A/N: Sorry for the really long delay in getting this out. I started a new job and it has eaten all my free time. I'll try to get this out more quickly now that I've manage to squeeze some spare time in my day for personal projects. I would like to thank my loyal readers and as always please leave Reviews. They make all the difference to me and I enjoy reading them.

Avatar Chapter 10: Attack Plans

Ty Lee stretched her leg behind her head as she read her book. It always relaxed her to stretch like this when she read. Her father had always told her to keep both mind and body limber and the best way to do that was to stretch both at the same time. Ty Lee closed the book and looked up at the sky. Of course she was still board out of her skull. She heard running footsteps behind her and saw one of the Kyoshi warriors running to her.

"Ty Lee," she yelled waving as she ran. "Suki's back."

Ty Lee back flipped off the ground. "That's great," she said. "Maybe she brought back something for us to do."

The Warrior whose name was Kay Ling made a sour face. "If I know Suki, then it will be a lot of hard training."

Ty Lee smiled. "I'll take hard training over sitting around and doing nothing any day."

Kay Ling shrugged. "If that's how you feel," she said. "Then I think you should be the one to great her."

Ty Lee smiled and nodded. "Sure," she said. "I'll meet her there."

Ty Lee ran down to the docks and watched as the Earth Kingdom ship docked and a pair of workers pulled a ramp to the ship. Several people came out first before Ty Lee recognized her fearless leader. "Suki," yelled Ty Lee jumping up and down waving her hand.

Suki smiled and waved back at Ty Lee as she got off the boat. No sooner had her feet hit the dock then she found herself enveloped by a hug from Ty Lee. "How are you doing Ty Lee?" asked Suki hugging her back.

Ty Lee smiled. "Really great," she said. "My Aura has never been pinker."

Suki rolled her eyes at the mention of Ty Lee's Aura. Personally she didn't buy into it, but whatever kept her happy was all right with her. Suki picked up her bags when she saw Ty Lee looking at her with a worried look on her face. "What's wrong?" asked Suki. "Did something happen while I was away?"

Ty Lee shook her head. "Nothing happened here," she said. "But I can tell by your dark blue Aura something happened to you at Ba Sing Se."

Suki hid her surprise. "Nothing happened," she said.

Ty Lee pulled Suki by the arm out of the mass of people and to a more private area. "I know your lying," she said. "Not only is your Aura off, but it's written on your face." Ty Lee studied Suki for a moment until Suki started to squirm under her gaze. Finally Ty Lee looked up at Suki. "What happened between you and Sokka?" she asked.

Suki sighed. She had hoped to keep what happened with Sokka secret for a little while so she could sort out her own feelings. Leave it to Ty Lee to be a tad bit to perceptive. "I broke up with Sokka," said Suki.

Ty Lee's eyes widen. "I don't believe it," she said. "Why? I thought the two of you were going to get married and have lots of kids."

Suki sighed. "That's what I thought too," she said. "But then I had a realization at Ba Sing Se. I realized that no matter what, that the fighting was never going to stop and that Sokka was always going to be in the middle of it all. I didn't want to raise a family always wondering if he was going to come back to me alive."

Ty Lee's eyes where full of sadness. "What happened?"

Suki shook her head. "I'll tell you more in the morning," she said. "Right now I just want to get some rest."

Ty Lee nodded her head and watched as Suki walked to her home. Ty Lee herself was about to find something to do when a fire hawk descended and landed on a tree in front of her. Ty Lee grabbed the message from the pouch and began to read.

Dear Ty Lee,

I know this may come as a surprise hearing from you big sister after a year, but I just wanted to get in touch and ask a question from you. I have met someone and I would like advice on how to pursue the relationship. We have known each other from before and quite frankly we didn't get along. Things I changed and my opinion of him has change as well. Seeing how you are the only one I can ask without fear of embarrassment I would like your advice.

Aluza Lee.

Ty Lee's eyes widen in surprise and she read the letter two more time just to make sure. It was from Azula. Ty Lee's mind began to race as she thought about what she needed to do. On one hand she knew that she needed to tell Zuko and Mai that Azula was well again on the other…Ty Lee looked back at the letter. It may be a trick from Azula, but for some reason she didn't think so. She could feel Azula's residual Aura coming off the letter and it was full of confusion and something Ty Lee had rarely felt from Azula…Love. It was small, almost too hard to see but it was love. Ty Lee was torn. If she told Zuko then Azula would most likely be put on trial, but she may lose her only shot at love. Ty Lee bit her lip as she walked home. She needed to think for a moment before she made a decision. As she walked in she sat down at a chair and pulled out a piece of paper and a brush. She thought again and finally came to her decision.

Dearest Aluza…

Zuko and Aang didn't speak much on the way to the Convoy. Actually they didn't speak at all. Aang couldn't get images of betrayal out of his mind. All the people he knew to be his friends were upset that he allowed Zuko to station Fire Nation troops in the temple on the chance that Jia would return. He looked up at Zuko and saw him extending and retracting the blade as if he was mesmerized by it. "So what do you plan to do with that?" asked Aang.

Zuko snapped the blade back into the staff. "I would think it would be obvious," he said. "We're going to go see June if my trap doesn't work."

"I doubt it will work," said Aang. "You put out the rumors after Ba Sing Se and she had been at the temple the whole time. I doubt she would have heard of the information about you moving your father."

Zuko shrugged. "It's still worth a try," he said. "Even if we don't catch Jia, we may get some potential traitors. Either way it's win-win."

Aang regarded his companion for a moment. It seemed like Zuko had changed a lot over the last few months. He was using people, being manipulative, and he seemed to be comfortable with putting others in harm's way to achieve his goals. He had changed. Not just since Jia showed up, but he had begun this a while back since he had taken the throne. He had to fight off rebels and generals who wanted to the throne for themselves and it seemed that it was starting to wear him down. It was making him irrational. As they came over the forest, Aang saw some smoke in the distance. As they came closer Zuko and Aang exchanged worried looks. It was coming from the area where the convoy was supposed to be. "Oh no," said Aang as they came up over what was left of the prison convoy. "We're too late."

Zuko landed the balloon as Aang jumped out. Aang ran over to one of the guards as Zuko got out of the balloon and ran to the carriage that held his father. He opened it up and saw his father's lifeless body staring back at him. Zuko turned away. He had seen death during the war, but to see his father dead despite what he had done to the world and Zuko, it was still hard. Zuko closed his father's eyes and shut the door. He turned to a White Lotus guard. "What happened?"

The guard ran a hand through his dirty hair as he spoke. "We were ambushed by Earth Benders," he said. "About twenty of them came out of nowhere. Before we knew it, we were fighting for our lives. During the battle one of the Earth Benders made a break for your father's prison cart and killed him."

Zuko clinched his fist. This was not how things were suppose to happen. He hadn't anticipated an attack by Earth Benders. He turned to Aang. "We need to get these men back home," he said. He turned and looked at his father's carriage. "We also need to put my father to rest." Aang nodded his understanding and helped some of the guards move away. Zuko took a deep breath and let out a stream of fire that lit the carriage on fire. Zuko watched as the flames consumed his father's corpse. "Goodbye Father," he whispered as a single tear fell from his good eye.

Aang saw his friend's tears. He knew that few people if any would have shed a tear for the fallen Fire Lord, but despite all that had happened to him, Zuko still loved his father. He put a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Are you alright?" asked Aang.

Zuko didn't say anything as he turned to one of the Guards. "How long ago did this attack happen?" he asked.

"Sometime last night," said the Guard. "We were coming down the trail when several men burst from the ground and started to attack us. As we fought them, another group attacked us from behind and before we knew it, we had been surrounded." The guard looked at the burning carriage. "The two men guarding your father were attacked by four Earthbenders. We tried to assist but before we could, one of them got into the carriage and killed Ozai." The guard turned back to Zuko. "This was no last second attack," he said gravely. "It was like they knew our location and how our men were positioned."

Zuko thought for a moment. "We have a leak somewhere."

The guard looked at him in shock. "The only ones who knew where within the Order itself," he said. "That would mean that one of us is a traitor."

Zuko looked at the guard. "Patch up your wounded and wait until the blaze dies down and nothing but ash remains," he said. "Collect the ashes and bring them to Uncle and report to him what happened."

The guard bowed his head as Zuko started walking back to the balloon when Aang grabbed him by the arm. "Hold up," he said. "You're not even going to mourn you father? What about the men here, they still need help. We just can't…"

Zuko angrily swatted Aang's hand from his arm and turned on the young Airbender. "Listen," he said trying to control his anger. "We don't have time right now for such things. We need to find Jia and the earth benders who attacked the convoy." He looked back at his Father's pyre. "I want to mourn, I want to weep, I want to bury him with honor, but we can't. He's dead and nothing I do will change that, but if I waist time here than others who are alive right now might not be soon." He looked back at Aang. "When this is over and Jia and those who did this are brought to justice, then I'll mourn. Until then we concern ourselves with the living."

Aang watched as the White Lotus member nodded and proceeded to help his comrades. Zuko walked back to the war balloon and Aang fell in behind him. Zuko was right in what he was saying; Aang knew that much, but it still felt… wrong. As they took off Aang took one last look at the funeral pyre. "So what now," he said not taking his eyes of the fire.

Zuko held Jia's staff as he stared off into space. Without thinking Zuko flipped out the broken blade of Jia's staff. "Simple," he said flipping the blade in and out again. "We find the one person in the whole world who can find anyone. June."

Azlon sat at the table of his favorite eating spot. It was a small café that didn't see a lot of customers, but maintained a loyal core of regulars. The food was good and the coffee was better, so it was these things plus the privacy that kept Azlon coming. He was reading over a status report about some of his patients when someone sat in the chair across from him. Azlon glanced up from his papers and sighed.

"I knew you'd show up here sooner or later," he said sipping his coffee. "After hearing what happened to Kuzon, I knew that you coming here wouldn't be to too long in happening." He sat the papers down and smiled at the young girl. "So how have you been, Jia?"

Jia returned the smiled. "I've been better," she said. "And how is my favorite Fire Nation doctor."

Azlon snorted. "Favorite?" he said. "You mean there are other Fire Nation Doctors you like?"

"Some I'd like to see dead," she said. "But for you I make an exception. This brings me to why I'm here."

Azlon took another sip. "You want her don't you?" he asked not at all surprised. "You want to one who tortured you for all those years."

Jia nodded. "Where is she?" she asked. "I know that Larvish is still here, I want her."

Azlon was going to answer when the waitress came to the table with Azlon's food. As she sat them down, Azlon saw Jia stare hungrily at his food. Azlon smiled and pushed the plate towards her. Jia didn't say a word as she immediately dug into the Fire cake and maple syrup. Azlon smiled and ordered a second plate for himself. "Hungry weren't you?" he asked smiling. Jia just nodded and continued to eat. As she did, Azlon folded his hands in his lap and studied the young Airbender. He still remembered the day he first met her 6 years ago.

6 years ago…

Doctor Azlon looked around his office and sighed. It was small and dingy more like a broom closet than a real office. Shutting the door he went into the operating room and found it to be in poor condition lacking in everything modern. The instruments were stained and a few had rust on them and the tables where just wooden slates with no cushion. He looked around and didn't see a single source of clean water to be had. He opened the medicine cabinet and to his disgust saw open bottles of pills, some without labels, and evidence that rats had been living in there. He sighed as he thought again about the circumstances that brought him here. He had finished first in his class at the Royal Academy of Medicine and as such should have been given the most prestigious position, but there was a problem. Azlon's family was poor. His father was a farmer and his mother washed clothes for the local garrison. They had saved and did without for years to send their only child to school and just when it seemed to payoff, life handed him this. His classmates had money and influence. Things he did not, and as a result he was sent to a backwater prison while his less talented classmates sat in clean offices and upscale hospitals. Before he left his father told him not to despair, that the spirits must have placed him there for a reason. "This is a mess," he said to himself.

"It's the best we got," said a voice behind him. "So don't complain."

Azlon turned around and saw a nurse walking in. She was a stocky woman with stringy black hair tied in a loose knot and a uniform that had several unidentified stains on it. She opened her mouth to yawn and Azlon could see she was missing several teeth. "You could at least clean some of it," he said. "Right now I wouldn't treat a pissed off Moose Lion in here let alone a human being."

The nurse shrugged and spat on the floor. "In case you didn't know doctor," she said. "This is a prison for POWs. As far as I'm concerned they aren't human."

Azlon was about to retort when two guards dragged in a limp body and dropped her face first on a dirty wooden table. Azlon rushed forward and saw the burns along the girls back. "Agni's ghost," he breathed. "Nurse I need burn ointment and disinfectant now!" The nurse scratched herself and looked around the room unconcerned. "NURSE," snapped Azlon slamming his hand on the table causing her and the guards to jump. "The items, NOW!"

"We don't have any of that stuff," said the Nurse chuckling as the girl groaned. "Not for the prisoners anyway."

Azlon sneered and pushed past the nurse and grabbed the things he wanted and went back to the girl and began to apply the disinfectant. The girl gritted her teeth in pain as Azlon swabbed the wounds. It was then that he saw the blue tattoo on her bare back. An Airbender. He put down the disinfectant and started to pick up the ointment when the nurse grabbed his wrist. "That's for Fire Nation guards only."

Azlon shook her arm off and took the ointment and began to apply it causing a sigh of relief to escape the girl's lips. Azlon bandaged her burns and looked at the two guards who were leaning against the wall. "How did this happen?" he asked. "Who is responsible for this?"

"I am," said a woman walking into the room and looking down at the Airbender with barely hidden disgust. "I am head interrogator Lavrish, and this is my subject Prisoner 225."

Azlon cut the edge off the bandage and began to check the rest of the girl's body. "We'll your prisoner is knocking on death's door," he said. "What in Agni's black heart do you think you are doing to the poor girl?"

Lavrish sneered at the doctor and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "Anything I want," she said. "This is my facility and I will treat my prisoners as I see fit." She threw Azlon into the wall then walked over to the girl. "How long will it be until she is well enough to be questioned?"

Azlon rubbed his arm. "Questioned?" he said. "What could a child this young possibly know?"

Lavrish smiled cruelly. "That is for me to know," she said walking out. She gazed at Azlon. "Now tell me doctor, how long?"

Azlon met her gaze unflinchingly. "It will be at least a month until she can move again," he said.

Lavrish studies her nails. "Then I will return in a month," she said. "She had better be well enough to question by then." Lavrish leaned over and whispered into Jia's ear. Azlon strained his ears to hear what she said. "How many lights do you see?" The Airbender cringed causing Lavrish to laugh as she left. "One month Doctor," she said as she left."

The nurse gave Azlon a snide look and walked out as well. Azlon went over to the girl and gently began to clean her other wounds. He saw her stifling tears and it caused Azlon's heart to break. This was wrong. "Don't worry," he said gently rubbing her head. "Everything will be alright." The girl opened gray eyes and in them Azlon saw a small flicker of hope. He gave her a smile and continued to heal her. His father was right, he had found his reason.

That was 6 years ago. He did his best to protect Jia from Lavrish. He made it seem that Jia was too ill to be interrogated or he would enact quarantine in the area she was in. He once even threaten some guards who wanted to have fun with her by telling them that next time they were in his care he might cut something vital on "accident". Another time he gave Lavrish a virus that kept her away for two months. Still it wasn't enough. Lavrish would always get her way. Azlon rubbed absently at the scar on his arm where Lavrish, upset that she couldn't get to Jia, decided to take her frustrations out on him. He had been more than glad to take it.

Jia swallowed the last bite of food and waved her hand in front of Azlon. "Hello?" she said. "You there?"

Azlon nodded. "I'm sorry," he said. "I'm sorry that I didn't do more for you."

Jia gave him a surprised look the smiled grimly. "It's in the past. You did what you could do and then some," she said. "But you can make up for it now by helping me."

Azlon nodded accepting what she said. "It won't be easy," he said. "The number of guards has been increased and we have a special guest staying with us to protect an important patient."

Jia's brow furrowed. "As long as they are not protecting Larvish I'm not worried about it," she said. "So can you get me in?"

Azlon nodded. "I can," he said. "But I'm afraid you might find yourself disappointed when you see her. Things have…changed since you left."

Jia waved her hand dismissively. "I don't care," she said. "I'm just here to take her out no matter what."

Azlon took a final drink. "I can get you in tonight," he said. "I'll meet you here again at 9:00." Azlon reached into his pocket and fished out several coins. "Here," he said giving them to her."

Jia took the coins curiously. "What are these for," she asked as Azlon got up.

Azlon smiled. "Buy yourself some new clothes," he said. "Oh and don't forget to eat. Can't have your stomach giving you away."

Jia grinned and hugged Azlon. "Don't worry," she said. "Nothing is going to ruin tonight."

Wu Lon looked the Asylum and studied its walls. They were high, but guarded only by a handful of fire nation soldiers. He wasn't sure how many fire benders where there, but he hoped to have that information very soon. As he leaned on the tree, he saw the man he sent into the city coming back at a fast clip. His second in Command, Lieutenant Hao stood next to him. The Scout saluted and gave his report. "Sir," he started. "I've gotten the location of Princess Azula's cell. It's on the east wing of the facility and is guarded constantly by two Firebenders. The facility itself has about twenty guards and 10 Firebenders not counting the two that guard Azula."

Wu Lon smiled. "Only 32 in the facility," he said. "That should be no problem. The town doesn't have a garrison just a small militia force so they won't be a problem."

His scout shook his head. "We have another issue," he said. "Prince Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe is on the island."

Wu Lon frowned. "Sokka's here?" said Hao in surprise. "Why?"

The Scout shrugged. "I'm not sure," he said. "If I had to guess he's here to guard the princess in case that Airbender shows up."

Wu Lon stroked his chin in thought. "You're most likely right," he said. "Still it's just one man and he isn't even a bender."

"That didn't stop him during the war," said Hao. "Way I hear it; he was the one who took out the Airship fleet."

Wu Lon smiled. "But it will give us a chance not only to take out another member of the Fire Nation Royal Family, but also the heir to the Northern Water Tribe," he said. "Such a victory will go a long way in cementing our control over the other nations."

"He's still dangerous," said Hao. "What do you propose we do?"

Wu Lon nodded. Sokka represented an unknown factor in his plans. While not a bender he was extremely intelligent and was known for thinking on his feet. "We may need to change our plan," he said. Wu Lon nodded at Hao who beckoned the rest of the men over as Wu Lon looked at the ground and bent a dirt model of the facility. He began to trace out his plan as he explained it to his men. "I want Hao to take half the men to the west side of the Facility and cause a distraction," he said bending the earth to show arrows to represent where his men would attack. "We will give you about 10 minutes to attack before I take the rest of the men to the east side and attack the wing Azula is on and kill her. You need to draw as many troops to you as possible without risking being surrounded and captured." Hao nodded his head. "With any luck you will get most of the troops to come to you leaving us to deal only with those assigned to protect Azula."

"When do we attack?" asked Hao.

"Tonight," he said. "The longer we are here; the possibility that she may be moved will increase."

Hao nodded in agreement. "I will prepare the men." Hao saluted and led half the men to the staging area.

Wu Lon nodded and returned his gaze to the facility. "Prepare them well," he said more to himself. "For tonight we shall conquer."