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Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender

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Zuko watched as Katara practiced in front of the pond in the Royal Gardens, something that he had allowed her to do, but as he watched her, his eyes refused to look elsewhere as the water from the pond swirled around her beautiful body. As she moved the water around, stretching into the bending forms of waterbending, he didn't know what to do. Since their discussion days ago in his privy chambers, he had been unable to keep from thinking of her and her words to him, about how she was willing to wait until he was ready. Did she mean what he thought that she did? Did she desire him? Did she even, maybe, love him? He had no answers and it was infuriating! The alluring Waterbender continued to afflict his thoughts constantly and so he had finally decided to confront her, but when he had stumbled upon her, he hadn't the will to stop her bending, to stop her twisting arms that sliced through the air in harmony with the water.

"You know, it's kind of creepy," Katara suddenly spoke up, causing him to tense. "You're just lingering in the shadows, watching me." Zuko closed his eyes for a moment and breathed deeply as he stepped into the Royal Garden, softly crunching the grass as he made his way across to stand next to Katara.

"I've always been creepy," he muttered to her, thinking of all the times when he had spied on others, particularly in his Blue Spirit persona.

Katara laughed and the sound filled him with peace. "That's not true, Zuko, it's not. You may be a little rough around the edges, but you're a good person, one of the best men who I've ever met." Her words brought a small smile to his face and when Katara saw it, she beamed and returned the water to the pond. "Your mother mentioned to me that you like to feed the Turtle Ducks," she then knelt beside the tree, rummaging through a sack that he just now noticed. "I had a feeling that you would come here, so I procured a loaf of bread for us – and for them, I guess." She held up a loaf of bread and sat in front of the pond, her gown looking soft to touch. "Come on, Fire Lord, I won't bite," she teased, a twinkle glowing her in blue eyes.

After a moment, Zuko rolled his eyes and sat down next to her, almost no space between them. "You've been speaking with my mother?"

Katara ducked her head. "Yes, she is a wonderful person, so kind and genuine. You know, she actually reminds me so much of my own… my mom." She looked back up at him, a soft smile gracing her even softer features. "I'm truly happy that you found her and have had the chance to reconnect with her, I am. I did feel envious at first when I discovered that she was alive, that you had found her, but that was foolish of me. I'm sorry for that, Zuko, but I am so happy for you, that you get this second chance with your mom."

He smiled slightly, truth coloring his words. "Me too," he whispered. "I hadn't had much hope, actually. My father had searched and searched for her for over a decade, so I didn't think that I would locate her. It wasn't until I was four years into my reign when I found her." Katara stared at him curiously, quietly, blue eyes open. "I had sent spies everywhere, following in my father's footsteps, but all of the spies always returned with nothing to report, and I had begun to think that it was hopeless, that I would never find her, that she was truly dead and that I should just stop wasting resources."

"But then you found her," she finished, placing her hand over his own, and strangely enough, Zuko didn't mind the contact; in fact, he craved more of it.

He nodded his head, a laugh bubbling through his chest that quickly escaped his lips. "Yeah, it was complete luck that I did, in all honesty. It was an accident and when I confronted her, she tried to kill me."

"What?" Katara looked shocked and horrified.

He chuckled, trying to put her at ease. "Nothing really happened, and I don't blame her for attacking me. If it were me in her position, I would have reacted the same way except far more aggressively and violently." When he noticed that Katara still looked disturbed by his words, he explained: "I was in my Blue Spirit persona at the time when I encountered her."

"Why were you in your Blue Spirit persona?"

"I always head to towns to let off some steam on worthless thugs, Children of Fire who refuse to obey their Fire Lord; it is quite cathartic, actually."

Enlightenment shined in her ocean-like eyes. "Your mother is quite a skilled warrior, then. She battled the Fire Lord himself and still lives."

"Where do you think that Azula got all of her finesse and skill from?" Zuko asked rhetorically, "It wasn't from my father. But if I had actually wanted to kill her that night, if I hadn't realized that it was my mother, she would have died."

Katara frowned, avoiding that last expressed thought of his. "I thought that your father was the strongest Firebender in the world, or he was before Aang took away his firebending?"

"Yes, he was but he didn't become that way until after he met my mother. From everything that I've heard from the Noble Houses, my father was a late-bloomer, like me. Like father, like son," he muttered sullenly, tossing a large chunk of bread into the water.

Katara's hand squeezed his own and he drew strength from it. "The sins of the father do not fall to his children, Zuko, they are his alone. It took me a long time to see that, but when I did, I forgave you – and now, I'm willing to even give Azula a chance. You're not your father in spite of your physical similarities, okay? You aren't your grandfather or great-grandfather, either."

Zuko didn't necessarily agree with her assessment, but when he stared into her soft, blue eyes, he felt all of his emotions become controlled. "Thank you, Katara. I needed that," before she could react, he suddenly pulled her into a hug, her face nestling into his neck. He closed his eyes at the feel of her in his arms and when he felt her eyelashes flutter against his neck, Zuko inhaled slowly and finally released his anger towards her, letting it go, vanishing as thick smoke did after a mighty fire. "I forgive you, Katara, I forgive you."

She stilled for a second and then she began to tremble, and then he felt tears slide down his neck, collecting on his collar. "Thank you, Zuko," she gripped him fiercely, almost desperately and Zuko held her tightly.

"I hope that I'm not interrupting," his uncle's amused voice drifted into his ears, and his eyes snapped open. Staring down at them, his uncle's face was carved with joy and pride, and Zuko groaned inwardly; knowing his uncle, he would probably want to know every detail of what had happened and would probably begin to assume things that weren't true.

"What is it, uncle?"

"You are both needed, along with the others. I need to share information with you all," he watched as his uncle turned around and after standing to his feet, Zuko reluctantly followed, Katara trailing next to him.

After utilizing one of the many secret passages, they all arrived in Zuko's privy chambers and to his slight surprise, Sokka, Suki, and his mother were all waiting for them. His uncle sat in his customary position on the couch and grabbed the pot of tea. Falling back into something familiar, Zuko grabbed a cup and watched without annoyance as his uncle poured both of them a cup.

He slowly reclined on the couch, electing not to sit behind his desk and to his surprise and pleasure, Katara sat down next to him. Out of the corner of his good eye, he saw his mother raise an eyebrow from the other couch and smile.

Rolling his eyes at the undoubted train of thought that his mother had followed, he turned to his uncle. "So, what information is needed to be shared? Is something wrong? Has something come in from Aang or Azula?"

A hum of pleasure escaped his uncle's lips as he sipped his tea. "Relax, my nephew. Do you remember what I have often told you? There is a virtue in work and there is a virtue in rest."

Zuko groaned aloud, "I know, uncle. You've also quite often, mind you, said that a calm mind is the ultimate weapon against any challenge. Those two are your most-spoken proverbs."

He was taken aback when his uncle beamed at him, golden eyes glowing under Agni's light through the window. "Exactly, Zuko! Now, drink your tea, nephew, and relax. Can you do that? Is it so hard?"

Despite himself, he ignored his uncle's unintentional insult and sipped his tea, feeling content as the warm juice filled his mouth and slid down his throat, coating his tongue with a delectable flavor. He leaned back against the cushions, posture slouching, and he noticed that Katara looked on in amusement from her vantage next to him, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Okay, this all fun and dandy, but what's the reason you called this meeting, Iroh?" Sokka looked antsy, and Zuko finally noticed that there was a flush to his cheeks; after a moment, he realized why. Based on the looks that Sokka was giving Suki, those two had been interrupted during their 'alone time.'

His uncle sipped his tea again and sighed. "The Order of the White Lotus is why I wanted to speak with you all."

"What about it? Has Bumi sent you anything else?" Sokka questioned.

"Yes, he has. I have officially received word that the Order has been decimated. There are currently only three of us left whom we know of." Zuko looked on, astonished, as his uncle blinked heavily, features contorting into mourning.

Katara swallowed next to him, the sound audible to his ears from the stiff silence, everyone's disbelief tangible. "Only three?"

"Bumi, Pakku, and I are the only members besides Avatar Aang who remain of the Order of the White Lotus. It was Ozai, no doubt - I have no idea how he found our members, let alone our organization. Jeong Jeong and Piandao are both dead from what King Bumi has found."

"Piandao was killed?" Sokka looked at the sword strapped to his side in grief.

"I am sorry, Master Sokka. Piandao spoke often of your achievements. He was proud of you," his uncle consoled gently.

"This is, indeed, dreadful intelligence, Iroh. I offer my condolences to you," his mother smiled sadly. "They seemed like good people. Was this what you wanted to tell else? Was there anything else?"

"There was more, and it was also about the Order, Ursa."

Suki leaned forward, "How does the Order work exactly? What's so important about it?"

Iroh leaned back against the couch, eyes clouded. "That's one of the reasons I summoned you all here. The Order of the White Lotus was created by a female Water Tribe Avatar thousands of years ago after a terrible tragedy."

"Who was she?" Katara gestured to herself. "The only Water Tribe Avatar who I have heard of is Avatar Kuruk."

Zuko closed his eyes at that name. "I'm pretty certain that everyone has heard of Avatar Kuruk. His name and legacy are notorious."

"Yes, I used to regale you and Azula with bedtime stories when you were both young children about Avatar Kuruk." His mother's golden eyes hazed, looking toward the past. "That's when Azula became particularly fascinated by the tale of Koh, and Kuruk's vendetta against the Face Stealer."

"Wait," Sokka interrupted. "He was the one who had his wife stolen, wasn't he?"

"His wife's face was stolen," his mother corrected.

"Damn, that's right. How could I have confused it? It was her face!"

"Her body remained in the Mortal Realm. She must have died after only a minute because she couldn't breathe. Koh stole her face on Kuruk's wedding, as the legends say."

"Koh must be one fuckin' evil spirit, then," Sokka concluded with a shiver.

His uncle glared at him, shocking everyone. "Be mindful of how and to whom you potentially speak of, Master Sokka. The Face Stealer is of great power. He challenged an Avatar and still exists to tell the tale. He could just as easily steal your own face if you're not careful of your words."

"But what about the founder of the Order of the White Lotus, Iroh?" Katara looked exasperated. "Who was she, and when did she exist? How long ago?"

"There is no definitive answer as to when she reigned, Lady Katara, but I do know that her name was Avatar Keska. That's all that is known about her."

"How come there are no records of the Order, then?" Suki looked at the group, "There are records of Chin's conquest through the Earth Kingdom, the forming of the Kyoshi Warriors, and there are even sparse accounts of a cult who worshiped an Earth Avatar named Boruk, I believe his name was. That's all of the Earth Kingdom records, but what about the other nations? Shouldn't they have their own records that potentially show record of the White Lotus?"

Sokka shook his head, placing a hand on his wife's leg. "No, there's none in the Water Tribes as far as I know. Both my father and Arnook have shown me everything of both Tribes and there's no mention of the Order. What about the Fire Nation?"

"Nope, the Fire Nation only tends to focus on the Fire Nation in keeping records," Zuko informed them.

Katara huffed out a brief laugh, her blue eyes amused. "That's no surprise,"

Suki gestured with her arms, raising them in the air. "So, why are there no records detailing the Order of the White Lotus?"

Zuko looked to his uncle for the answer and watched as he breathed heavily and sipped his tea, seeming to consider how to answer Suki's questions. "The reason for the organization's creation was that the Order would keep balance between the Four Nations while a new Avatar was born and training, or during a time of absence – such as an Avatar's death or during a journey into the Spirit World. You see, from what I know, Avatar Keska's intention was that members of the Order would act as messengers for the Avatar because he or she, in spite of their supreme power, cannot be everywhere at once. Suffice to say, the Order is heavily shadowed by secrecy; very few believe it exists and even fewer knows that it does exist. I dare say, to answer your question, Lady Suki, that Avatar Keska intended to use the Order as a group of individuals who would stay in the shadows and be able to disappear from a battle like smoke; her own - the Avatar's own - personal army that fights for the greater good and their own will."

"The Order obviously needs to be rebuilt," Zuko said after a moment. "It must be, but how are you going to rebuild, uncle? Recalling history is nice and all, but that is not going to help us defeat Ozai and rebuild the Order!"

His uncle raised one of his bushy eyebrows. "Remember, nephew, those who forget their history- "

"Are doomed to repeat it," he interrupted, finishing the proverb that his uncle had quoted numerous times in his life. "I know, uncle. It's quite hard to forget when you've heard it countless times."

"You are right, of course, Zuko," his uncle chuckled and sipped his tea once more. "The other reason I called you here is to replenish the ranks of the Order."

Sokka leaned forward, looking intrigued. "Now that's a good idea. What's the command structure?"

"The Avatar is the sole commander of our legions, Master Sokka. Whatever the Avatar says, goes. After the Avatar, there are four Sages – one from each of the Four Nations. After the Sages, there are five Grandmasters – one from each element and a non-bender for the role of combat, which was Piandao before his… demise." His uncle paused, eyes closed with grief over his slain friend and Zuko quickly refilled his cup of tea, hoping to bring him some small level of comfort. "Then, there are five Masters of each element and combat. That would total twenty-five Masters and each Master would be the overseer of sixteen warriors and apprentices."

Sokka whistled, "That's over four-hundred members."

His uncle shook his head sadly, looking forlorn. "Those high numbers haven't existed since the Air Nomads roamed this world, Master Sokka. There has been no Sage, Grandmaster, Master, or any warriors and apprentices of Air for over a century."

"That's awful," Katara whispered. "We all know about the Genocide, but it is still shocking when faced with the true magnitude of such death."

Zuko closed his eyes in shame over what his bloodline had done, what his own great-grandfather had done: slaughtered an entire race, an innocent race all so that he could murder a child.

"What's your plan, Iroh?" His mother then asked with her hands sprawled on her thighs, hunched forward, distracting everyone from the morose thoughts. "How do you want to replenish the ranks of the Order of the White Lotus?"

"Before anything is done, I would need the Avatar's approval for any replenishing of the ranks, but I believe that Avatar Aang will approve of my ideas." Zuko watched his uncle lean forward to stare at everyone in the room. "I plan to be promoted to the Fire Sage and I hope that you, Ursa, will replace me as the Grandmaster of Fire."

"Me?" His mother exclaimed, looking astonished. "I cannot be- "

"You are an incredibly talented and strong Firebender, sister." His uncle stared at her intently. "Your deeds express as much, no matter how tainted you might view them. You are powerful, a prodigy. Besides myself and your children – along with Avatar Aang, of course – you are the strongest Firebender in the world. It would honor me if you accepted the position. There is no one more worthy."

His mother swallowed before she spoke. "Very well, Iroh, I will become the Grandmaster of Fire in the Order of the White Lotus – if Avatar Aang approves."

Zuko smiled, "I guarantee you that he will."

A small smile twitched at the corner of his mother's lips. "You will be the Sage of Fire, Iroh, I will be the Grandmaster of Fire, but who will be the five Masters of Fire?"

"Zuko and Azula will become the Masters of Fire."

"Azula?" Katara looked at his uncle in disbelief. "I know that I said that I would give her chance, but are you serious, Iroh?"

"Are you sure about that?" Zuko asked quietly, "It's risky."

"Yes, it is, nephew, but it's needed, you both are," his uncle nodded. "I am indeed serious, Lady Katara. Whether any of you like it or not, Azula is a strong Firebender and Avatar Aang trusts her. If the Avatar approves, you should as well." Upon seeing the thoughtful looks on everyone's faces, his uncle opened his mouth to continue, but Zuko spoke before he could.

"I'm the Fire Lord. How would I be a member – a Master, nonetheless – if I'm already occupied?" He demanded incredulously.

"You would be an honorary member, nephew; only masters can claim such a title. You will never be allowed to rise through the rankings, such as becoming Grandmaster or Sage of Fire until you are off of the Dragon's Throne."

Zuko exhaled in relief. "Good, because I do not want, nor need, any more responsibilities."

His uncle then continued his strategy for rebuilding the Order of the White Lotus. "I plan for King Bumi to ascend to the Earth Sage, and then to replace him, Lady Toph will become the Grandmaster of Earth. The girl is very strong. King Bumi's grandchildren could become Masters, but I don't know of any other Earthbenders who could become Masters. I was hoping that you would all have some ideas."

Sokka's eyes sparkled, "The Boulder!"

Katara rolled her eyes, "No, Sokka, don't be ridiculous."

"But it's perfect! He's strong, he's on our side, and… he's the Boulder!" Sokka declared dreamily.

His uncle cut in, "We will keep the Boulder in mind, Master Sokka. Is there anyone else who could potentially become a Master of Earth?"

"Haru," Katara said after a moment of thought and Zuko felt, to his surprise, jealousy sweep through his blood.

"Very well, the Boulder and Haru will be considered for Masters of Earth. Now, as for Water, Pakku will be promoted to the Water Sage and Lady Katara will become the Grandmaster of Water."

Katara flushed, "No, Iroh, I shouldn't be- "

"Now is not the time for modesty, Lady Katara. Besides Avatar Aang and Pakku, you are the strongest Waterbender in the world. I do not know of any other Waterbenders who could be considered a Master. Do any of you?"

"Huu?" Katara spoke up, "You know, from the Swamp."

His uncle nodded, "Yes, but what about from the Water Tribes? That's who I'm looking for."

Sokka and Katara shook their heads. "All of the kids in the South are kids, too young, and the North is pretty hostile with us, even Sokka. All of their Waterbenders are more loyal to the Water Tribes than to the Avatar."

"Yeah, I'm their Chief-to-be, but it's begrudgingly so in their minds – and actions, too."

A sigh escaped his uncle's lips. "That's what I was afraid of. Very well, for now, Lady Katara is the Grandmaster of Water and there will be no Masters. For the non-benders, I believe that- "

"We'll do it!" Sokka exclaimed, wrapping his arm around his wife. "We would be honored to join the Order of the White Lotus, Iroh"

His uncle chuckled, "Thank you, Master Sokka, but who will become the Grandmaster? Remember, there is no Sage of non-benders."

Sokka's eyes widened and he looked at his wife before glancing at all the amused faces. After a moment, he sighed heavily, "Suki will become the Grandmaster of Combat. She could kick my ass anytime that she wanted to," he admitted.

Suki kissed her husband on the cheek. "Thank you, Sokka," she turned back to his uncle. "I would be honored, Iroh – I accept."

His uncle smiled, "So, Lady Suki will become the Grandmaster of Combat, and Master Sokka will become one of the Masters of Combat in the Order. As for other Masters of Combat, I believe that the Ladies Mai and Ty Lee would be excellent choices to join, as well."

"What?" Katara's jaw dropped while Zuko stared at his uncle with his only eyebrow raised. "But they tried to kill Zuko! Why would you want them to join the Order, Iroh?"

Before anything more could be said, by Katara or anyone else, his uncle held up his hand, halting everyone. "I am well aware of their actions, Lady Katara, but I have remained unconvinced of their treachery. If they are found innocent, they will be able to join. If not, they won't be able to."

Sokka frowned, "Well, they are remarkable combatants."

Zuko brushed his fingers against his chest, where Mai's shuriken had been buried, thrown with the intent to kill. "Oh, yeah, they definitely are." Katara grabbed his hand and offered a reassuring smile, and he tried to smile back. "Very well, as long as they are innocent."

"What about Smellerbee and Longshot?" Sokka asked, "Any of the Freedom Fighters, really?"

Katara shrugged, her hand still holding his own. "I have heard nothing from any of them since the Great War ended."

"The Yu Yan Archers would be excellent members, nephew."

Zuko nodded his head at his uncle's words. "They never miss," he suddenly felt his shoulder begin to itch from where Zhao had ordered one of the Yu Yan Archers to shoot him when he had saved Aang all of those years ago.

His uncle sipped his tea, "I believe that we have created a plan, yes? Whenever Avatar Aang returns, I will discuss the Order's future with him, along with my suggestions and our agreed-upon plan. Does anyone else have anything to share?" When no one said anything, Zuko watched as his uncle placed his cup of tea to the side and stood up to stretch his arms. "I think that I will journey to the kitchen. It is midday, time for a refreshing meal; anyone is welcome to join me." He exited the room and after realizing that he was feeling hungry, he shrugged and stood his feet. The rest followed his actions and left his privy chambers with him, bypassing the Imperial Firebenders.

When Zuko noticed that Sokka and Suki had gone the opposite way towards the bedrooms, he rolled his eyes. He himself had slept with many women before, but he couldn't understand Sokka's need to always touch his wife. He definitely understood the appeal of a woman's flesh, but was it because Sokka loved Suki? Was there a difference between love and lust?

When he had been banished and stuck on that damned ship for years until he snared the elusive Avatar, the crew had taken him to many a brothel and every time, he had lost himself in the touch of women, feeling everything fade away in the face of the great pleasure they had always given him. On his thirteenth name-day, it had been the first time, and ever since then, he had slept with plenty of - too many - harlots since his ascension to the calling of Fire Lord. He never acted like Sokka, though, unable to keep himself from acting foolish. For all of the whores, he has never felt anything except lust towards them and in some rare times, after his crushing loneliness had abated, disgust for himself.

Perhaps there was a difference between the lust that he felt for all of those whores and the love that Sokka obviously felt for Suki. Now, looking at Katara from out of the corner of his good eye, Zuko realized that, just maybe, there was a chance that he could have what Sokka had.

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Azula felt furious with Aang and she was certain that it was because he had treated her as if she was some damsel in distress who had to be sent away from a scuffle, and because he had allowed Vaatu to corrupt Devi when she was in the Dark Spirit's grasp. The latter did, in spite of her best efforts, fill her with affection, but she refused to be a damsel. Aang shouldn't have forced her spirit away back to her body; together, they could have worked together. To his credit, he did defeat them all, something that revealed to her the true depths of his power, but because Azula wasn't there, because Aang didn't have any help, Vaatu, her father, Agni, and Devi all escaped.

To her slight shame, she had been avoiding Aang ever since he had returned from the Spirit World. All that she knew was that he has been teaching Samir airbending with wooden poles, and she was grateful to him that he hadn't tried to search for her. She had needed to think and evaluate her options and after much contemplation, she had come to two options: choose to ignore him and push him away, or she could let him explain himself.

Although she knew that logic dictated that the latter choice was the correct one, it didn't mean that she particularly liked it.

Having cemented her decision in her mind, Azula wandered the halls of the Temple, looking for Aang. As she passed beautiful murals depicting Air Nomads and Sky Bison, she wished that she could have seen what the Temple had looked like before Sozin was manipulated – he wasn't the villain of the story! – into starting the whole Great War by slaughtering the inhabitants of this very Temple, along with the others.

Many a time, since their arrival at the Eastern Air Temple, she had caught Aang's longing looks to rooms that were now sparse; it must have been truly beautiful before the Great War, filled with Airbenders and life and freedom. After the revelation that Aang had been attacked by phantoms of his past after Ba Sing Se's slaughter, Azula had observed him closely, watching him. When he had thought that no one was looking, she had watched Aang stare at nothing – like a wall or pillar – in a mixture of anguish and joy, moving his head around as if he was watching someone.

Eventually, she had realized that he must have been seeing – and still did see – the spirits of the Airbenders who lived in the Temple before Sozin's genocide. His words in the Fire Nation had confirmed as much: "When at the Air Temples, I would often see the spirits of my slain kin even though I have already given them their proper burials and rights." Azula couldn't imagine how hard it must be for him to witness the spirits of his butchered kin roaming the Air Temples.

Finally, after walking to her favorite fountain, she found Aang speaking with Toph, who tilted her head in Azula's direction, but shockingly, didn't call her out on eavesdropping. Feeling curious, she listened to the conversation.

"Pathik has helped me realize how selfish I've been ever since I have met you, Katara, and Sokka." Toph's voice was quiet but carried strength.

Aang was clearly confused. "What? No, Toph, you've never- "

"Don't do that, Aang. Yes, I have!" From her vantage point, she watched as Aang's handsome face suddenly became flat, and she saw Toph grimace. "Yes, you know, you always have, haven't you?" She muttered, arms wrapped around her midsection in a rare case of vulnerability.

Looking at his earthbending teacher, Aang placed a hand on her shoulder. "Without you, we would have never won the Great War. I'm glad that you have finally found clarity."

"You don't get it!" She whirled around, glaring at Aang, and Azula raised a brow in response to the sight that greeted her golden eyes.

Aang's face hardened slightly. "My apologies, then, Toph." Azula was eerily reminded of how Aang had treated the prick, Kuei in Ba Sing Se. Based on Toph's pale features, she was as well. "What don't I understand?"

Toph huffed, bangs flying away from her eyes, a sign of false bravado. "I was so selfish, Aang. This is the first time that I have really spent any time with you since the Great War ended. That's eight fuckin' years. What kind of friend does that make me? I can tell you: a shitty one."

Azula knew the moment when Toph's words had resounded with Aang. His body slouched and his hands rubbed his face in weariness. "Look, Toph, I…" he trailed off.

Toph wiped what suspiciously looked like a stray tear from her cheek. "I just simply left after a few weeks after Sparky's coronation to become Fire Lord. I wrote no letters to you and we both know that I could have easily had someone write it for me, especially when I was with my parents and at Omashu."

"We all needed a break from one another, methinks, but yes, you're right."

"I've never thanked you. You changed my entire life for the better; you opened up a world of possibilities that I would never have imagined, Aang! You saved me from a life of bitter monotony!"

To Azula's slight surprise, Aang pulled Toph in for a brief hug, tattooed arms stretching around the Earthbender's back. "I know," his words were whispered, "and I'm not going to lie to you, I've been very angry with all of you guys for a long time – I still am, actually. It wasn't easy being alone, you know?" Toph flinched and Aang released her from the hug. "I'm still angry with you guys but I do swear that one day, I will forgive you, all of you."

"How long will 'one day' be?"

"I don't know."

Toph glanced in Azula's direction and smiled sadly. "I understand, Aang. I think that I hear Samir calling my name." She raced away from the fountain, and when she neared Azula she slowed down for a moment. "Good luck," she murmured and turned, following the Temple's spiraling hall.

Turning back, Azula stared at Aang, trying to figure out how she wanted to discuss her anger. Quickly, she collected her thoughts into creating a reasonable argument and she-

"Are you going to just stand there?" Aang still had his back to her, somehow feeling her presence, interrupting her thought process.

After overcoming her shock, she stepped toward him. "Earthbending?" She asked, assuming that he used the ability that Toph used to see things and people.

Aang shook his head and turned around to face her. "No, airbending," he said simply.

Azula narrowed her golden eyes. "Airbending? How could you know I was there with airbending? You can do that?"

"Of course, I can. I can feel the vibrations in the air before people even move; every breath that a person takes is a song in my soul. I see everything around me with airbending, similar to Toph's ability to see with earthbending."

"That's pretty incredible," she admitted, finally stepping next to him. They were both silent for several moments and she breathed deeply, sorting her thoughts into a thorough list that communicated all of her points about why she was furious with him.

"I'm sorry, Azula."

At his words, she blinked, wondering if she had imagined it. "What?" She asked dumbly, feeling foolish the moment when the words left her lips.

Aang softly took her hands into his own and led her to the fountain. They sat on the ledge, legs touching, "I'm sorry," he stared into her eyes - golden vs gray. "What I did, I apologize sincerely to you. I was scared and I didn't know what to do. You didn't have your inner fire and we were up against four – well, I guess it was technically three since your father and Dark were briefly merged – powerful beings. Dark had already proved that he was willing to use you against me and I didn't want you to get hurt. I couldn't lose you. I've lost so much, too much. I only had a moment's notice to react," he breathed deeply and stared at the water in the fountain, and she watched him intently, willing to try to understand. "I made a decision, Azula, one that seemed correct at the time. I don't know if it was actually the right one, but I can't take that back; there's nothing that I can do to change what I did, how I failed. I'm sorry that I forced you out of the Spirit World and broke your trust."

Azula kept her face blank, not allowing any emotion to show. She felt relief that he did, in fact, understand why she was mad. She had calmly listened to his reasoning and she was able to admit that, from his point-of-view, what he did actually made sense. He was right: she had had only access to spiritual lightning – which was a lot harder to create than regular lightning – and she was pitted against her father who was temporarily merged with Vaatu, and two of the corrupted Elemental Spirits themselves. In hindsight, even with Aang on her side to protect her, she was able to admit that her odds of survival were not bountiful.

After a brief moment, she looked at Aang's form and allowed emotion to color her voice, glaring at him. "I am not a damsel in distress, Avatar. I understand your reasoning, and even agree with it, but what I do not agree with was you allowing Dark to corrupt Devi because of me, incorporating Earth into his ever-increasing power, and then forcing my spirit back into my body in the face of trouble, thus leaving you to face the threat all by yourself."

"I know."

"I'm not sure that you truly do, Avatar," she gestured to herself, trying to force him to understand. "What if I did to you what you did to me? What if I forced you to leave me to face a dangerous threat? What if I was fighting my father or the corrupted Agni and refused your aid, sending you away from the location and battle?"

She was pleased with the knowledge that now shined in Aang's gray orbs as he swallowed thickly and clenched his fists, the water in the fountain reacting as ripples swept through, waves lashing up towards where they sat on the edge. "I wouldn't like it. I would be… angry."

Azula nodded her head. "That's right, Avatar," she placed her hand on his now-tense arm. "Now do you understand what I felt, why I was so angry with you about what you did?"

"Yes, I do, Azula," his gray orbs locked onto her golden ones, and she was struck by the seriousness in them. "I won't promise you that I will not do something like that again because such an oath is completely unrealistic, but what I will promise you is that I will consult with you beforehand if there is time available."

She didn't answer for several seconds, ruminating over his words, and she noticed that anxiety and nervousness began to grip Aang's frame. At the sight, recognizing that he was truly fearful of such things, she felt her anger begin to fade away. "It sounds as if we have come to an accord, Aang. I can accept that."

Before she could even react, he grinned in relief and crushed her into his chest, and instinctively, she nestled her face in the crook of his neck. "I'm glad, Azula," his head rested on her own, and Azula wasn't afraid to admit that it felt pleasurable, safe, and even loving.

Moments passed and when she began to feel the urge to press her lips against his neck, she quickly changed the subject. "What element will my father acquire next? What Elemental Spirit will Dark seek to find to corrupt?" She questioned into his neck, feeling him stiffen minutely as her hot breath collided against his skin.

Aang sighed into her hair, relaxing after an instant. "He will seek to acquire water and then air. Remember, Dark is the complete opposite of me; because your father is his vessel, he will master the elements in the opposite order."

"And since you learned in the order of air, water, earth, and then fire, my father will do the opposite: fire, earth, water, and air."

"Very good, yes. Thankfully, Dark doesn't know where the Ocean and Moon Spirits are. Besides the Lion Turtles and myself, they are the only ones who can gift waterbending."

"They're at the Northern Water Tribe, correct? Isn't that what you told me?"

"Yes, that's where they are at. I don't know if your father knows, actually. I just know that Dark doesn't. Admiral Zhao somehow found out, so do you think that he would have told your father?"

"I always despised that man. Zhao was nothing more than a second son who dreamed of being someone greater than his betters. I was happy when news reached the Caldera of his demise."

"Do you think that he told your father of the location of the Ocean and Moon Spirits, though?"

"How did he even find out their location?"

"I suspect that it was from Wan Shi Tong's Library. Because Zhao was able to gain the knowledge, it was he who killed the Moon Spirit, which resulted in the Moon vanishing from the sky. He succeeded and because of that, Princess Yue of the Northern Water Tribe gave up her life to return the Moon to existence."

"I already know that, Aang. To answer your question: personally, I would wager all of the coffers in the Fire Nation that Zhao did not tell anyone about it. He was selfish beyond egotism," she felt disgust sweep through her. "His aim had been to marry into the Fire Royal Bloodline."

Aang's grip on her tightened almost painfully. "You mean…" he trailed off and she felt pleased by the great, sudden heat of his body; the fact that his anger was great enough to trigger his firebending showcased his affection for her, whether intentional or not.

"There was much correspondence between Zhao and my father about the possibility of a marriage between him and me." Azula dug her fingers into Aang's back, feeling the memories of that horror surface. "It was almost finalized before the Invasion of the Northern Water Tribe. My father had said that pending an agreement on my dowry, I was to marry that fucking brute on my sixteenth birthday. Never before or since have I celebrated someone's death as much as I did Zhao's when I learned the news."

"I'm… glad that you didn't marry that- that hate-infected man." Aang said into her hair, his arms holding her without escape, and Azula had no intention of leaving them. "I never liked him, even when I was a child. At 12-years-old, I could glimpse the depravity beneath the surface. I was always wary of him."

"He and my father got along fabulously, I can assure you."

"That comes as no surprise, does it?"

Azula nodded in his neck, and when she felt him shiver slightly at the movement, she smirked in victory. "Enough about Zhao, Aang. What about the Air Spirit? Do you know where he or she is at?"

She felt Aang frown even though she couldn't see his face. "She," he said unconsciously, and that was interesting. Fire and Ocean were male while Earth, Air, and the Moon were all female, "No, I don't know where she's at. She had to have been weakened severely from the Genocide…" he trailed off, obviously trying to think of where the Air Spirit was located.

"Since you don't know where she's at, do you at least know her name? That might make it easier, right? Names have power, so couldn't you somehow trace that power?"

"Her name is Indra, and that's a sound theory, but based on what I know, it wouldn't work."

"Well, we might want to consider consulting Pathik about Indra. He might have ideas that are worth heeding."

"That could be beneficial."

Azula smirked against his neck. "Just like everything I do and say," she said with a mockful air of arrogance and his laughter was a pleasing sound.

"Maybe not everything," he teased before he fell silent.

She could smell him, his odor that smelled of the elements themselves. Nestling even further into him, she closed her golden eyes and was content to simply stay there for as long as Aang allowed it.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Aang helped Pathik make an Air Nomad dish that he didn't even know existed, a delight that, based on the small scraps that he had sneakily procured, would rival Fruit Pies. Samir currently sat on Aang's shoulders, leaning down to pet Momo who was curled on Aang's head, twisted into his hair. When Pathik would become engaged with another part of the meal, Toph would tap her foot against the stone, causing a small rumble which would smack a piece of food into her waiting hand. He glanced towards the entrance to the pantry, wishing that Azula would awake from her nap; she hadn't been seen since their talk at the fountain.

Pathik stirred the meal with a wooden spoon. "Aang, the meal is almost ready. Will you please wake Azula? I would not want her to miss such a delectable treat because Toph keeps stealing it."

"Hey!" Toph shouted, "Don't accuse me of stealing!"

"But you are, Toph. Must I smell your breath to convince you?" When Toph sulked against the wall, Pathik chuckled, glancing back at him. "Just put Samir down and then you can wake Azula from her nap. I hope that she feels refreshed."

Aang nodded and slowly lowered Samir off of his shoulders, ignoring Momo's irritated chirps as his animal flew to Toph's shoulder. "I'll be right back," he announced as he exited the pantry.

As he passed through the halls of the Air Temple, he realized how it looked like he remembered, except, of course, for the lack of Airbenders. Aang then thought back to Pathik's words: "Perhaps you have finally found someone who would be willing to support you as the Avatar by being your wife and help you restore the Air Nomads to their rightful place in this world, prepared to bear an entire nation through her body alone."

He had kept thinking about those words since his friend had spoken them. Was he right? Would Azula be willing? Would she bear the title of Mother to an entire nation? It seemed possible the more time passed. Samir already viewed her as a mother and Azula hasn't, from what he could tell, seemed too bothered by it. In fact, he had watched as she seemed to treat Samir like a mother would; at least how he thought that a mother would treat a child.

Since meeting Samir, Aang had to admit that it would fall to him to raise her, to adopt her as his own daughter. Her mother, the whore in Ba Sing Se had given her up when she was an infant and since she was an Airbender, no one else could help her, train her; none of the Gaang would take her even though Katara would say that she would. Samir had grown on him, and he was fond of her, just as he had said to Koh. She was so similar to how he remembered himself being before his identity as the Avatar was announced. She might not have been borne of Air, but she was an Airbender if there ever was one, and then there was the fact that she seemed to adore Azula.

But would Azula help him restore his dead culture? Would she be willing to bear children who were Airbenders instead of Firebenders? Since Samir was, in essence, his child now, especially since she looked like him, would she help him raise her into a worthy Air Nomad and strong woman? He hoped that she would, and it became more apparent to him with each passing day since he had mastered his chakras that he desired her as his wife, that he wanted no one else, that he would accept no one else. He wanted her to be the mother of his children, whether they were Airbenders or not. She had expressed a strong interest in his culture and that brought great relief, a fierce hope that, in time, the two of them could create something. If she did become his wife, he was more than aware of the irony: one of the heirs to Sozin would be the Mother of the Air Nomads.

Finally reaching Azula's quarters, he entered, prepared to rouse her gently, but he was perplexed when a rumpled bed with no occupant met his gray eyes. He blinked and looked around the room, wondering where she was. The desk in the corner had an opened scroll about Air Nomad culture, something about clothing, was lying in the center. The candles in the room were still lit, bathing the room in a majestic orange color, and he knew then that Azula wasn't in the room. The candles would have been blue; her very presence would have affected the small flames. Finding no clues as to her whereabouts, he closed his eyes and reached out with his senses, feeling the air and earth around him. Nothing. He focused solely on the earth, stretching his senses, but besides the normal vibrations of the Temple and Pathik, Toph, Samir, Appa, and Momo, he couldn't feel Azula.

Where was she?

He hesitantly exited the room, trying to figure out where she could be, but when he got nowhere, he decided to try and feel the fire and water around him through the Temple. After several moments, he felt the heat surrounding him and Agni's rays; water entered his vision as he felt all of the many fountains in the Temple and the lakes below the Temple.

There!

He could feel her now and she was at one of the fountains on the other side of the Temple. No, wait, she was in one of the fountains. In an instant, Aang smiled in understanding – she was washing her clothes. It was ironic for that very fountain where Azula was washing her clothes was the same fountain where he had met Appa; where Mother Superior Lio had brought them to the baby Sky Bison.

Aang levitated off the ground and flew to the fountain. As he approached, he began to feel her with his airbending and when he rounded the corner, he abruptly stopped, floating in the air, jaw dropped as he realized that he had been mistaken, that he had stumbled upon a sacred and private moment.

Azula was bathing.

Her garbs were tossed over the edge of the fountain and her pale, white skin encompassed his vision. Her black hair cascaded down her back into the water, strands of hair becoming curled inside the fountain.

Aang swallowed and willed himself to leave, to remove himself from this major breach of privacy, from the enticing sight of Azula's bare back, but even though his mind ordered his body to turn around and fly away, his heart wouldn't allow him to.

He may be the Avatar, hailed as a god by the Four Nations, but he was still just a man. He held the same desires as any man and the same weaknesses, too. Now that he had witnessed the sight of the most beautiful woman who he'd ever seen bathing, the same woman who he loved, he was unable to do anything but succumb to his weakness, gray eyes riveted on beautiful, pale skin.

XxXxXxXxXxX

After waking from her slumber, Azula had realized that she hadn't truly bathed since she was at the Fire Nation, which was over a month ago. After the horror of such a revelation, she had remembered seeing a fountain near her quarters, isolated away from everyone else, so she journeyed there, eager to sink into the refreshing water, eager to wash away the filth that certainly coated her body. When she had managed to locate the fountain, she gratefully slipped out of her garments and then sank into the cool blue liquid, feeling it soak into her muscles, leisure sweeping through her.

Azula was happy they had all been able to take some time off and relax after mastering chakras and Ba Sing Se's slaughter – especially for Aang. It was so peaceful, beautiful, and freeing at the Eastern Air Temple, more so than any other place where she had been. She loved it, and if she were honest, she could see herself living at the Temple, residing in peace and freedom. It was nothing like the Caldera, not one bit; there, expectations had always bore down on her like the heavens itself, crushing her under the insurmountable weight, and most importantly, memories did not lurk around every corner in the Temple conformed into the shape of her father.

She grabbed the rag, the one that she had taken from Ember Island, the very same one that she had used when she was a young girl, and sufficiently began to rub the grime off of her skin, leaving it smooth and clean. She didn't rush, instead choosing to take her time as she was reminded of how good it felt to simply bathe, to feel the relaxation course through her body. Within moments, Azula dipped her head back into the water, soaking her hair and when she raised her head back up, the hair was left plastered to her bare and wet back. Rivulets of clear water ran down her skin and curves, and when she slowly stood up, a sudden gust of air felt cool against her refreshed skin.

Her eyes widened in delight as she realized where, or from whom the air had come – she was certain of it! She smirked in pleasure at the prospect of Aang watching her bathe.

When he had spoken of his ability to see objects with airbending earlier, Azula had realized that she must be able to do the same with firebending. Everyone had a certain body temperature; Firebenders burn hotter than anyone, and if she focused, she should be able to see her surroundings, see things through the heat given off of objects and people.

Azula closed her golden eyes briefly, focusing on her inner flame. She began looking for warmth elsewhere, away from herself and she was rewarded when she felt a beacon of incredible and sizzling heat behind her, floating in the air, almost touching the roof of the Temple. Feeling wicked and playful, she opened her eyes and bent over, intentionally tossing her hair over her shoulder as she stretched. She smirked when she heard it, a slight sound, but enough to tell her that she was affecting the usually-calm Avatar. Ever since they had been forced together by the winds of fate on Ember Island, she had always known that he possessed excellent self-control, but she wasn't about to allow that to keep her from securing proof that he was attracted to her; Azula loved a challenge, always had.

She abruptly turned around, keeping her gaze calm and straight ahead, golden eyes innocently staring at the entryway to the halls. Silence echoed and instead of feeling disappointment, she felt motivated. Azula then stretched her curves, pushing her breasts out as she swayed on her feet. When she heard another hitched breath, she closed her eyes once more to feel Aang with her firebending, and she felt pleasure and triumph sweep through her when she felt his warmth; he rivaled an erupting volcano, the very Royal Fire Catacombs itself.

She opened her eyes and tilted her head up, golden eyes meeting shocked and wide gray eyes. "Is something wrong, Aang?" She purred innocently and mischievously.

XxXxXxXxXxX

When Azula had first turned around, naked body bare for his eyes to roam, Aang had almost lost control of his airbending. He hadn't been able to look away, but when she looked up into his eyes, asking him if 'something was wrong,' he did lose control, crashing to the ground harshly.

He was immediately on his feet in a blurred motion, pain a distant echo in his mind. "No, Azula… I'm- well, you see… food…" he trailed off, swallowing thickly as his eyes were riveted on the sway of breasts that were hypnotizing orbs of flesh.

Azula frowned, seeming unperturbed that he had been watching her bathe, that he was currently gazing at her nude form. "Are you all right, Aang? Your face is flushed, you're breathing heavily, your eyes are glazed, and there's a… bulge in your pants."

Embarrassment swept through him, and with immense willpower – and disappointment, too – he tore his gaze away from the glorious view of her to reluctantly stare at his feet, trying to force his arousal out of existence. "Yes, I'm… fine, Azula. Um… the meal is ready. Pathik asked me to- to come to get you."

"Oh, I had no idea. Will you grab my garments and bring them to me?"

He refrained from immediately raising his head, instead staring at her garbs tossed over the edge of the fountain. "Sure," he stepped closer, wondering dimly why she didn't grab them herself, but when he touched the fabric, his eyes rose and when he was once again enchanted and overcome by the enticing view that Azula presented, he wasn't coherent enough to keep the garments from slipping out of his numb fingers and into the water.

Melodious laughter echoed as Azula shook with amusement, causing her breasts to jiggle, and her supple and soft-looking lips were curved into a smirk. "Do you see something that you like, Avatar?"

He spluttered, looking down at the floating, drenched clothes. "Your clothes- "

"You didn't answer the question, Avatar. Answer it. Do you like what you see, what I present?" Azula's voice carried amusement and fondness and something else that he refused to dwell on.

He looked back up at her one last time and before he could hesitate and stop himself, he swallowed and then bolted back towards the pantry where Pathik and the others were undoubtedly waiting for him. When he blazed into the pantry, he ignored everyone's questions and simply tried to calm the rushing feelings through his body, distract himself from the memory of Azula's mesmerizing flesh, but he wasn't successful.

Eventually, he raised a platform for a table and sat down to bow his head, inhaling slowly and deeply. Once he became suitably calm after minutes of silence, he finally opened his eyes, and it was to the sight of Azula stepping into the pantry. Aang's jaw dropped when he glimpsed the Air Nomad garbs that she was wearing. She met his gaze and smiled at him coyly. "My other clothes were ruined - Fire Nation silk is so hard to mend when it gets wet. I found these," she gestured to her new garments, "in one of the rooms. I needed something to wear, so I hope that you don't mind, Aang."

He swallowed, "No, not at all, Azula." If he had thought that she was beautiful before, it was insignificant compared to what he now thought of her. The fact that she was, of her own accord, wearing his nation's colors filled him with emotions and he continued to simply nod his head after his words, too afraid to say anything else. In fact, because he was so overwhelmed, because he didn't want her to stop wearing them, he didn't mention that he could easily repair her Fire Nation silk by waterbending the liquid out of the fabric. He was selfish, but right now, as he stared at her, he couldn't bring himself to care.

He briefly wondered if she knew the significance and implications of her choosing to dawn the Air Nomad clothing. Aang could remember Gyatso revealing to him before the Great War that when a woman came of marrying age and found her husband, she would distance herself away from her birth family and become an integral focal point in her husband's family, mothering the new generation. This was done by the styling of clothing and if the woman's husband was of a different nation than she herself was, which wasn't necessarily uncommon for anyone not of Royal or High Blood, the woman would only wear the garments of her husband's nation, declaring herself part of the new nation, showing her loyalty and love for him.

Surely Azula had no idea what her actions conveyed; surely Aang was continuing to hold onto the past too much, and he refused to acknowledge the utter love and happiness that drowned his heart at the thought of him being wrong, of her knowing exactly what it meant. Azula declaring herself an Air Nomad who could bend fire was only a thing of his fantasies – it couldn't be true! If it were, then it would mean that Azula was willing to distance herself from the Fire Nation, from her home for Aang; he couldn't possibly have found someone who would joyfully bear him Airbenders, would support him in everything! He was overwhelmed by the possibilities and he looked back at her.

Azula smiled at him and then looked down as Samir pulled on her hand. He didn't pay attention to what they were conversing about; he was focused on her. Once, she had been the worst of his enemies, even more than Ozai and Zuko, her own family. Now, she was easily the most important person in his life, the person who he saw himself sharing a future with, the woman who he saw as the Mother of the new Air Nomads, the mother of his children, the woman who would support him, challenge him, accept the darkest parts of him that had spilled so much blood, and who would always be honest with him. The fact that she was also the most beautiful woman who he'd ever seen, and that she could easily handle herself against any opposition, were mere accompaniments that added to his affection towards her.

Aang felt his lips curl into a soft smile as Azula held up a hand towards Samir, blue flames perfectly controlled so that the girl wouldn't be burned, and the new Airbender giggled and pointed at it while Azula chuckled. Maybe, he could finally tell her how he felt; perhaps he could tell her that he loved her fiercely and, with it, bring peace to his life for the first time since before he was known as the Avatar.

XxXxXxXxXxX

The five residents of the Eastern Air Temple sat around the circular platform that Aang had created after the fountain incident. They all ate together contentedly; food was passed around and he was able to witness the Temple truly come alive again for the first in over a century. Since the Great War, the energy of the Temple had been broken, withered and splintered to the bone, but now, it was whole and something beautiful. Aang felt tears prick his eyes as a sight that he had never thought that he would see again assaulted his eyes.

Samir sat on his right and she ate Pathik's vegetarian dish happily, and when she began to eat her dessert first, a Fruit Pie that Aang had made her, her own gray eyes gleamed in the light of Agni's setting light. He was happy to see that Samir was satisfied without meat, but if he were honest, he knew that her satisfaction with such a change wouldn't last; she was a child who already knew the taste of meat, and sooner or later, she would demand that meat be a part of her meals. Aang couldn't blame her, nor did he; he was well aware that some of the Air Nomad traditions would die with him. He understood that and had long since made his peace with the revelation.

Azula sat to his left, body almost leaning against his own, and it was more than distracting. The images were still permanently burned into his mind and it was difficult to think of things other than her, how beautiful she was. Instead of focusing on the images in his mind, he tried to simply watch her without thoughts of her beauty. She was currently snacking on a Fruit Pie herself and it was a relief to know that she approved of the treat since he had shown it to her; she consumed them with gusto each time. She saw his eyes and smirked at him, fingers darting toward his plate to steal small scraps. She then popped them into her mouth, golden eyes glowing with mirth.

Toph and Pathik sat across from him speaking about the value of true honesty and what it brought to relationships, whether they were friendships or something more. From his vantage point, even though her milky eyes were trained at nothing or no one, in particular, Toph seemed to be listening intently to everything that Pathik was telling her. Aang was glad that his earthbending teacher was now maturing; it was a sign that she had been serious about her words by the fountain before he had apologized to Azula. Maybe since she had begun to take those steps, maybe the others would, too; maybe they would realize their errors and Aang could finally heal himself, bridging the rift between them all.

"Look!" Samir tapped his arm, a smear of juice staining her cheek. "There's a bird over there!"

His senses immediately were on alert and he did feel the bird approach towards the Temple with his airbending. He looked towards the direction and he felt dread at the sight.

It was a Warhawk.

Aang jumped up to his feet and he dimly noticed that Azula followed his actions. He ran to the edge and held out his arm and the Warhawk obediently landed, talons gripping into his skin, pinching with abandon, and he hissed at the pain. Azula brushed her fingers over the Warhawk's beak and the talons thankfully loosened. With the pain fleeing, he saw the Fire Lord's personal insignia on the message and felt something crawl up his spine. He slowly pulled the message out of the capsule and once he did so, the Warhawk abruptly darted off of his arm and flew to the table, picking scraps off of Azula's plate.

"It's from Zuzu," Azula noted quietly, standing next to him, seeming to realize that something was wrong. "I wonder what could have happened now. Do you think that my father attacked the Caldera?"

"I doubt it. He and Dark would have boasted of such a thing when we had met them in the Spirit World."

"You never know, though. If my father is anything, he's maliciously cunning and sly – and everything that we've heard about Dark suggests the same. They may have said nothing in order to lure us into a false sense of security, thinking that Zuzu, my mother, Uncle Iroh, and the others were safe."

He agreed and opened the scroll. "That's true, but here's what it says:

Aang,
I write this letter with a heavy heart, my friend. Something terrible has happened: the Order of the White Lotus has somehow been slaughtered off by my father; my uncle has received letters from King Bumi of Omashu and we've learned that only 3 members remain of the Order from the original 200 plus. Those who remain are my uncle, King Bumi, and a waterbending Master named Pakku. Katara has informed me that he is the man who taught you two for a short time at the Northern Water Tribe during the Great War. I'm sorry for the devastating losses to your organization, Aang. It brings me great distress to be the one to notify you of such hateful intelligence, but I'm afraid that it doesn't end. There's more to this message; it won't be a happy one.

All of the Fire Sages of the various Fire Avatar Temples, save for several who had been found dead, have abandoned their post, their very duties. I have ruminated over this with great care and after many appraisals, I fear that they have all joined my father and Vaatu, choosing to forsake you and betray us all. If that is the case, many of the leading spiritual experts in the world – save for yourself, of course – now serve the Spirit of Chaos and Darkness and my father. None of us here know what to do now.

We have all heard about what had happened with that bastard, Kuei. Are you, Azula, and Toph all right? More importantly, is Appa all right? My uncle told us that he was shot down, but was later seen flying away from Ba Sing Se. I can't imagine what you have been dealing with, Aang, but I don't know what to do. All of these trials with Vaatu are beyond my expertise; I know only about mortal affairs. You alone are the foremost ruler of the immortal spirits and their workings. We need your help. Please return to the Fire Nation and tell us everything that has happened, anything that you might have found. We need to all be together to defeat Vaatu. Please come, my friend.
Fire Lord Zuko."

Azula leaned her head on his shoulder to read the letter herself as Aang was deprived of utterance. The Order was gone, killed off until only three remained? The Fire Sages had betrayed him again? They had chosen to follow Ozai, follow Vaatu instead of him? After several moments, the letter fell out of his numb fingers, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Azula easily pluck it out of the air.

"We must leave immediately. Zuzu is right," she said, golden eyes serious. He found that he desperately missed the spark that had been there earlier.

"I know," he solemnly walked back to the others and sat down at the platform, staring forlornly at the remains of his meal; he was no longer hungry.

Toph immediately noticed the change in his behavior, his back stiffening, milky eyes rooted onto him. "What happened? What's wrong? You feel like shit- sorry, I mean terrible."

Aang couldn't speak, couldn't put the terrible news into words, but he didn't need to. Azula thankfully took over for him.

"We need to leave," she looked at Pathik, placing a steady hand on Samir's shoulder. "My brother, Fire Lord Zuko, through the Warhawk, has notified Aang about a problem that he had had no knowledge of. Forgive us, Pathik, but all of us must depart."

Pathik shook his head, "Don't be sorry, Azula. I have finished everything that I can teach all of you. You should heed your brother's message and journey swiftly."

Aang was finally able to form words. "Thank you, Pathik," he nodded his head in respect to his mentor.

"The honor has been mine, my friend."

"We're leaving?" Samir suddenly asked and he noticed that tears welled in her gray eyes.

Azula's hand squeezed her shoulder and she crouched down, face kind but serious. "Yes, we're going to the Fire Nation, to my brother's home. We're going to travel on Appa. Do you remember how much fun that it was the first time?"

Samir beamed; her tears were forgotten. "He did a flip!"

"He did, didn't he?" Azula chuckled softly, "We can always come back to the Temple, Samir. Now run along and quickly gather your things. We don't have much time, okay?" The girl nodded and ran off.

"What happened, Twinkletoes?" Toph was frowning severely.

"The Order of the White Lotus has somehow been destroyed by Dark and Ozai. Zuko wrote the letter and to top it off," he felt a hysterical laugh burst through his lips. "The Fire Sages have now joined Dark and Ozai. First, it was Kuei, the Council of Five, and the Dai Li, but now he's stolen the loyalty of the Fire Sages, my own personal followers!" Azula's hand on his shoulder grounded him and kept his control in check. "I suggest that you take with you what you want to, Toph. We need to leave immediately."

"Of course," she nodded and suddenly followed Samir's example, dashing out of the area and into the Temple to gather her own things, although he had no idea what possessions she had with her.

He calmed himself and whistled for Appa, waiting for his best friend to land before him – and Momo, too. He felt Azula's presence next to him and he sighed heavily. "We're losing," he didn't say anything else because he knew that she would understand.

Her hand gently stroked his shoulder and he drew strength from it. "Not for long, Aang. We've been underestimating them, methinks. Now we know not to do such a thing. Indeed, my father and Dark are growing stronger each day." She suddenly entered his vision and smirked. "Of course, with me on your side, you won't have to worry much longer. I'm not going anywhere."

Before he could respond, Appa and Momo suddenly landed before them both, showing their displeasure, animal faces pinched in anger. "Yes, I know, guys, but we must leave." Aang leaped into the saddle, checking to make sure that everything was tied properly, checking that all of his things were there. "Do you have everything, Azula?" When he received no answer, he looked over the saddle and saw Azula conversing with Pathik quietly. "Azula! Do you have everything?"

She said one last thing to Pathik, and his mentor followed the path that Toph and Samir had taken. Azula stepped closer to Appa, softly petting his arrow. "Yes, I do, Aang. I hope that you don't mind if I continue to wear these garbs. My others are ruined, and although I'm sure that you would enjoy it, I don't want to ride nude."

He ignored her observation about his attraction towards her, instead shaking his head, focusing solely on her attire. Aang shook his head quickly, probably too quickly, actually. "No!" He cleared his throat, "It doesn't bother me, Azula. Please wear those garments for as long as you would like." He gazed at her beautiful form dressed in his nation's garbs. Her dark hair flowed down her back, framing her face in loose waves and the orange and yellow colors swirled around her body beautifully, complimenting her pale complexion and golden eyes; it took a lot of willpower to keep from openly staring at her. How she had designed the garments around her body was reminiscent of her Fire Nation attire in the way that it was presented, how she was able to move in it; it was all very form-fitting and from what he could discern, Azula would have no trouble whatsoever performing feats of bending in the Air Nomad garments, looking as perfect as she always did.

"Good, I find these to be incredibly and surprisingly comfortable, freeing in many ways, actually." She then climbed into the saddle and jumped over to sit next to him atop Appa's head.

Aang smiled at her, "The Air Nomads were all about freedom, Azula. Gyatso often told me this: freedom is not worth having if it doesn't include the freedom to make mistakes, and never being afraid to do the things that make you feel free. In hindsight, I think that the Air Nomads distanced themselves from that over time, but the principle remains the same. Airbending and my culture are synonymous with freedom," he grabbed Azula's hands and stared into her golden eyes. "Gyatso told me that I could be whoever I wanted to be, that nobody could force me to be something or someone who I didn't want to be, who I wasn't. I have often pondered his lessons ever since I had discovered that I was the Avatar."

"And what have you learned?"

"I won't lie, it took me a long time, but I became free when I realized who I truly was." Their eyes met – gray versus golden! "I am the Avatar, but I am also Aang. I may be Raava's vessel, Master of the Four Elements, the Balance-Keeper, but that doesn't determine who I am and who I want to be."

"I think that I've had the same epiphany. I'm Azula, not princess, Sozin's heir, Firebender, or daughter of Ozai. I'm just Azula and ever since I met you, I'm okay with that. My former self had overrated life in the Fire Nation, the things that Ozai had taught her."

He squeezed her hands. "I'm glad you've realized that," he looked over the saddle to see Toph, Samir, and Pathik step out of the shadows.

"Let's go help Sparky, Twinkletoes!" Toph raised a stairwell and walked onto the saddle, plopping near the back by one of the grips. Azula climbed into the saddle as Samir entered and surprisingly, Aang watched as the girl snuggled immediately next to Azula. What was even more shocking: Azula didn't shove her away. He blinked away his amazement and pride and then jumped off of Appa's head when he noticed that Pathik stood to the side.

"It was good to see you, my friend, and thank you, thank you for everything. You've helped save me from myself, reawakening the bond that Raava and I share."

"It has been a pleasure to share the Temple with others than my lonesome. I've been filled with joy ever since you found your clarity and inner peace, Aang. I do think, though, that you give me too much credit. I believe that you reached peace more so through a certain someone than myself." Pathik's ancient eyes twinkled, "You've come a long way, my friend. You are no longer that child who I first met, but a worthy Avatar; I am proud of you, fiercely so, and I know that Gyatso would be, too."

"You may just be right about that certain someone," he said softly and then leaped back onto Appa's head bowed. "Farewell, Guru Pathik."

"Farewell, Avatar Aang."

Aang sat down and grabbed the reigns, feeling through his airbending that all of the others, including Azula, waved at Pathik as he stared at the horizon. "Appa, yip-yip!" His Sky Bison roared and floated, massive tail propelling them forward in a massive burst of air.

XxXxXxXxXxX

The meeting was tense and Katara was surprised that no one else looked stressed. She, her brother, Suki, Iroh, and Ursa were all present for Zuko's meeting with his advisors and top Generals. Ever since she had sat down, she had hated to look up at her friend. Right now, he wasn't Zuko, but instead the Fire Lord, and the Fire Lord cast an imposing bearing through the wall of flames; only his daunting shadow could be seen and Katara knew that Zuko liked it that way – his face couldn't be seen.

For what felt like an unheard-of amount of time, one of the Generals – she couldn't even remember his name – had been droning on about the current state of the Earth Kingdom and the threat King Bumi represented if he seized control Ba Sing Se's throne and all of its resources. Katara had tried to pay attention but had eventually given up after her eyelids had begun to sag and based on the drool dripping out of Sokka's open mouth onto the platform, she wasn't the only one who felt bored.

She was grateful, though, that Zuko's mother was sitting next to her, quietly explaining the General's reasoning and the intense traditions that the Fire Nation was rooted in whenever Katara had a question.

Suddenly, the General stopped his report, looking quite smug and Katara looked around, rooting her eyes on Iroh's exasperated features. No one spoke for a moment and Ursa leaned over to whisper in her ear. "No one is allowed to speak now until the Fire Lord does."

Before she could respond, the wall of fire flickered ominously. "Explain to me, General Lao, why King Bumi is a threat to me, to the Fire Nation?" Zuko's unnerving shadow didn't move but the flames slowly crept higher and his deep voice echoed through the room. Katara was ashamed to admit that she felt intimidated by the sight and sound. "He was one of my allies during the twilight of the Great War. He is a good man, albeit slightly unconventional."

The General's face, which was worn with deep, sunken wrinkles pinched in a mixture of fear and anger. "King Bumi is over a century old, my liege. He knows many secrets that could be a threat to the security of the Fire Nation. If he gains control of Ba Sing Se, the Earth Kingdom Capital, he will then be the ruler of two of the Four Major Earth Kingdom Cities. He is the strongest Earthbender in the world and I fear for your reign, Fire Lord Zuko. There are rumors of him tossing a small mountain on one of our squadrons twenty-nine years ago. I'm sure that you've heard the stories of your grandfather's reaction." Katara knew that Toph wouldn't like that. She was the self-proclaimed greatest Earthbender in the world but based on what she'd seen, Katara would wager that Bumi and Toph were equals. She was also incredibly curious to hear of Fire Lord Azulon's reaction to Bumi's tossing-of-a-small-mountain feat.

"You do raise worthy points, General Lao, but in spite of them, King Bumi is not a threat and this is the last that I want to hear of such words."

General Lao clenched his jaw. "Yes, my liege," he sat down in his chair slowly and his grumpiness resembled the reactions of the kids at the Southern Water Tribe when their parents wouldn't let them go penguin sledding. Katara managed to keep a straight face over the disgruntled General's facial expression but Sokka chuckled quietly - apparently, he had awoken. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Suki glare heatedly at her husband, but her brother simply shrugged in innocence.

"What other news do you bring me, Generals? Have there been any new discoveries on the Fire Sages?" Zuko's deep voice floated in the air, the echo ringing in Katara's ears.

"No, there has been nothing found on any of the Fire Sages. What does need addressing, I fear, is the fact as to why these peasants are disgracing your presence, my liege." Lao declared, disdainfully tilting his nose, still sitting in his seat.

Katara felt indignation rise within her stomach, but she quelled the urge to bend her water at the old hag, and she felt thankful that Sokka looked as angry as she felt, face flushed.

"They were my allies at the end of the Great War, just as King Bumi was, General Lao. They have been helpful and the Lady Katara is the only reason why I'm still alive." Gasps ensued and Katara watched as all of the Generals and advisors paled. "Yes, there was an assassination attempt, and the Lady Katara is who dealt with it, saving me in the process."

One of the Generals looked at her gratefully. "Thank you, Lady Katara."

She blinked back her shock, "You're welcome."

"Be that as it may," General Lao interrupted. "The fact that she saved your life, Fire Lord Zuko, is cause to trust her, but I fear that you only use and entertain her out of a sense of duty to repay the debt that you owe her. The Lady Katara offers nothing to this discussion, none of these peasants do."

The heat of the room suddenly became thicker, almost stifling. "Whether you agree with my decision or not, General Lao, is completely irrelevant. They are important in solving these problems; my father has escaped, and I trust that they will help see to it that he is either killed or imprisoned once more. I am personally acquainted with them and they all show great wisdom – most of the time – seeming thrice their ages. Their opinions are of value to me, more so than yours is."

Katara felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the heat of the room from the wall of flames spread through her at Zuko's words. She felt a small smile creep across her lips and when Lao, who looked thunderstruck, saw it, his eyes narrowed into slits. He leaned forward, but before he could say anything to her, someone else spoke.

"Whatever you're thinking, Lao, I urge you to rethink it." Ursa looked calm, almost bored even and Katara had never seen the resemblance between Azula and her mother as much as she did right now. "It isn't Lady Katara's fault that you are washed-up, always have been. Everyone here knows why you reached General, don't we all? Your daughter fucked my husband, and it was only through her, that you rose to the position that you have always wanted, third son."

Lao roared and flame daggers sprouted from his fists, hostility wired through his suddenly not-looking-old-body. Katara eyes widened and she snapped her gaze to Zuko, who, to her absolute shock, didn't react; the wall of flames didn't even flicker or rise. Apparently, her friend was going to see how this scene played out – his mother versus Lao.

"That would be a very poor decision, General Lao." Iroh sipped his tea calmly, raising a bushy eyebrow at the man. "Don't be foolish; your death will be the only thing to happen if you continue."

When Lao didn't snuff out his flames, but continued to glare at Ursa, Zuko's mom raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Really, Lao? Surely, you must know that you could never defeat me," she raised her hand and beautiful fire blossomed across her fingers, casting her face in a radiant yet deadly glow.

The General seemed to lose all of his self-preservation instincts for he snarled, glaring at Ursa. "I've heard about the stories in the Academy that claim your brilliance, Dowager Fire Lady Ursa. They're all lies, but beyond that, we all know what you did that night, during the final moments of Fire Lord Azulon's life."

Katara suddenly, for the first time in a while, remembered that Ursa had murdered Zuko's grandfather, Fire Lord Azulon to keep her son safe, unknowing that she had been manipulated by Ozai.

"Do you?" Ursa asked softly, "If my brilliance, then, is a lie, why do you think that you know what I did during the most-beloved Fire Lord Azulon's final moments?"

"Does your son know? Does he know what you did? How much of a traitor you are? You committed- "

"How far you've fallen, Lao." Ursa interrupted with a shake of her head. "I remember when you were just a Captain before your daughter, a man who aspired to be great and memorable. I can see now that only the latter is true and not in a good way, and even then, you only rose because of your daughter's habit to spread her legs."

Lao's old face contorted in hatred, skin stretching unpleasantly across his cheeks. "At least I have honor!" Katara noticed Iroh inhale roughly at Lao's words. "I am not a murderer who would dare desecrate the body and life of Agni's anointed ruler. My daughter is no whore! YOU ARE! It is you who is the leg-spreader- " a human roar exploded from behind the suddenly enormous wall of flames, the fire scorching the roof of the massive Throne Room, and the General suddenly paled and stammered, blood draining from his sunken features until he resembled a walking, living, breathing corpse. "My liege, forgive me! I didn't… " he trailed off as Zuko apparently broke decorum and stalked through the wall of flames, robes sweeping behind him. His face looked angrier than Katara could ever remember; his scar made him look sinister and she felt her heart race in fear as her friend towered over the quivering General. His look was long and fierce and black, a look that, if made into action, could flay one's skin from bone. Looking around her, all of the other Generals and advisors had bowed before Zuko, fear shaking through their tense bodies, but when Katara glanced at Ursa and Iroh, she noticed that neither of them looked surprised, or even affected by Zuko's actions.

"You've just lived your last day, General Lao." Zuko hissed, his declaration slithering into everyone's ears.

Lao shook his head desperately, "My liege, please! I have been loyal to you- "

"Insulting my mother, your Dowager Fire Lady, is not a show of loyalty!" Zuko growled, and before Katara could even attempt to calm him down with coaxing words, his hand wrapped around the General's throat, squeezing tightly. Katara watched in horror as Lao's eyes bulged from their sockets, and he gasped for breath, but none would come; the veins in his neck began to stretch so far that she thought that they would rupture.

"Agni Kai," the General, in spite of the lack of air, managed to choke out. At his words, Katara looked on in stunned bemusement as Zuko abruptly released the insulting General. Her friend stood tall and frowned darkly at the General as he stumbled back, hand rubbing his bruised throat. "I challenge you to an Agni Kai!" Lao declared, trying to stand tall just as Zuko did; he was not successful.

Katara saw Ursa raise an eyebrow in surprise and Iroh actually set his cup of tea down. She then remembered Zuko's duel against Azula to become Fire Lord during Sozin's Comet and she wasn't able to remember if that had been an Agni Kai. All that she could remember of that fight was Zuko's strength and power rivaling Azula's that day, of how insane Azula looked, and then the lightning strike that had been meant for Katara herself that Zuko had jumped into to save her from.

Zuko smiled dangerously, and to her unease – along with, she noticed, Sokka and Suki's, who also both looked as confused as she felt – it reminded her of the portraits she had unfortunately seen of his father. "I accept. Do you covet death that much, General Lao?"

"I like living, Fire Lord Zuko. I'm not ready for the Gardens of the Dead."

"No one is ready when death takes hold of you. You will die by my hand for your insult to my mother."

Lao seemed to change, hysteria bursting through his old body and Katara understood: it was the mania of one about to die when they weren't ready. "No, no, no! You will die by my hand, Fire Lord Zuko! Once I kill you," Katara's eyes widened at Lao's words. If what Zuko and Azula had done during Sozin's Comet was an Agni Kai, Zuko hadn't kill Azula when he won! "I will sit on the Dragon's Throne and began a new dynasty of power." Lao looked at Ursa and Katara was repulsed by the dark lust suddenly glowing in the old man's eyes. "Perhaps I can create a union between the old and new dynasties; either your mother or sister will do!"

Zuko leaned down, nose almost touching Lao's, his fingers clamping on the man's jaw, turning the General's disgusting orbs away from Ursa. "I will kill you, and then I will desecrate your name and family, revoking all of your titles for any who claim to be your kin, including your eldest brother. Your entire family, the entire history of your line will be shamed, and all of the property accumulated through the generations will be confiscated, and put into my holdings, belonging to the Crown. All your family's riches will be added to the Royal Treasury, to my own coffers." Shock coursed through Katara's body at Zuko's words, his scary declaration. Why would he do all of that? Don't get her wrong, she herself wanted to punch Lao for what the man had said about Ursa, but to shame the man's entire family for just his actions and words? She didn't understand why Zuko would do something so excessive. He released Lao and turned to the Imperial Firebenders who were stationed around the Throne Room. "Call for an Agni Kai, all of you! Spread the word: General Lao has insulted Dowager Fire Lady Ursa and challenged Fire Lord Zuko to an Agni Kai at sundown!" Two of the guards nodded their heads and exited the room, gliding effortlessly through the shadows.

The other Generals conversed quietly while Lao fled out of the room. "At sundown, Fire Lord!" His hysterical shout echoed throughout the room.

"Leave me," Zuko waved his hand and all the Generals abruptly stopped their whispering, focusing on their ruler.

"All hail Fire Lord Zuko, Master of Agni's Eternal Flame and Keeper of the Dragon's Throne!" They revered at once, scurrying out of the room as respectfully as possible.

Once the room was empty Katara tried to ask a question, but Sokka beat her to it. "What the fuck was that? I've never seen such a verbal ass-kicking! That Lao guy was shitting his pants at the end. That was amazing, Zuko!"

"He insulted my mother," he said simply, sitting in the empty chair next to Ursa, stealing his uncle's tea and to Katara's shock, took a sip.

Sokka frowned, his smile fading from his face. "I know that he did. He called her a whore- " he suddenly cut himself out, looking at Ursa. "I mean, you know, a derogatory word for a woman."

"You needn't be so careful, Master Sokka." Ursa gazed at Katara's brother kindly. "I admire your bluntness. Don't be afraid to speak your mind. Yes, General Lao called me a whore."

Zuko nodded, "That prick also implied that my mother had no honor."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Katara wondered, "What's so important about honor?"

"Honor is very important in the Fire Nation, Lady Katara," Iroh said finally, his golden eyes holding her in place, the knowledge in them something that she knew would only come to her in time. "Think of how history and beliefs are very important in the Earth Kingdom."

"Oh, that's definitely true," Suki finally commented. "Kyoshi Island is obsessed with the history aspect, particularly."

"Yes," Iroh nodded his head, "and in the Water Tribes, a family is valued above anything else. Isn't that right?"

"Family is the foremost value," she said softly. "So, honor is to the Fire Nation what family is to the Water Tribes?"

"Very good, Lady Katara."

"That's why you were so consumed with honor when you were hunting us!" Sokka said in realization.

"Yeah," Zuko looked down in guilt. "I had thought that my father could restore my honor if I captured the Avatar, but right before I joined you guys, I realized that he couldn't give me something that he had never taken away in the first place."

"I'm glad that you realized the truth," she smiled at him, and when no one else spoke for a moment, she changed the subject. "What's an Agni Kai? Isn't that what you did with Azula during Sozin's Comet?"

"Yes, an Agni Kai is a fire duel, and more often than not, it ends in someone's demise – just as it will end in Lao's later." Zuko sounded like he was reciting something, although his mention of Lao fueled a rage to enter his tone. "The duel affects the honor of both combatants – and remember, honor is the foremost value of the Fire Nation. If one's honor comes into question, like mine was, they are ridiculed forever until it is restored."

"What else happens in an Agni Kai?" Suki asked, leaning forward, interest carved into her features.

"Whatever titles, riches, women, and land that are under their names will be fair game. So, if Lao wins, which he won't, he would become Fire Lord in spite of me having Azula as my heir. Everything that I have, and I mean absolutely everything, will become his if he defeats me."

"The same could be said of you," Sokka with a nod of his head. "That's what you meant when you said everything will belong to the Crown, to your own coffers."

"Yes, I will take everything from him."

"Even his life?" Katara challenged.

Zuko looked at her, "I will kill him, I've already sworn to do it. Besides, it is incredibly rare when the loser of an Agni Kai doesn't want their opponent to kill them. Most losers would rather die than face the humiliation of having their honor taken. As you learn in the Academy and many of the Fire Nation schools, death before dishonor."

Katara frowned, "Isn't that a little harsh?"

"No, the Agni Kai is a tradition; it always has been a celebrated event ever since the dawn of the unified Fire Nation. In fact, my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, Fire Lord Kai is the one who created the Agni Kai."

"Is it possible for us to watch you and Lao during this Agni Kai?" Sokka asked leaning forward, "I hope so because I bet it will be like Earth Rumble VI!" Her brother's eyes became dream-glazed. "If only the Boulder were here." Katara rolled her eyes at Sokka; she had never understood the appeal of that earthbending brute.

"Anyone of the Noble Houses can witness an Agni Kai, Master Sokka," Ursa answered, looking at her son.

"Yes, and since you are here as my personal guests, you are all allowed to witness my Agni Kai with Lao if you would like to."

"Count us in, Zuko!" Sokka grinned from ear-to-ear, "This is going to be awesome."

Ursa still stared at her son. "You didn't need to do that for me, my son. Lao said nothing that I haven't thought myself."

Katara saw Suki's eyes widen, "Wait, what he said was true? You killed Fire Lord Azulon?"

Zuko's golden orbs ignited fiercely while Ursa became alarmingly still.

"Fire Lord Azulon?" Sokka echoed, "Isn't that your grandfather, Zu- oh, shit," he suddenly breathed out, realization dawning.

"I did what I had to." Ursa finally spoke, not attempting to deny the accusation. "My son's life was at stake."

"None of you will speak a word of this to anyone, understand?" Zuko glowered at all of them, his golden eyes holding Katara in place. "I don't care who you are, what your position is in your nation, I can and might order your executions if word of this gets out – and I will know it's you if that does happen."

Katara swallowed as the truth glared at her: Zuko would potentially do it. He wasn't lying; he would be willing to order their executions if it was bad enough. He may do so with a heavy heart, at least in regard to Katara herself, but he spoke the truth.

"Okay, man," Sokka shivered, gripping Suki's hand, who herself looked tense. "We won't tell anyone. You'll never hear it escape my lips."

"And you will never attempt to communicate such a thing to anyone in any way." Zuko demanded, "No writing or anything else." He suddenly stood up, "Come, it is almost sundown. After my words, I'm certain that you all are doubting your safety, but you needn't to – only if you speak of Fire Lord Azulon's death is your safety compromised. If you wish to observe the Agni Kai, follow me."

Katara wasn't surprised when all of them followed Zuko as he led them through one of the secret passages, light flickering through the darkness thanks to the flames held in Iroh, Ursa, and Zuko's hands.

Iroh was conversing quietly with his nephew and Katara picked out a few words: 'give' 'make' and 'death'.

"This is going to be awesome!" Sokka whispered loudly, and she suspected that he was trying to rid themselves of all of the awkwardness. "I haven't seen a good fight in years!"

"When was the last good fight that you saw?" Katara wondered, "In the Water Tribes?"

"Fuck no," her brother chortled. "When Aang and the Loser Lord duked it out. That was the fight of the… century, I would say."

"No, it wasn't," Suki disagreed. "I was there, too, remember? That was the fight of the millennium, at least. Even then, it was definitely the fight beyond any other. The fight of creation, perhaps?"

Before anyone else could respond, a passage opened, and streams of thick light burst through. They all stepped into the Arena and Katara was amazed: it was an enormous platform with a moat of water surrounding it. She saw Zuko ascend the intimidating staircase and she went to follow, but Iroh gripped her arm.

"No, Lady Katara. That is where the Agni Kai will take place. We must be seated with the rest of the audience, albeit in a much more comfortable manner."

At his words, Katara looked up and she saw shadows of many people, probably all of the Nobles in the Caldera, seated in a circular arch around the entire Arena.

Iroh led them to what she guessed was a Royal Press Box, and when they arrived, Katara was pleasantly surprised by the decorated lush seats that were everywhere. "In a much more comfortable manner, indeed," she said softly, quickly sitting in the seat next to Ursa. She looked across at all of the Nobles, observing their stiff faces and their facades of strength. One, in particular, stood out to her. There was a man who looked older than Lao who looked on his deathbed, no blood at all in his cheeks. His eyes were red and his cheeks paler than a corpse's. She turned to Zuko's mother. "Who is that man, the one who looks like death?"

"Oh, that is Lao's brother." Katara hesitated to ask another question, but Ursa must have realized why. "There will be quite a delay until the Agni Kai begins. Feel free to ask anything else, Lady Katara."

"Why does he look like that?"

"Because he knows what's about to happen. After the Agni Kai, after Lao is dead, he will no longer be a Noble Head of one of the Noble Houses. Everything that he owns, all of the land and riches, will belong to the Crown and can then be dispensed to whoever Zuko wants – or he could even retain all of it for himself."

Katara began to feel sympathy for the man. "The Fire Nation is a lot more… harsh than the Water Tribes."

"Each nation, Lady Katara, has traditions that appall the other nations. Before the Dragons were hunted by Sozin during the Great War, I've read records that showed that the Fire Nation, as a whole, was repulsed by the Water Tribes' hunting of their own animals."

"I guess that's true, even though Sozin ruined the Fire Nation's awe for their own animals," Katara remembered Ursa's own words from earlier. "Is what you said true? Is Lao's daughter the only reason he became a General? Did his daughter…" she couldn't even finish the question.

"Yes, his daughter fucked my husband, Lady Katara." She didn't feel surprised by the coarse language; Katara was certain that if she were in Ursa's position, she would act the same.

"I can't imagine how that feels, but I'm sorry that Ozai was… Ozai."

Ursa softened, "Thank you, Lady Katara. You can say what you will about my husband, but he always did consider the viewpoints of others even if he always disregarded them in the end. What the two of us shared, I wouldn't consider a child's notion of romance, but we were happy. He was benevolent, charming, even kind – at least he was at first. Then Zuko and Azula were born and Ozai was so desperate for them to be perfect, to be better than he was, and only Azula was. No matter what I did for either of my children to help them see that they didn't need to be perfect, they wanted nothing to do with it; they wanted to be like their father, to make him proud, but Ozai wanted nothing of them except perfection – and Azula was always the one who delivered. My daughter and I were close once, but when she began firebending and it was apparent that she was a prodigy who rivaled her grandfather, maybe even surpassed him, Ozai pounced and the cycle of demanding for perfection began."

"I can't imagine."

"He continuously failed me. He demanded perfection of everyone but himself and he was the one who needed it most. For all of the things that he was at first, they were quickly replaced by nothing good. He was no longer a devoted, loving husband and a kind father, but abusive. His son and daughter needed him, and Azula needed help at the twilight of the Great War, but he was nowhere. His solution for Azula was to break her mind with his demands of perfection and thus, lock away most of who she truly was. His solution for Zuko was to permanently scar his face, searing his own personal mark, exiling my son with the threat of no return unless the Avatar was captured." Katara, besides the horror, felt a lot of her grudge against Azula lessen for she couldn't even imagine how she herself would have turned out if Ozai was her father; although, based on what she knew about herself, she would reckon that she would have become as Azula had. "I was afraid for what my children would become, who they would become. After Zuko's life was threatened, which was all a ploy by Ozai, after I murdered the man who I saw as more my father than my own, I fled on Azulon's demands. I had contemplated taking them with me, but I knew that if they were forced to choose, they would choose him – even Zuko. Oh, by Agni, I should have stayed. I could have eliminated so much…"

"I'm so sorry,"

"I loved my husband and I still do, at least the man who he once was, who I thought he was. I despise the monster who he has become. I've felt much anger towards Ozai and at times, I've been overwhelmed where I want to kill him, but I knew that if I do such a thing, I would set a poor example for my children, who have more reason to hate him that I do. I've never forgotten, nor will I forget, how he turned his back on his children, how he made them kill his enemies and innocents, how he made them nearly kill each other all for a taste of approval that he would never give."

"What did you do to keep yourself from killing him when he was locked away?"

"I sang myself the lullaby I sang Zuko and Azula when they were children:

The burning light of Agni bathes the sea in light.
Sense the peaceful warmth, touch the darkest night.
Calm your angry heart beneath the winds of fate.
Feel the tears of Fire, wash away your hate."

"That's beautiful, Ursa," she said softly, thinking of the words.

Zuko's mother smiled at her kindly, but sorrow was visible in her eyes. "My son tells me that you were who witnessed his Agni against Azula during Sozin's Comet."

"Yes, he saved my life," she closed her eyes, images and memories of that day flashing through her mind. "I've never seen such a fight, such heat and power encompassing one area. I had burns from that day on my arms and face from just watching off to the side. Azula, by that time, had lost her mind," she ignored the sound of Ursa's throaty exhale, what even sounded like a whimper. "Zuko noticed it immediately and it took me a long time to see it. He said that something was off about her and I later learned how off she truly was. Zuko was winning the Agni Kai, I could tell and Azula must have realized it. Zuko baited her into lightning-bending, intending to re-direct it – to wound or kill, I cannot say. I had foolishly moved from my position to see what was for sure, the final stand-off between them – and, of course, Azula noticed."

"She always notices things like that," she heard Ursa say softly.

"Lightning crackled and sparked all around Azula's body and then she looked at me," she felt the fear of that day, of what she had been sure would be her final living moments in the world burden her mind. "Her golden eyes were manic and hysterical, insanity seeped into the furthest recesses of her mind and soul. Then she fired the bolt of lightning and before my eyes, Zuko jumped in front of it, willing to die so that I could live, could have a chance." Tears welled behind her eyelids, "I don't know how he survived such a strike. I've never seen lightning unleashed like that before – Sozin's Comet had flooded her chi with unholy strength, and yet, Zuko endured."

"You're who defeated Azula, then, aren't you? You're who Azula always referred to as the 'fucking peasant.'" Ursa whispered sadly and Katara finally opened her eyes, discreetly wiping away her tears. "Zuko has always been tight-lipped about that Agni Kai, only revealing sparse accounts. I knew that he was injured and because of that, he wasn't who beat Azula, but I hadn't known the true depths of what had happened." Their eyes locked and Katara saw golden eyes that were identical to Azula's staring at her. "Thank you for sharing such traumatic memories with me, Lady Katara."

Emotions almost overcame her, and she swallowed. "I thought that she had killed him. He was just lying there motionless, vestiges of lightning sparking every now and then when I was able to glimpse his body while evading Azula's overwhelming assault. I was so scared, so afraid that he died saving me, that he had just been killed." Katara felt her breathing begin to elevate before she intentionally calmed herself. "After I chained Azula," she ignored Ursa's sudden glance. "I rushed to his body, thankful beyond relief that he was still breathing, albeit barely. I healed what I could, but he still has that scar on his chest."

"I've seen it," Ursa whispered idly and Katara felt confused.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"It's just that I… I find it strange."

"Find what strange?"

"You said that you chained, Azula, yes?"

"What about it? It's how I defeated her."

"Firebenders can melt metal and thus break through it, Lady Katara."

Katara felt the air leave her lungs in a rush. "What? How do you know? Are you sure?"

"Because I've done it and I've seen Zuko do it. Only a firebending Master can accomplish such a feat and task, and for the Fire Royal Family, it's relatively simple. It only takes time to do it, but with Sozin's Comet overwhelming your chi, it would be as simple as breathing."

"What are you saying?"

"What I'm saying, Lady Katara, is that perhaps subconsciously, my daughter wanted to lose; she could have easily broken out of those chains to kill you and my son, but she didn't."

Katara sat deprived of utterance at Ursa's words, but before she could attempt to respond or furiously contemplate the notion that Azula hadn't given the Agni Kai her all, at least after shooting Zuko, Iroh stood in the Press Box from the other side where he sat with Sokka and Suki. "General Lao has challenged Fire Lord Zuko to an Agni Kai! Now let Agni's might be known for all!"

Suddenly all eyes were riveted to the Arena after a gong rang. On one end, Lao stood shirtless, his old body not looking quite old. He was pale, but determination and anger were seeped into his flesh, emanating like a sickness. Zuko stood on the other end, right in front of Katara and she suddenly realized that he wasn't wearing his upper garments, bare skin and muscles visible for all to see.

It took all of Katara's willpower not to gasp when she glimpsed the scars littered across his back and body, overlapping and swirling together like a poorly-constructed canvas. It wasn't just scarred; it was mutilated beyond what she had imagined. Iroh's words from in the Royal Garden echoed in her mind, torturing her: '...live in fear for years of his own father… deserve to have his face permanently scarred by his father for merely speaking out of turn, then banished to hunt a phantomic Avatar… Ozai abused them frequently, specifically Zuko. Zuko has scars all over his back and chest… the mindset that parents treated all their kids that way.'

"You will regret accepting, Fire Lord Zuko!" Lao's angry voice pulled her out of her thoughts, and she watched as the General shifted into what she recognized as a firebending stance. When she looked at Zuko, to her surprise, he stood completely still, arms hanging down his sides, and he looked calm, even slightly bored.

"He's dropping his guard so Lao will attack," her brother leaned over to his in her ear and moments later, she recognized that he was, indeed, correct in his assessment.

Katara watched as it happened, could feel the tangible change as Lao's face became the color of blood, rage furrowing deep into his gaunt flesh. Fire blossomed from the old man's fists as he charged at Zuko with a hysterical cry of fury, looking nowhere near his age; in fact, he rivaled all of the Fire Nation soldiers who she had fought in the Great War.

Several fireballs rushed towards Zuko, but her friend lazily avoided them, stepping to his right, and in a smooth twirling motion of his arms, a whip of fire sprang from Zuko's hands, lashing out towards Lao.

Lao narrowly avoided the whip as he rolled to the side, blasting fire at Zuko. "I'm not dead yet!"

"You will be soon," the reply was filled with hostility and a deep promise; it sent shivers up and down Katara's spine.

Zuko suddenly jumped forward, flames jetting out of his feet, propelling him forward in a blurred motion. Katara saw Lao try to move to his left and barely avoided Zuko's outstretched right hand, but he was to slow to avoid the spinning, flaming leg that smashed into his torso, the smell of burning flesh filling Katara with nausea.

The General cried out in pain and fell, his old body crashing to the Arena's floor but Zuko didn't look pleased. "Get up!" The Fire Lord yelled, undertones of malicious intent poisoning his tone.

Lao unsteadily climbed to his feet, holding his seared torso gingerly. "If you want death, I'll give it to you, Fire Lord." The man cried out before he abruptly tossed more fire at Zuko, ignoring his injury to charge at him in anger. Katara watched with wide eyes as Zuko batted the fire away and, shockingly, sprinted forward, catching Lao off guard and ducked, crashing into the man's stomach. They both fell and Zuko landed on top of the General's body, glaring down at the man odiously.

Katara's breath hitched when her friend's hand closed around Lao's throat. "May Agni have mercy on your soul because I grant you none," Zuko growled and his hand became alight with brilliant fire, killing Lao by the very element that the General had wielded so proudly.

Zuko stood up and everyone in the audience kneeled, "All hail Fire Lord Zuko, Master of Agni's Eternal Flame and Keeper of the Dragon's Throne!" They said reverently, their voices mixing together to create an impressive baritone. Katara swallowed, trying to identify the man who she just saw with the same Zuko who was her friend, who she was fond enough of to even marry; he was the only man on her father's list who she would marry and lately, she had begun to think that such a match would work and could even be a match of love.

"By all of the Polar Dog shit in the Water Tribes," her brother breathed out, staring at Zuko in awe. "That was fuckin' amazing!"

"Indeed, Master Sokka," Iroh said, looking nonplussed by everything that had just happened. "My nephew has become a powerful Firebender."

Katara looked at Ursa almost desperately to see if Zuko's mom was as distressed as she herself was, but Ursa didn't look surprised or sad, merely poised; there was a blankness in her golden eyes that suddenly made Katara wonder if Zuko had just shown any similarities with his father.

Before she could comment, a sphere of beautiful fire surrounded Zuko's body, the flames prohibiting everyone sight of the Fire Lord. After several moments, the orb of fire disappeared and Zuko was nowhere to be seen, and Katara remembered Azula using that same trick when she, the Gaang, plus Zuko and Iroh had cornered the Fire Nation Princess in that abandoned town in the Earth Kingdom.

As she watched two Imperial Firebenders remove, Lao's corpse from its final resting place, Katara hoped that Zuko was at least affected by what he had done.

XxXxXxXxXxX

When she walked through the secret chamber into Zuko's privy chambers, her friend was lounging on one of the numerous couches, a bottle of firewhiskey held in his hand, his golden eyes assessing as he stared back at her.

The rest shuffled in and Sokka burst into chuckles. "That was awesome, buddy! While a little brutal, it was amazing, nonetheless. You looked bored, provoking a reaction from Lao and that dumbass predictably attacked you. You totally outclassed him! I had had no idea that you had grown so strong. Everything you did was genius. Then there was that thing where you caught him off-guard by sprinting forward, which was a stroke of intelligence if I've ever seen one. And what about that thing that you said at the end before you killed that unlucky bastard." Sokka whooped and whistled, falling onto one of the other couches, a silly grin on his face. "Damn, that gave me chills, but it was so badass."

It had given Katara chills, as well. She didn't like that Zuko, the man who had just killed another man and didn't even act or look affected by it. Before she became judgmental, though, she remembered Iroh's words to her in the Royal Garden. She refused to push her friend away after she had just gotten him back. It didn't ultimately matter that he had killed Lao. She herself had blood staining her hands from the Great War. She had no right to judge Zuko for his actions for if their positions were reversed, she suspected that she would have killed Lao, too.

"Well done, nephew," Iroh said, nudging Zuko's form aside and eased into the cushions next to him. "You have rid yourself of a nuisance and shown the Noble Houses your power all at the same time. It's most impressive."

"It was impressive." Suki leaned forward from where she sat next to Sokka. "Where did you learn to fight like that? I've never seen anything like it."

"Actually, I would like to know that, too, my son." Ursa sat next to Katara again, "I've never seen a style like that before."

Zuko looked mildly uncomfortable. "I created it on my own. It suits me perfectly whether I use my bending or swords."

"That's right!" Sokka looked eager, eyes wide and yearning. "We need to spar! We haven't done that for years. Your swords versus mine!"

"You think you'll beat me?" A small smirk twitched across his lips, "You were never able to before, remember?"

Sokka frowned, "Yes, I remember, but I've practiced a lot. This time will be different, I guarantee it."

"You know," she said lightly, hoping that her own eagerness wasn't apparent. "It's been a long time since the two of us have sparred, as well, Zuko," she hinted, alluding to their sparring sessions on Ember Island before Sozin's Comet.

"Those helped me with my frustration before Sozin's Comet," Zuko recalled and Katara could suddenly envision all of the sparring sessions the two of them had shared while they were on Ember Island. "Let's do both. How 'bout it? I can face you both at the same time."

"Deal!" Sokka jumped up, "Let's do it now! Since watching that Agni Kai, I've wanted to fight."

Katara sighed, wondering if Zuko would want to right this moment, but she knew that her brother really wanted to – and she did, too. "Zuko, would you care to spar now? We can do it in the Arena. Is that okay?"

Sokka nodded his head, bouncing it up and down. "Yes, then Katara will have water and I'll have plenty of space to kick your royal ass!" Katara noticed how Ursa's eyebrows rose at her brother's words and that Iroh chuckled softly.

Zuko apparently noticed it also, for he then stood up. "Let's go, then. I'm curious to see what'll happen, myself." He walked towards the secret passage and when he placed his palm on the wall, Katara, Sokka, and the rest of the group followed after him.

Almost immediately, after a source of light appeared from the flames held in all three Firebenders' hands, reminiscent of the first time when they had all walked through the secret passage earlier, Sokka began chatting rapidly with Suki about his boomerang, something about how it would be the key to defeating Zuko.

Katara didn't pay attention to his yammering, not interested at all. Instead, her eyes were riveted on Zuko's back as he easily glided through the passage; his strut was confident and lined with poise. He suddenly stopped and placed his flaming hand on the stone, and another passage opened; everyone followed him through.

"Is this the same passage from earlier?" She questioned, not distinguishing any familiar markings in the passage.

"Yes, you've walked through this passage twice now, Lady Katara." Iroh sounded amused and Sokka laughed aloud, his raucous chuckled echoing vibrantly.

Katara groaned inwardly. "How do you keep track of all of these tunnels? I don't recognize a single one."

"Mainly practice, my dear," Ursa answered. "Those of the Royal Family – and those who are joined through marriage, like me – undergo, from an early age for a Prince or Princess, training so that they can memorize the layout of all of the numerous secret passages. When I was integrated into the Royal Family after marrying Ozai, it took me only a few weeks to become accustomed to navigating my way on my own."

"But only a Firebender would be able to navigate it," she said somewhat sadly, not truly understanding why she felt sad.

"Toph could easily do it," her brother pointed out. "She would be a quick learner, if there ever were one."

"My wife, Natsumi was a very quick learner." Iroh chuckled, "Eventually, she knew the layout better than I myself did!"

"Azula and I were quick learners, as well," Zuko recalled suddenly, and Katara listened closely upon hearing the unmistakable fondness in his tone. "Lu Ten helped us at first, but soon, we were able to prank him and the servants without any suspicion ever falling on us. It was funny; we both thought it was the greatest thing."

"Don't be so arrogant, Zuko." Ursa chided gently, "The servants eventually caught on and pretended for both your sakes, and as for your cousin, Lu Ten knew immediately. I remember one time when he came to me in the garden, complaining about how his cousins didn't fully appreciate him as they should, instead choosing to abuse and harass him constantly. If I recall correctly, he had been covered in ginseng tea."

Zuko laughed loudly, the sound pleasant to Katara's ears. "I remember that one, actually. That was one of the first ones. It was Azula's idea and I was the one who implemented the prank; it was so easy to replace the cup with a fake one. She and I hid behind the curtains and we watched Lu Ten spill the tea all over himself."

"That's great," her brother whispered, nudging her. "We should try that sometime."

Iroh shuddered before she could answer; not that she really wanted to in the first place. "I cannot believe that you did something so cruel!"

"I'm sorry, uncle," Zuko turned around. "It was merely a- "

"How could you waste ginseng tea?" Iroh cried out dramatically and Katara wasn't sure if he was being serious or not.

Zuko rolled his eyes, turning back around with a huff. "It was funny," he huffed while sniffing. He then placed his flaming hand once more on the wall and it opened soundlessly, more light piercing through.

When they all walked out, Katara stared once more at the Arena, but this time, they were all alone, no Noble or guards in sight.

"Are you coming?" Zuko suddenly called out and she realized that he was already up the staircase.

Sokka raced up the steps, "Yes! Come on, Katara, hurry up!" She followed up the stairs after her brother, dimly noticing that the others had all went to the Royal Press Box to observe the duel between her and Sokka versus Zuko.

When she arrived at the top of the platform, she was amazed by how big it actually was; it had looked quite smaller from the Royal Press Box. Zuko stood on the other end of the platform, shirt discarded, allowing her to glimpse his scars much closer, and his crown was placed on his robes. His hair fell over his face and Katara was reminded of how he had looked on Ember Island, but now, he was much taller and more muscular, more filled out physically – and suffice to say, she could admit that she thoroughly enjoyed the sight.

Sokka removed his own shirt and he flexed his arms at Suki in the Royal Press Box, who rolled her eyes but blew him a kiss. Katara shook her head in exasperation at her brother's antics and began to take off her outer robe, feeling Zuko's eyes on her as more and more skin was revealed. When it was fully off, she realized how revealing it was, but when she looked up to see that Zuko was blatantly staring at her, golden eyes burning, she felt pleased.

Zuko seemed to gather what he was doing for he suddenly shook his head and pulled his swords out of seemingly nowhere. "Whenever you two are ready," he called out. "First to yield loses. What says you?"

"I say that we're going to kick your ass!" Sokka cried out, brandishing his own sword, becoming serious. "What does the victor get?"

"A story to tell until they die," she said confidently, feeling a smile grace her face as she stared pointedly at Zuko. "Not just anyone can truthfully claim to have defeated the Fire Lord himself in a spar. After we beat you, we'll hold it over your head forever."

"A bold statement, but can you prove it true?" Zuko tilted his head, "There's a reason why I'm Fire Lord, but enough of this stalling. Let's fight!"

Katara glanced at Sokka and nodded, giving the signal. Immediately, both of them rushed forward and she summoned water from the moat below, feeling confidence line through her body.

To her surprise, but not really considering that he had done the same earlier, Zuko didn't move as they approached. Only when they were close enough to attack him did he open his mouth, but when Katara saw the deep orange and red color emitting from the back of his throat, she quickly shielded them with her water.

Magnificent fire burst from his lips and when it smashed against her shield, steam swept through the air and Katara swiftly gathered more water from the moat, feeling all of her confidence that she had gained earlier vanish just as quickly.

Zuko had grown stronger since they last sparred, a lot stronger.

The steam didn't hinder them, though; Sokka ran through the residue to swing his sword at Zuko. Two twin blades were raised to block, a clanging sound echoing through the Arena. Her instincts from the Great War seemed to return to her and Katara saw her chance. Knowing that Zuko was distracted and could be easily incapacitated if she reacted smartly and quickly enough, she threw a water whip, expecting it to smack him in the side, tripping him from his feet, allowing them to force him to yield.

She was shocked when Zuko moved one of his swords away from Sokka's and swung it at her. She flashbacked to the Agni Kai when a whip of fire sprang seemingly out of his sword, wrapping around her own water whip.

Steam clouded the platform again.

The fire vanished from the swords and Zuko suddenly pushed his remaining blade against Sokka's, pushing him back, and then spun around, his other blade coming down on Sokka swiftly and viciously. Recognizing that she stood no chance at any close quarters combat with Zuko, she threw disks of water at him, hoping to overwhelm him.

Sokka seemed to have the same idea for he suddenly lashed out with a barrage of strikes that Zuko, to her surprise, effortlessly blocked and parried, all the while narrowly avoiding her disks of water. Sokka attempted to jump up and knee Zuko, but her brother was wholly unprepared for a bruising elbow strike to his extended knee, sending him to the ground in a heap of limbs.

Katara's breath hitched when Zuko, without a moment's delay, sprang towards her with the grace of a feline creature, fire flowing out of his feet to propel him faster. She darted to her side, avoiding his outstretched arms and threw more water whips at him, intentionally aiming for an area that wasn't his chest.

He was obviously caught by surprise when the water whip wrapped around his flaming foot and yanked him down, but he was back on his feet and on the attack swiftly. Katara was waiting; she threw more water at his chest immediately and it discombobulated him, and he stumbled slightly. Then Sokka charged, sword raised but before he made it any further, a fireball was blasted at him. Her brother jumped to the side and in one smooth motion, pulled out his boomerang and flicked at Zuko.

He leaned out of the way and the boomerang sailed past his head, curving into the air and Katara smiled devilishly, understanding Sokka's plan. To keep Zuko distracted and from moving, she transmuted the water into ice and threw shards at him, not intending to kill but to scrape and scratch.

Zuko's fists became alight with hot and deadly flames and he began batting the shards away from his body, punching through some of them even and the boomerang began to curve back around in the air, returning once more.

Katara threw more ice knives and saw Sokka's face split into a grin as Zuko was still distracted. As the boomerang approached, Zuko's head twitched to the side and Katara knew that he had somehow heard the weapon. Her friend suddenly created a wall of fire and shoved it at her, destroying all of the approaching shards of ice and hiding him from view for a moment.

When the fire vanished, Katara gasped when Zuko stood before them with the boomerang in his hand, a wild smirk on his face, and the sight brought a smile to Katara's own face. "That's not going to ever happen a second time, trust me."

"How did you do that with the fire?" She demanded, "I've never seen that before, how you wrapped it around the blade."

"Through lots of practice, but sadly, I can rarely do it."

"Why?" Sokka leaned forward slightly, preparing to attack as soon as they were ready.

"If I do it too long, I will melt my sword; my flames are much too hot for the metal."

She then tossed more ice knives towards him, but he had learned from earlier, and after dropping the boomerang, created a shield of pure fire. The ice was instantly destroyed when it touched the shield and once it all cleared, Zuko was nowhere to be seen.

Katara felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up, and she instinctively turned around, water raised in defense. Sokka followed her lead and they both stared at Zuko, and she cataloged the differences that she could see in him; he looked more relaxed than she had ever seen him, his golden eyes were vibrant with emotions, and Katara was glad that she was part of the reason why.

He smiled at them, a truly genuine smile. "You've both gotten better."

"You have, too," she countered, not wanting to tell him how much better he had become; she dared to admit that he was better than the both of them.

That was when she glimpsed it, the fundamental key to their victory. Behind Zuko, water had collected in a puddle, and her friend was none the wiser. The opportunity was upon them and when she glanced at her brother, he winked back, confirming that he had noticed what she had.

Sokka charged with a roar and threw his boomerang, but Zuko neatly side-stepped it and brought his swords down on Sokka hard; both men strained, but it was clear from her vantage point that Zuko was stronger. Katara patiently waited for her opportunity and it arrived just moments later: just as her friend disarmed Sokka, she yanked her hands towards herself in a fierce motion, and to her glee, the puddle of water shot towards her friend's unsuspecting back.

Zuko had shoved Sokka to his knees, but his head perked up when he heard the sound of water rushing towards him from behind, but it was too late. Before he could react, the water slammed into his back and he tripped over Sokka's intentionally sprawled leg, stumbling until he crashed to the Arena floor in his own heap of limbs.

Water soaked him and Katara quickly clenched her fingers into tight fists, forcing the water to freeze, to become a prison of ice.

Sokka laid his head back, waving at her lazily. "I'm exhausted, you must finish it." Sweat covered his body and looking down at herself, feeling how hard she was breathing, Katara was little better; it had been a long time since she had fought someone or something so strenuously.

She nodded and slowly approached Zuko's suspiciously still-frozen form. Why hadn't he melted the ice? What was he up to? She stood away by several steps, holding her hands in front of her tensely, prepared for an attack, her blue eyes locking onto his golden ones. "Do you yield, Zuko?"

The ice suddenly evaporated into steam and Zuko stood, towering over her. "Not yet," he smirked, and fire blazed towards Katara out of nowhere. Before panic swept through her, she swiftly coated her hands with water and jumped through the wall of fire, hands ripping through the flames and steam arose to cloud the air from the contact.

Zuko looked surprised but continued his attack, throwing more fireballs at her. Katara avoided them and threw the water coating her hands at him, almost laughing at his gob-smacked expression when it splashed him in the face. He then blinked several times to clear his vision and jumped forward, flames blasting out of his feet.

Katara rolled out of the way and knew that she had to end this quickly. Exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her; her muscles burned, and she was heaving in gulps of air, but when she looked at Zuko, she felt dismayed to see that he didn't even look tired.

With a sudden burst of energy, she used all of her strength to lift as much water from the moat below as she possibly could. Her arms wavered under the strain, but when Zuko looked at the tsunami approaching him warily and then coated his hands in flames, Katara grinned; she then gathered it all into a massive wave and threw it at him with a hoarse cry of effort.

He inhaled deeply and crouched, then shoving his fists forward and massive spurts of fire were unleashed; they were strongest flames that she had ever seen that were without the aid of Sozin's Comet. While he himself was distracted, Katara didn't let that realization distract her as she approached him silently, hoping to sneak up on him, but just when she reached him, Zuko suddenly spun around; his arm wrapped around her body and flipped her over his shoulder roughly, and within a moment, he held a fire dagger to her neck. "Do you yield?" He asked, golden eyes burning with fire.

Katara stared up at him and smiled, ignoring the aching of her body "Do you yield, Zuko?" She pressed the tip of the ice knife that she created into his stomach, watching pride-filled as his eyes widened and he glanced down at the knife.

"It seems that we are in quite a conundrum," he observed after a moment, looking back at her, eyes gazing down at her fondly. Katara swallowed and when she licked her lips, Zuko stared heatedly, and after a moment, he quickly jumped back. "I yield to Katara," he announced loudly, looking at their audience.

"YES!" Sokka cried out, jumping to his feet, "We kicked the Fire Lord's ass!"

Katara refused to dwell on the disappointment that rushed through her body and stood up as well. "No, Sokka, I kicked Zuko's ass, not you. It was me to whom he yielded, not you."

Her brother ignored her and began clapping and hollering in happiness because the Water Tribes were better than the Fire Nation, and Iroh, Ursa, and Suki were smiling from the Royal Press Box, amused expressions on their faces.

Instead of staring at her brother like everyone else seemed to, she stared at Zuko, who was looking at the ground. Her father's timetable no longer seemed to mock her because things were getting better, and she was potently relieved to see that he obviously felt what she herself had been feeling, the shared affection between them. Perhaps she could finally have what Sokka has had for years with Suki and perhaps, she could have that shared love and trust with Zuko.

XxXxXxXxXxX

That's everything! I liked the pacing of this one. Leave a review and tell me positive and/or negatives with the chapter!

**The Order of the White Lotus has been slaughtered down to, what they know of, three members: Pakku, Bumi, and Iroh. The Order is now being re-stocked with people who would be loyal to the Avatar. In Canon, it was never really discussed how the Order came to exist, so I created a little snippet that, I hope, would sound plausible.

If any of you are uncomfortable with Zuko sleeping with harlots and whores, I'm sorry, but it's something that would have definitely happened. Royalty, from the era that the show is based on, particularly the men, would sleep around. It was commonplace for Princes and Kings to have a harem of women and visit brothels all of the time, to have multiple mistresses to please them. I'm pretty sure that we can all agree that Ozai would have done all of that to the highest degree, probably siring children that he forced the women to terminate so as to not create challengers for the Dragon's Throne. Zuko has thus followed in his father's footsteps, somewhat. Keep in mind that before he found his mother, he was also dreadfully lonely. All who he had was Azula, who was locked away in a Mental Health ward, Aang, who couldn't stay in the Fire Nation because he was the Avatar, and his uncle, who lived in Ba Sing Se. It makes sense that after the Great War, Zuko would seek out a way to abate his loneliness, and if women offered themselves to him, it was the perfect way to do that.

**It's clear in the show that Ozai wanted Zuko as his heir and no one else, or at least a legitimate son. Since Zuko was his only one, he was Ozai's only option. For all of Azula's perfection, in Ozai's eyes, she would never be Fire Lord because she was female. Zuko was still heir to the Dragon's Throne during his banishment; he wasn't removed from the line of succession. Ozai never removed him from the line of succession, not truly. If he had, Zuko could have never returned to the Fire Nation after the Ba Sing Se Crossroads of Destiny. Even after he confronted Ozai on the Day of Black Sun, Zuko was still Prince. (Otherwise, why would Azula be so wary of her brother after he left? It's because she knew of the threat that only he posed to her chances of sitting on the Dragon's Throne.)

Azula was only given the Dragon's Throne while Ozai became Phoenix King because she was the last resort. It makes sense, that if Ozai believed Zuko to never be worthy of inheriting the Dragon's Throne, that Ozai would create a marriage for Azula where her husband would become Fire Lord, and through her body, the true heir to the Dragon's Throne would be produced. That is what happened in this and Azula was almost married to Zhao, but thankfully, Aang – or rather, the Ocean Spirit – took care of the brute.

**Okay, I wrote the whole Aang-stumbling-upon-Azula-bathing scene as kind of a kick-in-the-rear. He's been stubbornly resistant to the idea of a union between himself and Azula, but if he was able to see firsthand, the true beauty of Azula, his resolve could begin to weaken. I know that the scene might be awkward and strange, but for Azula, she seems like the type of person who wouldn't mind. Don't get me wrong, if it were anyone else besides Aang who stumbled upon her bathing, she would kill them painfully and slowly, but since it's Aang, she's delighted. Men are visual creatures, it's how they're wired and programmed, and Azula recognizes that; she wouldn't keep such an opportunity for her to grow closer to Aang from happening.

**Katara and Ursa talk! I've always been fascinated with Ursa's character and I hated what was done to her in the comics. I compare her character to Senya in Star Wars, the wife of Emperor Valkorion/Tenebrae/Vitiate. In fact, several of the things that Ursa said in the chapter, including the lullaby, are based on some of Senya's quotes. I think that Katara and Ursa would easily be able to find common ground between one another because I think that they would be so similar, personality-wise.

All right, about the whole Azula-breaking-free-from-her-chains thing: Firebenders can melt metal with enough time. Now, Sozin's Comet was flooding the sky during that Agni Kai between Zuko/Katara and Azula. Did you see the massive plumes of searing flames? After Katara chained Azula, she could have easily escaped. I know that the way she was chained is difficult to do a precise blast of flames, but with Sozin's Comet strengthening her chi, it wouldn't be a concern. Personally, the only reason why Azula didn't break free and slaughter Zuko and Katara was that her mind was truly splintered, broken almost beyond repair. Maybe she also, as Ursa said, wanted to subconsciously lose to Katara. In Canon, at least to me, it was shown that Azula did care about Zuko, not to the degree that a normal sibling would, but from some of her actions, it's clear that she held affection for her exiled, long-lost brother. Perhaps she wanted to lose because she, at least in her mind, killed her brother; she had no way of knowing if Zuko had survived her lightning strike, and based on what we've seen of Azula's lightning, she never misses.

**For those of you wondering about why Katara and Sokka weren't in the best of fighting shape, it's because they've been at the South Pole for years. To be blunt, they've become sort of lazy. There were no worthy opponents they could spar with besides themselves and as a result, their endurance vanished. If you train over and over again against the same opponent, one who isn't even a bender, your skills naturally degrade. Katara may have sparred or practiced with Pakku a few times, but they would be few and far between; it wouldn't be a consistent regime where she could become even stronger and keep up her endurance in a battle.

Well, that's all for this one. If you want, leave a review and tell me what you thought of the chapter. I'd really appreciate!

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