AN: Well, considering that Monday is my first day of school, I'm gonna say that this will not be done before then. It will be finished though. Alright, here you go.

Disclaimer: As if you didn't know by now.

----------------Break------------------

"You seem to be missing a few people uncle. Where are they?" She circled him, staying in the shadows, the light from the fires making her eyes glint evilly. She glanced to the side and noticed Ishi. "Huh, the earthbender. I thought you were dead. No matter, a mistake easily rectified."

"You're getting ahead of yourself niece. There's nothing for you here." Ishi caught the signal he sent her and tried to quell her anger. And her fear.

"On the contrary. What I need is information and you can provide that for me. My dear brother and the Avatar are no longer on your ship; I want to know where they went."

Iroh pleaded with her. "Be reasonable, Azula. Use that sharp mind of yours and think for yourself. You don't want to hurt us."

"Oh no, I think I do. In fact, I'll take great pleasure in breaking my weakling brother. And that little whore who travels with him." She looked down on him, sneering at his attempt to reach her.

"This isn't right and you know it. All this is leading to a downward spiral that will destroy us all. Help me, help us, to stop it." He spread his arms wide, trying to reach a part of the girl that wasn't corrupted. He failed.

She laughed at his words and it sent shivers down the spines of the people present, too afraid to move. "You think to move me by compassion? You should know that the only thing that motivates me is power and the pursuit of it. Besides, I don't deal with traitors." She brought her hand in front of her, calmly checking her manicured nails. "You know, father easily signed the warrant for your capture. I'm sure it wouldn't take much to convince him that your death was necessary."

Without warning, three darts flew at him from the side. Instead of striking flesh, though, they clanged against metal and fell to the ground. Mai locked eyes with Suki as she moved further in front of Iroh. "Attacking from the shadows? This is the honor of the Fire Nation's princess? I'm not impressed."

Azula growled. "Watch your tongue peasant or I'll cut it out."

"You can try." Bringing her fans into position, she intercepted another attack of Mai's. The sudden movement freed the villagers from their frozen positions. In the flurry of movement, Ishi tried to reach Iroh's side so he wouldn't face Azula alone but she barely dodged in time to avoid a kick coming at her head.

The girl, dressed in pinks and mauves, flipped back with a giggle. Her innocent smile didn't fit with the dangerous vibes coming off her. "Ah, ah, ah, you're my playmate." Ishi threw another look at Iroh but had to scramble to protect herself. "I said I'm your opponent."

A strike landed near her wrist and Ishi cried out as her hand went numb. She cradled the injured appendage to her chest and backpedaled away from her. She dodged the girl's strikes, wary now of their hidden danger. With her free hand she brought chunks of earth up in order to gain herself space to bend.

She landed a lucky shot and the girl was knocked down. Ishi focused and tried to call up a wave of earth. It wavered slightly because of her hand but it was strong enough to keep the girl out of the fight for a few moments.

Across from her, Suki and Mai were locked in a dance of fans and blades. Mai was pushing for distance, trying to gain the advantage but Suki wasn't letting up. She swung the fans, slashing at her chest but only got a touch of the overly baggy clothing the girl wore.

Mai scooted back and flung at two knives before Suki could bring her defenses back up. A line of fire sliced across her cheek and another across her upper arm. Her left arm dropped as the numbness began to spread from the wounds.

Suki stumbled, the edges of her vision going fuzzy then dark. The world started spinning, swaying as if she was on a boat in the middle of a storm. She shook her head, trying to clear the fog from her brain but it only made the dizziness worse. She fell to her knees, sweating and panting for breath.

"You're luck. Had you been a bender you'd be dead. As it is, you'll just be disoriented for a while. Or, rather, you would have been." Mai drew her dagger and aimed for the exposed neck of the weakened warrior.

A fan intercepted the dagger the dagger and knocked it from Mai's hand. Suki turned her head to see the blurry shapes of her soot covered teammates. One went to help her stand while the other two moved in to engage Mai.

Mai looked around, surveying the fight. The earthbender had Ty Lee partially buried and was moving towards Azula and Iroh. The girls with the fans were coming towards her. It's time to leave. She leaped back and ran towards Ty Lee. She tugged her out of the ground, scattering dust everywhere.

Ty Lee sneezed. "Where's Azula?"

"Fighting Iroh." She glanced over at them. "More like playing with him. But it's time to go. Azula!"

The princess saw her wave and nodded. They headed for the small ship they were using. She saw the bender running towards her but, at that distance, she'd be too late. "You're not going to help me uncle." She calmly danced around his strikes.

Iroh was getting tired. I've never felt so old before. But I can't let her go. "The help you need is very different from what you're seeking."

Her smile was ice. "Then you're of no use to me." She sprung forward and swept his feet from under him. Normally, Iroh would've evaded this but weariness had made him slow. He had been up most of the night, waiting for the Elders' answer, and the fight had taken much out of him. He fell hard, the wind knocked out of him.

Slowly, he got to his feet. Azula glanced over his shoulder and saw Ishi not far off. "Sorry, uncle. I'd love to play more but it seems people want to interrupt." He made the mistake of looking back. That was when she struck.

Ishi heard Iroh's pain filled scream and watched him fall to the floor in slow motion. "No!" She screamed when she saw his niece standing over him, readying her final strike. Ishi flung her arms up and the earth around Iroh erupted. The blast of flame harmlessly struck against the shield.

Azula scowled, seeing her prey escape her. Ishi stood before her, poised for battle and the other warriors approached slowly. "This isn't over yet, earthbender. I already have an idea of where they're headed. Soon they'll be nothing more then a memory and smoldering ashes." She turned and ran, igniting houses as she left.

"Leave her. We need to put these fires out." Ishi sent the people scrambling, wishing silently for a waterbender. She lowered the shield around Iroh, her hand tingling as feeling started to return. He looked ashen and there was a large burn on his right shoulder and part of his chest. "I need some help over here!" Iroh shifted. "Don't move. You'll only make it worse." She looked down at him worriedly.

He ignored her, raised his left arm and took a deep breath. The flames around them flickered and, slowly, died. When they were once again in darkness, he collapsed back, his breathing labored. "Where is she?"

"She left. Her and the two girls with her. Everything's fine now." People came and peeled back the clothed sticking to his skin. Ishi wrinkled her nose at the scent of burnt flesh. The coated the burns with cream and wrapped them in clean cloth. She held his hand. "You better be alright 'cause I don't want to explain to Zuko how I let you get hurt."

He smiled, more of a grimace, and nodded. A slight sound to the side had them looking up. Suki stumbled to their side and sank gratefully to the ground. Her hands trembled slightly still but she made it here on her own. She wouldn't admit how drained it left her. Instead, she looked at Iroh. "Are you alright?"

"As well as a man of my age can be. But, I have to admit, I like the idea of two young mother hens watching over me." They all laughed slightly, releasing the tension lingering from the fight.

Suki dropped her head into her hand. "The first thing my warriors are going to do is hunt down those girls."

"No, they are not." The booming voice of the Elder came from behind them. "They will not be going anywhere near them."

"But why? We need to stop them, they're too dangerous to leave free."

"You don't understand, Suki. They won't be doing anything because there is no alliance. The firebender is on his own." He turned to go, leaving a confused Suki, and resigned Iroh and a furious Ishi.

Ishi sprang to her feet. "How con you sat that? Doesn't what just happened convince you that you're not safe here?"

His voice matched hers in fury and volume. "The only reason the Fire Nation ever landed on this island is because they've chased someone here. The first time it was the Avatar and our village was almost completely destroyed. Now it is you, on behalf of him, who brings destruction on us. No more. This island will survive. You are allowed to stay only until he is well enough to be moved, then I want you gone. Perhaps, it the Avatar succeeds…" He shook his head, unwilling to even commit that far.

"Elder!" Suki knelt before him. "I wish to be granted permission to accompany them."

"The decision has been made. You are not to follow them."

She stared at him in disbelief. "They need our help! We cannot turn out backs on them."

He was angry at her disobedience. "The decision is final! We do not aid them." He took in the mulish expression on her face. "After all that I said, you still wish to go with them?" Her nod only made him angrier. "Fine, but you will not do so as a warrior of Kyoshi."

A flicker of pain crossed her face but she quickly schooled her features. Without a word, she pulled off her helmet and placed it on the ground before him. She rose and passed through the crowd of onlookers to her hut. A short while later she emerged. Gone was her makeup and robe, the symbols of her status. Not, she wore a simple tunic and pants, making her almost undistinguishable from any other Earth Kingdom maid. Almost, except for the fierce determination burning in her eyes.

There were sad expressions all around as she sat by Iroh's side with a small pack. She had been a great asset to the village and now she was leaving. Her warriors came up to her, asking her not to go. "No, I must. This is far too important to ignore. If only the Elders would see that." She gave them a reassuring smile. "I'll be alright. Just make sure to protect everyone while I'm gone." They exchanged brief hugs and they parted.

A few of the soldiers were allowed inland to help carry Iroh out. Before heading below deck, he gave Suki's hand an encouraging squeeze. She gave him a small smile in return. This left her and Ishi alone on deck as the sailed a short distance away from Kyoshi.

A sigh escaped her. "My people are wrong. Why can't they see that they needed to help us?"

Ishi leaned on the railing beside her. "Hatred and fear are two of the strongest emotions. They take a long time to get over. You just need to give them that time."

Silence reigned until Suki spoke up. "You said fear and hatred were two of the strongest emotions. What is the strongest?"

Ishi smiled softly and looked at her from the corner of her eye. "Love." She stretched and yawned. Dawn was just breaking over the horizon. "Come on, I'll show you where you'll be bunking." Together, they walked down the stairs and out of sight.

---------------------Give me a break. Nothing else works.--------------------

AN: I always seem to get stuck on the fight scenes so I hope it was alright. Well, I don't really feel like talking so, see ya. Oh, and hit that little button to review. Please!