Last Time:

"Niko? Why are you doing this?" Azula asked staring at the boy.

"You got my father and I kicked out of the tribe, we joined up with the fire nation for revenge against the tribe," he smirked and held his spear towards her.

"I was defending myself last time, this time I won't show any mercy for you," Azula drew the duel broadswords and Kita growled at Niko.

"Bloody fire nation bitch," he cursed and took his helmet off revealing the face of Nikolai the father.

"Nikolai, why, how could you!" Hakoda exclaimed when he saw Nikolai.

"You kicked me and my son out! So we told the fire nation there was a fire bending girl and a water bender in the southern water tribe, we were dispatched with the southern raiders to take them out," Nikolai said darkly.

"I got her!" a man shouted and he pulled Kya along the ground with him.

"Let her go!" Hakoda shouted when he was hit in the back of the head by Nikolai.

"Kya!" Lin shouted and kneed the guys she was facing running towards Kya.

The men who tried to stop her were quickly taken out. Azula watched in horror as she saw Nikolai aim his spear and let it go. Lin fell blood from her body soaking the sand, her eyes met Azula's before they rolled back into her eyes.

"I'm sorry princess…" Lin's voice drifted off into the wind.

"You!" Laune was at the side of her fallen captain looking at the man holding Kya.

"You again? Wasn't your fiancés death enough for you?" the man holding Kya smirked and it all added up then.

"Mum watch out!" Azula cried as she started to move towards her, the world darkened around her as she saw the metal tip of a sword emerge from Laune's chest blood coating it.

Laune looked down at her chest where the sword emerged.

"That's for my boy you water bending whore," Nikolai's rough voice barked as he pulled out and Laune dropped to her knees gasping for air.

Azula let out a loud cry as if in pain and the grip on her broadswords would be crushing if the broadsword could feel it. Niko used this chance and tried to attack. Azula saw it coming and she whirled around redirecting his sword with one blade while bringing her other across and slicing his head clean off of his body. Blood spurted out of where Niko's head used to be coating half of Azula's face as Niko's head rolled to a stop and his body fell.

"I'm sorry, I broke my promise, but I will never leave you Azula, you're the daughter I never had and I could not have asked for anyone better," Laune said weakly as she reached around her neck.

"Take this and remember I'll always be watching you my child," Laune placed her betrothal necklace into Azula's palm.

"I'm proud, so proud of you, Azula, my fiery daughter," Laune gave a faint smile stroking Azula's dark hair gently.

"I promise, I will hunt that man down and make him pay," Azula looked up clutching the necklace.

She then placed it around her neck running her hand over the pattern that was the traditional symbol for the people of the water tribe.

Chapter 7: Aftermath

Azula hadn't emerged from her home for days. She shut herself off from anyone the pain of what happened echoed through her mind. She hadn't seen Katara or any of her friends for seven days since the attack happened. She just sat on Laune's bed her hand placed on the necklace around her neck her fingers tracing the intricate carving.

"Azula are you in there?" Katara's voice asked from outside of the house.

"Go away," Azula said rather quietly.

"Azula, the White Lotus are here along with Laune's family, they'd like it if you'd honor them with sending off Laune and Lin," Katara poked her head in to see Azula's state.

Her hair was a complete mess, she smelt like she hadn't bathed since the battle as the faint scent of blood lingered through the room. Kita had her head on the girls lap comforting her.

"Wow, you're a mess," Katara said shocked as she walked over and crawled up onto the large bed.

"Leave me alone Katara," Azula flopped down looking at the ceiling.

"Azula, don't shut me out, don't go back to how you were when you first came here," Katara poked the girl's cheek.

Katara lay down her face in line with Azula's whose eyes were closed. Katara lifted her hand and pulled up an eyelid showing Azula's eye to her.

"Do you want to build a snowman?" Katara asked and a smile played across Azula's face.

"Good, now up, come on you need a bath," Katara literally pushed Azula out of bed the girl dropping onto the floor.

Katara slid off and dragged Azula to the bathroom. She used her bending and placed new water into the bath then looked at Azula expectantly. Azula was laying on the ground her gaze on the ceiling so Katara did what she had to do. She grabbed Azula's collar and with all her strength she threw the girl into the water which was cold.

"Katara!" Azula shot up freezing and drenched her clothes were still on.

"Hey you weren't going to help yourself, not my fault you still had your clothes on and the water was cold," Katara shrugged it off.

Azula went to curse at her friend but knew Katara was right so she did the next best thing. She took her clothes off and tossed them at Katara drenching the girl in wet clothes. Azula then heated the water and sighed as she sat in the heat. A white blur rushed past Katara and Kita dived into the bath sending the warm water everywhere. The white wolf purred as she swam around in the bath cleaning her fur. Azula rolled her eyes and splashed the wolf playfully. Kita leaned up and licked Azula's cheek then nudged her in a hugging gesture. Azula placed her forehead against the wolf's gazing into Kita's eyes smiling.

"Katara, I'm sorry," Azula looked at her friend who was sitting down near them.

"I know, it's not your fault it was Niko and Nikolai's," Katara sighed.

"Katara, I promise you we'll find that man, and we are going to get revenge," Azula held her hand out to her friend.

"It's a deal," Katara shook Azula's hand then a loud sound echoed throughout the room causing Katara to laugh.

"How long has it been since you last ate?" Katara raised an eyebrow knowing it was Azula's stomach.

"Seven days," Azula admitted and Katara frowned.

"Clean yourself properly, I'll go make something," Katara walked out of the room before Azula could protest.

Azula washed herself down and then ran warm water on Kita's fur trying to clean it as best she could. When she was sure the wolf was clean she stepped out of the water wrapping a towel around her. She walked into her room and got a new set of clothes. When she walked into the living room Katara was placing some rice and a dish of greens in a broth on the table and taking a seat herself. Azula sat down across the table from her and Kita sat to Azula's left.

"One sec," Azula walked into the kitchen and grabbed the first fish in the pile and tossed it to Kita not caring what size the fish is.

Kita ate hungrily while Azula and Katara ate as well, Azula was surprised how well Katara could cook. She ate as much as she could before taking the bowls to the kitchen and washing them. With Katara's help of course.

"Ready to go?" Katara asked once the dishes were drying.

"As I'll ever be," Azula sighed and the two of them left the stone house and walked into the center of the village where a group of people Azula had never seen before stood waiting.

Chihiro was there as well as the remaining crew of the White Lotus ship along with who Azula guessed were the elders of the white lotus.

"Glad you could join us Azula, Laune's family is here and they've been waiting to meet you," Hakoda gave a sad smile.

"Hello Azula, my name is Arnook chief of the Northern Water tribe, this is my daughter Yue," the strange man smiled down at Azula sadly and the little girl with snow white hair hugged her father's leg.

"H-Hi," the young girl who was Yue said shyly.

"Hello sir," Azula bowed formally.

"No need for such formalities child, Laune was my sister," he bent down and looked eye to eye with Azula.

"I see she gave you her necklace," Azula's hand shot up and ran a hand over the carvings.

"Don't worry child, she gave it to you, it's yours," he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"The cremation is ready to begin," Hakoda said to Arnook.

"Uhm… Dad, I think she would want to be cremated the way she lived, by Azula and for Azula," Katara pulled on her dad's pants.

"You daughter has a point, Laune and Lin wouldn't want to be cremated by a simple ember flame, they mission was to protect Azula, they would want their bodies to be cremated by her blue flames, the only blue flames in existence. That is how they would want to leave the world," an elder of the white lotus spoke.

"Azula, do you think you can do that for them?" Hakoda bent down and asked.

Azula didn't trust her voice to work so she nodded her agreement. Tears started forming in her eyes as she took an emotional step forward. She felt the warmth of the sun on her skin and inhaled and exhaled deeply. She brought her arms up and in an open palm strike she sets fire to the two bodies that lay atop of a bed of coal. Azula's emotions while watching the cremation was everywhere but she maintained her cool like Lin had showed her. The blue flames fluctuated with her breathing; everyone noticed it and no one said anything about it.

People started to leave when the bodies had mostly turned to ash but Azula stood until everything that resembled two bodies had disappeared altogether, by the time the bodies had turned to ash the sun was halfway through going down.

"Azula, would you like to join us for dinner?" Arnook asked.

"Okay," Azula replied quietly and followed them into Katara's igloo as the two Chief's ate together to discuss events.

"Where's Sokka?" Azula asked noticing the water tribe boy wasn't there.

"Sokka lost a friend in the war, he's with their family paying respects," Hakoda informed.

"So, you're a fire bender?" Yue had her head in her hands and was looking at Azula.

"Yeah, why?" Azula raised an eyebrow and Katara giggled.

"I've always wanted to meet one, Papa said they were bad but you don't look so bad," Yue cocked her head examining Azula.

"Let's just say I'm different and leave it at that," Azula sighed as Katara stood up and headed to the kitchen.

"Need any help?" Azula called after her.

"Nope I've got it," Katara replied as she came back with bowls of rice then left and then came back with some pickled fish and various other dishes.

"I used to spend time cooking with Mum when it was time to make dinner," Katara explained as the group began eating.

"Perhaps I should take the girl back with Yue and I to the Northern Water tribe?" Arnook asked.
"I don't know about that, I don't think that would be wise, she would be isolated once again," Hakoda stated.

"I understand, Azula what do you want?" he turned his attention to Azula.

"As great as your offer sounds, I have friends here and I have Katara, I don't want to leave," Azula said staring at her bowl of rice.

"I understand," Arnook smiled as they ate the rest of dinner talking about casual things.

"Yue would you like to come star gazing with Azula and I?" Katara asked after dinner.

"Sure, I haven't been star gazing in ages!" Yue said excited.

"Whoa, I never agreed to this," Azula raised an eyebrow and looked at Kita who was resting her head in Azula's lap again.

"Come on Azula," Katara begged.

"Please," Yue added begging Azula.

"Nope," Azula turned away but she had a smile forming on her face.

"Azula please? I'll give you a kiss," Katara giggled.

"Nope," Azula showed her grin.

"I'll give you one as well," Yue added.

"Okay, okay fine," Azula said finally.

"Yes!" the two water tribe girls jumped up in victory.

The two girls got up and pulled Azula up earning a small growl from Kita as her head was abruptly removed from her comfortable position on Azula's lap. Katara and Yue giggled as the pulled Azula out of the igloo and Katara made a ladder out of water and they got onto the roof of the igloo. Yue flattened the top a bit so they could lie down. Azula lay down in the middle and Katara lay down on her right while Yue on the left. The two water benders laying their heads next to Azula's as they watched the stars.

"Do you think the Avatar will ever return?" Yue asked.

"Who knows, he should have stopped the war before it started," Azula shrugged.

"I bet he's out there somewhere training to end the war," Katara smiled.

"Maybe," Azula mused.

"Azula," Katara and Yue said at the same time.

"Yeah?" Azula said staring at the stars.

The two girls planted a kiss on Azula's cheek causing the fire bender to blush.

"There you go," Yue smiled placing her head in the crook of Azula's neck and Katara did the same on the other side.

"Some people have lost hope that the Avatar, but we should never lose hope," Katara smiled and the three didn't say anything else as they watched the stars.

Next Time: The Boy in the Iceberg. (Timeskip will occur)