A/N: Thx everyone for the reviews, I was not sure how well this story would be accepted in the groups but so far those that have sent me reviews have enjoyed it. Of course I know some of you may not, understandable.
Slowly but surely starting to pull all the pieces of the plot together and getting all the major players into position. I hope a few of you will like who've I've pick to be the opposition.
Enjoy
Chapter III
Dusk turned to night, and the palace glowed with the soft light of the lanterns throughout it. Most were settling in for the night, but not all. Zuko was in his study leaning back in his chair. In front of him, on the desk, was a parchment of the latest news about the rebels. The small group was starting to grow in number, but the leader behind it all was still unknown to him.
This alone was enough to make the Fire Lord worry, not knowing who the head of this snake was that threatened to undo everything that he and his friend worked and fought for, did not set well with him. He had thought about asking his uncle to find out any information, but he didn't want to go running to him every time there was a situation he was unsure of. No, this was a mess that he was going to have to deal with on his own. As he sat there in thought, there came a knock at his door.
"Enter," the door opened, and he was surprised at who came to visit him. "I'm surprised you're not in bed by now, when we were kids you were always the first one asleep."
"And the hardest one to always get up in the morning," Sokka said with a light chuckle. "No I came to give you recent news,"
"Of?" Zuko asked.
"About the threats on you and your sister's lives," Sokka said walking up to his desk and handing him a small note.
Sokka stayed silent for a little while as Zuko read the note. As he did, he could watch the expression on his friend's face change from and get worse than it already was. Even he was shocked by the news; he had thought, as he was sure Zuko did, that this man had went into hiding after the war.
"How'd you get this information?" Zuko asked.
"How do you think?" Sokka told him.
Zuko looked at the note again, and it took a minute before he recognized the handwriting. It was his uncle's, and at the realization, Zuko looked up at his friend and gave him a puzzled look. Sokka figured it was time to let Zuko know that, like his uncle, he was a part of the Order.
"Zuko, I was with your uncle when you message came. Before I left to come see you, he told me that he would have some of our people look into who was making these threats on you and Azula," Sokka took a seat on the other side of the desk. "A messenger hawk just showed up with that, and I figured you would like to know."
"So, I'm guessing that since my uncle sent you this information and not to me directly, that you're a part of the same order he is."
"And they say I'm the smart one," Sokka said joking. "But, yes, I have been since before the war ended, just never knew it till a few years ago," Sokka said rubbing the back of his neck. "You would think when they induct someone into their order they would let you know from day one," Sokka rambled.
In light of the news, Zuko could not keep from chuckling along with his friend. For all the maturing he had done over the years since they've seen each other, there were times that the old Sokka would come out. It was refreshing to see that not everything had changed about his best friend. Especially with everything that was going on.
"Well in light of the new news, I think I should send a message to Aang and ask for his help," Sokka said.
"Look Sokka, I know that Aang's the avatar and everything, but this is more of an internal matter within the Fire Nation, and Aang has bigger responsibilities now," Zuko said.
"I will have to admit you're right about that, beside I'm sure Katara will kill both of us for dragging him away on something we could handle," Sokka commented, then getting up.
"Where are you going?" Zuko asked even though he knew the answer beforehand. "Right just be careful you still have a job here to do."
"Don't worry, I'll be back to babysitting your sister," Sokka told him walking out of the study.
"Oh come on, I was only trying to say I was sorry," Azula complained.
Sokka walked into his room just in time to hear her. He shook his head and headed over to where Yue was. She had her back to him and could not see what see was doing. As he walked around her, he noticed what she had done. Yue had frozen more than her feet to the ground; the Princess was frozen from the waist down.
"Yue!" Sokka said, trying to scold her but it was hard when he was fighting back the laughter. "What have I told you about this?" Sokka told her.
"Get me out of here," Azula ordered him.
Yue growled lowly again and started towards her once more. She did not care for the way she was speaking to her master and was going to finish what she started before he showed up. However, Sokka noticed that she might do this and stopped her.
"You might want to rephrase that Princess, or she might finish the job," Sokka told her.
"Sokka please, I'm freezing," Azula pleaded this time.
Sokka was actually stunned this time. It was the first time that she had ever called him by his name, instead of calling in a water boy, or peasant. He looked at her and for a moment, and only a brief one at that. Sokka noticed something in her eyes. Yet as soon as she noticed he was looking at her, it was gone as quick as it came.
"What are you doing down here anyways?" Sokka asked as he pulled out his dagger to once again chip her out of the ice.
She didn't say anything at first as he stated to free her from the ice; she just watched him with some fascination. There was something about the way he moved and the smell of his skin so close to her. She shook the thought from her head and finally answered.
"I saw your light was still on, and I came to say I was sorry for calling Yue luggage earlier," Azula said as Sokka got one leg free. "But as soon as I said something that over grown…" Azula stopped when she noticed Sokka looking at her and giving her a look that warned her to choose her next word wisely. "She turned on me and before I could say anything froze me half to death."
"She does have a very good memory, Princess, and does have feelings and what you called her this morning hurt her," Sokka said freeing her other leg. "There all free. Now, come over here and sit down so I can get you warm again."
"No, I've had enough of both of you for one day, good night," Azula said tuning to walk away but only finding her legs weak.
She tried to maintain her balance and show that her legs were not affected from being trapped in the ice Yue put her in. However, that plan did not work out so well, because as soon as she two three steps she was falling. It felt like slow motion as the ground came rushing up at her, but never made contact. The next thing she knew she was being lifted off her feet by a pair of strong arms.
Sokka knew that this was going to happen, and that her pride was going to get her hurt. So when he noticed that she was about ready to kiss the ground under her, he was quick to move and catch her. Once he had a hold of her, he adjusted her in his arms and picked her up bridal style.
"I said I was fine, now put me down, that's an order peasant," Azula said trying to struggle out of his grasp.
"Fine," Sokka said getting ready to drop her.
"You wouldn't dare," she warned.
Sokka didn't answer but simply pulled his arms out from under her and let her fall. She let out a small squeal then the sound of her hitting his bed. Azula quickly propped herself up and stared at the retreating water tribesman. She was livid and was going to give him a piece of her mind.
"How dare you drop me like that? Who do you think you are treating me in such a way?" Azula yelled at him.
"You said put you down so I did," Sokka said grabbing one of his furs from his gear. "Here wrap yourself in that, it will help get you warm," Sokka said tossing it at her.
Azula went to catch it only to have part of it hit her in the face. The fur was heavy, and it about knocked her back. She pulled it from her face and gave Sokka an evil look only to see him with his back to her. He was picking up the saddle he used to ride Yue. Azula looked from him to the fur that he had given her.
"You expect me to use this dead animal skin to get warm with," Azula snipped at him.
"Whether you use it or not, I don't care," Sokka said putting Yue's saddle on. "I'm leaving, so it really doesn't matter to me what you do," Sokka told her.
For some reason the news of him leaving sent a strange wave of regret over her. Was she the reason he was leaving? Why was this sudden feeling that she didn't want him to go washing over her? He was only a peasant, nobody of importance to her; he was the enemy during the war. Azula couldn't explain any of it, but as she watched him done his armor, a part of her wanted to run up to him and stop him from going. Yet her pride about not needing anyone in her life to depend on kept her from doing it.
Sokka had no idea the conflict going on behind him in the mind of the princess. His was focused on one task - getting geared up and heading out to the location that Iroh gave him on the rebel forces. He finished getting his armor on and the rest of his weapons, including his black sword, before walking over to Yue, who was waiting for him patiently. He stepped into the saddle and, without another word to Azula, he gave Yue the command to take off.
He never looked back, for if he did he would have noticed the tears that started to travel down the princess's cheeks, or hear the meek cry for him not to leave her. She clutched the fur he had given her close around her and buried her face in, it breathing in his scent. She didn't know how it happened or when it happened, but she knew that somehow she had started falling for him. Azula didn't know if it was feeling left over when they were younger, before the end of the war, or just started. She didn't care, all she knew was no that he was gone she felt alone, more alone then she had ever felt in her life.
No, she was not going to feel this way. She was not going to feel like she needed anyone in her life especially him. She tossed the fur off of her and tried to stand. Her legs were still a little unsteady, but being that she was Azula and never showed weakness, she gritted her teeth and headed out of his room through the double door that led to the courtyard.
As she walked out into the courtyard, she could still hear the leathery wings of Yue as they flew off to wherever they were going. The half moon was just coming over the horizon. She watched them for a moment, then shook her head and stormed off to her room. She was right; she didn't need anybody and didn't care in the least bit whether he returned again.
It was close to midnight by the time Sokka and Yue reached the small cove that Iroh's note told him was where to find the rebel leader. Sure enough, as they approached the cove, Sokka could see and smell small campfires around the beach. He flew Yue in quickly and quietly to a mountain not far away from their camp, but close enough that he could use the device that Mechanist had made for him a long time ago.
Sokka dismounted from Yue and belly-crawled over to the edge of the cliff they were on. He reached into his gear bag behind him and pulled out his binoculars. He scanned the area in and around the camp, and there were no signs of who his was looking for. Therefore, he focused his search on the ship just off shore, and sure enough, he found the man Iroh's report told him about.
"Zhao, that snake in the grass is still kicking," Sokka said to himself.
Sokka still wanted to wrap his hands around the man's neck for taking Yue away from him at the North Water Tribe. He had never forgiven him for that, and he doubted he ever would. Sokka had already failed protecting one woman from Zhao, he was not about to lose another to him as well. He would have loved to go down there and teach the old Admiral a thing or two about payback, but he needed time to plan. That and the fact there he was too well guarded now and he needed to get back to the palace before something happened.
He crawled back from the edge before heading back to Yue and climbing back into the saddle. He needed to get back to Zuko and let him know what he had found out first hand and make plans for both Zuko's and Azula's protection. Sokka gave Yue the command to take off, and soon they were in the air heading back to the palace.