A/N: Hello everyone, another chapter for you guys. I'm trying to get this story on its feet as soon as possible but time has become a scarce commodity so don't get used to frequent updates. This is the chapter where the story grows and a few things are cleared up like time frames, ages and character development. I would also like to warn you that this chapter contains some spoilers from the Search part 3 so if you haven't read that, this might ruin your experience when you do.

Disclaimer: I still do not own Avatar: the last airbender, Although I wish I did.

Previous Chapter:

Now calm, Zuko was taken back at Shun's words as he knew exactly what he meant.

"No, I will not be like my father. What is done is done, Azula is not only dangerous, she's also unstable. We need to find her as soon as possible. Alert the generals of the situation. I want that report as soon as possible, soldiers situated at the outskirts of the capital and road blocks on all major routes immediately!"

Shun stood up from his kneeling position and gave one last bow and hurried out of the throne room.

Chapter 3

Sunset.

This wasn't his plan. It wasn't how he imagined life after the war. When they won and saved the world six years ago, He had it all planned out. He would be with his dream girl, travel all around the world, working with his friends to bring balance, It would be a blast.

Looking back now it was clear that his thinking was juvenile. After the war and the failure of the Harmony Restoration Movement, It was one issue after another. The time after Zuko found his mother and Azula disappeared was filled with assassination attempts and unrest. It was one assassination attempt after another and Zuko was certain Azula was behind all of them but when they found her 6 months later, she was in a horrible condition, both mentally and physically. She was found in a deep part of Forgetful Valley outside the village of Hira'a. Zuko was shocked and puzzled by Azula's state and the location as they sweeped the entire valley looking for her after the first assassination attempt and found nothing.

Azula.

He felt sympathy for the former princess. She was cold, vindictive and a sadistic sociopath but below that exterior she was a young girl who had to grow up too fast. People often forgot that simple detail about both the royal siblings. They were raised by a cruel man who only saw them as tool to dominate the world. They had to survive in their own home. Zuko had Iroh to show him the right path, Azula had no one.

He knew how she felt, before and after the war. He knew how it felt to have pressure put on you at a young age because of a title. He knew what it was like to have no one, to lose a loved one and to have everything you once knew ripped from your grasp. In the end finding new friends had prevented him from losing his mind but Azula lost her friends along with everything else so her breakdown didn't really surprise him.

He remembers when he first went to see her in the asylum after she was found again. It had been a few weeks since they were back in the Fire nation and Zuko had asked him to do the unthinkable. He had asked him to take the last thing she could use to hurt herself, him or anyone else.

The last thing she had to lose.

Her firebending.

Zuko had reasoned that with her fire bending and current unpredictable state of mind, she could attack anyone and that taking her bending away was the only option. He was adamant it was for the greater good but once again where he had seen a brick wall blocking progress, Aang had seen a wall to build on and create a fortress. Where he had seen darkness, Aang had seen a need and opportunity for light. Where he had seen death and evil in his sister, Aang saw a new life and good in Azula's heart. Aang refused to take her bending away and vowed to help her.

That had been 3 years ago.

In the end he couldn't keep up his visits because his life became too hectic. He didn't think it would make a difference though, Azula never acknowledged him let alone speak. He would find her sitting in her room just staring off into space, occupied by her own thoughts. She ignored him so well that he questioned if he was really there.

Yes, None of this was in his juvenile plans and vision of life after the war but he could deal with it. He could deal with and endure a lot of things but what he couldn't deal with right now was losing Katara. After their search and everyone was back their positions in their respective nations it was one problem after another that required his attention. Ushering a new and peacefull era wasn't easy even with the support of the leaders of every nation and his friends. In the Fire Nation, there was always some disgraced general, noble or loyalist trying to either usurp the throne or earn stripes by killing the Firelord and Dai Li agents, now an undergroand organization giving King Kuei and his new second in command, Minister Kai sleepless nights trying to reclaim control of the city.

Problems in the colonies had been solved by the formation of Republic City but the democratic nation was still young and riddled with problems of its own. In the end he could only see Katara months at a time as she was also busy with the rebuilding of the Southern Water Tribe with Sokka.

Their relationship was strong enough to survive three years of this but in the end distance had taken its toll and they ended it, amicably.

That was a week ago.

Looking back at it the relationship ended long ago but they were loyal to one another. Loyalty couldn't keep the shell of a relationship alive forever though and on his visit to the North Pole he ran into her and they discussed their relationship.

Their separation, though amicable, hurt loved Katara but couldn't deny the fact that they had grown apart. They were at different points in their lives and they needed to explore that. They went their separate ways after that but agreed to remain friends and tell the others when the time was right, together.

So here he was, A week later, wandering around in the Earth Kingdom in an attempt to clear his head. He had landed Appa at the incomplete but habitable Air temple island that morning, fed him, discussed Air nation culture with some acolytes then took off with his glider to soar as far as he could.

He spent the whole day gliding but clarity and comfort would not come to him. Finally tired he landed in the coastal village of Yenshi, not far from the Chin village and a day's travel from Kyoshi Island. He briefly wondered if he should go to Kyoshi but they'd ask questions about Katara's whereabouts and he didn't think he would be able to answer them with a pretentious smile.

The sun was setting so he just decided to find a cliff, sit with his thoughts, watch it set and find an in to spend the night. He didn't feel like camping.

#########

The sun was setting.

She would've stopped and taken time to savor her first sunset after who knows how long but she had to find a safe place to rest.

They were everywhere. Every route out the firenation capital, every market and everywhere else large amounts of people pooled. The security at the port was reinforced with more soldiers and more guards patrolled the palace grounds, They still feared her.

She smirked at this. Over the years she was in the asylum, or at least what felt like years, she developed a fear of being forgotten, she feared that she would be wiped out from history, she feared irrelevance but apparently she had nothing to worry about in that department. She was out of that hell whole Zuko put her in and was still considered a threat.

The thought of threats made her think of her father, she wondered where he was, if he was still alive and if he had changed, probably not. Little was heard of the former firelord after his defeat and the war ended. The thought of their defeat brought forth a thought of the avatar and she could feel the bile rising in her body. Disgusting band of do Gooders, She would wipe them all out when she got the chance, they would feel her wrath when she dishes out her revenge. She would decapitate them, burn them all to a crisp and make a monument celebrating her rise on top of their shallow graves but for now she had to find a way to leave the Firenation without being spotted.

She had to admit Zuko got the military in shape. They looked organised, tactically aware and the speed at which they filled the areas was impressive. That didn't matter though, She was Azula, crown jewel of the Firenation, dragon of the sapphire flames and rightful heir to the throne, she would not be detained or denied.

########

The sun was setting.

There was no time to waste, They had to get this situation under control as soon as possible. The fact that Azula managed to escape means she had gathered her wits and was back to her old self.

That spelt bad news for everyone.

He was sure people on the streets would start asking questions about the increased military presence if this dragged on for days. The answer to their questions would create unease amongst his people, maybe even panic. The disgraced princess' breakdown and battle with mental stability was much publicized despite his orders to everyone in the palace to contain the information.

Azula had to still be in the Fire nation. She couldn't be that fast, could she? They were camped all around the outskirts of the city and patrols were everywhere. The only way she could evade arrest and leave the capital without detection would be if she received assistance from someone outside. All this is possible but who would help her?

If she really did leave the city limits he'd have no choice but to publicise this, brand her a fugitive and leave her at the mercy of bounty hunters. He couldn't do that to her. She escaped, which means she was back to her old self, which mean they could sit down and fix thing between the two of them and their mother.

Finding his mother, Kiyi, Shun and Lina had opened his eyes to the possibility of a rejuvenated royal family. A family that wasn't riddled with hatred, jealosy, infighting and ulterior motives. He wanted his sister in that family, He even considered extending an olive branch to his father and fix things but the man was beyond redemption and refused.

He would not let his relationship with Azula go that far.

He had to find her.