Zuko stood on the balcony and watched the messenger hawk fly off in the distance, both anxious and desperate. He had poured his heart out into the letter he wrote for Chiyo, and he could only hope that it would reach her wherever she may be.

He had to admit much as he didn't want to; the letter was more of an ultimatum for her than a profession of his love. He regretted that he had to make her choose. He was burdened by the thought of her giving up the life that she loved; her dance, her art, everything she had grown up with and was taught by the woman she looked up to as her own mother.

But then again, "What choice do I have? I can't give her up. Never."

The moon was high up in the sky as midnight approached, but he doubted that he would be sleeping well that night. Instead, he cast his eyes out over the palace grounds, watching the guards and the warriors make their nightly rounds.

Everyone was visibly tense, having heard of the dark spirits lurking in the city, as well as the indefinite suspension for insubordination of Constable Sung as ordered by the Fire Lord. They all had their own opinion, but no one dared speak of it.

"Fire Lord Zuko?" Suki called out from the adjacent building. "The Kyoshi Warriors just finished their nightly rounds! Everything's secure!"

He nodded in acknowledgement. "Thank you, Suki."

"Want some company?"

"Sure."

Suki jumped and crossed the railings with ease, making her way to the balcony where Zuko was at. She took note of his pensive mood and his faraway look. "We'll find Tom-Tom. I know we will."

"Yeah. But it isn't just that," He gripped the railings and sighed in frustration. "Lately, I'm beginning to question my authority here in the Fire Nation."

"What do you mean?"

"I may be Fire Lord in name and birthright, but I don't think the people actually view me as a leader. I mean, a leader should be decisive, efficient, and be able to protect his people from danger at all times. So far, I'm doing a pretty bad job at being Fire Lord—"

He was interrupted by Suki's laughter. "Zuko, forgive me for laughing, but you're what? Eighteen? Nineteen? You're Fire Lord at literally less than half the age when others before you have ascended the throne! Those old fogeys have had decades to learn, and I'm sure they weren't thinking of leading a nation at your age at all!"

There was some comfort in Suki's words. He was the youngest Fire Lord by far, and he has a lot to learn.

Maybe he could give himself some room to breathe instead of suffocating himself with his insecurities.

"Take Aang for example." Suki continued. "Most Avatars learn of their destiny by the time they are our age. Aang learned his destiny when he was twelve. Sure, he may have succumbed to pressure and somehow managed to trap himself in ice for a hundred years, but, he came through and here we are now!"

He managed a small chuckle at the memory. Back when he was twelve, all he was focused on was spending as much time with Chiyo as possible—

"Smoke... Smoke from the guest wing!" Suki shouted and pointed a few windows away from where they stood. It took less than half a second for everything to sink in.

"KIYI!" Zuko ran back inside and rushed to the room where he had left Kiyi. He almost tore off the hinges as he burst in, only to see the last of the cloaked figures leaving through the open window. "PUT HER DOWN NOW!"

He chased after them, through the steep, tiled roof of the building. He couldn't use his firebending in fear of hurting Kiyi.

Suki had called the other warriors and Aang. They, too, had taken to the roofs to chase the three assailants who were trying to kidnap Kiyi.

Aang headed straight for the one holding the little girl, sending a wave of flames at his feet, but the masked figure easily dodged it by jumping high in the air and kicking Aang in the gut. The force sent him reeling back but he quickly gained balance. "That definitely felt like a human foot!"

With that, Suki lunged at the captor. "Ty Lee! Chi-block!"

"I'm trying!" Ty Lee cried out, but as fast as her hands were, they were not as fast as the figure avoiding them.

It was as if this person, whoever it was, knew all her movements and target areas.

Aang used his airbending to clear the smoke that had started to creep up and hinder them. Kiyi was tossed from one cloaked figure onto the farthest one who broke off in a solid run away from the fray.

Alarmed, Zuko left Aang and the others to chase after Kiyi's captor. He was relentless in pursuit, jumping from one roof ledge to another, yet he was still a few paces behind them.

They reached the wall that separated the palace grounds from the city. In his haste to corner him, he failed to notice the smoke bomb thrown at his feet. The thick smoke made his eyes burn and his throat ache, but he wouldn't be deterred. Zuko forged forward ready to capture the person.

Until a brilliant streak of crackling lightning missed his head by mere inches.

Despite the searing pain and his hindered vision, he recognized the form and stance that the captor had taken.

"Azula!"

The figure stood on top of the wall; still holding Kiyi under one arm, and took the mask off with the other. Indeed, behind the mask was none other than his missing sister. A wide smirk played on her lips as she stepped back once. "Bye, Zuzu."

And fell back to the other side of the wall.

The poison in the smoke bomb should be enough to paralyze her brother as she made a run for it across the rooftops of the Capital. Azula chose to take the longer route back to the hideout, planning to lead the others as far away as possible.

Under her arm, Kiyi still slept soundly because of the drug she had been administered with. If it were only simple, Azula would have easily killed the child without so much as a second thought.

But will she be satisfied with just that?

No. She wanted to see her mother suffer as she had. She wanted her to feel the helplessness. She wanted her to beg for mercy and forgiveness. And feel the satisfaction of denying her of it, holding her beloved daughter's life in her hands.

She couldn't help the crazed laughter that escaped her as she remembered her brother's face upon seeing that it was her dressed as the Kemurikage.

"You still look as stupid as you did back when we were younger! Bet you didn't expect—"

Her foot landed on a loose roof tile, rendering her off-balance and she fell sideways into a vast yard.

Subconsciously, she had wrapped Kiyi in her arms and twisted her body so that she would land on her feet instead.

She exhaled in relief. "That was close."

"What are you doing here?"

It was past midnight. Azula didn't expect a single soul to be outside, given the scare she and her companions have given the people over the last few days.

She was about to ignore the question and leave when curiosity struck her. Why was the question not one of panic and fear?

Azula turned to look at the figure seated under the tall and sprawling niwaki tree. The moonlight shone directly at her, making her already pale skin even more ghostly-white; in contrast to Azula who was clad in dark robes and hidden in the shadows of the shade.

A soft breeze blew through the yard and rustled the leaves, some falling slowly between them. The messenger hawk resting on her shoulder shuffled closer, picking at its feathers that had been ruffled by the wind.

"Azula, what are you doing here?"

Confused gold met cold red-amber.

"There were four more kidnappings last night, including Kiyi. That brings the total to thirteen children." Everyone was gathered in the throne room; Zuko, the Kyoshi Warriors, Aang, as well as Mai and Kei Lo who had come as soon as they have heard of Kiyi's disappearance.

Amidst the discussion, Zuko sat on his throne, unfocused, hands trembling lightly as he thought of what had happened in his own home.

All that happened right in front of him. And he was powerless to stop it.

"At least we have a clue as to who the Kemurikage are!" Aang tried to bring a sense of hope into the situation, hoping the others would follow suit.

"I know. That's why I'm worried." Zuko answered.

Mai was new to this information. "You know for sure that they aren't spirits?"

"Last night, one of them shot lightning at Zuko—"

"It can't be! Lightning bending is rare, but it isn't that rare! That doesn't necessarily mean—"

"I saw her with my own eyes, Mai." Zuko stood up and made his way down to the group. "It was Azula."

The fact that Azula had captured her brother and Zuko's sister was still confusing to her. "But... Why would Azula want to kidnap all those kids? And her own sister?"

"She's Azula. Isn't that reason enough?"

Mai had been debating telling Zuko the truth about Ukano's involvement since last night. Now that things were spiraling out of control, she had to come clean. "Actually... Zuko... I need to tell you something."

"What is it?"

Her hands were shaking as she mustered up the courage to tell the truth. Kei Lo held one in his and gripped it tight. He gave her a silent nod to encourage her. "Last time... You asked if my father was involved in the New Ozai Society. I told you I didn't know... I lied. Not only was my father involved. He's their leader."

Anger, disappointment, resentment. It seems like these are the only things he had been feeling in the last few days. It was all too much, and the rage exploded in him as he shouted at her. "Why would you keep that from me?!"

"He's my father, Zuko! Now matter how evil he is, I still don't like the idea of betraying him! You of all people should understand that! But last night... I figured that he was hiding something by the way he talked and got all defensive. I think he already knew about the Kemurikage. And I think... he may have known about Azula."

The situation was more complicated than ever, but everything was slowly revealing itself. If Ukano was indeed working with Azula with the kidnappings and riots in the Capital, then surely there must be some common goal, some aim that they are working towards.

"What is it?"

But there was no time to waste. Zuko called in General Mak who bowed once and stood firm, ready to receive the Fire Lord's command. "General Mak, we need to bring Ukano and his allies in for questioning. Find out exactly what they know. Send your soldiers to Ukano's home and arrest him!"

"Yes, Fire Lord Zuko!"

"Zuko, this isn't the way!" Aang grabbed his shoulder. "Let me find Ukano! I'll sit him down and talk to him! No soldiers!"

Zuko turned to Aang and bowed his head. "Avatar Aang, thank you for your assistance up until now. You know how much I value your wisdom and friendship. But we've already tried things your way, and it didn't work out. It's time for a different approach."

"Fire Lord Zuko, Ukano's home has been vacated since last night. The servants said that he hasn't returned."

"Take as many soldiers as you can and search every house and every establishment in the Capital. Leave no stone upturned and no house unsearched."

Author's Notes (because she feels she has a lot of explaining to do)

So... I'm sure a lot of you are very confused... or at least have a couple of questions by now...

*bows* I'm sorryyyyy. My writing has been a bit off and I'm struggling, but I'll still do my best!

Anyways, if you have questions and/or violent reactions, drop them here and I'll do my best to answer them.

No questions like "Are you insane?" or "Are you that sadistic?" Because there's no point in denying it. Yes, I am. *cue evil laugh here*

Let me know your thoughts!

-TheGreatestConWoman-

is currently having a meltdown from being on lockdown for 4 months (and counting) with no apparent signs of improvement whatsoever. (Flattening the curve my ass. We're doomed.)

*Azula cackles in the distance*