Chapter 4: Medicine VS Miracles

*

"Hey…guess what Avatar…I mean…" She bit her lip, then shook her head. She'd have to practice in order to get it right for when the time came.

She decided she'd stay true to her end of the deal she made with the Avatar.

"Aang." She stared at the wall.

She'd been walking around the padded room in circles for hours, just thinking to herself. The thing was, no one came in at all today, giving her all the time she needed.

His words were swimming around in her mind. She looked over her shoulder and saw him in the spot he last stood. The area, the room, was still fresh with his scent.

Oddly enough, he had quite the unique scent. One that was unlike anything else. It soothed her now that it was in this room. It allowed her to think. It allowed her to talk to her mother without throwing anything around.

She looked over her shoulder once more and there stood Ursa.

"He said he loved me." She narrowed her eyes, "And I thought he was lying just like you."

Ursa shook her head, "I never lied to you Azula. I do love you."

"Then why don't you leave me alone!?"

"It's up to you to let me go my dear."

"You're lying! You're haunting me!"

She was staring back into the Avatar's eyes, feeling his fingertips along her cheeks.

A guy had never touched her like that before.

She understood the basics of…having someone, particularly a guy, care about you. She knew about boyfriends. She also knew about domination and subordinates. She had her share of kisses and 'made out' with a guy before.

"He said he loves me as a friend."

Her friends were all girls. Guys weren't to make friends with. They were either out on a glorious conquest or were with their girlfriends or families. Nothing in between. The only men she found herself talking to were her father, brother, generals, admirals. All those who served her. No love interest who could truly exceed her expectations.

"Sweetheart, he just wants to be your friend. Like Mai and Ty Lee."

"They are no friends of mine…"

"You pushed them away yourself."

She let out a low growl, spinning around and throwing her food tray in the direction of the wall she was usually tied to when Aang came to see her, "NO! They were traitors and liars!"

Ursa shook her head, "The Avatar is like them. He cares about you."

"You're wrong. He's not like them. He said he'd never leave me." He was the only person to ever say that to her. Her father never said that. Her mother was a liar. None of the people she knew ever said that to her. Not with those eyes that he had.

Those silver eyes…

Her hands became fists, "Aang…"

Ursa blinked, the corners of her lips curling upwards slightly, "Azula…you're doing it! Keep thinking about him. About Avatar Aang."

Azula spun around to face her mother, "Y-you're…starting to vanish…"

The former Fire Nation Queen smiled widely at her daughter, "When I'm completely gone, you'd have been healed. The more you think about him, the more I disappear."

"But…you're my mother you…! You're not supposed to leave me!"

Hearing the hysterics rising in her daughter's voice, she stepped aside as people came in to administer her medication whilst frowning. She watched as her daughter was restrained, kicking and screaming this time. She waited patiently for her to calm down before walking over to her and kissing her forehead, "I'm always with you. As long as you want me to be. If you can't let me go, you can't be cured."

Azula groggily looked up to her mother, then turning away, face buried into her pillow, "I hate you."

"You have to make the choice. It's either me or him. Fantasy or reality…"

"I want you. I want his friendship. But…I want him gone…dead and gone too."

She started dozing off, drifting off into an unwanted slumber.

She reached, being able to touch back to every touch he'd bestowed upon her each visit. She was able to return the little kisses and caresses he'd bestowed upon her. He seemed to enjoy them. Each and every single one. And curiously…just curiously…she thought of giving something else a try. Pressing her lips to his. What would it be like to kiss a guy friend? To kiss someone who she knew cared about her enough to keep coming back, no matter what she did to drive him away.

She felt a hand to her shoulder and at first she didn't want the sweetness to end. She didn't want to stop kissing him. His kisses back were light and sweet, his taste delectable.

But that hand on her shoulder started tapping, it was getting annoying. So she had to pull away and look over her shoulder.

Zuko was standing there with his arms crossed and next to him was that water tribe peasant girl with her hands on her hips.

She wanted to wave them off and go back to making out with her Avatar, but when she turned away from them, they both took a hold of a shoulder and pulled her back. She started reaching, reaching for her new found comforter, only to find that she couldn't reach.

The Avatar reached for her, and when she got far enough, he brought his opened hand back, a wicked smile coming to his visage. A smug look that reeked of trickery and deceit.

And there she was…alone, on her own. Going back to her mother. She was going to shut herself out and away for good.

But out of the blue, here he was again. The Avatar. Back for more, reaching and taking her hand, lacing his fingers with hers, pulling her away from her mother.

What more could he take away from her that hadn't been taken?

And then something peculiar happened.

She was hugging him close, feeling his breath along her neck, the oral warmth slowly descending.

That was something she hadn't given anyone. Her affection nor her body.

"I command you…" she stopped. He wasn't a subordinate and he did not fear her. So he was doing whatever he wanted.

And she was liking it.

She couldn't understand why he would want someone like her. What could he possibly gain? When a man wanted a woman that way, there were two things they were looking for. Pleasure. And there was always a second motive. Glory? Popularity? What would the Avatar want to be with her for? With the way her body was reacting, she wanted it either way.

His kisses trailed down lightly over the fabric of blood red robes. His hands tracing to graze her hips before tenderly grabbing her legs.

But when she looked down at the fingers taking a hold of her, it wasn't the Avatar.

She didn't know who it was.

Who was this man trying to get to the part that made her a woman? She narrowed her eyes. This wasn't what she wanted at all.

He looked familiar. But she couldn't put her finger on it.

Her eyes were dangerous, her tone icy, "Let go of me."

He smirked, "No can do princess. There's no one to protect you either."

"I can take care of myself."

"You're too weak."

She found she couldn't even lift a finger anymore. The man was right. She closed her eyes for a moment. Was this how it was going to be? Was this checkmate? Where were all the people who were supposed to protect her?

She felt familiar fingers smoothing against her cheeks, all other hands and sensations gone.

She looked up, her head resting against the Avatar's lap.

He leaned down, placing a kiss on her forehead, each hand on a side of her face. He whispered so she could hear, "I'll protect you from everything and everyone."

She closed her eyes, content. She could get used to this. She opened them to look to her side and saw her mother smiling at her.

Ursa sighed, "Oh my dear, you don't know just how long I've been watching and protecting you. But now you will have someone who can do that in my place so that I can rest in peace."

"But mom, you're not dead…"

Ursa held up her index finger placing it to her own lips, "Sssssh."

*

"Suki…you knew this day would come. And so you stuck by me through thick and thin! Up to my moment of shining glory!"

Suki crossed her arms, "Sokka…"

"Ah baby, please let the king relish in his glory! As my queen, you can get whatever you like from any place."

She sighed, wriggling herself on her boyfriend's lap as he sat on the throne that used to belong to the king of Ba Sing Sei, "Don't let it get to your head, you're only the king for a day."

Dai Li agents suddenly came into the room, bowing in their king's presence, "Sir shall we let in the people?"

Both Sokka and Suki blinked, then shrugging. Sokka chuckling, "Yeah whatever it is you do."

Both teens' smirks dropped as they heard what sounded like a mob of angry people being let into one of the main halls.

A Dai Li agent bowed to them both, "At this time of day, the king addresses the issues of the people in the upper rings of the city.

"But they're a bunch of rich people! What kind of issues could they possibly have!?"

The Dai Li Agent blinked, "It's best if you let your advisers handle it, however, they will come to you with reports of the issues the people have. It is up to you to see if the adviser's solutions are good enough or not my king."

Suki sweatdropped. For some reason she believed this was going to be a bit more trying than it actually sounded.

*

After exiting Azula's room, he leaned against the door, not wanting to part from her yet. The escorts were patiently waiting to bring him out of this place. He still wasn't used to it, but knowing that he could make Azula actually smile was making this place and this mission bearable. He looked around at the gray walls. This was all about her. He thought for a moment. She cried more often than she smiled. He bit his lip, leaning his weight against the large plastic door, whispering to himself, "I can reverse that." For her to smile more than she cried would be another step towards her getting better.

He'd have to talk with Avatar Roku to see how he was doing. But not yet, he wanted to talk to the doctor in charge of her first.

He had a plan in mind in order to do just that.

"Mister Avatar, you really should get going. She's about to get her medication."

Now Aang was more than curious. He'd never seen how she got her medication or what kind of medication she was getting. He didn't know too much about modern medicines, he was more of an herbalist himself. And thanks to Iroh, he knew which plants made some really great tea.

He stopped for a moment, thinking to himself. Why hadn't Iroh come to visit Azula yet? He needed to ask him. But that was something to ask personally rather than by messenger hawk.

The people around him seemed very impatient.

He smiled a little, "Just give me a few more minutes please."

"We can't mister Avatar. We really should get going. We're not supposed to be here after a certain amount of time. Especially when the doctor comes with her treatment."

"When is he gonna be here?"

The man in white looked around a bit nervously, "Any moment now…"

A voice spoke up from behind the escorts, "What's going on here?"

The escorts moved to either side of the small hallway, parting to make way for Dr. Toma. He reached up, fixing his glasses as he looked down at Aang.

Aang looked up to the doctor, and to the nurses who were behind him with a cart with what he guessed was medications. He quirked a brow, seeing quite a lot of them. Injections, liquids, pills, "Are all of those for her?"

"Mister Avatar, you should have left twenty minutes ago. You are not allowed to be in this vicinity at this time."

"Why not?"

"I'm afraid her visiting hours are over."

Aang blinked innocently, "Actually I wanted to talk to you Dr. Toma. You're in charge of her around the clock care right?"

Dr. Toma nodded, "Indeed I am. But now is not the time to exchange conversation. She needs her medication."

"But that's the thing, she seems okay right now. I want to talk to you about how she is when I visit."

Skeptical, the doctor looked around to everyone else, spotting Loki at the back who was shaking her head. Turning back to face the twelve year old boy, he heaved a sigh, "Can't you make an appointment with Loki?"

"No sir, I want to speak to you about it right now."

Dr. Toma looked annoyed, though he heaved another sigh, "Fine. Follow me into my office."

Aang smiled brightly as the tall doctor turned around and walked away. It seemed that they weren't going to give her the medication without the doctor being there. Everyone was leaving, his escorts looking around to each other confused whether to follow or not. He followed the doctor though, smiling as something on the inside told him that what he'd done at that moment was a very good thing. He wasn't sure why, but he wouldn't question the feeling that he just saved Azula from something horrible.

Once they'd made it to the office, Aang walked in, realizing that the escorts finally decided to follow as well. One of the escorts gave him a worried glance as he went in by himself.

Dr. Toma's office reminded him of a square made up of an even number of squares. He wasn't sure why, but the man's taste in furniture surely seemed…odd.

He sat in a seat before the doctor's desk, watching as Dr. Toma sat across from him and commenced a short staring contest.

"Well…you see Dr. Toma…"

"You may be the Avatar and believe that you have jurisdiction around the world, however, we here only serve the Fire Lord."

Aang began to frown slowly, "I'm sorry if it seems that way. I've been following all of your rules."

"Then please explain to me why you're here in my office."

Aang gulped. Something about this man was extremely…intimidating. Not to the level of Fire Lord Ozai…but close enough, "You said yourself that Azula's been making progress ever since I've been coming here, right?"

"I never said that to you."

"Fire Lord Zuko showed me the letters you've been writing."

"Mister Avatar, what is it that you want exactly?"

Aang perked up a bit, "I want you to stop chaining Azula to the wall every time I come to see her. I want her to be unbound."

Dr. Toma quirked a brow, leaning back in his chair and blinking, "Mister Avatar I'm afraid we can't do that."

"Why not?"

"It's for your own safety. She's been having good days, yes, but we can't guarantee how long that's going to last. She is demented you know."

Aang nodded, "But she won't attack me. That's a promise."

"How can you guarantee that?"

"I just know it."

"So you expect me to put your safety at risk due to a gut feeling? A mere whim?"

The way the doctor spoke made Aang nervous. He looked down for a moment, then looked back up. He had to get Azula out of those chains. He promised her and he was going to keep that promise, "I don't mean to be rude but I've known her longer than you have. I can see how she's changing for the better. I don't even think she needs all the medicine you're giving her."

"What do you know about medical treatments for dementia, paranoia, extreme psychotic behavior?"

"I've seen waterbending heal someone with memory loss. I believe in natural medicines. Like herbs, spices, and even bending itself."

Dr. Toma sighed, "As expected from the Avatar of all people."

Aang blinked, "If I promise that she won't attack me, then will you let her have a little freedom?"

Dr. Toma, glanced to the door, looking hard for a moment, then looking back, "Fine. If she so much as attacks you once, she's on lock down. She's too dangerous of a firebender."

Aang gave a sigh of relief, "Thank you. No more chains from here on out. I already asked Fire Lord Zuko and he agreed."

"I'll be sending a letter to the Fire Lord to check that before we take such a…bold step."

He came to a stand, smiling a little and bowing before the doctor, "Thank you. You won't regret this decision."

Dr. Toma gave an unsatisfied grunt, reaching to rub his forehead. After the Avatar left, he took off his reading glasses, giving a sigh as Loki came into his office.

Loki had been listening in and was shocked herself that Dr. Toma would allow the girl any freedom at all whatsoever. She had more than a handful to speak on the subject, "Dr. Toma…what are you doing!?"

He looked to Loki harshly, "It shouldn't interfere with our plans."

"But what if in due time she actually does get better? What then? Our keeping her in that state will have been for nothing!"

"Loki…the Avatar is going to fail at whatever he's trying to do. I'm sure of it."

"What makes you so sure? She's been…changing ever since he came here asking to see her."

"Because we have things that the Avatar doesn't. We have the drugs, we have the technology, and we most certainly have our resources."

"He is friends with the Fire Lord."

Dr. Toma sighed, "What the Fire Lord doesn't know won't hurt him."

"And what if the Avatar discovers what's really going on?"

"She won't get better. I'll make sure of it. Push come to shove, we'll just create an accident scenario."

Loki nodded, grasping the clipboard in her hands tighter. Staring at Dr. Toma for a moment before turning and heading out.

*

Sitting down and writing his next letter, Aang smiled as he tousled over the thought of telling his friends what was really going on.

How would they react?

It'd been a while since he left the earth kingdom. He received a letter from Katara a few days ago. He really wished that he could have brought her along.

He sighed, realizing that he needed to consult with Avatar Roku. He himself wasn't going to be satisfied if Dr. Toma didn't hold up on his end of their deal. The next time he came in to see Azula, she shouldn't be in any chains at all.

Why do I feel like I saved her from something terrible?

It had to be horrible being forced to take so many medicines at once, but it wasn't the medicines that he felt weary about, it was the people.

Something strange is going on over there. Appa's never liked that place from the start.

He really needed to get Azula out of there.

But there was no way that he could with how iffy the doctor was about just the chains. It'd take the rest of this month in order to convince him to give her any more privileges.

They've taken away all her rights.

The next step was to get her out of that room. He didn't know how he was going to do that, but he would try.

He went back to writing his letter and afterwords, he sat on the bed to mediate. Concentrating, he didn't need any noise. There had to be absolute silence.

"I've been waiting for you Aang."

"Hey Roku."

"Please tell me how she's been in your eyes."

"Well, the first time I went to go see her, I realized how sick she was. But she's getting better with each visit."

"You told her the words that I've wanted to say?"

Aang smiled, "Yeah. I did. I feel the same way you do."

"Thank you Aang. I cannot express how grateful I am."

"Avatar Roku…I think there's trouble in the place that they're keeping her. I don't know what kind of trouble, but…I just have a bad feeling about Munto Island."

"I've never been there myself. I've only heard of it. Trust your instincts Aang."

"Okay."

"I must tell you. We are not the only ones watching over her."

Aang blinked, "Really? Who else is…?"

"My granddaughter."

He widened his eyes, "Azula's mother is watching over her?"

Avatar Roku nodded, "Indeed she is. It may not seem like it, but she really is looking out for her daughter's best interests."

Aang bowed to his past life, smiling, "Thank you for telling me. I'm reassured that she's gonna be okay now. I'll continue to do all that I can for her."

"I thank you once again Aang." And with that, Aang parted from the Spirit World and returned to the physical world.

He opened his eyes, blinking as he looked from the bed to see Mai in the doorway, glaring in at him patiently, "Uh…can I help you?"

She didn't know too much about the Spirit World stuff that he had going for him, but she did know that either he was sleeping or killed over with how absolutely still his body was during the time he was in the state he was in. It was certainly unique to study from the outside. Snapping out of her thoughts by the sound of his voice, she refocused her attention as she crossed her arms, "I wanted to talk to you about her."

Aang smiled, staying in his meditative position, "She really is getting better you know. I think the more visits she gets, the better she gets. Maybe if you…"

"Please don't even suggest it. I'm not going to see her at all."

Aang frowned, "Why not?"

Mai looked to the wall, leaning against the doorway, "It's complicated."

Getting up from his spot, he leapt off the bed, standing closer to the doorway, "I know she's done things to hurt you, but I'm telling you she's going to come out a better person."

"Save the speech. I know you've got Zuko believing it to a degree, but it's not changing my mind on how I feel about her. I've known her my whole life."

"And she's done nothing but hunt and try to kill me ever since she first met me."

Mai was silent for a moment, thinking.

"That's the one thing I don't get. I'm the one she saw as some kind of…trophy to give to her father. Yet I'm the only one who's giving her a second chance. Why can't anyone else? You used to be her friend. I mean, I was never her friend before, or even close to her except when she was trying to strike me down, but I can find it in me to forgive her. I never had any connection to her before and I've been hurt the worst by her."

"I guess not everybody has a heart like the Avatar."

"Mai…"

"Look. You never knew what it was like being close to her, so I'm giving you a bit of advice. She's no good. I don't think she can ever change."

"How can you say that? Zuko changed."

"Zuko and Azula aren't the same person."

"But they have the same origins."

"You may think that you've been hurt the worst by her, but it's not true. She may have hurt you physically. Said things to get you stirred or riled up in the past. Things to make you hate her and give her the challenge of a fight, which would have you playing right into her hands. But she's never gotten the chance to hurt you where it hurts the worst; the heart. She hated the fact that Zuko and I wanted to be together. She didn't like our happiness…"

"She's tried to annihilate me and all the people I love and care for and you have too."

Mai quirked a brow, "Excuse me?"

Aang blinked, "Please don't take offense, but try to think about being in my shoes. She may have not liked the love that you and Zuko have, but even you have to admit, you were never hunted just for being born."

"So you're going to defend her? Be on her side?"

Aang narrowed his eyes, "Yes. I am."

"Tell me…honestly. If you of all people didn't think she deserved to be in that asylum, then what does she deserve for all the things she's done?"

Aang widened his eyes, turning away from Mai and looking down to the floor, "I…I don't know. But she didn't deserve to go insane…"

"Would you have thrown her in a prison cell to rot like her father? Like she did to me and Ty Lee? I don't think even you would have given her a slap on the wrist and let her walk free."

His eyes roamed the floor. He really didn't know what to say in Azula's defense nor his own for wanting to take care of her. He then looked up, turning back to the Fire Lady, "I would have kept her close…with me. If it was up to me."

"It was Zuko's decision."

"I understand his choice. I really do, I'm not against it. It's just that I didn't know that I had it in me to help Azula until recently. That's why I came here. I want to make her into a better person. Zuko is letting me do this because he thinks that it might work."

Mai scowled, "I'm telling you it won't. Just remember, I have as much jurisdiction as my husband does."

Aang gazed harshly, "You're going to try and stop me from going back to Munto Island?"

She shook her head, "No, I'm going to let you learn the hard way. When she double-crosses you, it will be to intentionally break your heart, insane or not. And when you're ready to give up on her, I'll be there to remind you that I told you so."

Aang turned away from Mai once more, "Now I see why you're not the one whose supposed to help her."

Turning away, Mai retreated from the room, walking away with her hands in fists. She was trying to help him out and not only did her advice backfire, the debate got her thinking that the Avatar himself wasn't 'all there' mentally himself. It was crazy to even want to visit her. For him to leave all his friends back in the Earth Kingdom for this month. And for what exactly? Just so he could get her to be free to shoot lightning at him again? So she could go into hiding? Organize a revolution against the peace the rest of the world had? Cause more chaos in the Fire Nation than there already was? It was incredibly idiotic and she felt that Zuko was getting played with the pity card. She wouldn't allow her husband to be duped.

*

Katara ran as fast as she could towards the throne room of the palace, running past a very long line of people who were waiting to be in the king's grace. Toph was back in the Jasmine Dragon, seeing as to how she wanted nothing to do with the palace of Ba Sing Sei on her day off.

Though the message from Suki seemed urgent.

Please get here as fast as you can, I need your help.

When Katara read the note to Toph, all she got from the girl was, "Tsk tsk. I told him he wouldn't be able to handle it."

Apparently he'd sent the Dai Li on some kind of special mission and after they returned, people from the upper and lower rings were crowding to the king's palace by the dozen.

This just smelled of trouble. Sokka what did you do!?

Honestly the whole bet Toph and Sokka made was an eye roller. She only felt bad that Suki was in the middle of it now.

Making her way past a group of people crowding the door, she marched up to the throne, crossing her arms as she looked to see the five generals looking baffled at the sight.

Suki ran up to Katara immediately, grabbing her shoulders, shaking her, "For the Unagi's sake tell him to take the mustache and beard off!"

Katara quirked a brow, looking over Suki's shoulder and smacking her own forehead at the sight.

"Scream into this pillow my boy. Then kiss Wang Fire's boot in appreciation."

The successful shop owner took the koala-sheep and pressed the wool to his visage, screaming into it before handing it to the side to a Dai Li agent.

Storming up to the throne, Katara crossed her arms, "Sokka what are you doing!?"

Two Dai Li agents stood before her, "Um…please address him as King Wang Fire ma'am."

"King Wang…oh my god…SOKKA!"

Suki walked up to Katara, shaking her head, "He said he could fix the people's problems himself. He sent the Dai Li to some random island to get sheep and bring them back some hours ago. And he's been at this ever since. Calling himself that silly name."

"Wang Fire…"

"Yeah!"

Katara rolled her eyes, "If he keeps this up, there won't be any order left in Ba Sing Sei!"

"Seriously, he has people from the lower city coming in here. I stopped seven thieves from robbing the place! I'm working side by side with Dai Li agents…this is crazy!"

Katara sighed, "Wait till Toph hears about this. She won't be happy to have more to fix when she does get back."

Sokka smirked, reaching and rubbing his hands together as he sat back on the imperial throne, looking over and seeing Katara and Suki standing with Dai Li Agents, he pointed to his sister, "Well if it isn't Sapphire Fire! Come here and give King Wang Fire a hug!"

Rolling her sleeves up, Katara made way past agents with fists, "Oh I'll give you a hug alright…"

"Please Sapphire what I'm doing is good the for the people. They need the sheep!"

"No, they need to go back to their homes!" Walking up to the throne, Katara turned around to face the people, taking a deep breath before speaking loud enough for most of the line in that room to hear, "Ladies and gentlemen please go back to your homes! The king will meet your requests in the way that he's supposed to in the first place!"

The people looked up to the throne, one man shouting, "You aren't the king!"

Katara narrowed her eyes, "I may not be the king but I think it's best if you do as I say anyway. I'm the king's personal adviser from now on."

Suki smiled, walking up to the throne herself, and turning to face the people, "I oversee the advisers. We are the voice of the king. Please, everyone, put the sheep down and go home."

Sokka stood up facing both Suki and Katara, "Hey! I'm the king for today!"

Katara turned, giving him an evil glare, "Sokka you almost ruined all the order in Ba Sing Sei in only two hours!"

"It was just a group therapy session!"

"And Sokka please drop that ridiculous voice and take off that mustache and beard!"

"But its manly!"

Katara was about to speak when suddenly a messenger hawk caught her attention as it soared into the throne room, flying overhead before landing on Sokka's shoulder with a message attached to it.

The Water tribe teen beamed as he eyed the bird carefully, "HAWKEE!!!"

Suki blinked, reaching to get the letter off the birds back and opening it to read silently, "It's a letter from Toph's parents." Looking up, she smiled and motioned for a Dai Li agent to approach, "Give this to Toph will you? Please make sure you read it to her. She's staying at the apartment of the owner of the Jasmine Dragon. "

"Yes my queen." The agent took the letter and took off.

Katara nodded, turning, "Subjects and army men, please assist the people in leaving the palace."

The five generals looked to one another before nodding. General Hao quirking a brow, "The Imperial Guard will do so."

Relieved that now there was a bit of order and direction, she turned back to Sokka, "You can't just go about doing whatever you want with an entire kingdom. And a capital city at that!"

"Yes I can. I'm the king! And with Hawkee back, we will be unstoppable man and bird!"

Suki blinked, "Um what are you talking about?"

Katara shrugged, "Heck if I know."

Sokka shook his head, "I've still got some hours left as king. I want to do a couple more things…please!?"

Suki just stared while Katara crossed her arms once more, "Fine, but we'll be watching you!"

"YES! Thank you ladies! The king is gonna enjoy his daily kingly activities now!"

Katara watched as Sokka got off the thrown and went with some servants in a direction. She shook her head, sighing.

Suki grinned, "Hey Katara, you know we aren't exempt from those activities right?"

"Oh please, what more kingly activities would I want to be a part of?"

"Well, I am the queen of Ba Sing Sei. So I can order around as many servants as the king."

"Meaning?"

"Royal spa treatment?"

Katara beamed at her friend, "Sounds fun to me."

The girls walked in another direction, giggling as they went.

*

As soon as Aang stepped in, he widened his eyes and then narrowed them.

Azula looked up, feeling the Avatar's anger radiating.

Aang's hand became a fist and he breathed to ease himself. Dr. Toma lied to him. Azula was still in chains. He'd have to go back and have a word with him again. In the meantime, he'd sit and talk with Azula for as long as he could.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Preview for the next chapter: Dr. Toma broke his end of the baragain, so Aang must confront him yet again. Mai becomes a bit manipulative. Zuko, with good intentions, tries to destroy the animosities by proposing a plan that Aang struggles to cope with.