know where he belonged.

"Sokka… do you think we can make it work?" she asked. Sokka hummed.

"It's not impossible on the White Lotus ships, but…"

"They'd travel more comfortably on the Barge," Azula concluded. Sokka eyed her with uncertainty.

"Well… there were at least two cabins you'd use for guests," he pointed out.

"One's for your sister and the Avatar," Azula reasoned, tapping her elbow. "The other one hasn't been claimed, thus far. I'd never let either Hahn or Hina in there: if either one winds up in the Barge it'll be in the brig, without a doubt."

"And I still think we're better off leaving them to travel with Anorak, so they shouldn't be a problem," Sokka concluded. "Then… you three could share a room, right? You guys can watch over your father…"

"We… we could. Oh, we very much could," the Dark Rook said, raising his head with a bright, hopeful smile.

"We would be indebted to you forever, truly…" the Light Bearer said.

"No need to see it that way," Azula said, shaking her head. "Though… it might be convenient, I suppose, to keep you indebted to me?"

"Oh?" Sokka eyed her. Azula shrugged.

"Fixing this nation and the world is going to be difficult. Might as well lock down the services of a few reliable Fire Nation citizens to help me do it," she said: the twins smiled.

"We would be proud to serve you," the Light Bearer assured her.

"Absolutely," the Dark Rook agreed. "Once our father has… has been tended to, we will be proud to work with you whenever you summon us."

His hesitation didn't serve to hide his greatest fear. It was entirely possible that their father was too far gone by now… but they had to try, nonetheless. Azula certainly agreed with their course of action. She had fought until the very last moment to save her father… she had no trouble empathizing with the twins before her.

"I hope for the best, for the both of you and your father," Azula said, nodding at them. "Feel free to gather your belongings, if you'll bring any, and come to my Barge by the bay in three days, by morning."

"Thank you. Truly, thank you," the Light Bearer bowed again. "We… we shall leave you to it, then. Thank you for helping with our father… and Koshing, too."

"You're most welcome. It's about time he faced his dues," Azula said, growing colder anew as she regarded the shrunken, shivering, gagged man. "Take him to the Enforcers. Him, and all those documents and useful information you found. It might take time for all his schemes to be uncovered and undone… but you've all done quite well so far. A good plan, executed successfully."

"Thank you, my Lord," Renkai smiled. "We shall deliver him, then. I'll prepare for the journey afterwards."

"Please do. You'll be bringing the new second squad with you," Azula said: Renkai raised his eyebrows. "And you'll be their captain."

"I… I see," Renkai blinked blankly.

"Heh! You got promoted! From Third Squad to Second Squad! Nice job!" Chan exclaimed, clapping his back and glancing at Azula. "And, uh, what about me? Any promotions for…?"

"You are to stay put in this city and prove yourself some more. If there are no insurrections, no rebellions, no rabblerousing, no conflicts while I'm gone… then I may think to promote you. For real, this time," Azula said, with a dry grin. Chan's eyes narrowed.

"Almost sounds like you don't actually mean it. You made fun of me and promoted me to the rank I already hold just a few days ago, I remember…"

"Oh? Does that mean you won't follow my newest orders, then?"

"W-well… no! Ugh, the perks of being Fire Lord, huh?" Chan said, shooting her a pouty glare. "You'll see! I'll protect this city so damn much! I'll keep it so safe…!"

"I know you will," Azula smiled. "Your vindictive side has proven surprisingly useful. Please, go ahead."

"And… what about Aonu?" Sokka asked. Azula's eyes drifted towards the earthbender, who stiffened under her gaze.

"I… I do not know what kind of work you'd want me to do now," he said. Azula nodded.

"For the time being… I'd suggest you stay with Chan. Be part of keeping this city, and my authority, unchallenged," Azula asked him. Aonu nodded. "Once I'm back… well, with any luck, all my diplomatic dealings will have been successful, and I will be able to assign you to any job or role of your choice."

"I can live with that, I guess," Aonu said, with a small smile. "Then… I'll see you once you get back?"

"Well, we have three days to go, but… surely," Azula said, breathing deeply. "Thank you for your work so far. To all of you, truly. We'll make the most of this chance to eradicate slavery for good."

Koshing wrestled, whimpering upon hearing those words: Renkai wasted no more time dragging him away, with a proud Chan by his side. Aonu followed too, glaring at Koshing threateningly. Rui Shi breathed deeply, hands on his hips as he turned towards Azula anew.

"Then… that's done," he said. Azula nodded slowly. "Your goals before leaving have been met now. Are you ready?"

"Well, I still have to send that bird," Sokka chuckled. "Make sure that we'll have two extra ships at least for safety's sake. But… things are looking up, huh?"

He glanced at Azula too: she met his gaze, a mix of amazement and uncertainty in her golden gaze. The moment seemed to extend a bit longer than Rui Shi was entirely comfortable with… he smiled, shaking his head before clapping Sokka's shoulder.

"I have the feeling you two need to talk. I'll send that bird myself," he said.

"O-oh… okay. Thanks, Rui Shi," Sokka said, with a guilty smile.

"Sorry, I just…" Azula shook her head, trying to snap herself out of her daze as Rui Shi walked away. "It is done. It's… it's the start, of course, I shouldn't act like it's all a done deal just yet. The hardships ahead won't be a laughing matter… everything you've said about King Kuei suggests that any negotiation with him will be a nightmare. But…"

"But we've made it past the first steps. And that's important too," Sokka said, smiling and stroking her hair gently, standing right before her. "I don't know how long this whole ordeal is going to take… I don't mean just undoing slavery, though I'm really grateful for how fast you've moved with it already. If any assholes still doubt your intentions, I'll gladly beat them to a pulp for it…"

"I certainly hope there's no need for that… but, well, depending on the asshole I might enjoy watching you do it, truth be told," Azula admitted, raising her eyebrows. Sokka chuckled. "It just… it's been a week now, since the coronation. Almost a week since Zuko left. I know we're making progress, I know we'll continue to do so, but sometimes…"

A shadow crossed her face, and Sokka's placid demeanor hardened for it. Even before she finished her sentence, he knew what she was about to say.

"Sometimes it just doesn't feel real, still," she whispered. "It's as if… as if I'll wake up and find that I'm still… still under my father's yoke. Still doing terrible things for his sake, still… still torn from your side."

Sokka breathed deeply. Azula gritted her teeth, raising her eyes towards him remorsefully.

"Sorry, I… I didn't mean to be a downer. I…"

"I feel that way, often, too."

Azula fell silent. Sokka lowered his gaze before raising it anew.

"Most mornings, I… I wake up after unpleasant dreams. Dreams of what I've been through, what I've done, what I've seen. They can be quite vivid… they seem particularly vivid when they show me things that didn't actually happen, and yet I feared them, above all else. But the minute I wake up and find myself in a more pleasant reality than any I faced in over a year… my heart calms down. Every time I find you in my arms again, I realize those fears are behind me now. They can keep on haunting me, if they care to, but… you're still here. You've come as far as you have. You continue to make the world a better place, day after day. If dark thoughts are to chase me… then let them turn up during my nightmares, and not throughout the days I can spend with you. You see… dreams were far more pleasant than reality, back when we were apart. Brief, ephemeral… often unreal, and yet they were the only way for me to see you back then. So… I guess I'm grateful to see reality and nightmares have switched back to their rightful spaces, huh?"

He smiled awkwardly at that conclusion: Azula stepped forward, hands clasping his.

"I'm sorry that it's… it's been so hard on you," Azula said, remorsefully.

"Oh, it was before but… like I said, it doesn't feel that way anymore," he said, earnestly. "Once we were back in each other's lives, once we straightened everything out… I've felt free in ways I hadn't for as long as we were apart. As much as I enjoyed our occasional naughty dreams, most of all the ones we shared…"

Azula chuckled, and Sokka smiled warmly at her.

"I'm perfectly happy to trade that for this reality," he said, cupping her face. "I know that at times it doesn't feel real, not after all the pain we've faced… but we've come this far now. The worst is behind us."

"It is," Azula reasoned. "That's probably what makes this feel so strange. The… the awareness that nothing to come can be worse than what we've left behind. Even if there will be hardships… we no longer have the latent fear of what will happen to us if someone discovers our relationship. As it is, everyone knows, so…"

"That's right," Sokka smiled.

"Doesn't mean there's nothing to fear anymore, of course," Azula frowned. "I don't think I'll ever stop being paranoid over Hotaru and everything to do with her…"

"I think that's something you'll just have to get used to," Sokka said. "The byproduct of parenthood, I suspect."

"I figured I might feel better about it once she's been presented at the temple and acknowledged as my heir, but…" Azula grimaced. "I'm not sure that will suffice. You're probably right about this being the default state of parenthood, yes…"

"We'll get used to it. And we'll make this city, this world, much safer for her and, uh, well… all other kids," Sokka said, nodding proudly. Azula raised an eyebrow, and he winced. "I can't backtrack on any sentence without you picking up on it, can I?"

"Make it less obvious next time, maybe," Azula smirked. Sokka chuckled.

"I just thought to say… Hotaru and all the kids we might have next, yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "You did say you'd be open to doing it again, but sometimes I'm still a little self-aware about bringing it up. With so much to worry about, so many things to do, I wouldn't think this is the right time for us to make a new baby…"

"We should wait a little longer," Azula said, and she frowned slightly. "Which, uh… means I probably ought to get back to old habits. I hadn't yet. Let's hope all my stress has made me entirely inhospitable for any other babies to grow inside me for now, huh?"

"Oh," Sokka smiled, cupping her face and kissing her brow. "If we already did it, well… I think we'll just have to embrace it. No big deal, right?"

"Well… it could never be harder than it was with Hotaru. Not if you're around," Azula concluded, smiling warmly at first… then, her smile soured. "Though… I'm sure you'll give me a hard time in other ways."

"What, me? What's that supposed to mean?" Sokka pouted.

"You'll ask a million questions and constantly make a fuss over every little thing…" Azula recited, her smile growing again: Sokka's cheeks flushed. "Be it my symptoms or my body's changes or my moods, or…"

"W-well…! It's normal for a guy to worry about those things if he wants to be a decent partner!" Sokka squeaked. "And I need to ask questions to be that, too! S-so, yeah, I'll annoy you a lot when you get knocked up again, but… but I'll do it for good reason this time!"

By then, Azula had burst into laughter over his retorts: Sokka pouted even as she hugged him, face resting against his chest.

"I don't even know why I bother pretending I won't enjoy it. Annoy me all you care to… I'll love every second of it, no matter what I may say by then," she said. Sokka smiled too, hugging her closely. "But… just in case it didn't actually happen, I guess I'll pay Mai a visit. As usual."

"And she'll judge you for it. As usual," Sokka smiled.

"I'll have to set up a private garden for us in the future Palace. We need to grow our own plants, make sure she can't judge us as much anymore once she stops being my main tea supplier," Azula chuckled, pulling back and smiling at him. "Thank you."

"What for?" he raised his eyebrows.

"Talking to me. Sharing your thoughts. Helping us understand each other as well as we ever do," Azula smiled, a hand upon his chest. "It'll serve us well to keep that up when we're on the road."

"Heh. Definitely," Sokka smiled, leaning close to press his lips to her brow. "We ought to focus on that now, then. We'll leave matters well enough in hand with Song, Rui Shi and Rei… with everyone who'll stay back and keep this place safe until you return."

"Hopefully the plans for the Palace will be respected and followed thoroughly," Azula said, glancing in its direction: the work to cleanse the area properly from all corruption residues continued, still. Perhaps the foundations of the grand building would be set by the time they returned… she highly doubted it would be finished, though. "But I'm sure that's the one thing Song will be happy to oversee."

"They'll do great," Sokka smiled. "Just as we will, too. I don't expect our journey to only ever go smoothly and for there to be no challenges at all, but… we'll pull this off, Azula. You and me… we can scare the shit out of anyone who doesn't like us. Our success is as good as guaranteed."

"Don't jinx it, silly," Azula smiled, reaching up to cup his face and reel him close for a slow, thorough kiss. His hands clasped her waist, ensuring to keep her close against him. "I… I really look forward to this. To traveling the world with you again… the way we used to. And you don't even have to beat the shit out of anyone as an excuse to come with me anymore…"

"See? Things really have changed," Sokka beamed. Azula chuckled, kissing him briskly again.

"I love you," she blurted out, wrapping her arms firmly around his neck. "I love the world we've started to build even before it takes full shape. I know… I know that it'll be beautiful, once it does."

"We'll see to that, Azula. Together."

The rushing anxiety, born over the recklessness of kissing out in the open had yet to ease up entirely, but it didn't stop them from indulging in each other's affection anymore. Azula might go down in history as one of the most hedonistic Fire Lords of all time, but she would embrace the title, if so: the crown she bore upon her head would never have become hers if it weren't for the relationship they had nurtured and fought for. She wouldn't have found the true strength of her firebending, her true purpose as a leader, if Sokka hadn't taught her how to love and be loved right back…

For he had been her starting point: he had unlocked her heart, and her affection for her loved ones had blossomed fully in consequence. That she had so many people to bid farewell to, to pay visits to, in the lead-up to her departure, was a testament to that: even her oldest bonds were stronger than ever nowadays, as proven in her last visit to Mai's, to retrieve her requested tea on the day before their departure.

"Azula!" Ty Lee shrieked, jumping to hug her immediately once the door swung open. Azula patted her back, though for once, Ty Lee pulled away to avoid the pointy ends of her friend's five-pronged crown. "Goodness, it's so crazy to see you wearing that… crazy dangerous, too! Sokka, how do you avoid her poking your eyes out with the tallest spike?"

"Oh, it's a work in progress," Sokka chuckled, standing behind Azula: Ty Lee hugged him next. "It's convenient that I'm good at dodging, huh?"

"This is the true reason why you had to strengthen your agility, you know? Gladiator fights weren't much to worry about, but oh, the hairpiece…" Azula smiled at him before turning towards the house anew…

She had expected to see Mai, and she did.

What she didn't anticipate, however, was the young man with tearful eyes and a wide smile, standing next to her.

"Shoji."

Sokka reacted too, perking up once he heard that name in Azula's voice. The young man sniffed, tears spilling down his cheeks as Mai eyed him skeptically.

"I… I…!" he started… then he bowed, bending his torso fully towards Azula. "I'm so honored to see you, Fire Lord! I…! I…!"

He burst into tears outright, in full reverence: Azula winced for it, and Ty Lee laughed loudly as she rushed to pat the former League employee's back.

"You're even more sentimental than I am, Shoji, and that's an achievement!" Ty Lee exclaimed.

"A rare one, at that," Mai remarked, stepping forward and shaking her head. "I have your tea, you can come in if you'd like, unless…"

"We're in a bit of a rush to get everything ready, I don't know if we can afford to stay for long," Sokka smiled awkwardly as he stepped forward. "Oi, Shoji… no need to bow like that, buddy. It's great to see you…!"

"Y-y-you… y-you too, b-but…" he said, brushing his nose and eyes hastily with his eyes before rising to his full height.

Shoji gaped at Sokka with wide eyes: changes were apparent across the Gladiator's visage, even if he regarded the young man with the same warmth he ever did.

"You're back," Shoji said, with a thread of a voice.

Only then did Sokka's self-awareness return in full force. He swallowed hard, eyeing Shoji with uncertainty, his smile waning. Did Shoji still see him as his hero? Did he still admire him at all, after everything he had done?

Even now, Shoji sniffed as he tried to compose himself. His eyes went from one to the other… as though incapable of giving credit to what he saw. His favorite team of gladiator and sponsor… in the time since the Gladiator League had crumbled, the two had been torn apart… but their bond seemed just as strong now as it ever was.

It was no less than what he'd expect from them, truth be told. They had changed the League, they had touched the lives of countless people, Shoji among them… they could very well go on to do the same thing with the whole world, next.

He smiled at last, and Sokka's sinking dread eased up slightly for it…

"I… I'm so happy you two are together again!"

For once, he broke all sense of propriety, rushing in to do something that, in a different world, might just have resulted in his imprisonment at best, his execution at worst:

Shoji jumped forth and hugged the Fire Lord and the Gladiator.

Both Azula and Sokka were startled by his strong grip, by his shaking shoulders and the tears that kept spilling on them. They exchanged a surprised look before smiling, patting Shoji's back as he wept.

"I-I knew…! Y-you two could do anything! I always believed…! I'm so glad…! S-so glad…!"

"Shoji," Azula smiled. "Well… I can believe that you believed. You were never particularly impartial…"

"This wasn't much of a gladiator fight, though," Sokka smiled too.

"I-it was the biggest one ever! Of course it was!" Shoji sniffed, pulling back and wiping his tears forcefully again. "And… a-and it only ended because you… you did it. I don't know the details! I don't understand anything! B-but I just know…! Everything feels right because you're back and… a-and I know you'll achieve the impossible! As you always did!"

He sniffed again, but his tears gave way to a smile. Sokka chuckled, patting the young man's shoulder, and Azula laughed fondly as all of them entered Mai's house, setting aside their haste briefly after all.

While they would take their leave shortly, Sokka and Azula nonetheless indulged Shoji with a few explanations, namely over the events from the last year, particularly those Ty Lee and Mai had not been privy to thus far. He remained as starstruck and dazed as ever, but there was one thing he seemed particularly proud of, regardless of his amazement…

"For all this time…" Shoji said, eyes aglow with hope. "I always thought there might be more to the two of you than what met the eye! I never knew for sure, no, but… I had that feeling! I thought… you might have always been withholding your feelings for each other! Maybe you even started to act on them eventually! But you are… y-you are together, right? I couldn't really see it for myself in the Agni Kai, I'm too short and couldn't get a good view, and Lady Ty Lee always was evasive…"

"She was what, now?" Azula asked, amused: Ty Lee stuck her tongue out at her. "You finally held back the urge to gossip? With someone this eager to gossip right back with you?"

"It was TORTURE!" Ty Lee exclaimed, as Azula laughed: Shoji gasped.

"Then I was right! You… you two were always…" Shoji said, looking at Sokka now for confirmation: the Gladiator smiled guiltily and shrugged.

"I mean, I wouldn't say always, but… for a good long while," he admitted. Shoji gasped.

"Then… you fell in love while working together?!"

"Uh, yeah, but… wait," Sokka's eyes narrowed. "The 'falling in love' part happened pretty early on. The 'getting together' part, however…"

"Oh, goodie. I missed your attempts to explain the ins and outs of our relationship to other people. Been a long time since you last tried," Azula said, with a dry grin.

"Y'know, considering it's Shoji, he's kind of entitled to hear about it. It's like repaying him for all his hard work at helping us, you know, with all his advice and tips about our enemies?" Sokka said, with a guilty smile. Azula rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help but smile too.

"Admittedly, your information often was the key to Sokka's strategies… whether the long-term ones or the utterly random improvisations," Azula said. "That being said… I can only imagine Ty Lee would be better suited to explain. We should take off by now…"

"Oh, I can tell him everything I know?!" Ty Lee asked, eyes aglow.

"But you barely know anything," Mai grimaced.

"I know enough! And whatever I don't know, I'll come up with wonderful explanations to truly fulfill Shoji's expectations!" Ty Lee declared, proudly. Mai sighed, covering her face with a hand.

"On a whole other subject, though…" Azula said, eyeing Shoji with a raised eyebrow. "Not that I want to get your hopes up, considering it'll take time for anything to get started, but… a certain, pesky Blind Bandit has been adamant about starting a new version of the Gladiator League in the future."

Shoji's tearful eyes cleared up quickly. The winds almost seemed to change suddenly as his visage, so tender and sweet, switched over to curious, determined… eager, instead.

"Wait… wait. The Blind Bandit wants to…?" he said, eyes widening. Azula smirked.

"While I know you might have other things to do for the time being, maybe other jobs… I'd think you can advise her, at least, on how to run a business of the sort. Nobody knows it quite as well as you do," she said: Shoji gasped. "I'll probably give her permission to get started with it in a year or two, however long it takes for the new Palace to be fully built, but you can always start working on the systematic structure and long-term details of a new League…"

"I can do that. Oh, of course I can! I…! I could be my own boss? W-well, kind of. She'd be my boss, rather than me, right…?"

"Surely, but… you could be co-proprietors, maybe. I'm sure Toph won't want to deal with anything too bureaucratic," Azula admitted. Sokka chuckled.

"She'd hate it. This is a great idea, actually," Sokka smiled: Shoji, however, was positively beaming. "You good with this, Shoji?"

"A-am I good with it? I… t-this is… yes. Yes! Absolutely! I'm in!"

His excitement didn't recede as the couple bid their farewells to the three of them: Ty Lee squeezed them tight, and even Mai offered strong hugs.

"Make sure to stay safe! Get all those deals done! And save the world all over again!" Ty Lee sobbed as they made their way to the front door anew. Sokka chuckled, waving at them.

"Also… try not to give Hotaru another sibling just yet. You have the means to prevent it now," Mai said, with a curt smirk.

"Why, thank you very much for your concern," Azula said.

"I won't be around to warn you that you look pregnant this time, is all I'm saying…"

"It's alright, if Sokka catches me puking out of a window in the middle of a storm, I'm sure the thought will cross his mind as well," Azula said: Mai chuckled at the reminder, astounded to find that such a harrowing, painful day could even be amusing to think back on, now that all the horrors it had heralded seemed to be a thing of the past.

"Thank you for this opportunity!" Shoji exclaimed, bowing again. "I won't let you down! And…! Be very happy together! Even if you won't fight in the Arena anymore… I am rooting for you! I always will be!"

"Oh, we count on it, buddy," Sokka smiled. "Thank you for everything, Shoji."

"From the both of us," Azula nodded. "We'll see you again… well, whenever we get back."

The length of their upcoming journey remained a mystery: Azula hoped that constant communication with the team she'd leave behind would ensure that they'd be up to date regarding her progress in establishing diplomatic bonds… which brought to mind an idea she hadn't quite pondered so far. Building transparency and proper communication between her and the people she ruled over might be a possibility, provided she committed to a certain course of action…

"A suitable task for Rei…" she reasoned, halfway through the street.

"What was that?" Sokka raised his eyebrows. Azula smiled at him.

"Just… there are many things I need to do differently as Fire Lord, both for the sake of the world, and for the sake of my people," she explained. "Even at the end, it took quite a long time for my father to so much as address the Fire Nation regarding what was happening with the war, and he never shared the full truth. He embellished it, concealed whatever wasn't convenient, bolstered whatever was… I'd rather not do that."

"Oh? You want to be truthful about things he would've hidden?" Sokka asked.

"Indeed, and I can do that while we're on the road by sending reports to our Deputy Fire Lord and everyone who will stay here," Azula explained. "What I think is… those reports can be shared. Not exactly as we send them, no, but… someone could create a summarized version of our accounts, ensuring that the general public understands our absence and what kind of work we're up to. Not all details need to be disclosed… but offering them a general idea of things can be a good starting point."

"And… that's the job you want to give to Rei?" Sokka asked. Azula smiled.

"If she'll take it…"

It was a gamble, of course… one that she knew her daughter might not be convinced by. After they arrived home, where they enjoyed a fulfilling dinner, she dared share this proposal with the young woman…

"That's… that's a lot of responsibility," Rei said, eyes wide. "And my writing's not that good…"

"Someone can advise you and check for mistakes," Azula said, shrugging. "I simply think it would be good practice for you, on one hand, and on the other, it's simply that you're one of the few people I'd trust with this kind of information."

"But I might mess it up," Rei said, glancing at Song warily.

"Well… you could always be Deputy Fire Lord and I can take care of that job instead," Song suggested, wiggling her eyebrows: Rei gasped in horror, and Song snickered.

"N-no! That's not what I…! Song!"

"Now, now, don't scare her," Azula smiled, reaching over to clasp Rei's hand over the table. "It's not bound to be nearly as challenging as you think. Tell you what… you'll send your report to me, when you write it. I'll send you notes back, in case there's anything that needs to be changed. We can start to practice it while we're on the first leg of the journey, you can just… write about my voyage at sea. That, no, won't be published… but the important things we get up to in the Northern Water Tribe will be. You'd simply write about each big milestone, reporting to the people I'll be working with to build these connections with the rest of the nations… and that, hopefully, will ensure that nobody mistakes my journey for a power void to be exploited."

"It can be a rather interesting power move, I'll say," Song reasoned. "Your father had the infrastructure to spread all those wanted posters across the world, too, didn't he? Might as well use it for something less harmful."

"The Gladiator League had the Chronicles as well," Sokka reasoned. "You could always get some advice from a published writer, if you're nervous. We know a guy, Yang…"

"Heck, you actually met him, back during the festivals," Azula smiled. Rei raised her eyebrows. "Of course, you'd have to contact him, but… hopefully he'd be able and willing to help."

"Right…" Rei swallowed hard.

"You won't have to do this alone, is all I'm saying," Azula said, clasping her hand reassuringly.

"Royal Scribe is bound to be much more fun than being Deputy Fire Lord anyway," Song lamented: Rei blushed, shivering at the notion of a grand title.

"R-royal…?! No, no, no, no, I'm no such thing, I…!"

Azula laughed, shaking her head: her nervous daughter might just need this challenge to gain further confidence and personal strength. She might not realize it yet… but her potential was vast, and the main thing drawing her back was Rei herself. In a new world… that might be poised to change, at last.

"All this being said… it's time, Azula," Song said, firmly. Azula raised her eyebrows.

"For…?"

"The fulfillment of my terms," Song smirked. "I made sure we could do it! Found the supplies, so… we'll be good to go!"

"Wait… the rug you guys talked about?" Sokka asked, curious. Azula raised her eyebrows, and Song nodded eagerly. "Huh. You'll… make Azula paint a masterpiece on it?"

"Nope," Song smiled. "Not her… not you, either. You'll help the real artist, and frankly, we're not going to finish it just yet… but we'll get started with it. Maybe we'll do the next stage in about three years, I suppose?"

"Huh?" Sokka blinked blankly. "What are you talking about?"

Song giggled before rising to her feet: her mysterious scheming for that rug's purpose was finally about to come to life…

It was a white rug, simply decorated with a darker frame around its edges. There was nothing too impressive about it… but there would be, quite soon, after she explained her intent to the others, and they agreed to it at once.

"Okay… I know this is going to feel weird," Azula smiled, holding Hotaru carefully in her arms. The baby gaped at her in confusion. "But you have a job to do, dear. A vital one, at that."

"I'm ready," Rei smiled: a towel rested over her lap.

Song deposited a small tray with blue paint before the Fire Lord, who sat cross-legged before the rug. Sokka and Rui Shi watched over the women with amusement: this seemed to be the birth of a curious new tradition for them, one that would be wonderful to look back on, as time passed. The first stage, indeed, was set to begin as Azula turned Hotaru in her arms and carefully lowered her on the tray, so that her small feet's soles would dip in the blue paint.

"There we go…" Azula said, hoisting her again. Hotaru shook around, awkward over the sensation as droplets of paint dripped on the tray again.

Rei made sure to raise the towel, keeping it between Hotaru and the rug once Azula moved her towards it. A few more droplets fell upon that fabric… then Azula nodded, and Rei withdrew the towel.

Hotaru's confusion didn't dim as she found her little feet pressed against the soft rug: Azula kept her in place for a moment, waiting for the paint to impregnate the fabric properly… then, she lifted Hotaru again, and Rei moved in to cover the child's feet with the towel's dry portions.

"There we go!" Song exclaimed, laughing and clapping.

The prints of the child's feet now had been painted upon the rug: there was plenty of room left for her next stages of growth to be recorded in the future, too. Azula laughed, hugging the child to her chest, kissing her cheek as Rei ensured to clean her up.

"That's my girl," Azula smiled. "Both of my girls, truthfully."

"I'm not going to put my feet in paint for the rug, though," Rei laughed. "I'm all grown up by now. Oh, but Song, this is so cute…"

"It's going to be a great way to see how your little one's growing," Song smiled, reaching over to caress Hotaru's hair. "There are other ways, of course, but…"

"I like this one," Azula smiled. "It's unique, and… it's adorable, too. I can only wonder how much bigger her feet will be once we fill it in full, huh?"

She smiled warmly, hugging the baby… then, she roped Rei in for the embrace, too. She pulled Song in, next, and the women laughed with her as they hugged, with Hotaru sitting on her mother's lap, towel wrapped around her feet.

"That was beautiful," Rui Shi whispered, kissing the top of Song's head once she pulled away. She laughed, raising her head to kiss his lips directly, if in that awkward position.

"We'll do it with ours too. Once we have them," she told him. Rui Shi laughed and nodded, taking her into his arms for a firm hug: Sokka leaned in by then, too, embracing Azula from behind and whispering teasing words to a still confused Hotaru, whose lips curled into a smile slowly, for everyone around her appeared to be happy, too. It was a beautiful official act as Fire Lord, Azula thought, right before her departure… a wonderful moment shared with the family they had built, and that she couldn't be prouder of.

Thus, a peaceful, final night at home preceded their departure to the Northern Water Tribe: all ships were ready to sail on the long journey that awaited the Fire Lord and all those who would accompany her. The Dark Rook, the Light Bearer and their father were led by guards to their assigned quarters, to ensure that the sickly man would not overexert himself. Aang and Katara, meanwhile, stood on the Barge's deck for the first time, gazing about themselves with curiosity:

"We only saw it from below, back in Whaletail Island," Aang reasoned, with a smile. "I never did think back then that we'd be riding it one day."

"I didn't either," Katara admitted, with an awkward smile of her own. "Back then I would've had the ship sink if that was what it took to ensure Sokka stayed with us, but… he didn't want to. It never occurred to me that one day we'd be joining him aboard it."

Aang smiled, clasping her shoulder reassuringly. Katara turned into his embrace, wrapping her own arms around his waist.

"We'll fetch Appa ourselves," Katara said. "Quite soon, too. And we'll see Kino, and Zuko, Suki, the girls… my dad. Gran-Gran…"

"I've missed them all," Aang smiled. "It's been a long journey… though, you know, maybe it wasn't that long but it just feels like it took way more time than it did."

"Because of how intense it was, I'd dare say," Katara smiled, kissing his cheek. "But we made it. My crazy ambitions to end the war once I found you weren't so farfetched, now, were they?"

She wiggled her eyebrows teasingly at him. Aang chuckled, shaking his head.

"You're a visionary, that's for sure," he smiled, glancing up at the tower. "Now, though… which one is ours, do you think?"

"The second floor's cabin!"

Sokka's voice startled them as he stepped up, with a proud grin. Katara smiled at him, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"Guess yours is the third?" she asked. "The highest one?"

"Heh. Yep," Sokka said, gazing at the tower as well. "Been too long since I last was there… and it's still strange to think that the world would finally accept that's my cabin too, and not just Azula's, but it'll be the second time that's the case, so… maybe one day I'll get used to it."

"You had your own room elsewhere?" Aang asked. "I mean, well, back when you weren't together, and when you had to pretend you weren't together…?"

"Oh, yeah. Barely used it once our relationship started, though," Sokka smirked. "It's so nice, not having to sneak around as much…"

"Here I thought you enjoyed the thrill of dodging guards and sailors…" Azula's voice, behind him, widened Sokka's grin. "Sounded to me like you took pride in your stealth, recognizing all threats around you, avoiding Renkai like the plague back when he was nosey…"

"Damn, am I glad he's not going to be annoying like he used to be anymore," Sokka chuckled, turning towards her. "Aang and Katara get the second floor's room, right?"

"Right," Azula nodded: the pair grinned at her. "Feel free to settle in, we'll take off in about half an hour, I suspect…"

"Got to finish saying goodbye by then, do we?" Sokka said, biting his lip.

The guards, Song and Rei had come along to bid them farewell: Rei clung to Hotaru at the moment, having wished to hold her sister for a little longer.

"You'll be so big when you come back," Rei smiled, gazing at her with warmth. "Make sure not to forget about me, or Auntie Song, or Uncle Rui Shi…"

"She's smart like her parents. She'll remember us," Song smiled, kissing the top of Hotaru's head. "And we'll be quite busy while she's gone, so we'll hardly have time to miss her, I'm sure."

"No more diapers to change for a while, though. I'd think you two would be grateful for that," Azula said, stepping forward. Rei sniffed.

"I… wouldn't mind changing more of them…"

"Oh, Rei," Azula smiled, reaching over to hug her adoptive daughter. "Just remember the terrible duties I've saddled you with, I'm sure that'll make you miss me a lot less."

"N-no, it won't. Though they're still terrifying duties, but… I'll do my best," Rei said, looking at her with hopeful eyes. "After everything you've done for me, I… I owe it to you, to myself, to help as best as I can…"

"You're family, dear. There's no such thing as debts between you and me," Azula said, cupping her face and smiling. "I love you, Rei. Keep your chin up, never forget your worth… and write often, too."

"I will. I… I really will miss you," Rei sniffed.

"Maybe you won't after you experience how liberating it is to not have your mother's lurking presence hovering over you constantly," Azula said, with a playful tone. Rei snorted.

"Not a chance."

"But…"

Rei shook her head and pulled in again, placing her head on her shoulder. Azula chuckled, raising her eyebrows at the puzzled Hotaru, who nestled between them.

"Your sister's not in the rebellious stage yet, Hotaru. I'm not sure I'll be able to handle it, once she gets there," Azula smiled, kissing the top of Rei's head. "Take care of yourself, Rei."

"Y-you too… of Hotaru, as well. And Sokka. And everyone," Rei said, sniffing as she pulled back: Hotaru wound up in Azula's arms now, eyeing her mother raptly.

Song breathed out, stepping forward and handing a letter to Azula: the Fire Lord took it and nodded before Song hugged her firmly.

"Please… give it to my mother," Song said.

"Will do," Azula said. "And as we discussed, if she wants to come along, I'll make sure to bring her to the Fire Nation with us."

"And if she'd rather not come, I'll just run off to Ba Sing Se after you guys return," Song determined, smiling as she pulled back. "It's going to be really weird, not having you around for a while."

"You should relish in it. A little more freedom, less need to panic about my wellbeing, my health…" Azula said, with wide eyes.

"Make sure Katara and Aang give you a hand with the remaining corruption," Song recommended. "I know it's been getting lighter, but… it's best to be cautious."

"I know. Will do," Azula nodded. Song breathed deeply. "Thank you for everything… including, of course, accepting the burden I've put on your shoulders."

"Heh," Song said, with a dry grin. "You know, you will always be remembered as the Fire Lord who controversially chose an Earth Kingdom commoner to serve as Deputy Fire Lord…"

"Hmm. Here I thought I'd be remembered as the Fire Lord who controversially chose to marry a Southern Water Tribe warrior…" Azula said, raising an eyebrow. Song laughed.

"Particularly remembered for her utterly shameless behavior and displays of affection with said warrior, yes…"

"The annals of history are going to have a field trip tearing me apart in a few centuries," Azula declared, with a slow smile. "But so be it. If I've spent a whole year trusting you with my life… I'm sure I can trust you with this, too."

"Well… I'll do my best not to let you down. Controversial as you continue to be," Song smiled warmly. "Thank you… for a lot of things. I know you think you're the one indebted to me, but… hey, you just did say there's no debt in family, right? Maybe we ought to fall back on that, too."

"Oh, well… that's probably more helpful to me than it is to you, just saying," Azula smiled. "You've done far more for me than I have for…"

"Azula… you've saved this world."

Azula's amusement receded as Song gazed at her earnestly, with tears in her eyes.

"If… if there's any chance that I'll never again endure the horror, the panic, the anguish I did whenever the war knocked on my door? It's… it's all because of you. Because of what you and Sokka achieved. You've set so many of us free already… and I know you'll continue to do so. So… go out there and keep on changing the world for the better. I know you two can do it… nobody else can do it as you can. Good luck… and I'll see you soon, I'm sure."

Song smiled warmly before hugging Azula again: Hotaru once more nestled between them, poking her head out from their embrace. Azula breathed deeply, trying to contain the tears of gratitude for Song's faith in her… the healer, however, pulled back to say goodbye to the child now.

"And you… grow up healthy and strong while you're out of my sight, okay?" she said, kissing Hotaru's brow. "Eat and sleep… and maybe start walking, or even talking, for all I know!"

"We'll… we'll try," Azula smiled, rocking Hotaru gently in her arms. "Hopefully, the long voyages will give us chances to teach her everything we can. We should have time for it."

Time… time to appreciate the world around her, the freedom she now basked in. The family she had long thought was well beyond her reach…

A family that was short one member, still. One she was awaiting, for she knew he was on his way.

He arrived with a loud roar, startling sailors as he descended on the deck of the Barge, for the first time in eons. Xin Long's sharp glare pierced through strangers, no longer as ready to be boastful and proud as he was in the past…

But he eased up immediately once he saw Azula, Sokka and Hotaru. He moved towards the Fire Lord, with a slowly growing grin, and his nose nudged Hotaru gently.

"And there you are," Azula smiled. "I think we'll be ready to go now, then…"

Rui Shi was the next to step forward: the other guards waved at Azula and Sokka from afar, but he had ensured to approach them along with Song and Rei.

"I've told Renkai to watch over you… I have no doubts that he'll do it," Rui Shi smiled at Azula. "Who'd have thought a man you were so uneasy about would be so ready to offer you uncontested loyalty this way…?"

"Eh. It's been known to happen," Azula smiled, eyeing Sokka with amusement. He cleared his throat.

"I wasn't a sketchy spy who then went on to save your life multiple times, mind you," he clarified, smiling afterwards. "It'll be nice to have him around… though I have to admit, as much as my pride doesn't want me to say it, Rui Shi… you're my favorite guard still."

"Oh, that's no fun. I should be the one you're most uneasy around instead," Rui Shi smirked. Sokka chuckled, stepping forward and clapping his back. "I keep making cruel comments for a reason…"

"I've learned to read into those. I know the more wicked, cutting comments you make, the deeper is your respect for me!" Sokka declared. Rui Shi laughed, shaking his head. "Now, now… keep everyone safe for us while we're gone, 'kay?"

"No need to ask me twice," Rui Shi smiled: Song stepped up now, hugging Sokka firmly.

"And you keep Azula safe too," she said. Sokka raised his head, nodding proudly. "We both know she's got no sense of self-preservation…"

"He's no better at that than I am," Azula huffed. Song chuckled as Sokka smiled guiltily.

"True, but that's why you'll have to just… protect each other constantly, I suppose," Song said, pulling back. "Oh, I'll miss you, but… it's such a relief to know that at least we're sending you off together."

"Now, mind you: we want no petty fights, no clashes, no random break-ups…" Rui Shi said: both Azula and Sokka gasped in outrage.

"We didn't…! I mean, it's been like a thousand years since we had anything like that…!" Sokka sputtered.

"You two were fighting each other in a rather large war not two weeks ago, so I'm not so sure about that," Rui Shi smirked: Sokka pouted. "I'm just saying… you came all this way to return to each other. I'm not about to stand for any silly squabbles over who ate the last chunk of mochi…"

"She would," Sokka said.

"Indeed, I would," Azula agreed, promptly. Sokka snorted. "See? We're in perfect understanding, Rui Shi. No need to worry about anything."

Rui Shi smiled, shaking his head before stepping forward to hug Azula, next. The Fire Lord pat his back, tightening her grip around him.

"You'll have to change the laws so… so that this sort of thing isn't supposed to be inappropriate for the likes of us anymore," Rui Shi said.

"Now, now, I'm sure the Fire Lord can hug the General of her Guards whenever she pleases," Azula smiled, pulling back. "Thank you for everything, Rui Shi. We'll be back to making your life unnecessarily complicated quite soon, I'm sure…"

"I can only wonder how you'll go about it from now on," Rui Shi said. "No need for me to keep your relationship a secret anymore… what will you spring upon me next?"

"Hmm… maybe we'll come up with something while we're abroad," Azula smiled. Rui Shi chuckled. "I'll keep it a surprise until we come home, though. Just for you."

"Please do. I'd rather not know for as long as possible, for my peace of mind," he laughed, before turning to Rei and Song. "Alright, then… shall we?"

Rei's lower lip trembled. It wasn't goodbye for good, she knew as much… there was little to fear this time, and yet seeing Azula off daunted her, no matter if she knew she wouldn't be alone.

Hotaru whimpered, and Rei raised her gaze towards her…

She shook her head, lunging for a new hug: she pulled Song in, who laughed and dragged Rui Shi into it as well. The group hug, booming with laughter soon, as though to counter the tears that many of them were shedding just as well, was completed once Azula reached over to pull Sokka in, too.

They were a family. An unconventional one, perhaps… but the bonds that brought them together were no less genuine for it.

The cheerful atmosphere didn't dissipate even after Rui Shi, Song and Rei climbed off the Barge. Azula and Sokka remained by the stern, holding Hotaru, with Xin Long lurking behind them. Sokka took Hotaru's hand, teaching her how to wave it… and just as she seemed to start getting the hang of it, the Barge began its trajectory out of the bay.

No one pulled away, not until the city was well beyond the sight of those who rode on the Barge, not until the large ship faded in the horizon. They would be apart for a few months, if all went well… it would not be goodbye forever, unlike how it had felt long ago, when the Barge had sailed out of the South Pole's waters on a heartbreaking night.

Azula smiled, nestling against Sokka's chest, their daughter in their arms. Xin Long, too, wound up draping himself around them, prompting them to take their seats together underneath a clear, bright sky.

"This shouldn't be as exciting as it is," Sokka smiled, resting against Xin Long's flank, with Azula on his lap. "We've done this so many times before…"

"It's different now," Azula said, her head on his shoulder, arms still wound tightly around Hotaru.

"That's for sure," Sokka smiled, gazing at her warmly. "Sucks traveling without you, you know?"

"I do know. Sucked doing it without you too," she said, kissing his cheek. "I'd say it's the first time we actually do it this freely… last time, even when the guards knew what our relationship was, we were both wounded and the circumstances weren't exactly the greatest…"

"But they do feel like the greatest now," Sokka smiled. Azula nodded, nuzzling his neck.

"We're exactly where we should be… on the very ship where you asked me to change the stars with you, come to think of it," Azula said, raising an eyebrow. Sokka chuckled. "And… I guess we did it, didn't we?"

"Damn right we did," Sokka smirked. Azula chuckled, leaning close to press her lips to his.

Their journey was only beginning, just as Azula's fledging tenure as Fire Lord was starting to blossom… and yet it felt like they had been here before, countless times at that. So long ago, when they had been gladiator and sponsor, they had ventured into unknown challenges… today they did the same, with just as much faith in their partnership as they held onto in the golden days of the Gladiator League. The promise shown by their partnership, the greatest team of gladiator and sponsor, would finally be fulfilled as they brought back balance and harmony to the world they had set out to meet.