"Cheers!"

Danny and Azula clinked their glasses full of wine. The comfy restaurant around was vibrant with life. The waiters snooping back and forward, the rich snobs around were talking with each other. Not that the couple were not snobs, but they weren't bragging at least. They were just enjoying the evening in the scarlet rooms of the skyscraper. Phantom was looking differently, however, now with raven hair and ice blue eyes. His other form tended to get more attention. He was uncomfortable with the suit, however. He looked like a fancy penguin. The young man fixed his collar.

"Any news?" Azula asked, "I wanted to know since the morning, but we've been busy."

"Too sad that you can't read our newspapers," Danny chuckled.

"These are not writings. It is simply gibberish. Why are the same letters written differently each time?"

"That's ghost speech to ya," Phantom grinned, making a sip, "As for your question...nothing much. The spiritual consul has gone somewhere and nobody knows what's the problem with him. I made it clear that they would have to replace him if he would not appear within the course of this week."

Azula smiled, "Finally you are showing your spine. I've thought that you have gone completely soft."

"It seems to have worked so far, huh?" The twenty years old monarch retorted, "I'm actually curious about how this country functions."

"I don't think they will let you inside the city hall. Oh no...you are NOT getting in, Daniel. Lest we get into troubles because of you. Remember why we are here?"

The food was brought before them. Smoking chicken and fish were very inviting, tempting the couple to dig in. And they did just that, enjoying the meals for some time in a blissful silence. It had been like this for all those four years. Azula had never felt more at peace than in the world of the dead. Ironic, but it was the fact. Her whole life had been shaped by war, and at first she felt really anxious without anything to do. But Danny found some ways to entertain her in the times of peace. She really liked movies, it turned out. And all their explorations of the undead realm helped her put her mind at ease. Now she found a new entertainment for herself — pro-bending. However, Azula learned how to relax, and it was a major milestone.

Their relationship was rather awkward at first. The attention it received was not of any help. After all, Phantom was a king, and his every step towards family life was met with maybe too much excitement. No Ghost King had ever founded a dynasty, they had been immortal, why would they need to do that? All those rumours did make everything embarrassing, but the two managed to live with that. Did they think about the next step? Can't say the thought hadn't crossed their minds, but it all was just dismissed with red faces. Even four years together did not make them take that step. But they did hold extremely warm feelings for each other, despite all their differences and occasional arguments that they hold.

The silence between them was broken after a couple of minutes, when both of them heard the people in the next table.

"I don't think we should interfere with the set of things politically-wise. So I am not going to cause something in the hall. We did promise your brother not to butt into politics."

"And he promised to keep our country intact. And now we have this."

"Can't say it's turned out badly for every side involved," Danny shrugged, "Another war was the last thing anyone wanted. And I do not need more unrequested subjects. Zuko did what he could, you've got to admit. You did look up the history, right?"

"Yeah, he's held up to the last moment. And where is he now, I wonder?"

"Just to see your family meeting I will track him down," Danny laughed, leaning back in his seat and clasping his hands, "What are we gonna do now, when we have several weeks before the next match?"

"I'm not sure...I don't feel like returning you know where."

"Well I do need to go there on a constant basis. Being in charge of the world and all that..."

"I'd still rather stay here for a longer while."

Azula felt his gloved hand over hers. The princess looked at the smiling young man in front of her.

"And I fully understand that," he said, but then his look turned serious. "But leaving you here while there are terrorists around is not what I would like much."

"Terrorists?"

Danny dug in the inner pocket of his suit. "It seems you've been caught in the past of the world so much that you are missing some parts of the present," he took out a folded list of paper.

Azula took it, unfolded and began to examine. There was a picture of what could only be described as a sort of enigmatic person, the likes of whom liked wearing masks in order to look cool. Because the most horrific terrorists didn't wear them. But he went for a white mask with a red circle on the forehead. He was also dressed in black robes with a hood. At the top of the list there were writings the princess didn't wait long to read aloud.

"Join Amon, tear down the bending tyranny?" Azula read in confusion, "Where did you get this?"

"Can you imagine? They are just given away on the streets. That agitator of their was hellishly annoying. The gall of complaining about tyranny when you are allowed to voice this pile of crap. These are the talks of the real terrorists, though, revolutions, killings, the set is complete. Maybe we should...I dunno..."

"Put an end to this? Danny, you are one of the most powerful ghosts, but even you have limits."

"Need I remind you that I opened a filial branch of apocalypse at the Fire Nation capital? Surely it cannot be that bad."

"The main problem is that if you bring down the sky, the entire city will be dead along with them. You aren't subtle at all."

"Maybe. Still...I won't be here half the time. You know I won't forgive myself if something happens."

Azula was touched by his care. The genuine, tender care that nobody else had shown to her in the entire life of the princess.

"I will be fine, I'd like to see these non-bending ruffians try," she said confidently. "We both are anxious being here, huh?"

"We sure are," Danny chuckled, before the princess suddenly leaned forward to his surprise.

"You know," she whispered, "After we are done with food we can both blow off some anxiety. In our bedroom."

Phantom raised his eyebrow, "What, you want to go sleep early?"

Azula's smile fell, "No, I didn't mean that, you, clueless."

"Then what...oh. I see. I guess I'll eat faster now."

The morning came surprisingly fast. To Danny it felt like he had blinked and then woke up, naked in the bed with the princess hugging him close. That had been intense, he decided, slowly rubbing his eyes. The young man carefully phased through his girlfriend's hands, so as to not wake her up. Azula only peacefully sighed and shifted position. Danny watched her for a couple of minutes, with a tender look in his eyes. Smiling, he began to wash himself after going to the bathroom. Then he dressed up, continuing with his morning routine. The time shift was working only one way. At this thought Danny came to a sudden realisation that the time shift was going to ruin everything again.

Maybe he shouldn't return to his world until everything is repaired? Or bring Azula along just to be sure. She was not going to go, so he'd better come up with a solution. Danny decided to write a letter to his secretary, so he would bring everything to this apartment instead. Taking a scroll of special paper and a ball pen, the king quickly scribed a letter. Rolling the parchment back, Phantom suddenly ignited the letter. The message had been sent.

Now Danny still had about an hour before his companion woke up. She did everything by schedule. Phantom chuckled at the thought, before deciding to go for a morning stroll in the park, he'd heard it was very healthy. It really was like New-York, there was even the Central park. Located in the city's central peninsula, the place known as Republic City Park, was landscaped with small hills, deciduous trees shading impeccably kept grass, and fine stone arch bridges. Danny also knew that due to the poverty of a large number of Republic City citizens, the city park had also become a place popular with vagabonds. They never harmed his experience of the place, they were harmless, usually staying away from the paths, and it always feels good to help the poor people out. They weren't choosy, a couple of gold coins would make them faint from happiness. Many of those did question why the coins had their donator's profile.

This time, however, something was different. Phantom saw a girl from the Water Tribe, if the clothes were of any definition. Like all of her people, she had darker skin, her hair were tied in two headbands and a ponytail. At first Phantom assumed it was one of the hobos, seeing as she was fishing in the pond. It was illegal, and her talking to usually ignored homeless that Danny had met before, only added to his suspicion. Although...how many hobos had polar bear dog pets? And speaking off, the animal sniffed the air and snapped its head in Danny's direction, before growling. Great, and here Phantom thought that the dogs liked him.

"What is it, Naga?" The girl asked, before looking alongside her pet.

"You do know fishing here is illegal, right?" Danny asked.

"I didn't see the sign."

Phantom pointed at said sign with a deadpan expression. The actual homeless looked at him as well, before brightening up.

"Oh, good morning, Danny-boy!" He cried joyously.

"Your vagabond friend?" The girl asked.

"If anyone," Danny laughed, crossing his hands, "It is you who looks like one. Hello, Gommu, how are you?"

"Same deal, same deal," the fifty years old man cackled, waving his hand.

The girl meanwhile clearly understood that the man in front of her was not one of the park inhabitants. He was too neatly dressed, cleanly shaved and held himself in a totally different manner. There was something even noble about it. Before she could say something else, however, a policeman showed up from nowhere, wearing a metal armour.

"Hey, you, stop right there! Fishing in the park is illegal!"

The girl was about to run, but Phantom raised his palm.

"What's the fine, officer? I'd like to pay for her."

"Oh, that's...alright, I guess. It's one hundred yuan, sir."

"Here you go," Danny took some pink bills and handed them to the policeman. He saluted and went off.

"Thanks for that," the girl said, "I'm a bit broke."

"And what would make an Avatar of all people broke?"

The girl froze. "How did you..."

"You are telling me that a girl from the Water Tribe fried the fish with water?"

"Oh...I could be a Firebender."

"Yes, you could. But seeing as you came here without money but with the polar bear...you do come from the South Pole. I could be wrong, but I was right. So, Avatar, you got a name?"

"Korra," she outstretched her hand, "And you are..."

"Daniel," He shook it.

"Huh. Like that war criminal?"

"Excuse me?" Danny's shoulders sank, "He wasn't a criminal, he did help near the end."

"Ah-huh. Sure. Well, thanks for the help, I guess...I'll be going."

"To where, if I may ask?" Danny raised an eyebrow as she passed nearby.

"Oh, that air temple on the island. I need to go there."

"And you are going there..."

"I'll swim."

"Of course," Danny rolled his eyes, "I guess we will share paths for a short while."

The Avatar had no objections to that. The polar dog still did not like him, but did not do anything to harm him. Korra climbed on her pet and rode it, while Phantom walked nearby. The meeting had a strange taste to him. What did he know from that short exchange? Korra was obviously here not because she was allowed to. Her parents, guardians and whatnot would not have let her come to the city without money. You couldn't expect them all to be pacifistic monks, but Phantom wasn't sure what to make of it. The fact that he was somehow still considered a war criminal was baffling. Then it occurred to him that making him like this was to improve the reputation of the new Fire Lord. Claiming something from the criminals was easier and more noble. Was it honest of him? Not at all, but Phantom could understand this. Azula, however...she would not take it lightly. Something must have happened in all those years of absence. But was it worth that to see everyone's faces! It would be priceless.

"So, ehm...are you rich?"

"Why do you ask?" Danny inquired.

"Well, you seem to throw away money without care."

"It is rude to ask about this, for the future. But I have a well-paid job and, between us," Phantom smirked and leaned closer, "I may or not have a close relationship with the royal house of the Fire Nation."

Danny didn't notice how they ended up in a familiar place, hearing a voice known to him.

"Are you tired of living under the tyranny of benders? Then join the Equalists!" There was a protester, twelve people had gathered to listen to him. "For too long, the bending elite of this city have forced nonbenders to live as lower class citizens. Join Amon, and together we will tear down the bending establishment!"

"What is that?" Korra asked.

"What exactly? The delusional guy who hasn't achieved anything in life, the Equalists or Amon?"

"Uhm...I guess everything."

"Why don't you come and ask?" Danny made an inviting gesture. However, he was soon noticed by the protester. By the looks of it, he obviously recognised him and panicked.

"You! What are you doing here again?!" He asked almost fearfully.

Phantom grinned deviously, with hands behind his back, "Just showing a new guest around the city."

"What are you talking about?" Korra asked loudly, "Bending is the best thing in the world!"

Danny froze. The last thing she was supposed to say was that.

"It's not the best thing to provoke the angry mob," he hissed.

The protester clasped the phrase in a dead grip. "Oh yeah? Let me guess: you're a bender."

"Yeah, I am," Korra said proudly.

"Then I bet you'd just love to knock me off this platform with some waterbending, huh?"

"Shut it, girl," Danny whisper yelled.

"I'm seriously thinking about it."

Phantom facepalmed.

"This is what's wrong with this city! Benders like this girl only use their power to oppress us!"

The crowd supported the guy, booing the Avatar actively.

"Alright, everyone!" Danny shouted, "You there," he pointed at the protester, "Get a job already, you are over thirty now!"

"I cannot get a job because of the benders' oppression!"

"Maybe...but have you even tried?"

Using the baffled silence, Danny gestured for Korra to follow him away from the crowd before it caught up and became even angrier.

"Next time. Watch your mouth around here," the young man told her.

"Why? He was saying nonsense, that's why I..."

"Only proved his point with what you said?" Danny raised an eyebrow.

Korra narrowed her eyes, "Alright, who are you actually and what do you want with me?"

"I don't know...not get killed by an angry mob? You will be the Avatar who lived less than anyone."

"I don't need an advice from a total stranger."

Phantom looked at her calmly, yet with a note of amusement. "You keep thinking that. I'm not going to pay for your obliviousness all the time. I'm leaving now, but something tells me it won't be long till I see you again."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Danny smirked, turning away and without uttering a word. Korra watched his back with confusion. That guy was weird.

Phantom meanwhile went to his apartment. The elevator was truly a torture. As it was an early technology, they were slow, operated by a special fancy dressed man. Why hadn't he flown up? Because he was simply clueless. That's why. Danny went to his apartment, only to find his girlfriend residing on a sofa with a newspaper in her hands. Those were the news concerning the Republic city and the world at large.

"The unrest in Omashu," Azula read the headlines instead of greeting, "The previous politics of the Earth Queen Hou-Ting, targeted towards the ceasing of autonomy of local governors and kings, have caused several uprisings around the state. The initial leaders of the uprisings have vanished under questionable circumstances. To our redaction came many letters with claims that the Dai Li have been involved...pfft."

Azula could not resist a laughter at the irony of situation, albeit laughing at the supposed deaths was wrong. She couldn't help it.

"Excuse me?" She asked. "I was no longer the Queen of the Earth Kingdom and now they have someone who's done the same things I did? The hypocrisy."

"At least now you know how it looked like from the different perspective," Danny shrugged, "Feel like going for breakfast?"

"Sure, sure. It's just so ironic, you know?"

Yeah. Ironic. Danny decided against telling the most ironic thing he'd found out in the morning. She wouldn't be happy to hear that. Instead in the dining hall Phantom shared his other finding — the Avatar of all people. The odds were incredibly ludicrous, and the princess told him just that. Azula wasn't eager to meet her herself. 'It's going to ruin everything,' she said. Of course, around the Avatar there were always problems and all other sorts of shenanigans. The couple was here for two things — to get rid of the anomaly and to win the pro-bending competition. And Danny also knew that them showing their faces was not the best thing to do. Korra was oblivious, because photographs were not a thing when Azula was around. Her pictures were few and the people who knew her and Phantom by face were old and god knows where. The Avatar could not possibly know.

What could blow their cover, however, was the abilities only the half ghost could possess. Danny knew that, so he had to be careful in the future. But him leaving an amusing clue to the Avatar was not the best way to avoid attention, however. The young man calmed himself with the fact that Korra couldn't figure everything out just like that. Albeit the name, the affiliation to the royal family, all of that was a giveaway to some extent.

"Danny, I just got a thought..."

"What?" Danny looked at her.

"I've looked at the stories of the pro-bending teams."

"When did you have the time?"

"I knew about the fees for entering the tournament before you. You see, all teams are sponsored by major companies, they advertise it and such...we are going to be like black sheep if we simply enter on your money."

Danny huffed, "I don't see any problem with that. Or are you suggesting we should start our enterprise?"

"Why not? Your world has the commodities you can sell here for millions. And your own technologies, too."

"I wouldn't say that my techs can be that widespread, they are all for industrial use..." Danny rubbed the back of his neck, "And what happened to not interfering?"

"That's exactly why we are talking right now. This whole ordeal isn't exactly subtle, I know. Just wanted to know what you think."

"Well...you are as enterprising as ever," Danny smiled softly, "It will be alright and without us spoiling this entire world with modern technologies. What I would like to do, however, is to go see a tomorrow match of our possible opponents. We can't go each evening, sadly, but hey, that's basically all the entertainment we can have here."

"Apart from declaring war to the criminal gangs?"

"Oh, that's what I call a perfect date," Danny laughed, while Azula smiled.

Their evening went perfectly. The experience they did have, everything they had to do was to simply sit on the bench in the less prosperous places of the city while the moon was above. The gangs themselves found the two, willing to rob them without knowing what they were into. There were many of them in the city, most notorious of which were Triple Threat Triad, whose name was one hilarious tautology, and the Creeping Crystal Triad, named after a rock candy. Whoever had thought up their names was not thinking such things through. What could possibly lure them here? A brewing turf war could possibly do just that, but what were the chances of the clash happening in that one spot? None.

Azula and Danny came up with a plan. During his short-living career as a vigilante, Phantom learned the behaviours of the criminals, depending on their field of expertise. Triads liked contraband, and seeing as the Republic City had a port...It was obvious where to look. The couple unnoticeably looked around the docks. It was simple to spot activity amidst the whole affair, as the port had a schedule of operations. And if you saw some unloading in midnight, then you knew that you had stumbled upon something illegal. That's what happened then.

"What do we have here..." Danny grinned, looking through binoculars and from the roof. "Let's see...the clothes belong to the creeping crystals."

"They have uniforms? That's dumb."

"I wouldn't say 'uniform'. More like a style of clothing. From the data I 'borrowed' from the desk of Chief Beifong herself after lunch, the crystals take only earthbenders and nonbenders. And...well, you can recognize this green color everywhere."

"I see. I suggest we attack from the top of that wear house, then we can get in through that window..."

"Azula, dear. Do we really need this?" Danny smirked. "Don't make things that complicated."

"I want to have some fun at least. And if we cause too much noise, the police will claim the entertainment they did not deserve."

Phantom smiled and shook his head. "Alright, you lead."

Azula jumped to another rooftop, winking at her companion. Phantom lazily floated near Azula, without changing forms for now, before stopping on the edge of the closest building. The gangsters were just below, moving the boxes around. Danny would create a distraction.

"Hello everyone!" A disembodied voice called right next to one of the bandits. They started to rapidly look around.

"What the hell?" Someone mumbled.

Suddenly one of the gangsters was tossed aside, as if something kicked him with a strength to cover ten meters. Phantom appeared out of thin air, grinning widely.

"Sup."

"You've picked the wrong place to be in, boy!"

First the bandits tried to apprehend the visitor with their bare hands and knives. Danny easily avoided the swings, knocking out a few, before suddenly from above a huge torrent of fire burst down. When the fire dispersed and the screams of pain were no more for different reasons, the remaining bandits saw that Phantom was totally unscathed, having protected himself with a shield while nobody was looking. Azula landed on the ground safe and sound, taking a battle stance immediately. The earthbenders got into game and started tossing rocks, beginning with the smaller ones, so as not to damage the insides of many crates.

The couple together dodged the slow projectiles, with Azula throwing back some fire. Danny had to restrict himself to stopping the rocks midway and returning them to the senders. None of the projectiles hit the mark. Those were simple grunts, one shouldn't expect them to be smart or capable of much damage. On the sound of battle more bandits ran outside the warehouse. Nodding to each other, the duo lunged forward as well. The fight was noisy, many gangsters could not even touch their enemies, for how smoothly and quickly the two moved. And, like during the pro-bending tournament, the two quickly overpowered their enemies. It was their main strategy, with speed and sheer power they defeated their opponents in a matter of few minutes. More reinforcements came, but with the teamwork honed to utmost perfection the couple beat them stupid in no time.

Panting, the two looked around. All of their enemies were either lying dead or unconscious. The latter were Danny's victims, as he did not like murdering anyone. Azula had no craving for that either, but she had no qualms about it as well.

"Well, it looks like we are done here," Danny smiled.

"That was amazing," Azula chuckled. "We should have dates like this more often."

"The ones that instigate gang wars? Sure. Now let's get home before..."

The princess suddenly pulled him by the collar and kissed his lips. Danny pulled back for a moment.

"The police is going to be here soon," he playfully sing-sang the sentence.

They heard one of the grunts moaning beneath them. A swift kick to the face from the face made him silent. The couple kissed again, this time without interruptions.