There were moments of doubt as Suki followed Azula back to the colonies. The other Kyoshi Warriors had agreed to tag along with the crown princess to Zilang for a quicker ship ride back home, and Suki had agreed to join in the trip to see them off before returning to Ba Sing Se. Considering that she planned on staying for a while, spending a few more days before saying goodbyes to her friends was the least she could do.
It also allowed Suki to further develop the surprising budding friendship with Azula and Ty Lee. The two Fire Nation girls had been approachable in their own ways, with the princess being more…snarky about it while the lightly dressed acrobat exuded excitement at befriending someone who could almost keep up with her movements.
Despite being all smiles, Suki knew better than to assume that Ty Lee had nothing more than her cheery disposition. She'd seen the girl rush into combat during Jet's idiotic attempt to attack Xing. The combination of precision, agility and speed Ty Lee displayed would've made her a nightmare to face if she actually bothered to pick up a weapon. Even with her bare hands, she supposedly brought down a group of men without breaking a sweat.
Quite unexpectedly, Ty Lee eagerly shared her insight into pressure points with the Kyoshi Warriors, though it'd take plenty of lessons with her to incorporate the information into their fighting stances. Besides that, Ty Lee proved preternaturally emphatic, consoling Suki and the others at highly convenient moments. Suki watched her break Luqi and Miyu down into cathartic weeping with nothing but calming shushes and a reassuring embrace out of the blue. Similar gestures made the others expunge the horrible burdens that they carried, and the other Kyoshi Warriors were walking straighter and smiling more after their encounter with her.
Not Suki though. For some reason, Ty Lee did not approach her with such comfort.
"It's not for me to offer," she said with a cheeky grin. "You probably want someone else to pamper you. Someone princely and trustworthy and warm…"
It took some effort to quell the embers of emotion as a particular person flashed in Suki's mind, but she managed to ignore the girl's teasing…somewhat.
Thankfully, Azula barely cared about that little exchange, the princess' only reaction being a quiet snort before she turned away.
For all of the princess' attempts to keep aloof however, it was clear that Azula was a far cheerier person than before. She wasn't exactly all smiles like Ty Lee, but every now and then Azula would break into a grin or smirk that Suki could best describe as wistful and predatory. Apparently she and Xing had gotten…very close, and Suki most definitely did not feel envious of the princess. Nor did she feel defeated.
To do so would have to admit that she was trying to compete with Azula, and Suki bitterly admitted that she knew how far away she stood. Besides, Azula had done a lot for her already, it'd be disgraceful and ungrateful to seek out Xing's attention.
Other than that niggling emotion at the back of her head though, Suki found herself becoming good friends with Azula and Ty Lee by the time they reached Zilang. Which made it all the more interesting when the party was stopped at the colony town's gates by a group of Fire Nation soldiers.
These men wore shinier and more ornately decorated armor, Suki could make out the stylized flames and dragons etched into the metal plates. Despite that, she found herself far from impressed by the soldiers wearing them. They stood too straight, too confidently, compared to even Azula's bodyguards.
Cocksure. Complacent.
Pathetic.
The Kyoshi Warriors found themselves quickly becoming wary of the men, especially with how the leader of the welcoming party eyed them with unabashed disgust.
"Captain, what are the Fire Lord's palace guards doing here?" Azula asked with hands on her hips and her head tilted to one side.
The soldiers all bowed as one, though if Suki remembered her Fire Nation etiquette correctly their bows were shallower than a princess deserved. "Your highness, it brings us joy to know that you have returned safely."
"That does not answer my question, captain."
The leader saluted sharply. "The Fire Lord has tasked us with awaiting your arrival, your highness. We are here to deliver his royal decree."
Suki watched as Azula, Ty Lee and the guards escorting them all go down on one knee (with varying degrees of obedience and annoyance) as the man produced a scroll of red, black and gold. He looked ready to unroll it, but then gave a pointed look at the Kyoshi Warriors.
Azula raised her head to draw the man's gaze. "The Kyoshi Warriors are my guests, but they are not subjects of the Fire Nation. They are not beholden to our ways."
"Hmph. As you say, your highness." With a final unhappy look at Suki and her sisters, the captain unrolled the scroll and began to read.
"It is Fire Lord Ozai's great pleasure to declare that through his stalwart service, Prince Zuko's exile has been lifted, and he is welcomed back to the Fire Lord's presence as a loyal son. Though Prince Zuko has been reinstated to the royal household, Fire Lord Ozai will retain Crown Princess Azula as his heir for the time being, due to her diligent work in service of the Fire Nation."
There was a pause, which apparently signaled for the audience to react. A frown flashed across Ty Lee's face, and even Azula's bodyguards wore some signs of concern. The princess, though, only gave a nod, and her voice suggested that she was smiling thinly. "I'm glad that my brother's exile has been lifted. I take it he is back home now?"
The captain nodded curtly. "With his rank as prince returned, Prince Zuko is released by royal order from the 11th Royal Regiment, and has returned to the royal palace to continue his lessons in statecraft to make up for his long absence."
"Good for Zuko," the princess remarked dryly.
The captain ignored the words and went back to reading the scroll aloud. "Furthermore, in addition to the reinstatement of Prince Zuko, Fire Lord Ozai also declares a celebration in honor of Crown Princess Azula, for her exceptional work in uplifting the Fire Nation colonies in such a short time, despite her youth."
This time, Azula visibly tensed.
"As such, the Fire Lord is overjoyed to welcome Crown Princess Azula back to the royal capital, where she may then freely continue refining her talent for administration with the best minds of the Fire Nation, so that her growth would not be stunted. In the interim, a Colonial Regent will be appointed to oversee the Colonial Ministry, so that all of the crown princess' work does not stagnate nor falter."
That sounded too much like Azula was being replaced. Judging from how the princess had gone stiff, it probably was even worse than that.
"I…thank…my royal father for his…generous consideration…" she managed to say, probably through gritted teeth. "I will return to the capital as soon as I am done with my…duties as a royal host."
The captain gave the Kyoshi Warriors another look before he nodded with distaste. "As you will, your highness."
The soldiers gave a bow before turning their backs and leaving. Azula and her entourage rose up, and then Suki took a surprised step back as the princess' eyes turned to her, full of barely-contained rage. In contrast, Ty Lee beside her was nothing but worried.
"Honored guests," Azula addressed the Kyoshi Warriors with a shallow bow, "I'm afraid I must cut short the intended send-off for you."
"It's alright Azula…" Suki awkwardly replied. "...you have…things to deal with after all."
The princess shook her head as she snapped her fingers. "Nevertheless, it is a poor showing on my end that I am unable to give you all an appropriate farewell for your aid in…my colonies. Come, I will lead you to your inn, and then introduce you to the captain of the ship that will take you back home. It's the least I can do."
In no position to argue at all, the Kyoshi Warriors followed Azula into Zilang, and immediately Suki noted the change in atmosphere compared to the last time she was here. There was bustling, but it carried an undercurrent of nervousness rather than a lively, prosperous vigor. The merchants' yelling sounded more desperate than welcoming to her ears, and many of the adult Earth Kingdom migrants were glancing about furtively. Even the colony's guards looked uncomfortable as they patrolled the streets.
The colonists' gaze were all drawn to Azula as she walked down the main road, and Suki felt something akin to solidified hope radiating all around her. Azula noticed it as well, as she stopped to regard her spectators.
"What's going on here?"
An official meekly shuffled out, the way he stumbled his first few steps seemed to Suki like he was 'volunteered'.
"Your…ah, your highness. It is most…most wonderful to see you again."
"I do not have time to waste," the princess warned sternly. "Why is everyone so…worried?"
"Ah, yes. Well…Governor Hanh has been…um, replaced, for…" The official paused to gulp as Azula's glare bore into him. "For failing to enforce Fire Nation laws…"
Suki felt the growing intensity of her royal friend's wrath abate out of surprise. "What laws?"
"They were-"
"Former Governor Hanh was found negligent in maintaining Fire Nation interests in Zilang," a haughty voice interrupted, and Suki saw the crowd part in one area for a smug prick in a high official's robes walk out. The bow he gave Azula looked deep enough, but it still reeked of an arrogance that called out to Suki for a beatdown.
"Crown Princess Azula, I am Governor Seo, most grateful to be just appointed by the royal capital. I promise to ensure that your hard work in Zilang continues to grow most prosperously."
"What laws did Hanh miss?" Azula demanded, ignoring the flowery greeting completely.
The new governor in turn ignored her fury, rising up and adjusting his sleeves too casually. "The former governor was found in dereliction of protecting Fire Nation culture in this backwater, as well as allowing for the local people to mingle too freely with our Fire Nation colonists. Not to mention the taxation oversight…"
"I had those stupid discriminatory laws thrown out of the colonies!" the crown princess hissed with a fury that startled the townsfolk. "How do you think I got the Earth Kingdom merchants to actually trade here? Or their farmers to settle down here?"
Governor Seo, whether bravely or idiotically, just sniffed at the face of royal wrath. "That is indeed true, your highness. However, as a royal colony under your favor, expert lawmakers in the capital have discovered that Zilang is above the Colonial Ministry, and as such it is only beholden to laws set by the palace itself...as fitting of a settlement worthy of a crown princess' attention. And the royal palace does not share the same amendments to the colonies as the Colonial Ministry."
Ty Lee had to place a hand on Azula as the latter took a dangerous step towards the preening governor. "And no one thought to inform me of all of that?"
"It would be most rude to burden your highness with such a trivial matter. Besides, the former governor Hanh was quite unsuitable and undeserving of the title." Seo sniffed again. "I understand your highness' generosity, and the lad might have some modicum of talent for his age, but truly, it is improper for one born and raised in the boonies to govern their own. One can't trust the natives to rule their fellows on behalf of the Fire Lord."
Suki felt someone's other hand on her shoulder, and only then realized that she too had taken a step forward. Okuni had held her back, just as San-Niang and Miyu were restraining Kana.
Azula's wrath could be literally felt, as heat radiated from her and washed across Suki's skin. She shook off Ty Lee's hand and stalked over to Seo, with wisps of smoke trailing her footsteps. "Tell me…governor. Who appointed you?"
And Seo preened even more. "Why, the Fire Lord himself bestowed me this great honor, for the meager but hard work my family has contributed to the Fire Nation." The arrogant look he dared give the princess, the look that knew he was untouchable, riled even Ty Lee up, who had to be kept back by a bodyguard.
Several tense seconds of silence passed before Azula replied. "I…see." She drew herself up and cast a steely gaze to the crowd around her, before fixing her glare back at the new governor. "I'll have to seek my father for further clarification then," she declared aloud, enough for everyone to hear. "I will see you again later…Governor Seo, to discuss the tending of this colony."
The man had the audacity to grin as he bowed. "I eagerly look forward to your return, your highness."
It was with understandable haste that they skipped the inn altogether and Azula led the party to the docks. Azula made a short detour to the messenger hawk roost to deliver a couple of messages, and singled out an unfortunate official to angrily whisper an order at him. Despite the sour mood everyone was left in, Suki said her fondest goodbyes to her sister warriors.
"I'll leave the novices to you, Okuni. We're the last of Kyoshi's untarnished legacy, make sure they live up to it."
The other warrior smirked as she patted Suki on the shoulder. "I'll look after our new sisters, and the island. Make sure you don't come back with too many of the Scorpion's brood."
Laughing at that parting joke, the Kyoshi Warriors left Suki sputtering and boarded the ship for home.
To make matters worse, Ty Lee was grinning as she whispered a bit too loudly. "Hey Azula, I think Suki has a thing for your fiance."