The phoenix-king was standing on the attack-platform of his airship. The incredible power of Sozins comet was washing over his mind and body. He really looked forward to annihilating the earthkingdom forever. All the struggles of the last decades would be over in one short day, just like his grandfather solved the airnomade-issue. With one swift but hard strike. He put his hand out, a moment later a gigantic wave of fire washed over the land below him. Never before has Ozai felt such incredible power. His mind's eye already saw Ba-Sing-Se burning below him. But, to his surprise, it was not going to happen. Suddenly -out of nowhere- a huge lightning bolt from the ground below him hit his airships engines, causing them to explode. With all control over the vehicle apparently lost, the leviathan of the clouds was getting into a tailspin. Just before the airship hit the ground and blew up in one huge explosion, the phoenix-king abandoned his ship and propelled himself to one of the enormous rock posts. He noticed someone standing on the one right in front of him.

"I have been waiting for you, firelord" the person stated, calm and collected.

"Avatar" Ozai growled. "What an unpleasant surprise"

"You know, we don't have to fight. There is still a peaceful solution to this." the Avatar said. Ozai had to laugh. Peace? In the moment of triumph? Never.

"You are pathetic." Ozai screamed shooting a huge rolling barrage towards Aang. He dodged it expertly. Quite a lot of rounds sparring with Azula sharpened his already good reflexes even further. She has trained him very good, on the sly preparing him for Ozais combat style, by throwing in some of her father's favorite moves every now and then. To Aangs pleasure, he noticed to be rather familiar with Ozais style of combat. It reminded him of Azula, yet lacked her grace and precision. The firelord threw another hard attack at the avatar.

So Azulas father did not want to talk. He wanted to fight. What a shocking surprise.

It was to Aangs eternal luck that he ran into the giant lionturtle only three days before the comet arrived. After explaining his issues with ending Ozais life, he ancient beast showed him how to bend the essence within life itself and thus take someone's bending away. Finally he had found a method to defeat Ozai without killing him. Somewhere deep inside of Aang he was confused why he had such a problem with killing Ozai, when killing Fong was the easiest thing in his life. Maybe it was because Fong did unspeakable cruelties to someone Aang cared very much for. Maybe he did it because he knew, Azula would want it this way. Maybe he did it because he feared that she might question his loyalty to her, when he'd let him get away. He did not know. What he did know was, that Fong would remain the only one he killed.

He also came up with a plan, which did not require him to fight an awful lot. He would just dodge Ozais attacks until the firelord, or phoenix-king, or whatever that lunatic is supposed to be now, would eventually grow tired. Aang realized that this might take a while, especially with the comet around. But the Avatar was confident, that he would succeed in his plan. Ozai was extremely aggressive and got more and more infuriated by Aang not striking back. Apparently he thought the Avatar deemed him an unworthy opponent. The whole area was exploding, filled with fire and burning, while Aang was hopping from one post to the next, Ozai close behind him. He was getting close to him and the Avatar was beginning to think that maybe he would soon be left with no other choice but to fight back. Very soon to be precise. Maybe even right now.

Aang turned around mid flight and blew a wave of air towards the firelord. It threw him backwards through the air before he slammed hard against one of the posts. The sudden and obviously unexpected attack infuriated the firebender, provoking another violent attack.

Aang decided that now the time had come to really fight back. Sozins comet was having an effect on him as well and Ozai seemed not to grow tired anytime soon. So much for his great plan, yeah all for nothing. Aang was improvising now, but he wanted this to be over with. Better now than never. He remembered Azulas training, reassuring himself, that he would defeat Ozai today. He promised himself that he would not allow him to walk away from this and still be the firelord. Ozai would fall from his grace, this day, right here, at the hands of the Avatar. It had to be this way, or otherwise Aang would seal not only his fate, but Azulas as well. Should he screw up after attacking him, she would be in serious trouble. Ozai would know the instant he saw the blue fire Aang was able to produce, what his daughter did.

He sliced Ozais wall of fire in two halfs jumping through it. The firelord was still standing in front of the post Aang blew him against, looking very angry. Dodging a rapid succession of fire jets flying towards him, Aang shot a blue jet of fire directly in front of Ozais feet, causing him to jump back in disbelieving surprise. Even through the dust and smoke of the epic battle between the firelord and the avatar, the later saw the rising disbelief in the formers face just as realization was dawning on him. He stepped a few steps backwards, obviously trying to process what happened. Just as his back made contact with the post, his limbs where surrounded by handcuffs of earth, pinning him to the rock. The post was suddenly surrounded by a blue wall of flames, creating a impassable blockade around it, as the Avatar was walking slowly towards his nemesis.

"How... Where...?" Ozai was puzzled, looking back and forth between the blue flames and Aang apparently searching for someone.

"Oh, don't look for her. She is not here." Aang stated extremely calm. He was feeling surprisingly fine. Sure, his body was burnt here and there, together with the occasional scratch, but he was fine. He was confident that this would end the way he wanted it to. Maybe the upset and confused look on Ozais face was gaining him steam.

"Only my daughter can do that! Only she can produce sapphire flames! How did you learn that?" Ozai was spitting flames of rage.

"Oh, my girlfriend showed me" Aang answered still slowly walking towards the firelord.

"Impossible! Who is she?" he asked, throwing his head around in an attempt to break free. "I shall have her head on a plate!" Another wave of fire blew away from his mouth. "Tell me now and her death will be quick and painless!"

Aang laughed silently as he added more bindings of earth just to be sure. Giving him the smug grin, which he kind of copied from Azula, he said "Well, it is your daughter of course" he revealed, before pressing his thumb to Ozais forehead and the other to his collarbone. The firelord screamed but not for long. He felt Aangs mind forcing his way through the inside of his head as he sensed him ripping something out. He tried to stop him with all his strength and it seemed to work for a time. But all of a sudden, there was this overwhelming feeling of confidence, luck and happiness. Suddenly he was seeing images of the Avatar and his daughter and it threw him off balance for good. The Avatar pulled something very important out of Ozais mind, before his restrains fell off.

"I took your bending away from you, so you will never be able to hurt anyone again."

-/-

Azula was running back and forth nervously. What was taking him so long? She was feeling her mind slipping out of her control, more and more with every minute Aang was gone. She did as he told her when she arrived back at the palace. Pretending to still be her daddy's girl, she stayed behind to be crowned the next firelord. But she did not want the throne anymore. She realized her lust for power had a hard cap her mind was able to handle. She banished everyone in the palace. Everyone. Even Li and Lo who surely meant her no harm, or did they? Maybe they knew? Maybe they would have betrayed her like Mai and Ty Lee? Who can tell for sure? Azula was completely alone, with herself and with her thoughts.

Why was Aang gone so long? If she had to see her father standing in front of her declaring victory she would kill him immediately, before proceeding to go completely bananas, totally bonkers, entirely nuts, three fries short of a happy meal, absolutely and irreversible insane. She was feeling like her mind was about to explode while at the same time it slipped through her fingers like dry sand. She was running up and down her dressing room in an futile attempt to calm down.

"Where is that lovely boyfriend of yours?" asked a voice, Azula has not heard in years. Slowly she turned around.

"What are you doing here?" she asked as she looked in the mirror.

"I didn't want to miss my own daughters coronation" the voice said with a motherly smile. "But I can't help and notice that someone important is missing"

"I can see that, Mother. Thank you. I know. He is not here." she hissed. "I don't deserve him anyway" she whispered.

"Oh, why do you say that? He is such a nice guy. Of course you deserve him. You deserve to be happy, Azula" Ursa said calmly.

"Don't pretend that you care. I know what you really think of me, you think I'm a monster!" Azula shouted, tears falling from her eyes.

"I think you are confused." Ursa replied, hiding the hurt in her voice. "All your life you used fear to control people. Like your friends, Mai and Ty Lee. You are not used to it being any other way."

"But what choice did I have? Trust is for..." Azulas mother interrupted her gently

"No, Azula. You know better than this. Think of Aang, he trusts you. He loves you. And so do I"

Azula was cringing, grabbing a hairbrush. "But he is not coming back to me!" she shouted in tears as she tossed the brush into the mirror, shattering it into millions of pieces. "Just like you never came back" she whispered to herself.

-/-

"By decree of phoenix-king Ozai, I now crown you firelord of the..." the fire sage paused. Azula turned around "What are you waiting for? Do it!" she exclaimed, wanting this to be finally over. In her head she always heard Aangs voice, telling her to only have her in mind and only do what's best for her. She promised him and really tried to find a way, but she was losing track of things. Hearing a mighty roar, Azula looked up from where she was kneeling, waiting to be crowned, into the sky. She saw Appa approaching and her heart skipped a beat. She felt her sanity coming back for a moment, but it was brutally squashed, when her brother and his peasant girl were the only one carried by the beast.

"Sorry, but you are not becoming firelord today." Zuko called out. "I am" Azula blinked for a moment. Was her brother just back stabbing the Avatar? He had a history of double crossing him, so it was possible. Maybe he was doing that. Maybe he realized that the throne was there and all he had to do was to grab it. And maybe he had convinced that water tribe peasant to join him. Why else would Aang not be here? Where would he be otherwise. Only do what is best for you, Azula! Promise me.

She giggled loudly "You are hilarious" she said wanting to call him out as a traitor to his friends and to the ones who apparently trusted him. But the fire sages where still around, so she kept that part to herself.

"And you're going down" the peasant exclaimed. This was not just happening, was it? Oh, well, apparently it was.

The fire sage moved to set the crown on her head, but she stopped him "Wait." she ordered the priest, before turning to Zuko. "You want to be firelord? Fine. Let's settle this. Just you and me brother. The showdown that was always meant to be. Agni-Kai!" Azula would kick his butt, and she would kick it hard. Maybe her brother had even betrayed Aang so far that he sent him into a trap set up by her father. Maybe he had made arrangement to get his honor back, maybe... The mere thought wounded Azula deeply, driving her mad with worry.

"You're on!" replied Zuko. Oh he was on to something, she could tell.

Do not think about me... For the event that I cannot keep my promise... He was not coming back. He failed. Azula would never see him again, she was alone. She couldn't stand being alone. Even her brother betrayed her in the end. Everyone abandoned her. Everyone. Her mind was clouded, she was unable to think straight. Everything was turning around Aang, and her brother, that peasant girl and how they betrayed her boyfriend and how they now tried to get rid of her.

So it happened that the two siblings fought a brutal Agni-Kai for the throne. Only Azula could not care less about the throne. She wanted to punish her brother for betraying the love of her life. She wanted to make him and that little peasant girl pay for taking him away from her. But she was still hearing Aangs voice inside her head, whispering into her ear. Do whatever you think is best for you. I want to know you save she was unable to concentrate. It was all too much, she wanted him back. She needed him back. Why did he have to go, why? It was not like he had to take Ozai on his own. She could have helped him. Why didn't she insist on it? Why did she just accept his decision to do this alone and went back to the palace? This was all her fault.

Azula was all at sea. That's why she failed. Even after getting rid of Zuko, it was that filthy peasant girl who got her. Azula was getting sloppy, she was worried beyond comparison, not able to think straight for a second, she tapped right into the girls trap. Infinite concern mixed with the unbridled desire to kill that bloody bitch of a traitor, Azula was losing it. She did not see the sink she was running onto, when suddenly everywhere around her was water. From one moment to the next frozen in a block of ice, Azula was helpless, being chained to the grid on the floor.

No, no, no! Please! This was not happening! It could not. She lost everything.

I want you to know that I love you.

She would never see him again. Azula started crying in pain, breathing out blue flames of hate and anger, realizing that her brother got what he wanted.

"How do you think Aang is doing?" the peasant asked Zuko. He shrugged. "He will be fine, I am sure he is going to be back soon."

Azula could not believe what she was hearing. Aang was alive? He was...still there? But where was he? She cried out as loud as possible "Where is he?! Where is the Avatar! Tell me! Tell me now! Where?! Is he alive?! TELL ME THIS INSTANT!" she was rolling over her chains trying to break free with all her strength. It reminded her too much about her days in the hands of that brute that general Fong was, which added up to her already extreme level of panic and fury. Only this time she was sure Aang would not come to her rescue.

Katara looked over to Zuko, who was still bowed due to his injury Azula inflicted him with. He was raising an eyebrow at his sisters crazy behavior. He never saw her this emotional in his entire life. She was totally hysterical.

"You won't be here to hurt him again" Katara snarled angry, provoking a heart-shattering cry of Azula. Had Katara known what was really going on, she would have had nothing but sympathy for the troubled and confused princess. But she did not know, so she mistook Azulas cries for something they weren't.

-/-

"Excited to see her again?" Toph asked, nudging Aang in the shoulder. He nodded slowly. He could not believe it took him two whole days to get back to the firenation on an airship. He somehow thought those things were faster. But apparently they were not.

"Why didn't you stop them when they went to face Zula?" he asked. It bugged him since the blind earthbender picked him up from his fight with Ozai and told him everything that happened in the past days, since he was gone.

"I tried. But without telling what was really going on between the two of you, I had no chance of convincing them otherwise" she replied.

"I wonder what she did to Zuko" Aang mused. He knew that Zuko was no bad bender. But his girlfriend was an artist and a brilliant one that was.

"Kicked his butt, I suppose. But I wouldn't know" Toph shrugged, she was feeling Aangs pleasant anticipation of seeing the princess again.

"Who kicked whose butt?" Sokka asked, coming down the stairs to the closed loading dock the Avatar and his earthbending teacher stood in front of.

"No one" Aang replied, without turning around. Sokka shrugged mindlessly.

"Well, we arrived. You can lower the loading dock"

Aang was curious what it was he would see once he left the Airship. The shimmering light was falling through the slowly opening dock, his eyes trying to adjust to the sudden bright light. He really looked forward to seeing her again. This time he would never let her go again, ever. The dock crashed loudly to the floor of the parade ground in front of the firenation palace and Aang thought he would see her standing there, down the loading dock.

But when his eyes sharpened up, he realized, it was not her. It was Zuko and Katara, who were awaiting him. He swallowed hard.

Not what he expected at all.

But who knows, maybe she was just still in the palace or something, he thought disappointed. He sincerely hoped she would be there when he arrived.

Walking down the loading dock, accompanied by Toph, towards his two waiting friends, he suppressed the urge to just burst out with the question which was burning on his tongue. He barely felt Tophs fist hit his shoulder and almost failed to hear her whispered "relax, twinkletoes" when he arrived in front of his friends. Giving Katara a tight hug, he turned to Zuko.

"It's over" he said relieved. To be honest, knowing he defeated Ozai and ended a hundred years of war felt like the weight of the world was lifted off his shoulders. It was very relieving. Zuko nodded, before he too hugged Aang.

"It's over" the firebender repeated confirmatively, sighting slowly. Aang could not help it. He had to ask now. He just had.

"Sooo" he began "where is your sister?" Aang had no idea why he used the words he did. Zuko cleared his throat, visibly uncomfortable.

"In prison" he said. Aang eyes darted to his friends, drilling holes into his head.

"What?!" he cried "Why?" Zuko rose a suspicious eyebrow, exchanging a look with Katara who was also not quite sure what was going on with Aang. She somehow expected him to be happy about that.

"Because she tried to kill Katara and me. And because she went completely bonzo" Zuko replied hesitantly. Aang could not cope with all the information at once. Prison? Insanity? What was going on?

"I need to see her" Aang demanded

"I don't think that's a good idea, Aang" Katara said. But the Avatar shook his head.

"No, you don't understand, I need to see her now" he hissed.

"You should bring him to her, sparky" Toph crossed her arms over her chest.

-/-

"I have no idea why I am doing this" Zuko sighted standing in front of a heavy door in the high security prison near the royal city. Aang did not say anything, but noticed the look Zuko and Katara exchanged. "at your own risk" Zuko said plainly, before turning the keys and pulling the door open.

"I don't want to see any of you traitors!" screamed Azulas voice from inside the cell, followed by a wave of blue fire. Zuko and Katara were still exchanging looks as if they were having a discussion with their eyes. Aang was really getting annoyed by that. Why could they not talk like everyone else did?

"Watch and learn for yourself" Toph whispered, while Aang entered the cell, indicating his friends to wait outside.

When Aang entered the cell, he wanted to cry. Azula was cowering in a corner, her arms wrapped tightly around her legs, head on her knees.

"Princess?" he whispered cautiously. Her head darted up, as she looked at him in disbelieve.

"Avatar" she breathed. Aang nodded, confirming her unsure statement with the best smile he could muster in this moment. But she started shaking her head no.

"No. No. You are not real. I am imagining again. You are not here. They said you would never come here. They said I will never see you again. You are only in my mind. You are only in my mind. You are only in my mind" she was rocking back and forth, repeating herself over and over again. Aang felt someone punch him in the stomach over and over again with every time she repeated her mantra.

"Azula" he said slowly going closer to her. "I am here. Right next to you" he reassured. "I promised to return, remember? I said I would always come back to you. I am so sorry it took me so long, but I am here now" he said, kneeling down beside her, so they were face to face. She hesitatingly looked up and extended a shaky hand to him, cautiously touching his face. The moment her fingers touched his face she immediately withdraw her fingers. For a moment she was looking at him like he was some kind of ghost. He stood up again "Come with me, love" he whispered.

The next instant, Aang never saw anybody move so fast, she was up to her feet and crashed into him, sending him stumbling back, out of the cell and onto the wall of the corridor. She was hugging him so tight, he was having trouble breathing. Crying her eyes out, she hammered with her fist to his chest, shouting "Don't you dare leave me again!"

The moment Aang flew out of the cell with Azula on him, Katara sprung to action, determined on getting her off her friend. But Toph held her back, shaking her head. At that Katara was already confused, but hearing Azula shout at Aang to never leave her again, was doing the rest. Now she was positively lost, what the hell was going on? She looked to Zuko who was just killing off a fire-knife in his fist, looking equally confused as he processed that his insane sister was hanging on to his best friend for dear life, crying heart-shattering faltering. Only Toph had a knowing grin on her lips, which seemed oddly out of place.

"Calm down, Zula" Aang whispered. "I am here. No one is going to hurt you. Everything is save. I am here for you. I always will be. It's over, everything is fine now." he stroked her hair behind her ear smiling.

"I have something for you, ok? It will be better any second, do you trust me?"

"Yes, of course" she sobbed, not even noticing that she was not alone with Aang. He pressed his thumb gently to her forehead, and the other one to her collarbone, before his eyes and tattoos started glowing.

Suddenly Azula was seeing herself floating in the galaxy in front of a blue transparent wall. She was seeing her pink reflection in it, before her reflection slowly turned to Aang. She felt completely in peace, with the hunch of Aang being everywhere around her. Her mind was calming down with every moment she was floating there. The confusion and worry was washing away like her mind was being cleaned.

"Do you know where we are?" he asked calmly. She shook her head.

"No, I don't. where are we?" she asked.

"This is my mind." Aang pointed around "You are inside my consciousness, it's everywhere around you" he explained, as the transparent wall dissolved and the pink glowing version of Aang was floating directly in front of her. Azula noticed that more and more beautiful lights and nebulas of thousands of different color where floating in the universe just like Aang and herself.

"It's beautiful" she said open-mouthed, causing him to smile broadly.

"Thank you." He followed her sight around "Tell me, how do you feel?"

Azula felt amazing, almost like new, she felt in control of herself, she felt like her old self with the knowledge of Aang always being there for her. With the overwhelming feeling of true love for the first time in her life. "Perfect. I feel perfect." she mused.

He smiled at her "kiss me" he said.

Leaning in, Azula was suddenly back in the prison, looking in Aangs white glowing eyes, before their lips found each other. Her mind was at complete peace. The voices whispering things into her ears were gone, the doubts and worries were forgotten.

Katara rubbed her eyes when Aang let go of Azulas head and collarbone and she opened her eyes. For a second they where glowing just like Aangs before they kissed each other. The waterbender heard her lower jaw drop to the floor. She had no idea what was more incredible, the kiss or Azulas glowing eyes. What the hell was going on here?

Azula broke away from the kiss, suddenly becoming aware to the three other people around. She eyed Katara and Zuko carefully, leaving Toph out. "This time I will forgive you for the things done and said, Zuzu." she stated, her voice as icy as it used to be, shooting him her smirk of doom. "And you Avatar, better see to it, that you will never abandon me like that again" grinning she turned around to leave, but Katara blocked her path. "You might have succeeded once in defeating me. You care for a rematch?" she stared the water-peasant down.

"Let her go Katara" Aang interrupted, before either of the two girls were able to do something harsh and imprudent. Deciding it was better to hear Aang out explaining what was going on, Katara stepped aside.

"I'll be in my chambers, should anybody need something" Azula said while leaving. Katara spun around to Aang.

"Aang, you will tell me what is going on this instant!" she sneered at him. Zuko was only nodding. "Yeah, I could use some clarifying too."

"Well, Azula and I are... We are a couple" Aang said.

"What?" Zuko asked. "No way." Aang held his hand out flat in front of him, a second later there was his blue flame. Katara was looking back and forth between Aang and his flame.

"Sorry I did not tell you guys sooner. But you know, what would I have said."

"You do realize, she literally tried to kill us?" Katara asked incandescently. "How can you call her your girlfriend?!" Aang scratched his now cleanly shaven head. "That is kind of my fault." he admitted. "I told her that she has to stay low until I come back to her. See, I feared that I would not be able to defeat Ozai and I was scared that if he found out about her and me, he would do horrible things to her. So I said, she has to pretend that she still was loyal to Ozai and do everything to be save. She may have though you double crossed me and kind of got furious. Sorry about that. She was really confused."

"How do you know all those things, Aang?" Zuko crossed his arms over his chest. "I let her into my mind just before" he said "You can bend the energy within a person. That extends to everything. While she was in my head, I was in hers, fixing what was broken. And you have no idea how much was not only broken, but shattered. She has been through a lot over the past month, trust me. It was difficult. But give her a chance, she will surprise you." Aang explained as calm as possible. He sincerely hoped that he would not have to decide between his friends and Azula. Because this choice would be really simple. Azula made him happy in a way he never thought was possible.

"How long is this going?" Zuko asked.

"It happened, when I and Toph were alone. That's why she knew, she busted us" he said, causing Toph to giggle. "Gotcha good, didn't I" she grinned

"Wait a second. So she taught you to lightning-bend?" Katara asked "Not Roku?"

Aang shook his head. "Of course not. It was her, she also taught me firebending. Why do you think my fire is blue now? It's also the reason I refused to train with you Zuko. Sorry for that as well, but I can't revert it back to orange. It's blue now. I didn't suppose it was a good idea to suddenly wave around with blue flames. Everyone would have known immediately. Ozai certainly did."

"So what was going on with General Fong?" Zuko asked. "Let's go somewhere a little more comfortable, and I will start from the beginning, ok?" Aang suggested. His friends nodded, before they left the prison heading for the palace.

"And before you guys ask. That night you came to my room, Katara. Well, I was not exactly alone."

"What!?" Katara and Zuko shouted like one. "How did she get in?" they were talking in such synch it was almost comedy.

"I let her in" Toph replied smiling. "I am a great partner in crime, am I not?"

"really awesome Toph" Katara replied, rolling her eyes.

"Zuko" Aang said, taking him to the side a bit. "I know it is none of my concern. But what I have seen in Azulas mind was... shocking, horrible, saddening. I don't know. A bit of everything, and everything was somehow connected to her mother. Trust me, we should search for her. That is, if you want my help. But trust me, finding her is important."