Katara finds Aang in the nursery. The faint light of the moon pours in casting a blue light. He doesn't make any indication that he notices her but she knows he has. Stopping to stand beside him she looks down in the crib at the small bundle. Soft breaths are the only sounds in the room.

They convinced Aang to wait until morning so he could rest and so the exhausted Dai Li agent, Jian, could give them whatever information he has.

"I can't sleep." He still doesn't look at her though.

She's not sure any of them have been able to. "Me either."

The baby draws a shuddering breath.

"He's only a week old."

Katara nods. Azula most likely barely had enough time to hold the baby before she had to send him away. Katara isn't sure she could have done the same.

"What will you name him?" She strives to find something a bit more cheerful to focus on.

"I don't know. That's something we should do together." Aang's voice has the same absent quality it had when Appa was taken and he had just totally shut down emotionally.

"You'll find her, Aang."

"What if I don't?"

Katara pauses. Aang is usually so optimistic it is blinding, except for in times like this when he finally lets his worries and concerns overtake him. It's a side that usually only she is privy to seeing.

"Then she'll find you."


The room is small and cramped. The table takes up most of the space. The metal cuffs cut into her wrists and ankles but her focus is on the old man that stares at her.

"Princess, it is a pleasure to see you again." His voice croaks.

"It would be best if you didn't speak." Azula orders him with a glare. "The sound of your voice is torture enough."

"Of course, Princess." The man smiles as he lays out his tools on a small table. "We haven't much time as Commander Lao wants quick results this time. Do try and cooperate."

A fission of fury races through her. "The only thing Lao wants is for me to suffer so get on with it."

The old man's head bobs. "As you wish, Princess."

The fact they are alone in the room works to her advantage. Lao prefers to stop in when she is at the peak of her suffering. The man has quite the sadistic streak. However, last time she was in this position, she lacked her bending but now it overflows in abundance despite the exhaustion she feels from her illness. It has been a well kept secret of Azula's.

Before the old man even turns around with the first instrument in hand, Azula has the cuffs heated and popped off. He never has a chance to cry out as she soundlessly snaps his neck and gently lays him on the cold floor.

A wave of dizziness washes over her and she closes her eyes to let it pass. Giving birth and being ill have taken their toll. When Azula opens her eyes, she looks around the corner at the men standing guard. Stealth is needed. No matter how elite a bender Azula is, she can't take on all the men in Lao's command in her weakened state but, if anything, the Princess is resourceful.

Eyeing the table of sharp implements that were meant for her, Azula smirks as she takes her pick. The guards never see their end coming.

Growing up as she did, Azula was trained in the art of secrecy. She uses this now as she makes her way down the darkened corridors. At one junction, Azula pauses and waits. Her patience is rewarded.

The Dai Li agent, Wei, seemingly comes out of nowhere. "Princess, this way."

Azula follows Wei albeit slower than his quick pace. Exhaustion bites at the edges of her awareness.

"Where is Lena?"

Wei slows to let her draw near. "She is waiting outside with supplies. We must hurry if you can."

Azula nods. She won't be here any longer than she has to be.

Lena is indeed waiting outside and the old woman smiles in relief upon seeing the Princess.

"Are you hurt?" Her blue eyes shine in the light of the moon.

Azula leans against a tree but shakes her head. The old woman moves closer pressing a cool hand to her forehead.

"She's burning up again." The fever had only abated for a short time.

"We have to keep going." Azula cuts off further protests. "How far to Caldera? " She would have preferred to stay and take out Lao herself but that would be foolish since her fever is already returning.

"Several days travel, more so since we have no transport." The Dai Li agent obediently answers. Wei does not mention that ducking patrols will add to their time.

Azula gives a sigh. "Let's go." Lao will have to wait.


They are not making good time. Azula wishes they could blame it on Lena. The woman is ancient and slow moving but in reality it is Azula that is slowing them down. The fever is back with a vengeance and they frequently have to stop to allow her to rest and for Lena to try to cool her down before it gets too high. Her steps are uneven and she stumbles more than she likes. Lena warns that if it gets too high that there could be serious repercussions. Azula ignores her. There are some things a princess has no control over. It's a disconcerting admission.

For days they duck Lao's patrols and follow the vague direction towards Caldera. During the heat of the day they hide in earth tents made to blend in with the landscape. At night, they travel under the cover of darkness. Rest does not come easy to Azula.


"Something big is going on." Zuko says as he reads the newest message sent by hawk. "Lao has increased patrols and they are going deep into the surrounding jungle."

"Maybe he's scouting for his next attack." Sokka suggests from his place by the fire.

"That doesn't make sense," Zuko shakes his head. "If he's planning to challenge me to an Agni Kai, then he doesn't need to take any more cities. There aren't any near Ga Nai anyway." Small villages dot the landscape but nothing major.

They fall silent contemplating this. Ga Nai is a few days travel by Appa from Caldera so they have stopped to rest by a large lake in a clearing of the jungle.

"He's looking for something." Toph chimes in. "Or more likely someone."

No one wants to say it. They have been walking on eggshells around Aang.

The man in question doesn't respond from his place on the edge of the group. The baby had been left with Mai. All Jian, the Dai Li agent, had been able to feed him was goat's milk which is not ideal but with proper nutrition he should be fine. That and the fact the fate of the child's mother is unknown does not rest well on the Air Bender.


"Princess, there is a lake ahead." Wei whispers to the sleeping woman when he returns from scouting ahead.

When Azula doesn't respond, he glances at Lena who moves forward to feel her forehead. It's near scorching.

"How far is it?" Lena asks, concern etching her voice.

The look on his face tells her it is nearly too far to carry Azula. "It will be slow going." Wei offers. The Dai Li agent is fighting his own exhaustion from traveling for days and concern for the two women.

Together they struggle to get the unconscious Princess upright and move her forward. It is not an easy task. While Azula may be small in build, she is deadweight.

Toph spreads her toes into the dirt and feels for the tremors that steadily grow. "Someone's coming." Everyone is instantly alert as they look around for signs that they are not alone. "It's coming from over there." She points the direction they have been heading.

"Can you tell how many?" Sokka asks as he draws his sword.

Toph scrunches her face up. "It feels like two but they are carrying something heavy…really heavy."

"I'm going to look." Aang says even as he moves towards it.

Zuko and Katara share a look before chasing after him.

"Come on, Snoozles. If we aren't there, no telling what will happen." Toph waves Jian along with them.

"Someone's coming." Wei hisses to Lena.

The old woman is panting under the extra weight of the Princess. She struggles to keep upright with the royal's arm slung around her neck.

"We have to hide."

With a quick nod, he eases Azula down and quickly erects a hiding place around them. They crouch and do their best to hold their breaths waiting for the danger to pass.


They ease deeper into the dense foliage of the jungle. Night has fallen casting shadows. They avoid using flames for sight to keep from tipping off their presence.

Toph plants both feet wide on the ground. "They stopped moving but they're close by." Now that she is closer she can pick up three heartbeats. Two are erratic. One is slow, steady and, oh, so familiar. "Gotcha." With a flick of her wrist, the earthen walls come down.

A flame appears in Zuko's hand and reveals a Dai Li agent crouched and ready for attack, an older woman, and the one they've been looking for.

Recognition flares in the old woman's eyes as she sees the Fire Lord and the Avatar. "The Princess is ill."

Aang moves to her side, gentle hands feeling Azula's face. "She's burning up."

Katara drops to her knees on Azula's other side."How long has she been like this?"

Lena, who has moved back, stands wringing her hands. "She has been feverish ever since her son's birth. It was only about an hour ago she became unconscious."

"Can you do anything?" Aang asks Katara.

"We need to get her into the lake to get her temperature down." Katara orders.

Lifting Azula, Aang dashes back to the lake with Katara hot on his heels.


Azula's first thought is the chill. It's cold, too cold. The last time she felt like this she had lost her bending. Her thoughts race in a blind fury at the thought that she has, yet again, lost what is most important to her.

Hands are holding her, trying to keep her still. She can hear voices but the words are muddled. Her brain feels sluggish. Azula does what she always does in a situation where she feels powerless.

She fights.

Her movements are uncoordinated and sloppy but she must have done something right as she hears a high pitched cry and one set of hands lets go of her. Strong arms wrap around her chest pinning her arms to her sides and pull her backwards out of the water.

She kicks, successfully connecting if the grunt of pain is anything to go by.

Her golden eyes flutter open but she can't focus on anything.

She tries to scream curses but a hand clamps over her mouth.

The feel of solid earth is under her feet now and her wet dress clings to her farther impeding her movements even as she fights against the person holding her.

"Do you think we should help?" Sokka leans over to Toph as they stand back and watch Aang try to restrain a very livid, feverishly delirious Azula as she thrashes in his arms. The illness does little to diminish her fighting ability.

"I think Twinkletoes has this." The smile on Toph's face says it all. She is taking delight in this turn of events.

Sokka is doubtful but reluctant to get closer to the angry woman. "You okay, Katara?" He calls to his sister.

The Water Bender unleashes a few choice words as she holds a water-gloved hand to her face where Azula struck her.

They watch as Zuko draws near obviously wanting to help but unsure what to do at the same time. He settles for calling his sister's name trying to get her attention.

If anything it makes Azula fight harder.

"Stop trying to help!" Aang yells as he dodges an elbow aimed at his face.

Aang's trying hard to not hurt her but she's making it difficult. Out of desperation he bends earth around her legs to keep her from kicking and grabs her wrists. Eventually exhaustion wins out and she slumps against him breathing hard.

Zuko draws near staring at his sister and friend. "Are you okay?"

Aang glares at the Fire Lord. "Help me get her back to the water."

Next Chapter:

Anyone is capable of good and evil.

Even the Avatar.

Azula sees the truth in situations and in that moment she sees the dark path laid out before them.