They assembled in a circle around the Chief's chamber. Iroh had joined them, and Suki volunteered to watch the children. The rest of them sat on the floor in front of Chief Arnook, who sat at his usual spot on the top of the steps.

The Chief seemed anxious. In the prison, Aang had denied being able to take Azula's bending away. Zuko assured Chief Arnook that he would be able to convince Aang, but it might take a little bit of effort. Nevertheless, the Chief stayed silent and let Zuko explain the importance to Aang.

The first step was to make the urgency of the situation clear to Aang. He had to let Aang know that this was the last resort. Eventually, Zuko knew Aang would take her bending away. He was confident that once Aang was back to normal, he would be fully capable of it.

So, Zuko began to explain the situation from the beginning. "Five years ago, Azula escaped from prison. She became obsessed with destroying everyone that had helped put her there. She seemed to have this end goal that she would reclaim the throne after ruining everyone else's lives."

He continued to be more specific about Azula's murdering spree, and Katara and Sokka would chime in as well. Even Iroh added a few things.

As the talk continued, Chief Arnook got called away on other business. "Please let me know when you come to a decision," then he left.

The story continued, and Aang absorbed it all. He kept quiet, but he understood their urgency. Azula was crazy.

Iroh was kept an eye on the silent airbender. He could see the wheels turning in his head. Iroh knew that the goal of this conversation was to persuade Aang to change his mind about taking Azula's bending before they left the North Pole. They were all nervous, but they couldn't lose Aang again. Iroh began to feel anxious for Aang. He knew what Aang was like before he disappeared, and anyone could see that he was having trouble dealing with the time gap. He was not his usual cheerful self, and his face made him look lost. He knew it was because of the uncertainty, but he also knew something else was wrong. There was something else off about the Avatar. He looked cold and shivered often. He kept pressing his hands against his temples as if his head hurt. He tried to hide it from Kartara, scared that she would become overprotective.

Then, there was Zuko. When he spoke with Katara, there was a familiarity. His eyes lingered on her, and he flinched anytime there was physical contact between Katara and Aang. Katara was oblivious, blinded by her love returning. She didn't see that there was a connection between the two of them, one that had grown over the last five years. Iroh knew that their love was not the same as the love between Katara and Aang.

He was unsure of the future, but he knew it would not be easy on anyone.

At last, Zuko finished the horrible tale, and explained the conflict between Azula and Toph in the prison. He left out some of the gruesome details when he saw the girl go pale. But he still felt the need to tell Aang. He had to know. Then, he came to his final statement. "Aang, we need to take her bending away." Zuko stared at him.

Aang was silent. He held Zuko's stare before dropping his eyes to the ground. Everyone watched him, waiting for his response. Katara felt her stomach churn with concern.

"I- I understand," Aang said with a heavy sigh.

"I know it's a lot to ask from you right now…"

"I can see that it is necessary, and I can see that there are no other options," Aang's voice was grave and troubled. His head pounded more than ever.

"There is one other choice," Iroh sighed. "Death. The only other option is to kill Azula."

Aang felt like he may get sick. Surely, they weren't asking him to kill her. "That seems a little drastic."

"This is what Azula has driven us too," Zuko told him out of fear. He was scared that he had made this request too soon. "I can't do it, and I know that none of us can. I know you don't want it either."

"No, I don't." That was the only thing Aang was sure of. Year may have passed, but his monk training was still within him. All life is sacred.

"Aang," Katara called to him lightly. "It's okay if this is too much. We can take a break."

He glanced at her and shook his head. "It's fine… I just don't know." He looked back at Zuko. "This doesn't feel right."

"Aang, listen," Zuko tried again. "I know this feels wrong. It is wrong. No one should abuse their power enough to have to have it taken away. Trust us, you don't know what its been like. You haven't seen the pain she caused, everything she's done."

"I know," Aang said in remorse. If he was there, he may have been able to stop her.

"You don't know!" Zuko protested. "You didn't have anyone taken away from you. You'd feel different if you lost someone you love."

"She's hurt a lot of people," Iroh added so Zuko would not continue with his rant. "Soldiers and civilians. People she had never met before. She did it all to send a message to the rest of us. "

Zuko was frustrated. "If it had been Katara or Tenzin, you'd-"

Aang cut him off, "I know!" His stomach was churning.

"No, you don't," Zuko was ready to release all of his fears from the last five years. It wasn't bad enough that he had lost Mai and had to send Ursa away, but he had gained a second family to lose: Katara and Tenzin. He held the responsibility for them. "She's threatened Tenzin a couple of times. That's why we had to keep him a secret from the world. She said he 'd be a good substitute for you, since you were gone."

Aang cringed at the words. He should have been there to protect them.

"Toph was almost her most recent victim," Sokka said in a daze, as if he was remembering that day. "I had to carry her to the healers from the prison. It was bad."

"It was," Toph said in a quiet voice. She didn't like to talk or hear about it. She hated feeling weak, and that was probably the weakest she had ever been.

"She was locked up," Zuko exhaled wearily. "She's escaped from the toughest Fire Nation prison, and she's almost escaped here. She can and will do it again. Its way too dangerous for us to make such a long trip with her as a prisoner. That's why we need you to take her bending away before we leave."

"It will still be dangerous," Iroh said. "It will just be more feasible with her bending gone."

"And we need to do it soon. The Chief wants us gone as soon as possible," Zuko added.

The group fell silent, and all eyes were on Aang.

Eventually, he sighed. His headache was pounding, and it was beginning to become dangerously painful. "I understand, but I still don't feel comfortable-"

"Aang," Zuko insisted. "I don't think you realize that she is a constant threat. She has been for five years. Sokka and Suki had to put their lives on hold to hunt her full time. Even though she is locked up, the Chief still sees her as a threat to his people. She is a burden and a danger to everyone here." Zuko sighed again. "I… I feel responsible for bringing her here, especially since things are still tense between the Fire Nation and Water Tribe. We can't let this go on any longer. We need to get her out of this city without losing any more lives."

"Yeah," Aang agreed slowly and rubbed his forehead. "I see where you're coming from. I just wasn't expecting to have to deal with something like this right now."

"You shouldn't have to," Katara interjected. She had always been uneasy about the idea. "If you don't feel right about it, we can find another way."

"Katara," Zuko gave her a pointed look, as if she had betrayed him. "You know there isn't another way. Aang, I get that this is a lot, and you've only been awake for a short time, but this is important. You're the only one who can do it."

"Wait!" Katara scolded Zuko. "Don't put this all on him. Don't tell him he's the only one. It's not fair to put something like this on only his shoulders."

"Katara-" Aang tried to talk to her, but Zuko interrupted.

"I'm not trying to dump it all on him. He's literally the Avatar. Its his job to keep the peace."

"You can't put all this pressure on him!" Katara protested. She was becoming rather defensive. "He hasn't had any time to recover. You heard him say that she could hurt him."

"Katara-" Aand tried again.

"What do you suggest we do then?"

"If I hadn't been able to bring Aang back, then there would have been a different option."

She was on Zuko's last nerve. "Yeah, we'd probably have to sentence her to death! Is that what you want?"

"Of course not, but you haven't even considered other options!"

"Katara, Zuko," Aang was finally able to get their attention. "Stop. I'll do it."

"You will?" Zuko's eyes lit up with hope.

"Are you sure, Aang?" Katara's eyes filled with anxiety. She couldn't lose him again.

"Yes," Aang nodded at her and gave her a small smile. "I can handle it."

Katara frowned. "Maybe you should think about it for a day or two."

"No, Zuko's right. If she's such a danger to everyone, then she needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. And I am the only one that can do it."

"But earlier you said that she could-"

"Katara," He said her name again firmly. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, but you don't have to. I'm fine, and I want to help."

She just blinked at him.

"And," he went on, "I haven't done a very good job at being the Avatar for the last five years. I'd like to get back to it as soon as possible."

"Okay, Aang," Katara surrendered and looked at the ground. Something about this was giving her a bad feeling. She hated that he felt obligated to this right now. He needed to rest and heal. If looks could kill, Zuko would be six feet under.

Aang looked at Zuko, "Let's go now."

Zuko was visibly relieved. He rose to his feet, and everyone else followed. "Thanks. Aang." He turned to Sokka. "Could you tell the Chief what's going on?"

"Sure thing," Sokka nodded before turning to Aang. "Good luck.:

"In the meantime," Iroh suggested. "I will inform the captain to ready the ship for our departure."

Sokka and Iroh left to do their jobs, Zuko led Toph to the door, and Katara pulled Aang aside.

"Aang?" She said feeling desperate. "Do you want me to come with you?"

He hesitated, and then shook his head. "No, that's alright. I should do this on my own."

"Are you sure?" She was worried about him.

"Yeah," he said too hastily. For a moment, it sounded like he was annoyed by her worrying. He quickly added, "I'm fine, Katara. Don't worry, I can handle it."

She felt like he was pushing her away, like he was protecting her from the battle within himself. She frowned at him. She wanted to be angry, but she couldn't find it in herself to be. He was probably just stressed out. She had to understand and not push him anymore.

So, she let it go. "Okay," she sighed and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. She turned to walk towards the door, but he caught her hand.

"Katara-"

"I know, you're fine. I understand that you're ready to start helping people again, but you don't have to do something that you feel isn't right… Or anything that you're not ready to do." She hesitated for a moment. Then, she turned back around to face him. "Don't forget who you are," she pleaded with him.

He stared at her and absorbed her words. She has reminded him of something that he had forgotten a long time ago.

Ad if overcome by an uncontrollable impulse, he took her face in his hands and kissed her. It was bursting with gratitude and urgency, like it may be their last. His heart stuttered when she kissed him back. She wasn't sure why, but she never wanted to let him go.

But she did.

"I love you," he whispered to her.

Her heart melted at the affection in his voice. "I love you too," she meant it with all of her being. She just hoped that he knew it too.

His eyes met hers, and he gave her a half-hearted smile before walking away. For the first time, she wasn't sure that he did now.

That made her worry more.

After the council dispersed, Aang and Zuko headed to the prison. A couple of waterbenders went ahead of them down the passage that led to Azula's cell. Her cell was special. It had thick ice walls and metals bars that Toph had bended especially for her.

Their footsteps churched loudly in the snow as they left the palace, and Zuko decided that now was as good as any to have that talk with Aang. He needed to tell Aang everything to let go, to be free.

"So," he began. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "About that talk we didn't get to have…"

"Oh, right," Aang glanced at him. "I almost forgot. What's on your mind?"

"Well, um," Zuko felt full of shame. Aang had been so casual this morning, and Zuko could tell things were about to change between them for forever. "I guess you know that Katara's been, um…" He trailed off.

Aang could guess what he was hinting at. He waited a moment to see if Zuko could figure out the words, but when he didn't continue, Aang said it for him. "…Living with you in the Fire Nation?" He said it perfectly calm.

"Yeah," Zuko sighed as some of his tension melted away. He glanced at Aang anxiously. "You're not upset?"

Aang watched his feet as he walked. "Well, I was at first," he said slowly. "But I was pretty upset about everything at that point… But now? No, I'm not."

Zuko frowned and stared at the ground wishing it would swallow him. The two of them continued to walk in silence, but Zuko felt like he needed to say more. He needed to explain it better, and he was confused by Aang's indifference.

After a few moments of silence, Aang spoke up again. "So, uh… How long…?"

"She came for Mai's funeral. She was about to give birth, so Suki and Sokka stayed with her at the Water Tribe Representative's house. Once Tenzin was born, Suki and Sokka left to hunt Azula, and we all thought it would be best if she stayed at the Palace and protected the Avatar's son. She never left."

"So… about five years?"

"Yeah," Zuko shut his eyes tightly, preparing himself for Aang's anger.

Instead, Aang stared straight ahead in a daze. "That's a long time."

"It is," Zuko said with a sigh.

Aang didn't say anything for a while because he was lost in thought. His brow was knotted. Zuko studied him carefully and got the feeling that Aang was trying to not be upset, but maybe he was reading too far into it.

Zuko felt awkward in the silence, so he continued to talk. "Mai's death was hard on me. She helped me with Ursa."

Aang gave him a small nod. "She's good at things like that." Just like she had come to Aang's rescue. Katara could never turn her back on someone that needed her.

"Yeah, she does. Even though it was a hard time on her too. You were gone, and then she had to have Tenzin alone and all…" Zuko trailed off again. He found his eyes on the Avatar once again, but he didn't see any bitterness or resentment. In fact, Aang looked like he wasn't listening to Zuko at all.

He couldn't help but ask, "You're really not mad?"

Aang gave him a surprised look. "I don't see why. You guys were able to help each other." He struggled to find his next words, but it came out strained with regret. "And Tenzin had you since I wasn't there."

The thought cast a shadow over the young airbender. He was filled with heavy sorrow at missing out on his son's life. He wasn't jealous or resentful.

Then, Zuko realized something. He had resented Aang all these years, jealous of Katara's endless love and Tenzin's unconditional loyalty. He was ashamed that Aang was a better person than him.

"Anyway," Aang went on with a small chuckle. "It's not like you and Katara got married or something. That would have made me upset."

"Aang, I'm sorry, but I need to tell you something-"

Aang cut him off. This conversation was stupid. He wasn't mad, and Zuko had no reason to feel bad. "No, really, it's fine."

"Something did happen," Zuko blurted out. "A lot of stuff-"

A million things ran through Aang's mind, and he shuddered. What did that mean? He sighed and said, "Zuko, it doesn't matter-"

Zuko continued anyways, "But we were… I wouldn't say we were actually together, you know. We never really talked about it, and we definitely weren't supposed to be. I mean, I was never going to be you, and she wasn't going to be Mai, but that's how it was. I don't know. It was confusing, and somewhere along the way, I started to like her… a lot… and then I loved her because she was her… I don't know why it happened, it just happened! I should have known better, really. She was always- I mean- I didn't mean to… it just sort of happened…"

Zuko's words stumbled out with embarrassment and shame. His confession was not like he had planed it. It went horrible, and he dreaded looking at Aang. At last, he muttered, "I'm sorry."

Aang didn't say anything. They continued to walk in an uncomfortable silence.

"I just- I thought you were gone, but she never did," Zuko couldn't stop talking. He felt the need to continue or do anything to break the silence between them. "It wasn't her fault, so don't be upset."

"I'm not upset," Aang murmured quietly.

"She was always yours. She never let you go. It was just her. We had all given up… I don't know, but…" Shame overpowered him. "I'm sorry. I just… really needed to tell you that. It didn't feel right not to. I'm really, really sorry."

"It's okay," Aang whispered. He shut his eyes and willed Zuko to shut up already. Was he trying to make him mad or something?

Zuko watched him for a few more seconds, then asked, "Now you're mad at me, aren't you?"

"No, I'm not upset with anyone."

Zuko gawked at him. "How can you not be upset?"

Aang exhaled in annoyance. His head could not take much more of this. "Do you want me to be mad, Zuko? Because I can try, I guess, but I'd really rather not."

"No," Zuko shook his head. He was flustered. "I don't want you to be upset, I just don't understand how you're not."

Very carefully, Aang said, "Like you said, you thought I was gone. You didn't know. It wouldn't be fair for me to be mad at you for that."

Zuko felt undeserving of Aang's forgiveness. He felt dirty and guilty at the same time. "I shouldn't have," he confessed. "She was always in love with you. You were it for her, and I wish I could undo it. I wish-"he stopped abruptly.

"What?"

"I wish she had never come to the Fire Nation in the first place… No, I don't wish that. I wouldn't have survived without her, but I guess… I just wish it weren't like this."

Aang's eyes studied the snow again and then looked back at Zuko. "Do you still have feelings for her?"

Zuko knew the answer immediately, but he took a second to compose himself. "I'm-I'm working on it."

"What do you mean?"

"Yes," he breathed. "I do still have feelings for her, but I don't want to. It just not easy to let go after five years."

Another short silence.

"But I'm working on it. I'm really sorry… I didn't want to lie to you and tell you it was over. You deserved to know."

"I appreciate that, Zuko."

Zuko wanted to reassure Aang that there was no reason to fear that he would try to steal Katara, but he couldn't find the words.

"Zuko, its okay." Aang was completely sincere.

Zuko could hear from his tone who much he meant it, but he secretly had hoped for more. He wanted to see it in Aang's eyes that he understood the depth of his words. Aang's trust made him feel worse, and he regretted saying anything. He couldn't comprehend how Aang was so passive about this… Did he not love her anymore? Did he not care that he almost lost her?

"We- or I really didn't mean for this to happen."

"Zuko, I get it."

"I just wanted you to now… I hope we can still be friends."

"Of course, we're still friends."

Zuko gave him a surprised look. He thought this would ruin their friendship for forever.

Aang let out a deep breath and chuckled softly. "We've had a lot worse problems before, right?"

Zuko understood the meaning. He had tried to kill him before. "Yeah, I guess we have," he laughed awkwardly.

"So please, don't worry anymore."

"You're such a good friend, Aang."

"I try," Aang joked lightly.

"I'm glad you're back."

"Me too," Aang sighed.

"Oh, hey!" Zuko's head snapped up. In hopes of being a better person like Aang, Zuko decided to do something he shouldn't have done in the first place. "I have something for you but promise you won't get mad."

Aang was exhausted. "Zuko, I already told you, it's fine. I'm not mad!"

He reached into his pocket and felt a cold stone. For a second, he hesitated. Then, he pulled out a necklace that didn't belong to him. He shoved it into Aang's hand without another thought. "Here."

Aang was startled. His eyes threatened to fall out when he recognized the light blue string. All of the blood drained from his face. "Where did you get this?"

Zuko looked more ashamed then ever before. "Katara left her coat on the ground in the Spirit Oasis. I picked it up for her when I got here, and it fell out. I didn't want anyone else to find it, so I put it in my pocket. I was going to give it back to her… But I, um, kept forgetting."

Aang's mouth was wide open. The necklace laid in the center of his opened palm, as if he was scared to touch it.

"No, that's a lie," Zuko shook his head in frustration. "I was… I was having trouble… motivating myself to give it back to her."

Aang tore his eyes away from the necklace and looked at Zuko. He didn't know what surprised him more: Zuko stealing Katara's necklace, or the fact that Katara had kept it all this time."

Zuko sighed. "I don't think she's realized it's missing yet. I thought about slipping it back into her room, but I wanted you to know about it. Aang, Katara kept that necklace with her for the last five years. She was going to tell you yes when you came back, and she never betrayed you. She never gave up on you. I think you should be the one to decide what to do with it."

Aang had a million thoughts racing in his mind. He swallowed hard before slipping the necklace into his own pocket. "Um, okay. Thanks," he murmured, his throat dry.

They arrived at the prison, and their conversation ended there. Once again, Aang was the first to enter the chamber. He led the way there until they reached the first guard on their way to Azula's cell.

"The Avatar is here to see the prisoner," Zuko told the guard in an authoritative voice. "He needs to approach her."

"Yes, Firelord," the guard replied, and he stepped aside to let Aang continue.

Zuko stopped him. "He'll open the door, and once you're in there, he'll shut it. Don't worry, she's chained up and covered in metal, so she shouldn't be able to try anything. It too cold for her to firebend, but she could surprise us. All you have to do is let the guard know when you're done."

"You're not coming?" Aang asked in surprise. That made him feel more nervous.

Zuko hesitated for a moment, but he shook his head. "No, I think I should stay out here. She tests me, and I think it would make everything worse… I'd rather not watch either."

Aang was having second thoughts, but he didn't dare to tell Zuko. It didn't feel right to do it, and it didn't feel right to wait. He could barely think straight all morning, and now he was supposed to do something his life changing. Maybe Katara was right, he should wait a few days. He would have time to recover, and to find himself again.

But no, he couldn't turn back now. Everyone was counting on him. No one was safe- not even Tenzin. He had already told everyone that he would do it. This was his job, and he could handle it.

He had to do it. He was the Avatar. Ending Azula's terror was his responsibility. He had already skipped out on the last five years, missed Tenzin growing up, and left the world unprotected. He had to do it. It was his duty. It was his destiny.

He felt the urge to beg Zuko to come with him. It had never crossed his mind that he would have to face her alone, but Zuko almost looked sick from just standing in the prison. He couldn't force him to do anymore.

"Okay," Aang nodded and gathered the small bit of courage he had. His head pounded again, but he willed it to stop. "See you when it's done."

He steeped forward, and the guards began to let him in.

Then, Zuko caught his arm. "Don't let her mess with you."

This statement only made him feel more uneasy. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

"That's long enough."

The door was opened, and Aang entered Azula's prison cell.

It took him a few moments to take in the sight. It felt eerie, and the room was colder than the wind outside. He did his best to not flinch when he heard metal creak.

Then, he saw her. Azula way lying in a heap of heavy chains in the corner of the cell. He could see her breath. She had metal boots up to her knees, metal gloves up to her elbows, and a metal mouthpiece that wrapped around her mouth. There were very small holes to breath. It didn't take long for Aang to figure out that she was probably on a liquid diet.

Her skin was pale. Her face had scars, and her hair looked greasy and matted. She had undoubtedly been beaten recently or wrestled back from her failed attempt to escape. Her eyes were the same as they had always been, but they had a wilder look in them. She looked like a feral animal, and she looked lost in a different realm, like she didn't care what went on in this one.

For a few seconds, he just stood there. He was shocked at her current state. Everyone else had been right. She was not the same.

Her eyes fixed on him, and something sparked. She stirred herself back to reality, and a flash of surprise crossed her face, like she couldn't believe he was really there. Then, she suddenly laughed loudly, as if she was tricked.

"I can't believe it's you!" She cried with disbelief. "All grown up now. I almost didn't recognize you."

"Azula," Aang tried to speak in a confident voice, but he wasn't very convincing. "What's happened to you?"

She didn't answer him. Instead, she said, "You're back from the dead again! Aren't you ever going to let the next Avatar have a turn?"

A chill swept over him, and his head pulsed. He shut his eyes. I have to do it. There's no other choice.

Then, he caught Azula's wild gaze and strode towards her. He wanted to run in the opposite direction, but he couldn't. He needed to do this, and he needed to do it quickly.

"Azula, I'm sorry, but I am here to-"

She cut him off again. "So, where have you been hiding all this time? I searched the entire world for you," she smirked at him.

"Azula-"

"Did you meet your little boy yet?" She asked in a greedily way. He wasn't sure if she was trying to anger him, or if she was really that fast gone. "He's adorable, looks just like you. It's a shame he hasn't had a father all these years, hm?"

Aang sighed. "I know what you're trying to do."

"Me? I'm not trying to do anything. Zuzu, on the other hand, did an excellent job of playing house for you while you were gone. With your son and your girlfriend." Her eyes studied him with an intense, hungry, but still distant gaze. She waited for his response, but it never came.

Aang wasn't about to play this game with her. He was grateful that Zuko had not left him ignorant to his and Katara's relationship. It would have killed him to hear it from her first. Her attempt to make him jealous failed. He crossed his arms.

"If you're trying to get a reaction out of me, its not going to work," Aang scoffed.

Azula gave him a wicked laugh, and it gave him goosebumps. "We'll see about that."

Aang stepped close to her and knelt before her. "Do you know why I'm here?"

"You mean you weren't here for a friendly chat?" Her voice was full of fake hurt.

"Do you know why I'm here, Azula?" He asked her again.

"Oh, fine," she sighed and rolled her eyes at him "It's because my bother is a pathetic coward."

Aang tried to understand her, but even her comebacks weren't up to her usual standards.

"Your bother and uncle have decided to show you mercy-"

"Mercy?!" she scoffed with a hatred blazing in her eyes. "That's what they're calling it? I assume it's the same 'mercy' that you showed my father all those years ago, right? The same 'mercy' that drove him to kill himself? That's what you've come to do to me, Avatar?"

Aanf closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Your father couldn't accept defeat or the fact that I spared his life. He made that choice on his own, but it doesn't have to be like that for you."

Her head snapped in her direction, and he feared that she had hurt herself. "Lucky me."

"Azula," he said forcefully. "I'm trying to talk to you like a reasonable person."

"No, thanks," she said nonchalantly. "Reasonable doesn't really work for me these days. Didn't everyone tell you that I'm completely mad?" She raised her eyebrows at him.

Everyone had told him that, but he could still see that her sharp mind was present. "You're not completely mad."

"Are you sure about that?"

Aang didn't reply. He just studied her. For whatever reason, she was trying to convince him that she was in fact completely mad. She had tricked everyone else, but she couldn't trick him. He could see right through her, and she could see right through him.

He felt pity for her.

"I'm sorry that it turned out this way, Azula."

Again, she scoffed. "Yeah, right. I don't want your pity, or anyone else's."

Aang sighed sadly and rose to his feet. It was time. He couldn't talk to her all day like this, no matter how wrong he felt about it. He had to do what he had come to do. He stepped closer to her and gave her a look of remorse.

"I have to do this."

"No, you don't."

"You've left us with no choice."

"There's always another choice. You're about to take all that I am away from me."

"You only have yourself to blame."

She glared at him. "I'd rather you just kill me."

Something about the way she said it made his stomach churn. It sounded like a demand. "Would you really prefer that?"

He meant it rhetorically, but she didn't notice.

"Yes, I would," she whispered and dropped her gaze to the ground. "Zuzu was always our mother's favorite. The only thing that made me significant was that I was a firebending prodigy. Since then, I was more special. I actually mattered. Without my bending, I am nothing. Just like my father. You stripped him of everything that he was. You stole his identity and left him to suffer as an empty shell of a person. Do you honestly believe that that is more merciful than death? But you wont do it. You don't have the strength or the decency to give me an honorable death."

Her words shook him to the core. It threatened to crumble the very foundation of who he was and who he always believed he was. She meant every word, and it hit him like a shot to his soul.

For a moment, he couldn't speak. He lacked any response to her. He couldn't think straight, and that piercing migraine wasn't helping.

What was wrong with him?

"You think you're so righteous and great," Azula continued her savage rant. "Here I am, helpless and unable to defend myself. There you are. So proud and grand. That's what all the others are too. You think you're so good, but you're not. You're a monster, just like me."

"Azula," he warned her in a low and severe voice.

But she continued. Her voice was rising with every word. "You think you have all the power here. We both know that I will be free again soon, and you will all be begging for my mercy. Every single one of you is terrified of me, and you will be until the day I die. There are too many possibilities, and it will always taint your happiness. I will always have the power, even if you take mine."

She sent him a blazing stare. Her speech only confirmed what Aang needed to do. He still felt pity for her, but it was dwindling. He now knew how dangerous she was.

In a fearless voice, he told her, "You have no power."

"Then why haven't you done what you came here to do? You should have done it by now," she said in a calm voice. "What are you waiting for?"

She was right. Why was he holding back? He should have done it already. What was he waiting for?

He told himself to get it over with. Azula would be better off in the long run, maybe. Everyone would be better off in the long run…

Would Katara be disappointed in him if he didn't do it? He insisted that he could. Would she think he was weak? Or would she fuss over him and be more over-protective? She would probably start by killing Zuko. "I knew it! I told you to not put such a burden on him."

He didn't know what, but he knew that something powerful was holding him back. Something made his stomach knot. It seemed so simple in his head. Step forward, place his right hand on her brow, thumb between her eyes, left hand on her chest, and…

… But should he?

He didn't even know who he was now. He was the Avatar, but what was his duty? Who were the people he was supposed to protect? It was more than just his loved ones. He had abandoned he entire world again.

Now, something was screaming inside of him. It was wrong.

Maybe he should have consulted with his past lives before he agreed, but they hadn't been much help last time.

He felt like he had no one, not even himself. Everything felt different now. After this morning, even he felt like a stranger to himself.

"Well, go ahead and do it," Azula's voice shattered his thoughts. Her voice quivered. "But one day, I hope you know what its like to lose everything you are, everything you loved. I hope you have your soul broken and destroyed."

Her words wounded him and only added to his storming mind. He stared at her and began to feel overwhelmed. He was horrified, he wanted to flee. But he couldn't show her that.

She smirked at him. "I already know what that's like, but it didn't destroy me. It never will." She paused. Her stare burned into him, and she whispered, "I'm not like my father."

It was then that Aang began to fear that he couldn't take her bending away. Not right now.

He had only done it once before, and it had been years since then. He remembered disappearing deep within himself and pulling Ozai with him. He stepped out of time and into a place where there was nothing but the two of them. He struggled and felt consumed by Ozai's destructiveness. It felt like he struggled for days, but it was only seconds.

Ozai's hunger almost overpowered him, but it hadn't. He remembered who he was, and he had beaten Ozai's spirit into submission.

That was then.

But now?

As Aang stared at Azula, the words corrupted and destroyed drifted into his mind. It stirred up memories of the Lion Turtle.

She was not like her father.

And- Aang was not like himself. That mattered more.

"Get it over with!" Azula shrieked again. Her high-pitched voice only added to his headache. "Show me how merciful you really are. Zuzu and everyone are counting on you!" Her voice was full of loathing and vengeance. "You know, I'm glad you're back. I've been waiting years to say these things to you. I never thought I'd get the chance, so thank you for that."

He just looked at her, and she looked back at him. In that moment, he knew. He knew that if he took her into space with him, that her energy would swallow him whole.

He wasn't sure what would happen to him if she did, bBut he could imagine Katara and Tenzin weeping in the courtyard over his lifeless body.

He could also see her telling him, "You've only been gone of a few minutes." Then, Tenzin would show him more drawings and beg him to show him airbending tricks. He'd ask to ride on his glider, and they could fly off on an adventure.

If he tried to take Azula's bending and failed, he'd never get to do these things. If he failed, it would be disastrous.

They had waited so long for him, and they were looking forward to so much. Even among his confusion and heartache, he knew he was looking forward to it too.

He couldn't risk it. Right now, he had to protect himself for them. He had missed out on so much already. He couldn't do that to them.

Without another word, he turned away and walked hastily towards the door.

Azula was stunned. Then, she exploded with laughter. "You're not going to do it? After all of that, you're not going to. What will Zuzu think? Oh, he'll be so disappointed. And your girlfriend? She'll see how weak you really are."

Aang didn't say anything to her, and her voice grew further and further away.

He signaled for the door to be opened, and he dreaded the confrontation that was to come. What would he tell everyone?

"You are a coward!" She bellowed and tried to run after him. Her chains restrained him, and she fell to her knees. He glanced back at her one more time. He didn't bother to listen to her screams anymore. She looked horrible with her ragged hair and bruised face. It wasn't right.

Before he left, he shook his head and whispered, "Goodbye, Azula."

She continued to yell at him as he walked away. He was not going to give her the satisfaction of making him upset despite all of the nasty things she was yelling. His head hurt too much to get into a screaming match with her even though he wanted to. If he didn't leave now, something horrible would happen.

Finally, he stepped out. He was furious at her and at himself.

He was weak.