To Anonimosx: Thanks for your review. I am sticking with a Total Lunar Eclipse as a power up rather than a weakness because of the science behind it. Total Lunar Eclipses occur when the Moon completely enters Earth's shadow.

Solar Eclipses are technically where the Sun is "Blocked" and isn't shining directly on the Earth. That's not the case for the Moon with a Lunar eclipse as it's more like "directly behind the Earth" and not "blocked" by anything.

Also, for Book 1's ending, loss of waterbending was the result of Zhao murdering Tui, not a lunar eclipse, which it was never confirmed to be a lunar eclipse. I'm sorry if you think this was a writing mistake on my part, but its quite intentional and plays a major part later.

"Sir, a ship's just arrived."

Bato looked up from the parchment he'd been reviewing. The messenger had arrived to the tent, out of breath and looking obviously rattled.

"Okay," Bato answered, somewhat confused at the urgency in the young man's voice. "Have the customs officers do a cursory check like the rest." He turned his attention back to his parchments. He had many supply requests coming in due to the increase in skirmishes with some scattered Earth Kingdom insurgents. Now that he thought about it, a lot of them had been occurring in the general direction Sokka and his men were headed toward... They weren't causing unnecessary trouble, were they?

The messenger was still present and he got his breathing under control before he spoke again. This time, his voice was a lot lower as he spoke. "Sir, the vessel has Chief Hakoda's seal on the hull."

The parchment fell from Bato's loose grip. It was fortunate that they simply fell onto the desk and not into the inkwell.

"He's here?" he demanded. "Now?" He stood up quickly, nearly knocking over the stool he'd been sitting on. Without waiting for an answer, he'd circled around the table and was quickly out of the tent, the nervous young soldier following close behind.

Bato arrived at the dock to see several other men at the wooden pier, varying expressions ranging from awe to unease gracing their features. In the water was a massive silver ship, not unlike Sokka's, with the main difference being the size difference.

If Sokka's ship had a passing resemblance to a giant dagger, this one looked more like a sword. It was much larger in length, and looked to be capable of easily holding hundreds of soldiers comfortably.

Bato called out to his men, ordering them into formation to welcome the High Chief.

Bato himself, he stood at the edge of the pier, near where the ramp would descend. His throat felt dry, not quite out of fear, but nervousness. He and Hakoda had grew up together after all. It was just that he'd not seen him in almost two years, ever since he'd holed himself up in his home at the Southern Water Tribe Palace. After that, it was the Council and the Military commanders that were the driving force behind the war effort, and the difference could be felt like night and day.

Did his old friend recover after all?

There was deafening silence as steam hissed from the ramp as it slowly descended. Severe expressions were on the soldiers faces as the ship's entrance seemed to open agonizingly slow. With a metallic thunk, the ramp was lowered, revealing a diamond formation of elite soldiers. While their uniforms were identifiable by the black arm and leg guards they wore, their attire was shockingly light. Rather than heavy furs, they wore dark tinted tunics and pants, known for granting ease of mobility.

These weren't Hakoda's royal guard. They were waterbenders.

It also didn't escape Bato that all of tgose guards were women.

Wordlessly, they stepped down the ramp, and the two lead waterbenders in the formation, stepped to the side, revealing two more individuals inside of the formation.

Bato felt he should be surprised, but he guessed he should have expected this. He bowed slightly at the waist.

"Princess Yue, Princess Katara. It is an honor," he addressed evenly. The two returned his bow with mild nods of their own.

"I apologize for not having accommodations set up," the man said sincerely. If you follow me, I can guide you to the command tent for the time being.

The two girls smiled gratefully. "Thank you very much," Yue replied.

Bato nodded. The female guards again surrounded Katara and Yue, but instead of a diamond shape, they now formed a V-shape, allowing Bato to still take the lead towards their destination.

Once they arrived at the tent, Katara ordered the guards to wait outside the tent.

"Yes, princess," one of the guards, a woman with a single hair loop that resembled Katara's two, answered with a nod.

"I must admit, I wasn't expecting a visit from the capital," Bato ventured, unsure how to begin a conversation. He hadn't spoken to either Katara or Yue since the incident two years ago...

Without preamble, Katara pulled Bato into a hug, surprising the man. Hesitantly, he patted her on the back. He looked questioningly to Yue, but she only smiled knowingly.

"Are you...okay?" Bato decided to ask.

Katara finally pulled back, wiping her eyes. "I just wanted to say I was sorry," she said. "I was...in a bad place and I blamed you all for it. Especially Sokka," she confided.

"Oh," Bato mumbled, at a loss for words. This must have been about when her and Sokka's mother had...departed. Hakoda shut himself away from his people and Katara went on a warpath against the Fire Nation forces that had raided the Capital. Even now, he occasionally dreamt of that battle. Those soldiers seemed to be controlled by some invisible puppet and began to attack each other. So much screaming..

At the time, Katara's arms were outstretched and the Fire Nation's soldiers seemed to dance to her invisible tune...

Bato blinked hard to banish the thoughts and the voices before the silence dragged on too much.

"You were grieving," Bato answered, understanding. Even now, Bato silently added.

Yue placed a comforting hand on Katara's shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.

"We left the capital because we're trying to rendezvous with Sokka," she announced.

"Oh? You just missed him," Bato said, tapping his chin in thought. "He told me he was heading towards the Earth Kingdom."

"Did he mention anything while he was here?" Katara asked.

Bato remembered Sokka's request, and he shook his head apologetically. "No, he only told me where he was headed."

"We have reason to believe that the Avatar has returned," Yue said, an unidentifiable tone in her voice.

Bato kept his face carefully blank. "But he's been gone for at least a hundred years," he answered quietly, his worry mistaken for surprise by the two girls.

How did they find out? Since they were already aware of the Avatar being alive, that meant that he'd just told them which way Sokka headed.

"What do you plan to do?" Bato queried.

"We're going to help Sokka find the Avatar," Yue answered.

"And if the he won't join us, the Avatar's destiny will end right then and there," Katara added darkly. Bato noticed how Yue didn't look quite as enthusiastic about the latter declaration. Katara then smiled as if a flip was switched. "Thank you for accommodating us," she said with a polite nod. "We'll be departing today, so we'll be out of your hair soon."

Bato saw the two off as they departed, the massive ship trailing away from the pier.

Bato thought about what Katara said as he made his way back to the tent. She wasn't always like that, he mused. Kill the Avatar? And she said it so casually...

Bato sighed, pushing away the tent flap as he stepped inside. He needed to send a message to Sokka. If they intercept him unannounced, it would be more difficult for the young prince to enact his plan. especially if Katara was serious.

Before he could so much as sit down, a messenger rushed inside, out of breath. He looked to be a different person than the previous messenger.

"I apologize for barging in, sir, it's an important scroll, signed by Princess Katara," he explained, untying the scroll from his sash.

From the princess? Why hadn't she just told him what she needed instead of through a courier? She had been in the tent less than an hour ago.

Bato nodded and the messenger approached, handing him the parchment.

He skimmed through it, and his eyes widened in shock.

So that's why.

There was only one explanation for this, he surmised. She knew.

He sighed heavily.

"Tell our platoon to gather their supplies, and load the ships. It seems I've been promoted to Tertiary War Chief and tasked to capture the Avatar."

To the messenger's credit, he didn't express surprise past wide eyes, and nodded respectfully, rushing out of the tent as quickly as he entered.

Bato sighed again, plopping down onto the seat. He steepled his fingers in front of his chin.

Now that he'd been promoted along with orders to capture the Avatar and hand him over to the Princess, he'd be expected to follow through. If he captured the Avatar, it was the same as handing him over to Katara. She was never this underhanded before, and it took him by surprise. The written order was given after she'd already left, refusing him the opportunity to refuse. And now he was stuck with a hard decision to make. And the wording was in such a way that if he failed to hand the Avatar over to Katara, he failed the order.

He would have to cross that bridge when he came to it.

Looks like he'd be running into Sokka sooner than expected.

Zuko rolled to his left, avoiding the large swath of flame.

"I don't want to fight you!" Zuko yelled, raising his guard.

The man that loomed like his father continued to slowly advance toward him.

"You will fight for you honor!" his father ordered, stalking towards Zuko. His shoulders were squared and he was breathing deeply. His shoulders rose with each breath and he seemed barely able to contain his rage.

Zuko stood up straight, preparing for the next attack.

Ozai stepped forward, thrusting a hand out, launching a short lived column of flame that threatened to roast him alive. Zuko kept his own balance in mind, taking purposeful steps to evade the strike. The fire billowed past him to collide with the arena floor.

Trying to reason with this phantom of his father was obviously not working. He glanced over to where the facsimiles of his Uncle and sister were. Azula looked upset that he was still standing, while his uncle still looked worried as before.

"I think I get it now," Zuko said evenly. "I'm always afraid you would see me as a failure."

It wasn't lost on Zuko that Ozai hadn't advanced to attack him again. "It isn't about being perfect," Zuko continued. "Maybe my sister is when it comes to firebending," he said, glancing at the illusion of his sister. "But I've tried and still try my best, even when I stumble."

A spark of inspiration hit Zuko, and he made to attack again.

Ozai responded, launching more fireballs. But this time, Zuko wouldn't use anger yo fuel his attacks. He breathed in through his nose, and out through his mouth. Perhaps it needed to be fueled by something else. Something with more substance. He didn't have a name for it, but he knew the feeling. With a shout, he raised one arm above his head as if guarding and punched out with the other arm, launching a much larger blast than he'd been able to manage before. It easily overtook the incoming fire missile, slamming into Ozai.

As the phantom fell backwards, he looked over to Uncle and Azula again.

They and his surroundings seemed as if they were fading from existence. He said nothing and looked down at his hands.

"Ah, you're finally awake."

Zuko blinked, realizing he was back in reality. He sat up, noticing Aang, the Chief, some Sun Warriors, and even the Dragons watching him closely.

"Welcome back!" Aang said with a relieved smile. Zuko returned the gesture before his face fell.

"Whatever that was, it felt so real," Zuko said as a greeting. "It was like I was really experiencing everything."

"When dealing with your innermost recesses of the mind, it is as real as it needs to be," the chief replied mysteriously. "You can tell us what you've learned once your sister awakens."

Zuko started at the mention of Azula, and looked to his right. There was Azula, the real one, still unconscious. She looked to be in discomfort, and even now sweat seemed to accumulate on her forehead. He frowned in thought.

Move! Azula shouted to herself. She forced herself to her feet and immediately dived forward deeper into the hallway. She flinched at the discharge of the lightning as it collided with the smoothed stone wall. A deafening CRACK resounded as a crater was punched into where she had been lying prone only seconds before.

"What's wrong, princess?!" her doppelganger cried. "Don't tell me your afraid of a little lightning!" She dragged her fingers through the air again, creating thin, jagged trails of electrical discharge, and thrust her fingers forward, launching the cold blooded fire. Azula was forced to sprint and then dive again, just to avoid being fried by the lightning. With her latest evasive maneuver, she managed to make it around the corner, losing line of sight with her attacker.

She forced her breathing to steady, and she felt her chest steadily begin to slow down in its rise and fall.

Maybe that twisted reflection of hers was right. Maybe she was pathetic. She still hadn't completed her training, and she was bested by that water peasant not once, but two times.

Almost isn't good enough.

Azula clenched her eyes shut and felt the odd sensation of tears threatening to escape.

She was about to cry now? How weak could she possibly get. The feeling of helplessness was irritating and made her want to hit something.

Her brother wasn't here to bail her out.

But she didn't need him to. She was a prodigy; she'd find a solution. She thought about what the other Azula said, about her thoughts being all over the place.

Maybe she was right. So she breathed in and out once, and focused only on one thought.

Destroying that imposter.

"You can't hide forever," her doppelganger said, as if right on cue. Her slow footsteps were accompanied by the crackle of lightning. She rounded the corner, launching another lance of lightning.

It missed, however, as Azula had already anticipated the offensive. She had already been crouching and the lightning sailed harmlessly overhead.

Azula thrust her palm forward, with only one thought in mind. Nothing else mattered.

It didn't matter that she was in some illusory mindscape. It didn't matter that her opponent was herself. It didn't matter even what her father may think of her. It was just her and the target she must destroy.

With that in mind, blue fire burst from her palm towards her opponent. The other Azula gasped, wide eyed, as she was forced to backpedal to dissipate the flame.

Azula looked down at her hand momentarily before clenching it. A dark smile graced her features, and she went on the offensive as if she was possessed.

She threw countless punches and kicks, launching azure flames at her now bewildered opponent. With a final jumping spin kick, a large blast of blue fire knocked the other Azula clean off her feet to land roughly on her back.

Azula approached her downed doppelganger, who was groaning in pain.

As Azula beared down on her, her doppelganger locked eyes with her.

"Well, you finally did it. Don't be a coward, finish it."

Azula's eyes narrowed. "Gladly," she retorted without hesitation. She punched forward, releasing a swath of blue fire, enveloping the doppelganger completely.

Azula gasped, sitting up quickly. Suddenly, she found herself surrounded by Zuko, Aang, the Sun Warriors and those two dragons.

"You're awake!" Aang greeted with an infectious cheer, pulling her into a hug. Caught of guard, she hesitated before returning the gesture, albeit a bit awkwardly. Aang was the first to break the hug, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry," he said, avoiding eye contact. "We were worried about you."

Azula smiled, appreciating the gesture though she wouldn't say it aloud. Zuko simply squeezed her shoulder, smiling.

"So, how'd it go?" the Chief asked, unexpectedly casually. "We'll talk about it over dinner."

Azula glanced over to the dragons. Shaw, the red one which had sent her to that trial, seemed to be staring at her. She suddenly felt uncomfortable, and wondered if she actually failed whatever test that was. Not able to hold the dragon's fierce gaze, she broke eye contact.