Curiously did Zuko approach the little village right in front of him, as promised it was right next to a huge valley filled with fog as Zuko and Ty Lee had been able to see from above on the balloon they had arrived with.

The small village itself though seemed really nice. Not big but comfortable, well kept, homely.

So this was where Zukos mother had been born and grown up? Zuko honestly felt a little ashamed that he had never even thought about it. Where his mother came from, who her parents had been. Any of that stuff.

Ty Lee was all smiles as she walked next to Zuko. And next to her was Pongi the lion seal she had been traveling with. Ty Lee was grinning. "This place looks nice! I like it!"

Zuko smirked. "It does seem a lot more peaceful than the big city." he agreed as they moved towards the first cluster of houses in front of them.

Zuko just hoped he had gotten it right and the house they were looking for was somewhere around here…

They kept walking a bit before finally a delighted shout came from a little girl running across the grass.

"BROTHEEEEER!"

Zuko was one big grin as he squatted down to get ready for the girl. "Kiyi!" he grinned and then the moment Kiyi ran into him Zuko just picked her up and Kiyi screamed in delight.

"HAHAHAHA!" Kiyi laughed as Zuko managed to place the girl on his shoulders and she grinned. "You really came!"

"Of course I did." Zuko smirked. "Mom and I agreed."

Kiyi beamed. "Mom says we are going to visit a real palace!" she gasped.

"Yeah. That's the plan." Zuko smirked. "For the anniversary of the ending of the war. There's going to be this huge festival! With food and fire works. I think you'll like it."

"That sounds great!" Kiyi beamed.

"And… I can introduce you, Mom and Noren to the palace. Then if anything happens. You can come at any time and they will take you to me." Zuko said as he started to walk with Kiyi.

"Like what?" Kiyi asked.

"I don't know." Zuko sighed. "Just you know… In case." and Ty Lee chuckled.

"Brother." Kiyi said.

"Yeah?" Zuko asked.

"You're going to wrong way. Our house is that way!" Kiyi pointed the opposite direction of where Zuko was going and Ty Lee laughed out loud while Zuko blushed deeply.

Finally Zuko, Kiyi and Ty Lee reached the correct house and immediately Ursa was there to embrace Zuko in a hug making Zuko smile lightly.

"Please come in." Ursa asked kindly. "This is my home." she stepped aside showing what was a small, but very comfortable looking little house. Noren was right there at the entrance too.

"Hello Zuko. Ty Lee." Noren greeted then kindly. "Oh and erhm." he looked at the lion seal.

"This is Pongi!" Ty Lee grinned happily.

"Well. Hello Pongi." Ursa smiled amused.

Ty Lee beamed happily. "Is Azula here?" she asked. "We were supposed to talk about her next play! It sounded like fun!"

"Oh I'm sorry dear." Ursa spoke a little sadly. "She's sleeping with a friend. Until. Ahem." she coughed into her hand.

"She doesn't want to see me. Right." Zuko nodded in a slight sigh.

"I'm sorry." Ursa said again.

"It's okay." Zuko said. "I can see how seeing me could… You know. Bring back a lot of baggage for her."

Ty Lee lowered her head too.

"But we're pretty good now!" Zuko smiled kindly. "I…. I think." he blinked.

Ursa smiled. "Ty Lee. When Noren, Kiyi and I go with Zuko for Caldera. We'll be there for a week or two. You'll be welcome to stay in our house for that time…. After that it might be a little cramped though."

"That's so nice of you!" Ty Lee beamed. "And don't worry about it. I'm used to being on the road, sleeping out in the open. What are hammocks for?!" she asked in a very sincere wide grin.

"Oh dear." Ursa looked clearly a little startled with how okay Ty Lee seemed with the prospect of having no roof over her head. "Maybe we can think of something." she chewed her lip. "It'll… Also be a bit cramped tonight." she admitted. "We considered that you could use Azulas room but… I'm afraid that might upset Azula so… You'll have to sleep in the living room. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay." Zuko assured. "I tried way worse believe me!"

Aaand… That was obviously the wrong thing to say as Ursas eyes widened and her face grew a few shades paler.

"Sometimes sleeping outside is really nice!" Zuko exclaimed. "You get to see the stars! And feel the fresh air!" he blabbered. "And ones I had a sleeping bag too I wasn't even freezing!"

Ursa grew even paler.

Zuko quieted.

"Why don't you come inside?" Noren then cut in kindly. "You can rest until dinner is served!"

"We're having squid." Kiyi laughed from Zukos shoulders.

"Really? I love squid." Zuko beamed.

"Yeah that's what mom said." Kiyi chuckled and Zuko blushed as he finally picked up Kiyi from his shoulders and placed her on the ground in front of him. Then grabbed his bag and pulled out a brown paper bag.

"This is from uncle." Zuko said offering the bag to Ursa. "It's his newest tea blend. He's really looking forward to see you again!" he said. "And he wanted to congratulate you on your happy marriage and new child! He's honestly happy for you."

Ursa smiled warmly as she accepted the bag with tea. "I must thank him when I see him." she said in a warm smile. "Let's try it after dinner."

Zuko smiled lightly. "Sure."

In the small living room true to Ursas words two madrass's had been put out for Zuko and Ty Lee to sleep on.

Zuko who never wasted any chance of a nap these days, pretty much laid down at ones while Ty Lee ran outside to see if she could perhaps find Azula outside in the village.

Zukos eyes grew heavy as he turned to the side… All though suddenly he halted as he saw a scroll that had fallen down on the floor from the table.

Frowning Zuko reached forward and picked up the scroll then opened it up to have a peak and blinked as a title was presented to him.

"Shadow Play."

Zuko blinked. It was a theater scroll! And this hand writing was… Zuko sat up. Azulas original play.

Curiously Zuko looked at the scroll… It was true. Never in his life could he have imagined Azula writing a play or even make any kind of art.

Yes as royals there were a few art things they were supposed to learn like… Learning how to play an instrument for some reason… And Zuko had been saddled with the Sungi horn as apparently was tradition for royal males while the girls had to learn how to play the Koto, a string instrument placed on the floor played like a harp.

But those music lessons had quickly been set aside in favour of combat! Zuko and Azulas greatest obligation had been to become strong warriors and any such thing as music or theater had to take a backseat to that.

Which had suited both Zuko and Azula fine as they both just wanted to dedicate themselves to the fighting anyway… To hopefully please Ozai.

So it seemed so different that Azula would lay aside all the fighting for a year to make theater… And write. She would never have done that in the past.

And slowly Zuko opened the scroll to read… Not really having any idea what so ever what kind of play Azula would write!

Slowly… Slowly Zuko rolled up the scroll he had just read. Trying to sort through the words in his head.

Oh… Wow… This was. Zuko looked down at the scroll in his hands… He didn't even know what to feel anymore.

These words… Were Azulas. They came from Azula. It was like Zuko had been allowed a look into her mind. And see the world through her eyes for just a little bit… and it made Zukos heart sink.

So this is what she had felt… The shadow of Ozai hiding in every corner. No escape from his wrath and no room to be less than perfect.

The feeling of being trapped… The fear. The knowledge that there was nowhere to run… It was all shown in the play and Zuko looked down as he realized… He shouldn't have read this. He didn't have a right. Then slowly he put the scroll back on the table and just sort of hoped that Azula wouldn't realize it had been read.

After dinner Zuko took a walk in the village to stretch his legs, just casually walking around… How-ever that's when he noticed a shadow. Someone looking at him from the corner and Zuko stepped back as he turned his head. "Azula?" he asked.

There was no reply, but the person retrieved slightly.

Zuko smirked lightly. "Ty Lee has been looking for you." he informed. "Don't worry about me. I'll be out of your hair tomorrow." he said. "Good night Azula." he finally bowed his head and then walked on.

"Wait!"

Zuko halted, then turned around again blinking at the shadow.

There was silence… Then slowly a figure emerged and it proved Zuko right. It was Azula. Wearing comfortable looking clothes in red soft looking cloth, her hair was loose falling gently down her shoulders and Azula frowned as her eyes averted Zuko looking at the ground.

Zuko blinked…. And then there was silence.

"Erh." Zuko hesitated. "Do you… Need anything?" he asked. "Can I help you with something?"

Azula chewed her lip.

Zuko swallowed… Was this about the play? Did Azula know he had read it somehow? Should he apologize.

Then Azula glanced up finally meeting his eyes and she hissed. Then closed her eyes again, inhaled a deep breath clearly trying to calm herself and then looked up again. "In all of those newspapers." she started. "It says you found a different way to fire bend! Different from what the academy taught us!"

"Oh." Zuko blinked surprised. "Well yes." he said. "The way we were taught in the palace it erhm… It's not a very good way to fire bend. I mean yeah it's powerful but… It burns away at you from the inside and will eventually destroy the wielder. It's not good."

Azula looked to her side.

"Do you… Want to hear about the other way?" Zuko asked then smiled. "I would love to teach you!"

"Don't patronize me!" Azula hissed.

Zuko blinked and Azula looked down, then she hissed.

"Ever since… That day." Azula tried. "When… Ozai almost burned me and you saved me." she hissed. "I… I think you broke something." she admitted. "I…" and she looked up. "I haven't been able to fire bend since that day! And it has almost been a year! In a week it will have been a year since I was last able to fire bend!"

"Oh." Zuko realized.

"What did you do?" Azula asked. "Did you ask your friend the Avatar to take away my bending too? Why can't I fire bend?"

"Azula… If Aang had taken your fire bending you would have known. There's a lot of glowing involved." Zuko informed.

"Then why?" Azula asked.

Zuko smirked lightly. "It's not as bad as you think. Come on." he turned around as he waved his hand.

"Where… Where are we going?" Azula asked.

"To a place where we can sit down." Zuko informed. "You want to know how to fire bend again right?" he asked. "We should sit down."

Azula stood frozen to the ground as Zuko walked but then finally hissed as she followed him until they found a patch of grass and then sat down in front of each other with crossed legs.

"Okay." Zuko began. "To understand why you can't access your fire bending. You have to understand your own inner flame."

"What?" Azula asked. "Yes we have a flame inside of us which helps us fire bend! It hasn't given me any fire bending lately though. What of it!"

"Your inner flame is not just your fire bending though!" Zuko exclaimed. "Fire benders are not the only people who have inner flames! Everyone does. Our inner flame is our passion, our love, our hate, our sadness. All of our emotions. It's our state of being!" he stated. "Without an inner flame. You might as well be dead!"

At that Azula frowned, her eyebrows furrowing deeply. Clearly though she was listening.

"Azula…" Slowly Zuko reached forward and gently picked up Azulas hand. "When you would be fire bending in the past… Why were you doing it? What drove you to fire bend?"

"What do you mean what drove me?" Azula asked in a hiss. "I was a princess! I was supposed to fire bend!"

"The fire bending came from you. From inside of you." Zuko tried again. "What drove you to release it? To train it? To push yourself the way you did?"

Azula blinked as she looked up. Then looked down. "Father… I suppose."

"You wanted to please him." Zuko said. "I know… I was the same. That single goal, that thought of having his approval. It drove you… Gave you passion. But there was more to it… Wasn't there?" he asked. "The ambition of being a worthy Princess was only part of it. What else drew you."

"You really don't know?" Azula asked.

"I need you to say it." Zuko said.

Azula hissed. "You… Zuko." she stated. "I wanted you to fail. So the world could know I was the better child."

"You hated me." Zuko said. "You used that hate to fuel your ambition… Fuel your inner flame. It was your source. Right?"

Azulas eyes widened.

"But now you're sitting here and isn't trying to kill me." Zuko let go of Azulas hand and leaned back. "That's your problem. You used fear, anger and hate as your fuel source. But now you stopped relying on it to drive your forward so it can't fuel your fire bending either."

"Then what am I supposed to do?!" Azula asked frustrated.

"Find a new source." Zuko smirked. "Look.." he said. "Anger, hate… Jealousy. Yeah they are strong fuel sources. But they will also destroy you from inside. They will burn you up and make you miserable. It's not good."

"So what's your solution then?" Azula asked. "Love?"

Zuko smirked.

"You gotta be kidding me." Azula gaped.

"Love is strong. Love is passion." Zuko smirked. "You made a play! What did that make you feel like?"

Azula halted. "Well…" she tried. "Good." she admitted.

"And you wanted to make it a good play right?" Zuko asked. "You were ambitious when making the play! While creating something. And you felt the warmth in your chest… The passion. Your inner flame."

Azula blinked.

"Try to recall that feeling." Zuko instructed. "From when you stood on stage! And think about your next play. And your friends! You can think off them too! It's inside of you, it fuels your inner flame! You can use that as fuel source too! And it wont hurt the same way."

Azula hesitated as she looked at her hand, then frowned slightly.

"Take your time." Zuko said in a low voice. "It's okay if you don't get it at first."

"Shut up Zuzu! I'm trying to concentrate." Azula hissed and Zuko just smirked.

Azulas eyes narrowed as she looked at her hand, she tried to form her fingers and then suddenly.. A warm orange flame appeared and Azula silenced.

Zuko grinned. "See! You can do it!"

Azula frowned. "This is way weaker than what my fire used to be!" she exclaimed looking up. "What is this?"

"Well erhm…" Zuko halted. "You're using a new fuel source so… It'll probably take some time to grasp." he smiled awkwardly.

"This isn't good enough!" Azula exclaimed. "What else do I need to do?" she asked. "You suddenly became a fire bending master right? So what's the secret?"

"There is no secret Azula." Zuko said seriously. "When you fire bend… You draw on your inner flame. Your inner flame is your state of being… It's just you. That's all there is to it."

"So you're saying I'm weak." Azula hissed.

At that Zuko laughed. "You? Weak?" he asked. "Oh please. Even without fire bending you can take down half the royal guard by yourself."

That made Azula halt. Then she smirked as she glanced away.

"You managed fine without fire bending for an entire year too. You don't really need it." Zuko shrugged. "I mean I can understand why you want it!" he corrected himself just as Azula was about to open her mouth. "But listen… That you don't actually need it means you are strong! Fire bending isn't the end all to everything you know." he stated. "There are other things to be good at like…" he halted. "I read your play." he finally admitted and Azulas eyes widened. "It…. Erh."

Azulas lips thinned. "You read it?" she asked.

"It was really good." Zuko said. "And…. Sad. I'm not really sure what to say." he admitted as he scratched his neck.

Azula hissed as she crossed her arms and turned her head away.

"I'm sorry you had to go through all of that." Zuko said quietly.

Azula didn't even move. Just sat still.

"To think one man can have so much power over ones life huh?" Zuko asked. "Everything we did… Everything we fought for…. For so long. It was all about him."

Slowly Azulas head lowered.

"Uncle was gone… Mom was gone." Zuko said quietly. "So it was just him. We thought we needed to.." he halted.

"He really would have killed me… Wouldn't he?" Azula asked. "If you hadn't stopped him."

"He would have killed us both." Zuko replied somberly. "And start over… rising from the ashes. Phoenix king." he commented then glanced up.

Azula looked at Zuko. "Do you want to be fire Lord Zuko?" she asked.

"Not really." Zuko admitted. "It's honestly just a lifetime of having to deal with other peoples bullshit." he sighed deeply. "But…. I have friends to help me. And family too." he smiled lightly. "With those around it isn't so bad. It's actually kind of great."

"Friends huh." Azula commented. "You always just drew the attention and adoration of everyone around you."

Zuko blinked.

"You really didn't notice?" Azula asked. "Uncle adored you. The palace servants thought you were the cutest thing in the world. Mom would do anything to protect you. Cousin Lu Ten would always brighten up by the sight of you… Even the girls who were supposed to be my friends… They would rather be with you."

Zuko silenced. "Oh…" he said.

"Father though… Liked me better." Azula said. "Well… For a time."

"I… I'm sorry." Zuko swallowed. "Funny though huh?" he asked. "Here I spend my entire life being so jealous of you. Jealous that you got to be so perfect and everything seemed to come so easy to you… And then you were." he halted.

"Jealous?" Azula asked. Then sighed deeply. "I suppose there's no reason to deny it now."

The two siblings glanced down.

Then Azula hesitated. "Have you at all seen father since he was imprisoned?" she asked.

"Yeah." Zuko admitted. "Sometimes I have to ask him for information…. He never gives it though. He is being entirely uncooperative. Even when we offer him things in exchange for the information he still wont help."

Azulas lip thinned. "Has he…. Ever asked about me?"

Zuko was silent then looked down. "No… I'm sorry."

"He doesn't care. That's the truth isn't it?" Azula asked.

Zuko was quiet… And that was answer enough.

"He's probably hoping that both you and I gets struck by lightning so we die on the spot and he can take the throne back." Azula then commented as she leaned back.

Zuko couldn't help but smirk grimly.

"I see." Azula nodded.

"I'm sorry." Zuko said again.

Azula frowned. "It's strange. I'm not as upset as I thought I would be." she said. "Now I know… He doesn't care. He never cared." she said. "So I don't have to care about him. It's… Oddly freeing."

"Well… He doesn't control us anymore." Zuko attempted a light smirk. "We don't have to give a single crap about what he thinks."

Azula lifted an eyebrow. "And where did you learn language like that?"

"Erh Azula. Three years on a dingy boat!" Zuko said. "You pick up a thing or two."

"Mom wouldn't be pleased if she knew." Azula smirked.

Zuko pouted and Azulas smirk turned into a grin.

"Agni you're so easy to tease Zuko." She said.

Zuko smiled then quieted. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us to the capital for the festival?" he asked. "It can just be a short visit. You don't have to stay."

"I'm not ready for that yet." Azula stated.

"Oh… Of course… Sure." Zuko nodded.

Azula rolled her eyes then quieted. "But…. Maybe next year. I guess we'll see." she shrugged.

"Yeah. I guess we will." Zuko smiled and Azula smirked too.

They had both gotten far in just one year. So in another year. Who knew? Or maybe the year after that. There was plenty of time after all.