Katara gasped excited as she read over the scroll in her hands while Sokka was sitting right in front of her with a lifted eyebrow.

"Soo…." Sokka said. "What does it say then?"

"Pakku made it to the South pole!" Katara cheered happily lifting the scroll. "And he made up with Gran Gran! And asked her to marry him and this time she said yes!"

"What?" Sokka asked. "Really?"

Zuko though frowned. "He would use his secret network to send you a scroll just for that?"

Katara pouted. "It's a big deal! A new family member. But no that's not all he says." she stated. "Him and the northern water tribe fleet has headed back out into the ocean and are standing ready to help us with what-ever we need. But he doesn't know how to contact us."

"Oh… OH that's great!" Sokka gasped. "We could totally need their help." he said. "How… Do we contact them though?"

"Well. I guess since he managed to contact us through Piandao that's how we contact them back. Right?" Zuko asked.

"Piandao of course!" Sokka grinned. Then his eyes widened. "You think he'll also be willing to help out?"

"I mean… He also seems to be working actively against Ozai. And he has been protecting us." Zuko said. "So well. I don't think it would hurt asking."

"The more people the better. We will after all be splitting up when targeting prisons." Sokka said. "Even then we wont be enough to target every single prison so we have to decide which prisons to prioritize."

"I guess it's a good thing we wont even have to worry about the capital…." Zuko hesitated. "Not spending our best guys on getting uncle out. I really hope he really does have things under control." he swallowed nervously.

"If Iroh says he can handle it. We should believe him." Katara smiled kindly. "He has really proven he knows how to look after himself."

"Well. Iroh always was the one teaching me I shouldn't solely rely on my fire bending." Zuko sighed deeply. "And he never really relied on his own fire bending either now that I think about it. When in combat fire bending was always his last resort never the first one."

"Heh. He should have given Azula some lessons." Mai commented. "Her first answer to everything is fire bending."

Zuko quieted.

"Zuko?" Mai asked.

"It's… Nothing." Zuko turned his head away.

There was an awkward quiet as Zuko averted his eyes and finally Sokka cleared his throat.

"So we're going to go visit Piandao then?" Sokka asked getting the conversation back on track. "Or well at least one of us are. I volunteer!" he grinned. "Seeing Piandao would be awesome!"

"Well Sokka. You are not someone whom needs to stay behind to give Aang lessons." Zuko commented. "Me how-ever. He's behind in his fire bending." he sighed. "How's it going with the earth bending? He's training with Toph right now isn't he?"

"Pretty good I think." Katara said. "Though yesterday I was kind of afraid he had gotten a concussion after getting a boulder right to the head." she admitted.

Zuko winched.

"He's fine." Katara assured. "Just a blue eye I couldn't really heal."

"No offence. But I am pretty glad that I am not Toph's living target practise." Sokka commented dryly,

"Yeah. Me too." Zuko sighed deeply. Secretly being really happy that Toph hadn't been on the team back when he had been chasing the Avatar. Honestly Zuko was shivering by the mere thought.

It was easily decided that Sokka should go meet with Piandao to see if they could contact Pakku and others through him. Sokka would leave after sunset and take Ty Lee with him just to be on the safe side.

Zuko stayed behind to catch Aang up on some lessons and Mai proclaimed that when there was no need for her to come. She rather stay behind and train!

Though anyone with half a brain cell could figure out the real reason why she rather wanted to stay at the air temple.

As proven after Sokka had taken off and Zuko had gone off to sit by the edge of one of the empty plazas and Mai had to go through a lot of bother to even find him.

"I see things haven't changed that much." Mai commented. "Hiding away when you are upset."

Zuko glanced over his shoulder up at Mai.

"So I upset you when I brought up Azula." Mai commented. "Want to tell me why?"

Zuko groaned. "What is there to tell?" he asked. "She's my sister."

"And?" Mai asked.

"She's my sister." Zuko empathized.

"So?" Mai asked. Then finally moved over and sat down beside Zuko.

Zuko groaned as he rubbed his face. "Look. You don't understand." he said. "You didn't see me the last three years. You say Azula uses fire bending as her first solution all the time? Well I did too. For a long time. Like Ozai had taught me. I was… I wasn't like I am now. I was…" he swallowed. "You wouldn't have liked me at all the way I was."

Mai frowned slightly.

"I could have been just as bad as her." Zuko said.

"Zuko to be honest with you. I don't really believe that." Mai commented.

Zuko sighed deeply. "You ought to. I had a bad temper. I shouted at everyone all the time… hurt people. The only reason I turned out so well." he swallowed. "My uncle… he." Suddenly the lump in Zukos throat seemed even larger and he had to swallow a second time just to keep going. "He was there for me. He loved me, unconditionally. I did so many bad things. But he never raised his voice at me, or lifted a single hand against me. Not one single time! Even when I was the worlds biggest ass! He was patient beyond all belief… Every single day. He was there. He was calm. Even as I screamed at him, into his face… He refused to use aggression back… Unlike Ozai." he swallowed. "Azula never had that. I can't help but wonder that if… Maybe…. It could have been different. I don't know."

Mai chewed her lip. "That's a big maybe." she commented.

"I know I just…" Zuko swallowed.

Mai sighed. "Zuko. You said it yourself. You don't know." she said. "Maybe if things had been different Azula would have been different. Or maybe it wouldn't have made any difference at all. You don't know. Either way it's not your fault." she said lifting a hand and then flicked Zuko on the forehead. "You didn't do anything to Azula."

"Didn't I?" Zuko asked. "I'm her big brother. Maybe if I had been there for her. And not shouted at her so much."

"She burned your pants and you think you shouldn't have been shouting?" Mai asked.

Zuko chewed his lip as he turned his head away.

"You're such a softie." Mai sighed deeply.

Zuko lowered his head.

"Hey." Mai whispered. "Listen. Azula is not your responsibility. She chose her own path and you had your own shit to deal with. Which was more than enough shit for one person."

Slowly Zuko turned his head back to face Mai.

"You're so sweet. Always wanting to save everyone." Mai smiled sadly. "I'm sorry Zuko. Not everyone can be saved."

"I know." Zuko lowered his gaze. "But what if she can be saved. And I was the one not willing to take the chance?"

"It's not your responsibility Zuko." Mai repeated. "You got enough to deal with. Fighting in the front lines of a war. Against your own father no less."

"He's not my father." Zuko said. "He's just the guy who happened to make my mom pregnant with me."

"I see." Mai nodded. "That's why you're only calling him Ozai now." she remarked. "That's a good call."

Zuko smirked grimly.

Mai sighed deeply, then leaned her head against Zukos shoulders. "I get you're worried about Azula. Even if you shouldn't be." she finally said. "I'm just worried about you."

Zuko lowered his head. "Thank you…" he whispered.

"Just promise me you wont do something stupid okay?" Mai asked. "I know you don't want to hurt her…" she hesitated. "Even when we were kids. And she hurt you… You would never hurt her back. I know. I saw it." she whispered. "But Zuko… You might have to. You know that right? You can't keep hesitating with her. One day it might cost you your life."

"Yeah." Zuko said. "I know…."

"I'm… Sorry Zuko." Mai whispered. "I just… Really don't want you to be hurt again like that."

"It's okay." Zuko whispered as he wrapped an arm around Mais shoulder and pulled her in. "And… Thank you. I.." he swallowed.

Mai sighed deeply. "Next time you fight Azula… Don't hesitate. She's gone over the edge now. You cannot afford to hesitate again. I know that's what you do. But you can't… Not now."

Zuko closed his eyes then nodded. "Okay. I got it." he said.

"Good." Mai said. "Stay safe you idiot."

Zuko smirked amused. "I'll do my best." he said.

"Well." Mai sighed. "I guess that's the best I'm gonna get." she rolled her eyes. "Idiot."

A pair of burning eyes stood over a sick bed. The sheets were spotted in the red blood coming from the young girl laying on the bed. Only fourteen years old, bandaged up. Eye swollen. Lip bloodied.

"You disappoint me Azula." Ozai commented. There had been no worry or softness in his eyes as he had entered the sick room. Only anger and disappointment.

"Give me another chance." Azula asked, only to almost gargle. "I… I know what the Avatars plan is. I can do it father." she said. "Zuzu and the Avatar. Both will be dead. I swear upon the flame of Agni."

Ozais eyes narrowed. "I have little reason to believe you will be any better than Zuko." he commented dryly. "I should have known! You are both Ursas blood. She was weak. She made you weak."

"I am not weak." Azula hissed. "Let me show you! I'll kill him. I'll kill them both! For you! Father!"

Ozai stood still. "One chance." he said. "It will be the last one." he said. "If you fail me again. I will know… Ursa was a mistake! And so was all of her off springs!"

"I am not like Ursa and I am not like Zuko." Azula hissed. "I'll show you! I swear! Father!"

"You better." Ozai said as he turned around and left. "You know what happens if you don't." he said as he finally vanished through the door.

Azula hissed and then slowly she sat up.

"PRINCESS!" The healer screamed as she came running. "Princess don't! Your legs are still broken!"

"I don't have time for a stupid broken leg!" Azula drawled. "Get out of my way!" she proclaimed as she stood up and plainly ignored the pain and the screams of all the maids and healers as she left a trail of blood after her.

Azula didn't have time for any of this bullshit. She had a job to do… She would show them. She would show everyone. And her father would known! Her father would see! That Azula was indeed a worthy daughter.