Fatigue washed over Azula. Every muscle in her body cried out to at least take a rest, however, her mind told otherwise. Her hair was a mess, sweat covered her face as well and her eyes focused on her firebending forms.

Her father, Ozai is now overseeing her training after firing her previous firebending teacher. She emulates each hand motion and stance that her father is teaching to her. There weren't any unnecessary movements, unlike the last fool who taught her, and Ozai guided her through and through.

After a grueling five hour training, her father stopped as the whole exercise had finally concluded.

"You have done well, daughter," Ozai spoke and when she heard those words, a swell of pride took over. A single line of praise in exchange for all of those exercises was worth it. The words themselves quell her exhausted body almost as if she treasured them.

"You honour me with your words, father." Azula thanked him while she hung her head down.

She would have expected him to nod and leave the room as they always do. However, he stood there silently until he said this. "Do you still keep in your heart our creed?"

She blinked for a moment, wondering why would he ask for those. It was a creed that Ozai taught her the moment when she learned how to read and write. The man drilled that concept to her and she never thought of it for… years. The creed itself was very simple and pretty much aligned with Fire Nation oath.

"A weak-willed person believes in luck," she recited. "A strong person utilizes their strength of mind and body. To not use it is a sign of genuine weakness."

"Hmph," her father nodded once more. "You should dwell and let those words sink even further in you. I don't want another repeat of your lost against Zuko."

"…Yes, father." Azula timidly said as she looked away and left the training room. She felt a bit nervous when she heard those and her father was right. It was a critical error for her to underestimate Zuko and she will get back on him for sure.

She rounded the hallways and arrived at the kitchen entrance, hearing the clanging of the pans. Azula could have just ignored it as the cooks are doing their cooking, however…

"Blerrggh! It's terrible! What am I doing wrong!?" she heard the frustrated yells of her brother inside the kitchen. Whatever could he be doing in there?

Curious, of course, she went inside and found Zuko along with some boiling pots and ingredients with him. It bewildered her as to why her brother would even wanna cook when he could just ask the cooks for food. Now that she noticed it, the cooks are all absent and she's getting hungry as well.

"Why can't you just be an ordinary duck and not a combination of another?" he mused and that's when Azula stepped in.

"That'll be stupid and weird," she leaned in one of the posts.

"Good morning, Azula, training's done, I presume?" the prince asked.

"Yeah, dad taught me some advance firebending exercises," she commented offhand. "I'm feeling pain in places I never thought will have."

"Advance sets? Weren't you supposed to master the standard ones first?" Zuko said as he began to try cooking roast duck again.

"I have it master down already. If I do manage to do it with the advance sets, conjuring lightning will only be a step away."

He kept silent, digesting the words of his sister. Lightning generation is one of the highest forms of firebending that he has yet to see with his own eyes. Though from what the generals recall, Ozai and his Uncle Iroh can do it. Lightning itself was dangerous on its own, one wrong move… and your life will be in danger.

"Do you really think that you're ready for the cold flames?" he paused slightly.

"You don't know how it feels since you're not a bender yourself, Zuzu," she smirked in his direction. "That feeling of control over fire is just that satisfying. You wouldn't understand it."

"Maybe... just be careful, alright?"

"I'm a firebender, not some delicate flower," Azula remarked, moving closer to observe her brother. "When did you have the time to learn cooking? We have cooks who can whip up food and you wouldn't have to do all of this."

Zuko merely chuckled at her statement. She was right, of course, that's what servants are for in the first place. They do your bidding since your royalty but for him who haven't been inside a kitchen for too long, this place was bliss. "I simply have spare time in my hands and figures that I should learn to cook."

Azula raised her eyebrows, she just can't understand what her brother's mindset sometimes. "Since I'm here and hungry as well, I'll be the judge. Your roast duck better be good, otherwise, I'll chuck it in the trash."

"Challenge accepted, Azula," her brother got all fired up all of a sudden, working even faster. She doesn't know what entails a roast duck or how long it will take she might as well change her clothes.

"I'll just change my clothes but I'll be back," she informed Zuko.

"Take your time, this might take a while. I'll call you or have one of the maids inform you once it's done," he replied, still focused on what he's doing.

Azula left the kitchen and went into her room, closing the doors behind her. She plump herself in the bed and her weary body welcomed it. Maybe she'll take a nap and let her brother or the maids looked for her. It's not like she'll go anywhere around.

-0-

"Azula, dear, wake up…" the soft-spoken voice of Ursa woke the young princess up from her slumber. She wiped the sleepiness off her face and sat beside her mother. "Look what Zuko made for you."

She presented her with some newly cooked roast duck and some tea as well. To say that she was surprised was a bit of an understatement. Azula took the chopsticks and fiddled with it. "I bet it'll taste horrible."

Her mother only chuckled at her words. "Just try it and you'll be in for a surprise just like I am."

She gently took a bite from the bite-size meat and chew on it. The juices flowed and the seasonings blend well. Azula thought for sure that it will turn into charred meat or something so horrid yet it wasn't. Where did he even get the time to do this kind of stuff?

"Where is he now?" she inquired.

"Zuko was called by your grandfather," her smile turned to a worried one. "I'm a bit unsettled about what they will be doing."

Even when she was here beside her, it almost seems like she's invisible in Ursa's eyes. It frustrated her slightly as its effortless for her brother to gain their mother's attention. He doesn't do any noteworthy achievements on his own, he wasn't a firebender and she doubted that the woman was all that interested in swords.

"Maybe he'll have him send off to the front lines or something."

"You shouldn't say such things to your brother," she should have expected such an answer as well. "You know, once you get older, you and Zuko will likely depend on each other."

"I don't get it…" she sounded confused for a minute by her words.

"Sibling relationships.. outlast marriages, resurface after quarrels that would sink any friendship." Ursa held her daughter close to her. "They flourish in a thousand incarnations of closeness and distance, warmth, loyalty, and distrust."

"Are you saying that I should get along with Zuzu more?"

"She is your big brother and who knows, he may come to your rescue and he'll be your Dragon Emperor," she tickled her daughter and the girl giggled at her actions. Just the thought of Zuko, dressing up as one of the protagonists of the play, Love Amongst the Dragons was funny on its own.

"Now that you finish what your brother cooked up, you should thank him after his talk with the Fire Lord." she got up from her daughter's bed when she heard her name called by her.

"Mom, I want to show you what I learned from Dad." the princess got up from her bed with a serious look. Now that Zuko is with the Fire Lord, she might as well take the chance to impress her mother with her firebending.

"Alright, I'll see you in your training room after an hour," said Ursa as she left the room, leaving Azula with a pleased look on her face.

'l'll make you proud of me, even more so than Zuzu!'

Shirou's opinion of his grandfather and current Fire Lord Azulon is that he values tradition. Succession of the throne and all that as well as being a warmonger… much like everyone else in this family. He carried the wish of his great grandfather, Sozin, to share the greatness of the Fire Nation. Nevertheless, the devastation of the Southern Water Tribe and the neighbouring colonies in the Earth Kingdom says otherwise.

He was summoned to accompany him with… something. As to what it is, he had a hunch that it maybe due to him being a non-bender. In the history of the Royal Family, there hasn't been someone like him who couldn't control or conjure their fire. It's not his fault that he cannot have one or change his Origin even in his reincarnation.

He stood at the entrance of the Throne room merely stopped by the two guards.

"Fire Lord Azulon summoned me, let me through." the guards glanced at one another and let him in.

Surrounded by multiple pillars that held the room, the throne in which his grandfather sat was surrounded by his flames. Azulon sat there and he was slightly intimidated being in his presence. The man learned how to make others know that he wasn't Fire Lord for nothing.

"Fire Lord Azulon," he groveled in his feet and sat in seiza style. "You've called for me?"

"Yes, Prince Zuko, I've seen your endeavors to master the way of the sword. I would say that you're quite a disappointment as opposed to your sister." Shirou only hung his head down in fake shame. "I'm thinking of sending you to Master Piandao."

He recognized the name itself as the master swordsman in the entire country. The offer itself is tempting but he is torn by it: he wanted to stay here with Ursa and Azula. However, the thought of being under the tutelage of Piandao had merits on its own.

Who knows? Maybe he can ask for a favor in the future?

"I must warn you though that the master doesn't take students too much. Show him what you have learned and failure is not an option." a hint of sharpness came out at his last words. "You may leave now."

Shirou stood up and bowed down to the Fire Lord and he left the throne room. He let out a sigh and wander the crimson hallways of the palace, stumbling upon the tapestry of his great grandfather, Sozin. He was sure that there are other previous Fire Lords before him and yet he's the only one here.

"Whatever could have happened to them?" he lowly muttered.

"Did the Fire Lord summoned you, Prince Zuko?" he heard his name being called and he immediately recognized it.

"Captain Zhao," he bowed down with respect though the older man didn't do the same. "Yes, but the details of what we talked about is mine to keep."

He knew what kind of man the captain was. Those eyes were the same ones that Ozai got: ambitious, impatient and someone who is out to prove their worth. Only in Zhao's case, his recent attacks on Earth Kingdom colonies made him noteworthy as opposed to his father.

"You should be grateful that you're still here and that Fire Lord Azulon took pity on you." he mocked.

"I would cease that if I were you, captain," Shirou warned him. "Who knows? Maybe someday you'll serve under me."

"Ha! That day will never come, kid," the captain huffed at the emboldened words of the young prince. Clearly, the firstborn child of Ozai lacked in the manners department. "Without firebending, you're nothing."

Zhao goes on his way, leaving him alone at last. Guys like him are easy to provoke and would go on their way to protect their pride and reputation. It was also evident that the captain didn't like him for some reason.

'Imagine picking on an 11-year-old boy.'

Now that he's out of the way, he might as well ask Azula what her thoughts on the meal he had created. He expects her to throw in some sarcastic remark on his food though…

-0-

Azula sat at the steps, waiting for Ursa to come from whatever duties she might be doing. Her blue flames danced at the palm of her hands and she contained the happiness dwelled inside her. She doesn't want any kind of mishaps to happen while her mother is here.

"Lady Ursa," she heard the servants and her mother entered the room, graceful as ever.

The girl stood up and positioned at the center of the room while her mother sat at the sidelines. She breathes in through and exhales with her mouth as firebending comes from it. A flurry of orange flames shot through her fists and she continues her show, conjuring fire all around her.

"Azula," her mother called her name. "Be careful, dear."

"Do not worry, Mother," she insisted as her flames grew more intense. The guards who are on standby does notice that the princess's fire is getting a bit too much. The 9-year-old girl is loving the attention she's getting, unleashing a flurry of kicks. "Watch this, mom."

The young Fire Nation princess conjures her blue flames, letting it dance all around her.

"I think I've seen enough," said Ursa as she felt a bit uncomfortable at the unusual color of the flames. This is the first time she had seen such, not even Ozai or Iroh manifested such and to see Azula do so… somewhat instill fear in her heart.

"Wait, why? Aren't you… happy about this? Dad was certainly happy when he saw this, I thought you would too."

"No, I'm amazed by your performance, its just that your flames, can't you make them back the way they were?" she asked and the princess hid her disappointment.

"…I'll try." she lowly muttered and she immediately left the training room with a bitter look.

The enormity of this place didn't do wonders for Shirou not because he can't find his way around. It was because of how open the palace was and it's location in the islands. The Royal Palace is built in the middle of a dormant volcano and outside the walls is where the nobles reside. Beyond the volcano is where the middle class and commoners live and none of them are allowed to go in here unless they were invited by the Fire Lord.

He had seen the central town though he was inside of a carriage along with his family.

He approached the gardens and found Azula under the shade of the trees near the pond. Just in time as well to ask for her input about the meal he made.

"Hey, sis, mind sharing the thoughts you had with that roast duck?" he sat near the girl who has been quiet for about a minute. A turtle duckling got out of the water and peck at Azula's feet, something that she didn't like. She flicked it away with her fingers and the poor duckling splashed on the pond. "That wasn't nice, Azula."

"What you're gonna do about it, Zuzu? Call mom?" she sneered at him.

"Not really," he declared and he noticed that the mother of the turtle ducks swam towards his sister ready to bite. "The mother is now all angry since you hurt its ducklings."

He impeded the turtle duck's advance and as retaliation, he was the one who got bit. He winced a bit and let it back to the waters.

"Stupid turtle ducks,"

"That's what moms will do if you hurt their kids," he suddenly tackled and tickled her to the ground. "They will fight back."

"Alright, alright, stop!" she giggled and struggled to release herself from him. "Your food was adequate at best."

"Really?" he does find it hard to believe but if that was the case, he might try it again. Only this time, he will go for a more simple dish. "That sucks then, anyway, what's the other one?"

"Huh? What are you saying?"

"You look upset by something. Is it Father? Did he hurt you?" he asked.

"Why do you care? Trust me, it has nothing to do with you," she replied though deep inside her, it has something to do with Zuko. Despite him not having the spark all firebenders have, Ursa, gave her attention towards the boy.

"…I'm assuming that it's Mom?" he inquired and her silence confirmed his suspicion. "What happened?"

"It's about my fire," she conjured her blue flames at the palm of her hands, trying to turn them back to their usual orange color. "She thinks that my flames are odd."

"Well, your flames are unusual," Azula didn't quite like what he said evidently by her frowning face. "Don't take it the wrong way, sis. Your blue flames are kind of cool on its own, besides, if you can't turn them back to their original color then there's nothing you can do about it."

"Kind of wish that Mom has that same mentality as you, Zuzu."

"Change is a bit scary at least for others. I'll try talking to her about this, alright?" he got up from the ground and offered his hand. "Why don't we have a game of pai-sho over a cup of tea?"

The Fire Princess chuckled at his offer but accepted it, just to show how good she was in pai-sho.

-0-

Only speak unless spoken to.

Those words rang through the head of the young Mai as their carriage stopped in front of the palace. Her mother had been beside her, excited more so than she was and while she didn't share the same, at least Ty Lee would be there. It's just one of those days when either of her parents sucks up to Lady Ursa or Lord Ozai.

"I want you to be on your best behavior."

"Yes, mother." she nonchalantly replied and this kind of behavior rooted by her upbringing.

To be prim, proper and show elegance without stepping in line.

The carriage moved once more and while she's been here several times, Mai can't still, get over how big the palace was. Granted that this place is where the Fire Lord and the family resided, it does make sense to build this like an impenetrable fortress.

The doors opened and the palace guards escorted her mother first then her. In the distance, she saw a silhouette all too familiar jumping up and down with her hands waving at her.

"Mai!" the girl in pink shouted with glee, running towards her and hugging her.

"Yes, Ty Lee, it's good to see you." she patted her friend's back as a sign of goodwill and immediately released her.

"Lady Michi, thank you for allowing her to accompany us." she folded her hands and bowed down to Mai's mother.

"You're still cheerful as ever, Ty Lee. How are your parents doing?" she asked.

"Still busy as ever with my other five sisters… I just don't want to talk about them right now," she murmured but opted not to dwell on those thoughts. Both her and Mai were here to play with the young princess. "Let's go! Azula's waiting for us."

The three of them were guided by the guards inside the palace and from a distance stood Lady Ursa with a handful of maids. She was also accompanied by Azula who befriended her in the Royal Academy for Girls. It was a weird story on how they develop such since she doesn't consider herself that… interesting.

"Good morning, Lady Ursa," the three greeted and bowed down.

"There's no need for such," the woman chastised and the young Azula invited the two girls with her.

"Don't wander off too far!"

The trio went to the palace gardens and sat under the shade of the trees. Ty Lee showed to the princess some of the acrobatic moves that she had learned. The girl demonstrated, doing backflips and cartwheels with little to no effort. Azula saw it as a challenge and tried to do those moves but failed.

"You will need more practice to do those," said Ty Lee with a smug and the princess growled at her words. Mai watched it all unfold, giving only the slightest ounce of attention to them.

"Can you please stop following me around?"

"Um… were your servants, Prince Zuko, it's our duty to attend your needs." the two male servants said with conviction.

"You can't get rid of them, Zuzu!" said Azula from afar, trying to maintain balance in her palms until she fell on the grass. "They're being paid to do your bidding."

He raised his brows and looked at the two servants who brought him some towels and change of clothes. He sighed, grabbed the garments and ordered them to wait for further orders.

"Looks like Mai and Ty Lee are here as well," Zuko noticed the other two girls who were with his sister.

"Hey, Zuko! Nice day, isn't it?" the acrobat greeted though her companion seemed to have shied away from him.

"Yeah, well, be nice to one another, alright?" he disappeared to the corner and the flustered Mai breathe a sigh of relief.

The Fire Princess was no stranger that the gloomy girl was interested in her brother. She never really cared what was Mai's preference when it came to boys but it made her a bit curious. She didn't rule out that Ukano trained her to at least suck up with them in one way or another to gain favors in the future.

As for Zuko, it looks like he's trying to avoid Mai as much as possible. Whatever's the case, it will hilarious to make fun of the two…

"Azula?" her acrobat friend called her out since she spaced out too much. She tugged Ty Lee's arm and whispered something in her ears. She immediately got the gist of the princess' plans as she giggled in response.

"We don't want you to be left out now, do we, Ty Lee?" asked Azula.

"Yep, so how about a game of hide and seek?" the girl replied and Mai narrowed her eyes at her two friends.

"You always was a cheat," she slightly paused, remembering the words of her dear mother about proper behaviour. "What I'm saying is can we just limit the places where we can hide?"

The Fire Princess hummed and agreed. "Fine, to make it easier, we're only allowed to hide in the garden area and by the way you're it!"

Mai grumbled at her feet and Azula ordered her to turn around with her eyes closed. The two girls headed towards Zuko's room and hid inside his closet and while it's a bit cramped, it was worth it once they saw both of their reactions.

After the count, Mai began to search for the whereabouts of her friends, turning every nook and cranny in the area. She swears that if Azula uses one of the secret passages around the castle, she will cease this game immediately. Her eyes darted over two rooms: one which was occupied by Azula and next to it was Zuko's.

'Would they even here? Am I even allowed to enter their chambers?' she mused as she glanced at the windows of the princess' room.

No such luck and she wouldn't even dare go inside anyway and then there's the prince's room. The doors are wide open and when she peek inside, it looks like no one was here… until she heard some shuffling inside.

It piqued her curiosity as to what or who made those sounds and she made her way in. Mai carefully treads her way and to be honest, this was the first time she was in a boy's room. Her expectations were less stellar since Zuko was royalty. She shook her head and focused on her search for Azula and Ty Lee, checking under the bed only to find it empty.

Only one place remains…

"What are you doing?" Mai froze in her place, immediately recognizing the voice of the Fire Prince behind her.

"M-My apologies, Prince Zuko!" she straightened up and her ears caught those noises again inside the closet. Now she was certain that those two hid in there.

"Hmm…" he observed the unexpected visitor whose eyes were glued to his closet.

Is she searching for something here? There wasn't anything special in his room aside from his magecraft notes that he already hid.

"Well, if you don't mind, I'm gonna ask you to leave my room. I have things to do here."

"Of course, my apologies…" the girl scurried out of his room and he immediately opened his closet, finding Azula and Ty Lee inside.

"Busted!"

"That was rather a poor performance on your part, brother," the princess mentioned as she got up with her friend. "What do you think?"

"Zuko could have handled it better. I would have expected him to impress her with his charm?"

"Please, my brother is far from charming but he has redeeming qualities," said Azula and the boy glanced at her.

"That's probably one of the nicest things you said to me for quite some time now, sis." Zuko replied though his sister dismissed his words and Ty Lee only giggled in response.

"Anyways, thanks for not being a tattletale. Come on, let's find Mai."

With that, the two girls left him in his crevices and he hurried to his closet. He opened one of the secret compartments and found his notebook. He breathes a sigh of relief and immediately hides it, ensuring that no one sees him with it.

-0-

The news of him being sent to Piandao's estate to learn swordsmanship reached Ozai and what better way to reveal it in dinner. Ursa was surprised at this development and for Azula, she didn't hide her joy at the prospect of him leaving.

"I was surprised as well when Fire Lord Azulon told me this." said Ozai.

"And you didn't even try convincing him that Zuko doesn't need this at all?" the woman's voice quivered at the thought of being away from one of her children.

"It is the word of the Fire Lord to have this talentless hack under Master Piandao's tutelage." Zuko raised one of his brows, his father does get a kick whenever he insults him. "Besides, he's a distraction to his sister."

"Why didn't you tell us about this, dear?" Ursa asked.

"Just like what father said, it is pointless to notify you about this because its what grandfather decided. I'll only be gone to another person's home, not in the frontlines." he explained though his mother was still worried about his departure.

"He will depart next week so he better pack his things by then." his father finished dinner and left the room.

"I'll go on ahead, it's getting too late now." the young princess left the dining room and that left him with his mother who has been quiet now.

"Hey, mom, can we talk about something… in private? This is regarding Azula, come to my room after this."

Moments after dinner, Shirou returned to his room with a quill on his hand and only half immersed in his writing. He heard footsteps outside his room and Ursa came in, immediately noticing that he hid his journal.

"Did I interrupt you, sweetie?"

"No, I just finish writing here." he closed the notebook and turned towards the woman.

"Will you let me read it though?"

"No way, at least for now but someday you'll be able to read whatever is inside here. Anyway, about Azula…" he was interrupted by his mother all of a sudden.

"Has she done something again?"

"No, not really, it's about her training where you told her to revert the color of her flames. While we're not born firebenders, don't you think you're discouraging her from utilizing it?" his mother hung her head down in shame, prompting him to move closer and try to comfort her. "Are you… afraid of her?"

"No, Zuko… I… don't know how to deal with her. I know she's just a child but still, the thought of her becoming like Ozai, just scares me."

"Yeah, father's not that good of an example, I admit but you must not alienate her. She's an impressionable girl at her age and whatever you say will surely affect her." he clasped her hands and for some reason, it felt too cold for his liking. "Just be there on her side and don't ever give up."

Ursa smiled and caressed the face of her son. She just wished that her son wouldn't have to go away and stayed here with them.

"I'm gonna go now, good night, Zuko."

"Yeah, same to you as well." the doors were closed and Zuko blew the candles out, drifting off to sleep.

Days had passed and while his routine didn't changed that much (Azula teasing the hell out of him, studying and practicing magecraft in secret), it was time for him to go. Piandao's estate was located at the eastern islands in a small province named Shu Jing. From the capital's harbor, a vessel will take him to the islands, and then it'll only be a walk away from there.

By a stroke of miracle, his father will see him through along with his mother and sister. A carriage carried them towards the harbor and he didn't bring that much stuff with him: clothes and the journals are the things he kept with him.

"I heard that Master Piandao doesn't take students," said Azula and she glanced beside her brother. "You think you'll gonna make it?"

"He has to," Ozai interrupted with his firm voice. "I wouldn't stand for it if he fails. You know the consequences if you fail, right?"

"Of course, father." came Zuko's reply as he gazed out the windows of the carriage.

Moments later, their carriage arrived at the harbor with some Fire Nation soldiers already in the scene. They stood straight, acknowledging the members of the Royal Family and Shirou winced a bit at one of the men among them.

"Captain Zhao," his father started and the man bowed down in respect to the prince.

"We're humbled by the presence of the Royal Family. Be rest assured that the young prince will have a safe and comfortable trip to Shu Jing." the captain proudly declared.

"Hmph, we'll see, now then, farewells are must," Ozai faced his son who remains impassive and truth be told, he had nothing left to say to the boy. Zuko already knew how much of a failure he was as a firebender, nonetheless, the prince was his. "Return as a warrior, Prince Zuko."

"Thanks, father, I'll take those in heart and by the way, don't be hard to Azula." the girl frowned her brows when she heard her name being mentioned.

Ursa knelt to her son and hugged him, trying to hold back the tears that were about to come out. While he was a bit uncomfortable by it at the start, Shirou came to at least bear it. The woman was quite attached to him and he grew fond of her as time comes.

"I'll miss you, Zuko."

"Don't worry about me, just remember what I told you about Azula." she nodded at his words, even with him being gone he still thinks of his sister's well-being.

The young prince went over his sister who didn't mutter anything when they arrived here. His lips turned into a small smile and he pulled her into a gentle hug, catching her off guard.

"W-what are you d-doing!?"

"Hugging you, isn't it obvious?"

"I know that, dum-dum… it's just that…" she slightly paused, embarrassed by his sudden action. "Can you just stop it?"

"Alright, alright, " he released his hold and faced her. "Take care of yourself, Azula."

She didn't exchange any words as she watched her brother board Zhao's ship. Truth be told, she was conflicted for some reason. There's no one to compete for her mother's attention, she will be getting it all now, she can occupy her brother's room as well and have the space all by herself.

So… what's this heavy feeling lingering inside her?

The family watched as the anchors retracted back to the ship and set sail to the islands. Her brother waved back one last time at them and her mother did the same with tears in her eyes. Her father didn't show any kind of emotion, keeping his stoic demeanor as usual.

"Let us return."

Azula joined her father in haste back to the carriage with her mother still saddened by her brother's departure.