How does it feel

How does it feel 33

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Fire Nation: Royal Palace

Lord Zuko sits on the throne watching his sister's reaction to Ty La. If Azula was going to become the next Fire Lord she would need to make some major changes. He wouldn't have considered her as a candidate at all if she hadn't delivered the message from his Uncle Iroh.

"Don't worry Zuko. Trust Crown Prince Iroh and things will work themselves out."

It didn't make sense to the elderly Fire Lord. But his uncle's advice had always been reliable. Truthfully Zuko didn't really understand his grandson's decision, but he trusted the young man's judgment as much as he did his uncle's when he was alive.

Azula was the only choice.

That scared him. If it weren't for the fact that she had lost her memory her candidacy would be completely out of the question. He couldn't help remembering that the Mother of Faces had returned their mother Ursa's memory. What if Azula's memory returned too? It would be like the hundred year war all over again.

"Brother." Azula says seeing the tense look on Zuko's face. She could tell that he'd given the decision to appoint her a lot of thought. She also knew what he was afraid of. She'd heard all the stories about her past. That was part of the reason she was reluctant to assume the throne in the first place. "I can't say that I agree with this decision, but I understand why it's needed and I'll do the best I can." Zuko nods and lowers his eyes. Azula swallows softly. "I know you're concerned about my past." The sibling's eyes lock for a moment. "I would be too if I could remember it, but I don't."

The amber-eyed woman lowers her eyes. "I'm glad the Great Mother took my memories. I can't begin to imagine what you went through with me back then." She raises her head and looks up at her brother again. "But that person is gone. And unlike the stories you told me of our mother, I won't ever ask that my memories be returned. I can assure you of that."

Lord Zuko takes in a deep breath through his nose. He can see the fortitude in his little sister's face. "That's…good to hear. Thank you." He smiles softly then turns to the young woman standing next to her. "Ty La, Azula will be in your charge from now on. I expect you to be as diligent with her as you were with Izumi and Iroh."

The bubbly twenty-four year old publicist was a savant when it came to creating campaigns and generating positive public interest. No one knew that this young woman was single handily responsible for the surge in Republic City's population over the last 15 years. She was so good that Zuko brought her into the royal cabinet to handle his late daughter's campaigns as well as shifting Iroh's public image after he became the youngest general in Fire Nation history. People weren't happy about that decision until Ty La started focusing the nation's attention on the power of youth.

"Not a problem Lord Zuko, I'm on it." She says grabbing Azula's hand and dragging her out of the throne room.

Azula stops her. "Brother, this isn't a good time for this. I'll be called back to Republic City soon."

"Why?" He asks.

"I've been given the task of training the Avatar's fiancée."

"Asami Sato? Training her in what exactly?" Zuko furrows his brow wondering what his sister could possibly be talking about. As far as he knew the danger from the rogue spirit was over and Asami would be returning to her duties as a CEO.