The sphere of light at the center of the Yin-Yang expanded, and Aang entered the Spirit World. Immediately, he felt an unpleasant swooping sensation run through his body as his bending was stripped away.

But as he glanced around, he realized there was more to his unease than just that. There was a menacing aura about the Spirit World, that he hadn't noticed during his last visit. Dark, swirling clouds marked the horizon, their distant rumble of thunder drowning out the sound of the brook nearby. Aang pressed his hand to the nearest tree-trunk and closed his eyes, using Raava's energy to reach out into the forest and feel for signs of life. He couldn't sense as many Spirits as usual; either some had crossed over to the other world during the Solstice, or they were hiding so well that even Raava couldn't find them. Either way, the events in the Mortal Realm were disturbing the Spirits that remained. Aang could sense their wariness and hostility at his presence, rather than the usual curiosity or indifference.

Something brushed against his ankle, and he opened his eyes. Xai Bau's kitsune friend stood by his shin, her tails waving back and forth. Aang offered her a weary smile that didn't hide his worry. Even Māoyan was affected by the tensions and negativity of the Mortal Realm; her once-copper fur had an unhealthy purplish tinge, her eyes had turned yellow-green, and every few moments her head would twitch to the side, as if she had a nervous tic. Her jaws were clenched, her lips furled back to show her fangs.

The Avatar sighed and knelt down, putting his hand on the fox-spirit's back. "I know. It's hurting all of you, too." He stroked behind her ears for a moment, and her movements became calmer. Then he stood up, pressed his palms together and bowed. "Māoyan, thank you for leading me here. Please take me to the one who can give me the answers I need-"

"I am already here, Aang." A soft voice came from behind him. "Though, unfortunately I can only answer some of your questions."

Aang turned and stepped forward, the branches of the trees parting to allow him access. Pathik sat cross-legged on the shore of the brook, his walking staff laid at his side, his eyes closed. The Avatar approached warily. He knew the Guuru had always meant well, but his interpretation of the Chakras could be a bit... rigid, at times. Still, he needed all the knowledge he could get now, good or bad.

He gestured in the direction of the clouds with his glider-staff. "Has that storm been brewing long?"

"Since I went to visit Koh the Face-Stealer." Pathik let out a sigh. "Vaatu is stirring."

"But it's still nowhere near Harmonic Convergence-"

"Just because Vaatu's sealed away, doesn't mean the lesser Spirits are immune to his influence, as long as there is discord in the Mortal Realm. Just as they aren't immune to Raava's influence, as long as there is hope for balance. But, when one outweighs the other..." Pathik opened his grey eyes and glanced up at the Avatar, a forlorn look on his wizened face. "But that wasn't what you came to speak to me about."

"No." Aang laid his staff in the grass and sat down across from the Guuru. "Xai Bau said you told him, "A child found, a child lost, between them, blood and order cost." I know there's only so much you can see. But, do you know... where those children are, now?"

Pathik closed his eyes, his brow furrowing in concentration. "The boy in peasant clothes... right now he's in the same walled city, that will burn on the day that order dies. The girl in golden robes, on the other hand... she's not far from where you are."

Aang felt his stomach clench in worry. Was the prophecy referring to the Earth King's daughter... or even worse, to Izumi? "What will it take, for me to save them?"

"You can't." Pathik shook his head. "Their fates will be decided, after your passing. But for the next Avatar, to restore the balance... you must make sure, that this coming battle does not interfere with Raava's succession."

Aang felt a flutter of anger in his chest. "No matter what mistakes he's made, I am not going to let my best friend march to his death."

"You don't need to. As you know, there are many alternatives to brute force alone. Which is why I urge you: if you must resort to battle, do not enter the Avatar State again."

The Airbender let out a sarcastic laugh. "Twenty years ago, you wanted me to sacrifice everything for the Avatar State. Now, you don't want me to use it?"

"There were times when it was necessary in the past, as you well know." Pathik gave him a direct look. "But if the next Avatar, becomes the last... they must have access to all four of the elements. Including Airbending."

Aang felt a hard pit form in his gut. "None of my children are Airbenders-"

"Not yet. Your youngest son is still an infant, isn't he?"

The Avatar froze. "Tenzin... will be an Airbender?" He felt the corners of his eyes grow hot. His skepticism for the Guuru's visions evaporated, instantly. For the first time since the Hundred Year War, he might not be the last of his kind... "Tenzin will teach the next Avatar?"

"Only if you are able to pass the full extent of your Airbending on to him. Which means you must survive this battle." Pathik reached out and touched Aang's shoulder gently. "I know the pain and guilt of your past have never truly left, Aang. But you must learn to let it go, as you are trying to let go of your resentment for your friend Zuko's mistakes. My prophecy, this coming battle, are not karma for your past. The universe isn't ready for you to rest, not yet. Neither are your family, I'm sure."

Aang closed his eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath, not caring that the tears were running down his face and into his beard. Despite all their disagreements, the Guuru always offered him compassion. "...Thank you, Pathik." As he rubbed at his eyes, a wry smile crossed his face. "But... I thought you said earthly attachments were what locked the Sahasrara Chakra."

"You never stuck around long enough to unlock it, in the first place!" Pathik's walking staff rapped the top of his head. "Once you had, I could have explained to you that you only had to do so temporarily." The ancient Guuru shook his head in exasperation, his long beard quivering. "But clearly, you figured that out yourself."

"Very true!" Came a familiar voice from behind them. "I may not have been there myself, but it was all Sokka would talk about for a week, after Sozin's Comet."

Aang spun around as two men in White Lotus robes stepped out from the shade of a willow tree. The taller one wore a long sword at his hip; the other carried a simple, double-headed metal baton.

"Master Pian Dao. Master Xai Bau." Aang stood, bowing hastily. "How... long have you been standing there?"

"Since before you arrived." The old swordmaster's eyes twinkled with amusement. He and Xai Bau returned the bow. "One of the advantages to not being a bender; you don't lose any of your skills, in the Spirit World. Particularly the skill of stealth. Not to worry, we won't tell a soul. Not that there's anyone for us to tell, in the middle of the Dragon's Back."

Aang's smile faded. "Do we have any news from the Earth Kingdom Capital? Has Master Sungwoo told the Earth King about the Dai Li?"

"I don't know. If he did, it was probably a watered-down version; according to my messenger, Sungwoo was skeptical about the Dai Li himself when he was told." Xai Bau scoffed. "In any case, I thought we wanted their existence to stay hidden from the public for now, in case it endangers Izumi or Hou-Ting."

"Sungwoo at least listened to the Kāihuā, though. The White Lotus in Ba Sing Se have been mobilized. King Kuei and his younger daughter are safe... for now." Pian Dao glanced at the darkened horizon, his grey eyes grim. "As for the other branches of the Order... Some have responded to the Kāihuā, some haven't. Many were shaken by Iroh's defeat. I rallied those I could in the Fire Nation, but Xai Bau told me speed was vital, so we set out immediately rather than waiting to gather more. We have about forty warriors assembled in the valley north of Zamyn Togsgol, many of them benders-"

"Forty?" Aang shook his head. "That's not going to be anywhere near enough." He glanced at Xai Bau. "I thought you said we couldn't act, until we had a better sense of the enemy's numbers?"

"That's what I thought, until I realized how complex their fortress is." Xai Bau scratched his grizzled chin. "Numbers will be far less valuable than precision, in this battle. Where are you and Zuko now?"

"About two miles south of the village, in the forest. You?"

"Pian Dao's at the White Lotus encampment. I'm in the foothills overlooking Zamyn Togsgol from the north, across the valley from you. No sign of Firebenders yet, but there are Dai Li on the upper slopes. If the vibrations hadn't warned me, they would have spotted me first." Xai Bau glanced meaningfully at Pian Dao. "I don't know if they've seen the encampment yet, but you should get everyone moving as soon as we return from the Spirit World."

"They're guarding the mountain itself? Not the village?"

"Zamyn Togsgol's ruins just serve to scare away unwanted visitors." Xai Bau scoffed again. "They wouldn't provide any shelter, let alone fortifications. From what my seismic sense showed me, a large part of the upper mountain is honeycombed with passages and caverns. Probably the Dai Li's headquarters... and, where they're holding their captives."

"I doubt Zuko and Mai are going to wait any longer, now that we're here." Aang pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers. "I had to argue with them for over an hour, just to let me meet with you two and Pathik. Zuko wants to act as soon as I return."

The old swordmaster shook his head. "We're ill-prepared to make a move, right now...Unless, you plan to use the Avatar State."

Xai Bau glanced quickly from Aang to Pathik, but the ancient Guuru simply stared back, his expression serene. Aang sighed. "...No. It's too much of a risk. But, if I can distract some of them..."

"Not a bad idea." Xai Bau brightened. "Zuko trained himself in the art of stealth and concealment for three years. If they're focused on you, he could find a way to slip past them-"

"No." Aang shook his head. "Zuko intends to give himself up, to buy us time. He wants to have Takeo's full attention. Takeo will be the one directing the mountain's defenders, and according to Zuko, he overlooks nothing when he's in command of a fortress. But if Zuko surrenders to him, hopefully Takeo will take his eyes off everything else-"

"Absolutely not." Pian Dao interrupted. "If Takeo takes control of both the Fire Lord and his heir, he holds the Fire Nation's entire succession, bar Iroh. If he decides to kill them both-"

"Zuko doesn't think he will." Aang picked up his staff. "Apparently, Takeo's been obsessing over his grudge against the Royal Family for years. If he gets Zuko into his clutches, he'll probably want to gloat a bit first. And he heads one of the Warrior clans; if there's one thing they do honor, it's the code of the Agni Kai."

Pian Dao paused. "That's true. It does run a terrible risk, though, both to Zuko, Izumi and Hou-Ting. And in the meantime, even if Takeo's distracted, our strike force may not be enough to storm the mountain-"

"They won't have to. Mai's trained in stealth at least as much as Zuko has, and Katara's excellent at keeping a low profile. Besides, it's the middle of winter, so her Waterbending's at its' peak; no Firebender will stand a chance against her." Aang paused. "If I draw enough of the defenders away, as a secondary decoy...Xai Bau, can you use your seismic sense to track Zuko, once he gives himself up?"

The old warrior frowned. "As long as I stay near enough... which, admittedly, might be difficult."

"Do what you can. I trust Mai and Katara to get into the mountain, but there's no guarantee that the girls are there."

"And if Takeo decides to kill Zuko outright, we'll need to be nearby, in order to get him away quick enough." Xai Bau's bony fingers were drumming a tattoo on the hilt of his flail. "If I can get a sense of where they'll take Zuko, then I'll double back, and bring half of our White Lotus forces to shadow him. Pian Dao can take the other half, to clear a path out of the mountain for Mai and Katara, if necessary."

Aang nodded slowly. "Good idea. Assuming I've managed to put a dent in the defenders outside, I'll give you air support." He paused, glancing around at the three old men, then pressed his fist to his opposite palm. "Thank you, Masters. For your counsel, for your support. We won't forget it."

Xai Bau raised his eyebrow slightly, as if doubtful, but Pian Dao returned the gesture. "Restoring the balance has always been as much the White Lotus' duty, as it is the Avatar's. We are honored to serve."

He and Xai Bau began to shimmer, fading from the Spirit World. Aang glanced down at Pathik, still sitting cross-legged. The kitsune had curled up in his lap; the purplish tinge seemed to be fading from her fur, slowly.

The ancient Guuru smiled benevolently, raising his hand in farewell. Aang bowed back, then closed his eyes and concentrated. There was a rush of darkness around him, another swooping sensation as his bending returned, and then his eyes snapped open. Icy mountain wind blew against his face, ruffling the hood of his cloak.

He was sitting cross-legged on the edge of Appa's saddle. They had landed in a narrow gap between the trees, barely big enough to fit Appa. Katara was filling the waterskin on her belt with melted snow, Mai was whetting the edge of her sai against a flat rock, and Zuko paced restlessly at the edge of the trees. At Appa's sudden grunt, they all turned toward Aang.

He took a deep breath, then turned to Zuko. "Okay. Here's the plan."

Crouching on one of its' largest branches, Rila pressed herself against the pine trunk as the running footsteps drew nearer. She'd already spotted the Avatar's orange cloak moving in another direction, and this breathing was definitely a man's. Which meant the person approaching had to be...

She couldn't believe Zuko would be this reckless, even with his reputation for shortsightedness. Genpei said he'd often seen parents abandon their judgement, to protect their children, but her father never had. Except, perhaps, by trusting Zuko in the first place.

Her resolve hardened as her target came into view. His face was shadowed by a dark hood, but as he glanced across the ridge, she caught a glimpse of a burn scar along the left side of his face. It was him. She pulled off her helmet and closed her eyes, aligning her Ajna Chakra. The outline in her mind became more distinct, as he drew nearer-

"Zuko, duck!" A familiar voice rang out, followed immediately by a whistling sound. Rila's eyes snapped open, and she dove sideways and out of the tree as a shuriken whipped past her face, cutting a line from her cheekbone to her earlobe. Involuntarily, she released her Combustion bolt, hitting a tree to Zuko's right as she fell. There was a thunderous blast, and smoke and blazing chunks of bark and timber flew in every direction.

As Rila landed, she cursed her carelessness. Of course, Mai would have come. She glanced around rapidly as she stood, but Zuko was already out of sight. She had to find him again quickly, cut him off from his allies, before they could corner her-

The snow around her feet suddenly surged upward, encasing her feet and calves in ice. More snow in the surrounding drifts liquified, encircling her in a rushing ring of water. She twisted around. Just across the clearing, stood a dark-skinned woman in blue-dyed furs, her hand raised in a Bending gesture. The Avatar's wife.

Rila gritted her teeth. "I've got no quarrel with you, Waterbender. Or your husband. Just Zuko."

"A lot of people have issues with him. Myself included." The woman's blue eyes were fierce. "That doesn't change the fact that he's my friend, someone I've risked my life for-"

Rila cut her off with a slash of her arm, hurling an arc of fire. The Waterbender easily absorbed it with a liquid barrier, replying with three icicles, but in that split second Rila smashed apart her restraints and threw up her forearm. The missiles shattered against her armor, fragments of ice pelting her face. She tilted her head back, inhaled rapidly and fired a low-energy Combustion Bolt at her opponent's feet. The Firebender didn't stop to see if she'd hit her target; she turned and ran among the trees, leaping to avoid a water coil that came snaking after her. After a few yards, she thrust her fists down and propelled herself upward with Firebending, catching hold of a branch. Without hesitating, she tucked in her legs, swung to the end of the arc and let go, reaching out to grab the next one.

Her father had taught her how to travel like this, in the jungle islands at the south end of the Fire Nation, when she was just seven. Rila was much larger now, but her long, powerful limbs were perfectly suited for swinging. She moved as fast as she could, occasionally boosting herself with a burst of flame from her heels. After about half a mile, she crossed another ridge and flipped herself into the upper branches of a cedar. Wiping away the line of blood running down her cheek, she scanned the area quickly. She was near the top of a steep slope overlooking a valley. A frozen river wound through the patches of trees below; beyond them, near the north end of the valley, were the ruins of Zamyn Togsgol village.

Rila's ears strained for the sound of feet, voices, fire or rushing water, but all she heard was the faint moan of wind...No. Running footsteps again, coming from the west. Her eyes caught another flicker of movement between the trees, coming closer. As the figure passed into view briefly, she spotted a dark hood again. Her pulse quickened. Her luck had held; in fleeing from the Waterbender, she'd taken a path that intercepted Zuko. But this time, she wasn't chancing everything on a single shot. Genpei had been right; she needed to face her enemy, before she ended him.

She studied Zuko, as he approached. He was tall (though shorter than her), dressed in shabby green-and-grey traveling clothes under the cloak. A pair of Dao sword-hilts were visible on his belt. His dark hair wasn't in a topknot but framed his face in long, uneven locks. His eyes were clouded by fear and anxiety, but his bearded jaw was set. Even without the armor or Royal trappings that were customary for the Fire Lord, he looked formidable. After three years of hunting the Avatar in exile, she supposed anyone would. She tensed her legs, ready to leap.

As Zuko reached the edge of the treeline, Rila dropped into his path, springing upright and conjuring a fireball over her fist. He froze, his face tense. But he didn't look surprised; clearly, he'd been expecting someone to ambush him ever since he arrived.

"Do you know who I am, 'Fire Lord?'" Rila hoped he didn't notice the tremor in her voice. If he actually fought back, she wasn't sure who would win at close-quarters; her Combustion technique was devastating, but it was most effective as a ranged attack. She'd defeated Iroh with a lucky shot, back in the Caldera Cavern, and Zuko was Iroh's pupil. But he wasn't conjuring any fire or reaching for his swords... yet.

Zuko's golden gaze flicked warily to the tattoo on her forehead. "I'm guessing that you helped Shingen and the Dai Li abduct my daughter from the Capital, and injured my sister and uncle." His voice was cold and curt. "Whatever Takeo wants, he can have it, as soon as I know Izumi's safe-"

"I'm not here on behalf of Takeo. I didn't join him for his cause, and many of his soldiers didn't, either. They have genuine grievances against you and your predecessors, grievances that were buried by your 'victory' after the Hundred Year War."

Zuko's gaze dropped from her forehead to her face. The harried, impatient look in his eyes faded for a moment, replaced with what looked like pity. His breath came out in a slow sigh. "Then... since I can't seem to recognize you, will you tell me what yours is? I won't deny, I've done terrible things in my past. To my friends, enemies, even my family... If I haven't atoned for all of them yet, I have every intention of doing so. But only after my daughter is safe."

Rila was thrown, for a moment. She'd expected a desperate attack, an outright dismissal, not an actual response. "You're stalling."

"Possibly." Zuko nodded. "But you could have killed me unseen, as I approached. You didn't. You chose to confront me, face to face, instead. I respect that." His eyes moved to her forehead again. "You're too young to have fought, in the Hundred Year War. But...I may have an idea, of who you are. Many years ago, I hired a mercenary to kill the Avatar-"

"He wasn't just a mercenary." Rila's hand flexed, and her fireball expanded, melting the snow near her feet. "He was also my father. He taught me everything I know, and you took him away."

Zuko nodded again. "I sent him on what was probably the most dangerous mission of his career, yes. And then later, at the Western Air Temple, I tried to call him off. I even offered to double his pay, if he would stop hunting Aang-"

"You knew he'd never agree to that!" Rila channeled her growing anger into her breath. Pretending to calm herself, she inhaled deeply through her nose, feeling the kinetic energy building at the base of her spine. "When he first started serving the Warrior clans and the Fire Lords, he had to adopt their ridiculous code of honor, just to make them trust his service. His oath was everything. Once he'd been engaged, he could never break the contract, or no one would trust him again. Besides, it was you who defected from the Fire Nation-"

"Yes, I did. And I don't blame him for his choices or his service in wartime. By the time I came of age, everyone in the Fire Nation was raised with a warrior mindset, not just the clans. But after three years of exile, after what I saw of the rest of the world... I realized that era had to end. And that's why I tried to reason with your father. When he refused to listen... I admit, I tried to stop him with force. But it wasn't me who struck the fatal blow. I didn't even get the chance; your father blasted me off a cliff." A wry smile played across his lips. "I was a skilled enough bender at sixteen, but even in a proper Agni Kai, I couldn't have beaten him. But one of my allies hit your father directly on the Ajna Chakra point, while he was distracted. When he tried to counterattack, his own Combustion Bolt misfired and killed him."

The ground seemed to sway under Rila's feet. All these years...

Zuko had every reason to lie, of course, deny what he had done. He was the brother of Azula, after all. Except, that Rila had spent years working alongside liars and deceivers, Takeo and the Dai Li among them; even with Genpei, it had been obvious when he was hiding something. Zuko was looking her directly in the eye, his voice steady despite the stress, anger and fear that had to be overwhelming him. Except for the scar, his eyes were identical to his daughter's: impatient, but earnest...

She finally found her voice. "If you didn't kill him... Who did?"

The Fire Lord finally broke eye contact. "I... can't tell you that-"

"Horseshit!" Rila felt more kinetic energy build at the base of her spine. "You're just protecting another killer!"

"Your father brought his fate on himself, when he refused to listen to me." Zuko's voice became cold and impatient again. His hands lifted slowly from his sides. "There are always deaths in war, whether from lack of restraint, ruthless orders, or just trying to survive. My allies and I were trying to put an end to that world order, to break the cycle. Because I've seen, firsthand, what both war and revenge can do to people. Your father did what he felt he had to do, and so did we. And until I know that my daughter will be able to live in the peace we built, and maintain it-"

Rila interrupted him with a swipe of her arm, hurling an arc of fire at him at close range. Zuko spun, deflecting the blast off his elbow and launching a side-kick in the same movement. Rila narrowly dodged, and the fireball torched the tree behind her. She braced herself for another attack, but to her bewilderment, Zuko didn't advance. Instead, he turned and leaped over the edge of the ridge, sliding down the snowy slope. His voice echoed off the mountainside, suddenly frantic: "Izumi! Izumi, where are you?!"

Furious, Rila propelled herself forward with fire, rushing after him. What was he playing at? If he acted this recklessly, he'd draw more of his enemies nearer-

Of course. That was his intention.

A jagged wedge of stone suddenly erupted from the snow, forcing Rila to leap back. Ahead, she saw Zuko freeze in a clearing, his swords on the ground in front of him, hands on his head in surrender. On the edge of the opposite treeline were five figures in green and black robes, their hands upraised. One of them was pointing at her, shouting words she couldn't make out.

Rila closed her eyes, sucked in a final, rapid breath, and tilted her head back, trusting her third eye to pinpoint the target. Just as she released the Combustion bolt, stone hands clamped down on her wrists, yanking her back and pinning her to the ground. There was a thunderous blast, and then a band of stones encircled her forehead, covering her tattoo and forcing her head back.

A Dai Li agent loomed over her, his expression as hard as the stone he wielded. "You don't interfere, Ashmaker. This may not be our fight, but we have a wager on its' outcome-"

"I don't give a damn." Rila snarled. She ignited a pressurized firepoint on her hand, fighting to twist her wrist around and cut through the stone. "Zuko's mine, he has been for two decades-"

"Then we're done talking."

As the Earthbender cocked back his fist for the kill, Rila craned her neck sideways as far as she could. She could see the other four Dai Li morphing the rock of a nearby slope into what looked like a tunnel entrance. Zuko stood just behind them, his hands folded in front of him, encased in earthen manacles. She let out a strangled half-growl, half-scream of frustration. After more than half her life, her last chance to settle her father's restless ghost was being snatched away from her.

There was a sudden thud-crack of rock against flesh and bone, and the Dai Li agent crumpled to the ground, his eyes staring blankly, blood oozing from his skull. The stones around Rila's wrists and forehead split apart, and she sat up, staring around wildly. Her eyes caught a movement near the top of the ridge. A massive, cloaked figure was crouching at the edge of a boulder, his arm outstretched. Copper eyes stared urgently at Rila from under the hood.

Genpei put his hand to his lips, then gestured for her to look over her shoulder. Zuko and the other Dai Li agents had disappeared, and the slabs of earth framing the tunnel entrance were already collapsing, unevenly, back to the ground. Rila screwed her eyes shut, biting her lip in frustration. There was no way she would be able to get to him now, with Long Feng, Takeo and Azula nearby. "Twenty years of my life... and it's come to nothing."

"I thought this would be a long shot, when I offered it to you." Genpei shook his head sadly as he brushed past her, a burning branch in his hand. He held the lit end against the dead man's wound, scorching the flesh. "If the Dai Li come back to investigate, this'll make them think you killed him yourself and escaped."

Rila snorted. "Have you been following me, ever since I left the mountain?"

"No. Lucky assignment. Long Feng sent me out in charge of a reconnaissance patrol yesterday. After I found the White Lotus in the next valley, I ordered my men to shadow them. Gave me the chance to see if you were still... around." He glanced at her, his brow furrowed. "What happened to your cheek?"

"Mai saw me as I was aiming for Zuko." Rila scooped up a handful of snow and held it to the cut.

Genpei hissed through his teeth as he extinguished the branch in the snow. "A hair to the right, and she'd have taken your eye. Or your brain. You should get out of here now, Rila. Make a break for the United Republic, while you still can. You're not going to get another chance-"

"It wasn't Zuko, anyway."

The huge, bearded Earthbender sat down next to her, looking confused. "What do you mean?"

"He didn't kill my father. He told me he tried to, but someone else succeeded. He wouldn't give me their name, and I wasn't able to read his pulse. But he was telling the truth, I could see it in his face." She chuckled bitterly. "He didn't even have a reason to lie, he knows he's going to his death anyway."

Genpei glanced back along the forested ridge that encircled the valley. "Maybe not, if he brought the Avatar. Numbers won't mean much, against the Avatar State."

"Azula didn't let that stop her, in Ba Sing Se."

"True, but Zuko has the White Lotus with him as well."

Rila shook her head. "I saw them too, earlier this morning. There aren't that many, and even if they are all skilled warriors, Takeo's veterans aren't pushovers either. Even discounting the Dai Li, if he and Azula can divide the White Lotus, or draw them into an ambush, it's all over." She glanced up at him. "I'm guessing Long Feng has his own plans concerning the battle as well, huh? Not that you have to tell me."

She felt Genpei's hand lift away from her shoulder, heard shame enter his voice. "I still should've told you sooner, about Azula. I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Rila reached out, pulled his hand back. "You still gave me the chance to confront Zuko. I'm... glad, that I was able to speak with him. At least I learned part of the truth."

The Earthbender let out a weak chuckle. "Because it means you can spend the rest of your life on another manhunt?" When Rila didn't respond, she felt his hand tense. "Rila, please don't tell me-"

"Quit being an idiot." Rila rapped her knuckles against his barrel chest. "Both you and Zuko were right about one thing: No one who participated in that war, was innocent." She took a deep breath. "I'll... always be grateful, for the skills my father taught me. But that doesn't make me responsible for his honor... or his sins." She ran her tongue along the inside of her mouth, feeling for a small gap where two of her teeth had once been. "I'll return to the Western Air Temple where he died, offer his soul a prayer, and then that'll be the end of it."

"And then... you'll go to the United Republic? Start a new life?"

"Yes." Rila rolled her eyes. "Satisfied?"

"If I said I was proud of you, would that sound condescending?"

Rila scoffed, but she felt a bloom of heat in her chest. "A bit."

"Then I'll just say that I'm happy for you... and, that I'll miss you. Terribly." He reached out and put an arm around her, kissing the side of her head. "You deserve some happiness, after all this."

Rila felt her mouth twitch and her cheeks burn. "Thank you, Genpei. For this, for everything." She leaned upward and kissed his cheek. "What will you do, now?"

Genpei glanced back at the mountain stronghold, overlooking Zamyn Togsgol. "I... have one final task, that I have to finish. For the sake of the Earth Kingdom." He glanced back at her. "But, if I'm still alive once it's done... does your offer still stand?"

Rila felt her heart clench. Genpei's kindness and dedication were hopelessly misplaced, in an organization like the Dai Li. But she knew better than to dissuade him; he was as stubborn as she was. She forced a smile back onto her face. "You need to ask? Of course. You deserve some happiness, too." She felt the smile slip away as she reached out to touch his cheek again. "Just... be wary of your leader."

"Always." Genpei chuckled as he brought her hand to his lips. "I'd say the same to you, but... that's never been true, has it? You've never really answered, to anyone."

"Only my father's ghost." Rila stood up. "That's who we always seem most beholden to, isn't it? Our deceased mentors?"

"I suppose you're right." Genpei rose as well. "What I have to do, now... it's more for Xi, than for Long Feng. But if you hadn't opened my eyes, I might've spent the rest of my life, in the service of a demon." He enfolded her in his arms again, and she felt him trembling slightly. "Thank you, Rila. Until... until we meet again."

Rila felt the corners of her eyes grow hot, as she returned the embrace. "Goodbye, Genpei." She leaned up, met his lips one last time. Then she broke away, pulled up the hood of her cloak and started to climb back up the slope, toward the treeline.

Just as she reached the top, she heard a sharp crunch of stone behind her as Genpei Earthbent his tunnel closed. She didn't turn back. It would be a harsh and lonely trek out of the Dragon's Back. But harshness and loneliness were nothing new to her; it was all she'd known, for twenty years.

Until now.

Left. Right. Elbow deflect. Turn and reverse-kick.

Holding her breath to avoid conjuring fire in the confined space, Izumi went through the forms her grand-uncle had spent years teaching her. With nothing else to do except wait, she was forced to embrace the patience Iroh had always drilled into her. Cross-block and advance. Withdraw, then strike again.

Yet even as she continued the forms, Izumi couldn't help but feel her practice was pointless. She'd outwitted the guards once, but now that Azula had reorganized them, she probably wouldn't get another chance. Unless Ty Lee helped her, and Izumi was increasingly unsure whether she could trust her mother's friend. The one time the Kiyoshi Warrior had visited, she'd confirmed that she was now in Azula's service, had told Izumi to sit tight for the time being. And her only promise had been to protect Izumi... but, against who? If she was going to escape again, the only one she could rely on right now was herself.

The image of Azula's hand, with blue fire flickering over it, crossed Izumi's mind again. She stopped, closed her eyes and finally inhaled, feeling her heart race briefly, then slow again. Thanks to Ran and Shaw, she knew how to balance her flame, but that required steady breathing. She had no idea what kind of breathing was required, to align her heart rate with her Manipura Chakra. All she remembered about the Manipura was that it was in the stomach, fueled by willpower, and blocked by shame.

What was she ashamed of? What she'd called Genpei, for one thing. Some of her ancestors, certainly. But Iroh and her parents had taken a different path. Of course, Zuko's mistakes with Takeo and Omori had still landed her here, in the first place. She felt frustration and anger mix with her concern; there was so much he and Mai hadn't told her, in the end. Even if her parents hadn't known about Azula's involvement...

Azula. What could she possibly be ashamed of? From what Izumi had seen of her, she never let the cruelty of her actions slow or stop her. She even ignored the rules of conduct for an Agni Kai. Could it be that her utter lack of shame, allowed her to align the Chakra and produce such deadly flames? Or did the scar on her back, the one Grandfather Ozai had given her, have something to do with it...

She thought back to what Mai had always told her about Azula. That she was a practiced liar, that she scorned traditional codes of honor, that she never let anyone find a weakness. The way she'd talked to Izumi about removing her emotional attachments. Azula and Mai were alike in several ways; Mai had probably been influenced by the Princess, growing up. The difference was, Mai seemed to have at least a few people that she trusted. Azula trusted no one. Yet, her power and her shrewdness had been legendary since before Izumi could walk. And apparently, she wanted to pass that power on to Izumi...

Izumi's thoughts were interrupted as keys rattled in the lock. She stepped back as her cell door opened, the two guards outside both assuming fighting stances; they weren't taking any chances after she'd tricked the last one. Between them came an old woman in purple robes and a red headband, followed by two others in the same outfit. Hanging between them by her arms was an unconscious Ty Lee, the left side of her face horribly bruised.

Izumi's breath caught in her throat. Her previous suspicion for Ty Lee vanished instantly. "What did you brutes do to her?!"

"Only justice, for her newest treachery." The woman's eyes were cold. She gestured, and her attendants tossed Ty Lee into the cell; she landed limply on the floor. "She should consider herself lucky, that Fire Lord Azula spared her life. If it had been me, I'd have thrown her from the mountaintop myself."

"I'd like to see you try." Izumi spat, her hands curling into fists. "She could clobber you with both hands behind her back."

The woman's eyebrow raised slightly. "If that temper really does run in the family... I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, that the sentimental streak does as well." Without another word, she turned and swept out of the cell, the door slamming behind her.

Izumi shook the Kiyoshi Warrior's shoulder. "Aunt Ty Lee? Ty Lee! Wake up!" When the woman didn't respond, Izumi grabbed the water pitcher near her futon and dumped its' contents over her face.

Ty Lee finally began to stir, groggily, her hand going to her injured temple. "Where..." Her eyes, barely open, swam back and forth until they fell on Izumi. "Azula... how? How are you-"

"Not Azula, Aunt Ty Lee. It's Izumi."

Ty Lee blinked. "Izumi...?" Her vision finally began to clear. "Oh, Spirits. I thought I was... never mind." Her cheeks turned pink beneath the bruise. "No matter, we've got to figure a way out of here."

"I thought you said to sit tight-"

"We're out of time. Your Dad and the Avatar are about to arrive, Azula and I saw Appa from the mountaintop."

Izumi felt a surge of excitement. Dad and Aang were here? Then the rest of what Ty Lee said hit her. "Azula saw them, too?"

"Yes." Ty Lee winced as Izumi helped her sit up. "She might not be able to take Aang in a fight, now that he's mastered the Avatar State. But if she can divide them..." She shook her head. "Unless Zuko and Aang brought more of Team Avatar with them, they don't stand a chance."

"Did Azula do that to you?" Izumi gestured at the injury.

Ty Lee nodded ruefully, her cheeks coloring under the bruise again. "I was... trying to get through to her. But I think I knew, all along... she's just too afraid of trust." To Izumi's surprise, tears gathered in her eyes. "And the ones to blame for that the most, are Ozai... and me."

Aang didn't enjoy flying so low, even if the mountain mists kept him better hidden. Altitude was always an ally to him, especially near the oxygen-scarce peaks; his Airbending allowed him to outlast or exhaust almost any opponent. Still, for their plan to work, he needed to get closer to the mountain before the action started.

As Aang banked his glider right to avoid a pine, he felt a sense of irony: Zuko, the one who had always been the master of stealth when it was really needed, was playing the main decoy. It was more appropriate for Aang himself; he'd always been the one who had given Team Avatar away, whenever they were supposed to be in hiding...

He felt a small but rapid shift in the air currents as he flew over a ridge. The Avatar banked sharply to the left as a boulder the size of a cart whistled past, then looped upward as two more flew out of the fog in front of him. He heard one of the rocks shatter against the slope, followed by shouting voices, and cursed silently; the noise would draw reinforcements. He'd hoped to get a bit closer, before exposing himself. If he was out of options, it was time to grab a better view and a better position. Flipping the glider onto its' back, he let go of the handles and sprang upright, balancing his feet on the weapon's shaft. Rotating his hands rapidly, he gathered the surrounding breeze into a narrow funnel, feeding it further with his breath. Then, reaching down and snapping the glider shut in a single motion, he sprang atop the air funnel and thrust his arm down its' center, feeding it further. The column extended rapidly, carrying him further out of range of the rocks, toward the top of the fog-layer.

He glanced down as he rose. At least seven figures were gathered below, wearing green-and-jade clothes and armor. Were they General Fong's troops, or Dai Li in disguise? Probably the former, based on their tactics. The Dai Li favored precision over brute force, and from what he remembered, they usually attacked from a closer range.

A harsh croaking sound interrupted his thoughts. He glanced upward, catching sight of a raptor's silhouette before it vanished into the fog again. Too big to be a messenger hawk, and with that call... a raven-eagle?

Suddenly, Aang felt a sharp twinge in the scar along his back. He didn't turn his head, knew instinctively that there wouldn't be time to extend his hand, intercept and redirect. Instead, he let his arms fall to his sides, letting go of the staff; although it was wooden, part of the glider mechanism was metal. The air column under his feet vanished, dropping him toward the mountainside and the waiting Earthbenders.

As he fell, he caught a brilliant flash out of the corner of his eye, accompanied by a thunderclap; the hairs of his beard stood on end. The instant his feet touched a tree branch, he threw himself sideways as more rocks came flying at him. He made a rolling touchdown, then Earthbent a current in the ground to carry him to cover. Ducking behind a huge boulder, he tapped the ground, feeling for his opponent's positions with his seismic sense. The seven Earthbenders he'd already seen were now downhill from him, but he could feel more footsteps approaching, both level with his position and from the slopes above.

His staff, thankfully, had tangled in a tree branch rather than smashing to the ground, but Aang didn't retrieve it yet. He scanned the sky hastily for thunderheads, but there were no storm clouds, only the mist shrouding the slopes. An uneasy feeling filled his stomach. It hadn't been weather, that created that lightning.

The boulder he was sheltering behind suddenly jerked high into the air, revealing three more Earthbenders on the treeline. The one on the left had his fist raised; now, the two next to him made jabbing gestures. Aang leaped back as a furrow of stone spikes erupted from the ice, dodged another hail of flying rocks, then spun and thrust the heel of his hand forward. A jet of compressed air hit the left Earthbender in the stomach, hurling him against a tree. The boulder crashed back down instantly, throwing rock shards in all directions. Aang Earthbent a stone barrier to deflect the debris, then sprang onto its' rim, conjuring flames in both hands.

"Not using Waterbending or your staff anymore? Wise move." A voice spoke, above and behind him. "Not that it'll save you."

A chill passed down Aang's spine. Even after twenty years, there was no mistaking that condescending tone...

He spun, the wind around him mingling with the fire in his palms, deflecting the two sapphire missiles that streaked toward him. His eyes followed their trajectory back to a grey-cloaked figure, standing by a frozen waterfall. It raised its' left arm, and the raven-eagle swooped down and landed on its' wrist. "You can rejoin your master, Mudslingers. This one is mine."

"With all due respect, Ashmaker, our master asked us to witness this battle, same as the Agni Kai." the Earthbender's officer replied. "He wants confirmation of the Avatar's demise, above all else."

The figure paused. "Suit yourselves. But anyone who interferes, won't live to make that confirmation."

She pulled her hood back, and Aang felt another chill. He'd known as soon as he heard the voice, as soon as he'd seen the blue flames. But even then, a small part of his mind had hoped otherwise. He took a deep breath through his nose and let his hands fall behind the folds of his cloak, drawing the winds to himself as silently as he could.

Azula undid her cloak with her free hand, shrugging it off. "So my brother sent himself as the decoy, to buy you time?" her voice was scornful. "Not that you even tried to hide yourself, on the way here. Why would he reveal the Avatar, his secret weapon, so early in the battle... unless you're another decoy, for the real rescue party? Bravo, Zuzu, I never would have expected you to plan in such depth. So he has learned a bit about strategy, after twenty years on the throne."

Aang didn't answer or meet her her gaze; he kept his eyes focused on the flame that ignited at her fingertips. If Azula knew how close her guess was to the mark... The Dai Li always underestimated Nonbenders, and according to Zuko, Takeo often overlooked the possibilities of stealth. But neither Aang nor Zuko had factored the Fire Princess into their planning. She overlooked nothing, and if she guessed, or already knew, which route Mai and Katara were taking toward the mountain...

He dropped to the ground again, tapping his foot lightly on the frozen earth. The Earthbenders had withdrawn into the forest cover, but he could feel more footsteps approaching from the surrounding woods. They were forming a vast ring around him and Azula. Neither advancing nor retreating, just cutting off any escape. Which at least meant they weren't going after Mai and Katara, for now.

"Of course, you were also wise not to bring your wife." The flame in Azula's hand flared brighter for a second. "I'd hoped to meet her, rather than you. I owe her something."

"Funny, she used to say the same thing about you." Aang prayed the tension in his frame didn't reach his voice. He was fairly good at hiding the truth when he needed to, but Azula could sense dishonesty nearly as well as Toph. He shook his head, changing the subject. "We wondered if you might be dead, when you didn't come back to torment Zuko or your mother again."

Azula's eyes flashed. "I'm sure you've all slept peacefully, with that foolish assumption. Ursa, in particular." The flame at her fingertips went out, and her right hand went to the front of her cuirasse.

"She was worried for you. She still is, even now. If you wanted to come home, Azula, there's never been anything stopping you. Certainly not your mother, or your brother." Aang doubted his words would get through to her. But he knew she'd been alone and ostracized for a long time, and he knew from experience how painful that could be. "Why do you think Zuko asked you to help him find Ursa? He knew you'd suffered as well, that you needed to see her as much as he did. He forgave you, a long time ago. He even pardoned you in abstentia, for the Kemurikage plot-"

"I didn't ask for his pity, or his pardon." Azula rolled her eyes. "I was there, among the crowd, when he announced it. He shouldn't have offered something that wasn't his to give... just as Long Feng shouldn't have tried to take something, that wasn't meant for him."

"Long Feng?" Aang felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. "But...I thought you turned the Dai Li against him, years ago?" He noticed Azula's right boot shifting back slightly, and readied himself to spring.

"They returned to him, during Sozin's Comet. They still serve him... for now." Azula threw a scornful look in the direction the Earthbenders had withdrawn. "Takeo claims we need him, to ensure my return. Such rubbish. When I return to the Fire Nation, it will be on no one's terms except mine." She thrust her left arm upward, and the raven-eagle took flight. "But enough idle chatter. I'm interested to see whether you've improved, on your mediocre performance in Ba Sing Se..."

Aang dove sideways as her arm swept back down, a charged fireball screaming from her extended fingers. He didn't counterattack, redirect or block the next strikes; he simply called the wind to him, sweeping effortlessly around the flames, zigzagging steadily up the slope. But Azula's attacks were still coming a little too close for comfort.

"After decades of 'mastering' that all-powerful Avatar State, you still can't do anything except flee?" The Princess sneered as she launched a whirling disc of blue flame ahead of Aang's flight path, forcing him to change direction. As he swept past her, she thrust her arms back. Her fire rocketed her upward, keeping her level with him. "No wonder your people were destroyed in a single day!"

She wasn't entirely wrong, Aang chided himself, bringing his palms together and splitting her next attack with a powerful current of wind. He sprang upward to the next ledge, using his bending to boost the leap further. Whenever he faced something unexpected, his first combat instinct was always that of an Airbender, even after years of perfecting the other Elements. But Azula's Firebending tactics kept pace with his evasive maneuvers easily. As she always did. He needed a different strategy...

As Aang's foot pushed off a ledge, he reached out quickly with his seismic sense. About a mile above, a massive, jagged overhang of rock jutted out from the mountainside, heavy with snow. The terrain beneath it was a sheer slope, devoid of trees. An idea began to form in Aang's mind. Air, like its' counterpart Earth, could be deceptive. He glanced back for a split second, ducking as another jet of blue flame roared past his ear. Azula was still just below him, jumping or jet-propelling herself from stone to stone. Behind them, the Earthbenders were struggling to keep up.

Aang thrust one fist down, conjuring an earthen pillar beneath his feet. As it launched him into the air, he brought the other hand above his head, his fingers forming a cylinder, drawing another funnel of wind toward him. Azula frowned, then glanced back and ducked as Aang's glider-staff whistled past her face. Propelling himself the last few feet with a jet of air, Aang caught the staff in both hands and swung down with all his might. The tip of the weapon thudded against a weak point in the overhanging ledge, dislodging it with a thunderous CRACK. Aang spun and swung his staff sideways, following the landslide with a compressed jet of air, then conjured an air scooter to catch himself. He used the wind to steady himself as he landed next to the outcrop; the ground was shaking so much, he nearly fell over as soon as his feet touched down. With a heavy heart, he turned to face what he'd unleashed.

Trees were already falling like matchsticks as the dirty-white wave rushed down the slope, its' roar deepening as it went. Icy fog, thrown up by the destruction, was quickly obscuring everything else. Aang couldn't hear the screams of the Earthbenders, caught in its' path. But despite the shaking ground, his seismic sense could feel their feet racing desperately between the trees, their futile efforts to create barriers or bunkers. The sickening impacts, as their bodies were finally carried away in the flood of icy debris. There were far too many vibrations, for him to distinguish which was Azula.

A pit of nausea filled the Avatar's stomach. He had killed before, despite always trying to avoid it, despite the pacifist doctrine he'd been raised in since birth. He'd taken far more lives than this, and for far more selfish reasons, during the Hundred Year War. Still... all life was sacred. No life should be taken lightly.

After a few moments, the vibrations under Aang's feet began to fade. He extended the wings of his glider and swooped down the mountain, his eyes scanning the landslide's wake for survivors. The avalanche was still rumbling through the foothills ahead, hidden by the fog; he couldn't tell if it was slowing down or still gathering strength. If it didn't stop soon, Zamyn Togsgol would probably be flattened. Aang thanked the Spirits that the village was already abandoned. He glanced along the broken tree-line, then stopped when he saw an arm protruding from the snow. Gliding to the ground, he swept his arm in a spade-like gesture, clearing the snow aside instantly. But the Earthbender's face already had a fatal tint of mottled grey.

Aang took the corpse's hand in his own, closing his eyes. He willed the misguided man's spirit to find comfort- and hopefully, better enlightenment- in the Spirit World, rather than adding to its' negative energy or being thrown into the Fog of Lost Souls. Of course, given how angry many of the Spirits were right now, he couldn't guarantee that...

Suddenly, he was nearly knocked off his feet as something slammed into his right arm with a croaking screech. Aang let out a muffled grunt of pain as sharp claws tore through his sleeve and dug into his flesh, trying to lift him right off the ground. He swung his staff blindly; there was a light thud and another screech, and the grip on his arm vanished. Dropping into a defensive crouch, he saw Azula's raven-eagle circling above him, its' talons stained with his blood. The bird's golden eyes glared at him with... resentment? Pain? Had Azula's time in exile allowed her to bond with the creature, as Aang had with Appa?

Then, he heard a step behind him. His seismic sense recognized the person's build. Aang let out a sigh of resignation; if anyone could survive an avalanche, it would be her. He took a deep breath, and turned.

"That's... all? After your little show of power kills everyone... except your target, you have no words?" Azula panted. Snow and bits of bark dusted her armor, and she had her left hand tucked between the plates of her cuirasse. Her topknot had come undone, and her dark hair streamed down her shoulders and back. But she was standing upright, with no visible injuries. "I thought Air Nomads... were supposed to value all life. But it seems you and Sozin have something in common, after all."

The reference to his people's murderer, piled on his frustrations and regret over the avalanche, brought a flare of anger to Aang's chest. He drew his hand back, a tongue of flame at his fingertips, but Azula moved faster. Her hand shot from the front of her chestplate, flicking something blue toward him. Aang's missile intercepted it, knocking it away, but instead of shattering or burning on contact, the object spun lazily through the air, landing in the snow a few feet away.

Aang glanced briefly in its' direction, then froze. His fireball had scorched the mask's lacquer coating a bit. But he recognized that grinning, demonic visage immediately. Only, it hadn't been Azula he'd seen it with-

Another projectile, lighter and hotter, caught Aang in the right shoulder, hurling him down the slope. As he tumbled to a stop, he felt a stinging pain along his upper arm; he could smell scorched flesh and fabric. A fluttering sound told him his cloak was still burning. He cursed himself silently as he tore it off. His distraction at seeing the Blue Spirit mask had cost him the initiative, again.

"Focus, fool!" Azula laughed coldly. She advanced after him, launching small, precise bursts of flame from her fingertips in multiple directions, then closing her hands into fists. "Give me a real fight!"

Ignoring his injured shoulder, the Avatar threw his cloak aside as he sprang up, spinning his staff to deflect the next two fireballs back at Azula; she shrugged them aside with ease. A crackling sound began to rise above their ragged breathing. Aang caught an orangish glow from the corner of his eye, and felt a bloom of heat against his back. The trees all around were burning, encircling them in an inferno.

He knew he could clear a path easily enough with his bending, as long as he moved quickly. If he could tempt Azula to chase him through the forest until he'd exhausted her, then counterattack... she was fast, powerful and efficient, but the avalanche had clearly winded her, and Airbending was made for evasion. Without the Earthbenders surrounding them anymore, it seemed a reasonable choice. But if Aang was drawn too far from the mountain, he probably wouldn't be able to reach Zuko or Izumi in time.

He caught Azula's eye; she was smirking, as if she knew precisely what was going through his head. She'd narrowed his options, now she just needed to keep him on the defensive. Unless he entered the Avatar State... The scar on his back twinged again, and he hardened his resolve. Not against an opponent this dangerous, not with Pathik's prophecy and Koh's warning about the next Avatar. Too much was at stake.

Aang raised the staff over his head and began rotating it in his left hand, keeping his right extended defensively in front of him. If he could draw the air currents and the flames around them into a cyclone, and launch it at her... it depended on how many of her attacks he could hold off, while he built up enough momentum.

But Azula didn't give him time to prepare. She conjured sapphire flame-whips from each fist and began lashing them at him in quick succession as she advanced, forcing him to dodge. Aang bent a concentrated stream of the melting snow and launched it at Azula, but she blocked it with a spinning kick, the heat of her fire-arc scattering it in a cloud of steam.

"Still not willing to risk summoning your past lives, eh?" Azula smirked. She swung her left whip at the Airbender again. "Not willing to endanger your succession, even when it's the only thing that might save you? What about your children?"

Aang almost lost his balance. How had she known about... but of course, she would. She always looked for something to exploit, in friend or foe alike, and she'd had nothing but time. He clenched his jaw. Even if Azula knew where his children were, Toph and Sokka would never let anyone near them.

Azula's smirk widened as she watched his expression. She knew she wasn't far off the mark. "Not even for them, eh? What about that Waterbending bitch of yours?"

Aang felt his lip curl with scorn as he stomped the ground, raising an earthen pillar to absorb her next attack. Threats, especially from Azula, he would not take lightly, but petty insults... "I've got no reason to be worried for Katara. She's more of a danger to you, than I'll ever be- especially now, in the dead of winter. And she's already put you in your place before, hasn't she? Twice, if I remember right."

Azula's face darkened with rage. She thrust her arm forward, but her accuracy was off this time; the charged fireball sailed wide as Aang spun sideways, bringing his arm across his torso in a fluid motion. A half-melted snowdrift to his left liquefied and swept along the ground, quick as a snake. Before Azula could dodge, it surged upward, hitting her with the force of an ostrich-horse and hurling her back against a tree. As she slid to the ground, Aang rotated his wrists. Multiple water coils sprang from the ground around Azula, encasing her arms and legs in ice.

Panting, Aang scooped up a handful of snow, pressing it to his burned shoulder. "I should've focused on Waterbending way earlier." He muttered to himself. He glanced around hastily, but the raven-eagle was gone; the smoke from the burning trees must have driven it off.

His gaze came back to Azula, who was struggling against the icy restraints, staring daggers at him. He wouldn't kill her, if he could help it; even the lives he'd already taken today, were too many. But as long as she still had her Bending...

Azula suddenly froze, her head cocked to the left. Her eyes went glassy, focusing on something only they could see. Aang frowned. Had her hallucinations only gotten worse, after all these years?

A movement on the slope above distracted him. Two figures in green were staggering toward the treeline, a third struggling through the snow behind them. Had some of the Earthbenders survived after all? If so, he needed to subdue them, before they had a chance to warn Takeo or the Dai Li.

"You... made a good point, about the Waterbender being a bigger threat." Azula's voice snapped his focus back to her. The glassy look in her eyes had vanished, and she was staring at him again. Her brow was furrowed slightly, as if in thought. "Which means... she'd never really have stayed in Republic City, if both you and Zuzu were at risk. And if she isn't here, watching your back... then obviously, she's watching Mai's."

Before Aang could move, she took a massive gulp of air, exhaling it as a cloud of azure flames. A dangerous smile crossed her mouth as her restraints melted away. "So, Mai took a leaf from my book, did she? Well done." Her fingers unfolded into knife-hands, pointing down at her sides. "They were both more worthy opponents than you, at any rate. I'll at least do the mercy of killing them quickly."

Jets of flame erupted from her feet and hands, propelling her backward and up the slope. Alarmed, Aang slammed the butt of his staff against the ground, launching himself after her with Earthbending. His free hand drew back, fingers curving into a crescent. A coil of water leeched from the half-melted snow below him, stretching upward to envelop Azula, or force her to stop and deflect it-

Except that she didn't. The fire-jets at her sides vanished abruptly, and she dropped past the coil to land, catlike, on the ground. As Aang rushed toward her, he felt another twinge in his back. He saw her arms curved toward each other across her torso, the index and middle fingers of both hands extended, sparking with deadly energy.

Instinctively, the Airbender let go of his staff again, released the water coil. "Don't do it!" He yelled, raising his left arm; there was no cover, and he was too close to dodge. "If I have to redirect it-"

"You couldn't bring yourself to kill my father, when it was your only chance!" Azula sneered as her arm extended toward him. "When it comes to survival, even Zuko has more resolve than you!"

As the lightning bolt leaped from her hand, Aang remembered not to tense his body, but there was no time for anything else. This was something he'd only done once before. And he couldn't fail now, even if it meant taking Azula's life. If Katara, Zuko and Mai were left to face her, Takeo and the Dai Li alone, if no one was left to teach Tenzin Airbending-

A white-hot surge of energy jolted up his left arm, as his first two fingers intercepted the bolt. Aang gasped in shock. The scar on his back was on fire, but he ignored the images from the Crystal Catacombs that were flashing before his eyes. The energy surged up his shoulder, down his side parallel to the spine, dangerously close to the heart-

Then it paused for a moment at the Manipura Chakra, in his stomach. Aang sucked in a rapid breath as it began to move upward again, aiming his right hand at Azula, the nerves of his arm steady as a rock. He wished it hadn't come to this. Time seemed to slow down, as the bolt exited his fingers, surged back toward its' conjuror.

Azula caught it.

Not the way Aang had, not the way Zuko and later Iroh had instructed him. She extended herself forward on bent knee and intercepted the bolt with both hands, her palms together. In one fluid motion, she straightened, split her arms apart and circled them back to her waist, index fingers still extended. Her teeth were gritted, her eyes almost closed in concentration. Then, she thrust her arms out again, in opposite directions- one aimed at the Earthbenders above her, the other at Aang. There was no time to raise his arm again.

The Avatar was lifted clean off the ground as the lightning struck him in the collarbone. Instantly, he was back in the Crystal Catacombs beneath Ba Sing Se, the astral form of the Avatar State flickering and fading within him. Somewhere nearby, he heard Katara scream in horror. Waves of pain more intense than any flame were surging through his torso, everything around him was rushing past as he fell, fell-

His body jolted as he hit the snow, bringing him back to reality. Spasms wracked his limbs as the last of the electric charge swept through him. Aang knew he was still conscious; he'd literally hovered between life and death once before. There was no way his body would be in this much pain, unless he'd survived the bolt. But he couldn't move. His eyelids were barely open, and his vision, already obscured by the smoke, was blurred. He could just make out a dark shape moving toward him, a light flickering near it's side.

Azula spoke, her voice coming between ragged breaths. "You know... my great-grandfather, once wrote a proverb... that could've saved your life, just now." She drew closer, and he heard the hiss of steel as a blade was drawn. "Warnings to a foe/ Are nothing but breath wasted/ 'Til battle concludes."

Aang wheezed in a gasp of air, feeling a fresh wave of pain sear his chest and shoulder. "Sozin... has nothing he could have taught me." He fought to stay conscious with everything he had. If he entered the Avatar State now, with Azula right above him...

The Firebender's mocking laugh seemed to come from far away. "Who says... I was talking about Sozin?"

Aang's breath caught in his throat. Dark spots crept across his vision, threatening to draw him under as a single, frantic thought filled his mind.

"...Roku?"