Prologue: Starting with Goodbyes

"You're going to tell me where my mother is" Zuko threatened.

In the dark corner of the prison cell, former Firelord Ozai's lips curled upward in an evil smile.

2 Days Later

Everyone had gathered together to celebrate their victory.

"So, where are you going after this?" Suki asked.

Toph looked down at the floor even more than usual, if that were possible. "I don't know. Home, I guess."

"No way!" Sokka exclaimed. "They treat you like a... like a..."

"Like a blind person?" Toph finished.

Sokka intervened on Suki's behalf - "Well...yeah! You've gotta come with us to the South Pole. You can meet Gran Gran and eat blubbered seal jerky, and..."

"News flash!" Toph interrupted. "Blind girl sees using earthbending. There is no earth at the South Pole!" She waved her hand in front of her eyes.

Sokka stood there looking confused, momentarily silenced.

"I'm going to find my mother," Zuko offered quietly into the lull in the conversation.

"That's great, Zuko." said Katara. "How did you find her?"

"I haven't yet. My father sent her away. He says she's on an island. He's taking me there."

"WHAAT!" exclaimed Sokka, jumping up and down and waving his arms frantically. "You can't let him out of prison!"

"I don't have a choice. The island isn't on any maps. He's the only one who can show me the way there."

"That's a bad idea," Aang interjected informationally.

"I'll say!" said Katara. "He nearly killed Aang, and tried to destroy half the world! Have you forgotten what he did to you?"

"I will never forget!" said Zuko passionately, and his hand wandered to his scar without his even knowing it. "But my mother..."

"I'll go with you" Sokka volunteered.

"Wait. I thought you were coming back to the South Pole with me and Aang?" said Katara.

"Yeeeeeah. Well... I don't trust the Phoenix King. Besides, you're gonna need some backup."

"He's not the Phoenix King anymore," said Zuko. "He can't firebend."

"When we fought, I touched his mind," said Aang. "He doesn't care for anything or anybody. He only cares about power." As Aang stared out into the distance, Katara could tell he was re-living the experience in his mind.

"Right." Sokka's clipped word interrupted Aang's thought process. "You..."

"I can take care of myself!" Zuko shouted.

"But you..." Sokka started again.

"I've been taking care of myself since I was 13!"

"You..."

"I was commanding a fire navy ship at 14! Believe me, I know my way around the world!"

"Are you done?" Sokka asked sardonically.

Zuko blinked. "Wellllllll...yeah, I guess..."

"Good, cuz you're going to need to get an air balloon for us to travel in. And, have you given any thought to who's going to be in charge in the fire nation while you're away?"

Azula was angry. Well, angrier than usual, she mused to herself. As a member of the royal family of the fire nation, there was always a certain fire that burned in her. And, if she were being honest with herself, the flames of her rage burned hotter than most people's. It was why the fire she created came out blue – the hottest flames.

"And what is it that you're angry about?" her mother asked from the corner of her cell.

"You're not real." Azula answered towards the empty corner of the cell, her twitching eye the only outward indication that Azula was angry.

The blue ocean of fire inside Azula rose higher, threatening to consume her. Azula focused her mind, envisioning herself rising above the the flames to the purpose at hand. For as long as she could remember, that reservoir had been there – a limitless source of energy for her firebending.