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A week, a week had passed since, her father Firelord Ozai, had an arranged marriage, forged between Azula and Zhan, the prodigy Princess wed to a goofy tinkerer. In any other situation, she'd ask herself - 'what in Agni, is going on?' But this is different.
Zhan wasn't just a gifted creator he was a great fighter, and an ingenious thinker as well, everything he touched was improved, the figure of course, but that proverb was getting more practical, as the days passed.
'Fire Nation troops were making very slow but some improvement, in the fight against the Earth Kingdom, from the usual stalemate. The army was cheaper and better equipped than before, new Tundra tanks, outfitted glaive throwers, were more lethal than ever, cutting down rows of surprised and shocked earthbenders. With the latest happening, is an invasion of the last waterbender stronghold - the Northern Water Tribe. An invasion fleet commanded by Admiral Zhao, his mission of eliminating the Northern water-benders and capturing the Avatar, once and for all.'
Yet progress was also made here, in the Royal Palace. Azula and Zhan were making steady progress with bending white fire. Nowadays, they had to perform in front of two sages at a time. She was slightly mad that she and Zhan's special thing was turning into another training assignment. Luckily for Azula, they had control over how much they wanted to practice or learn. Since the bending was a union to them, and the sages had zero knowledge in teaching anything about the white fire, also that, this kind of bending mustn't be lost, so they had restrictions over how much they trained and how long.
On a personal level, they were improving, slowly though.
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"Okay...I'm bored," said Azula lying on the grass, the twins had advised them, to take a co-trip somewhere, more personal.
"Beat you by an hour," replied Zhan, lying on her legs, plucking some grass out.
"What is this supposed to do? Bring boredom?" she asked.
"I think they said that: It'll bring couples closer, due to the privateness and...from there I lost them," he explained.
"Yeah, Li and Lo do that. They're weird but highly intelligent...like you," she chuckled. Her and Zhan had decided, per the twin's advice, to take a private trip to the nearby cliffside, overlooking the ocean.
"..haha...very funny.." he replied, rising to his feet. "Okay...I officially think this is made-up for boredom."
"I second that," she replied, rising as well, stretching.
"Seriously, who finds this romantic?" he asked, looking over the side.
"Old people?" she replied.
"ZHAN!" she yelled, running to where he was...only to see him, standing on a cliff.
"Gotcha!" he replied, leaning against the rock.
"..very funny..." she replied, climbing down. "What are you doing...down here?"
"Making this interesting," he replied, starting to carve something into the rock with his metal-claw. A message started to appear - Azula.
"I can do that," she replied, lighting a small near her fingertips, then started to carve something as well - Zhan.
"Ohhh...a dare, huh?" he teased, carving another word - Wildflower.
"Indeed," she replied, smirking. Then carved the Fire Nation emblem into the rock. "Beat...that."
"Gladly," he replied, slashing and splitting rocks apart and spitting-up dust.
"Don't go overboard," replied Azula, waving the dust away.
"As you wish," replied Zhan, finishing the touches on the carving - a figure of Azula as the Firelord. "You like?"
"Mmmmm...tasteful," she replied teasingly, admiring the carving.
"Knew you'd like it," he replied, leaning closer.
"Pardon Princess," came a voice above.
"What?" she asked, sighing above her was a royal messenger.
"The Firelord wishes to speak with you," replied the messenger.
"Now?" she asked, annoyed.
"...yes..." he replied, before quickly taking his leave.
"Great!" replied Azula, rolling her eyes. "Just when this was getting less boring."
"What ya gonna do?" replied Zhan, boosting Azula up, then following up as well.
The short trip back to the Palace was uneventful mind the occasional mumbling and small cursing.
"Alright, alright, stay focused, don't worry about it, we can do another one later," he said, calming her down. Adding a quick peck on the cheek as well. "You know where to find me."
"Yeah, I do," Azula replied while heading to the Throne Room, 'what happen this time?' she kept asking herself.
Arriving inside the Throne Room, Azula could feel the heat emanating from there. The Royal Flames were hotter than usual her father was angry and not pleased.
"Iroh is a traitor, while your brother is a failure, I have a task for you..."
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"So that's it?" asked Zhan, hearing Azula's explanation.
"Yeah. Father sent me to bring in the Dragon of the West and my brother, " she said.
"Need any help?" he asked, hearing the Dragon of the West's name.
"No need, I got a lead, on where they're staying, an easy grab-and-detain, I'll be going soon," she replied.
"The Dragon of the West?" he asked worriedly.
"Oh please...my uncle may have been a warrior once, now he's just a sappy, fat old man," she replied casually. "My brother isn't even worth a thought. He's worthless."
"If you say so," he replied, turning back to his blueprint.
"Ohh! Are you afraid I'll get hurt?" she cooed, behind his back.
"Maybe," he replied over his shoulder.
"Please...the chance of uncle and Zuko hurting me, is equal to that of a turtle-crab growing a pair of wings, and flying," she said.
"That's an interesting notion," he replied, seemingly growing interested in the subject.
"Stop mocking me," she said, giving him a slight slap on his chest.
"No promise," Zhan gave Azula a beaming smile.
"Whatever," said Azula, rolling her eyes.
"Well...hurry up. Because the war-minister is constructing a machine, that will win us Ba Sing Se," said Zhan.
"Ohhh...I'm curious...what is it?" she asked.
"I'm not sure of myself, however, that it's big...very big and made of metal," he replied.
"Well then...I'll be sure to hurry back. After all of this is finish," she said.
"Sure..." he replied, then grabbed her face, and gave Azula a good ten-second kiss on the lips. "So, you won't get homesick."
"I promise," she replied, smiling, making her way out of the underground facility.
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Omake: Ice cream with Azula,Ty Lee and Mai.
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"Pleeeeease," both Azula and Ty Lee begged too Mai and Zhan, pulling all the stocks with their pouty gaze.
Zhan sighed as he pinches the bridge between his nose, while to his side Mai, also sighed before running a cloth over her red knives for the seventh time they had this conversation.
"Ty Lee, I get you trying to ask me that, but I think you know how Mai feels about it on another note Azula, what have I said about controlling your addiction?." Zhan said while crossing his arms.
"Oh, please kill me." Mai proved his point.
"See?" while he points at her.
Both Azula and Ty Lee started to whisper to each other both nod and Ty Lee approach both Mai and Zhan with her bubbly personality, "Come ooonn, it's been so long since we all hung out together!" exclaimed with excitement.
In truth, they used to always hang around each other, due to Zhhan and Ty Lee's quick friendship and Azulas and Zhan's relation while Mai was wondering why was she been drag into this wondering who has she has piss to deserve all of this dragged to this hell. It's been about a month since they last went out together, mostly because of Zhan and Azula were, together or both were busy, and Ty Lee was doing who knows what.
'Mai not wanting to make Azula uncomfortable with the way she shows affection to Zhan in public but is too prideful to admit it.'
"Oh come, on Mai just accompany us, we also have invited Zuko," Azula said as she claps her hands, giving a broad smile to Mai.
Mai was in deep thought, and Ty Lee knows the bait was planted, "which is why it's going to be so much fun!" She exclaimed as she grabbed both Zhan and Mai by their forearms, and tried to tug them out of the weapon room.
"It seems we have no other choice," he said defeatedly.
"Yay!" Both Azula and Ty Lee cheered victoriously as both followed, with Maihan also following suit with the most amused expression on his face that he has ever had. 'Still, he will get even with Azula later.'
'It was one of his guilty pleasures to bother Azula like this, among a lot of other things they have done together.'
"Okay, we're here! What, do you guys want, I'll pay." Ty Lee offered as she pulled out a white and pink wallet because, of course, it would be white and pink.
"Don't know, don't care," said Mai in a cold tone, since she was trick by both Azula and Ty Lee that they invited Zuko.
"Get, Zhan dark chocolate he likes that," Azula ordered for him, earning an approving hum from Ty Lee as she gave the order to the cashier.
"Hey, Mai, you could, maybe bring Zuko some treats," Mai like that idea, gave her a nod.
"How did you know I'd like that?" Zhan asked Azula as Ty Lee and Mai ordered for herself and Azula since she already knew what Azula liked.
"Just had a feeling." Azula half lied, which Zhan caught and frowned at her in the most loving way possible. "I found that pack of dark chocolate you hide under your mattress." She admitted.
Zhan gently grasps Azula over her shoulder playfully, making Azula flinched. "That's why there were a few missing! I blamed Zuko for that!" Zhan yelled at her.
"All I can say is that I am sorry," Azula said as she tries to escape from Zhan's grasp finally Zhan calms down.
The entire time, Ty Lee was cheering happily and talking about their time so far, Mai was I a better mood while giving short answers to Ty Lee, while Azula tries her best at paying attention, Zhan was too busy frowning at her to pay attention.
Overall Mai, was happy to buy some treats for Zuko, Ty Lee was having the time of her life, Azula was enjoying her ice-cream, but deep down she knows what to expect when she returns with Zhan, she had deep blush on her face.
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"Uncle, they finally release the tea you can finally stop dancing," said Zuko, as he quickly opens, his uncle's door of his tea-room to find an older woman.
"Oh, sorry I didn't know there was someone else in the room," Zuko said embarrassingly.
A deep voice came from the woman as she turns, "oh, Zuko your back."
"..."
"Does this mean I don't have to dress as a woman anymore?" after, this Zuko was traumatized, while Iroh was happy that he got his tea back.