ATLA Little Bender

Ozai Knows Best

Years later Elaria sat in the royal palace. She was reading the letter sent from Zuko, her father's letter ignored on the desk. Her items in the room were packed. Some including relics that belonged to her father that he 'oh so dearly missed,' She was a ripe age of fourteen, nearing the bleak edge where she would be empress, her father had suggested to her Uncle Ozai, the current figurehead, that it would be better for her to gain direct experience of the world before she was tied permanently to the throne. While she hated the fact that he spoke for her instead of her speaking for herself, she decided to comply once her Uncle voiced his agreement to send her off.

If her Uncle knew how to improve the Fire Nation and thought it best for her to gain the experience then obviously it's better for her to travel the world, besides it would give her the chance to finally see Zuko after all those years of his banishment. Elaria hated that she couldn't do a single thing in those matters, yet Zuko had disrespected his own father and refused to comply with customs to fight in the Agni Kai. Ozai had told her so himself.

"Milady the guards are here to carry your belongings to the carriage, would you be joining them soon?" Mereease asked her.

Her voice was as meak as when they first spoke although the tremble in her hands was gone. Mereese's freckles only darkened against her face. The time spent secluded indoors with Elaria had only made her paler from the lack of sun. Elaria wondered if she was the same. Mereese had lept to the ground, tears flooding her cheeks when she was forced to tell Elaria that her cousins were nowhere to be found. To which Elaria merely nodded her head, dazed, and asked Mereese to stay with her until she fell asleep that day. Although the years had only made them both bury the memory of Lady Ursa, Zuko, and Azula's mother. "I'll be going soon," Elaria nodded her head at Mereese, "Ready me for the public Mereese."

"Of course milady." Mereese was quick to comply, as always with no wit or playfulness, much to Elaria's disdain. She never found Marla again in the years after, and the questions posed to other servants of her class would go unanswered.

It was best to assume that she was sent to attend Azula, who Elaria believed would treat her fine enough.

Or she forced herself to believe.

"Than you Mereese," Elaria kindly kicked her out when the face of another guard appeared, "Lady Elaria the carriage is packed." He bowed in greeting. 

"Of course, send my regards to Fire Lord Ozai," She gave a warm smile, knowing that her uncle was too busy with his generals to send her off. He was better for the Fire Nation and she would not be one to ruin whatever genius ideas he came up with.

Elaria gathered herself, remembering to keep her hands together and fingers interlaced, in front of her midsection, back straight, hair away and in order, with her nose to the sky and head tilted upwards to look down on the servants. Her lessons served her well in nobility as she walked out of her room, and made her way to the carriage. The guards, determined to keep what was left of the royal family, and still cross at their failure with her Auntie, rigidly walked her to the next secure points.

The public crowded to see the reclusive nobility, who had no desire to greet them in the years of her isolation. Their faces were blurred and indistinguishable to Elaria, who merely smiled at them from her position at the Palace doors, Guards began to herd them away from the gates as she entered the carriage, closing the curtains and willing herself to ignore the calls of her people, wishing her well and giving regards to Grandfather Azulon and Fire Lord Ozai.

With a huff, the carriage was on its way. 

"Zuko you look horrible." Elaria snickered, "Have you ever tried meditating to relieve yourself of the stress?"

Zuko smiled at her, the red scarred tissue on his face barely shifting as his eyes crinkled unanimously. He only grew taller with the years, and her nose barely met his shoulders, his black hair was funneled into a tall ponytail, surrounding areas shaved and smooth. His skin had not darkened even with the years on this ship. Next to him stood her father, who smiled at her, Elaria tried her best to return a small smile in his direction but would not meet his eyes. She shifted her attention back to Zuko, who stood at the helm of the ship, and felt a twinge of disdain at the view of their servants and crew surrounding them on their knees, bowing with their heads and hands touching the ground.

Elaria huffed, willing herself not to grimace

.

Passing Zuko and her father, she stood in front of the chef and set a hand upon his shoulder, "There's no need for any extreme formality, I'm sure it'll be annoying for all of you to bow this way each time you see me, a small bow will suffice instead."
"We are humbled by your presence crowned princess." The chef was the first to speak, feeling compelled by their proximity.
"Yes... well, thank you." Elaria shifted uncomfortably, ignoring the words of the cook. As Zuko passed introductions and took her hand, walking with her to her new room. "How are you really feeling Elaria?" He asked concerned, "Your last letter didn't show much promise."

"Zuko you know how I feel about my birthday." Elaria merely told him, spying her items already set around her room, her father's doing no doubt.

"I know that because your fourteen you don't have to worry about wrinkles,"
"Zuko." She grumbled annoyed, "The older I get the more inevitable it becomes." Her hands clasped together, while he moved to sit next to her, his amber eyes showed best interests for her.
"You know you can't run from it forever." He carefully said to Elaria,

"I can try for now."

Zuko merely sighed, as her father entered the room, "We will begin our journey soon." Iroh said to the two.
"Everything's here father," Elaria sat on the bed, already knowing he came to the room to talk to her. Looking away she missed the glances between Zuko and Iroh.

"Elaria," Her father began carefully, he tread in the room with cautious steps, looking at the remainder of the items that were hers. "We have much to discuss, the passage of time has been cruel to us both, we seem to have lost contact with one another."

"Father, would you see that as an accident or on purpose?"

"Well a wise man once told me there are no accidents, yet the decisions we make in our lives will not define us if we don't repeat them."

"Uncle I don't think she's in the mood for one of your life lessons." Zuko cut in before Iroh could extend into a long tirade, knowing it would make Elaria more irritated.

A shiver cut through Zuko's spine, already having enough experience with an angry princess in Azula.

He decided to leave the room, trying to give the father and daughter a chance to recuperate their relationship, Elaria cursing Zuko out in her head.

While on the bridge of the ship, Zuko was confronted by the face of one of his staff, yelling to ready for the journey, including the South Pole.