My daughter,

If you are reading this, than I have run out of time.

Ursa clutched the letter to her chest and squeezed her eyes shut as fire sailed overhead. She blocked the frantic cries of sailors around her as she tried to concentrate on the contents of the message. Rain poured heavily around her and the sun and moon hung together in the sky, casting a dark glow over the ocean.

My son's ambitions are growing every day, and I believe that I am no longer safe.

"Do we have a deal?" Ursa asked shakily as she held out her hand.

Her husband gave her a sinister smile as he took flask and its vile contents within.

"Of course my dear."

My eldest son may be a bit soft minded, but maybe he can curb Ozai's inevitable grab for the throne.

"Uncle!"

Iroh raised his head in interest when he saw his son dashing towards him. A few of his lieutenant bristled at the interruption to their war meeting, but the general ignored them.

"Urgent message from the capital."

Iroh raised an eyebrow as he took the scroll and unrolled it. He was aware of the stares from his men as he read. Iroh was usually a calm man, but he was shocked by the contents of the messy and brief letter. Everyone tensed when Iroh abruptly left his chair and stormed out of the room.

"Sir?" someone called behind him.

"Ready the ships and call off the siege," Iroh shouted. "We need to bring all available men back on the islands. And prepare for a fight."

Young Zuko is of particular concern. He is weak, easily manipulated, and far too dependent on Ozai. Treachery is almost expected from him.

"Mother?" Zuko murmured sleepily as Ursa shook him awake. "What happened?"

"I saved you," Ursa responded sadly. "The Fire Lord can't threaten you anymore."

"WHAT?!"

Ursa quickly tried to quiet him with a hug, which he hesitantly returned. After a minute, she pulled back with a somber look on her face.

"I...didn't do a good thing," she admitted. "I have to leave before the chaos erupts."

"Then take me with you!"

Ursa shook her head. "You'll be safer here. I already sent a message to Iroh and he will arrive by morning is the winds are kind. Look after your sister for me."

"Okay..." he responded shakily.

Azula is strong though. I trust her ruthlessness and loyalty to pull through in the end.

Ursa paused briefly at her daughters door. Unspoken words and regrets flooded through her mind, but survival won out in the end.

That night, Zuko was the only witness to the princess' departure.

I brokered a deal with the savages, who should be able to bring you far from your husband's reach,

Ursa warily crossed the gang plank, keeping her eyes on the unknown water tribesman. He was a chief, from the markings that Ursa could recognize. His body was tense and Ursa could tell he was no happier than her about this arrangement. Yet, his eyes held tiny specks of compassion as he welcomed her aboard his ship.

"Welcome Ursa," he said indifferently. "I am Chief Hokada. Your father has instructed me to bring you North away from the islands. I hope you find our accommodations sufficient."

Ursa could only nod nervously in response.

but Ozai will not let you go without a fight. Should he catch up, I can only pray for your safety.

"Incoming!"

Ursa held on tight as their small, but nimble ship veered perilously through the massive swell. Behind them, she could see the larger vessel in pursuit as it crashed effortlessly through the waves. She grit her teeth as a familiar figure climbed the bow of the warship and blasted blue flame at the smaller ship.

Ursa was prepared though. Years in the palace under Ozai taught her well and she directed the blast away from the ship, but with considerable effort.

Her daughter's aim was perfect as always.

The mother gave a sorrowful look across the ocean, and was met with a fierce glare mixed with pain. Azula screamed loud in frustration, loud enough for Ursa to hear her, and began bending another attack. Her arms began to circle, but the ocean came to Ursa's rescue as a particularily large wave smashed against the fire nation battleship, throwing everyone on it off balance. Ursa breathed a sigh of relief.

The reprieve was only temporary though. All around them, the storm was intensifying. Lighting flashed and thunder raged. The sky appeared almost dark as night when black clouds obscured the sun. Ursa and Hakoda's small crew hung on for dear life as the tiny vessel braved the heart of the storm. Ship pursuing them had even stopped firing as it was battered from all sides, unable to get a clear shot.

"Look out!"

Ursa's eyes snapped to the starboard side and she gasped in horror as she saw the giant wave bearing down on them. She saw sailors frantically trying to turn into the swell, but it was too late. She felt the bow lift as the ship rose up to the crest of the wave. Ursa squeezed her eyes shut as she anticipated the water to come crashing down around her at any moment, drowning her under the dark waves.

But it never came.

She hesitantly opened her eyes when she heard a cheer. To her amazement, the ocean around them had calmed somewhat and the lightning sounded more distant. She glanced back again and was shocked to see an almost invisible line dividing the ocean in half. Beyond it, the sea of storms continued to batter the Fire Nation battleship. Through the rain, she could see her daughter clinging defiantly to the bow of her ship. The figure raised her arms and Ursa braced for another attack, but it never came.

And in that moment, Ursa felt terror unlike anything she had ever felt before.

Lightning struck the Fire Nation boat as it floundered, drawn to the vast metal amongst an endless sea. Ursa screamed in horror as the faint figure at the bow swayed and a titanic explosion erupted at the rear of the ship where Ursa knew the ammunition would be. Tears sprung into her eyes as the boat carrying her daughter was thrown away, leaving a trail of smoke and flames that towered high into the sky. Yet, Ursa could see Azula holding on through shear will even as the ship fell apart around her.

Ursa spun around and burst into the captain's cabin where she found Hakoda slumped in relief.

"We have to go back!"

Hakoda gave her a stern, but sympathetic look. "That's out of the question."

"MY DAUGHTER IS ON THAT SHIP!"

"I am not risking my men to save any more ash bringers." Hakoda hollered in response. "You should be thankful that we took you on this trip and didn't turn you in immediately."

He softened though when he saw tears of desperation roll down Ursa's face. He put his arms around her as Ursa through herself into his arms.

"I'm sorry. I know it's hard to leave your daughter at the mercy of the sea. I have my own that is equally stubborn. The princess will make it through this."

"How do you know that?" Ursa asked tearfully.

"Because from when you've told me, I can tell that your daughter is exceptionally strong." He sighed s he met eyes with the tearful woman in front of him before coming to a decision.

"We can send a scouting raft when the storm clears to look for survivors." Hakoda offered through gritted teeth.

Ursa turned away, in shame and sadness. "Don't"

Hakoda shook in surprise, so the woman quickly tried to elaborate.

"I can't...She hated me." Ursa trembled and Hakoda quickly realized that maybe Ursa hadn't told him everything about her strange daughters. "I can't imagine what she thinks of me now. Just...tell me the status of the other ship."

Hakoda gave a brief nod before strolling out of the room, leaving Ursa broken and alone.

Once the typical chaos in the homeland is quelled, I hope you can return to your children. We can only pray that Iroh will depose of his brother when he returns from Ba Sing Se.

Iroh stormed into the throne room, trailed by a hesitant Lu Ten and a small company of elite soldiers. His brother was waiting for him expectedly, but Iroh couldn't find it in him to care. He was however shocked to Zuko standing at his side.

"Ah brother, I was wondering when you'd return," Ozai grinned. "Are you here for the ceremony?"

"Ursa told me what you did," Iroh growled. "Your claim to the throne is illegitimate."

Ozai chuckled as Zuko shifted uncomfortably. Iroh glanced at his nephew in concern, but for once it was almost impossible to read his face.

"The only person in the world who knows the truth will be dead soon," Ozai revealed. "Little Azula will not have mercy after what she did to her."

Iroh faltered as memories of the young, but terrible child that he could remember from years before his invasion of the Earth Kingdom. Lu Ten reacted far stronger in a rare burst of anger.

"What have you done to her?" He demanded.

"How naive of you to assume I did anything to her. You can thank my wife for that. I only took the broken pieces Ursa left behind and made her perfect."

Zuko bristled and Iroh had run out of patience. The royal guard noticed and raised their arms in defense.

"As Azulon's true heir and prince of the fire nation, I hereby declare Ozai's reign void and illegal," Iroh growled. "You're reign is over Brother."

Ozai's smiled in amusement, but it quickly faded when the guards turned on him.

"What are you doing?" He roared. "I am the Firelord! Arrest these traitors at once!"

The guards didn't move. Ozai turned on his son, who almost recoiled, but stood firm.

"You did what to LaLa?" He whispered.

"I did nothing," Ozai shouted. "You know what Ursa did."

"As a matter of fact, I don't." Zuko's eyes narrowed as he took a defensive stance. "Even though I don't like her, she saved my life. No one hurts my little sister."

Ozai raised his arms in a fury and everyone in the room tensed as flames raced through his hands. Iroh braced to counter, but the blast never came and the flames died out on Ozai's arms to the shock of everyone.

Through the window, an un-natural eclipse bathed the room in red light. A blessing and curse from Agni himself.

"What is the meaning this," Ozai demanded.

"It means you've lost brother."

Even then, I fear the worst is yet to come. Our enemies will smell weakness and strike at the first opportunity.

King Bundi watched in concern as his citizens panicked under the glare of the red sky. The attacks on the walls of Omashu had ceased as the Fire Nation made a hasty and hysterical retreat. The soldiers at the walls watched in confusion as their enemy panicked before fleeing back to the tree line, leaving tanks and catapults abandoned across the battlefield. Beside him, his protege lowered her stance in confusion.

"The rumbling has stopped and I don't hear anymore fire. What in the world is going on?"

Bundi sighed.

"I don't know, but I think something terrible has happened."

Katara entered the lone hut and found Kanna waiting for her anxiously.

"I heard you had some troubling news for me Gran Gran?"

"Take a seat my dear," Kanna sighed.

"Is it about Sokka?" Katara gasped in alarm.

"No, it's much, much worse."

Sokka was waiting, eager to be reunited with his father and sister. He had pestered his father to take him on a scouting mission when the chief received an urgent message. He had then unceremoniously dumped Sokka on an unfamiliar island while he went off on a voyage that he refused to explain to Sokka.

He wouldn't budge on Sokka joining him either. He said the mission was dangerous.

Thus, Sokka was stuck without a ship when the sky turned red and the statue at the town's center glowed. It was an unerving sight and the inhabitants seemed to agree as they hastily ran prayers, held meetings, and prepared for battle.

As he sat by the edge of the ice, he felt someone take a seat beside him.

"You have some questions," Suki offered gently.

"I suppose this isn't normal from your Avatar teachings." Sokka responded sharply. "My father goes off on some cursed mission into the Fire Nation and days later this happens. This isn't a coincidence."

Suki shook in trepidation, which was unusual from what little Sokka about his new "friend."

"An event like this isn't hasn't occurred in decades from our records," Suki shuddered. "We didn't get any signs from Avatar Roku about the eclipse."

"Are Katara and my father in danger?" Sokka cried in alarm.

"No, they should be safer from the Fire Nation if anything." Sokka lapsed in relief, but Suki continued. "The Fire Nation is powerless during under the Dark Sun without their bending."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Sokka narrowed his eyes, however Suki just shook her head.

"This eclipse was unscheduled and has lasted far too long to be natural," Suki drew her knees to her chest. "It's not a good sign for the times ahead."

Keep our family safe and ensure that our fire does not die with me.

Ursa waited desperately for news from Hakoda. She was a coward, unable to see the furious look in her daughter's eyes, yet yearning to catch a glimpse of it again.

When Hakoda returned with a somber look on his face, Ursa felt her world fall apart.

"I'm sorry. We couldn't find any trace of the other ship, only bodies and scrap." He reported in remorse.

Hakoda held the devastated Ursa in his arms long into the day as the sky turned red and the whole world felt consumed in pain.

May Agni's blessing carry the nation through these dark times. I fear that my son and I have doomed us all.

Singed,

Lord Azulon

On the night of Fire Lord Azulon's death, the world was shattered. The once mighty Fire Nation was besieged from outside and within as a brutal conflict erupted across Pandora. Kings fell and radicals rose in the chaos of collapsing nations. That day, something was broken in the delicate balance of the world.

The Age of Fire was over and The Age of Disharmony had begun.