A/N: Alright, so this chapter kind of... bounces around a bit, I guess, but I wanted to introduce Azula and Ty Lee, as well as a few other important things. Hope you enjoy it. : )

Oh, FYI, next chapter will focus on Toph.

Two Days Later

Iroh was drifting into sleep in the chair, unwilling to leave Zuko's side since he'd arrived. The boy's fever had broken just that morning, which Katara had guardedly said was a good sign. There was a long ways to go, but a good sign none the less. While a fever wasn't as sever for a Fire Bender as it was for most, prolonged fevers would affect them as much as anyone else.

He had sent the girl away to get some sleep; the poor thing was half dead on her feet from exhaustion, almost five days of non-stop Bending having finally taken their toll. Her brother had carried her into her room after she started swaying on her feet; honestly, Iroh wasn't sure if she'd even noticed when he carried her out.

So Iroh had taken up her guard spot, sending both the boy and Ursa's red-headed slave away (the girl who's green eyes missed nothing, he noticed), and settled into Katara's chair to try and get a light nap himself.

He was somewhere in-between awake and asleep, when he heard the low moan, instantly pulling him into awareness, and onto his feet.

"Wh… Ngh…"

Iroh was instantly at Zuko's side, hands going to the boy's side as he tried pushing himself up off his stomach.

"No, Zuko. You must remain still," Iroh said gently, pushing him back down.

"Wha… Iroh?" The boy squinted, his good eye pressed against the table, trying to locate him. Iroh moved into his line of sight, smiling at him gently.

"Yes, Zuko. It's me. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." While the response lacked any of its usual bite, the boy's gritted teeth made it obvious that he was still feeling a great deal of pain, which was hardly unexpected. His entire body was stiff as he slowly shrugged Iroh's hands off of him, pushing himself onto his side. "How long was I out?"

"Almost seven days. You shouldn't push yourself, Zuko," Iroh said warningly, trying to ignore the hurt of the boy shoving him away. "Your fever only broke this morning."

Zuko glared at him. "If I've… Ugh," He paused for a moment, his body twitching a bit, before continuing. "If I've been out… A week… That means I've only… got nineteen days… before the Games. I'm assuming… Ozai isn't going to… pull me so… I've got… nineteen days to… Ngh… get back in… fighting condition."

"Mai!"

Mai froze, feeling ice flowing into her veins at the voice behind her. Forcing her face into a mask of blankness, she turned, bowing.

"Yes, Lady Azula?"

Azula stood, arms folded across her chest, a deviant smile on her face. Her best friend, Ty Lee, stood behind her, hand tugging nervously at her braid, an apologetic look in her eyes.

"So… Is your boyfriend dead? I heard he caught an infection. Father said he'll probably end up dying. Poor little Zuzu," She said mockingly, moving behind Mai, and leaning in. "Do you think he learned his lesson this time? Or do you think maybe Father will have to do it again? Maybe a hundred lashes next time. Do you think Father would order it done if I asked? Would that get a frown on that pretty little face of yours?"

"Azula, please," Ty Lee begged, taking a step forward. "We're going to be late for the play."

"Shut up, Ty Lee," Azula barked, before turning her attention back to Mai. "So? Give me a… report, slave. How is my dear, sweet little Zuzu?"

Mai took a deep breath, before responding, "From what I've heard, he woke up a few hours ago. His fever broke this morning. The healers think he'll make a full recovery."

A pouty little frown appeared on the girl's lips for a few seconds, before she waved her hand absently. "Well, I'm sure he won't survive his fight. There's no way he'll be ready by the time the Water Championships roll around. He'll probably get smashed to bits, or drowned… or perhaps somebody will finish what Father started with his face?"

Mai could taste blood, her canine tooth biting into her lip, struggling to keep the words from spilling out as Azula laughed, and flounced away.

"I… I'm sorry, Mai," Ty Lee said quietly as she passed. "I… I miss you."

She was shocked by the girl's quick hug, and then she found herself alone in the hallway again.

Aang was meditating, having forgone dinner to have a few minutes of peace and quiet to himself, when he felt a hand tugging on him sharply.

Pushing himself back with a gust of Air, his eyes flung open, relaxing only a bit when he seen the red-haired girl he'd arrived with glaring at him.

"What gives?" He asked, somewhat irritably. That was probably his only chance at some quiet for the day, and she'd ruined it.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She hissed, grabbing his arm, and pulling him close.

"What do you mean?" He asked, confused at the girl's anger. "I was just meditating, and –"

"Not that, you stupid boy! There's no way you 'accidentally' got caught! You're too young to leave the cities for the compounds, or on a hunting trip. Which means you intentionally broke your greatest rule, and went wandering," She hissed, leaning closer. "Which, in turn, means you're either incredibly stupid, or you intentionally wandered into an enemy city!"

Aang swallowed thickly, tongue stuck in his throat for a moment, before finally whispering, "I… I just wanted to… to see for myself, you know?"

"Foolish, stupid, idiotic boy!" She snapped, her nails digging into his arm. "Did you ever stop to think what you were putting in danger? What if they had tortured you, wanting to know where you came from? You would have told them everything! And all your family, your friends –your entire people –would've ended up no better than these other poor souls. An entire tribe enslaved because of your stupidity!"