Wandering Firebender

Eighty Three: Patterns Of Thought

Azula was woken up by the strange feeling of the ship slightly bouncing and lurching as it landed on the ground. Her eyes opened up and she looked forward, but no one was there. She sighed and rubbed her eyes, scowling a little to herself as she absently stared off to the side.

She was not happy to be back home.

"Attention all passengers. We have now arrived at the Fire Nation capitol."

Azula slowly drew in a breath and let it out through her nose. She waited for the moment when Elio would come down to open her cell doors. However, when he did come, he didn't come alone. He had a few royal attendants with him.

"Hello, Elio. What is this?" She asked, glancing at the attendants, some of whom she recognized. Elio walked up to the cell door and unlocked it. He opened the door and let the attendants enter.

"Please prepare the princess for her return to the royal palace."

Under Elio's oversight, the attendants took care of Azula: she was properly fed and dressed with her hair and makeup done. Once they were finished, they bowed to her and nodded to Elio before leaving the two of them alone.

"Ah," Elio looked up at the royal headdress she was given in disappointment. "I was going to give you this back." He said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the one that she had given him.

"I wouldn't have accepted it and you know it."

"Yeah yeah 'cause it was a gift, I know. I just thought maybe it would be nice to return it and you would consider as a gift from me when you wear it." He said with some ironic humor.

"What a surprisingly considerate from thought. Unfortunately, you'll just have to hold onto it." Azula teased with a scoff. Elio scoffed too and stuck it back in his pocket.

"Are you ready to go?" He asked.

"Does it matter?"

"Fair enough." Elio shrugged.

With her arms hands still bound in front of her, Elio led her by the arm up from the brig and out of the airship. When they stepped out, Elio's men as well as his friends were all lined up waiting for them. Elio put his hand on her back and walked her down the ramp and towards the royal palace.

"Ah, home sweet home. I see Zuzu is making good use of the new airstrip. We were supposed to do quite a bit of expansion after we won the war." She said, looking at him with a sideways smile.

"I promise you we're still using it plenty, just not for that."

Elio escorted Azula straight to the throne room. A few royal guardsmen followed just a short distance behind them. Elio kept a hand on Azula's arm as they reached the doors to the throne room. Two guards held the doors open for them, and they went in.

Fire Lord Zuko was inside waiting for them.

"Don't make this any harder than it needs to be, princess, please. This is your chance to plead your case." Elio said quietly to her as they walked up in front of the throne area.

"And here I thought you were here to plead it for me." Azula teased in response, tilting her head towards him with a sly smile on her face.

"Guards, leave us. Wait outside the doors while I speak with my sister." Zuko commanded.

The guards all bowed to Zuko and left the room, leaving Elio and Azula standing alone before the Fire Lord. Once they were gone, the flames in front of the throne disappeared, and Zuko could be seen clearly now. He stood up to address them.

"Thank you for bringing her back, Elio. You're free to go as well." Zuko said.

"With all due respect, Zuko, I think it might be better that I stay – with your permission, of course." Elio requested.