Chapter 11: The Colonies – Part One

"I have a bad feeling about this…"

Zuko had been sitting on a makeshift throne under the deck of his ship for nearly ten days and he was beginning to feel agitated. He had been told that the new model of ship being tested during this expedition was faster than anything previously built, but Zuko had his doubts. He had also lost his fondness for both boats and the ocean in general after his experience chasing the Avatar.

This journey was a big occasion. The Fire Lord hadn't travelled beyond the homeland in months, let alone to such a contentious region. Zuko hoped his last minute border agreements would quell some of the anger. The Fire Nation had held its line at the Serpent's Pass for nearly a year, over concerns that further concessions could inflame tensions with internal rebel groups. But given the recent incursions by Earth Kingdom soldiers across the border, it was now clear that the Fire Nation had tested the patience of their rival for too long. Just a few hours before his fleet set sail, Zuko had ordered that his oversees generals reduce their troop concentrations around the temporary border, and pull back any extra men to the coastal cities. This way there were fewer soldiers near Ba Sing Se and Omashu.

Officially, this visit was just a friendly meeting between the Fire Lord and the colonial leaders in Yu Dao. In reality, it was set to be the beginning of new peace negotiations, and Zuko had already sent a series of letters informing the Earth King of this. He was slightly concerned that Kuei had not responded, but the Fire Lord lacked the time to dwell on such matters. Zuko had spent many tireless nights thinking up ideas, and he only hoped he would be able to have a reasonable conversation amid all the squabbling.

In his heart, Zuko felt little emotion regarding the issue. He had spent a fair amount of time in the colonies, but only for Avatar-related matters. He knew there were millions of people loyal to the Fire Nation living there, and he was prepared to bring them all back to the homeland if he had to. But he also knew that was an unrealistic proposal, the land was what everybody really cared about.

Zuko was stuck between an enormous boulder and a very hard place. His father's advice clawed at the back of his mind, further clouding his already muddled thoughts. Ozai seemed to suggest that relinquishing the colonies was the right decision in general, but not the right decision for the current Fire Lord. Of course, Zuko knew very well that there was a possibility he would come to blows with either the Earth Kingdom or the Avatar should he decide to keep some of the colonies. And he figured that neither would be particularly easy to convince.

"I bet my father loves this… If I let go of the colonies millions of my own people will turn against me. He knows that I don't have the support to stand against them. And I'm not like him. I can't just get rid of them… I'm not a tyrant. And if I decide to keep the colonies, I might end up with the rest of the world against me. He doesn't think I can survive that…"

Zuko desperately hoped this mission would go well. He had initially planned to just travel with a few escorts, but most of his advisors, including Azula, had freaked out. So here he was with two dozen war ships.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, Zuko was alerted by one of the crew. "My Lord, the city is visible on the horizon. We will be docking in thirty minutes."

Zuko nodded his head in response, and rose from his seat. He was looking forward to being on solid ground again.

Before Zuko went above deck, he stopped to think. He was worried about quite a few things, but two in particular came to the top of his mind. Although he didn't act like it during the meeting, he was deeply concerned about leaving the homeland while an active rebellion was underway. Without his presence or anyone to take his place, Mai was technically in charge. Although he imagined she would spend most of her time sulking like usual.

His other thought was about Azula, whom he had reluctantly agreed to take along. Even though they were theoretically on the same side now, he thought his father's statement about keeping your enemies close still held true. Despite all his misgivings, Zuko still felt an increasing desire to make amends with his sister, even though they had been bitter enemies for quite a while. His problem so far, was that he wasn't quite sure how he should help her. She had gotten good at masking it, but her fight with Mai had shown that she still had a lot of turmoil within her. And Zuko didn't want a repeat of their Agni Kai.

"I'll figure out a way to connect with her, I've got to."


As they docked in the harbor near Yu Dao, Zuko took a moment to survey the surrounding environment. The City was located in a reasonably lush mountainous area around the coast. The area was originally home to a small Earth Kingdom fortress city, and it became the first step in the Fire Nation's conquest abroad. Zuko's great-grandfather Fire Lord Sozin had captured the city thirty-seven years before the war, without any resistance from the Earth King. Since then the city proper had grown considerably, and many smaller towns had popped up around the surrounding countryside. Yu Dao Colony was notable for housing the largest city in the Fire Colonies, and for its ethnic makeup. The majority of the population was from the homeland, with the rest being roughly split between those from the Earth Kingdom and those of mixed background. It was viewed by many as a testament to the success of the Fire Nation's colonial policy.

Zuko stepped onto the pier, followed by an entourage of Imperial Firebenders. He quickly scanned the neighboring piers and spotted Azula arguing with one of the ship captains. Even though he walked briskly, Zuko arrived too late to catch their argument.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, apart from your ship captains. They have no respect for me!"

"Maybe they'd show more respect if you were a little nicer."

Azula merely crossed her arms, a sullen look on her face.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just leave me along."

"Azula…"

"Now's not the time Zuzu, we can chat later."

Azula walked off before he could respond. He really hated when she did that. Nonetheless, he had more pressing matters to attend to.

Zuko and his men reached the gates of the city, which quickly parted to let them pass. But as Zuko entered the city, the fanfare he was expecting was noticeably absent. The small crowd that had gathered to watch his entrance seemed displeased, a look of suspicion upon their faces. He stared back at them for a short moment before an elderly man in the crowd spoke up.

"So, he finally decides to show himself! I bet he's come to pawn us off to the Earth Kingdom!" Several members of the group nodded their heads and murmured words of agreement.

Although Azula would've scolded him for doing so, Zuko felt the need to address the concerns of his people. "Citizens of Yu Dao, I haven't come to pawn anyone off. This is just going to be a simple meeting between me and your local government officials."

This time a younger man butted in. "Yeah right, that's what he says, but we know what's really going on! I hope the mayor gives you a real stern talk!" This time the voices in the crowd grew even louder, and Zuko could feel the anger beginning to bubble up from inside him.

"Look, I'm not here to cause problems, I'm here to fix them. So maybe you should wait before you jump to a conclusion."

As Zuko spoke, he noticed that the crowd had grown considerably larger. When he was finished, they seemed to only become more agitated. A couple men raised up any implements they had on hand and began to approach his procession. His own guards dropped into a defensive stance. But before anything could happen, a man broke through the crowd with his own guards and came towards Zuko.

"I won't have any violence in my streets, so stop what you're doing and get back to work!"

This seemed to do the trick, as the crowd quickly dissipated with much grumbling. In a timely fashion, the only people left were the man and his guards.

"Ahem, it is an honor to meet you my Lord. I am Mr. Morishita, mayor of Yu Dao. Please forgive my citizens; they are a little agitated as I'm sure you can understand."

"It's bold of you to assume so, but yes, I do understand. I'm glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Morishita."

"Very well, now please follow me to my office. We can discuss our matters in there."

Zuko followed the mayor across town, and took in more of the city. He noticed many small shops lining the main street, a testament to the strong mercantile culture that had been fostered in the colonies. The smoke rising in the distance also caught his attention, as it seemed to be coming from a factory. Yu Dao was one of the Fire Nation's largest steel producers during the war, and it would still serve an importance going forward.

They soon came to a tall building near the town center, and one of Morishita's guards opened the door for him, and signaled for Zuko to accompany the mayor upstairs. His office was small and lacking in many furnishings, its main features being the mayor's desk and the large window behind it. However, Zuko's attention was drawn to a painting on the wall. It depicted what Zuko surmised was a slightly younger Morishita, standing beside a woman and a young girl. It reminded him of the family portraits made for the royal family. Mr. Morishita seemed to notice his staring, and spoke before Zuko had time to ask.

"That fine women is my wife, her family is from the Earth Kingdom, unlike mine. And that's my daughter Kori. She's an earthbender like her mother, and a pretty darn good one at that." His beaming expression helped Zuko relax.

"It seems like you've done well here in Yu Dao, when did you arrive here?"

"When did I arrive here? With all due respect your majesty, I was born here! My family came here several generations ago, and we built up this city with our own sweat and blood."

Zuko could tell what the mayor was getting at, but he didn't want to cross that bridge just yet.

"So, how did your family feel about you marrying someone from the Earth Kingdom?"

"Well, I can't say they were big fans at the start. Marrying someone from the Earth Kingdom was a big deal, let alone an earthbender. But they perked up over time, especially after our daughter was born."

He briefly paused to stare at the portrait on the wall before continuing. "My daughter's really proud of her heritage, despite being an earthbender. She's helped my wife's family feel more comfortable about people from the Fire Nation, and vice versa."

The mayor then turned to face Zuko, a knowing look in his eyes.

Zuko let out a small sigh. "Look, I understand that things are complicated here, and I want you to know that I haven't decided on anything yet. But…"

"You haven't decided on anything yet? You mean you would seriously consider handing this land and everyone who lives here over to the Earth Kingdom, despite the history we have here?"

"That's not what I meant. I now realize how deep your connection to this place is, but I can't rule anything out on the negotiation table… including resettlement."

A disappointed look crossed the mayor's face. "I see… well, we don't have to decide anything now. Ultimately, this is a decision to be made between you and the colonial governor. But I hope spending some more time in our city will change your mind."

Zuko nodded and rose from his chair. When he opened the door to leave he came face to face with a girl standing on the other side.

"Kori, were you standing there the whole time?" The mayor appeared slightly embarrassed.

"No father, I just got here a short while ago."

The guards stationed in the hallway nodded in agreement, much to the mayor's relief. As Zuko walked past he noticed Kori glaring at him, a spiteful look in her eyes. Her gaze seemed to soften when she realized Zuko had noticed, but it remained unfriendly. The guards escorted Zuko outside of the building, and towards a mansion that had been reserved for his visit on the far side of the city.

It had gotten dark outside far quicker than Zuko had expected, and by the time they arrived at the building only a few rays of sunlight remained in the sky. Zuko turned towards one of his guards, "I guess we're skipping dinner tonight?"

"Don't remind me, all I had to eat today were some lousy chips."

"You can retire early tonight as compensation."

"Thank you my Lord."

The guard proceeded to open the door and Zuko stepped into the mansion. The building was a lot bigger on the inside, and it appeared to have many rooms. As Zuko began to explore he noticed a light coming from the kitchen and went to investigate. He rounded the doorway and spotted a familiar face.

"Azula, when did you get here?"

"Hello Zuzu, I was escorted here shortly after your little meeting with the mayor started. Oh, and in case you're worried I won't be staying here tonight. The mayor has provided me with separate lodgings. I'm only here for this…"

Azula picked up an apple from the counter and took a bite. "Hmm… this one's a little soft."

Zuko noticed that her tone seemed more aloof than it had been previously, and he was keen to pick up their conversation from earlier. He subtlety motioned for the guards to leave, and proceeded to make his way over to Azula.

"Are you feeling a little better than earlier?"

Azula's eyes immediately narrowed in response to his question, and she stopped chewing her apple. Slowly, she swallowed and began to speak.

"What are you talking about?"

"You seemed a little agitated the last time we spoke, and I wanted to know if you were better."

"I said I was fine, remember?"

"Yeah, and I say I'm fine after an argument all the time, but I don't actually mean it."

Azula let out a sigh, "Look Zuko, have you considered that just maybe I don't want to travel all the way to Yu Dao so you can fumble around in front of the colonists?"

"Fumble around? I'm here to solve a problem, and I will do it the way I see fit! I didn't have to drag you along but I wanted to, so here you are."

A sinister smile briefly flickered across Azula's face. "So, it seems you have grown a spine. That's good… the Fire Nation needs a strong leader."

"Why do you care about that? I think there's more going on that you aren't telling me about."

"I realized that I never really wanted to be Fire Lord, instead, I want to mold you into a stronger leader."

"And what do you gain from that? There's always some kind of ulterior motive with you."

"There's no ulterior motive Zuzu, it's just how I intend to make myself useful."

Slowly, a knowing smile crept onto Zuko's face. "Ah, so that's what this is about."

Azula's expression darkened once again. "What do you mean?"

"You want to do something, to have power again, because you're jealous that I'm in charge and you're not."

Azula cautious expression morphed into one of anger. "Typical, you don't understand anything. Why would I be jealous of you?"

"I don't know Azula, perhaps there's something I have that you need."

"Just get to the point already, you're beginning to sound like uncle."

Zuko let out a small sigh. "I'm not opposed to letting you become more involved in ruling the Fire Nation, but I need to make sure I can trust you first."

Azula's eyes widened at his statement. "Trust… what would you possibly know about trust? What would anyone known of trust? Nobody can be trusted! They'll all betray you eventually… just you like you did."

"How did I betray you? And besides, you attacked me constantly during the war!"

"That was different, you were an enemy of the Fire Nation, and I had to chase you. You didn't have to betray me!"

"How did I betray you?"

"When you abandoned me during the eclipse after everything I did to restore your stupid honor!"

Azula was practically screaming now, and Zuko could see her eyes becoming wet as she furiously blinked back tears. Against his better judgment, Zuko moved closer in an attempt to comfort her.

"Don't touch me!" she shrieked.

Zuko began to back away, Azula was breathing much faster and he had spotted a dangerous look in her eyes.

"Azula, I just want to help. I'm sorry you felt betrayed, but I don't regret what I did. Believe me, it wasn't an easy decision. I had to confront father and leave behind my friends, but I believe it was the right course of action."

"I don't want your help! And things aren't different just because you had a reason!"

"What would you have had me do? I couldn't sit by and let the entire world burn. If I had stayed, father would have cast me aside, just like he did to you."

"Yes… he also abandoned me." Azula was beginning to shake, although Zuko couldn't tell if it was from rage or sadness. "I wish you had told me… I… I would have gone with you."

Zuko raised an eyebrow at her response. "We both know that's not true. Right now, you might wish that was how things had turned out. But I know the Azula during the eclipse would have never joined me."

"You never even thought to ask, did you?"

Zuko could see her trembling, but he knew the truth was the best option, no matter how much it would hurt.

"No, I didn't."

Azula suppressed a whimper and straightened her posture. She closed her eyes and wiped the water from her face, before walking towards the exit.

"Goodnight Zuko…"

The nervous guards proceeded to escort her out of the building and toward the house she was staying in. Zuko watched from the kitchen window as her form slowly retreated into the night, leaving him deep in thought. Perhaps Azula had a point, he really hadn't thought about telling her, and she did help him restore his honor. But then again, Zuko could hardly consider her trustworthy.

"Trust…"

Zuko began to wonder if he had stumbled upon an important piece of the puzzle. Perhaps trust would allow him to bridge the gap with Azula.

Suddenly, there was a quiet knock on the wall. "My Lord, it is getting very late."

Zuko didn't bother turning around. "You and your men can retire for the evening, I will join you shortly."

The guard quietly bowed and walked away, leaving Zuko alone.


"Goodnight princess, we will be right outside if you need anything." The guard closed the door and began to walk away, the sound of his footsteps slowly fading into nothingness.

Azula collapsed on the bed, her mind swirling with ideas. She thought that her composure had been reacquired during her time in prison, but she still had moments of weakness. Her father had always instructed her to control her emotions, and it had allowed her to become a skilled warrior. But now she had lost control, and she was weaker than ever before. Azula conjured a small flame, its pale orange glow reminding her of how far she had fallen.

"I used to be special, now I feel like nothing. Beaten by some Water Tribe peasant, and abandoned by everyone, even father."

Azula thought back to everyone that had wronged her. Her mother, the woman who had brought her into this world, viewed her as a monster. She was afraid, and always showed more affection for Zuko. Then she left one night, never to return…

Her father, the man that had taught her everything there was to know about manipulating others and furthering one's own strength, the man who had molded her into an excellent firebender, and the man who claimed to care about her. When the time came to rule the world, he had cast her aside, like one would dispose of a blade to blunt for battle.

Mai and Ty Lee, her only true friends, who had been with her since childhood and had overseen the conquest of Ba Sing Se during the war; they disobeyed her orders and attacked her.

And finally there was Zuko, who made everything so complicated. They had been rivals, and she had always been on top for so long. She had been gleeful to see their father scar him for his disobedience, and exile him to search for the Avatar. And yet, she didn't hate him per say, she was just following orders after all. She had acquired a ship and crew for his journey, and even after his failure at the North Pole, she had given him the choice to join her. And she was glad he had accepted, because without his help, she might have been defeated by Katara during their battle underneath Ba Sing Se. They had returned home as allies, she had spoken to father on his behalf, and kept him out of trouble. They weren't exactly friends, but they were connecting again, especially during their vacation to Ember Island. And then he left…

Azula had been surprised by his departure, and then by her friends, and then by her father. It seemed like everyone was leaving, and after she began to see illusions of her mother… she fell apart. She couldn't recall what she was thinking during their Agni Kai, if she had been thinking anything at all. She lost the duel, and she was completely shattered, she felt so weak…

Now she had pieced herself back together, but although she loathed admitting it, she was scared… so overwhelmingly scared.

Azula sat up on the bed and wiped the tears from her eyes. Crying wouldn't solve any of her problems, although she sure wished it could. As she sat there in silence, her mind returned to Zuko, and what he had said about trusting her. Was he really open to such a thing, and could she believe him? Then Azula wondered… her old approach to problems was what got her in this position, so perhaps she could try viewing things from a different angle? She had never seriously done that before, but then again, what was the harm in trying?

Azula thought back to her father. As painful as it was, she hadn't taken long to understand why he had betrayed her. The truth was that he hadn't loved her in years, if he ever did to begin with. At best, he saw her as a useful weapon.

Mai and Ty Lee were easier than she expected. She truly believed they were once her friends, at least to some extent, but they also followed her out of fear. And when she had threatened Zuko, whom Mai cared about, they turned on her to protect him. And then she locked them up, and now they hated her.

Zuko had the most complex past. Azula would constantly overshadow him, taunt him, ridicule him, and disparage him in any way she could. But she could also recall happier times with him. Like the times they chased each other around the palace gardens, or the times they had reenacted plays their mother had dragged them to watch, not to mention their vacations on Ember Island. However, she had attacked him during the war, and nearly killed him on several occasions. When they fought, she had felt no attachment, no hesitation, and no empathy. After all that, how could he be so willing to accept her? Then again, the Avatar had befriended Zuko, even after all the times they had fought.

Finally, there was their mother. And as much as she tried, Azula could not think of a justification. Her mother was afraid of her, and saw her as a disappointment and a monster, yet she never attempted to help, or to improve her daughter. She was always lingering in the background, her disapproval haunting her daughter's mind. Then she left, and at first Azula had been relieved. There was no longer anyone to scorn her, and Zuko had been deprived of the attention she desired. But as time went on, she realized just how much she wanted her mother's love. She wanted so desperately to cast those feelings aside, but she simply couldn't, and it hurt so much.

"What am I to do now?"

Azula undid the pin in her hair and fell back on her bed, her mind tired from a long day. "No more dwelling on my problems, no more wandering around like a lost soul. I'm going to strive for greater things, and I'm going to succeed. Failure is not an option."

Content with her declaration, Azula let sleep quickly seize her. Things seems normal at first, almost peaceful, a rare occurrence for someone like Azula. But of course, it was too good to be true, and it wasn't long before she emerged in a dream.

Azula heard many sounds, all to quiet to make out. At the very least she recognized that she was running, her legs moving at an incredible pace. She didn't know why she was running. There were many people around her, but none seemed to take notice. It was dark, and the sky was covered in smoke. Azula noticed that she seemed to shake as she ran, as if the ground was wildly uneven. Eventually she came to some sort of clearing. It was then that she spotted Zuko, dressed in regale armor, his stance that of a warrior.

And she saw he was surrounded by fire… lots and lots fire.


Zuko bolted upright in his bed, his chest was covered in sweat and his heart was beating fast. He had been stuck in a dream. Although he couldn't recall everything, he had noticed many warriors around him, fighting for him. He was surrounded by fire, fire that he commanded, and he felt so powerful. And then he was hit in the head by a rock…

Zuko swung out of his bed and grabbed his robes and some of his lighter armor. He wasn't sure why, but he felt uneasy. The feeling reminded him of the recent assassination attempt, although unlike then he hadn't been awoken by any suspicious noise.

"I'm probably just imagining things."

Zuko pulled back the window curtains and stared outside. It was still dark, and he couldn't see anyone out and about in the city streets. Even so, Zuko was no longer in the mood for sleep, and he quietly crept downstairs. The lights had gone out sometime during the night, which was strange. The guards normally took turns keeping watch, unless they had all fallen asleep this time.

But as Zuko searched the mansion he found no guards anywhere, it was as if they had suddenly vanished. His suspicion aroused, he quietly crept back towards the main entrance, alert for any clues he might find along the way. When he arrived at the front door he cautiously tried the doorknob.

*Click*

To Zuko's surprise it opened normally, and he slowly pulled back the door. However, instead of the fresh night air, Zuko was met with a wall of rock. He quickly tried to burn through, but to no avail. The stone was thick, and Zuko didn't want to risk burning down the mansion if his guards were still inside.

He closed the door and headed back upstairs, on his way up Zuko remembered the window in his room. He went to the door, but found it locked.

"That's strange. Very strange…"

Zuko leaned close to the door and listened, but he couldn't hear anything. He moved on to the other rooms on the top floor. Unlike his room, these were thankfully open. After checking several and finding nothing, he opened the final door. Inside, he found several guards lying on the floor, against the wall, and a few in the beds. He attempted to rouse them, but they seemed deeply asleep, almost unconscious.

"At least they're alive."

Zuko didn't want to make too much noise by attempting to move them, so he left and headed back downstairs. He tried opening every window on the main floor, but each one was blocked up by rock. Having run out of options, Zuko opted to try the one place he hadn't searched… the basement.

As he began to descend into the basement he noticed it was pitch black, with no lanterns to light the way. He summoned a small flame and climbed down. As he did so, Zuko noticed the walls were composed of stone instead of wood. The walls were lined with empty shelves and kegs of wine, although none of it appeared to have been touched. As he skirted the wall, Zuko thought he heard a muffled sound. He listened carefully, but it was too faint to make out.

Suddenly, Zuko stopped in his tracks. He realized that he had been looking down and to his sides, but not up. Slowly, Zuko raised his head and his light, illuminating a large shadow on the ceiling. But just as Zuko realized what he was looking at, the shadow dropped to the floor with a quiet thud.

Zuko dropped into a defensive stance and immediately shot a fireball at the shadowy figure, which it deflected by raising a wall of rock.

"It's an earthbender!"

Zuko summoned more fire and was able to get a better glimpse at the intruder. Their face was covered, but he could tell by the way that they carried themselves that the individual was female. She swung at Zuko with a ball and chain, which he easily dodged. Responding with a quick barrage of fire, he managed to push the attacker back to the bottom of the stairs before she sent several pillars of earth flying in his direction.

The mysterious woman then removed a hammer from her belt and changed her position. Zuko had seen this tactic before while wandering the Earth Kingdom, and now he knew how to counter it. The woman smashed her hammer on the ground and brought a piece of rock to the surface, then she swung at the rock with her hammer, sending it hurling towards Zuko. But instead of deflecting it head on, Zuko sidestepped the rock and sent a stream of fire at the attacker. She seemed slightly surprised and dropped her stance to raise a protective wall. However, she quickly recovered and pounded the ground with her fists, shifting the floor away from where she was standing. Then she slammed her hammer harder than before, causing the ground to shake. A large pillar of rocks appeared, and she sent them all at Zuko in quick succession. He managed to doge most of them, but one caught his leg and broke his stance, leaving him wide open.

But the assailant missed her chance, instead opting to form a barrier around her. Zuko was surprised, had she really missed his obvious blunder? He used her seeming hesitancy to regain his strength and unleash a powerful attack. Fire erupted in front of him and traveled towards his target at great speed. Her defenses crumbled around her and she quickly formed a makeshift shelter. Zuko continued forwards, superheating the air around his palm, and directing it at the pile of rubble. The rock began to glow, and the woman quickly threw off her protection before it could become too loose to control. She caused the earth to rupture in front of her and sent it in Zuko's direction, briefly stalling him. She then hardened her stance and held her arms wide. She gripped the walls and then rejoined her hands. The walls followed her movement and crashed together, separating her from Zuko.

The young Fire Lord realized what she was attempting and was determined to make sure she didn't escape. He needed a way to break through the walls, and he recalled his many failed attempts to generate lightning. They never produced electricity, but they did explode. Zuko looked at the wall and let his anger briefly seize him, he then attempted to separate the positive and negative energies, knowing what was about to happen. And sure enough, the smell of smoke and the sound of broken rocks identified his success. Zuko had managed to stay upright, and now he was in the perfect position to pursue the intruder.

Zuko rushed to the other side of the basement just in time to see the woman fleeing. He sent several fireballs in her direction, slowing her escape. She turned around and summoned all her strength, sending a wave of earth towards him. Zuko wanted to continue onwards, but he was shocked by her next action. The intruder opened an earthen wall on the side opposite to her, revealing several of Zuko's guards, tied up and partially encased in rock.

Zuko was only distracted for a moment but it was enough for the attacker to open a tunnel in the wall and close it before he could reach her. It was a dangerous move for an earthbender, let alone anyone else, and Zuko wasn't keen to try following her.

Zuko grunted and kicked the wall, dismayed at the turn of events. However, he quickly regained his composure and turned towards his men. They all seemed alive, much to his relief. And the room, despite the damage it sustained, seemed to be in no danger of collapsing. Next, Zuko quickly headed upstairs to check the doors and windows, which he found were no longer encased in stone. He then check upstairs, finding the men still unconscious and his bedroom door no longer locked. He looked inside, and found everything to be the same besides and open window. He peered outside into the night, and noticed that it was perfectly quiet, almost like nothing had happened at all.


"Aang…?"

"Huh?" The Avatar looked across the table and saw Katara staring at him, an impatient expression on her face. Aang noticed only briefly, his attention quickly shifting to her beautiful skin and dazzling blue eyes. Even when she wasn't happy, Katara still managed to appear absolutely stunning.

"Aang!"

The Avatar jumped slightly in his seat as Katara's frown continued to deepen. "What?"

"Were you paying attention to anything I was saying? I called your name several times."

"Sorry Katara, I'm just a little tired."

Katara's expression softened and she reached out her hand and placed it on Aang's. "Are you feeling alright? Are you getting enough sleep? Did you fly over here too quickly?"

"No, I'm fine. You don't need to worry."

Katara became indignant again. "I'm your girlfriend. It's my responsibility to worry."

"Well I'd rather you didn't worry. I don't want you to feel anxious because of me."

"Aang… you're too considerate for your own good." Katara smiled and got up from her seat. She glided over to where Aang was sitting and placed her arms around his shoulders. Aang nuzzled his face against her arms, soaking in their warmth and feeling the light hairs tickle his cheek.

"I missed you."

"I know."

The couple sat in silence for a long while, content to merely enjoy each other's presence. When the time came, it was Katara who spoke up. "How come you didn't remind me that today was your birthday?"

"I didn't think it was important."

"Of course it's important. Anything about you is important to me."

"Thanks… It's hard to imagine that I've been around for over one-hundred and fourteen years."

"Well, you did spend most of that time frozen in the South Pole."

"True."

"Did the Air Nomads do anything special for your birthday?"

Aang frowned. "Not really… Monk Gyatso would always make me whatever I wanted to eat on that day, but the other monks never did anything."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories."

"No, I understand. That's ancient history for you. But it's not for me…"

Katara squeezed Aang more tightly, slowly rocking back and forth. "Hey Katara, what did you do for your birthday back home? I know I wasn't around when you turned fifteen."

"We didn't really do much, at least during my life. In the past, the people of the Southern Water Tribe used to have a conception day and a birthday. But since there are no more waterbenders to determine when someone was conceived, we've only had birthdays." Aang nodded, eager to hear more.

"I never had anything special on my birthdays. The raids ended a lot of our traditions, but my aunt used to tell me that when she was a kid, her father would go out and fish in a secluded area. He would always return with a pearl, and my grandmother would string it on a necklace."

"Well, I'm not going to kill a clam for its pearl, but maybe there's something else I could do?"

Katara chuckled. "My birthday is coming up in two months, so you have plenty of time to think on that. But really, you don't have to get me anything. Just being with you during that time will be more than enough."

Katara leaned over and kissed Aang's cheek. He turned his head in response, and their lips touched. They stayed that way, slowly becoming more aggressive, until they heard a cough from behind them. The two lovers broke the kiss and turned to see Jin staring at them, a bemused expression on her face. "Were you two not listening to what I told you?"

"Well…" Aang began to mumble out a response, but Jin cut him off. "Whatever, I'd probably do the same thing. Regardless, the two of you need to get a room somewhere else. I'm closing the shop for today." Aang and Katara nodded as they walked outside of the Jasmine Dragon. Their spirits were high as they approached Appa, but the bison seemed much less jovial. He was perched on top of a building, staring intently off into the distance. Aang immediately took notice and moved to investigate.

"Hey buddy… what's the matter?"

Appa gave Aang a suspicious rumble, his eyes not leaving their target. Aang moved to follow his gaze, and Katara joined him. Their human eyes could not see as far as that of their furry companion, but Aang and Katara could still make out what appeared to be a legion of Earth Kingdom soldiers exiting the walls of Ba Sing Se. "That's strange…" Katara said, "I wonder where they're going?"

"I don't know… maybe I should ask Kuei?"

"I don't mean to be blunt Aang, but Kuei is useless."

"Yeah… you're right. Maybe I should ask the soldiers themselves?"

"We can try. Ba Sing Se is still far too secretive for my liking."

"Agreed, but we should let Iroh know that I'm leaving."

"I'll tell Jin. And both of us are going Aang, I'm not letting you leave this quickly."

Aang sighed. "Alright Katara, but we should probably hurry."


Authors' Notes

Thanks for the continued support! I've spent the past few chapters setting up plot threads that are going to come to fruition soon. Hopefully it all works out!