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...

389. Chapter 389: The Next Fire Lord 4

The Next Fire Lord

4

The crowd had spread out: a large expanse, perhaps the biggest ever seen for an official Agni Kai, stood between the two roofed corridors of the temple. Most the audience took their places underneath those roofs, but some had even climbed over them, for a better vantage point to watch the fight. Some onlookers had wound up behind the temple, too… Azula's heart pounded in her chest as she gazed about herself, the weight of her upcoming challenge gaining power with every passing moment.

"Here."

One of the younger sages stepped up to her, offering a cape Azula had never truly expected to wear. Her current attire, she thought, could have sufficed for the Agni Kai's requirements… but tradition dictated otherwise, it seemed.

"Thank you," she said: Zuko was offered one of his own, and he shrugged his tunic off promptly before draping the cape over his shoulders.

Azula didn't quite do the same thing, draping the cape over her clothes instead. She felt Sokka's keen eyes upon her as she kept the cape in place by gripping its edges.

"Ready now?" he asked. Azula smiled, nodding slightly.

"Think so," she answered.

He sighed: it seemed to take his every ounce of willpower to back down now, to keep from offering more affection than he already had. Azula breathed in as she marched down the stairs, away from him: Zuko walked a few steps ahead of her, solemn and silent. When he kept walking, rather than stopping at the bottom of the stairs, Azula assumed he was surrendering the nearest position for her use.

They would face each other on the plaza, once the Agni Kai began. But first… first, Azula needed to calm herself.

She turned on her heels, her back towards her brother, and she knelt.

She could hear the rumor of voices nearby, but they quieted down quickly. Gradually, the tension and intensity of the moment increased. All eyes were set on them. The whole world, it seemed, was at a standstill and it would remain that way until they rose and fought each other, for the first time since their childhood.

The realization that she hadn't crossed blows with Zuko directly since before he was scarred sank in a rather dark place within Azula's heart. It felt as though this was exactly what her father had prepared her for… what Iroh had prepared Zuko for. This Agni Kai, for whatever reason, felt fated.

She breathed deeply to still herself… to stop all twisted impulses that this moment appeared to evoke. She was no longer the child who used to believe that defeating Zuko in combat would be the best way to obtain her father's approval, nor the best means to mock her uncle for his faith in him… no longer the child who thought that, one day, her mother would realize she was far better than Zuko, and that she deserved her praise and affection far more. Whether they had meant to do it or not, it truly seemed that every last one of the adults in their lives had set this stage, preparing it for the fight where their score, their long-lasting rivalry, would be settled.

Did any of them conceive that this could happen once the war was over? Did any of them imagine that the two siblings, ever at odds, would mature sufficiently to no longer wish to harm each other, to no longer covet what the other had? They had distanced themselves from the Royal Family in their own ways, breaking free from its oppressive atmosphere, from the twisted values that urged them to constantly one-up anyone who dared stand in their path. They were different today… neither one truly wished for this fight. Were it any different, their journeys to this day would have been in vain.

Azula didn't want to rise. She didn't wish to turn and face her brother like this… even if she knew she had to. Silence spread across the expanse of the Coronation Temple and Plaza, only interrupted by the breeze that blew through the countless onlookers.

It was almost time now. She had to be ready.

She closed her eyes, allowing herself a wistful, final reminiscence of the words that, theoretically, should have been flowing through her mind now… but she allowed herself an indulgence, in the privacy of her mind, as she altered the Fire Nation's Oath:

For her life, she had already given to her people. With her hands, she would build the nation that the next Fire Lord, whoever it might be, deserved to rule. With her mind, she would seek ways to amend the harm they had wrought across a hundred years of war. And her feet would finally change their course… no longer on the March of Civilization their forefathers had demanded, but towards a new goal: balance.

On this day, that was what was at stake. And she knew her brother believed so, as well.

Whatever the outcome, the Fire Nation would win regardless, as it finally soared to fulfill its true potential.

She heard Zuko shift from across the Plaza. He was getting ready to rise. And so, she did the same.

Their traditional capes dropped once they turned to face each other. Neither one, however, raised their fists just yet.

Azula's long ponytail flowed in the breeze. Zuko's hair, too, had grown out by now, fastened in a top-knot. He was strong, far stronger than Azula had ever seen him before… she could tell merely by gazing at him. His body bore the brunt of his terrible injury, but it had other marks, lighter scars across a muscular build that came from something other than perpetual training: his was the body of a man who had devoted himself to building his family's home, to raising his children, to ensuring to keep his family, and many others, fed and clothed.

He was not the child her father had burned once.

He would fight today, for a greater cause than that of any Agni Kai he had been involved in before.

Zuko breathed deeply, raising his hands at last. His eyes, so stern, gave away no sign of hatred or resentment, jealousy or insecurity.

Azula knew hers didn't, either, as she raised her hands as well. With her middle and index fingers stretched out, she drew in a deep breath that stoked her inner fire…

Zuko punched forward: a large fire blast burst from his fist, hurtling towards Azula.

The Princess didn't react to it in a panic: her brother's fire output no doubt had improved vastly if he could pull off something like that with a single move. His time of physical strain in the South Pole had challenged him greatly, but it had bolstered his bending impressively.

She should not have been smiling upon being attacked, but she did so upon raising her hands and splitting the fire blast down the middle.

Zuko had not been quite so foolish as to launch that first blast and expect it to land: he raced across the plaza now, ready for the next move.

He leapt, spinning in the air once before conjuring a pillar of flames with his feet: it rushed towards Azula, whose eyes tracked the swirling tornado. The momentum was too great for it to be broken…

She wanted to commend him for his improvements. She knew better than to do so, not merely out of how condescending she might sound, but because the situation, the Agni Kai, was not the place to admire your enemy's power.

She dodged to one side: Zuko would not be able to bend his tornado towards her before it dissipated, and he offered her a rather welcome opening after having rushed towards her when he did.

The Princess twirled with one jump, charging an attack across her fists: fire daggers glowed blue in her grip, and the wheel of her motions forced Zuko to back down in caution. When the Princess landed again, she instinctively raised a shield of condensed fire before herself… one that intercepted Zuko's attempt at a counterattack immediately.

The fire had not been gold. Azula frowned: she needed to do better than this. Gold fire required less power to condense… she needed to resort to it. She needed to focus…

To focus on why she was doing this.

On the future she had wished to build well before her life had fallen to shambles.

There was a hope, a chance, that all those things might be within reach anew after this final obstacle in her path.

Zuko's next blast missed its mark, but Azula didn't intend to dodge forever. She needed to gather herself… to find the core of her inner fire, to unleash it in a wholly different manner now. It would not render her undefeatable, she knew as much… but the defensive capabilities of gold fire would most likely prevent Zuko from landing a blow with the least effort on her part.

Efficiency. Effectiveness. Strategic planning and thinking…

All things she had chosen to hone herself on, all things meant to build her into a stronger fighter… all be it so her father would be proud of her.

She snarled: she struck Zuko's next attack with a fist, relying on her bending to steal his flames from his control. It proved far harder than it had ever been before.

They had fought so many times as children, and never had she been in danger of failing to defeat him. On every such occasion, she had gotten the better of him. Whether by fighting with blows or words, Zuko's resulting fury at her always seemed to be on the rise. She would never deny that she had done it all intentionally, constantly reaching for any opportunity to prove herself better than him… all be it, more than anything, to show her father that his faith in her was not in vain.

In many ways, their father, as much as he had burned the previous day, stood at the core of this fight between them. Not only was he the cause of their duel in many ways, starting with his demise, but even now, a dark foreboding sensation in their hearts suggested that they were pushing forth the very legacy of violence they were meant to destroy. This wasn't who they wished to be… even if this appeared to be the only way to choose the world's future.

And what would that future look like? Azula struggled to glimpse it now, as her heart was ravaged by waves of insecurity and fear: she was only looking at the past, at the way their parents, their uncle, even their grandfather had prepared them so that, one day, she and Zuko would go to war with each other as they seemed to now. Was there truly no escaping such a fate? Was that truly what their family's nature would always be like…?

She didn't want to believe so. But the more she attempted to focus, to find gold fire, the more Zuko attacked: she defended herself, dodging and casting her own attacks on occasion…

It was easier not to bother. Easier to simply take the offensive. Zuko would not be ready for that.

She could resort to violence indeed, and end it that way.

What if he did foresee it, though? He was stronger than before. Any lucky hits, any carelessness on her part… and he'd do it. He'd defeat her. He'd become Fire Lord.

Fire Lord.

Since her younger years, it was a notion completely out of her reach. She hadn't realized it, but it was. Stubbornness, combined with her father's relentless trust in her abilities and potential, had seen to her gradual rise, to the progress that allowed her to be here, now, fighting for a throne that wasn't meant for her.

It was meant for Iroh. He had never taken it.

It was meant for Lu Ten. He had lost his life well before having any chance to sit on it.

It wasn't meant for Ozai. He had stolen it in mysterious circumstances…

Was it meant for Zuko anymore than it was meant for her?

She refused to believe it was Lu Ten's fate to die, nor that Iroh's transformation into a husk, unwilling to challenge his brother's treachery, was inevitable.

Life was comprised by choices. Every member of their family had made countless of those… her father, upon privileging her over her brother. Her mother, upon doing the opposite thing. Her uncle, by abandoning the Fire Nation's army. Lu Ten, by fighting in a battle that had stolen his life.

Zuko had made plenty of his own. He stood here now, fighting with eyes fully open, conscious of what was at stake and pushing forth to claim the victory he had chased since childhood. He would not balk, would not back down… he was fighting with everything he had in him, with everything his body allowed him to exteriorize.

What choice would she make, then? In the face of this moment… she had promised to do her best.

Sokka's kind smiles, the tenderness of his gaze, the sweetness of every kiss, the comfort of every caress… she had vowed to do her best to him.

He was the choice she had made. So long ago, in circumstances that would have consequences she could never foresee, she had chosen to let him live. It was a punishment, just as it was a smidge of respect for a man who had fought her as fiercely as her brother did now…

Perhaps she hadn't given Zuko credit in an area where he deserved it: he had set aside all distinction between men and women when it came to clashing with her. He always had wanted to prove himself superior to her, and that necessitated duels. Even so… he had been convinced that he'd prevail someday. Whatever had convinced him of his dormant superiority, Azula didn't know… but even so, the fights he ever picked with her paled with the one they fought now, fists raised as their flame knives clashed briefly, in a stark contrast of orange and blue…

Blue, just like Sokka's eyes.

Just like the man she had chosen, once she had found him anew in the Amateur Arena. She hadn't hesitated. One fight had been enough to convince her that he was the ally she sought… that his potential would be vaster than they could tell just yet. She had always meant to build him up, strengthen him into becoming the perfect Gladiator for herself…

But he was so much greater than anything she had foreseen.

A singular choice she had made, upon offering that initial alliance, upon shaking his hand…

The world had changed because of that day. Because of her choice to offer… because of his, to accept.

So many things had not been in their plans, so much had spiraled out of their grasp and control… but it had been born from that moment. All of it came down to that crucial choice…

She had chosen him, and his strength had inspired her to break free from the repressive, cruel trappings of her nation and her family.

This gold fire she so sought…

It was the key to do so.

He had granted that power to her. He had taught her how to love, where no one else had. He had shown her the way forward out of darkness, igniting the spark she had followed until this very moment…

The fortuneteller he dismissed so much had not been mistaken in that regard, at least. She had the potential to change the world… but only if she could cling to the light that would bring her out of her family's shadows.

She had set that Palace aflame in gold… a purifying fire. The beginning of a new world, of a new Fire Nation, was right within her grasp…

It had been, all along.

She had that power inside her. As hard as it was to fathom ever being worthy of this role, the truth was that she could do it. Perhaps only she could do it… for only she knew how to wield the flames that countered the Fire Nation's old ways. Only she could burn this nation down to see it reborn from new roots… born in a new fire, as the sun faded and returned with a new dawn.

The gold fire Sokka had taught her… the gold fire that Hotaru had brought back to her heart, the gold fire that had sought to save her father…

Now, she wielded it for everyone. At her very core, she held her closest loved ones… but the heart that had once known no love at all now seemed to be challenged with an unthinkable prospect…

To take her flames and bend them gold, not only for Sokka, Hotaru, or her father.

Today, she had to do it for every last individual who bore the flame emblem across their clothing. Who gazed upon it, in flags across the streets or aboard vessels. For all those who had fought for the chance to be considered Fire Nation… for all those who had been born into the nation, whether they wished to belong to it or not. Even for those who despised it, who resented it, who had wished to see the Fire Nation undone…

Her fire would burn gold for them, too.

Zuko dashed towards her, frowning at the strange, contemplative mood Azula appeared to have fallen into, mid-combat. Something about it worried him… perhaps the childish part of himself that had still wished to overcome his sister. If she broke out of that strange daze, a damn near spiritual one, from the looks of it… he had the feeling he would lose.

Should he wait? Should he hold back? Wasn't that his mistake, back when he had fought his father? Even now, in this strange trance, Azula was dodging and countering his moves, but she wasn't fighting back…

Curses… he had to try. He couldn't back down now. Even if this might just be the opposite of the honor he wanted to hold onto, he knew he would never forgive himself if he didn't take every chance, every possible opening, to strike away at her and find victory. His family deserved that much… he fought for them. For his opportunity to set things right… for a future that countless people had fought for, believing him the right candidate to take his father's role.

He slowed too… but not completely. His arms moved, and his eyes blazed with intent as his limbs charged with power: once more, the insecurities and the certainties, the affection and the resentment, all of his contesting, clashing feelings seemed to provide the balance he had required: a rumor of amazement rushed across the crowd, or was it panic? So far, a few gasps had been heard, mostly whenever it looked like Azula might be in danger…

She was their favorite, he didn't have any doubts about that. Whether they'd accept him as their Fire Lord or not remained to be seen… but such a question would not matter at all if he lost now.

Did she know how to redirect lightning? Was he an utter bastard for doing this at all? Zuko didn't know, and he gritted his teeth as he charged what was left of the attack: again, a mix of regret and determination fueled his balance, pushing him into unleashing his conflictive feelings and nature into that lightning blast.

It was unexpected for the crowd: not only was it rare to glimpse lightning, all around, but it caught Zuko's closer allies off-guard… much as the Princess's greatest supporters appeared to be aghast at the sight before them.

Sokka didn't even realize his feet made him move of his own accord down the stairs of the temple: he could not interfere, no more than Azula could in his fights in the Gladiator League… but his heart was pounding. His chest seemed to cave in. Zuko wasn't doing this… and if he was, Azula had to dodge that too. Neither one could afford holding back, that much was obvious, but this was too much. He was going too far, he…

"Azula…!" Sokka gasped: a mere instant afterwards, Zuko released his attack.

The thunder deafened the crowd.

The light blinded them.

For a moment, it was as though time had frozen.

For a moment, there was nothing but cries of despair and fear after the potent attack unleashed by the aspirant to a non-existent throne.

The light of that bolt seemed to linger in the air, in the moment, for far too long. It wasn't merely the aftereffect of a potent light, blasting through people's helpless gazes…

The light actually remained there.

Sokka's eyes widened, his jaw dropping: he had witnessed something so alike this before… back when she had tamed her dragon, Azula had fiercely warded Sokka from the flames and protected him from what could have been a killer blow.

This time, she had trapped that bolt of lightning in a cloud of gold fire.

It swirled around her as a shield, empowered further by the sparks of electricity that seemed to smooth over, eased into fire anew.

"What did she just…?" Katara gasped: she truly had feared for Azula's life for a moment there, even if she had assured herself that Zuko would not have launched a lethal blow…

But while it wasn't her first time witnessing the Princess's prowess with firebending, it certainly was the first to witness her uncanny ability to breach the limits of bending beyond anyone's imagination.

"Mom…!" Rei gasped, covering her mouth with a hand. Hotaru, on her lap, whimpered over the flash of light, but she failed to understand what her mother was doing…

"What was that? What happened? Is she…?!" Toph gasped: Jet grabbed her shoulder, keeping her from chasing after Sokka once Azula was in danger…

"She's… bending it," Jet said, eyes wide. "She… s-she absorbed the lightning? I don't even… how?"

Nobody knew how to react to the Princess's latest feat. Nobody understood how she had done it… but where the Head Sage actually gasped with joy, soon laughing instead, Jeong Jeong froze, his jaw dropping.

Their world knew little of prophecies, truthfully. The spiritual world complemented theirs, but it was vague, difficult to comprehend and translate to human understanding.

Somehow, that there had never been a prophecy to declare the arrival of a bender of the Princess's quality threw all those that did exist into question.

He had never seen anything quite so uncanny. Lightning redirection, the way Iroh did it, was based on waterbending… but the gold fire Princess Azula could wield was an absolute miracle in nature, one Jeong Jeong had never witnessed before her.

Prince Zuko was a capable bender, curses, by now he was a master of his craft, without question. His abilities had been honed, bolstered and strengthened, polished into a sharp form that many firebending instructors would marvel at…

But his sister somehow blasted past every boundary he was only just reaching. She set the standard for him to chase. She was the one who broke across frontiers, changing the roots of firebending as a discipline… the very nature of it.

And she owed so much of that to the man whose silhouette was so sharply contrasted by the golden flames she wielded, within which she appeared to dance as she appeased the lightning bolt her brother had launched at her.

"Azula…" Zuko gasped…

He had failed. His attempt to catch her off-guard hadn't paid off…

He was relieved for it… just so, he was astounded by the sight before him, where his sister almost appeared to become one with a burst of pure fire.

She was unattainable. She was beyond his reach. He could never truly best her…

And for once, he was at peace with that.

He smiled, shaking his head as he raised his hands defensively again: he had never stood a chance… but his growth had been for his own sake, not for the sake of defeating her. He had become the man he was now because he wished to be… not out of any spite or vindictiveness, not over jealousy due to her natural proclivity towards fire, or towards success, outright.

"You've never made it a fair fight, you know!" Zuko shouted: Azula's arms continued to swirl around herself, in circular motions not unlike those of lightning. "I've always been outmatched, I know that, but… you had to go and prove it today again, huh?"

This was his final stand as an underdog… his last chance to overcome the insurmountable challenge before him.

The journey thus far had been worth it, even if he never did reach his destination.

Azula had hardly heard him, focused as deeply as she was in the trance-like state she had reached with her flames. Her golden eyes, to match the fire surrounding her, opened anew just in time to see her brother rush forward…

He launched a blast of orange flames at her, and Azula moved her swirling shield of gold to catch them. He attacked again, and one more time, the fire he unleashed upon her was consumed and changed.

It was where her stand would begin. It was the very birth of a new Fire Nation, one that took everything it had been built on and transformed it for the better.

Zuko breathed deeply before building a new lightning blast: it would fail, but he would not stop. This fight would not end until she burned him… and so, he would continue to the last, knowing that moment would come, but holding back nothing on his way there anyway. That was how he would honor a rival of Azula's caliber… an opponent he finally respected far more than he imagined possible. She was his little sister, the mischievous girl who had constantly gotten into trouble, whether with or without him. Her barbs cut far more sharply than any blades could, and she had constantly seemed to be invulnerable, cold, distant to any human emotion…

But perhaps she had felt them so much more profoundly than Zuko had ever known back then. Perhaps that was the true source of her power… perhaps that was what made Azula as extraordinary as she was.

The lightning shot forth, caught anew in the swirl of gold: its sparks set off a reaction in her shield, and suddenly, a burst of color accompanied the gold.

Zuko smiled: he had heard of it, but he had never seen it himself. Azula's colorful fire… the one she could craft when she brought blue and gold together. She couldn't bend the two extremes of fire on her own… but he could do his best to match her blue through lightning.

He did it again, and again. New bursts of color surged as Azula continued to bolster her strength, as she continued to focus on the task she had accepted and embraced…

Hers was the fire of life. The fire that would finally put a stop to a Hundred Years of War… but more than that, to the very seed that the war had sprung from.

She would cleanse it. She would change it.

She could change the world.

The shield shrank suddenly, becoming a smaller blast of charged firebending: no longer protected by the walls of flames, Azula nonetheless twirled one more time before launching the most powerful burst of fire she had ever wielded, in her brother's direction.

The blast saw the crowd screaming again: the impact was as good as a meteorite that had crashed into the very grounds of the Plaza.

Zuko averted the damage, but he rolled across the shattered grounds, flung away by the impact's shockwaves.

Azula's chest heaved as she approached him with uncertainty: she had been conscious of her actions as she fought her brother, conscious of his lightning shots against her, too. The danger she had been in could not be understated… but she had accomplished something even Azula herself had not realized was within her possibilities.

She breathed deeply, tightening her fists as her brother pushed himself up, rattled after her attack. He shook his head, trying to clear away his shock… he raised his gaze to find Azula before him, middle and index fingers raised as she remained battle-ready.

"It's not over," Azula said. Zuko nodded.

"I know," he said. "Can't surrender. That's not how an Agni Kai is fought."

"Then… let's finish this," Azula said, raising her head. "I… I am sorry it has to end this way, Zuko."

"Are you?" Zuko smiled.

His question didn't come from a place of cruelty, of jealousy, of spite: he was the one who wasn't sorry, she realized… as he chuckled and raised his trembling hands anew.

"I never could beat you," he said, with a proud smile. "But for once… for once, that doesn't feel like such a bad thing."

Azula's throat tightened with tears: those weren't words she had ever expected to hear from her brother. His face betrayed serenity, peace with his circumstances… acceptance of what was to come.

Azula breathed in: a plum of gold flames rose by her fingertips, and Zuko summoned his own fire in his fist. He launched it towards her, moving faster first, perhaps still clinging to the hope that she might be unprepared to field the attack…

The Princess dashed past his fire, and her golden flames caught his torso.

The impact was powerful, but not harmful. If it stung, it only did briefly… it was far more painful to fall over due to the shock, anew.

Zuko landed on his back, a mere few steps from his sister.

The light redness upon his skin gave away that the central clause of the Agni Kai had been fulfilled.

Zuko had been burned.

Standing by his feet, Azula's hand remained outstretched: gold fire was not as dangerous… the burn upon Zuko's chest would not become a scar. It would heal, leaving no mark, no lasting damage.

But the temporary brand upon his skin nonetheless announced the victor of their encounter.

The security she had shown so far suddenly quaked as the realization of what she had done dawned on her. She stepped back, and her hand began to tremble: Zuko lay on the ground, eyes closed, arms outstretched. His chest rose and fell with each breath… but he was serene still.

Voices around them rose: Azula shuddered, unwilling to acknowledge them yet as she shook her head, stepping towards her brother, kneeling by his side.

"Zuko…" she spoke his name. "Zuko, are you…?"

"I'm… ugh, just a little sore, but… I'll be fine," Zuko said, with a sad, but affectionate smile: Azula froze up at the unusual kindness in his gaze, once he opened his eyes. "You… you've won."

"I…" Azula blinked blankly: her world seemed to shake, to tremble still…

Zuko breathed in before pushing himself to a sitting position. Even now, he offered her that same smile, and he clasped Azula's hand firmly.

"I've never… never truly said it, have I?" he whispered. "You're incredible. More than that, even. I hated the thought that I'd never find a way to get out of your shadow… but now I realize it's your light that scared me more. Why? Well… beats me, now that I think of it. Your light… it makes us better. All of us. And… and if it had that effect on me, on him, on everyone who's felt your fire before? Then… then the Fire Nation will grow and thrive like it never had once you're the one leading it. I… I look forward to it."

"Zuko…" Azula gasped: he smiled, rising to his feet, tugging her up as well.

He never imagined that the day would come when he'd see that vulnerability, even that innocence, across his sister's features: this was no common bout between siblings, not at all like their many clashes throughout their formative years. For once, one of their battles had a meaning, purpose… whether she was ready to embrace it or not remained to be seen.

Only then did the sounds around her begin to make sense. Only then did their familiarity ring deep within her heart.

She gazed around herself to find as good as a whole city cheering for what she had done.

Young people or old, men or women, trueborn or honorary: the Fire Nation Capital had erupted with cheers on that day, for the uncertainty of the future was finally swept away.

There was a leader for them to look to. A leader they trusted, whose potential they believed in. Would they continue to do so, in the coming years? That remained to be seen, but ultimately…

She was their Fire Lord.

Azula shuddered as the thought as good as ravaged her body. Tears bloomed in her eyes, tension rising inside her… this was what she had dreamt of, as a child. This was what she had believed would happen, should she seize the throne as she had hoped to, for her own reasons. It was a quest that had begun on a vindictive whim, to prove herself to a man who had underestimated her…

Now, it was her life's promise. Now, the throne, the crown, represented so much more for her than she could ever truly express. Her role at the head of the Fire Nation would be arduous… it would be terrifying. It meant facing countless hardships, and she had thought she was through with those, she simply wished to rest…

But it was as though their energy fueled hers. As though she reclaimed her old calling upon realizing that her countless sacrifices had not been thankless after all. Her people… they cheered for her. The enthusiasm of that crowd was unmistakable… and it was directed at her.

They wanted her on the throne she had burned down herself. They wanted her to lead the Fire Nation, when it was altogether too easy to blame her for their loss in the war…

She shuddered at that last thought.

For all this time, this had been a latent possibility, its consequences to be dealt with when the time came…

But if she was to be Fire Lord, she would not do so alone.

She would not marry out of convenience, never again. She had a daughter who would be acknowledged as her child, as an official heir to the throne. She had bonds with countless people the nobles and military of her nation would frown upon…

None of which was more apparent than that between herself and her Gladiator.

She turned towards him: at first, her desperate eyes tried to find him at the top of the stairs… she was unsurprised to see him at the bottom, instead. His eyes gleamed with relief… with pride. The way his shoulders hung gave away that they had been tense before. He seemed to be on the verge of tears, himself.

He had led the Fire Nation's enemies through the direst stage of the Hundred Year War, overwhelming and overcoming them until he triumphed. He had once been a hero in the Arena… then, he was a monster on the battlefields. What was he now? What would they perceive him as now, if…?

She could find out. She should find out.

She refused to take that throne if he would not be by her side.

Her eyes no doubt reflected fear now, as she took a step towards him. Her heart raced even harder than it had throughout that fight. This, somehow, felt like a greater challenge than overcoming lightning with gold fire…

But she had not backed down before. She would not do it now, either.

This was something they seldom would do after his own fights. Only on sparse occasions had she rushed to meet him at once, when a battle ended… never had she charged into the fighting ring, ever respecting the rules of honor about their duels. But just as she had interfered to save Sokka from Rhone only when he was disqualified, now she could run towards him, for the duel had ended…

And he stepped towards her too, as though magnetized, drawn to her by forces he could not resist.

She could tell he was uneasy. She knew he understood her intent. There was no hiding the truth, there hadn't been in a long time… all those who had been there to witness the final battle knew what they meant to each other already. But the city at large, surely, remained unaware… many would chalk everything down to foolish gossip, baseless rumors meant to disparage their Princess, implicating her as a collaborator of the Fire Nation's enemy through the war…

But they had seen her with him on the previous day, too, as her father's pyre burned.

They saw their arrival on Xin Long on that day as well, much as they had witnessed it many times by the Grand Royal Dome.

Countless of those among them had also been there, in the thickest crowd of any of their fights in the Gladiator League, as Sokka raised his hand towards his Princess, and she lowered her own as though to meet his.

Today, they stood on the same level.

Today, Azula could sprint towards Sokka, who broke into a race of his own, crossing the Plaza with strong strides until he slowed down, mere steps away from her: Azula jumped into his arms, bringing their lips together before the whole city.

With one arm around his neck, the other wrapping around his waist, Azula melted into an embrace as tender as it was passionate. He held her close with one arm of his own, while he gripped the back of her head with his other hand…

Their actions were not guided by fearlessness, for they were afraid. They trembled, and even so, they did not stop. They did not pull away. Instead they held each other intimately, in a gesture that they might need to keep behind closed doors in the future… but not now. Not when the Princess was quite so determined to prove she would not be intimidated by her nation from loving her true husband openly, no matter the consequences. Much as he had dared kiss her so boldly before their troops, she did the same now… and his presence soothed her. He calmed her. All the surging panic, the wild emotions she hardly knew what to do with… they faded away easily while he held her like this.

She was not alone. She would not face any of her upcoming challenges without him.

She pulled back once she was breathless, pressing her brow to his: any protests to be had would begin to be heard now… At least, she guessed so. But once she focused on the crowd anew, she realized they had quieted down, instead. Tense, she reached up to hold Sokka's face between her hands, only letting her eyes open to meet his…

"Azula…" he said. She shivered.

"I… I know. I… I don't… I didn't really…"

"You did it," he smiled. She shuddered, her hands gripping him harder still: nothing felt real. Her tearful eyes gave away how utterly overwhelmed she felt… "Azula…"

"They have to… h-have to accept us. O-otherwise, I'll concede. I… I won't do this without you. I won't…"

Sokka hugged her tightly: he squeezed her to such an extent that he raised her from the ground, startling the people nearby. Azula allowed him to do so, opposing no resistance, instead wounding her arms tighter around his frame. Her tears fell on his neck, sizzling hot, as she clawed at him as though he were her sole anchor and salvation…

And just as it was mere days ago, the stab in the back did not arrive.

The condemnations, the screams of outrage, did not follow. Nobody seemed to protest at all…

Then, a voice broke through the silence:

"Blue Wolf!"

It was but one cry, at first. Sokka's eyes widened, and it was his turn to tremble against his lover and long-time partner…

"Blue Wolf!"

The same voice… but it was not alone for long.

"Blue Wolf! Blue Wolf! Blue Wolf!"

Little by little, an echoing cry, not unlike those that often took wind in the Grand Royal Dome, started to rise among the commonfolk. Sokka froze: this was not what he had expected. This was not how he had thought their public reveal would be received…

It was not the reaction anyone would have imagined from a nation that should have been ready to condemn him instead.

He pulled away from Azula briefly, glancing about the field of chanting, chorusing cries: they were truly calling for him, just as they had once, so long ago. It was their victory cry… soon followed by the drumming pattern, if done through applause, that often had been done in his honor.

He laughed in disbelief: it wasn't the entire crowd, as many appeared as confused as he felt, and a few even appeared outraged… but it certainly was enough of them to ease the fears that they would find no acceptance in the Fire Nation. Their bond had been a rather poorly kept secret to begin with… but with this, any doubts about its nature would be put to rest.

He gazed at Azula to find her eyes opening too: where they had been fearful, now they were hopeful instead: the voices, their rallying cries, the celebration of Azula's achievement, as well as the relationship that had been confirmed in the eyes of thousands, brought fragile, earnest smiles to their faces.

Sokka leaned in again, kissing her repeatedly, unable to channel his feelings in any other way. Azula responded in kind, her grip around him tightening further still… and for a moment, she simply breathed him in. She took in the utterly surreal moment they shared…

The future they had dreamt of was finally here.

No more secrets, no more lies, no more hiding, no more concerns of any such nature: this was who they were, and where their journey had carried them. They belonged together… they had chosen each other, wholeheartedly. The coming challenges would be no walk in the park, Azula knew so more than anyone… but she would face them with her head held high, as she ever did.

"I love you," she whispered. Sokka smiled, his tears escaping and spilling down his cheeks.

"I love you right back… Princess," he said, with a chuckle. "I'll try, okay? I will. But…"

"I know… I'll always be Princess for you," Azula laughed, raising her head and smiling at him. "Even when I become…"

"Fire Lord Azula."

No one had ever pronounced that title so affectionately, and no one else ever would. Azula sniffed, eyes overflowing with tears: Sokka pressed his brow to hers, as the potent morning sunlight bathed them with its glow…

"The Blue Wolf… and the Fire Lord?" Azula asked, with a small smile. "What a pair we make, Gladiator…"

"The very best of them all," Sokka smiled, pressing his lips to her brow.

Above the crowd, Rei watched the unexpectedly intimate scene with an awkward smile on her face, cheeks flushing: she wasn't usually one to be too flustered about such things, but her mother's boldness had taken her by surprise, nonetheless. Someone nearby, however, only burst into laughter at the sight below:

"They're impossible," Song chuckled, in Rui Shi's arms: the firebender smiled and shook his head, gripping the edge of the saddle firmly.

"As reckless as they come," he agreed. "That could have gone much, much worse…"

"They're too scary," Song smiled. "And after what she just did? I… I'm pretty sure most people wouldn't have the guts to challenge her at all."

"Did you ever see her do something like that before?" Rei asked: Song shook her head, beaming.

"Not me. Rui Shi?"

"Certainly not," he said. "But that's the Princess for you… uh. The… Fire Lord."

"Fire Lord," Rei repeated, eyes widening. Song smiled, closing her eyes.

"Fire Lord Azula," she said, chuckling. "She… she did it. She really did it."

Rei laughed, covering her mouth with a hand. She glanced down at Hotaru, whose short hair danced in the breeze: the baby appeared confused by her behavior, by her emotional reactions…

"Did you hear that?" she said, reaching down to gather Hotaru in her embrace. "Mom… she's done it, Hotaru. Our mom… she's the Fire Lord now."

The child still did not understand the meaning of those words: she most likely never would have sufficient awareness to remember a time when Azula did not hold that title. By the time she grew enough to retain memories, she would have forgotten so much of her younger years… all the darkness surrounding her birth, the heavy circumstances that had plagued them all, would fade into nothingness. She would be raised in a whole different Fire Nation than the one that saw her birth… a Fire Nation of light, of love, with flames gold and pure.

The next years would be challenging in a wholly different way, for managing a crumbling nation after it lost a war would be no leisurely undertaking. But if just for this moment, the Fire Nation appeared to have been enraptured by joy unprecedented as it celebrated the impending coronation of their next leader…

"She… she pulled it off, huh?" Toph smiled, arms folded across her chest. "I knew she would do it."

"Also knew he'd run off to kiss her when he had the chance?" Jet asked, teasingly. Toph snorted.

"Wouldn't be him if he hadn't," Toph said. "If you see anyone ready to give them a hard time for that, point me to them and I'll smash them into next week, alright?"

"Sure thing," Jet smiled.

Mai, too, watched the embracing lovers with an unusually tender smile: it was far from the first time she had seen anything like this between them, but that this day, this moment, had come to pass at all continued to feel like an utter miracle. Azula had fallen apart under her father's cruelty, adrift in life by a mere thread, to which she clung for the sake of others rather than herself… she hadn't known, back then, that she would ever experience the triumph she had just clinched. Perhaps, if the helplessness and darkness hadn't been so overwhelming, Mai would not be quite as likely to rejoice over this outcome…

Long ago, she would have doubted Azula could ever take the throne, bear the crown, regardless of her friend's aspirations and ambitious nature. Long ago, Mai had taken for granted that Zuko would be their father's heir, for that was simply how it was done in their society…

In any other circumstances, Mai might have thought this an affront against the first boy she had loved. Right now, though, she glanced in his direction with remorse, with empathy… knowing he had given his all in a fight in which he couldn't prevail. She wished to comfort him, instinctively, since falling behind his sister never sat well with Zuko…

But she saw a serene man, rather than a frustrated, heartbroken boy. He held his head high, careless about who might judge him for his scar. He witnessed his sister's embrace with the man she loved, and he seemed to be in as much peace with that as he was with his defeat.

The crowd near him shifted after a while, though: most people by Zuko's side appeared to hold back from celebrating too loudly, out of respect for the past heir to the throne… now, though, they fidgeted and complained as a man with curly, dark hair emerged, head-first, out of the cluster of onlookers.

"Zuko!"

The Prince winced upon hearing the familiar voice calling his name: he turned around, finding Kino breaching protocol just as Sokka had before… remorse marred his brown gaze.

"Zuko, I… I'm sorry," he said, stepping closer to his friend. "M-maybe I shouldn't be here, but…"

"Don't," Zuko said, with a small smile. "Don't have to be sorry, either. I… I thought I could do it, but I couldn't. And… I'm okay with that."

"You are?" Kino asked, slowing by his side. "W-well… people did say she was unbeatable."

"Well…"

"They've always said she's really powerful! All those kinds of fire, you know, and she's supposed to be really smart…"

"Kino, you don't have to sing my sister's praises like that…" Zuko smiled, shaking his head: the former soldier breathed deeply before raising a charged, emotional set of eyes towards his idol.

"But I was still rooting for you!"

Zuko froze. Kino's earnest confession caught him by surprise… but it sank in soon enough. The Prince smiled with unusual fondness: his friend hardly seemed to expect that at all… much less did he expect to wind up on the receiving end of a one-armed hug from the usually cold and distant firebender.

"Z-Zuko…" Kino sniffed, pressing his face to Zuko's bare shoulder.

"It was worth it. Everything we've done has been," Zuko said, clapping Kino's back. "I didn't win now, but… that just means I get to go home soon."

Kino gasped, pulling back: Zuko's earnest smile spoke for itself, and Kino grinned soon after, too.

"That's right," Kino nodded. "They're waiting for you."

"I'll go back," Zuko smiled. "It won't be long anymore. Though… I'm sorry I couldn't live up to your hopes, Kino. Thank you… for everything."

"E-everything…?" Kino blinked blankly.

It wasn't every day that he was on the receiving end of that kind of earnest fondness coming from Zuko. Truthfully, Kino had never imagined that day would come at all… he smiled tearfully and nodded, hugging the firebender again: Zuko patted his back, breathing deeply…

He didn't know how he'd go about it. He didn't truly care to think of that right now. But once Azula's coronation was done… he would find the means to return to the South Pole. Whoever wanted to come along could join him… but he would go south again. His wife and daughters awaited him.

"He's… he's not looking any worse for wear," Aang sighed, smiling at the sight of Zuko and Kino's embrace. "That's good."

"Do you think he'll be okay?" Katara asked. Aang shrugged.

"I don't think Zuko would fall to pieces because of this outcome," Aang said, smiling at her. "But… I guess a few of us thought he'd make it anyway."

"Did you?" Katara asked. Aang shrugged.

"Well… he is one of the strongest firebenders I've known," he said, biting his lip. "And I don't think what happened here proved otherwise. I… I'm glad he was my teacher. Win or lose… I'm proud of what he accomplished here. I'm proud to have learned from him."

Katara smiled, reaching over to clasp Aang's hand: it had seemed unlikely for Katara to ever root for Azula… just as she didn't quite fathom that she would be cheering for Zuko, either. In the end, she found she couldn't truly wish one or the other to prevail… but that Azula had done so with the least violence, through a simple burn that wouldn't scar Zuko forever, boded well as a symbol of the future of their world, from this day onwards…

The crowd's chanting eased up as time passed, but the enthusiasm felt in the Coronation Temple and Plaza hardly receded: Zuko, accompanied by Kino, marched back towards the temple itself, just as the Head Sage, accompanied by other sages, climbed down the flight of stairs, on their way to the embracing couple at its feet.

"Think… think we've got company," Sokka whispered, nudging Azula gently.

"Think we always did," she laughed, still clinging to him. "One day, I… I might just be embarrassed by this, you know?"

"What, by kissing me in front of the entire audience right after they realized you were their new Fire Lord?" Sokka asked, amused. "What's there to be embarrassed about in that, Princess?"

Azula laughed, patting his chest affectionately as he turned her towards the stairs anew. He didn't relinquish his grip on her fully, but Azula did withdraw her hand in order to wipe the tears off her face: the Head Sage offered her a kindly smile, hands behind his back.

"I would say I'm impressed… but I fear I'll sound terribly repetitive," he chuckled. "A magnificent display of bending… Fire Lord Azula."

"I… thank you. For all your support. I wouldn't have come this far otherwise," Azula said, with an earnest smile.

"And I shall endeavor to offer you more of it, still," the Head Sage smiled. "As Head Sage… I will be honored to serve in the Fire Nation you shall lead. But, well… first things first!"

"What… does she need to do anything else?" Sokka raised an eyebrow. The Head Sage laughed.

"I'd dare say she does. She may wish to clean up, first… and afterwards? We shall use this place for its actual, intended purpose! A coronation is impending, Gladiator… the sooner it is done, the better!"

"Oh… right," Sokka smiled raising his eyebrows and glancing at Azula: she hardly seemed to process the Head Sage's words, lips parted in utter shock. "Hey… hey, Azula. You still there?"

"Not sure," she said, with a growing smile. Sokka chuckled. "I… yes. Whatever you say needs to be done now, I… wait. The coronation robes…?"

"As promised, we handled that, Princess," said the Head Sage, nodding. "You needn't worry. Perhaps it isn't of sufficient grandeur to suit your achievements… but I'd dare say, nothing ever could be."

"Agreed," Sokka smiled. Azula chuckled, rubbing her face with a hand and nodding.

"Very well. I… guess I should clean up in the temple? Is there anywhere for me there to…?"

"There is. We shall escort you there."

Azula breathed out slowly, glancing over at Sokka: she didn't want to be away from him for an instant… and the reassuring smile upon his face suggested that she wouldn't be.

They progressed into the temple together, careless about who might see them, living their truth without fear. The celebratory voices behind them continued to echo in the plaza, and Azula stopped at the height of the stairs, shooting a glance at them before heading inside the temple.

Her people… the people she would be leading, from this day onwards.

They might never know, truly, just how much Azula had sacrificed and suffered to come this far. They might never understand it… but even then, the people who had once held her in the highest regards as Crown Princess were ready to do the same now that she was a few moments away from becoming Fire Lord.

Sokka held her hand as she glanced over the crowd with a gentle smile. He waited beside her until she was ready: she drew in a deep breath, cherishing that final moment… her very last public appearance as Princess Azula.

"A lot of things will change now," she said, squeezing his hand. "But…"

Her eyes raked the landscape indeed, finding Fire Nation citizens… but also White Lotus ones. That meant Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom, were here as well… even the sole living Air Nomad, afloat on his sky bison.

What Fire Lord had ever been crowned by such wildly disparate public? She certainly had never heard of anything of the sort. She smiled, breathing deeply again before turning her attention to the man who stood, stalwart, by her side.

"It's the start of a new Fire Nation," she said. "Of a new era."

Sokka smiled proudly and nodded. Azula smiled back… and she restarted her way into the temple. The sounds of her wild supporters quieted down once they entered the elegant building.

The sages had indeed prepared a room for the Fire Lord-to-be, furnished with a bathtub, cushions, even a dresser with smooth incense burning atop it: the grand robes of the Fire Lord hung by the wall, and Azula's heart pounded harder still at the sight of the fabrics.

"Do forgive us if it isn't quite to the standards you'd expect. If we'd had more time…" the Head Sage said, but Azula shook her head.

"If I'm to change their design at all, well… it'll be best to leave it for after I've done my share of work to fix this nation," Azula said, with a gentle smile. "Thank you."

"You're most welcome," the Head Sage said, earnestly. "I'd say take your time, but, uh… I fear the crowd will grow restless, if you take too long. Nonetheless, feel free to meditate, if you need to, on this grand occasion…"

His eyes, however drifted towards Sokka: his presence here right now appeared uncontestable… and at this point, the Head Sage had to admit to himself that, perhaps, he'd do best not to think on it much. The Princess was about to become Fire Lord… and that meant her every whim was to be respected. If her whims were merely related to keeping her Water Tribe lover around herself constantly, rather than dubious schemes to perpetrate herself on a throne earned through unscrupulous means? The Head Sage certainly could live with that.

"Let us know when you're ready… we shall carry onwards with the coronation at your leisure."

He smiled before backing out of the large room: once he closed the door, the smiling Sokka was startled by a burst of laughter that poured out of his lover's lips, without any warning.

"Azula…?" he asked, amused: she covered her mouth with her hands, shaking her head as tears blinked in her eyes. "Hey, now…"

"I can't… c-can't believe this, I…!" she laughed and cried at once, dropping in his arms, face buried in his chest.

"What part, exactly?" Sokka smirked. "Is it… the one where you defeated your brother? Became the official next Fire Lord? Or… when you kissed me in front of your entire nation? Is that one it, huh?"

His last words saw her laughing harder still: she hardly seemed able to stand up anymore, and Sokka chuckled too before lowering them both on the floor, his arms still as tight around her as they could be. She had restrained the outburst of uncontrolled emotion as best as she was able, while still in front of that crowd and the sages… but now, alone and safe, she allowed him to see everything she was.

"You did it," Sokka smiled, rubbing her back as she continued to sob between bursts of laughter. "My glorious, amazing Princess… though, you know, you scared me a bit back there. When he charged the lightning, and you didn't seem to do anything…"

"I'm sorry," Azula smiled, sniffing and dabbing at her eyes with the heels of her hands. "Guess I did it again, did I?"

"Oh, yes. Just like with Xin Long. Which, no doubt, Zuko ought to take as a compliment. Who'd have compared him to a dragon before, huh?" Sokka smiled. Azula chuckled.

"He… he's become stronger, too," she remarked. "Don't think I can keep mocking him about his firebending as I used to…"

"Oh, now, of course you can. You're still better," Sokka smirked. Azula laughed, shaking her head and raising her gaze towards him.

"I… I did it, though. I guess that means… we're a bit stuck here now," she said, reaching up to caress his face. "You always say… wherever I may be, that's your home? But… well, it's still hard to say whether this is fair or not, right?"

"Not up to you to decide that, love," Sokka whispered, kissing her brow. "Back when you brought me here first? It was entirely against my will, and I resented you for it plenty. But by the time you took me back to the South Pole… all I wanted was to come back to you. And that's exactly what I did. Our home can be anywhere, Azula… doesn't matter to me one bit, as long as you and Hotaru are there."

"Well… that suits me fine," Azula smiled lowering her gaze. "Still don't know what your official title will be, though, once we get married."

"Heh. We'll see about that," Sokka said, eyebrow twitching. Azula chuckled, burying her face in his neck.

"It'll have dignity, I promise. It'll reflect your heritage, too," she said. "Hotaru… we'll take her to the South as well. O-or, well, depending on how busy I am, maybe you'll have to do it yourself…"

"Nuh-uh. Not happening," Sokka huffed. "It's the three of us or nothing."

"Silly," Azula smiled, watching him with undeniable affection. "Then… I'll clear my schedule for it, whenever I have the chance."

"Good," Sokka grinned. "Don't think we'll be able to raise them in both places, I admit, but… we'll make sure they don't forget their roots, right?"

"Right," Azula cupped his face, kissing him softly. "We… we'll build a legacy. Our legacy. And it'll be nothing like what came before us… certainly nothing like what came before me. We'll change everything for the better… we've been doing that for as long as we've been partners. So…"

"So… what're we waiting for?" Sokka said, with a proud grin.

Azula bit her lip, unable to stifle the smile that spread across her lips. Sokka chuckled, kissing her teasingly before rising to his feet fully, bringing her with him.

Azula breathed out, dabbing at the tears in her eyes: Sokka smiled fondly, his hands on her shoulders to help her with her clothes. She lowered her arms first, so her vest would fall to the floor. Then, he tugged her sash loose, and it pooled by her bare feet. She stepped out of the clothes, hands upon his chest as though to find support, as Sokka undid the swimsuit top she had been wearing, next…

She tugged one of his buttons loose.

Sokka blinked blankly, pulling back briefly to find a mischievous, beautiful smile upon her face. His own lips curled after a moment, as his eyebrows rose.

"Okay, now…"

"What?" she chuckled.

"I'm not complaining, I'm not…" Sokka smiled, running his hands over her hair, which he loosened up for her: it fell smoothly around herself, and Sokka bit his lip at the sight. "Fuck. You might just have the right idea, actually."

"Last time you'll be with an official Princess," Azula chuckled. "Once I leave this room, well… I'm afraid you'll be sleeping with the Fire Lord, apparently."

"That… is such a wild concept to wrap my head around," Sokka laughed. Azula did too, throwing her head back as Sokka reeled her into his embrace. "Hell, this is… this is surreal. All of it is."

"I know. I… I don't even know how to process it," she shook her head. "This is all I can think to do to help, but let's be real here… it might just make things worse."

"Worse?" Sokka repeated, amused.

"I'm already happier than I should be. I hardly know how to handle these emotions and you're only bound to enhance that feeling," Azula laughed, cupping his face. "But… even if that's the case, I want to do this. Just one more time, if that's what we get…"

"You… you will be very busy, after this," Sokka reasoned, raising an eyebrow. Azula nodded, with a dramatic sigh. "So many late hours of work, so many things to keep in mind…"

"You'll be sick of me once that starts, I guarantee it," Azula smiled. Sokka scoffed.

"Not a chance. You don't think I fought as hard as I did just to… what, get annoyed the first time you snap at me when I didn't do anything to deserve it?" he said, smirking. Azula chuckled. "Why, you're mistaken, Princess. Because if you do that, I'll snap right back, and then you'll snap some more…"

He walked her towards a nearby, bare wall: Azula smiled, taking her cues from his words, undoing each button upon his tunic. He licked his lips teasingly, once she stood with her back fully against the wall, head held high, if not with the delectable arrogance he thrived in, but with an affectionate anticipation, a pride not merely in her mischief… but in the two of them, as they were. Sokka smiled warmly for it.

"That's your plan, then?" Azula asked, raising her eyebrows. "That's a little concerning, mind you…"

"How so?" he whispered, leaning closer to her.

"Don't think we're getting anything done if we keep having sex over every little thing that sets us off…" Azula laughed. Sokka chuckled, shaking his head.

"I can't see why that's concerning. Sounds like paradise to me," he topped off his statement by kissing her fully, and Azula wrapped her arms around his neck to keep him close.

Her hands slid through his hair, undoing his wolf's tail just as he'd done for her, earlier. Sokka's lips couldn't seem to stop smiling as he kissed her, and Azula moaned with joyful abandon as she leaned into him fully.

Sokka shrugged off his tunic, tossing it aside along with his sash. Azula's hands moved down his strong back, past the ridges of muscles and scarred skin, all the way to his rear: his trousers dropped to his knees, held in place by his boots… Azula huffed, breaking their kiss to convey her thoughts:

"Everything… off. Now."

"Hey, now…" Sokka smirked. "Even when you're Fire Lord, you don't get away with giving me orders just like that, love."

"Well, it's the last time you're getting orders from Princess Azula. I'd follow them, if I were you," Azula whispered: she leaned in, her breath ghosting teasingly upon his lips as she undid the bandages over her chest.

That, of course, was a rather convincing argument for her eager lover. Sokka swallowed hard before pulling away, bending over to undo the boots' buckles at haste. Azula laughed at his reaction, loosening her underwear as well, leaving it behind after stepping out of it. Her aid to Sokka was merely standing behind him, ensuring he wouldn't lose his balance as he clumsily yanked out the boots: by the time he had rid himself of both, Azula had undone his fundoshi, leaving him as bare as she was… merely wearing a necklace.

"You know… I missed that sight," he said, smiling upon turning towards her: his hand rose to the necklace, and he caressed the smooth stone with his thumb before kissing her. "You're so beautiful, damn it. Hell… you've got to decree some kind of special holiday for yourself when you have the chance."

"Oh, really?" Azula smiled. "The official day for the Fire Lord to be ravished by her husband? Is that what I need to do?"

"Absolutely. I'll present the proposal to your future council, if you'd like," Sokka smirked.

Azula laughed again: Sokka hoisted her in his arms, kissing her passionately as he held her in a room that surely had never seen any such shameless behavior…

No Fire Lord-to-be was bound to invite company before his big coronation. No Fire Lord-to-be would ever be caught with a foreign lover, either. Perhaps that was why their nation had been so out of touch, losing sight of the very meaning of balance, Azula guessed… what fools they were, no doubt, missing out on bonds as blissful as this one. The beauty of it, the genuine happiness they shared… all of it inspired her to be her best self. Many would argue, of course, that a round of sex with her lover right before the biggest moment of her life couldn't possibly represent her best self… but she couldn't possibly care less.

The small meditation shrine had many smooth cushions around it, no doubt intended to provide as much comfort to the reflecting future Fire Lord as possible… it amounted to a smooth surface upon which Sokka could lay her down, as his lips pecked hers repeatedly… but he mischievously pulled away, grinning with delight and anticipation as he crawled down over her body.

"Hmm… What, exactly, are you doing, love?" Azula sighed happily. "Don't think we have time for…"

"Don't care. I didn't have enough last time… gotta do more of it now," Sokka snickered. Azula snorted with laughter, pushing herself up with one arm: Sokka nestled against her chest, grinning deviously before kissing her breasts softly.

"R-remember…"

"I remember. I'll be nice."

Azula sighed in bliss as he caressed her with his roughened palms. She was already trembling… was it over sexual arousal, or was it a different excitement? Was it everything at once? Could someone, by any chance, collapse over too much happiness? She was starting to suspect that was exactly what would happen to her…

Tears still sprung up in her eyes on occasion, and they tended to spill as she laughed in disbelief over what was happening. She threw her head back, running her hands over her hair as Sokka slid lower over her body, kissing her ribcage now, her abdomen, teasing her navel… she jolted over that, tickled by his teasing, and Sokka snickered at that reaction before raising his hands to her flanks…

"N-no, no, damn you…!" Azula laughed: Sokka cackled with feigned cruelty as she thrashed under his tickling fingers: his lips continued to kiss her jolting body, and her beautiful voice might just be heard all the way across the Plaza at this point. "Sokka…!"

"Fine, fine. I'll tickle you some more later," Sokka snickered, kissing her pelvis softly: Azula sighed in bliss upon the release of his mischievous fingers, that now raked her thighs instead. "Fuck, I missed you. Every last thing about you…"

Her heart churned upon hearing those words: none of this would be happening if not for him. None of this would be possible if he hadn't fought to return to her, to end the war her ancestors had stirred up with such cruelty. He buried his face in her core, tugging at her clit with masterful teasing, and she covered her mouth with a hand so that only he would hear her cries.

His hands continued to caress her, hoisting her knees so that she'd rest her legs upon his shoulders. He dove in, his mouth devouring her with his characteristic eagerness, starved for her taste, for her essence, for the connection they had long been denied…

Azula gasped, breathless, her body arching against his. Sokka groaned, slowing down upon sensing that reaction: her free hand reached for him, gripping his hair hard, and urging him back up over her body.

She claimed a kiss off his lips, her hands raking his back anew, locking onto his rear. Sokka groaned, rising still, swaying his body against hers…

"Not enough… not enough time," Azula whispered.

"We'll have more," Sokka said, claiming her lips again. "One day, we…"

"Yes. B-but now…"

She reached between their bodies to find his hardened manhood, already as erect and ready as could be. Even so, she offered gentle caresses over its base, running her fingers slowly on his shaft, her thumb upon his tip. Sokka gasped at the intimate touch, and Azula smiled at his reaction. She kissed him again, teasingly at first, fully afterwards, letting his gasps and groans pour right into her mouth, unheard by anyone but her…

"I can… I can go now. I…" Sokka said, against her lips. Azula hummed.

"You sure?"

"You wanna keep groping my dick, do you?" he asked. She smiled guiltily. "Well, I wanted to eat you out for longer, so… both our loss."

He chuckled before kissing her again: she relinquished her grip upon his manhood and he breached his way inside her, for what might as well have been the thousandth time… and yet it felt as miraculous, as blissful as the first.

Sokka gasped against her lips, as did Azula. She shivered, smiling as her body reacted to the welcome penetration, spreading her open. He did not merely lay her body bare, of course: it was all of her, from her very roots, the very depths of who she was… and he welcomed it. He embraced it. He stood by her, faithfully, through anything.

His arms looped underneath her, firmly, hoisting her with him as he sat up: it ensured that his manhood would slide deeper inside her, as Azula hugged him with arms and legs alike, moaning into every kiss they shared. The deep, welcome sense of belonging eased her heart, just as it infused it with the ardent desire that she acted upon by grinding herself against him. Sokka thrusted upwards, too, but his hands settled on her hips, to follow her lead… to let her carry out her will upon him, whatever it might be.

She couldn't seem to stop kissing him: it was an addictive feeling, a bliss she had foregone for so long… could they possibly make amends for all lost time? Azula had no clue… but she was ready to try, that went without saying.

"S-Sokka…!" she gasped: it shouldn't have been so easy for him, and yet it was. His shaft slid deep inside her, touching her in secret, glorious places that appeared to bolster all excitement by a thousandfold. Her cries gained further urgency as she neared her finish, far faster than she would have liked… but it was a necessity this time, she knew. She couldn't afford to enjoy Sokka's body any more than she already had.

The thrills continued to rise, overwhelming a Princess whose heart rejoiced in the unthinkable developments: everything she had ever dreamed of, every last hope she had clung to, be it as a child, as a teenager, as every girl she had ever been before meeting Sokka, had been fulfilled in their best form… thanks to him.

She claimed a desperate kiss as she unclenched around him, her body jolting through the ripples of bliss that only seemed to feed themselves further and further still…

Sokka gasped: his own body appeared moments away from bursting, more so upon feeling those walls squeezing him, warmly enveloping him. The energy she provided fueled him further, wrapping Azula in the tightest of embraces, pulling her as close to himself as she could be…

A potent thrust, one that brushed Azula's most sensitive spot, saw him groaning with utter satisfaction as her easing walls burst with unrestrained excitement a second time.

Azula's cry of passion escaped the prison between their lips: she was breathless, as was he…

He didn't let that stop him, however, from pushing further and further, letting her navigate the full extent of her excitement, just as he, too, depleted himself inside her. His chest heaved against her torso: the heat in the room, he realized, had escalated as their motions did. Now Azula wasn't the only one who would need to be cleaned up… he chuckled at that thought, kissing her shoulder, sliding slightly lower to press his lips to her chest, too. His hips eased up slowly, as did hers… Azula sighed blissfully, hugging Sokka snugly: again, tears escaped her eyes when laughter left her lips.

"That… didn't help at all, just as I expected," Azula laughed.

"Heh… felt great, though," Sokka smiled.

"That's… beside the point," Azula chuckled, cupping his face to kiss him again. "My handsome Gladiator…"

"My beautiful Princess," he responded, pressing his brow to hers.

She breathed deeply, gazing into his blue eyes: his tender smile reached the very depths of her heart, as though their souls, their energies, caressed each other kindly. She closed her eyes… and Sokka held her in place, admiring her in reverent silence, still sheathed to the hilt in her core.

"It's… not going to be easy. Not always," Azula whispered. "Maybe… maybe some were cheering for us now, but…"

"They won't, always," Sokka said. "It's okay. We'll face the storms together."

"And the peaceful days, too," Azula smiled. "Things will change, but… we get to do things our way now. For good."

"That sounds great," Sokka chuckled. Azula kissed him tenderly before hugging him tightly.

"I meant it… when I said earlier that you'd changed my life," she whispered. Sokka nodded.

"You did the same for me, love," he said, with a deep breath. "We… we're the greatest team out there, aren't we?"

"We are," Azula nodded, biting back another burst of tears. "It's you and me… as it's always been."

"And as it always will be," Sokka grinned, pulling her back to kiss her again. "Be it as Gladiator and Princess… or as Gladiator and Fire Lord."

Azula breathed out heavily.

"We… we've got to go, then," she said. Sokka nodded. "We… fuck. Fuck, I'm about to…"

"You are," Sokka smiled. "We made it, Azula."

She smiled and nodded: another round of tears spilled down her cheeks, and Sokka chuckled before hoisting her with him as he rose to his feet.

The bathtub filled fast, and Sokka deposited Azula inside it before joining her there, too. She washed off the sweat, letting her hair get fully soaked, dabbing at her eyes often in a hopeless bid to make it less obvious that she had burst into tears as often as she had. Sokka chuckled, kissing her back, busying himself with combing her hair to perfection.

"Final day as Princess… first day as Fire Lord," Sokka smiled, setting the comb aside once he was done, to hug her to his chest: he sat behind her as she nestled in his lap. Where she would usually relax into his arms fully, this time there was an energy about her that he knew she was struggling to contain. He smirked. "Hope you've enjoyed it so far."

"Your pampering's quite effective, yes," Azula smiled, though she bit her lip and heaved out a sigh. "I… I don't know if I'm ready for this."

"Don't really have much choice anymore, love."

"I know. I know, I just… fuck, a part of me can't fathom that this is happening still," Azula laughed, dropping her head on his shoulder before glancing at him in disbelief. "Can you?"

"I mean… I always believed in you. More than you'd like me to, I'm sure," Sokka smirked. Azula offered him a resigned smile. "But I suppose, once you think of how far we've come… it's really crazy that our humble beginnings brought us all this way, huh?"

"It is," Azula smiled, biting her lip. "Had anyone told us we'd make it this far, back then…"

"Heh. I would've laughed in their faces, kind of like I did in yours, when you offered me the deal to be your gladiator," Sokka chuckled. "But, admittedly, if they'd said I'd be with you like this…"

"You would've barfed."

"No, I would've pretended to be utterly disgusted and then I'd have checked you out all over again and hated myself for wanting you," Sokka recited, with a proud grin. Azula laughed, dropping her head on his shoulder. "See? I know myself, I'm not bullshitting you…"

"I know you're not. You don't know how," Azula said, glancing at him earnestly.

"No worries, I've learned that much, at least," Azula whispered, turning on his lap to face him. "Though"What madness these years have been, truly. And now I'll have… the weight of the world to deal with, if in a whole different way."

"You don't have to handle everything yourself," Sokka said. Azula nodded.

it's worth noting that it's not just about fixing my chaotic nation… we have a daughter to raise."

"We do," Sokka said. Azula bit her lip.

"And we may have more than just her, if we keep this up," she chuckled, averting her gaze from him. Sokka flushed, clearing his throat.

"Well… you know I'm all for it," he chuckled. "But, you know, once you're feeling comfortable enough to try, alright? Next time we have a kiddo, it's going to be on our terms, and it's not going to be a stressful situation for you at all, alright?"

"That's the hope," Azula said, wrapping her arms around his neck. "We'll also… also have to think about our official wedding, huh? And this time we'll have to do it in front of a lot of pompous, noble, judgmental assholes. And, I suppose, the White Lotus assholes too, as I'm sure they'll want to make certain that you're right there, forever watching my every move…"

"Oh, gladly. Is that supposed to be some kind of burden? A punishment? Sure doesn't sound like one to me," Sokka smirked, hands on her waist. Azula bit her lip.

"You won't follow my orders once I'm Fire Lord, will you?" she asked. Sokka snorted.

"Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to?" he chuckled. She laughed, shaking her head and sighing. "Why do you ask, though?"

"Just… thought I'd make tickling illegal, you know? Your hands are in a dangerous place…"

"Ha! I'll be your criminal husband, then, because I'm never going to stop…" Sokka snickered: Azula laughed, succumbing to his next spree of tickles.

Water splashed all over the tub, sloshing out as they playfully hounded each other: it hardly seemed like the situation was anywhere near as serious, as magnanimous, as it actually was…

"You do realize…" Azula said, chest heaving as she gripped his hands hard, wrestling with him in the tub. "That most Fire Lords are expected to sit and reflect profoundly on the weight of their role while they're in this room?"

"Oh, really?" Sokka smiled. "And you're not doing that right now?"

"Evidently not," Azula remarked.

"Well, I haven't seen you attempting to meditate at all, so… clearly you mustn't want to do that," Sokka smirked. Azula chuckled.

"I suppose a rather foolish part of me wonders if… if it's going to be better, somehow, for me to disregard all such traditions," she smiled blissfully. "Maybe it's a good portent for my rule to start with… bliss, love and sex. Right?"

"Right," Sokka said, with a sage nod. Azula chuckled, loosening her grip on his hands, taking his face between them instead to kiss him heartily. "Best way to go about things, if you ask me."

Azula sighed: her emotional gaze found itself smoothly anchored by the tranquility, the certainty, in his.

"We really did make it… from being a pair of fools, one with a heart of ice, the other of coal…"

"Heh, you set that coal on fire like nobody else could, that's for sure," Sokka chuckled.

"And you melted my ice just the same," Azula smiled, kissing him softly. "We've got to figure out if we can do that for the whole world now, huh?"

"Guess so," Sokka whispered. "But we've got the reputation of achieving the impossible, now, don't we? I think… I think we can take them."

"Who's 'them', exactly?" Azula smiled. Sokka scoffed.

"You know…" he said, waving a hand dismissively towards nothingness. Azula chuckled, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"I love you, Sokka," she said, hugging him tightly. "Thank you. Thank you for being here. For everything you've done. I… I guess I'll spend a lifetime saying those words, and even then, it won't suffice, but…"

"Eh, you can say them as often as you like," Sokka smiled, hugging her snugly. "But you can't get mad if I say them right back, alright?"

"Wasn't going to. But… I would still think you're crazy for being grateful to me, worth noting," Azula remarked, biting her lip. "Look at what I've done to you… dragging you into this political mess, square at the center of whatever the world's going to become next? Who'd be grateful for that?"

"Me," Sokka smirked. Azula snorted, shaking her head. "You're my every sunrise, and my guiding light… guess I've got to share that side of you with other people now, don't I?"

"You might have to," Azula nodded.

"We've built each other up from the moment we became partners," Sokka said. "Safe to say… both of us have plenty to be grateful to the other for. So… let's just accept that and not spend ten hours a day bickering about who's more grateful, now, shall we?"

"You say it like you wouldn't enjoy that…" Azula huffed, rolling her eyes. Sokka chuckled, and she smirked knowingly at his reaction. "But fine, then, fine… I suppose it's rather shameless of us, isn't it? Being… like this, while we have the whole nation and then some waiting for us, out there?"

"They're waiting for you, love. I could stay right here, soaking in your holy Fire Lord waters if I felt like it and nobody would miss me," Sokka grinned carelessly. Azula hummed.

"True… and then you'd be the one who'd miss my coronation. Makes sense," she said, smirking. Sokka winced.

"Ugh. Can't even pretend I'd do that, we both know it," he said, sitting upright and gazing at her warmly. "Ready to go?"

"I… I hope so," Azula said.

Sokka kissed her again, a hand gliding down her face: his fingers trailed her pulse point, slowly sliding to her collarbone… reaching her heart, beating powerfully, bravely, even if anxiously now. He smiled, pressing his brow to hers.

"Let's do this… Fire Lord."

Her heart did a somersault upon hearing her new title in his voice anew. Azula's chest tightened again, as did her throat, when tears threatened to overtake her…

But before she knew it, Sokka had pulled her out of the tub, drying her with care before draining the bathtub. He was ready to disregard dressing up, but Azula found his clothes well before he could take her Fire Lord robes off their display.

"Come now. You… you'll have to go out there first," Azula said. Sokka pouted. "You'll be crowned one day too, Sokka, no need to be jealous…"

"I don't need to be crowned, I just want to be with you," he huffed. Azula chuckled, fastening his underwear properly. "Is that such a bad thing?"

"We've broken plenty of protocols as it is, love. Let's try and behave ourselves a little more now, shall we?" Azula said, cupping his face and kissing his lips sweetly. Sokka smiled. "Besides… for once? We… we will have time. There's no need to wonder about… about when we'll be together again, or how long it'll be before we are. Once it's done… well, I'll be certain to run to you again."

"Or I'll run to you, heh," Sokka smirked. Azula chuckled. "Why not?"

"Why not, indeed," she smiled, a hand upon his strong chest. "Clever Gladiator…"

He bit his lip as she continued helping him dress: he left his boots for later, though, and took to assisting her, next. Yet again, the chance to caress her bare body tempted him greatly… but the excitement over what they had to do next overcame Sokka anyway.

After dressing her in her underwear, the large, beautiful gold-and-red gown was next. Its soft texture would cushion the remaining components of her attire perfectly: a long tunic, with an embroidered golden dragon across its fabrics, came next. Lastly, the traditional Fire Lord layered cape, which Sokka held carefully before setting it over her shoulders. Azula breathed out heavily once he placed it.

"Feels alright?" he asked.

"It's a little heavy, unsurprisingly, but… it's good," Azula determined, breathing deeply: Sokka pulled her moist hair out from her clothes, and Azula grimaced as he moved to comb it. "Is it too…?"

"It'll be fine. Let me do my thing," Sokka smiled.

"I can always dry it up faster by boosting the temperature around it…" Azula suggested. Sokka chuckled, shaking his head.

"Such an impatient Princess," he said.

"Princess…?"

"Ah, yeah. Nope. I'm not taking that one back. Hell, I'm not going to take any of them back," he smirked. Azula laughed, shaking her head. "You'll just have to accept it."

Azula closed her eyes, feeling that comb smoothly travel across her hair. Sokka dried it again with the towel, combing it repeatedly while taking away the excess water until it seemed to be ready for the upcoming ceremony…

"So… what's your first hairdo as Fire Lord going to be, huh?" Sokka asked, teasingly. Azula chuckled.

"Don't have to go overboard with it, love. Just… the usual will do, I'm sure."

"Eh, we'll put the halfknot a bit higher then. Make sure your new crown will look just right," Sokka smiled as he started combing anew. Azula breathed deeply, ever soothed by his work on her hair…

He organized each strand as ever, letting her fringe frame her face while most of her hair came together for the half-knot. He fastened it carefully, keeping it firm in place, before combing the final touches to the hair that cascaded down her back, as well as her fringe.

"There we go," Sokka smiled. Azula breathed deeply. "Now… guess there's going to be makeup involved in this?"

"If there's any around," Azula smiled, glancing about herself.

It seemed the sages had accounted for the possibility that she would win from the get-go: different shades of makeup had been left in the cabinets, and just as expertly as Sokka handled her hair, Azula took care of lining her eyes swiftly before coloring her lips. She breathed in as she gazed in the mirror available on the dresser, taking herself in…

"This still doesn't feel real," she admitted. Sokka chuckled, hugging her from behind and pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head.

"I'm afraid it is, though," he whispered. Azula's breath hitched, and she forced herself to swallow another burst of emotion that might just have ruined her work over her eyes.

"I should stop focusing on the happy side of it. I should remember how much work is left ahead of myself. That ought to do it," Azula said, with a sad smile. "I just…"

"You've spent a lifetime working towards this. Allow yourself just a little self-indulgence, love," Sokka said, kissing her cheek. Azula closed her eyes and nodded. "This… this only happens once. Enjoy every second of it, Azula. You're about to make that one dream of yours come true, aren't you?"

"I am. I… I can, at last," Azula breathed deeply, smiling and turning in his arms. "As usual… I'll hold you responsible for that."

"What? For fulfilling your dreams? Pretty sure it wasn't me who beat Zuko out there," Sokka pointed out.

"You taught me how, though," Azula said. Sokka raised his eyebrows. "Gold fire? All your doing. And the fact that I… that I can now evoke it, not only for you and Hotaru, but for all my nation? You told me, so long ago… the Fire Nation is its people. I've carried that with me, from the moment you first said it. You were right… about thousands of things, yes, but I never could hide that I believed you were right about this one."

"Heh. Is that how it is?" Sokka smirked. Azula snorted. "Care to tell a few other things I was right about?"

"Clearly, you were right about the Fire Nation needing to go down, I'm not entirely sure why you want me to say it…"

"No, no, no. I wanted you to bring up other stuff, you know. Fun stuff. Like, when I said you were so pesky about my smell just because you wanted to bathe with… HA! And see, you just bathed with me! I was right about that too!"

Azula burst out with laughter, dropping her head on his chest as Sokka chuckled, hugging her gently. Sokka bit his lip, rubbing her back affectionately.

"What else was I right about, hmm?" he teased. "There's gotta be other fun things, that's for sure…"

"Everything pertaining how ready I was to jump your bones? Yes, Sokka, you were right about all of those. As the years of constant sex between us proved later," Azula smiled fondly at him. Sokka snickered, and she shook her head before kissing him softly. "Seriously… you goofball. I don't care to think of what a miserable life I would've lived if I'd never known you."

"It's you and me. Always," Sokka said, pressing his brow to hers. "Though… I'm not going to be crowned with you now. So… we'll be apart for a little bit. But just a little bit, right? Right."

"Can you handle that?" Azula asked. Sokka snorted.

"Of course I can't. You'll find me crying like an idiot after five minutes away from you, sure, but still…"

Azula chuckled, shaking her head and kissing him again… She eyed his lips, raising an eyebrow at the remaining paint upon them, but made no move to wipe it off. Sokka snorted, immediately recognizing the intent she had just defied…

"No need to do that anymore, you feel?"

"Don't think anyone should have any remaining questions as to what's going on between us," Azula smiled, gazing at him warmly. "I love you. Thanks… for bringing me this far. If I'm any good as a Fire Lord, in the future, it's… it's because of you."

"Eh, I won't take full credit, but… partial credit, I can handle," Sokka smiled, kissing her brow. "Let's go. You have a city waiting for you… and I think they may just get a little desperate, huh? We don't want you to be late on your first appointment as Fire Lord…"

"I think that ship's long sailed now," Azula laughed, pulling away from him to slip her feet inside the shoes she would be wearing next.

She breathed in as Sokka opened the door, moments later. His confident smile urged her to step outside, but Azula slowed before doing so, picking something up from the floor, too.

"Now, now. You'd better not steal more hearts out there, stepping out into the open with your hair down," she said, reeling him close to fasten his wolf's tail. Sokka snickered as she composed it expertly, and he kissed her briskly for it.

"Thank you," he said.

"Anytime," she whispered, hand trailing over his face affectionately.

Her hand slid down his arm, reaching his hand. His fingers slid between hers and he guided her down the corridor. It reminded him, right away, of their wedding rite in Firelight Town. Even though this time, he'd have to let go, he still thrived in the joy of walking beside her on one of the most important moments of his lover's life.

The Head Sage, waiting by the main hall, jolted upright once they stepped into his field of view. He smiled visibly, though somewhat bashfully, upon glimpsing the signs of red lipstick smears on Sokka's face.

"Are you ready?" he asked Azula. She breathed deeply, glancing outside: the Plaza spread ahead, and Azula's heart raced at the sight of it.

By now, the central area that had been cleared for the Agni Kai was once again filled by the crowd: voices and cheering could be heard out there, filling her with simultaneous anticipation and anxiety…

"I suppose I ought to go first, huh?" Sokka smiled. The Head Sage nodded. "Well, then… I'll be in the front rows, I hope. If anyone gets in my way, I'll just… use my intimidation tactics. Heh. Not that I feel particularly intimidating when I'm this happy, but still…!"

"You don't have to do it intentionally, people are daunted just because you're you," Azula chuckled, squeezing his hand. "Thank you. I… guess I'll see you once it's over?"

"Nah, you'll see me the whole time if you look in my direction," Sokka snickered. "I'll do my best to resist every urge to run up the dais to hug you, alright?"

"That would be for the best, yes," the Head Sage smirked. Sokka chuckled, scratching the nape of his neck guiltily before smiling with heartfelt emotion at Azula.

"Alright, then," he said.

She swallowed hard, letting go of his hand. Sokka bit his lip, taking a step back… then, he turned around, towards the door.

Two steps in, he turned again.

Azula hardly had a moment's notice before he swept her into his arms once again, pressing his lips impulsively, affectionately, to hers.

The Head Sage smiled awkwardly: he averted his eyes from the rather shameless display before himself… though he couldn't help the amusement he felt once he heard them laughing, too.

"Okay, sorry, sorry, I… I'm done now. You're beautiful. I love you. Good luck, if you even need any," Sokka chuckled, holding Azula's face between his hands. She laughed still, smiling warmly at him: yet again, tears blinked in the corners of her eyes.

"I love you too. Go, though… or else you never will," Azula chuckled. Sokka nodded, with a resigned smile.

He pressed his lips to hers one more time, fragile and brief now, before finally letting go. The tenderness in his gaze stirred Azula's heart, as did the sight of him walking away, head held high, gait as careless and defiant as ever. That was the man she had fallen hopelessly, boundlessly in love with… that was the man she had given her heart, soul, mind and body to, without regrets. The rebellious, quick-witted, brave Gladiator… a man unlike any their world had ever seen. She was about to inherit an ancestral role today, passed on by her family across generations… but he had built himself a title of his own, one that would belong to him forevermore. If there had ever been anyone as strong of heart and mind in their world as to earn that kind of recognition, that kind of reverence and admiration, Azula didn't doubt it was him.

She breathed deeply, trying to still herself: even so, she had to dab at her eyes quickly, carefully, hoping not to mess her makeup while doing so.

"Sorry, that was…" she said, with a chuckle.

"Oh, it's quite alright. If anything, it's refreshing to see a Fire Lord quite so taken with her… well, spouse-to-be, I'd say," the Head Sage smiled. Azula laughed, shaking her head.

"I know it'll look like I'll become the most hedonistic Fire Lord in history, but…"

"Oh, that's unlikely. The sordid history of your family suggests otherwise," the Head Sage smirked.

"Eh. Good point," Azula smiled, glancing at him with earnest gratitude. "Thank you for… for believing in me, even at my worst moments. I don't know if you always believed this would be the outcome of everything, but…"

"I had my doubts that fortune would smile upon us so," the Head Sage admitted, but he smiled proudly. "But my hopes were much stronger than my fears, that's for sure. A day like this calls for a true, grand celebration. For the first time… for the first time since ages beyond counting, the Fire Nation's future finally seems promising. And we owe that to you."

Azula smiled. The Head Sage gestured towards the crowd.

"Now, then… shall we?"

Sokka marched out through the main hall, as shameless as it might have been of him to do so: to his surprise, cries by the crowd welcomed him when he appeared before them. He smiled a little, raising a hand in the hopes of acknowledging them, as well as placating them… but it didn't work out quite as well as he had thought it would. Instead, the crowd, particularly those who either were his fans once, or belonged to the Gladiator Army, grew wilder still.

"Oh, boy…" Sokka said, shaking his head… before his eyes fell upon a rather unexpected sight. "Huh?!"

Rei smiled at him from Appa's saddle, with Hotaru on her lap… but he was looking down at them. They had landed by one side of the temple, and Aang grinned awkwardly at him for it, as Sokka approached them.

"What's going on?" Sokka asked, once he reached them: Aang used his airbending to help hoist Sokka on the saddle, and he sat right by Rei's side.

"We had to land," Katara smiled awkwardly. "We were told it'd be disrespectful for anyone to fly above the Fire Lord's dais, so…"

"It would be perceived as defiance of her coronation," Rui Shi pointed out. "Happened a few times, with dragon riders from the past. So…"

"Tradition," Katara finished. Sokka smiled awkwardly before reaching out a hand to caress his daughter's head.

"Well, hopefully you guys are still safe and sound here anyhow," Sokka smiled. "She behaved well so far?"

"As always," Rei smiled.

"Wasn't even scared of the lightning?" Sokka asked, amused.

"Strangely… not really," Rei said, raising her eyebrows. "Most babies react badly to such noise, but… she mainly seemed startled by the lights instead."

"And how's our Fire Lord doing?" Song asked. Sokka smirked.

"I think… she's a bit overwhelmed by what's going to happen now," Sokka smiled, glancing over his shoulder towards the temple: Azula wasn't out yet, but it wouldn't be long before she was.

Hotaru's whimpers conveyed her eagerness to be in her father's arms: Rei relinquished her, and Sokka smiled as he hugged the baby tightly.

"Who's ready to be Crown Princess? Yeeeeah, a little firefly, that's who," Sokka smiled, rubbing her back.

"Well, technically… she's not going to be that, not just yet," Song pointed out. Sokka huffed.

"Of course she is!"

"She hasn't been presented at any temple," Song explained. Sokka froze. "Azula didn't do it. I figured she'd have told you that…"

"Well… huh. She didn't say she'd done it. I should've guessed…"

"She wanted to wait… to do it once you were here too," Rei smiled. Sokka bit his lip, his smile slipping from the corners of his mouth. "I don't know when she'll do it, but… I guess, until then, Hotaru's not going to be Crown Princess just yet."

"Eh, it's alright. We'll get around doing it when the time is right, won't we? Yes, we will," Sokka grinned, rocking Hotaru in his arms.

Voices began rising again: he whipped around fast, and everyone aboard the saddle focused on the temple anew…

Azula had been able to control herself, her body, during all public appearances of her life thus far. But as she stepped forward today, Azula's rising nerves seemed to threaten to get the better of her.

Never before had she faced a crowd like this. She had approached her people as their Princess, before… but never as their Fire Lord.

Sages awaited her outside: one stood by a gong, and as she stepped into view, he struck it powerfully.

Once the reverberations of the instrument eased up, the crowd's cheers took wind, their voices rising into celebratory cries… louder than those she had heard after her speech in the festivals. Louder, too, than the overwhelming ovation she remembered when Sokka defeated Toph.

She couldn't grapple with it. It truly went beyond the scope of what she had foreseen for a moment such as this… the grandeur of it, the fulfillment of purpose, flowed throughout her body, ensuring that she would never question that she was part of something so much bigger than herself…

Her breath hitched as she smiled upon that crowd… as she knew she would have to address them, now. What could she possibly say to truly honor this moment? To convey her deepmost feelings over a near-impossible dream, coming to fruition?

As the crowd settled down, she breathed deeply, seeking the fortitude, the certainty, to address them as they deserved.

"People of the Fire Nation!" she roared. Voices rose to cheer upon hearing her call them, but they quieted down quickly. "A hundred and eleven years of war have ravaged our world! All of us have faced that darkness and endured its consequences! Sozin's war is over now… the Fire Nation has lost. But from the ashes of a burned world, a new one may yet rise, just as the sun does at every dawn! A new Fire Nation can and will be born from the ashes of the old!

"And it's my responsibility, my duty, to lead you across these changes! A new era of peace will rise… but it's more than that. This is the time for balance! For true harmony! For all nations to rejoice in their differences, to build the bonds upon which our peace shall be cemented! I know, yes, that the road ahead will be difficult… there is much for us to do in order to amend the countless sins we're responsible for! But I will face every such challenge without fear, knowing that you stand with me! Knowing that I fight for so much more than myself… that I take a stand for every last one of you who have entrusted your future to me! The Fire Nation will no longer follow the path of destruction: our Fire Nation shall be guided by the fire of life, of balance… of freedom!"

Cheers bloomed anew. Azula breathed deeply, closing her eyes as the euphoria of that golden moment settled inside her… as she relished in the knowledge that she was taking a true stand for something so much greater than she could tell just yet.

"The chains that our ancestors crafted… be it around dragons, slaves, our soldiers, around all of us, will be broken! Our sages will be your guides anew! Our world is ready to move forward, and we shall move along with it, to ensure that we never again stray from a righteous path! The truest of fires will burn in all of our hearts… just as it does today! We will reclaim the honor of our millenary nation, returning to the true roots of who we are, of what we always should have been!

"I have learned the true meaning of balance, of leadership, from those wiser, greater than myself! And I will embody everything they taught me… so that I may prove worthy of the honor I have been bestowed by all of you! I could never have asked for a greater purpose… I could never have asked for a grander future! One that I intend to share with all of you, as we build the peace our world deserves, together!"

She raised her arms, spreading them underneath the warmth of a golden sun: cheers erupted anew, and she breathed deeply: she hoped that was enough. She hoped no one would question her purpose, her intent to become a leader that none of them would regret following…

Her eyes raked the crowd: unsurprisingly, they slowed by the largest figure in it… the sky bison, landed and awkward among the wild audience.

Upon his saddle sat the people she valued most. She smiled warmly at the sight of them, as Rui Shi held Song affectionately, excitement apparent across their grins. Rei, too, clutched the edge of the saddle with one hand while covering her mouth with the other, tears spilling down her face.

And Sokka… he sat there now, too. Right within sight, as he had promised, with their beloved daughter in his arms.

The enthusiasm of the crowd, it seemed, was making Hotaru rather restless… but in a good way. She appeared happy, almost dancing in her father's arms: Sokka smiled, holding her close to his chest… but his eyes were set on Azula. His earnest, proud, glorious smile, stirring the purest gold fire inside her heart, conveyed a thousand wonderful things without words… and Azula certainly hoped he could feel her utmost gratitude, her absolute joy upon standing here today, after the long, arduous journey that, she hoped, had built her into the Fire Lord their world needed.

Footsteps behind her revealed that it was time. Azula breathed in, closing her eyes before kneeling in front of her crowd. A collective, cheerful gasp rushed across them as she took her position reverently, her body trembling with purpose, with awareness, with excitement…

The Head Sage stopped behind her: the smile upon his face, perhaps, could have come across as utterly unprofessional, but he couldn't have cared less.

In his hands rested the golden hairpiece that Fire Lord Ozai had entrusted to his daughter before his death.

He lowered it carefully, setting it behind her top-knot.

It wasn't heavy at all, and yet its true weight was intangible. The power it infused her with was unlike any she had wielded so far. Azula breathed deeply, tears blooming in her eyes anew… as she felt herself reborn, indeed, from the ashes of a past that had built her, preparing her to flourish in a brand-new way…

She opened her eyes, as though to see beyond the apparent… as she fulfilled her lifelong goal, her grandest ambition, in a manner she had never quite foreseen. With a clarity of heart, of mind, of spirit that had ever appeared beyond her reach…

The crowd erupted with the wildest of cheers, their voices joining together in the most thunderous, deafening celebration as she rose to her feet, once the Head Sage spoke the final words of the grand ceremony:

"All hail Fire Lord Azula!"

---

A/N:

And... this is not the end. Not really. Not just yet.

We have three arcs to go, the first of which is shaping up to be quiiiite long, presumably the longest in Part 3, who knows if the longest of the entire story. I probably should have split it up further, but I thought it was fine to lump all that chunk of the story in a single arc, and now I am left with my regrets (?) at any rate, the point is I'm actually NOT done writing the full story just yet. Heh. Sad but true.

Now then, with this being said... we're in the final stretch. What's left for us is tying up several loose ends so we can land this plane fully. Enough stories out there have ended in ways that didn't fully address everything I wanted addressed... I kind of hope it won't be the case here. While some people may still want MORE, I just want to make sure there's actual closure here. That's the purpose of the remaining arcs.

But as the biggest tensions in the story have finally deflated, kinda, and we can breathe again since our favorite duo has reached a point of stability and safety... I have made my decision and hereby announce that we'll go back to biweekly updates.

I know some of you guys might have hoped I could get everything out ASAP... but my life has indeed grown much busier in the past year, and while I'm still ahead of the curve when it comes to the number of chapters I've already gotten ready, I'm not as far ahead as I used to be anymore. I think slowing down right now isn't a bad idea, we'll still reach the finale we're going for, but as the most intense storytelling is out in the world, I think I kind of maybe deserve the slightly laxer system for now. I mean, we've had the weekly update system for like three years? I don't think I ever took a break! Even had double chapters here and there! So, yeah, I ask for your leniency and hope that you understand... because I need to go at a slower pace and I really think this is the right time to do it. No one needs to suffer if we revert to biweekly updates when the stakes are finally cooling down, right?

Anyway! With that out of the way, I hope you guys have a good Valentine's Day. Though I suspect no one's going to have one remotely as good as what Sokka and Azula enjoyed here, heh. Imagine getting your coronation ceremony on Valentine's Day!

Alright, alright, I'll stop goofing around. I really hope you guys enjoyed this one, though, and that you'll enjoy the upcoming chapters for the big conclusion of Part 3, as well! Thank you for reading and sticking around across this journey for so long!