What is up? Well the conclusion is very close and only about 5-6 chapters left in this fic so enjoy while you can! Sorry about the Haroji thing to I couldn't really think of any other advantage to the resistance, but he is still his old self and hopefully won't fall fool to Kerra....the Disney villain laughing at him thing was kind of funny though I could picture it clearly. Now then let us get to the chapter no catch phrase this time!!! About this chapter to, I feel that it is necessary to have one last feel good chapter before everything unfolds and I guess you could say this is sort of sappy, I'm sorry I a real sappy guy and I hate myself for falling under the spell!?!

Disclaimer: Once again I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender it is trademarked property of Nickelodeon Networks, but I do own my OC's. All other characters and crossovers go to they're respective owners.

A Dragons Rebirth

By: J1210

Chapter LIII: The Truth

Skies of the Fire Nation-Northern Fire Nation

The sky was blue and cold and only a few the Bandits were still on deck working. Most of the battalion and pirates had fell asleep.

Kyte was flying the ship and Ashe was nearby looking off into the cold ocean. A lot of the soldiers had gotten sick and decided to go below deck. Fran went soon after with Ryo and fell asleep leaving the two alone.

Kyte looked over at the princess then turned his sight around quickly shaking his head. "What am I thinking." he muttered. He let go of the wheel and let the sky stir them and walked over to Ashe. "Never been flying before?"

Ashe shook her head. "No, I could not deal with this type of lifestyle; flying through the sky and sailing on the sea. But still this ship is very impressive where did you obtain it."

"Its a long story." Kyte mumbled. "I used to attend the Earth Kingdom Academy like any other Earth boy in Ba Sing Se, but I ran away. I hated the thought that they were drilling knowledge into my head to only fight in the 100 year war. That's when I got lost and was found by Verra. Back then I was pretty young around 13, they took me to there village in the wood. That's where I met Fran."

Ashe smirked. "She must of been around your age as well?"

"Well over, Fran still looked the same back then, but I stayed with them a 7 years and decided I wasn't go to live in the tree's the rest of my life I would die well before all of the other Verra. They told me the outside world was dangerous, but Fran didn't want to see it that way. So we stole Little Jack and gathered a crew of the best pirates on earth. I've been sailing the skies ever since." it seemed as if Kyte was looking past all of the tree's. "You know, some myths they speak of in the Earth Kingdom may seem stupid and unbelievable, but if you look hard enough you can find anything. The Bandits have fought creatures so vile and recovered treasures only ones can dream of."

"Well I suppose you have hundred's of storys to tell, but my life isn't as easy and carefree as yours is." Ashe sighed and looked into Kyte's concerned eye's. "I was born with a resonsibility."

"You don't have to do anything if you don't want to." Ashe shot Kyte a glance, but he continued going. "Your husband died because he believed it was his responsibility to protect a Kingdom."

"To protect the one he loved!" she yelled.

"Maybe so, but if you could turn back the sands of time whose life do you think Haroji Jin would of wanted more?" Ashe froze. "He wanted your Dusk Shard like the Bandits wanted your Dusk Shard."

"Is that the only reason your helping the Resistance!?" she screamed.

"I just want to see how this little story unfolds." he mumbled and walked back to the wheel. "Calm down Princess you don't want to wake anyone up."

"I was foolish to ever trust you?" she sneered.

"Come here." Kyte stated. "I want you to fly the Little Jack and tell me what you think." Ashe slowly walked over to the stirring wheel muttering under her breath and took the wheel firmly. "Go ahead do whatever you like."

Ashe slowly turned to the left and the Little Jack's path turned downward. "This wheel seems loose?"

"That's no ordinary wheel Verra are geniuses they make the human race seem like Kian. Now I want you to push the wheel downward." Kyte commanded.

Ashe nodded and quickly pushed the wheel down. The ship blasted under the clouds. The wind was rushing and they pelleting toward the water. "I c..can't stop it!?"

"You have to pull up, pull up!!" Kyte yelled holing on to the wood.

Ashe pulled as hard as she could and the ship hit the water in a rush and rocked back and forth. She slumped on to the ground breathing heavily. They both looked at each other and broke into laughter. "Has that ever happened to you?"

"Tons of times, that's why Fran usually stirs." Kyte replied. "You need some flying lessons, I bet you've never had a rush like that back in that palace."

Ashe grew silent. "Actually I haven't its really boring. If everday like this is exciting to you I might actually want to.."

"Want to what?" asked an eager Kyte.

"No." I couldn't "Forget I said anything I have a responsiblity to the Earth Kingdom I could never be a pirate my dynasty would be tainted."

"Because you don't want to be Queen. Maybe you should worrying about what other people think and start thinking for yourself." Kyte shot taking the position of the stirring wheel. Ember Island was only a few miles away from sight. "We'll be at Ember Island really soon, maybe you should think about what I said you have an obligation to yourself before anyone else."

Vacation Home-Ember Island

The sun was beginning to come up and Azula was the first one awake stretching. "I see someone is awake early." said Suki coming from inside the house.

"I went to sleep early last night." Azula muttered. It had been three days and still they had gotten word from Kerra. "It seems like forever waiting for that girl to respond."

"Maybe the messengar hawk got lost." Suki suggested.

"Never, that hawk has been with my family since I was little. Its the best in the Nation it could never get lost. Hopefully that psychopath hasn't slit her throat yet." the former princess replied.

"We have no word from her as well." came a familiar voice coming from the stairway. Ryo was walking up the stairs with Ashe, Yuffie, Bear, and Ty Lee following.

Azula tilted her head to the side. "He looks familiar." she muttered.

"We would have gotten here sooner if Ashe didn't decide to go on a joy ride with the ship." Bear joked.

Ashe shook her head in defeat. "Is your brother here Azula?"

"He's still sleeping." Suki cut in. "But we could fix up some food since we have so may people here now."

"Say 'Zula didn't Princess Ursa teach you a little bit of cooking while you were in Ba Sing Se." Ty Lee asked.

"Oh, that's right. I suppose I could help you."

"C'mon Bear let's go wake up Kai." Yuffie nudged him.

They arrived at one of the guest rooms and Yuffie jumped on top of the snoring healer. "Ah, what the..." Kai looked at the two and rubbed his eye's. "Yuffie, Bear what the heck are you two doing here!?"

"Coming to wake you up of course." Bear smirked.

"Fine." Kai sat up and put on a shirt. "What I meant was why on you on Ember Island did you fail to take back Ba Sing Se?"

"Not really, Ryo and his party ran into General Iroh and now we've decided to increase the attack in four days." Yuffie replied. "We're here to finish the last touches of the plan."

"I see." Kai got up and went into the bathroom to wash his face. "We've been planning a rescue mission with the war, but if Ashe has a better plan."

"Nope, not today Xiang." Bear cut in. "Today is a vacation day, Ashe said no fighting and no stressing anything at all were going to the beach."

"Really now? When did Ashe get so carefree?" asked Kai. He left the room and stumbled out into the courtyard. The sun was almost blazing now and everyone was awake and eating. Went over to join them and noticed that Azula and Ty Lee were missing.

In the back of the home Ty Lee and Azula were talking about strategies they thought were best about attacking the Fire Nation.

"So I think we should attack from the left and right to divide up the Brutes. It would be easier to take control of the city." Azula stated.

"Uh-huh, so whats up?" Ty asked.

Azula looked suspiciously at Kai. "What do you mean what's up?"

"You've been stuck on the most popular island in the Fire Nation and absolutely nothing interesting has happened to you?" Ty asked.

"No, I taught the Avatar how to bend lighting if that's what you call interesting Ty Lee." she said flatly.

"Oh, but anyways I'm talking about you know." she nudged Azula. "Boys."

Azula burst up. "What!? No, I've barely ever been to the beach the whole time we've been here."

"And I bet Kai hasn't gone anywhere either." Ty put in.

"I have no interest in Kai, he's just a friend." she said quickly.

"Calm down Azula I'm just joking." the acrobat laughed. "But you didn't answer that question pretty quickly it might bring suspicion to someone you know."

"I have no time to think about such things Ty Lee. There's a war at hand here and-" Azula stopped in a search for words.

"And- what 'Zula maybe your just hiding from the truth." Ty Lee suggested. "But no need to worry that's what friends are for I'll just go get Mai and we'll help you out. Remember my methods worked with Chan didn't they?"

Azula did recall that night in the island. Then a few hours later destroying the teenage Chan's home. She snickered at the thought of what his Fathers face looked like when he saw the mess the former Ozai's Angels and Zuko had made.

"That's the spirt 'Zula, now wait here I'll be back." Ty skpped off to find Mai.

"Arghh, how do I get myself into these messes. I wonder if Yuffie is any worse?" She thought that Kai had two nosier friends then she did, but rejected the thought. "I'm stuck with a semi-depressed assassin and a cooky acrobat. Maybe the beach will help me come to terms with this."

Azula changed into her bathing and walked on to the courtyard. "Hey Azula where are you going?" asked Toph who was chilling on a nearby step.

"To the beach I need a little stress relief." she answered.

"Great idea, I'll go tell everyone we're going to the beach today wait here." Toph walked back into the house and Azula didn't bother waiting up.

They had trusted her enough to let Azula go walking on her own. She walked on to the sandy beach to see that it was packed. The same volleyball net was still up and the same team they had beaten last summer was there again. "They must live on the island."

"Hey you!?" someone called her. Azula turned around to face Chan and Rojan.

"Well if it isn't dumb and dumber." Azula joked, but there was no smile on there faces.

"You and psycho friends destroyed my house, what is your problem." Chan yelled.

"Really now, I'm afraid I do not recall that?" Azula lied.

"If you wern't a girl I'd punch you in the face." Rojan boasted.

"Don't underestimate me just because I'm a female." Azula threatened. She walked off without another word to be spoken. "I swear." she muttered to herself.

"You know I heard Chan and Rojan were having another party at they're place today." a girl whispered to one of her friends.

A smirked formed on Azula's face as she hurried to find the Gaang on the beach. Azula spotted them close by and rushed toward them.

"Hey you look like your in a hurry Azula." Suki said eyeing her suspiciously.

Azula rolled her eye's then looked at the Gaang. "I heard that there's going to be a party at Chan And Rojan's place tonight."

Mai shook her head in dismay. "You mean that house we destroy about a year ago because he kicked Zuko out. WHat do you want to crash they're party."

"You don't have to say it like that Mai. I just thought It would be a good idea to have one more day of fun on Ember Island before we leave you know." Azula said with a sparckle in her eye. "Besides we could apologize."

"I'm not buying it." Mai said.

"Maybe 'Zula's right, what's the worst they can do reject us they'll know what will happen if they do don't let us in, don't you?" Ty asked.

Zuko smirked like Azula. "Fine let's go to the party then."

A Few Hours Later

The Gaang arrived at Chan's house and the place looked pretty fixed up and no one had really arrived yet. "Okay let me handle this." Ty Lee said. "If were going to apoligize just leave it to me." Ty Lee knocked on the confidently.

Chan was opened the door in a matter of seconds. "Hello?" when he met eye contact with Ty Lee he began to shut the door, but was stopped by Zuko. "What do you want."

"Um, we just wanted to apoligize for how we sort of burned your house down to ashes last time." said Ty Lee. "Were really sorry and to prove it we brought you a gift."

"We did?" Azula whispered to Mai.

"Maybe Ty Lee thinks ahead on these things." Mai replied.

"Well we brought all of these guests to bring attention to your party." Ty laughed. "And we'll pay you back the damages."

"Done deal." Chan opened the door. "C'mon in don't be a stranger."They followed inside the house everything looked a little different this time, but other than that the house still remained similar. The vase that Zuko threw Rojan into had been replaced with a new one. "Try not to break that one." Chan muttered.

Zuko cursed under his breathe. "I hate sucking up to this guy."

"What would you rather do stay home and do nothing or party?" Toph grinned. "Besides if tomorrow were going bac to war I want to do something fun."

Zuko nodded in agreement, but still seemed unsure. Ashe, and the Bandits decided not to come at all, but get properations ready for Little Jack to take flight the next morning.

Soon the house was full of people mingling and partying. Zuko made sure not to let Mai out of his sight. Sokka and Suki were dancing and Yuffie had a little to much to drink. Aang, Katara, and Ryo were busy eating. "Hey Kai." Bear waved over to his friend holding the plastered ninja in his arms. "I'm gonna take Yuffie back to the mansion she looks like she's about to chuck."

"Gross." Kai checked his friends head. "Make sure she gets some sleep and water. Gezz, even I don't drink this much."

"Make slure you dooooo." Yuffie's words slurred.

"Seya." Bear walked off on to the beach.

Meanwhile in on the back porch Azula and Ty Lee were walking once again. "I'm telling you Azula you have to."

"I don't have to do anything Ty, I told you that Kai is just my friend." She muttered.

"Your in denial." the acrobat objected.

"Your just delusional." Azula shot back.

"Fine." Ty Lee crossed her arms. "Just suit yourself, but I'm going to enjoy the party 'Zula, but if you ever decide to make a move remember to weigh your decisions it may just ruin your friendship."

Ty Lee skipped off back into he house. Weigh my decisions what was the point of her telling me that then? But why am I making a big deal about this?

"Hey Azula?" Azula turned around when she heard that familiar voice. "Ty Lee said you needed to talk to me, whats up?"

"No..nothing. She's just being that hyperactive acrobat again." Azula turned back around staring at the water and fiddling her thumbs. Why do I feel so uncertain about this. No, no, no were just friends I've never felt this before.

Kai walked up to look at the water as well. "You know if you need to talk about anything you can."

"Wh..why did somebody tell you anything!?" Azula blurted out.

Kai furrowed his brow suspiciously. "No, but you just look sort of stressed out you know?"

No you idaoit I'm not stressed out?!! Or am I!?! How could I let Ty Lee get to me like this. Kai put his hand on her shoulder with a concerned face.

"Maybe you have a fever." he put his hand on her head. "No that can't be it you seem fine." Kai thought on this. He lifted up his hand as if he just figured it out. "I know your-"

He was cut off by Azula standing on her tip toes and kissing him. Shock and confusion pulsed through the the young healers head. They stayed like that for a couple of seconds then departed. Kai scratched the back of his head. "Azula do you..like me." he managed to blurt out.

"I dunno." the former princess mumbled. She began to play with her thumbs. "Maybe."

"Hey you two what are you doing out here all alone!?" Ty Lee wrapped her arms around the two and gave Azula a wink and they walked back into the party.

So that's that I'm a total sap and I spent it on the longst chapter in this entire fic. I'm glad to finally get that out of my system. Oh and Dragon Reverb I'm sorry how Ryo and Azula met again, but I plan to dig into that on the next few chapters other than that holla! And just to be clear this is no romance fic, just hurt/comfort/adventure I'm not getting gooey on this.