Destiny Altered (READ DISCLAIMER)

20 - Continuous Life

Before going back to Ba Sing Se to see Earth Rumble Eight, Azula wanted to stop by the Fire Nation capital to see Ursa and Zuko—and attempt to make amends with Mai. We had another two weeks before the tournament started, so there was plenty of time for the visit.

"It's strange. I don't feel like I'm going home. I feel like I'm already home," Azula explained with a soft smile, as we sat together on the bed in our cabin. We would be at the capital in a little less than an hour.

"Me too," I agreed before placing a soft kiss on her lips. "Come on, let's get you ready for your arrival, Princess. Can't have you making your first appearance in this," I teased, indicating the casual clothes she was wearing.

"I suppose not," she said with a wry smile, getting up to stand. I helped her put on her robes and tie her hair up into a topknot. I had gotten used to it being down over the last week. It made her look like a wild child of the sun, which, in her own way, she had become. But there was a grace to her as well, befitting her status as royalty.

When we made landing, the royal guard was on hand as well as multiple servants carrying a palanquin. There were also a fair amount of nobles and commoners trying to catch a glimpse of their returning princess. Most of the Fire Nation didn't harbor any ill will towards her since the high level of propaganda kept them in the dark for so long. But Zuko wanted to be transparent about all of the Fire Nation's transgressions at the end of the war, and so many found out about Azula's defeat in the Agni Kai and, of course, her being institutionalized. There was an understandable curiosity of seeing a reformed Azula.

As she stepped off the platform of the airship, all in attendance bowed. Azula turned and whispered in my ear, "This is weird. I distinctly remember banishing most of these people."

"Princess Azula, Fire Lord Zuko sends his apologies for not being able to greet you personally. We are to escort you to the palace in his stead," a servant spoke, and two others pulled back the curtain of the palanquin, expecting her to get in it.

"I'd rather walk," Azula said, taking my hand and shocking everyone in attendance. I couldn't tell what was more shocking to them—the fact that she wasn't riding in the palanquin, which was customary for the royal family to always do outside the palace, or the fact that she was holding a water peasant's hand.

I think the action endeared her more to the commoners, but I overheard a couple of nobles grumbling something about, "First the Fire Lord and now her." I could tell they disapproved of Zuko's preference to do things himself and enjoying the company of those "beneath his status."

Our first stop was Azula's chambers so she could change into her Fire Nation uniform, which she preferred to wear instead of her robes now that we were inside the palace. "Looks like my brother had the place cleaned up," she commented, almost sounding relieved. "This is new," she said, indicating the mirror above her dresser.

"Your room is at least two times bigger than my house back at the South Pole," I said trying to keep her from dwelling on what had happened the last time she was home. She smiled at me, knowing exactly what I was doing.

"I'll just have to build you a bigger one then," she replied, giving me a quick kiss. "Come on, let's go find my mother."

We found Ursa in the courtyard of the palace, sitting along the edge of the pond feeding turtle ducks. Noticing our arrival, she looked up with a warm smile before getting up to greet us.

"Welcome home," she told Azula before wrapping her in a hug. "Hello, Katara," she said and pulled me into a hug as well. Azula and I then followed Ursa over to the bench she had been sitting on.