Hello. It's been a while. There were finals, a month long study abroad trip to China, The Last of Us, and some other things going on in my life. Though, honestly, I should have provided you all with chapter 28 long ago. Sorry for the wait. Let's hope that the summer is favorable to more updates. Here we go. Enjoy.

It was chaos.

The sound of men and women screaming was one that Azula reveled in. It was a familiar tone that brought a particular warmth and comfort to her chest. However, the terrified shriek of the multitude of thousands was quite a novel experience. A chorus of wild and unrestrained horror pierced the late afternoon air, tainting it with the unsettling cry of bloodshed.

Zuko lay limp in the arms of an uncharacteristically hysterical Fire Lady. The royal guard, along with the Avatar and his friends, created a perimeter around the Fire Lord's motionless body.

Time lagged as her heart beat slowly within her breast. Below the great balcony the people began to scramble and stampede in an unorganized, frantic fashion as the military secured the public square.

Turning her head, Azula's vision fell upon the heavily sheltered Fire Lord. Zuko was now being carried on a makeshift stretcher carved from the marble of the balcony by the blind girl. The Waterbender's hand shone eerily from within the cluster of bodies that moved in unison to transport her brother into the confines of the palace.

Her head turned once more to see another body being lifted from the ground by three Kiyoshi warriors. It too lay inert, possibly lifeless. The smell of charred flesh rose from its form. It was a distinct odor, one not unfamiliar to the princess.

Ozai and other members of the royal court prepared the princess for such a day. There was a protocol, a method to rise above the madness. However, that day never came, at least not under the rule of her father. And so, practice became just that, a repetition of motions never realized. Azula's naïveté in regards to the people of the Fire Nation caused her to take lightly what her father and others held to be of paramount importance. In the end, it cost not her father, but Zuko.

There was a tightening around her wrist. It was forceful, urgent even, but it was gentle. She was pulled hastily in the direction of the palace. She looked down at her arm to see a tattooed hand guiding her. It was a blue arrow, the Avatar's. Amongst the bedlam, here he was protecting her from any conceivable harm. Here he was, again.

Through it all, he kept his word despite recent events. Azula could not help but wonder whether or not this was the implication hidden within the idea of caring for another.

First, it was the Avatar and then her brother. Two people, three if she counted Ty-Lee, showed her a kindness unconditional. Now, one of them needed her and for one reason or another she could not help but feel as if she failed him.

As soon as the pair was safely behind the doors of the palace they stopped to catch their breath. By this point they were accompanied by what seemed to be a sizeable group of guards. Panting, Azula looked up at the soldiers gathered around her and the Avatar.

One of them addressed Azula, "Princess are you alright?"

A scowl immediately arrested her features.

"Do I look like I'm hurt," she barked, "go do your job and protect the Fire Lord. I have the Avatar here, no harm will come of me."

"But princess," the guard insisted.

"Go," Azula bellowed at the top of her lungs.

The guard considered the advantages of arguing with the princess, but found the exercise to be futile. More often than not, she got her way with or without one's cooperation.

Silently, they obeyed the princess, making their way to the infirmary wing.

Once the guards were out of ear shot, the Avatar began to speak, "Did you…"

"Kill him?" Azula finished. "If I did I'm a fool. I've been trained better than that. We need him for interrogation. I don't know how I could have been so stupid. Father taught me better than that. I'm better than that, I don't know why when I was needed that I had to act like…"

"A hero," Aang interrupted.

"What," Azula snapped.

Aang sighed as he stepped closer towards the princess, placing a hand on her shoulder, "When everyone else froze up there, you were the one who stopped the assassin. You were the first to react."

"I don't know how badly Zuko was hurt. Even if the Watertribe girl can keep him alive long enough for the doctors to help, all I've done is make it that much more difficult to find out who is behind this brazen little stunt," Azula lamented.

"You saved your brother," Aang reaffirmed.

"You don't know that," Azula whispered.

He placed his other hand on her shoulder and grasped firmly.

"Azula, listen, you did what you had to do. I don't agree with how you did it, but you did your best to protect Zuko," Aang started.

"It wasn't enough," She hissed, as her eyes blazed within her head.

"Listen," he said, "You didn't run or step away when you could have. This could have been a lot worse if you weren't here."

She took a deep breath and exhaled calmly, regaining her composure. She looked into his cool grey eyes and found peace. Regardless of the current climate and the possible hidden dangers that surrounded the royal family, she felt her tension ease.

"The entire royal guard is compromised. I can't trust any of them after this. An assassin hiding in their ranks would have needed assistance from someone, somewhere," She mused.

"I'm sure it'll be figured out soon, but for now you, Zuko, and Mai can rely on the Kiyoshi warriors. Sukki, Ty-Lee, and the others would never allow anything to happen to any of you," Aang consoled, "Ever."

"Has it come to the royal family trusting foreigners for protection now?" Azula scoffed.

"You did have the Dai Li under your heel at one point," Aang rebutted.

"Yes, and a lot of good that did," She shot back.

"Well, now you have the Avatar, his Waterbending master, his Earthbending master, and a guy with a space sword here to protect you…as long as you don't banish us," Aang argued with a hint of levity in his words.

The princess delivered a raised eyebrow to the Avatar. He returned a small, yet warm, smile of reassurance.

She shook her head, "You're absolutely insufferable, you know that?"

"How so?" He asked in his familiar innocence.

Her actions spoke in place of words.

Azula deftly placed her full lips upon the Avatar's forehead and proceeded to wrap her arms around his neck.

"Thank you," she whispered in his ear.

"You don't have to thank me," he replied, returning her embrace.

"Um, hi," A voice spoke, breaking the silence of the hall.

The pair broke their embrace and faced the source of the disturbance.

Ty-Lee along with Katara stood within the hall facing the princess and the Avatar.

"How's my brother doing," Azula immediately asked, disregarding the underlying social strain that would otherwise bind the group.

"The wound is closed," Katara said, quick to answer. "But…"

"But," Azula asked, voice low and threatening.

"The blade was poisoned. The medicine bearers are doing what they can to stop it from spreading," Katara finished.

"Where is the would be assassin? I'm going to need him to reveal everything he knows. I'll have his head if he doesn't," Azula snarled.

Katara huffed air through her nose, as she glared at Azula, "It's a little late for that, isn't it?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Azula demanded as she edged closer to the blue eyed young woman.

"He won't be talking," Katara stated.

The gravity of her statement hung low within the hall.

Azula's eyes shut tightly as she clenched portions of her robes in her fists, "Right. Ty-Lee, we're gathering the Fire Lady. We'll have the rest of the Kiyoshi warriors keep constant surveillance of the Fire Lord. We won't be leaving him alone with the royal guard at any time. There are traitors abound."

As Azula passed Katara, the Waterbender spoke, "That's quite the skill you have. To strike the face of an opponent like that so quickly is impressive."

Azula halted in her pace, "I reacted, and I miscalculated."

"Maybe not," Katara whispered.

"And by that you mean?"Azula inquired as she turned to face Katara.

Katara did the same, facing the princess. She peered deeply into Azula's eyes.

The golden flames burned against the crashing waves.

"You're a great shot. I would have gone for the body. It's a better target and I'd be less likely miss, harm someone else, or do something I couldn't take back," Katara said as her eyes narrowed on the princess. "But thank you for protecting Zuko out there, who knows how bad this would have turned out if not for you."

Azula's scowl gradually faded as she maintained her eye contact with the Waterbender.

"He is my brother," Azula replied, losing interest in Katara.

The princess resumed her pace and continued to walk with Ty-Lee to retrieve the Fire Lady. As the pair left the hall, Aang spoke.

"What was that?" He asked.

Katara returned his question with a cold stare.

Aang's expression was a detailed canvas of concern.

"Katara," he began, "What's going on?"

The Avatar understood the young woman as well as, if not better than, her father and brother. The same could be said for her in relation to Aang. The young woman knew the Airbender more intimately than anyone else in the world. The secrets one held, the other would always discover. Katara acknowledged this fact all too well and thus resigned to speak her mind rather than to draw out the inevitable.

Katara sighed as she held the bridge of her nose, "Zuko has been Fire Lord for almost two years, and there hasn't been one assassination attempt until today. Doesn't that seem strange to you?"

Aang's brow dropped in contemplation, "Well, the people like him. He isn't his father."

"Aang," Katara said, cutting off his line of reasoning, "That isn't what I'm getting at."

"So, what are you trying to tell me," the Avatar asked.

For a moment Katara mulled over the merits of holding her tongue. However, she was resolute in her decision. She proceeded, regardless of consequence, "It wasn't until Azula returned that the threat became real."

Aang's eyes widened with a keen understanding.

"Katara, stop," Aang said.

"Stop what?" Katara answered with a grimace. "Stop talking about a likely possibility? Aang, you and I both know that Azula has had her eye on the throne. There are still forces out there loyal to Ozai who would be more than willing to exact their rebellion and return Ozai or Azula to the throne. Let's not forget the new line of succession since Azula was -"

"Katara," the Avatar interrupted. His voice purposeful and strong, "Stop."

The Waterbender slowly crossed her arms as a bitter smile danced upon her lips.

"Stop talking about an uncomfortable truth? Is that what you want?" She asked. The animosity in her voice was overt and glaring.

"No," he replied, "I want you to just stop. Our friend was just attacked and is fighting for his life. You don't like Azula, I get it. She's a face that reminds you of everything that was once wrong with the Fire Nation. She's an easily recognizable enemy. I understand. It's easy to label her and claim that she's responsible, but that's not the way this works. Now isn't the time to point fingers."

"When will be the time?" Katara asked in an almost malicious manner. "She has a desire and a motive, and with the way she so conveniently struck the attacker we won't be hearing from him at all."

Aang looked away from Katara, "I'm not going to tell you that there aren't hard feelings between Azula and Zuko."

Katara let out a derisive laugh, "Hard feelings? Aang, that's putting it lightly."

"Even so…she doesn't have a motive," Aang whispered.

Katara rolled her eyes as she spoke, "And how would you know?"

"Because," Aang began.

"Right," Katara interjected, "Because she's 'changed'."

"She has," Aang timidly added. "You just need to get to know her and you'll see."

"I see more than you think," Katara shot back.

The Avatar's grey eyes trained upon the young woman before him. She was filled with an anger retrained only by the vast depths of respect that she still held for him. He inhaled, thinking over his next course of action. It would have to be addressed sooner rather than later, but not in this moment. Exhaling, he settled upon his decision.

"I'm sorry," he stated plainly.

"For what?" She asked, sideswiped and unbalanced by the Avatar's apology.

"A lot of things," Aang said, "For this whole thing going on between you, me, and Azula. But right now, Zuko needs us. We can't start accusing one another of things just because we're angry."

"If you want to assume that's my reasoning for suspecting Azula, then that's fine. But sooner or later you're going to have to think about this," Katara answered as she turned to walk toward the infirmary.

"Katara," Aang called after her.

She did not acknowledge his voice. However, the Avatar was not finished discussing the matter. The young woman found a gentle gust of wind grace her face as the Avatar landed nimbly before her.

"Sooner or later you're going to have to drop this," he stated.

Aang took a moment to stare within her eyes, but within them he could find no compromise.

"When later does come, and you see just how much danger you put everyone in, you'll regret ever taking her off of that island," Katara replied.

"Zuko's injured badly, badly enough that you're going to have to rely on Azula for a time being," Aang said, oblivious to the implications behind his words.

Katara's stone expression went sour as anger corrupted her demeanor. She approached the Avatar and delivered a blow that echoed throughout the hall. Aang's hand hovered over the stinging and angry red mark that Katara placed on his face. His grey eyes watered as he searched her face for an answer, any reason for her outburst.

"Do you hear yourself?" She blurted out. "Wake up! Our friend has been attacked, and could be dying for all we know, and here you are talking about relying on Azula to be the temporary Firelord! It's like you're not thinking at all! It's Azula you're talking about. Azula, the girl who not only intended but did kill the Avatar. Azula, the girl who would have killed me if not for Zuko. Azula, the girl who had no problem with the idea of killing her brother during the Agni Kai of Sozin's Comet to retain her place of power. It's that Azula that you're not only defending but advocating as a candidate for Firelord. You know, the one that spent the better part of a year and a half in an insane asylum. Aang, take a step back and look at the situation! Look at everything and tell me that you can reasonably have a single shred of trust for that…that…that monster!"

For a moment the Waterbender's anger broke for long enough so that she could comprehend what swirled on Aang's face. There was a near palpable sense of pain within his grey eyes that had now gone wide. It was as if her words stung him more than the deft blow she delivered to his cheek. For a moment she felt almost apologetic, until he began to speak.

"I wasn't suggesting anything like that, at least not for too long. We have Iroh to fill Zuko's place. I just wanted you to try to trust Azula for the time being while Zuko's life is in danger, at least until Iroh arrives. Things are crazy enough without the additional conflict. You're right about how she used to be, but that's the Azula you know from two years ago. That Azula was dangerous, but that's not who she is today. She's left that behind, she's left almost everything behind. The one we have today spends every morning wondering why this wasn't the day that her eyes didn't open. She's the person who forced me to attack her less than a month ago so that I would kill her to spare her brother and the world the trouble of dealing with her," Aang explained.

"Then why couldn't she do it herself?" Katara sneered.

"This isn't you," Aang said, abashed.

"Oh, it's me alright. I'm just trying to show you that she is getting the best of you and making a grab for the throne while she's at it," Katara growled.

"She isn't," Aang argued.

"She is, and she has you wrapped up in her sob story to the point where you're hypnotized. You're one of the first Avatars that has gone out of his way to do what he thinks is not only right for the world, but good as well. You invest yourself in an ideal so much that it blinds you to harsh realities," Katara continued.

The Avatar shook his head.

"Did you bother to notice the color of her flames today?" Aang asked.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Katara shot back.

"Did you?" Aang pressed.

"Of course, I'd never forget those blue fla…" Katara paused. "They weren't blue, were they? They were normal, just like all of the other Firebenders' flames."

An expression of confusion washed over her face.

"I don't understand," Katara stammered.

"No, you don't. But, you will if you remember when Zuko came to teach me Firebending. He couldn't bend anymore. Azula is going through something similar, and has been for a while now," Aang explained.

Katara's face twisted uncomfortably as a recollection of the final days of the war flooded her mind. All seemed lost after the failed invasion during the Day of the Black Sun. Her family, so recently brought back together, was torn asunder yet again by the Fire Nation. Even with the Avatar and some of the most powerful benders that the world could produce, they failed to end the century old conflict in one fell swoop. A ray of hope emerged from the most unlikely source, the crowned Prince Zuko. He appeared to the defeated group in order to teach Aang the final element, fire. Though, she remembered that Zuko exhausted his flame by relinquishing his anger. His internal struggles caused his bending to change.

The young woman could not help but remember that Azula's movements on the balcony were quick, powerful, and true. She was holding nothing back. Yet, despite that fact, her flames were not of the character of her former self. Katara could not deny this truth. Something in Azula had, undoubtedly, changed.

The Waterbender closed her eyes and cycled her breathing, allowing her chest to rise slowly before expelling the air from her lungs. She remained skeptical.

"Not all change flows in the direction that we hope, Aang," Katara said.

"Zuko's did, and it helped change the world," Aang argued.

"Zuko was conflicted his entire life. He was pulled between the love and guidance provided by his mother and uncle and the so called honor he tried to gain in his father's eyes. I'm not going to say that he was bound to make the change, but he had the proper direction and motivation," Katara countered.

"So does Azula," Aang said.

"From where? Her father, the maniac who attempted to burn the entire Earth Kingdom in one day? What does Azula have, Aang?" Katara practically yelled.

"She has me," Aang replied in a forceful manner.

Katara's eyes widened as her mind put together the image that lay before her. The Avatar's expression was one of pure rage, not unlike the one he wore in the desert when Appa was stolen from them.

She shook her head as she responded, "Yes, yes she does. Maybe you'll figure that out before it's too late."

The Waterbender walked past the Avatar, but continued to speak, "If I were you, I'd send a messenger hawk to Iroh as soon as possible. We'll need him here soon."

"Right," Aang whispered.

Katara exited the hall, leaving the Avatar to reflect upon her words of caution.

Alright, I hope everyone enjoyed it. I know that this wasn't one of my better chapters, but it had to be done for the sake of 'plot'. I crafted some very rough and sparse outlines for the remainder of the story today and ran into some road blocks (dealing with possible happy endings, as they seem impossible at this point). The way some of these characters have manifested themselves leads me to believe that someone (-redacted-) is knocking on death's door. I mean, if -redacted- is going to act like this then there are few endings where everyone will end up happily ever after. I'd hate to see this go from endearing to 'dark', but some of these characters just keep insisting on playing with fire. I wish I was joking. Well, see you all next update.