Chapter four

High in the air, above a large safety net was a very colorfully dressed acrobat balancing atop a rope. Naruto awed along with the crowed as Ty Lee started her act.

"incredible. Do you think she'll fall?" asked Naruto as he looked over to the circus master

"Of course not." Said the man with the upmost confidence in the girl's skills.

"Then wouldn't it make it more interesting if you removed the net?" Azula said looks directly at the circus master. At this Naruto started to get more excited, completely missing the evil look in Azula's eyes.

"Uh ... the thing is ... the performers ..." the circus master tried to say with concern.

"You're right, you're right. That's been done I know Set the net on fire." Azula said with a tone of dark pleasure.

"Of course, Princess." Said the circus master as he walks away from the box Azula and Naruto were sitting in and sets the safety net on fire. From the top of the rope Ty Lee looks down in concern at the flames consuming the net beneath her as she continues with her act.

"Brilliant, just brilliant." Said Naruto ecstatic with the show thus far.

"Ooh, what kind of dangerous animals do you have?" Azula asked happily as she looked down at the circus master.

"Well, our circus boasts the most exotic assortment- "the circus stated to say till he was cut off by Azula

"Release them all!" and for the rest of the night Azula and Naruto enjoyed the show under the suggestions of Azula. Once the show was done and all the animals had been recaptured Naruto followed Azula as they left the large tent.

"What an exquisite performance. I can't wait to see how you'll top yourself tomorrow." Said Azula as she and Naruto entered Ty Lee's privet tent and looked at the girl though her reflection in the mirror.

"I'm sorry Azula, but unfortunately there won't be a show tomorrow." Said Ty lee

"Really?" it was Naruto how spoke with a disappointment in his voice.

"The universe has given me strong hints that it's time for a career change." Ty Lee said as she hung up her tiara, and turns around to face them

"I want to join you on your mission." And with that all three of them left the encampment and headed back to Azula's ship. along the way, Naruto got to know a bit more about each other as Azula rode in her royal palanquin.

"Wow so really form another world." Ty Lee said in amazement as they made it back to Azula's fire nation ship and she saw the dent in to ships deck left by Naruto when he fell from the sky and landed on it.

"Yeah I got real lucky that Azula found me." Naruto said as he looked over the fire nation princess as she stepped out of her royal palanquin.

A few days later found Azula in her royal palanquin being carried up the stairs towards the house of the governor of the city of Omashu. Looking thought the veils Azula saw the lone figure of Mai awaiting the arrival of her palanquin. Once the fire nation soldiers come to a stop Azula gets out and she along with Ty Lee and Naruto walk over to Mai. Mai puts her hands together and bows slightly toward Azula.

"Please tell me you're here to kill me." Mai said as she looks up at Azula a slight smile appearing on her otherwise emotionless face, both girls start to laugh.

"It's great to see you, Mai." Said Azula as Ty Lee rushed forward to give Mai a big hug, to which Mai uncomfortably pats her back a little with her left hand.

"I thought you ran off and joined the circus. You said it was your calling."

"Well, Azula called a little louder and having Naruto around make things a lot funnier." Ty Lee said as she released Mai who took a look at the blond teen standing close to Azula.

"Hi, I'm Naruto." Naruto said as she stepped forward and introduced himself in his typical loud fashion.

"I have a mission and I need you both." Azula said as she placed a hand on both her friend's shoulders.

"Count me in. Anything to get me out of this place." Mai said as she looks annoyed at the palace behind her.

In a large throne room Azula was sitting under a large red flag with the black fire nation mark on it flanked by Naruto. In front of her the governor and his wife along with Mai and Ty Lee.

"I apologize you've come to Omashu at a difficult time. At noon, we're making a trade with the resistance to get Tom-Tom back." Governor Ukano said as he finished explaining the situation the city was in.

"Yes, I'm so sorry to hear about your son, but really, what did you expect by just letting all the citizens leave? My father has trusted you with this city and you're making a mess of things!" Azula said as she stands up addressing the governor in a harsh tone, emphasizing her words on his failures. The governor and his wife prostrate themselves before her.

"Forgive me, Princess." Governor Ukano begs as Azula walks between time looking down at him.

"You stay here Mai will handle the hostage trade so you don't have a chance to mess it up. And there is no more "Omashu". I'm renaming it in honor of my father, the city of New Ozai." Said Azula as Mai and Ty Lee stood up and walk behind her.

"Don't worry, I promise that we'll get you son back safe and sound." Naruto said as she stopped and got down to look at the governor and his wife. Flashing them a look of great determination before he hurried to catch up with the girls.

"You shouldn't promise something you can't deliver." Azula said one Naruto had fallen back in to step next to her. commenting on his words.

"I didn't because I never go back on my word." Naruto said unaware of the surprised looks her received form all three of them.

"Besides I have my own plan for these rebel scum." Naruto said getting angry at the group willing to kidnap a child.

"You brought my brother.?" Said Mai stepping forward as the guards placed the large cage on the ground behind Azula and the rest.

"He's here. We're ready to trade." Aang said as he, Katara and Sokka moved in front of them.

"I'm sorry, but a thought just occurred to me. Do you mind?" Azula said to Mai

"course not, Princess Azula." Said Mai as she steps back to let Azula speak.

"We're trading a two-year-old for a king. A powerful, earth bending king? It just doesn't seem like a fair trade, does it?" Said Azula looking from the little boy yawning and back to the caged king. Mai's ponders over the idea before moving forward holding up her hand, gesturing the guards to pull Bumi back.

"You're right the deal's off." Said Mai as the crazy old king starts to chuckle and snort as he is lifted from the scenery.

"Bumi!" Called out Aang as he sprints forward with his glider at the ready, increasing his speed with airbending. Azula tries to stop him by blocking his path with a mighty stream of blue flames. Aang dodges these by leaping high up into the air. Azula is completely shocked by this incredible jump. Aang briefly touches the scaffolding around the statue and pushes himself off, opening his glider in midair. While opening his glider, he loses his hat, leaving his arrow tattoo exposed.

"The Avatar, my lucky day" said Azula smiling smugly as she runs over to a pulley and blast through the rope that serves as a break. The winch begins to spin rapidly. Azula grabs hold to the rope and is pulled up rapidly toward the top of the construction scaffolding. On the ground, Mai and Ty Lee charge Sokka and Katara. Mai readies her stiletto's while Katara takes on a defensive position.

"We've got to get the baby out of here!" Said Katara as she watches her brother start to blow in to Aang's bison whistle.

"Way ahead of ya!" he said as they start running to the edge of the big platform. Before they can reach it, Ty Lee's fist emerges from one of the holes in the floor and punches Sokka's foot, causing him to fall over and slide toward the edge. Katara, who sees Ty Lee jumping out of the hole in the floor and setting course for Sokka. She bends water from her pouch to attack her, but notices something behind her. Mai, who throws four knives at Katara. Katara reacts by quickly by using her water whip to raise up several wooden planks. The knives embed themselves in the wood. Katara uses her water whip again to shoot the wooden boards to Mai. She turns around in one fluent motion toward Ty Lee who has almost reached Sokka and the baby by now. The water whip grabs Ty Lee by the ankle, pulling her to the ground. This gives Sokka the time he needs to get up and head for a nearby ladder. However he doesn't get far as yet another a black flaming fist smashes through some of the wooden bored of the scaffolding and connects with Sokka's right shoulder. Naruto grabbed hold of the baby as Sokka is launched off of the large wooden platform

"I'll be taking that." Said Naruto as he races off to join the rest of the fight with Ty Lee and Mai. Cut back to the large wooden platform where Mai and Katara are still fighting. Mai dodges Katara's water whips and answers her attacks by shooting stiletto's out of the launcher attached to her leg. Katara easily defends herself by freezing the water to create an ice wall. Mai uses this time to charge Katara head on. The waterbender defends herself by capturing Mai's right arm in a stream of water and freezing it. Mai tries to break the ice, but fails. Ty Lee climbs on the platform behind Katara. She bounces toward Katara and hits her with several quick jabs on her arms. Katara is surprised by this attack and loses control over her water stream that splashes on the ground. She tries to raise the water again, but it only moves a little.

"Mai catches." Said Naruto as the tosses the baby boy over to her as he goes in to blast Katara with a fire blast. Mai is left to awkwardly try to hold her little brother who states to laugh with joy at seeing her face. However just as a blast of fire was about to leave Naruto's out stretched hand is it deflected by a metal boomerang hitting him in the wrist. Sokka and Appa land between Katara and her attackers. As Appa lands, he slams his tail hard on the ground, sending Naruto, Mai, Tom Tom and Ty Lee flying off the scaffolding. Right as they were about to fall off the edge Naruto grabs both girl's arms and using some jets of fire blasted of his feet he was able to keep them all form falling hundreds of feet from the scaffolding.

"Are you guys alright." Naruto asked as then landed watched the girl and boy make their escape atop the large harry flying animal.

"Yeah, that was quick thinking Naruto." Said Ty Lee

"Come on you two we better find Azula." Said Mai she started to make her way towards the governor's estate. Once they reached the large house Mai along with her brother and Ty Lee stepped inside. As Naruto stayed out side and took a seat on the stone steps. He wasn't their long as he looked out and saw Azula drop down one of the large stone chutes. He gets up and quickly walks down to her.

"Azula are you alright." He asked once he was face to face with the girl.

"Yes, I'm fine Naruto. What happened why'll I was gone." She asked as they stated to move up the stone steps.

"Well the other two got away." Said Naruto a little disappointed but mostly angry about it.

"So, they still have the boy." Azula asked

"See for yourself." Said Naruto once they had reached to top of the steps. There Azula saw the governor and his wife happily hugging the little baby boy and a vary annoyed Mai, as Ty Lee looked on at the family moment with joy.

"He did it." thought Azula as the remembered the words Naruto had told her just a short why'll ago in this vary spot.

because I never go back on my word.