"Aang!, what are you doing here?" Azula questioned.

He let out another laugh, "Giving you your surprise of course, I thought it was obvious?"

"Aang, you can't just break me out of here, did you even stop to think of the consequences?" She said with a hint of desperation. "Ugh, they will come looking for me, Zuko might not but I know the leaders of the Earth nation will, we will only be delaying the inevitable." Aang could tell she was upset.

He sighed, "You worry too much Azula, I'm the avatar, and you're the smart and cunning Azula of the fire nation, I'm sure we'll figure something out." He ended with a smile.

"Pfft, as optimistic as ever," she lifted an eye brow, "Well, are you going to get these cuffs off me or not Avatar?"

He grinned, "Of course, princess." She made a disgusted look at this. "Ugh, don't call me that."

"Why not?" Aang was clueless.

"Oh, no reason." And they left it at that, Aang made short work of the cuffs and soon Azula was free from the dull metal chair.

"Finally, you have no idea how incredibly uncomfortable those things are." She said whilst rubbing her ankles and wrists relentlessly.

Aang nodded in understanding

"I don't mean to rush you, but we kind of need to hurry before they wake back up." Aang pleaded, "Yes of course." She replied and started following Aang's lead.

She smirked as they made their way through the ship, Aang sure did make short work of all the guards, most of them probably didn't even know what hit them. He sure made her proud.

As they made their way onto the deck Azula smiled, taking in a deep breath.

"Ahh it feels so good to be out of there, the air was so foul." She said, still taking deep breathes of fresh air.

"I'm sorry I didn't get here earlier, Azula." He said with a tinge of regret.

"Don't worry about it, if it wasn't for you I'd still be on my way to my death so I'm forever grateful for what you've done, how ever stupid it might have been." She reassured him.

He smiled at her.

"Where's that flying bison of yours? I don't see him anywhere."

"Oh, I didn't bring him, I didn't want to announce to the entire ship who I was, figured it'd be best if we didn't give away who broke you out. If that were the case we really wouldn't have a chance." He explained.

"…So how'd you get here then? Dare I ask?"

He smirked.

"Well, I had to.. Lets just say… liberate, an unused water nation sub. The machinist had built a few more than we needed during the day of the black sun, so I figured I'd take one for a spin, maybe save a damsel in distress on the way." He was grinning and sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.

She just shook her head and sighed. "What have I gotten myself into.." She questioned before making her way to the edge of the ship. She looked around, "Well.. Where is it?"

"Oh! Hold on." He exclaimed before running and jumping off the opposite side of the ship.

It had been a few minutes since he jumped and she was beginning to grow impatient. She looked back over the side of the ship and noticed bubbles starting rising to the surface.

As the submarine surfaced Aang burst out of the top. "Here we go! Jump down!" He shouted.

'This could end bad..' She thought, before jumping off the side.

She hit her mark, but quickly lost her balance, her arms started flailing as she found herself falling backwards off the sub, "Haha, gotcha." Aang exclaimed before grabbing her by the waist and pulling her towards him.

A few seconds passed before the broke apart, "Well um.." "uh sorry." they both stuttered. "Thanks.. You know.. For catching me." She said regaining her composure.

"Anytime!" Aang explained, "Well, we better head out." He said while making his way to the entrance of the sub, he gave Azula a hand as he helped her down, he jumped in using his air bending to cushion his landing, he closed the top than took his place at the helm.

"So how does this thing work anyways?" She asked.

"Water bending of course, all you gotta do is control the water around the ship, and you can go up, down, however fast you want, it's pretty ingenious really." He explained as he started bending them under water. "The first model had some problems storing air, but the Mechanist revised the construction a bit, we can stay under for quiet awhile now."

"Ahh yes, he is the one that invented the war balloons correct?" Aang nodded, "Pretty smart man." She added before becoming lost in thought.

About 30 minutes passed before Azula broke the silence, "Where are we going, anyways?"

He moved his head to the side to let her know he had her attention, still bending, "An island close by, We've gotta find Appa, then from there the Western air temple." He answered, before facing forward again and focusing more on his bending.

"Why the Western air temple?" She asked, "Well, It's sort of where I live now really, I had to rebuild a bit of it of course, 'Sparky Sparky Boom Man', as Sokka would say, destroyed quiet a bit of it in his attempt to kill us, but before that I thought it was really pretty, It's my favorite Temple, and I figure they all belong to me anyways, seeing as how I'm the last air bender, I might as well settle down at one of them." His voice faltered slightly towards the end, Azula noticed.

"I'm.. sorry Aang, about your people. And what the fire nation has done.."

"Don't worry about it, you didn't kill us all off, and besides, I'm still here, so that means hope isn't completely lost. I'll bring back the Air benders somehow." He replied with conviction.

She inwardly smiled, 'He's something else..'

"And I'll help you, with whatever it is you do, though, not like I have much of a choice…" They both chuckled at this.

It was then the seriousness of what he had done finally caught up with Aang. They would try and find her. They would most likely stop at nothing to re-capture her, he wouldn't let this happen. No one deserved death, and besides, she was his friend, he wouldn't let anyone hurt his friends.

"I think we won't have much to worry about at the temple, them, you know, finding you. Even if they suspect me of doing it they don't really know where I stay, you should be safe. I obviously won't be able to stay with you the whole time, I'm still the avatar, and if I vanished that would be extremely suspicious." He said.

Azula nodded, "Of course, I expected as much."

The sub again fell silent, 30 minutes passed before Aang stopped bending and they floated to the surface.

"We're here." He stated before cranking open the hatch and pulling himself up. Azula jumped up shortly after and they made their way to shore.

Appa wasn't far off from where they landed, "Head on over, I've gotta take care of something." He said pointing Azula in the direction of Appa , she nodded before making her way towards where Appa was resting. A few moments later she heard an explosion, she was quick to turn, lightening sparking at her finger tips awaiting opposition, she quickly found the source of the explosion. Aang was standing next to a now demolished and smoldering Submarine.

"God damn Aang, I almost killed you again, can you give me a warning before you start blasting things to hell?"

Aang chuckled, "Sorry Azula, just had to get rid of the 'evidence', won't happen again, I promise."

"Better not, next time I might not hesitate." She retorted angrily.

Aang was still laughing. "I'll keep that in mind."

Azula sighed, "Ugh, your hopeless. Can we just move on already?"

"Hehe, of course." He replied.

The beach they were on was truly beautiful. Of course, anything to Azula would be beautiful at this point, considering the only thing she had been able to look at for the past year had been the dirty dark walls of her prison cell. 'Why hadn't I noticed things like this before?.. This island, its gorgeous.'

"It's really well.. You know, pretty here." She said.

"I know, one thing I loved during my training to defeat Ozai and all the running we did was the sights. Places like this, really kept my spirits up when I was losing hope. I fought for peoples life's, yes, but another part of it was so all the pretty places I'd been too wouldn't end up in ash. The fire nation was so destructive, fire itself is a destructive force, the misguided can cause.. And did cause.. So much damage with it."

"Your right. Fire isn't the most forgiving of elements, it's angry, if not properly controlled. But at the same time it is a beautiful element, and can be used for good, in the right persons hands."

"Mhmm, very true, beautiful and dangerous.. Kind of like you!" He said with a smile, which quickly turned into a blush.

Azula was beat red. She quickly turned away to hide it, he was doing the same.

'So sweet.. No ones ever really said anything like that to me..'

A few moments later and they were at the camp Aang had previously set up with Appa.

"Are you hungry? I figure we've still got a little while before anyone starts actually looking for you, and well, I'm starving!."

"Ahh yes, that would be nice." She replied.

"I hope you like fruit.. I don't eat meat." He stated.

"That is fine, thank you." She said as he passed a few different fruits her way.

They ate in silence. They never did have an awkward silence, as a matter of fact it was the opposite. They always found themselves comfortable in each others presence, even if there were no spoken words. Azula didn't really understand why she felt like she did, but she wasn't complaining. It was nice to actually trust someone for once. To not have to worry about getting stabbed in the back, and to actually.. Care about someone, for once. In her 'past life' as she'd grown to call it, she saw people as pawns to use to get what she wanted.. This wasn't so anymore, although, she didn't exactly care for everyone, her brother had come to visit her a few times during her stay in the prison, she still didn't really care much for him. And she hated the guards. Ignorant savages in her eyes, things were different when she saw Aang though. His visits made her stay there tolerable. She felt different around him, although she couldn't very well pinpoint what it was she felt. 'Oh well.' She thought, and continued eating.

She saw Aang throw a few fruit Appa's way and he happily devoured them.

"We should leave soon, we can't stay this close to long." Aang said while he began packing everything back up.

She nodded, quickly standing to help him pack.

"How long do you think it'll take to get there?" She asked,

"Not too long, maybe a few hours. Why?"

"Well.. I've never really been fond of flying, I've ridden in the War balloons before, just wasn't my.. Thing, I guess you could say." She answered.

Aang smiled.

"Toph was the same way, well, sort of. She didn't like not being able to see, you know, she saw with her feet, so in the air she felt pretty helpless. But eventually she actually started to love riding Appa. So I'm sure you will as well!" He responded, smiling and putting things onto Appa's back at the same time.

She simply shrugged, "Guess we'll find out."

Aang jumped up onto the saddle, Azula was close behind.

She gulped, before jumping up, "Ugh.. Here goes nothing.." She said before jumping up.

Aang grinned, before shouting "yip yip!" and off they were.

Azula shrieked when it took off, and quickly found herself clinging to Aang.

She regained her composure shortly after and let go, Aang was laughing.

"And what's so funny, if I might ask?" She questioned with an angry look.

Aang finally regained himself before simply saying, "You." and stared laughing again.

She Sighed.

'I've been doing that a lot lately…'

"Whatever, Avatar." She said in a huff and started examining her surroundings. It was stunning, up here.

At this point they were high in the clouds, you could see for miles upon miles, it truly was a sight.

"This is.. Amazing." She said, as she gazed around.

"I told you you'd like it, those bulky balloons are nothing compared to a Sky Bison."

Azula nodded her head in agreement.

"This is truly something else."

They sat like this for awhile, before Azula asked something even she was surprised about.

"Do you ever miss Katara?.. I mean, you say you avoid her.. Do you miss seeing her?" She asked.

"… I guess in a way I do, she was a great friend, we were really close as well. I could tell her anything and she would listen, she was comforting, and kind. And truly a beautiful girl, all these things, are why I fell in love with her. She was something else you know? I couldn't help but not think about her, not miss her, miss us. But she's with Zuko now, me and her, we're over, I had my chance and I guess I failed. I'm glad she's happy, and I've forgiven her and Zuko, but still, I can't help but feel jealousy when I see Zuko, even when I see Sokka, or Toph, I can't help but think of Katara. Because we all journeyed together, it makes me think about our time together, the journey to defeat the fire lord. All we went through. I kind of fell into a depression at first, after that night I left for awhile. I didn't want to see my friends, I didn't want any part of their sympathy, I just wanted to forget about her. And I knew they'd apologize and tell me things would be okay, but they wouldn't, she was mine! And Zuko took her from me!, that's all I could think about, eventually I realized I was wrong, and that he didn't take her, but still. It was devastating. Shortly after that was when I started visiting you, actually. I'm not even entirely sure why I did.. But I'm glad I did.. We've become great friends. Haha and now we're convicts on the loose, well, you are anyways. Funny how things work, destiny is a weird thing."

Azula contemplated what he said.

"Katara was stupid." Was all she had to say in reply.

Aang smiled. "Thanks." Because he knew, coming from her, it was the truth. Azula might still have her cold moments, and lose her temper, but she definitely knew how to cheer him up, and that was fact. Azula's sympathy was something he didn't mind.

"We are getting close, I'm thinking 15 minutes tops." Aang said.

"How can you tell?" She asked, she didn't see him using a map or anything.

"A few landmarks, and the fact that I've flown here so many times. Eventually you just kind of get a feel for where something is. Things start looking and smelling familiar. Like the air! The air here is much more clean, unlike that of the fire nations, the fire nation smells like ash and sulfur, if your close enough to one of the many volcanoes."

She took a breath

He was right, the air was defiantly a lot more pure.

"Ahh there it is! I can see it."

'The Air nomads truly built wonderful things.' She thought, 'It's like a giant work of art..'

Aang of course was used to it, so he didn't have the same reaction as her.

Appa landed by a fountain of water, Azula and Aang jumped off and he started drinking from it.

"This way!" Aang exclaimed grabbing Azula's hand and leading her in the direction of a building.

He opened the door and the walked in.

It was.. Really nice, actually. She expected Aang just slept around on the floor or on Appa or something, his apparent bedroom was quiet nice. A large bed, various paintings and statues lay across the room, the Air nomads were obviously a very artistic race.

"You like it?" He asked.

She nodded. "It's very nice."

"This is where you'll be staying while we're here. Which could be for awhile." He said.

She was surprised.

"But isn't this your room? Where will you sleep?" She asked.

"Outside, to be honest I find myself sleeping out there more often than in here anyways, the nights here are incredibly beautiful and peaceful." He explained.

She smirked.

"Figured there was a catch somewhere."

He just smiled.

"Make yourself at home, I've gotta go back out for now though, I'm sure by now they know of your escape and I've got to go see how serious they are about it. I should be back sometime tomorrow, I'm pretty sure you'll be safe here till then." He explained as he made his way out of the door.

She followed suit,

"Before you go, I just wanted to say thanks, for what you've done for me"

And with that she pulled him into a hug.

Aang smiled, wrapping his arms around her countering her embrace.

"It was no problem, I mean, besides, the world wouldn't be the same without the queen of all cranky fire bending females." He was smiling even wider now.

She pulled back and gave him a playful shove.

"Leave it to you to ruin a happy moment, sigh, you better leave before this cranky fire bender decides to burn you to a crisp." She retorted.

"Hey hey, there's no need for that, I'll just.. Be going now." He said as he jumped up on Appa.

Their eyes met, and they grew silent for a moment, Aang was the first to break the gaze.

"Well, I ought to go. See you soon! Appa! Yip yip!"

And With that he was off.

Azula watched his exit. And when he was out of sight, she found herself looking around.

She got the urge to explore.

This temple was huge.

And so she spent the rest of the day working in and out of the various rooms, eventually coming to a library. It was full of books, most written by past Air benders and such, she eventually came to one entitled 'The Best Mistake' she didn't know why it caught her eye, but it did. And so she found a table and chair and cracked the book open. And that's where she sat, even after it got dark, she fire bended a torch and continued reading.

It was the most beautiful story she ever read, a story about two warring nations, and how two opposites found love. One had done horrible acts in the name of his nation, but after meeting the pretty and strong princess of the nation he pledged to destroy in battle, had a change of heart. As they fought he found that she was intelligent, and relentless, she fought with great courage and it was because of that he came to respect her. They fought and fought and he finally gave into the fatigue. She had bested him. But she didn't end him as he would have come to expect, no, rather she took him away, and nursed him back to health. It was during this time he came to love her. After they both returned to their separate nations, he was on a mission to stop this pointless war.

Of course things weren't as easy as he would have liked, his father had shunned his relationship with the princess, and forbid him from seeing her. But that didn't stop him of course. It was during the last battle that he confronted his dad, so many life's were lost and they wanted his him to see the death and destruction the war was causing, both sides had suffered many casualties, and both were throwing all they had in this last battle. One in defense of their nation, and the other was simply hell bent on power. He confronted his father again, and all the country's soldiers sided with the son. It was then the King realized the mistake he made, and recalled his troops. The nations found peace, and began rebuilding together. The two got married, and eventually brought the two nations together as one, they ruled over the nation together the rest of their life's, doing everything in their power to take care of their people. The nation had lived long and prosperous after.

And that's how it ended.

She found herself crying at the end.

It was simply amazing.

She put the book back on the shelf and made her way to her room.

She wanted a happy ending. But she knew it most likely wouldn't be so. Criminals don't get happy endings, and that's a fact.

And then her thoughts drifted to Aang

She wondered how he was, and what was happening on the outside.

She found herself missing him.

Funny.

She never pictured she'd cry, and miss someone in the same day. This was truly a testament to her change. Too bad no one else besides Aang would see it that way.

As she drifted off into sleep she thoughts of a happy ending and Aang plagued her mind….

eh.. idk. i think the lil story i made up for her to read was about as typical as it gets, but whatever, seemed like a good idea at first. lol.