I was still looking into the pair of eyes that bewitched me. These beautiful lakes of swirling water. So dynamic and passionate. Their image has been already burned into my mind when I looked into those eyes for the first time.

I think I might have laid here for a good couple of minutes if I didn't hear a voice that belonged to those eyes again.

"Hey! Are you alright? I didn't kill her, did I?" the girl with bewitching eyes spoke again. Her voice was very soothing, it was like nothing I heard before. It was difficult to put into words how she sounded. Melodic, yet firm. That was a voice that could be heard in the yelling crowd. I was sure that I will always hear it. These feelings confused me. It was the first time for me experiencing these kinds of emotions. But I wasn't allowed to think for long. I felt someone pulling me up and I noticed that it was Toph who helped me.

"Are you alright Azula? And you, Water Lady?! How could you assault someone like that out of nowhere?!" she screamed. I could clearly see that Toph was irritated by them. When I looked at my attacker I was stunned into silence. I think I might have stopped breathing. The woman before me was dressed in colours of the Water Tribes. She had a long dark hair who seemed to be braided. She had darker skin than anyone from the Fire Nation. Her image radiated warmth and empathy.

I could picture her softly smiling and almost hear her laugh. But now she had an angry expression on her face. Toph's accusation probably angered her. I heard her speak then.

"Your friend here tried to do something to Aang. I just stepped in." she huffed at Toph. I don't think that my guide in the current world believed her. But then the Avatar spoke.

"She didn't try to do anything, Katara! It was all a big misunderstanding!" the boy told her.

I saw confusion creeping into the face of Katara. She turned her head to me then and asked.

"Is it true? You didn't try to attack him or anything?"

Is she really asking me that? The Avatar just told her but I can't blame her for overreacting. After all, my hood fell, and she could clearly see my origin and from what I heard Water Tribes' people didn't like Fire Nation in the slightest.

"I just wanted to stop him from chasing Toph. I just wanted to talk."

The confusion on her face deepened. She then started getting angry again. Her whole face was a parade of emotions. She didn't even try to hide them. She was so open and vulnerable, yet so strong and fiery. It was very brave to be so unguarded while interacting with an unknown person or maybe stupid. But she didn't seem stupid. Just concern and protective. There was nothing stupid in that.

"Do you even heard what I just said?!" I heard these words yelled very loudly. I was dumbfounded at first but the Toph spoke to me.

"She was talking to you."

... Oh. I think I might have drifted away, again.

"Excuse me Miss but I think I... did not hear what you just said."

I told her sheepishly. I wanted to be polite. Not sure If she took my attitude as coldness or as my intended politeness. But she just huffed again and repeated.

"I told you that I'm sorry."

"No need Miss. I am perfectly fine." I said to her so she needn't worry. We were all silent for a while. No one knew what to say. We were just standing here, the air full of awkwardness. When Avatar spoke the tension seemed to drop a little but still, the uneasiness hung in the air.

"Um... I wanted to ask you something if you don't mind me. Toph, was it?" The Avatar addressed my friend. She just sighed and started to speak.

"Yeah, ask boldly Twinkle Toes." And she just had to call Avatar... that. But he didn't seem to mind that much. Confusion crept onto his face for a second but it was gone as fast as it appeared. He then seemed to collect himself, preparing how to word the question he wanted to ask.

"Would you mind becoming my teacher? I saw you fight and it was amazing! We would be travelling together, though." He looked tensed waiting for an answer from Toph. I turned my head to her to see what she was thinking. She spoke then directly to all the newcomers.

"If I can take my friend with me to wherever you're going then I'm okay with it. What do you think Azula?" I was intrigued by the idea she presented. Travelling with the Avatar didn't seem like a bad idea. Avatars were always bound by fate some way or another. Maybe this meeting was meant to be? I wasn't overly superstitious but when it comes to the Avatar you can never be sure. Plus I can delve into these feelings I experienced back there. Her eyes spoke to me somehow. I wanted to know more about her and about what I felt. But first I need to ask the Avatar something.

"I have one condition and it involves you, Avatar." I saw the surprise on Katara's face, but she kept quiet yet ready to attack. Aang then turned to face me.

"I am listening." he said calmly.

"I want you to bring the Fire Nation into balance again." I didn't expect any particular answer from him but, yet I was satisfied with his response. He smiled and then said:

"Then we have a common goal."

It's good to know that the Avatar wasn't indifferent to the situation in the world. Maybe there is still a chance to make things better. I hope so.

My goal, for now, is to restore my country to its roots. But still, it's not enough, somehow. I feel my inner fire burning strong but not as strong as I want it to. There has to be something to help it burns brighter and more powerful. I will find it. I know I will. My thinking was interrupted by a voice of a boy who was running towards us.

"Aang, Katara! Where have you been? I've been looking for you..." He stopped talking when he saw me. Firstly he seemed surprised but then he got angry. He marched to us with intent to look dangerous, but he didn't succeed. I was just standing here listening to what he was saying to his companions.

"What are you doing with that Fire Nation?! Have you all lost your mind?!" he screamed at them. Aang then decided to respond.

"She's going with us. Toph and Azula are friends and Toph will be my teacher. And calm down Sokka. If she wanted to do something to us she already would've done it, right Azula?"

He asked me directly. I responded accordingly.

"You're right Avatar. I mean you no harm." I said with a neutral voice.

"You see Sokka. Sometimes you have to see beyond the look of a person. She wants balance in the world as much as we do."

This Sokka didn't seem entirely convinced but overall he calmed down. I had the feeling he wasn't going to let go of his suspicions so easily. Looking at Katara I had the same feeling. But they seemed to put up with Aang's decisions. I was glad. It should make our relations more humane if they will listen to the Avatar.

Toph then said:

"Alright, you all. Azula and I will grab our stuff and come back to you. Just wait here."

She then started to pull me backstage. When we were out of their hearing range she asked me.

"Do you trust them?"

"I trust that they won't try to kill me when I'm asleep." I told her. It was true though. They didn't seem like people who would attack you if you don't attack them back. But the prejudice towards Fire Nation could be troubling. Avatar's stance to give me benefit of the doubt should be enough for now. If they get to know me better our relations will improve. Just give them a little time, and we will become the best of friends. But maybe I was hoping for too much? Time will tell.

"OK then. Grab that bag right over there, and then we'll go."

I did as she said. I felt a little like a pushover in situations like this. But I knew I was kind of at her mercy. So I shouldn't really complain. After we took all of our baggage we walked to the Avatar's group. They were standing right when I last saw them but I could also notice that they had a heated discussion when I and Toph were gone. When they saw us they seemed to put up their defences again. Cold, distant expressions. Only Aang was smiling which was nice. He appeared like a really nice and kind person. While fighting, he was the same. This could prove to be his undoing. But what do I really expect? He's just one single boy. He's going to see some things that he will never forget. Things that will change his worldview. I just need to wait and see. Patience is one of the things I learned in that cave, and I am going to utilize it to a full extent. If the environment won't learn him I will step in. But that is the thought for later.

"So... We're going or what?" Toph said. The Avatar Gang looked at themselves and then Aang decided to say some really wise words.

"Before we go maybe we could introduce ourselves?" he said sheepishly yet excitedly.

"I'll start. So as you know apparently, I'm Aang, the Avatar." After he said that everyone went silent. Not surprisingly no one else decided to continue his idea. He then started to talk again.

"Alright. We can do this later! Come now! We are staying outside the city. When we reach our camp we can talk more then."

He seemed very confident in his ability to unite people. Maybe if Katara and Sokka were more open things could go much smoother.

Either way, we started to walk out of the cave that held the arena. When we were out in the open I noticed the sun setting. Apparently, we spent there much more time than I thought. I stood there for a while watching the bright colours in the sky. While I was staying at Toph's safe house I was surrounded by trees. I couldn't see the sky like I could now. I realized it was the first time in over two hundred years that I saw the Sun in all its glory. I would have never thought before this moment that person could feel so many emotions just by looking at the sky. But evidently, you can. Before I noticed, tears were flowing down my face. I started crying. I felt it now, how exhausted I was. Inside I was still a young girl on the edge of the adulthood. I was only eighteen for god's sake and I felt far older than that. I missed all of my friend's birthdays, weddings, deaths. I missed battles, Fire Lords. I missed it all. Only because spirits had a whim to trap me. It was so unfair. Why me of all people? These questions occupied my mind for a good while. Before I could react I felt down on my knees. My eyes closed, covered by my hands. I felt like I could easily fall into a catatonic-like state.

I sensed a small hand on my back. I looked up and saw Toph's blank eyes looking at me worriedly. She doesn't know me that much, yet she cares. I respected her now more than I did before. In that small amount of time, we spend together, she became my friend. She didn't betray me like most people would do in her situation but treated me kindly. Even though she can be a brat sometimes she was a really warm person on the inside.

"Are you alright? We have to go." she said in a small voice. I nodded and got up. I tried to stand still on my still weak knees when I noticed that Aang and Sokka were far ahead of us now. Only Katara stayed. When I looked into her eyes I saw pity. The worst kind of emotion. That kind of pity you give the person you despise. Pity that can break hearts. She turned her back to me and Toph and started to run towards Aang and Sokka. At that moment I decided. I decided that I would erase that look of pity on her face and replace it with something else. Something far greater. I didn't know what I wanted to see in her eyes yet, but I was ready to try.

The fire in my spirit burned brighter then. Stronger and fiercer. It burned blue. Blue that could match those eyes.

Finally, I found my goal.

AN: So... I hope you enjoyed it. Personally, I'm quite satisfied. I feel like I did better than before.

Like always, if you have any comments, opinions, I'm open to criticism.

So... bye and have a wonderful life!