Welcome to chapter two of Azula's Back! This is where things get AU. ;) If you haven't guess by the ice…well, you'll find out. This is where she makes her move; fast-forward to midwinter.

I'd love reviews, advice and constructive criticism. Anyways, back to the story!

The cold was chilling along the Cliffside. Aang had come and gone with supplies about two hours ago and a fruit cake because it was midwinter. She'd eaten that and had some tea (she'd also been given large stocks of tea leaves from her uncle) and was not ready to go. Her tattered robes, the same kind given to those in high security prisons, did not hold much warmth. But it would be wroth it. She worked her way down as high tide came up, and her face was gritted with determination. She would do this. She HAD to. And if not, she'd die. She'd die and live out her life just as her captors wanted her too.

She had worked out everything. She had practiced keeping a flame alight in her palm as she slept, knocked herself out once and tried to keep a flame alive. It wasn't much; just enough to light a candle, but that would be enough. Soon, she was hanging by her wrists, seeing the cave. It was half filled with water, which was fast turning to slush in the cave. Salty, yucky slush. But that was good. The salt would help. It was a leap into the hands of faith, but a leap she was willing to take. Ignoring the pain and flesh blood that moved down from her wrists to her whole, cold-numbed arms, she kicked and swung herself back and forth, back and forth, aiming to throw herself into the cave.

"Now!" She shouted, just for the sake of hearing her voice as she pulled upwards with her arms. It hurt terribly, but she jerked the rope free and went flying towards the cave, landing in the water not far from it. From starting from an overhang, it was nearly a perfect go. She felt the cold consume her as she went under the water, but bobbed back up, pushed into the slush. She crawled forwards, hands going blue as she did. The wind and conditions here would kill her if she didn't do what she set out to do soon.

Shakily, she stood. She nearly slipped with her bare feet in the slush, but kept her balanced and raised her hands, suddenly lashing out with energy, creating a giant blue fireball around her. It warmed; it burned in the cave for a few seconds, causing slush to melt and her to sink in to her knees. Water washed over her like a wall and she shut her eyes, a smile on his face as the force of it knocked her out.



In her palms, two blue flames still burned. Not enough to keep back the wall of ice around her she had created. And that was her ticket to immortality.

"SHE'S GONE? HOW IN THE NAME OF BUMI IS SHE GONE?" Zuko roared as Sokka brought him the news in the throne from of the Fire Nation palace. Even Iroh looked shocked by the news. Azula had gotten out of the supposedly Azula-proofed prison. The flames around his throne rose and roared, before dying back down and vanishing.

"I don't know!" Sokka said, looking just as shocked. Suki looked furious and Aang looked worried. Katara walked over to him and took his hand, but he just looked away. Everyone had been called to hear the news of Azula's escape. "We came and she didn't come with supplies. By the state of things, she's been gone for a month, since midwinter! We looked in the well shaft and nothing. Aang even hovered his way down the sides and everything. Nothing at all!"

"The weirdest thing was everything was neat." Katara added in. "Very tidy, like she intended to be back." Aang nodded.

"Exactly." Aang said. "She could of gone for a walk or something, climbing, slipped and fell and…well, that's the end of it. There was no sign of anything odd."

"That's something Azula would do." Mai said boredly, stepping out from the crowds of nobles. "She'd make it look like nothing happened except her escaping. Especially if she had time on her hands. "

"It's impossible she's alive." Suki said simply, hands in fists. "Impossible. Listen." She stepped forwards, to the middle of the throe room, so everyone could hear and see her as she explained her own theory. "First, she vanished near midwinter. That's when the storms are worst and the sea is coldest. Even if, somehow, she made a boat, it's unlikely it got far. She's probably fish food. There was what? One sapling on that island? Not enough to make a boat. It's still there, anyhow. If she slipped and fell, she's dead again. There's no way off that island, unless she's in Appa's fur." She spun to Aang. "Was there anything in Appa's fur? No? Besides, if she were there, you'd of seen sings of life on the island. We'd of seen it. Even Toph would have seen it."

"We get it." Said earthbender called from a pillar she leaned on it. "Not in Appa's fur. Okay. Calm down just a bit, Suki. Or Sokka'll have to kiss you to calm you. In front of everyone." Both Suki and Sokka went red, but Suki went on anyways.

"Anyways, so she must have been gone for a month. Let's say she got out and to the mainland alive. She hasn't been recaptured and the rebellion groups for the war are still calling to have her LET GO. If she were FREE that wouldn't make any sense at all, would it? They'd be more aggressive, would they not? EXACTLY. So, therefore-" Suki was getting really riled up. Toph mouthed 'kiss her and clam her' to Sokka, and Mai saw. She rolled her eyes and debated whether or not to speak. She yawned. "AZULA IS DEAD." She nodded and strode out before anyone could say anything. Sokka sighed and went after her, presumably to clam her down.

"It's a good theory. Sound." Zuko said slowly, not sure what to think of his sister's apparent demise.

"Reasonable. It does make sense." Aang nodded.

"It's the best scenario. The most probably, I think." Zuko announced, and slowly, everyone nodded, except Iroh, who didn't look so sure. He voiced that much, words sounding through the throne room.

"Something tells me we have not seen the last of her. Not in the least."