They all thought she was crazy. They thought she had gone insane. Those fools. It was true that her mind was no longer in the proper place, but that would only make things easier for her. They had punished her, they had imprisoned her, they had taken away her everything... but that only made her thirst for vengence more unslakable.

They had no idea who they were up against. She had performed her role to the best of her ability; she was playing the part of the genius turned animal, and she knew she had her prey cornered now. They were unguarded around her, she no longer posed a threat to them... at least... that's what she wanted them to believe.

The wheels in her head began turning, spinning wildly and out of control. There was a way to escape from this place. Her brother was a fool for not placing her in a more challenging prison like the Boiling Rock. An evil smirk played across Azula's lips. She tucked her, now chin-length, bangs behind her ears. Her hair was matted and filthy. Azula had learned the simple bun hairstyle from one of the other inmates. Although she hadn't quite thought of her escape yet, she was already formulating a plan for her post-escape. The chess pieces weren't all on the board, but she was allowing them time to collect themselves. The Earth Kingdom, rebellions, aliases, travel, style, subordinates... these things would all fit together... but the icing wasn't on the cake.

She remembered fondly the Water Tribe peasant-boy. The warrior-wannabe whose mission failed because he didn't consider all the possible outcomes. The only reason his face was the first to come to mind... was his agony. Oh how Azula relished the pain and suffering she had caused him to endure. And for what? It was all over that girl... Suki.

Yes... Suki was her name. She recalled the boy's words clearly now, "Where... is... Suki?"

It was only a memory of course, but it stuck out from the others because it was her way of remembering his most poignant weakness. If she could say... kill... maim... slaughter... incinerate... that girl, he would be beside himself. He would be nothing... he would feel nothing. The last time he'd had his hand to her throat, but she knew he would never have it in him to bring harm to her. He was weak.

Once the girl was out of the way, the boy--or rather--Sokka would be powerless against her. Enraged with the death of his friend he would attack without thinking and leave himself open. If that was not the case, then he would die to be with her. Those two would only be too easy to get rid of. Then there was the little matter of the waterbender. She would be one for vengence. That would make her a relatively easy target. Though Zuzu would certainly protect her with his life, Azula had witnessed that selfless action from him before, and of course that would infuriate Mai. She had been Azula's friend and a loyal subordinate to her in the past, but she had sided against Azula. Now that defiance would be met with death. Mai couldn't bend or block a person's chi-pathes. It would be the opportunity to have the battle that had been interrupted by Ty Lee.

Azula had forgotten about her other little friend. The last thing Azula had heard about Ty Lee was that she had joined the Kyoshi Warriors, which means the death of her commanding officer would probably cause her much inner turmoil. Ty Lee would be unguarded and no match for Azula's superior talents.

That little blind earthbender girl. She would most likely hear of Sokka's tragic demise and come hunting Azula down. No need for following your prey when it offers itself to you. She, unlike the others, would not be an easy opponent... especially with that metalbending of hers. Azula would have to plan battle tactics and strategies for that face-off. So far in, she could not afford to lose.

The avatar certainly would not stand for this. He would be torn apart from the inside out by grief. It is possible that such losses could trigger the Avatar State... Azula's demonic grin became wider... she would just deal with that like she had done the previous time. Without his friends the avatar... was nothing.

Then the Fire Nation Empire would once again rule the world! With Azula as the dominating dictator! Azula composed herself. She had a long way to go before that would be possible... but she knew she would win this time... she was only waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. When that opportunity came, there would be no one left standing. It was only... a matter of time.

xXx

Suki turned the crank on the well. It creaked in defiance as it was pushed involuntarily against its will in a never ending circle. The pail went lower and lower into the darkness that awaited it below. Suki wasn't quite sure how far down the water was, but apparently it went pretty deep. She was thankful when she heard the splash of the pail making contact with the water echo off the well's stone walls.

The bucket was twice as heavy when Suki went to bring it back up again, but it wasn't unmanagable. When it was finally back at the top she let out a sigh of relief. Suki smiled, remembering a time when she had been under Ruka's training. It was Suki's job to fetch a pail of water for everyone in the village everyday. It was that training that had made her strong. But, obviously, it didn't make her invincible... she was prone to one weakness... love.

The Captain grunted as she poured the water into a mobile bucket. She then lifted up her bucket and began to make her way back to her house. As she was passing through the center of the village many different people came up to her, asking if she knew Sokka was in the village. She was very polite when answering the villagers' questions. She could only guess that Sokka was getting twice as many.

When she finally reached the sanctuary that was her home she hurried inside, wanting to get away from all the questions about her fiancé. She had told herself the previous night that she wasn't much use to anyone on Kyoshi Island. Maybe this opportunity to leave the island for awhile would prove to help her resolve. There was still the matter of her students, though.

Suki decided that in her absence Ty Lee and Irina would be responsible for the warriors-in-training. Both of those girls were competing for the Co-Captain position. Depending on how well they deal with the younger warriors, Suki felt that her time away should be enough for her to decide which girl gets the title. That also solves the problem of how the younger girls were going to be trained. Suki needed to make that announcement to her warriors, and after she did that, she supposed she could go to Ba Sing Se with Sokka.

A strong rush of wind whipped her hair away from her face as she opened the shutters to rid her tiny living space of the humidity that had accumulated there. Suki transfered the water into a pot and nestled it over her small fireplace. She sighed remembering how easy it was for Zuko or Jitsang to light a fire with nothing but their hands. The mere prospect of lighting a fire with flint stones seemed primitive and tedious to Suki now.

Three distinct knocks came at her door. "Come in!" Suki called to the visitor.

Ruka entered her little home, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear to make herself look slightly more presentable. Suki abandoned her meager attempt at cooking to greet her friend. Ruka gave her a warm smile, "I saw you at the well this morning..."

Suki was back to adding herbs to her breakfast noodles. "Oh really?"

"Yes," Ruka giggled lightly, "and I heard a most interesting story in the village earlier."

"Well you know I love your stories." Suki commented, stoking the fire.

Ruka wore a sly smirk on her face as she said, "I don't believe you've heard this one quite yet."

This remark sparked Suki's interest. She turned to face her old sensei. Ruka chuckled, "It's more of a rumour really."

"I'd still like to hear it... no doubt it has something to do with my love-life."

"Hmm... so does that mean you are abandoning Kyoshi Island to elope with Sokka of the Water Tribe?" Ruka raised a questioning brow.

Suki sighed. Of course. These days her morals, values, and loyalties were a constant topic of conversation among her fellow villagers. Suki was tired of her neighbors and comerades spreading meaningless nonsense of rumours about her over the tiniest of things.

"I'm not eloping with Sokka. I plan to return before my wedding day."

"But you're leaving with him? To where? When are you coming back? What about the younger girls, have you no concern for them?"

Suki could tell that she was beginning to unnerve her former leader. "Ruka-sensei, I'm only going with Sokka to Ba Sing Se. We're planning on meeting with Fire Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang there. I don't know how long I'll be there or when I'll get back, but I promise I'll return before the first spring blossom blooms. Fair enough?"

"I'm not your sensei anymore, Kiddo. Which makes me curious as to how you plan on teaching your own pupils from such a far distance... surely you don't intend to take them with you?"

Her snide comment caused Suki to laugh. That was ridiculous. There was no way Suki would be able to take all those girls with her on Appa. "If you wouldn't think it a bother, might I ask you to convey a message to the Kyoshi Warriors?"

"Depends on what it is."

"It's about the warriors-in-training. I decided that my second in command should be someone I can count on when I'm away. Currently Irina and Ty Lee are the prime competitors for the postition. The one who can prove themselves best while training the younger girls will get claim over the Co-captain position."

"Very clever. Though, I would ask who would oversee the two older girls' ability to train the young ones?"

Suki smiled, "I was hoping you would be up for the challenge of relaying to me how their progress went while I was away."

Ruka was silent for a time. She seemed to be deliberating the notion. Finally she nodded. "I will do as you ask in your absence, Captain." Ruka gave her a slight smirk as she headed for the door, "Hope you have a safe trip."

Suki laughed. She could never tell what that woman was going to do next. She removed her pot from the fire and poured three bowls of soup, knowing too well that Sokka would want seconds. Suki never could figure out if he was just being nice, or if he really did enjoy her cooking that much. If it was the latter of the two, Suki didn't understand why.

His head peered in through the window, "Does my nose deceive me or are we having noodles for breakfast?"

"Nothing gets past you, Sokka." She giggled.

He grinned and lept over the windowsill, hurrying to his bowl to eat before the food got cold. He nearly ate both bowls of soup in a manner of minutes. The warmth of the soup going down the back of his throat felt good considering he was quite cold from the chill of the ooutside. It wasn't anything compared to the Northern or the Southern Water Tribes, but the soup definately warmed him up.

"Full?" She asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Yes." He chuckled, "So, have you given any more thought to accompanying me to Ba Sing Se?"

Suki was caught off guard by the question. "I have."

"And?"

She gave him a tender smile, "I guess I can go... but I need to pack first."

"Take your time, we aren't in any rush." He gave her a quick peck on the cheek as thanks for the meal before retiring to the rocking chair that creaked with each breeze of wind on Suki's porch.

She hurried to gather her things.

Well, I hope you liked it. I'll try to update again soon. Please leave me reviews! They even have a shnazzy new button!! :D