A/N: As one year draws to a close, another is just around the corner. Enjoy my last update of 2013 guys, and have an awesome 2014 everyone!

Last Time

Azula smirked, brimming with pride, "I love you...Katara."

"I...love you too Azula...my sister, my real family.." Katara cooed.

The light turned back on and Azula returned to the room. No guards, no security, just the Fire Nation princess herself, ready to greet her 'sister'.

Katara looked up at her and smiled in delight.

Azula unstrapped Katara herself, setting her free from her bindings.

"Azula?" She asked softly.

"Yes Katara," Azula replied with equal softness.

"Are you...using me?" She asked softly.

Azula thought about telling the truth and letting Katara know that she was using her to kill the Avatar but she heard the softness in her voice, as if Katara was really hoping that she wasn't being used. It warmed Azula's heart just a little, "No, I'm not using you Katara."

"Y...Your not?" She asked gently.

"No I'm not," Azula shook her head, holding Katara's hands, "I missed my sister after all of these years." Azula was believing her own lie. She felt a loving feeling in her heart, something that she never had before. She was ready to treat Katara with a similar love that she had been given from Ozai.

"You...really and truly love me?" Katara asked.

"Yes, I really and truly love you" Azula said softly.

"I love you too...sister. Let's help our father..and kill the Avatar." Katara smirked.

"Right," Azula smiled while she led Katara out of the holding cell. The rest of Team Avatar was already searching for Katara, an encounter was approaching.

Katara's new destiny awaited her...

End Flashback

Azula gave Katara a soft, gentle, kiss on the cheek, showing her love for her younger sister.

Katara blushed, despite her solid blue eyes, she could feel the love radiating from the Fire Nation Princess. She didn't care if it was from a brainwashing anymore.

"Azula..can I tell you something?" Katara asked softly.

"Yes Katara?" Azula asked softly, looking into Katara's solid blue eyes.

"I just wanted to say...thanks for...brainwashing me. You set me free." Katara answered happily.

Azula smiled, "You're welcome Katara. You deserve to be free and real love in your life."

"Brainwashing me was the best thing you could've done to me." Katara smiled happily.

Azula smiled, looking into Katara's solid blue eyes, "I love how your eyes look, they're like sapphires."

"But their solid sis." Katara giggled.

"That doesn't make them look any less radiant." Azula cooed lovingly.

"You really love them sis?" Katara asked sweetly.

"Of course I do," Azula replied sweetly, "You're my sister, I love everything about you."

"What about before you brainwashed me?" She asked innocently.

"I didn't like them before, I'll admit that," Azula answered, "They weren't nearly as brilliant and deep as your eyes are now." She said, grinning.

"You mean that?" Katara asked shyly. Hearing how much Azula loved how she presently looked touched Katara very much.

"Yes, I mean that," Azula answered, smiling at her.

"Hey sis?" Katara asked sweetly.

"Yes?" Azula purred.

"When you were brainwashing me, what was going through your mind?" Katara asked innocently.

"I felt...good..." Azula said softly, trying to build the words. She had never felt happier in her entire life.

"Why?" She pressed softly.

"I rescued my sister and freed her from her captors both physically and mentally...I never felt so proud of myself in my life," Azula answered, her voice was soft and sweet but complete with a smile.

"Hey sis...can I ask you something?" Katara asked with a shy blush.

"Yes?" Azula giggled softly.

"The machine you used on me...can you hook me back up to it?" Katara asked.

Azula raised an eyebrow while she smiled in amusement, "Sure, but why?"

"Well...I'm not sure why...but part of me loved getting brainwashed." Katara admitted with a smile.

"Really?" Azula giggled.

"Yeah...I can't explain it..but I want to be so brainwashed that they can never take me from you...Azula, what im saying is, I prefer to be brainwashed if it keeps me with you forever."

Azula took all of those words to heart. As far as she was concerned this was no longer just some sinister scheme to lure and kill Avatar Aang, she had a newfound feeling of love for Katara and if it meant brainwashing whenever possible than so be it, they loved each other that much, "Then follow me sister, back to the holding chamber." Azula smiled happily, pecking Katara on the cheek in a sisterly kiss.

Katara smiled happily at the Fire Nation Princess as she nodded, following her sister back to the holding chamber, to be subjected to further brainwashing.

"I don't think I need to strap you in this time sister," Azula giggled, relishing in the fact that Katara volunteered for this time.

"I want to be strapped in." Katara cooed.

However in Katara's mind, the goodness and normalcy was still alive in a living embodiment inside of her. An inner version of Katara that was lying dormant but not at all peaceful given the state of Katara's outself still controlled by Azula's brainwashing, "You'll be sorry you ever did this to me you monster! Just wait until my friends get here, they'll make you pay for what you did to me!" The embodiment of the old Katara roared angrily.

Katara outwardly moaned, clearly distressed over something.

"What's wrong sis?" Azula asked, seeing the disturbed look in Katara's eyes.

"I...can hear something in my mind...I think its my inner self from before you brainwashed me. She says her friends will make you pay." Katara answered, in a soft and frightened tone.

Azula forgot about how willful Katara could be. If the young waterbender wasn't brainwashed soon Azula's plans could be ruined, "Don't worry Katara, my sweet little sister. I will brainwash you again and that will fix everything. I promise. That's how much I love you." Azula answered. Despite her usual sadistic nature, Azula found herself becoming more and more emotionally attached with Katara. She truly did love her.

"Please...hurry sis." She begged her. Her solid-blue eyes gazed into Azula's gold-amber ones, radiating her fright and how much she needed her.

Azula took Katara's hand and led her to the holding chamber for a second brainwashing. As this was happening Aang, Zuko, and Sokka were flying on Appa above the sea, staring down the three Fire Nation ships.

"I hope Katara's all right. Azula's devious, but she's smart. She likely has Katara as bait for you Aang." Zuko observed, knowing how strategic Azula was in her scheming.

"Thats probably why she was after Katara and not me," Aang said, being a just a little evasive with Appa in flight. He was clearly wary of the ships below. Within the flagship Azula had Katara strapped in and she just entered her quarters so she could relay the new brainwashing messages to her sister.

Katara happily put on her headcomm, eager for her second dose of brainwashing.

"You don't suppose that she knows you have feelings for her eh Twinkle-Toes? Nothing personal, but its pretty obvious." Toph grinned.

"No I don't," Aang shook his head, clearly on the defensive.

"You ready Katara?" Azula asked through her headcomm.

"Yes you do Aang." Sokka chuckled.

"Yes, please brainwash me." Katara answered eagerly as again the lights shut off.

Aang blushed, he wasn't going to admit it but he had feelings for Katara for over a year now but life as the Avatar got in the way of making it more than a crush, "Okay so maybe I do." He admitted softly.

"Katara, I am the one who loves you," Azula said softly.

"I knew it." Toph replied smugly.

"You...are the one that loves me." Katara murmured.

"I said maybe," Aang blushed.

"I have freed you from slavery to the Avatar so you can fight against him." Azula cooed.

"Your blushing only confirms it." Toph giggled.

"But...Aang...I...I'm in...l-love with him.." Katara blushed. Brainwashed or not, she couldn't deny her feelings for the Air Nomad.

Aang slowed down a little with his flght while rising a little higher in the air, staying patient. "He made you think that you were in love with him. He pretended to be your friend and ally so you wouldn't rise against him," Azula answered, knowing the truth. Katara was simply a tool for Aang, nothing more.

"How did he do that? Does he actually love me?" Katara asked.

"Careful, Aang she likely has Katara thinking your the enemy." Zuko warned.

"He doesn't love you, not at all. He tried talking to you, telling you lies that our father was a madman bent on ruling the world," Azula said.

Aang nodded, he was counting on it knowing how evil Azula was, "I'm sure of that...I can only imagine how she thinks of you guys though." Aang shuddered at the thought.

"What does he hope to accomplish? Why would he lead me on if he didn't love me?" Katara asked, both sad and angry.

"We're there for you every step of the way Aang." Sokka assured.

"He wanted to gain your trust and your loyalty, he even used your abilities to help him learn waterbending," Azula said with a soft loving smirk. In her mind, she was doing what was right. She was helping her dear little sister.

"Thanks," Aang smiled, having Aang descend slowly towards the ships. He was ready to land.

"How could he...Aang's supposed to bring peace.." Katara murmured sadly.

Toph blushed shyly in Aang's direction but he didn't see it.

"His definition of peace is stopping our father's dream to make the world a better place. This war was started because of Aang's mindless vengeance for his people's defeat," Azula explained.

Appa let Aang and his teammates land on the ship safely, ready to storm the flagship.

"Your...right. He's evil Azula.." Katara murmured, a cold sneer on her face as she was more brainwashed than ever.

"Let's do this Twinkle-Toes!" Toph grinned.

Azula stopped talking and walked right down to the chamber just so she could give Katara a loving hug. "I love you Katara.."

"Sokka you come with me, Toph, Zuko, and Suki cover the west hallways," Aang said, coordinating the search and rescue plan.

"Sister...thank you so much for brainwashing me again..I feel so much better now. I love you too." Katara replied happily.

"Got it Aang." Sokka agreed.

A Fire Nation soldier was running down the hallway quickly, knocking on the holding chamber door.

"Yes?" Azula asked coolly.

"Your grace, the Avatar and his allies have invaded the ship." The soldier answered calmly.

Azula smirked." My sister and I will handle them. Won't we Katara?" She cooed in the Waterbender's ear.

"Yes, we will," Katara said, anger in her eyes. All innocence and righteousness was gone in her eyes, her former friends were now her enemies.

Katara headed out first, cold fury in her solid blue eyes, determined to crush her former allies.

Sounds of combat roamed through the halls as Azula followed Katara steadily. They wanted to get Aang and his friends before they got them. They went to the lower deck, near the engine room before Azula's keen experience in battle kicked into high gear, "Stop." She warned her sister.

Katara immediately stopped, knowing Azula had more expierience.

"I hear footsteps, two of them, neither of them are heavy but they are both quick," Azula said.

"It's likely Aang and Toph." Katara deduced, drawing on her past.

"No, the short girl's feet are too big it's..." Azula however was cut-off mid-sentence as the door was busted down with a waterbending blast, Aang and Sokka were greeting them, "Let Katara go Azula!" Aang ordered

"Avatar, what a pleasant surprise." Azula mocked.

"You know why we're here," Aang glared.

Sokka saw Katara standing by Azula and a smile curled upon his lips, "Katara come on, we can take Azula together," He said with pride, looking at his sister.

Katara glared coldly. "You won't hurt my sister."

Sokka and Aang had equally confused looks on their faces, "What are you talking about she's not our sister," Sokka said, loosening his grip just a little on his meteorite sword.

"Your not my brother...she is my sister!" Katara snapped angrily.

Sokka didn't know what was going on. He intended to liberate Katara and take out Azula in one fell swoop but this...this was far from the plan, "Katara listen, I don't know what Azula said or did to you but Sokka is your brother and we are your friends," Aang said with a calm voice, hoping to reason with Katara.

"Liar! You used me!" Katara screamed.

Aang's eyes widened, "W-What are you talking about Katara?..." The young Avatar asked, deeply hurt.

"You led me on!" Katara roared.

"K-Katara...You can't believe that..." Aang murmured softly.

"I do! Now you're gonna pay!" Katara snapped, her cold blue eyes flashing murderously.

Aang reluctantly entered a fighting stance while Sokka shook his head, "I refuse to fight my own sister..." He pointed his sword at Azula, "But I will fight the bitch responsible for brainwashing her." The young warrior said coldly at Azula.

"Oh no, I'm so scared." Azula taunted sarcastically.

"You should be," Sokka pointed his sword at Azula. While Sokka was a sarcastic, witty, young man when his friends or family were at stake he could be a powerful, confident warrior. He stared at Azula, radiating confidence.

Azula faked a yawn before giving him a fire blast.

Sokka swiftly sidestepped the fire blast, sending a statement to Azula.

Katara however surprised him with an ice blast that was designed to quickly freeze it's target.

Sokka barely had time to set his feet as he was frozen in place. Aang was aghast at the sight of Sokka...Katara's brother...encased in ice.

To be continued...