Zuko sat in his quarters, sipping tea with his uncle and discussing Azula.

"She's very unpredictable. I'm afraid of what we're going to do with her." Zuko started.

"She's not only unpredictable, she's manipulative. She knows your weaknesses." Iroh replied.

There came a knock at the door.

"Enter." Zuko said.

Ursa stepped into the room.

"Tea?" Iroh asked. Ursa nodded. Iroh poured her a cup of tea and she sat on the bed next to Zuko. She took a breath before starting.

"Azula is very weak." She said quietly.

"She tried to escape last night." Zuko countered.

"That was an illusion. Her fever is going to consume her. Her insanity is not helping either." Ursa shot back.

Iroh slurped his tea loudly. The mother and son looked at him. He swallowed and spoke.

"Azula is both of what you say. She is both a victim and victimizer. She is her own enemy and ally. We must help her win the war in her own mind. She believes the Fire Nation is the greatest nation. We must prove her otherwise."

Another knock at the door.

"Enter." The three declared in unison. Sokka, Mai and Ty Lee entered the room.

"Tea?" Iroh offered.

"Sure!" Sokka and Ty Lee exclaimed.

"No thanks." Said Mai. Iroh smiled and poured two cups. Sokka nodded his thanks and sat on the floor. Ty Lee plopped down beside him.

"I think Azula should come to the water tribe with me. Katara and Aang can help her get back on her feet." Sokka started.

"Were you listening to us?" Zuko asked.

"What did you think we were doing?" Sokka replied.

"Making sure Azula doesn't escape."

"The Kyoshi Warriors are taking care of that!"

"Alright. Azula can go with Sokka, and the rest of us will return home."

"Will Azula be alright?" Ty Lee asked.

"We are putting her in the safest place possible." Zuko replied, not in the mood for questions. Ursa put her hand on his shoulder.

"Azula can stay in the palace until we deliver a message to the Avatar." Iroh declared. Zuko nodded in agreement.

"I can take the message." Sokka piped up. A round of agreement swept the room.

Azula was carried off the battleship and into the palace under the cover of darkness while she was asleep. She lay in her old room. They only told her that she was going to the southern water tribe. She was afraid. Waterbenders were extremely powerful, in fact, she had been defeated by one. Zuko was going to protect his little sister until the time came for her to leave. He knew both Katara and Aang could handle Azula.

Zuko got up early the day of Azula's departure. He was sure she would try and escape. He carefully crept to her room and opened the door. She lay in her bed, sleeping peacefully. He breathed a sigh of relief and closed the door. He went to his mother's room. She was already awake, and waiting, talking with Iroh over a cup of tea. Ursa smiled at her eldest as he sunk into a chair.

"Azula leaves today." Zuko declared. It felt good to say it out loud, even though they all knew it.

"I know she can be a burden, but I think this will be good for her." Ursa agreed. Zuko stood up and handed the cup back to his uncle. He had chugged the entire thing. He swept out of the room with the air that comes from a natural born ruler.

He carried his sister onto the small fire nation patrol boat. It was sturdy enough to provide protection to the south pole, and small enough to contain the royal mess that is Azula. He carefully placed her in the bed, without strapping her down. He left her a letter, marked with his royal seal. He hoped she wouldn't be a burden to anyone, and maybe she could heal.

Azula's POV

I opened my eyes. I knew instantly we were on a boat. A smaller one, probably a patrol boat. I glanced to my left. A rolled up scroll, marked by the royal seal, lay on the nightstand. I reached for it and lifted it gently, as though it might bite me. I gingerly broke the seal and read the letter. It read,

"Dear Azula, you are going to the Southern Water Tribe. There, Aang and Katara will take care of you, and hopefully you can heal. I'm doing this for you and for your safety. Please understand that I love you, and I hope you can heal. ~Your loving brother, Zuko"

How dare he! Cast me off as some foreign object. I wanted to make him regret it. Beads of sweat broke out on my forehead and the scroll slipped out of my grasp. I groaned as once again pain went through my body. There would be no redemption for me.

I let my thoughts glide to more peaceful things and I began to feel better. I had to be more composed, hide my hatred. I exhaled, letting go, and letting myself slip into sleep.

We had arrived. I felt the ship lurch. The door creaked open and Sokka appeared. Oh man. I still couldn't move my legs. Two guards entered behind him and they carefully picked me up and carried me into the bright sunlight. We stepped off the boat and headed towards a cluster of huts. Katara stepped out. She had grown since I last saw her and looked even more mature. She ushered us inside and gestured to a bed. The guards set me down and walked out. Katara stayed behind. Her eyes studied me carefully, weighing how dangerous I was. Good. I like people being afraid of me. She stepped out of the hut, and I was alone once more.