Chapter 20: Home

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Their trip passed by, filled with the usual tinkering for Zhan, along with some training with Azula - firebending, hand-to-hand combat, and white-fire practicing. Relating to white-fire, a certain moth-fly was drawn to it - namely Ty Lee, who was more than excited and awed at the pure-flame, eyeing the beauty of it, like a hungry predator.

Between sessions of training, there was also time to talk: mostly the usual politics and plans, related to the Invasion and the Fire Nation in general. Yet also a few, personal related talks...

"How do you feel? About tomorrow?" asked Zhan. Lying on a bed in his leather attire, Azula leaning on him, with the night-sky illuminating the room.

"What should I feel? Excited, pleased...proud?" asked Azula facing him, wearing her regular Royal robes.

"Glad? You brought down an impenetrable city, all by yourself," he said, nuzzling into her neck. "

"So I did," replies Azula, getting a slight giggle. "Stop tickling me!"

"As you wish," he said, going from tickling her, to stroking her long black and perfectly combed hair. "Why do you keep this tucked away? Steady as a thousand arrows, and radiant as the Sun."

"You see any long-haired nobles walking around?" she replied, gently easing into his touch.

"Okay...you got me there, but you're the Princess. You can do anything..." he jested.

"I can..." she replied, plucking a single yellow thread from his head. "But there are still customs...and traditions that are unreplaceable."

"Is marrying a non-bender there?" he asked, twirling lines on her stomach.

"Maybe..." she teased. "Just kidding. Royal Creed has usually been: to secure a strong and healthy lineage, who you pick as a partner doesn't matter much."

"Guess I'm in the clear," he replied, which got a chuckle from both of them.

"What will your father think?" asked Zhan.

"Well..." said Azula, a little unfamiliar aswell, with the outcome. "I don't know, but since he arranged this...I seriously don't know..."

"Relax..." he added. "I'll be close, practically next to you."

"How?" she asked.

"Don't worry, just rember..." he said, whispering into her ear. "...I'll be right next to you, my Wildflower."

"Eh...stop with the romance stuff, you're making me red," she replied, a little red in the cheeks.

"How about a back-rub?" he asked suddenly.

"I don-ooohhh," she was interupted, as a pair of wondrous hands eased Azula' tensious back. "Don't stop."

"Wow! You're really tense," he replied, feeling her back and shoulders.

"Try livimg my life," she replied, feeling good from the easing-up.

"I am...remember..." he teased back, reaching her neck.

"Oh yeah. That has bothered me for weeks," she replied, feeling her bad neck, untensed.

"You're enjoying too much," he said, during his actions.

"Ohh..." she moaned to the blissful feeling, of being this relaxed in ages. "...just shut up, and don't stop working those magnificent hands of yours."

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Azula couldn't wait to reach home, and in the distance were the Great Gates of Azulon. They were home, and none too unwanted, if evident by the gathered crowd there.

"Ready?" asked an too familiar voice.

"I am," replied Azula. Hair done, Royal armor in place and the ring...still seeable. Zhan was in his black armor, claw-gloves, and wearing a black metal cowl with a full-face white-skull mask. "Nice..."

"Does this inform of: elite, deadly bodyguard?" he asked, taking a peek in the mirror.

"Too true...but one thing missing," said Azula, pulling-out a Royal Token of the Crown Princess. She placed it against his chestplate and welted into his place - essentially marking him as an asset of the Crown Princess. "There...now everybody will, know your mine.."

"I already was..." he replied, cupping her cheeks. A knocking on their door, soon stopped their closeness.

"Hey you two, we have arrived!" replied Mai' voice, from the other side.

"Time to go!" he said, following Azula down below to the bow - her palanquin ready and bearers aswell, the Royal Firebenders in place, Mai and Ty Lee nearby.

"I'm a bit excited!" said Ty Lee, unable to stand still.

"You seen alot of parades Ty Lee," said Azula, to the jumpy Ty Lee.

"I haven't been in one," she replied, jumpier than ever.

"Relax...and do what I do.." said Zhan, taking his spot next to Azula, as she was lifted-up.

"Easy for you to say. You got your face hidden," pouted Mai.

"Ease up everyone," said Azula, as the ship' bow opened to the Royal Plaza. "Here we go."

XXX

"Your Princess Azula, clever and beautiful, disguised herself as the enemy and entered the Earth Kingdom's Capital. In Ba Sing Se, she faced the Avatar..." spoke Lo to the gathered crowd in the Fire Nation Capital.

"And the Avatar fell! And the Earth Kingdom fell!" spoke the twins in unison.

"Azula's agents quickly overtook the entire city. They went to Ba Sing Se's great walls..." countinued Li. "And brought them down!"

"The armies of the Fire Nation surged through the walls and swarmed over Ba Sing Se, securing our victory!" spoke Li and Lo.

"Now your hero has returned home!" said Li, as soon as Azula approached them. "Your Crown Princess, Azula!"

'There she goes,' thought Zhan, a couple of feet away, hidden nearby. The crowd was cheering for her, loved her...how could she doubt herself?

XXX

Behind the whole parade, glorious return and extravagant welcome, there was still time for a celebration: the last Earth Kingdom stronghold wiped out, and the Hundred Year War soon to be won by the Fire Nation - they just had to eliminate the Invasion.

When they first had told Ozai, about the Invasion...and the engagement, he was a little suprised per say.

Flashback

Azula was bowing before her father, Firelord Ozai, him congratulating her on Ba Sing Se' fall and informing of an Invasin at the Day of Black Sun, a second time happening in Fire Nation history.

"Well done, Azula. You have proved a most excellent tactician and bender," said Ozai, sitting on the Royal Throne.

"Thank you, father. Yet I regret to inform of the failure, to secure the Avatar' body, due to the intervention of my brother and Iroh," replied Azula, raising her head.

"You did well, for capturing your traitorous uncle, and as for Zuko - he is no son of mine," replied Ozai with hatred in his voice, which made Azula smirk.

"I had aid, three noble childs - Mai and Ty Lee. Aswell as...Zhan," said Azula, letting her hand show-off the ring. It was all or nothing now.

"Who gave you that ring?" asked Ozai, curiousity with a bit distaint in his voice.

"He...did. You may come inside," said Azula, to which her love entered. Ozai saw him wearing a black metal-armoring, cowl and white skull-mask, and a token of the Crown Princess, in the chestplate. He seemed less like an inventor, and more like a Royal firebender or an assassin - that was good, but how would he react, was what caught Ozai' interest.

"I assume you are the one, who propsed to the Princess?" asked Ozai, as the boy bowed before him, next to Azula.

"Yes, M'Lord," replied Zhan, removing his skull-mask and revealing the same boy, that Ozai knew.

"To what, gave you permission to do so?" asked Ozai, wanting to see how far he'd go.

"None. I asked for the Princess' hand, after the fall of Ba Sing Se. I knew we were arranged to be married, yet the Princess deserves a proper proposal," said Zhan, eyeing Ozai while giving Azula a few glances. "If you think M'Lord, that I have over-stepped my boundaries, then I'll gladly accept any punishment you see fit."

'Interesting,' thought Ozai, eyeing both of them. Some permission should've been asked prior from him, yet he soon found a way to dissipate two things with this sudden event: the announcment and the political backlash. "No need for that. But you understand, what this means now."

End flashback

True to his words, Ozai had arranged for a celebration in the Royal Palace, inviting the various nobles and their families. Officially to celebrate the fall of the last Earth Kingdom city, yet Azula and Zhan knew that Ozai would reveal their engagement. Any political backlash that would come, was theirs to handle now. And some backlash WOULD come, regarding the many nobles and their ambitions.

"I can't believe this Azula. ME in a Royal Banquet, I think I'm gonna faint!" spoke the cheery Ty Lee, dressed in a more formal crimson-black dress from her usual pink attire.

"Calm down Ty. Seriously, any more excitment and you'd definetly burst," said Mai, dressed as she usually was. The Royal Hall filled with all sorts of high-ranking nobles, their wives and their offspring aswell. "Why did you have to invite our families aswell?"

"I didn't. My father did," replied Azula, dressed in the Royal regalia, and the crown piece in her hair.

"What is he planning?" asked Ty Lee, a little worried.

"Something...I can't say," replied Azula.

"Not even to us?" asked Ty Lee.

"Especially you. Ty Lee you would scream, then faint from the news," said Azula.

"I wouldn't!" replied Ty Lee.

"Yes you would. You fainted, at the Royal Academy when Azula first introduced herself, those years ago," said Mai, remembering the event. Azula introduced herself then, as kids and Ty Lee went flat-stiff and fainted right there. Prompting Mai to help her up, back then - essentially how they all first met.

"Don't worry Ty Lee," replied Azula, patting her on the back. "You will found out, soon enough."

"Catch her, if she faints," whispered Azula to Mai, before she left the two noble' girls.

'Catch her? Why?' thought Mai, as Firelord Ozai appeared.

"My people. A glorious day has happened in Fire Nation history, since Sozin' time a hundred years ago, we have achieved another victory - the fall of Ba Sing Se!" spoke Ozai, as the gathered crowd soon erupted into a cheer and applause. "Aswell as another great day - for the Crown Princess is engaged and to be married to Lord Zhan."

Azula waited for the backlash, a thud was followed before that - Ty Lee fainting obviously. But soon the murmur and speaking started among the nobles.

"He is a engineer..."

"How can he be Royalty..?"

"This can't..."

The speaking started to get louder - the nobles weren't very much approving of this relationship. A few nobles knew about what he did in the army and what he was known among them - an inventor and not a noble.

"Enough!" echoed Zhan' voice in the hall. He had arrived behind Azula, maskless but wearing his armor and gloves. Soon walking down to face the silenced nobles. "I am Lord Zhan, son of General Zhu and a descendant of Xin Zho Zi' bloodline."

The gathered crowd soon started to eye and whisper to each other. A few knew about Xin Zho Zi and those who did, knew that his legacy far surpassed theirs.

"I am engaged to be married to the Crown Princess. If any of you disagree with this - then I'll gladly accept a duel from any of you, to settle this dispute: unarmed, armed, firebender or not," said Zhan, eyeing the various nobles. Some recognized him, and his earlier encounter with the Princess months ago. He was a serious opponent, once face-to-face, despite how he looked. Any more arrogantly eyeing nobles were quickly dealt with, a few louder clicks and clacks - giving a signal that against Zhan, you'd be dealing with his deadly weaponry aswell. "If that's settled, then I would say to enjoy yourselves in this banquet. This a great day for the Fire Nation, soon our victory will be complete."

Zhan' speech was soon followed by a applause, a little quieter than the previous though.

"Enjoyed the show, my Princess?" asked Zhan, returning to Azula' side.

"I have to admit, Lord Zhan. You handled this, better than I would of expected. Satisfied the lower nobles with your heritage, while disarming the higher ones with silent death-threats," said Azula, very pleased with the outcome.

"Well, I don't blame them for not wanting to have their face' slashed in a duel or a rib broken," replied Zhan. "And a few wrist cracking is hardly considered a death-threat."

"Yeah right," teased back Azula.

"Want to dance?" asked Zhan, offering Azula his hand, as the music started to play.

"Didn't you say: that you didn't know how to dance?" asked Azula, as they went onto the dance-floor.

"I've been watching and silently practicing," replied Zhan, starting them into a slow dance. "Also Ty Lee passed out again."

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