A/N:

I wanted to try a different writing style. This is the experimental chapter that will have everything pick up. Thanks for all your fantastic reviews. &nd for the Naruto fans out there, I've started a new fanfic and I'm very proud of it so far. I have up to chapter six written, and only two chapters posted.


Chapter Ten

Green. If only she knew that color.

She used to wear it all the time.

Red. If only she knew that color.

The switch in clothes had represented her switch in priorities.

Green, for when it was all about being the greatest earth bender.

Red, for when it was all about bringing an ex Fire Nation queen home.

Green, for when she didn't need anybody but herself.

Red, for when she felt the sudden need for someone to be around.

Both colors went unseen, but even in the dark they represented who she was.

Too bad it was suddenly, all over…


Aang had pleaded for Ursa's release.

Katara had threatened to decline the alliance of the two tribes.

Toph had caused a massive earthquake.

How was she supposed to know the deal she had made?

All she knew is that she had wanted to come home.

Li had made it seem like just a Fire Nation ordeal.

If only he had given her that letter.

Ursa had told the council members her son was on her way.

Not that he was coming to get her.

Not that he had sent a small girl to come get her.

Treason.

On the highest accord.


She couldn't go back to the nation.

She could never face Zuko again.

She had ruined his life.

She had no choice but to return home.

On top of Appa she flew, with two of her only friends, towards the one place she had dreaded the most.

The one place that she had run from:

Home.

Everything would be the same, but nothing would change.

She would be once again put away, kept under her parents watch until she was eighteen, when she would then be forced to marry some rich man or noble lord.

Her life was set as soon as she walked through that gate.


If Toph's vision had instead been replaced with some sort of physic ability instead of just taken, she would have foreseen the path she would soon have to follow.

The path a princess and a warrior had set up for her.

You cannot have fire without destruction.


Azula had escaped.

Mai was missing.

Li had revealed where the earth bender had run off to.

Li had been fired.

Iroh was still in Ba Sing Sei,

While his nation was slowly turning against him.

Zuko had gone mad.

He half contemplated letting his father out of his cage so he could take back the responsibility of being Fire Lord,

But he hadn't gone quite that mad.

Yet.

He needed something – anything – to keep him from reaching that point.

He needed help.

He needed the Avatar.


"First, you release me from this cage."

She had complied.

"Second, we will go to Ba Sing Sei and find my dear uncle."

They had started their journey.

"Third, we will use my uncle's influence in the tea business to affect the girl's parents."

They were making decisions.

"Once her parent's reputation goes down, so will their position as nobles. Now that she's gone, she will have nowhere to return to but home, and once her parents slowly start losing their reputation on her own accord, not only will she not have a future…

…but the people she loves most will be suffering, and her family will slowly start to fall apart."

"But Azula, how do you know she holds so much love for her family? She stayed with Zuko in the first place so she didn't have to see them."

"Did you ever stop think that it isn't only being caged in she's afraid of, but the disappointment she'll bring once she is? She's like me in the way where she will never stray from her true rebellious nature, but she has a heart. She'll be completely torn apart seeing her parents struggle to help her set her life up while she's tearing it down."

Mai smiled to herself.

Having cynical friends made everything easier.


They rode by carriage.

Cloaks hid their faces.

Ba Sing Sei's walls had been torn down long ago.

They were free to enter as they pleased.

But the surprise attack on Iroh would need every ounce of just that.

Surprise, uncle.


"Is that my baby?"

She was embraced.

Her mother still smelled like apples.

"Where have you been this whole time?"

Her father's voice was controlling as always.

But the slightest amount of care could be heard.

Her two friends departed.

"Can you let go of me now? You're making it hard to breath."

"Oh, yes, yes, honey. Come inside. I'll make you some hot tea."

Speaking of tea.

Iroh was in the city.

Seeing her old friend would make everything more enjoyable.