An: hey y'all I know the last chapter was kind of rly hard to follow but I swear that was purposeful. I want to fill in the blanks with back flashes because I kinda love doing them. Plus it adds more mystery like "what happened to Azula in the spirit world?" What happened to toph that she stayed. Where are Katara Mai and Ty Lee and are they with Azula. Yk.

Oooh also I have a writing TikTok now, Kathrine_the_snake

Go follow that for updates and previews for future chapters.

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BOOK THREE: EARTH

CHAPTER ONE: TO THE EARTH

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To the earth we will fall.

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He clenched his bison tightly around the reigns, his knuckles turning white as his fingers began to ache. But, he didn't care. Or perhaps, it was because it didn't notice. He was too immersed in the horrific scene unfolding on the ground beneath him.

At first glance, one would only see the fire. The raging fire that consumed houses, buildings, that ate away at everything in its path. However, if you looked closely you could see the armored clad soldiers stampeding through the city. Some were busy setting fire to houses while others retrieving valuable belongings, others taking the young women. Anyone who got in their way was killed on the spot. Even louder than the roar of fire you could hear screams. The screams of daughters as they watched their fathers and brothers slaughter. The screams of mothers as the watched their daughters taken from them. The screams of the dying as their bodies were engulfed in hot, unrelenting flames.

It made his blood boil. He had to push down the bile rising in his throat, had to fight the urge to go down there and fight back. Because, no matter what he tried he wouldn't be able to save them. There were too many soldiers, he would need to come back later. If he went down now they would all be slaughtered. But it still hurts. To think, this was his fault. He never should have listened to the avatars, this was clearly all Azula's manipulation. Tears blurred his vision, making it difficult for him to see the ground beneath him. However, a hand on his shoulder and a finger pointed by sokka told him where to look.

Focusing, he blinked the tears from his eyes and focused on the top on one of the great walls. Standing there, barely visible, was a small earth bender. She waved her arms, clearly trying to get his attention. Relieved that she was okay, Aang tilted the reins, steering the Bison down towards her.

"Took you long enough," the voice of the earth bender complained as Sokka helped her into the saddle. Aang looked around, noticing the lack of a certain water bender. Toph sighed, "she escaped and went after Azula," she said, sensingthe change of Aang's heart beat. Not in the earth, but in the air. The rise in tempo signifying is worth, along with his anger. Only, Toph couldn't feel who the anger was directed at, her or someone else. Appa gilded through the air, raising along to where the ships were meant to meet. "Well at least you got Appa back," she said, attempting to sound cheerful.

"Yah," Aang growled, "we lost a whole city but at least we got my flying bison back." Appa shook his body in response to the Avatar's attitude, making Aang lose his grips on the reins. "Fine, fine," Aang conceded, grabbing the reins and patting the animal on the head. "Yip Yip."

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Toph sat quietly, clinging to Sokka as they flew away from the city. She had no idea where they were, but she couldn't feel the flames that engulfed Ba Sing Se anymore. She felt sick with shame and guilt, and pure disgust.

After she learned what had happened to Azula, she helped free the girls. She was going to help them find Azula, but then the fire nation invaded the city. She was forced to stay to get the earth king, and his bear, out of the city. But, aside from that there wasn't much she could do.

The invasion was well coordinated, and it was a good one at that. While the bulk of the earth kingdom navy was sent to meet the fire nation to the west of Ba sing Se, by the serpent's pass, the fire navy came from the east. They invaded the shoreline and breached the wall within two days, but it was swift and decisive. Aang had been on the ship with Azula until he saw the smoke and came back, meaning he was far too late.

The blind earthbender, after helping the king escape, had evacuated the other military officials into the tunnels under Ba Sing Se. The people were caught off guard, many of them, including the king, not knowing of the war. But, toph didn't have time to further examine this theory because she knew she needed to find Aang.

Now, as the flew through the clouds, she found herself overwhelmed with guild. Guilt for thinking that Azula was crazy, guilt for betraying Katara, and guilt for not telling Aang exactly what happened.

"I was the one who let them go," Toph said, instantly feeling the shift in the air. She could sense Aang's anger, and felt Somka tightly grip her chin.

"Why in the name of Yue would you do that?" He barked angrily at her. "You put my little sister in trouble, sent her after the manipulative bitch who caused this in the first place." He spat. Literally, Toph had to lift her hand to wipe the moisture from her face.

"No you thick headed bastard," she spat back, anger, guilt and shame boiling to the top, "you put everyone in danger when you decided Azula wasn't trustworthy. After she saved you to. Now, after everything she's been through, you're sending her back into the demon's lair." She said, her words sending ripples into the cool night air.

"What do you mean, she's being shipped back to her daddy." Sokka said, not understanding the true venom hidden behind his last words.

"Don't say that!" Toph yelled, angered by the use of daddy. What was it Zuko had said that set Azula off, daddy's little princess or something like that. Either way, after hearing what her father did to her, the words made her blood boil.

"Don't me so immature," Sokka said, the eye roll evident in his voice. "But it doesn't matter because the point is she is fine, she's being sent back to her father."

"God how dumb are you?" The earthbender was thoroughly exasperated. "Where do you think she got her scars?"

A deafening silence followed, a silence so thick you could slice through it with a butter knife. It was suffocating, and though she had no eyes, the ear bender felt as if she could see it.

Sokka knew the implications of Toph's words, they seemed to imply that Azula was abused by her father. However, it made no sense to him. Everyone who ever saw the two interact had said that they had a perfect, albeit manipulative, relationship. Iroh had said that she was his favorite, his pride and joy, so why would Ozai do such a thing? How would no one know? He questioned. However, as soon as he thought about it he remembered the placement of her scars. They had dotted the flesh on her stomach where no one ever saw, her upper thighs, lower back, and her… he hadn't really looked, respecting the girl's privacy, but he remembered in the faint glimpse he got. She had harsh scars on her chest. Suddenly everything began to piece itself together in his mind, the anger she felt towards Iroh, the anger Azula had shown at certain phrases. He knew it was possible that in some cultures, especially the northern water tribe, such things happened. But Azula, the crown princess of the fire nation? And, by her father no less?

Sokka threw the upper half of his body over Appas saddle, releasing his previous meal into the clouds below. He stayed there for a minute, groaning, until he whipped around his lips and turned around "while then it's settled, we have to go back for her." Sokka knew what he was signing up for, he knew that this could mean losing more people, lbs and time to the firenation. But, he imagined what he would have done if it was his sister. And, he knew that his sister would be going back for her as well. So.. win win.

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When they reached where the ships were scheduled to be all they saw was wreckage. Wreckage of the entire earth kingdom fleet.

Tugging on Appas reins, Aang flew appa lower to get a better view. He saw something glinting in the sun, something covered in dots. As he drew closer, he realized what it was. It was a flat sheet of ice. Clearly bent by a master water bender. On the ice, hundredS of soldiers were movie, pointing at the bison as they saw the avatar come to their rescue. Katara, he thought as he jumped off Appa and down to the frozen floor.

However, it wasn't Katara that greeted him. Instead he came face to face with the Firelord's scared son.

"Zuko," Aang said, rushing over to the boy in anger, "where's Azula and Katara. What did you do to them?" He yelled.

Zuko looked at Aang, confused. He thought they were past this. I mean, he even worked with the banished prince and his uncle. So why the sudden change.

"My nephew knows as much as you do, one second we were handing her over to Ozia, and the next, there was an explosion as she took a lightning bolt and while that's all I remember before the three eyes titan blew us into the sea." Iroh said, walking up behind his nephew. He knew he had left out some important details, but to tell the boy Azula was truly, not good, but that she was on their side, that would mean admitting what he had done. That he had left an innocent child to suffer at the hands of his brother. That he had sacrificed the girl to save Zuko and that he had been wrong. That she had been redeemable. Only, perhaps now it was to late. Perhaps her time was up and perhaps she was floating lifeless in the endless ocean. Iroh shook his head. No, if she had survived Ozia she had sure as hell survived this.

"The waterbender returned shortly after and asked us what happened. She made us a raft and then simply left." Iroh finished as he stared down at his toes.

"So what did happen old man?" Toph asked as she slipped from the bisons saddle with the help of Sokka. Her arm was intertwined in his as she walked across the ice to face the old man. "What happened that Ozia shot his own daughter with lightning."

The question was like a bolt to the chest. Iroh swallowed, desperately wishing he could go back. To think he allowed his anger over Lu Tens passing to dictate his actions and feelings towards Azula. She was just a girl. A girl who didn't do anything wrong. She wasn't responsible.

"She took it for me," Zuko said as a single tear rolled down his cheek. "He was aiming for me and her. I don't know why she did it. We were handing her back over to him. Why would she—" he was cut off as sobs began to take over his body. A mixture of guilt and grief shook him to the core.

"Because she's a good person dumbass." Toph said, attempting the eye roll azula had taught her. "She was never a threat as she was always just trying to help Aang. Even the Avatars told you so and you listened to that no good old fat and the moody prince." She vented as she turned to face what she thought was Aangs direction. In reality she was facing Sokka who was too terrified to tell her anything different. "And now chances are she's probably going back to the palace with her no good father whose going to kill her or worse!" Toph turned back around to face the royal family.

Zuko looked into the eyes of the blind earth bender, and felt as if he was truly seeing for the first time. Everything made sense. Her anger towards him and Iroh. Her fear of their father. Somehow everyone had known. Everyone but him. He had been blind to the suffering of his own sister. "I…. I'm sorry." He said, falling to his knees. He had failed his sister. He had—

"Prince Zuko it's not you fa—" Iroh was cut off by Zuko, jumping to his feet and grabbing the old man by the collar.

"Your right, it's yours. You're the one who knew your brother better than anyone. I bet you knew what he was doing to her. I mean did you see what he did in front of us. Just imagine-" Zuko didn't want to imagine what exactly it was his father did to his sister. Whatever it was may not have left a mark, but he knew many techniques that didn't leave one scared. One of them being electricity. If applied just right it would leave no visible effect. Perhaps that's how he tortured her.

"My primary concern was with you. He burnt and banished you, whatever was happening to the princess wouldn't have been worse." Iroh began as he tried to defend himself.

"And who are you to decide which one of us deserves saving. She was a child. She was eleven. I was old enough to be able to take care of myself. If you knew what would happen why wouldn't you—"

"Because Ursa told me to protect you." Iroh snapped, upset far past his limits. The prince didn't understand. "He knew Azula would be fine because no matter how cruel a man Ozia was, he still loved his daughter. The same couldn't be said for his son."

"What do you mean she told you?" Zuko asked his uncle, his voice a calm that sent chills up the man's back. "My mother is dead."

"Zuko, the night of your banishment she came to me, begging me to go with you, to protect you." He said, remembering the night vividly.

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It was a cold night, or, cold by the fire nation's standards. In truth it was probably 80 degrees. Iroh sat quietly looking out the window of the infermy. Every so often his eyes would gaze back to Zuko, checking for any change at all. However, nothing bad changed.

It had been a week since the fateful Agni Kia and the prince still hadn't woken up. The doctors had given him a very strong sedative however, so they assured him there was nothing to worry about. Still, as Iroh stared out the window he couldn't help the out forming in his stomach.

As soon as the prince woke up his banishment was to start. He would be given a ship and a crew, however until he captured the avatar he would not be allowed to return to the firenation. The included the colonies and any water occupied by the fire navy. Iroh didn't know what would become of the poor child then. Knowing the prince, he would stop at nothing to capture the avatar and restore his honor. Only, that wasn't the life he wanted for the boy.

The door to the room creaked open and a nurse came into the room, carrying a plate with some food presumably for iroh. The man looked up to great the woman, and was met with the familiar eyes of an old friend.

"Ursa, what are you doing here?" He asked, puzzled to know why she was back. Even with the condition of her son, that was not smart to return to the capital.

The women placed the tray down next to Iroh and removed the cup of steaming tea. She placed it in his hands, smiling warmly. "I came here to check on my son Iroh." She said, smiling at him warmly. A warm smile that has a darkness behind it.

"What do you want Ursa," he said, placing the cup down and sighing. He knew her far too well to think she only came here to check on her son. If that was so she would have picked a time when no one was here. Only instead, she picked a time when none but he was here. Clearly, she wanted something from him. And the old man, having been in love with her since having met her, knew that there was naught he could do to refuse.

"When he leaves for his banishment," she said, sitting down in the mans lap and taking the cup of tea from him. She lightly blew on it, for she wasn't a fire bender and there for didn't appreciate tea so hot. "I want you to go with him. I want you to keep him safe. Pleas prince Iroh." She said as she took a sip on the tea.

Iroh looked into her eyes, and sighed deeply. "What of the girl, what of Azula?" He asked, thinking to his niece. The child who Ursa had raised alongside Zuko. "Are we to leave her to Ozais cruel whims?" He asked, pushing the woman from his lap and standing up.

"You know he would never hurt her, after all, that girl is the spitting image of him.To hurt her would be to hurt himself, and he is far too narcissistic to do such a thing," She assured herself and Iroh.

"No, I won't risk it, Ursa. I'm not going to leave that child alone and defenseless—-"

Ursa cut him off. "That's not what I'm asking for, Iroh. I am going to stay in the capital to watch over her. All you need to do is go with Zuko and keep him safe." She said, before getting up to leave. "One more thing," she paused before kissing him.

He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her lips on his. Her scent. Everything about her was majestic. By the time he finally opened her eyes she was gone, and his nephew was sitting up, staring bewildered from the bed.

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"She knew that Ozia would not hurt his beloved daughter and so she asked me to protect her beloved son." He said, touching his hand to the prince's scare. "She cared for you both deeply and made a decision based on what she thought was best."

"If she cared about us she wouldn't have disappeared from our lives, she wouldn't have faked her own death and left us at Osaka mercy," Zuko screamed, punching a fist into the air.

"Damn, and I thought my parents sucked." Toph said, slumping to the ground. She could no longer carry the weight of everything that had happened. Her heart felt heavy. Azula, she was going back to that, that monster. Her mind raced, trying to conceive a plan to save the princess. But behind every door she opened, was another obstacle. Every time she took a step forward, she was met with a staircase. There was no possible solution, unless…

Toph stood up suddenly, "what if we go to the fire nation and rescue Azula. She can help us kill Ozai before the day of the comet. We can use her to end the war."

Aang shook his head. "How are we supposed to do that," he said exasperated. "Do you want us to sneak into the fire nation in broad daylight and just pluck her from the capital. It's impossible. Furthermore, we can't launch an invasion with the army we have, the fire nation will be too strong…"

"Not if we plan the right time." Said an unfamiliar voice. They turned around, facing a young earth kingdom man. His robes were green, covered in the sacred symbol. His was Di Lee. Aang took a step back, as he had always been suspicious of the Di Lee. His grip became tighter and his face became measured.

The man didn't seem to notice, and waved a scroll through the air. "This was sent to the Avatar, from someone we believed at the time to be a fire nation royal. With the princesses identity revealed it confirms such suspicions." He said, showcasing the righting. "It was sent for the palace, and was intercepted by the Di Lee."

"You stole my notes, and what, where just carrying them around with you?" Aang was angry and confused.

The Di Lee motioned to the animal. "Whoever freed your bison attached them to his horn," he pointed to the other scrolls. "There are more, but this is the most important. In it, described in detail, is a plan for an invasion of the fire nation. It depicts their security as well as the prime time to do so, a day where they will lose there bending, they say of black son."

The avatar and his companions looked at the man holding the scroll, waiting. He officially had their attention.

And, as they listened to the Di Lee agent, ironically named Lee, a plan fell into place. They may not have had all the soldiers of the earth kingdom, but they had the bulk of their men. They were standing right here, on this… iceberg? If they managed to find a safe place to collect the troops, to plan the invasion, then perhaps they could make it work. It was discussed, and eventually it was decided that the troops would move south, to the kyoshi island. It was far enough from the war that they could plan an attack there, and with the help of the Warriors of Kyoshi, they could make it work. While the soldiers went that way, Aaang would take Appa, Sokka, and Toph to meet with sokkas dad. He had described in a letter he sent, just another one of them that the Di Lee had stolen, that his fleet would be meeting up too regroup and supply in the north pole.

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Not far away, surrounded by fog, was a small boat with four children aboard. The three conscious girls talked solemnly about what had transpired and about what future moves they planned to make. However, their main focus as of the moment was getting somewhere safe.

"The south is too far away, and the chances of my brother showing up are too great for us to risk." Katara commented when Mai had suggested that they go to her home village. The gloomy girl sighed, trying to rack her mind for places that would be safe from the fire nation.

"Maybe," Katara paused, thinking for a moment, "maybe we could go to Kyoshi island." she suggested. She knew the residence would keep them safe and they could probably help Azula work through some stuff."

Ai winced at the reminder of what her friend had been through, and with it the reminder that she didn't know. Ever since she found out she had been beating herself up over it, and anxiously waiting till her friend woke up to apologize for being such a bad friend.

Ty Lee, who had not spoken since they found Azula's body, mared from the lightning that had struck her spoke. "It's to far, your forgetting you don't have a bison anmore." she hissed in a way that startled the boat. Katara tilted her head, confused as she thought the girl had gotten over her jealousy a while ago. However before she could ask Ty Lee continued. "I know the perfect place and it's not to far from here."

Both Mai and Katara turned towards the acrobat, their expressions asking the same thing. Were. Ty Lee answered it before the question was spoken into words. The western air temple

A/miss me ya ik ik me too. Anyway I'm back bitches (if you get the reference read my fic red blooded comander*wink.* also so i have the outline for the next few chapters, and because this on took me so long i will have it soon. I generally like to finish one extra before i post so that's why. It's really good so i'm excited. The next three are going to be focusing on Azula and the group and what happens leading up to the invasion which is in three months so buckle up. That's going to be the finale but there will be at least ten episodes in this season so don't worry. Anyway byeee now loves