A/N: Sorry to have been gone for such a long time, but I've been a little busy. I know that the ending of the last chapter was kind of sucky, and I've gone over it several times. Truth is, I can't figure out how to improve it in any substantial way. The original fight in the series itself had way to many location transitions for too short a time period and was in general rushed (weird for a fight that took up a good third of the episode, I know, but it just didn't blend well). So I'm abandoning my work on revising that chapter until I have a breakthrough.

That finished, I would like to ask you guys your opinion on a matter concerning the focus of the story. My intention at the beginning was to have it for the most part exclusively follow Azula and those immediately around her, however, I realize that this can severely limit me in terms of story telling. So, I've decided that, as the story progreses, I'll have more breaks to the Gaang. The question I have for you is how frequent you think these breaks should be. Obviously the more indepth ones will be longer, but do you want to really see the Gaangs reaction to the change or keep the focus on Azula.

Gratuitous cues

*Avatar Opening*

Previously on Sands of Destiny:

"It was just a nightmare, Uncle. Nothing to worry about."

"Was it about your Brother?"

*quietly*"Yes."

. . .

"Very good, you are truly a prodigy, Azula. Were it not for your injuries, you would have surpassed your brother long ago. But you must learn not to let your anger control you, and to not over exert yourself. It took you half a year to get that arm to where you could eat with it, but one bad move could end all that hard work."

. . .

"I worry about you, Azula. Sometime's I feel like your obsessed with gaining power."

"Maybe. But without power, who am I?"

* * *

The Firenation scout ship limped into harbor amid its giant cousins. The damage that had racked the bow was terrible. It had been crumpled over and damaged beyond the point capable of repairing at sea. Unfortunately, the only harbor capable of repairing such damage was this one, at the tip of the earth kingdom, under the command of Captain Zhao.

Azula knew Zhao. He had been a childhood friend of the Firelord, but only in the last 5 years had he been able to finish his study at the Firenation war academy. He was precisely the reason that the current situation was so unfortunate. Azula knew him, he knew Azula. And like anyone close to her father, they hated eachother.

As the ship pulled up to the dock, the ramp let out a terrible scream and lowered to the metal plating. The entire crew and all the dock hands winced at the sound. Azula sighed, the repairs were likely going to be a while, even with Firebender metallurgy.

Azula dismissed the captain of the ship to arrange repairs as she walked down the ramp with her Uncle and Ty Lee. As she had expected, Zhao was waiting for her.

"Captain Zhao, a pleasure to see you could come out to great us on such short notice." Azula said in as cordial a tone she could muster.

"It's Commander, now." Zhao answered, the contempt he let through showing that he felt in no way obligated to return Azula's politeness.

"Then I suppose congratulations are in order." Azula replied immediately, letting her façade slip only a little.

"Yes well. I'm sure you didn't drop in just to congratulate me on my new promotion. The last I heard you had enough supplies to be out for months, and that was merely a few weeks ago. Has there been trouble." Zhao continued as he paced past the princess and her entourage.

"Actually yes. We ran into an Earthkingdom ship. It caused significant damage to my vessel." Azula said, gesturing her hand to the mangled bow of her vessel. "We came in for repairs."

Zhao frowned. The three exiles eyed him cautiously, like one would eye a snake.

"An Earth Kingdom ship? But you came in from the south, there are no Earth Kingdom ships in that direction." He said at length, returning their gaze.

"We believe it was a courier vessel carrying Watertribe warriors and messages from those that weren't returning. We're fortunate that's all it was, or we wouldn't have been able to sink it." Azula answered smoothly.

"Well. It's good to see you got through that unharmed, and bloodied our enemies noses while you were at it." Zhao said with ease. "It may be some time before your ship is repaired, but I'll make it a priority. In the meantime, who would like some tea?"

Iroh and Ty Lee grew much more cheerful at the mention of their favorite drink. Azula merely nodded and followed in behind the others.

* * *

Azula sat patiently in the Commander's quest room. She had barely drunk any of her tea and it had started to chill. Iroh and Ty Lee on the other hand were on their second cup. Zhao had had important business to take care of, so he had left them there.

Azula eyed the guards in the room, taking in their number and composition. There were 5 of them, all firebenders. "He's keeping us prisoner here." Azula said quietly to her companions, keeping her voice just low enough to sound conversational but too quiet to hear clearly.

"What makes you say that?" Ty Lee asked cheerily, taking another sip of her tea.

"The guards, there's too many of them n this room, and all firebenders. Do we really need that kindof protection."

Iroh let out a laugh, grabbing hold of his belly. "She's right, you know. It does seem a bit much."

"Well, I for one think it's just fine. It's not causing any problems, right?" Ty Lee said with a pout.

"Not yet, but I think it means that Zhao expects trouble, and wants to make sure we don't get away." Azula leaned back and took a sip of her tea. "And you know how much I hate surprises, Ty Lee." She said in a loader tone.

As if it were a cue, the door opened and Zhao stepped in. His guards filling into the room and taking positions like the ones already in. "My sincerest apologies, you know how it can be. Sometimes it seems like none of my men can polish their armor unless I personally instruct them how." He looked directly into Azula's glaring eyes. "But enough about my problems. How goes your search for the Avatar. Find any leads."

"We may have. A bolt of light shooting through the sky." She notted his incredulas look. "It's the best lead we've gotten for some time. We traced it to a water tribe village, and they said that an old monk had been there. He must have somehow knew we were coming and left. I hope to trace him into the Earth Kingdom."

The Firenavy commander gave her a stern look. "Rumors and stories are hardly anything to go by."

"Unless of course, their all you can go by."

The door opened again, and a young lieutenant stepped in. "Well, we shall see about that." Zhao said as he turned toward the officer. "Well?"

"We interrogated the crew, as per your orders. They confirm, they did have contact with the Avatar."

Zhao's face became a mask of barely controlled rage. He turned to Azula, and asked. "Tell me, again, how your ship became damaged so."

Azula ignored him, merely grabbing her teacup and taking a sip. She did so leisurly, taking a perverse pleasure in the anger on the Commander's face.

He stalked up to her and swatted the cup out of her hands. It crashed into the wall and shattered. "ANSWER ME!!!" He shouted into her face.

Azula's eyes flicked back and forth, scanning his features. Finally, she responded. "I was drinking… that."

If it were possible, Zhao's face would have conveyed even more rage than it did then. The nerve of it nearly made him strike her right there, where she sat. The look her uncle gave him however, stopped him from doing just that. An Idea snaked it's way into his mind. He turned and started out the door. "Your ship may be in need of an overhawl, all that time out at sea with such poor maintenance. Could take all week."

Azula lost her cool for a moment and stood abruptly. "You can't DO THAT!!!" She shouted after him.

Zhao wiped the smile from his face as he turned toward her. "I can, and I will continue the search for the avatar while you're here." He smirked. "Besides, I'm really just helping you, Azula. It's obvious that you're no match for the Avatar. At his maximum potential, he is a physical god. For too much too handle for a little girl."

Azula's eyes took on a steely glare. "This little girl could easily best you in any match you could muster, on the battlefield or one on one. And She's more than a match for the Avatar."

Zhao returned the look. "Is that a challenge."

"Before dusk, as the sun sets. The traditional arena." Azula smirked. "Unless, of coarse, you're afraid of a little gir."

Zhoa's anger bled through again, "Oh no, I'll be there. And I'll be certain to teach you the respect you should have learned from your LAST Agni-Kai." With that, the Firenation officer turned and stalked out of the room.

Iroh and Ty Lee, bystanders and spectators to the exchange, now showed their concern.

"Was that really necessary, Azula. Do you remember the last time you dueled a master." Iroh said with anxiety.

Azula merely clenched her right hand into a fist. "I'll always's remember" She said as smoke began to waft from the bandages.

* * *

A/N II: Sorry for the Cliffhanger, but It felt like a good place to stop. Hope you enjoyed, please review. Feel free to N.I.T.P.I.C.K.