"Lieutenant Jee?" Zuko can't believe it. What's that man doing all the way out here and with the Water Tribe? The last time he'd seen him he and Uncle had been leaving the North Pole. Zuko gasps, he'll know about Uncle!

"Ah, Prince Zuko!" Jee bows. "It's so good to see you."

"What're you doing here? Have you seen Uncle?"

The lieutenant nods. "General Iroh is the one that sent me out here. I don't know how he gets his information but he had me meet the Southern Fleet here. That was almost a nasty encounter." Jee shudders.

"Okay, but what about Uncle? Is he safe? I hard he was imprisoned."

"General Iroh is fine, he got out relatively quickly. After all, how many prisons do you really think can hold the Dragon of the West?"

Zuko breathes a sigh of relief, his heart suddenly much lighter. "Where is he now?"

"Last time I saw him he was on Whale Tail Island." Jee smiles, "He'll be waiting for us at the Black Cliffs when the invasion comes."

Zuko smiles back, just a bit. "Good, I can't wait."

Katara comes storming up. "The nerve of him! Dad is being absolutely ridiculous and won't listen to anything I have to say! Oh hello Lieutenant Jee, what are you doing here?"

"Hello Miss Katara, General Iroh sent me here to rendezvous with the Southern Fleet."

"Oh, that explains the ship. I'm sorry that you have to deal with my dad and his absolute thick headedness."

"Your dad?"

"Yeah, Hakoda." Jee blanches noticeably.

Zuko speaks up, hardly looking at the water bender. "Katara, maybe your father was right. Maybe you should stay away from me for awhile." She's with her tribe, she's safe.

"What, how can you say that, Zuko?"

"It's just that," he rubs the back of his head awkwardly, "We don't want to push our luck and the peace between us and the Water Tribe is already so fragile. Maybe it's for the best."

Katara's bottom lip wobbles and she quickly scowls. "Fine," she snaps and marches off. His stomach twists, he doesn't want her to go.

Jee looks at his prince, "We kidnapped the Southern Water Tribe Chief's daughter?"

Zuko has the sense to look embarrassed.

. . .

Dinner is a tense affair. Hakoda can't insult the Fire Nation Prince by not hosting him and Zuko can't insult the Southern Water Tribe Chief by turning him down. Katara is noticeably absent, claiming to have to send the letter to Aang telling him where they'll meet, though Sokka, Toph, Bato, and Jee are in attendance.

"Fire flakes, Prince Zuko?"

"What? Oh, thank you." Zuko gratefully accepts, savoring the spice on his tongue. Oh how he's missed this.

They all sit there uncomfortably, only the sounds of eating to be heard until Toph decides to take pity on them all. "So what's the plan? How're we going to bust up the Fire Nation Capitol?"

Zuko speaks first. "Last I heard we were meeting at the Black Cliffs and heading to Capitol City from there."

Hakoda nods, "Yes, on the day of the eclipse, the Day of Black Sun, we attack. We have people joining us from all over the globe. We keep getting letters. I'm not sure how so many people know where we are, but almost everyone is saying the same - that the Avatar, my children, and Toph helped them and because of that, they all want to help. They believe we can defeat the Fire Lord. Sokka's been in contact with a mechanist who's building new equipment for us. We just have to worry about the Fire Nation Navy on the ocean between here and there."

Jee shakes his head. "The Fire Nation Army is more loyal to the Fire Lord and his dream than the Navy. The Navy had to deal with Zhao and his attempt on the North Pole. While a few people got conscripted into the army, most of us were lucky enough to stay with our ships and many of those ships have gone rogue, either looting or helping joining rebels to help take out unjust governors both Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation alike."

"I'm surprised," Hakoda muses, "I wouldn't have expected them to do more than loot and pillage."

Jee and Zuko both bristle. "We're not the monsters you think we are. Most of us just want this war over with."

Hakoda regards them cooly, choosing not to add fuel to the fire. "Either way, will the navy be an issue for us?"

"Most likely not. Most are loyal to Prince Zuko or at least General Iroh."

"Good." He turns to Toph. "Now, my son mentioned earlier that you came from Ba Sing Se recently. What's the situation there?"

"I don't know, I just know that when I showed up I got shot at with earth bending and fire bending. I headed over to Sparky's camp and nothing there, not even the houses, just -" she shudders, remembering what she could feel, what she had almost kicked in her confusion while trying to figure out what the charred shapes were. She'd known, she'd been told what the Fire Nation did, it was just a whole other story to feel it herself. "Nothing."

Zuko winces. "Was there anyone alive? Did anyone escape?"

"I don't know Zuko, I couldn't feel anything alive, but that's not to say they didn't get out before."

"Yeah," Zuko slumps, "I guess. I told them to meet us here. It's an easily defendable position that we can leave quickly if needed."

Toph affectionately punches his arm. "They'll show up Sparky, don't worry."

"Yeah Zuko, Azula may be scary, but she probably can't leave Ba Sing Se for awhile since she just took it over," Sokka adds.

Zuko nods half heartedly. "She's working with the Dai Li. Long Feng must have shown his ugly head long enough to make a deal with her or something so I guess you're right. She wouldn't want to leave him there in control."

"Who's Azula exactly?" Bato questions.

Zuko looks him dead in the eyes. "Azula's my sister."

Eventually dinner winds down and people excuse themselves from the tent until it's only Sokka, Hakoda, and Bato there. "Dad, I need to talk to you."

"If this is about your sister and that boy-"

"Dad, you need to listen to me. I didn't like him either at first. I wanted him dead, not gonna lie, but he's had plenty of chances to turn us over to the Fire Nation and he hasn't. He's had plenty of chances to capture Aang and he hasn't." His mind flashes to Fong and how Zuko immediately jumped in to save Katara, how he's so careful to make sure she's okay. "He messed up, big time, but Katara trusts him and forgave him. You need to too."

"Sokka, it's not that simple."

Bato cuts in. "You didn't hear her, what she told me had happened."

"Actually Bato, I did. Aang and I heard everything, including her saying that she didn't hate Zuko. He was only even chasing Aang because his dad wouldn't let him him come home unless he had the Avatar. Can you imagine what that's like? He spoke up trying to stop troops from getting slaughtered and his dad burned and kicked him out for it. Dad, you've got to cut him some slack. He's an alright guy"

Hakoda sighs. Bato starts to speak but the chief raises his hand. "I've been out of my children's lives for too long. Sokka, tell me everything that's happened and don't leave things out this time."

. . .

Katara sends the letter to Aang telling him where to rendezvous, then spends the rest of the evening wandering around camp. There's plenty of Water Tribesmen and a few Fire Nation men around and for some reason she's just reminded of Zuko's ship. It seems like she's been remembering it a lot lately. After she'd left the ship and rejoined Aang and Sokka she'd felt off. There isn't a good way to describe it except just that she doesn't belong somewhere where she used to fit in perfectly.

A few of the Water Tribesmen have pulled her aside, obviously recognizing her from home, and have asked her if she could mend clothes for them. Her own father treats her like she's supposed to just shut up and accept whatever he says, even if it's wrong. Her blood boils. Katara, master water bender, hasn't worked so hard just to mutely accept sewing patches for men who are obviously capable since they've managed it for years and listening to a man who doesn't even know her anymore! They're not as bad as the Northern Water Tribe, that's for sure, but they're worse than she remembers them being. Katara wanders over to where more of the Fire Nation soldiers are and is uncomfortable with the fact that she's at ease there.

. . .

Toph plops down on the ground beside Zuko on the outskirts of camp before shoving him gently by her standards. "You know, moping out here by yourself isn't going to do you any good." Zuko just grunts in response. "I mean it. If you'd stayed it's possible that even more people would have ended up fried. Hell, you might have ended up fried."

"I still should have stayed."

"Princy, it sucks but you're here now, you're alive. You can't go change the past, the most you can do is try to get people like Azula out of the way as quickly as possible. End the war and the rest will follow."

Zuko scoffs. "You make it sound so easy."

"Maybe it is," Toph shrugs. "Go in, bust a few heads, end the war. Judging by how those soldiers reacted in the caves and by the fact that Jee said the Navy is practically yours, your people are tired too."

"It's not enough for them to be tired, they have to unlearn everything they've been taught about our homeland."

"Listen, Sparky, all I know is almost everyone wants this over with and you can't blame yourself for what happened. Maybe go talk to Fussy Britches, she always cheers you up."

"Ha," Zuko snorts. "You heard her dad, he doesn't want me anywhere near her."

"Oh yeah, like we all totally listen to our parents," Toph mocks.

"Maybe you don't, but I'm trying to not piss off anyone else in the Water Tribe."

"Whatever, she calms you down and you know it. You calm her down too and right now she's as angry as a mooselion." Toph looks at him slyly, "By the way, what exactly did happened before she came back to Ba Sing Se? She didn't say anything but her heart rate was through the roof. Did you finally tell her how you feel?" Toph teases. Zuko gulps. The tiny earth bender crows, "Oh I knew it! Now I really wish Sokka would have taken me up on my bet!"

"On your what?"

"I bet him that you'd tell Katara that you liked her before she told you. Sokka refused to take me up on it saying," she puts on her best Sokka impression, "'Ew no! I'm not betting on something like that! She's my sister!' I could have won five copper from him," she pouts.

Zuko turns a deep shade of red. "You, I, no!" He splutters, "There's nothing -"

"Oh don't even lie, I can tell when you're lying remember."

"I'm not! I wouldn't - I - She - no. She doesn't like me like that."

Toph laughs, "Yeah, and I'm an air bender. Sheesh, you two are so dense. For someone whose eyes work, you're awfully blind."

"Yeah well…" he doesn't have a good comeback.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Anyhow, go talk to Princess, you'll feel better." Toph slides away from him, her earth bending leaving dust in her wake. She can't possibly be right, there's no way.

. . .

The next day dawns warm and clear, the sunlight reflecting on the open water. They'd agreed to wait a few days to see if any Fire Nation deserters show up however the guard around the camp has increased significantly. They're all on edge, waiting to see if Azula makes a move.

"So I know you saw Crazy, but where exactly was she?" Sokka asks.

"In the throne room. I'd just met with the Council of Five and they wanted the Kyoshi warriors to -" She gasps, astounded that she'd overlooked this. "Sokka, the Kyoshi Warriors!"

"Yeah, what about them?"

"The Council of Five said Kyoshi Warriors had shown up only instead of Suki it was Azula and her two friends!"

"What!"

"Yeah, have you heard from Suki at all?"

"No, I haven't. Uh," he pauses, panicked for a moment. "Let me check something!" Sokka scurries off, Katara not far behind him. They rush over to the tent on the edge of camp where Katara had sent the letter to Aang from last night. Birds perch in cages, cawing uninterestedly, waiting for a message to send. They're trained to go by smell and are amazing trackers, even across oceans though too quick to follow yourself. No one's sure how they always find their recipient though many stories say they fly a little too close to the Spirit World.

Sokka starts pulling scrolls out of a pile, unrolling, then tossing them aside in frustration. "There's nothing here from Kyoshi Island!"

"Well, maybe everything is fine and that's why they didn't send any news. Or they didn't know where to find us."

Sokka just looks at her. "Really? Really? Everyone and their brother knows we're here, at least of our allies, and you think Suki just wouldn't mention anything?"

"We can hope." Katara bites her lip. If the Kyoshi Warriors went up against Azula…Katara shudders at the thought.

"We need to go talk to Zuko."

Katara chokes. "Talk to Zuko? I really don't think that's necessary."

"Oh, so you're listening to Dad now? That's surprising," Sokka deadpans.

She scowls. "I'm not listening to Dad, I'm just you know, giving Zuko some space."

"Sure you are, let's go talk to him. He may know something." Sokka trots off, leaving Katara to follow with a frown on her face. Zuko's sparring near the Fire Nation ship with one of the benders that came with Jee though stops at Sokka's shouting.

"Hey, jerk bender, we need you for a minute!"

Zuko rolls his eyes. "What is it?" He spots Katara, looking at her feet, and gulps.

"If let's say someone got captured by the Fire Nation, where would they be taken?"

"Depends on who it is, why?"

"Suki, where would she be?"

Zuko raises his one eyebrow. "Who?"

"Ugh, you attacked her village and you don't even know her name - Suki, Commander of the Kyoshi Warriors. If Azula was dressed up as one of them then something may have happened to her."

"Ah, I remember Kyoshi Island. I was just looking for Aang," Zuko defends.

"Oh whatever, just tell me where she would be."

"Well, since it's Azula that attacked her…" Zuko doesn't finish that sentence. "Sokka there are so many prisons there's no telling. She could be in the Earth Kingdom, in the Fire Nation, who knows."

"You must have some idea," Sokka insists.

Zuko shrugs. "If she's the commander she may, just maybe be at Boiling Rock. It's a maximum security prison, or she may be in the Spire near Capitol City, hell Azula may have even kept her around. There's no telling, Sokka." The Water Tribe man scowls and Zuko continues. "Our best bet of finding her is after the Day of Black Sun. We'll be able to free everyone then."

"But-" Sokka sighs, knowing that it's stupid but he's right. The invasion has to come first. Sokka rolls his eyes and walks off, trying to think of a way to find out where the warrior woman is.

Katara shoots Zuko a look, turns her nose up and begins to walk off. "Katara, wait," he calls, Toph's words ringing in his head. It's not true, but…

"Really, for what? Aren't you the one who told me to leave you alone just yesterday?"

"Maybe I was a little hasty."

"Oh really, you think?" She rolls her eyes.

"Katara, would you like to-" A wave rises over him and he dodges out of the way just in time.

"Would I like to spar, sure!" She throws him a wicked smile. Sparring is easier than talking and they both have frustration to work out.

"Oh you're on." He draws fire between his hands then pushes it out like a wave towards her. Katara washes it away easily only to find him throwing more fireball that she has to rush to deflect. A water octopus forms around her, extinguishing each ball of flame before shooting forward and freezing Zuko's feet in place. Fire roars around him and the ice quickly melts, allowing him to roll forward, dodging another attack while also sending streaks of fire towards her. They continue to trade blows, each parrying the other, neither gaining the upper hand. It's the middle of the day but they're beside the open sea. It's an even match, especially with each using not only their own element's styles but the other's too.

"Enough! What's going on here!" Hakoda roars.

The wave Katara's riding falters and she comes crashing down onto a now soaked Zuko who had turned towards the chief. Now they're both in a crumpled heap on the ground. Katara rolls off of Zuko, "Are you okay!"

"Yeah I'm fine, are you?"

"Yeah, here, let me help." Katara bends the water out of his clothes as he gets up and Hakoda marches forward, grabbing his daughter and shoving her behind him.

"I thought I told you to stay away from her."

"Chief Hakoda, we weren't doing anything wrong. We were just -"

"I don't care what you were doing. I told you to stay away." He tries to tower over Zuko but the two end up nose to nose. Damn the alliance, Zuko isn't going to let someone talk to him like that, especially in front of his men, there are Fire Nation sailors here after all.

"Stop it! Leave him alone, Dad."

"Katara, I know everything that's happened and I don't want the two of you around each other."

"You don't get to decide that for me, I do."

"Young lady, I am your father and you have to listen to me."

Katara laughs harshly, "Ha! You've been gone. You haven't been a father in years. As soon as Mom died you left to go hunt Fire Nation and we've hardly seen you since. How are you supposed to call yourself my father if you don't even know me? You know nothing about me. Nothing about me, about Sokka, or about Zuko, so don't act like you get to just waltz in here and start telling me how to live my life!"

Hakoda pulls back, surprised by the venom in her words. "Katara, that's not fair. I had to protect the Tribe."

"By leaving us?" She can feel the tears threatening to overflow and hates herself for it. She turns to the crowd attracted by the flames and then by the shouting. "All of you left the Tribe defenseless! Each and every single one of you. We scrounged for food, we went hungry, we could have been attacked at any moment while you were all off chasing the Fire Nation, and you want to say you left to protect us? Protecting us would have been staying, it would have been hunting for food instead of leaving us to fend for ourselves! How can any of you call yourself Souther Water Tribe when you turned your back on us to go play soldier?" She turns back to her father. "So don't you dare try to say that and don't you dare try to tell me what to do or how to live my life." Katara pulls water around herself and surfs away, leaving the tribe speechless in her wake.

Hakoda finds his daughter a few hours later, her toes buried in the sand a ways from camp as she absentmindedly bends water between her hands. He sets down a bowl of food beside her, a peace offering of sorts. "Can we talk?"

Katara glances at him, ignoring the food. "About what?"

He sighs and sits down beside her. "Maybe we shouldn't have left the way we did, we probably could have left a few men at home."

"Really?" She retorts sarcastically.

"Katara, I'm sorry. Maybe I haven't been the best father, maybe I haven't been there but let me try to make it up to you. I thought about you and your brother every day when I was gone and every night when I went to sleep, I would lie awake missing you so much it would ache."

"So why didn't you come back?" Tears start to well up again and she dashes them away quickly.

"I was trying to do what I thought was best. If we didn't go against the Fire Nation then there may not have been a South Pole to protect in a few years. I just wanted to keep my kids safe."

"We needed you, Dad and you weren't there."

"I know, and I'm sorry. I wish I had been and then none of this would have happened. You would have never had to leave the South Pole."

Katara bites her lip, never leave the South Pole? She wouldn't have enjoyed that, well maybe she would have since she didn't know any better but the adventures she's had, the friends she's gained, she wouldn't trade that for all the world. Besides, would Aang have made it to the North Pole without them? Would Zuko have gone to the Western Air Temple?

"At least," Hakoda adds, "Once this war is over you'll be able to go back home and live normal life there. You won't need to fight anymore." Hakoda hadn't seen his daughter water bend more than a simple, wobbly orb before today when she'd been using forms that displayed she's obviously a master. Mixed in with it were unmistakeable Fire Nation moves and watching the exchange, even for a split second had left Hakoda nervous and afraid for his little girl. She's not so little anymore. He reaches out to stroke her hair, the way he had when she was a child and she pulls back, surprised.

"I don't want to go back to the Tribe." She replies suddenly, jerking him out of his somber thoughts.

"What?"

"Dad, don't you get it? The Northern Water Tribe, The Southern Water Tribe, they both want me to, to mend socks and cook food and be in the healing hut. I thought our tribe was better but today and yesterday," she shrugs, "I don't want that for my life." She'd never said it out loud, never even thought it entirely but it's true. She's not going back to the South Pole after this. There's too much world to see and too much to do beyond be a wife and mother like she'd be expected to be. She wants to be a wife and mother, eventually, but Katara wants to be so much more too and that just won't happen in the South Pole.

"Katara, you can't mean that."

"No Dad, I do."

He pinches the bridge of his nose and pulls her close. "I won't tell you what you can and can't do but I hope you change your mind." He remembers Zuko and swears internally. She'd better not even be thinking of staying in the Fire Nation. He isn't sure what else to say, how else to bridge the gap between them so they simply watch the sun set in silence before eventually Hakoda heads back to camp.

The chief's worst nightmare wanders up not long after. "Hey," Zuko sits down on the sand next to her.

"You're not good at this whole staying away thing are you?"

Zuko chuckles embarrassedly, "No, I guess not."

"How're you doing?"

"Well, it's been a long few days…" He trails off for a moment. "Knowing Uncle is okay helps. I still wish I had done something more back in Ba Sing Se. I should have-"

"No Zuko, you did the right thing."

"You really think so?"

"Yeah, I do." Katara has to resist the urge to touch him, just comfort him in some way. It wouldn't be right. An uncomfortable silence stretches over them until finally Katara can't take it anymore, the words slip out. "Why did you say that?"

"Say what?"

"Back in the Fire Nation camp, why did you tell me you loved me? Why?"

"What do you mean why?" He's thankful night has fallen and she can't see his face since it's burning.

"I mean why, Zuko? Why would you say something like that?"

"Well, uh, because, I, uh -"

"I mean you're going to be the next Fire Lord. I'm a water bender from the Southern Water Tribe. There's no reason for this to work out. It can't. It's a bad idea and I - I didn't know you even felt that way." There's just enough moonlight that he can see her big blue eyes staring at him. "Why did you say it then? Why didn't you tell me before you had to go back to being a prince?"

"Katara, I-" He leans forward, wanting to reach out and maybe touch her face, brush her hair away from her eyes. No, it wouldn't be right.

"Did you mean it?"

"Of course I did. Why would I lie?"

She doesn't respond, just looks away. Zuko pulls back, kicking himself. He never should have said it in the first place. It was stupid and impulsive and entirely reckless and he may have just lost his very first real friend. All the nights on his ship talking, the sparring, the gentle teasing, even helping her with the dishes, it would all be gone. He should have never opened his mouth.

Then the unexpected happens. Katara kisses him. It's nervous and trembling and not sure what to do and gone too soon. The air stills as she pulls back before he leans forward and kisses her back. They stay like that for a moment, their lips hardly even moving against each other before breaking apart, each blushing furiously.

"That - that was nice," Zuko mumbles and Katara mutely nods, looking anywhere except at him. "Let's uh, let's get back to camp. I'm sure they're wondering where we are."

"Yeah," Katara snickers. "At least my dad has calmed down." Zuko gulps but still helps her up. They walk slowly back to camp, their hands strategically and nervously bumping against each other until Katara has the strength to twine her fingers around his.

. . .

"They're holding hands, Sokka." Toph teases. "I think they totally kissed."

"Ew, Toph! Why would you tell me something like that, why were you even paying attention to them?" Sokka throws up his hands in disgust.

The earth bender shrugs, laughing. "Mostly to make you uncomfortable."

"Ugh," Sokka groans, "Now I'm going to have to go all big brother on him. I already did that once and you know what he did? He ignored me. He looked me straight in the eyes and ignored me."

"Yeah, that sounds about right. I think it's about time those two got with the smooching, they've been so pathetic trying to pretend they don't like each other."

Sokka grimaces. "I just hope they aren't mushy in front of us. That'd be too much. I might loose my jerky if they are."

"Oh no! Not your jerky!"

. . .

The next day Katara and Zuko openly ignore Hakoda's demands though they keep a more than safe distance between them. Hakoda hears and looks exasperatedly to the sky. Teenagers, they never listen.

"So this ship is literally just a bigger version of your old one, right?"

"Yeah," Zuko nods, "Most Fire Nation ships have the same layout. My room is even in the same place though it's a bit bigger this time."

"Oh I bet that's nice. Your last one was a little cramped." Katara notes.

"Well, it wasn't meant for two people."

"Yeah, you're right." Katara blushes before groaning internally. She's blushing at that? It's not like they ever did anything indecent. "Come on, you have to show me around anyway. If we're all headed to the Fire Nation on it, I might as well go see it now."

Zuko grimaces, remembering the last time she was brought onboard a Fire Nation vessel. "Are you sure? We can wait awhile, you don't have to go on it right away."

Katara shrugs, forcing a nonchalant air. The Fire Nation ship is imposing and there's a small twinge of fear in her stomach at the idea of getting on it but there were good memories too and finally, the good outweighs the bad. "It'll be fine."

He leads her up the ramp, frequently looking, checking on her, waiting for the first sign of panic or even concern that never comes. He leads her towards the central stairs and she runs her hands over the metal, remembering long days spent training and learning about the Fire Nation. She forces her thoughts far, far away from Chang. The swamp all those weeks ago really did change her. Katara smiles.

. . .

To Zuko's relief, three days later a band of around fifty Fire Nation soldiers marches wearily into camp. The news from Ba Sing Se sends a shiver down his spine.

Zuko, Hakoda, Bato, Katara, Sokka, and Toph all sit in a large meeting tent, listening to the stories of three Fire Nation soldiers. "Princess Azula, she came in the middle of the night. The earth benders tore down the walls and - and," the man stammers, trying to finish but another takes over instead.

"A lot of people joined her and those that didn't tried to run, we knew better than to fight her. Not everyone made it out. She had fire and earth benders, what else could we do?"

"Did anyone else make it out?" Zuko asks.

One man shudders. "A lot did, but they were hunted down. It was like she enjoyed it, she enjoyed setting us on fire. I think we're the only survivors, Prince Zuko. I'm sorry."

"I should have been there," the prince growls.

"No! We were glad you were safely away! If you had stayed who knows what would have happened! Our duty is to protect you, it's good you left."

Zuko clenches his jaw, there's nothing he can say without sounding ungrateful to the man and the memory of his fellow soldiers. "Thank you."

"We're glad to serve you, My Prince. If we may though, Lady Katara, you've healed people before, right? Could you help us, we have several wounded."

"Of course! Lead the way."

"Wait," Hakoda stops her for a moment. "Let's get everyone onboard first. Since it's doubtful anyone else will show up, we need to leave." It takes a few hours but by sunset the Water Tribe ships have been abandoned, the camp packed up, and everyone has piled onto the Fire Nation warship. The next stop is Kyoshi Island and then the Day of Black Sun will be upon them. Zuko's heart beats wildly in his chest as he looks out at the setting sun. He's going to face his father.

. . .

"So why didn't we get to go to Chameleon Bay? I'd like to see that Water Tribe boy again, he was pretty cute!" Ty Lee grins.

Azula looks down at Mai and Ty Lee from the Earth Kingdom Throne. "My brother always did have a soft spot for pathetic things - wounded animals, baby turtleducks, the water bender. I'm sure those soldiers we let escape will make him feel bad just by being there."

"Yeah, but weren't you going to capture him?"

Azula snickers, "Why should I? Thanks to our friends here, we know exactly where he's going and what he and the Avatar are going to do." The Fire Nation Princess waltzes down from the throne and smiles before sending a crack of lightening towards General Sung of the Council of Five.

. . .

They finally kissed! Finally!

And thank you everyone for the comments! I appreciate them so much and they really help keep me motivated. LunaShadow123 I didn't even realize it, but you're completely right about the early chapters being like Beauty and the Beast. I'm going to just pretend I did that on purpose.