Shortly after the incident with the girl, Zuko confronts several of the Fire Nation generals and other high ranking officials about leaving the city. Zuko makes a decent case for other earthbenders coming to reclaim the city and with the troops they have in the city now, it would be a real challenge to even hold them off to evacuate the higher ups.

The older generals decide to talk things over. While they're doing that, Zuko decides it's time to talk to Azula. He finds her sitting in the Throne room, mostly because she likes feeling like she rules the place, and she pretty much does.

"Hey, Azula, I'm bored. Let's go have a duel," Zuko suggests weakly.

"No, dueling you is no fun, Zu-zu. You're just not on my level," Azula laughs in return.

"Then what if I said I found someone who is on your level?" Zuko asks.

"I'd ask where you found someone other than maybe Uncle," she retorts.

Zuko shakes his head, "It's not Uncle. It's a girl, and she claims she's on your level, also, that she can get in here withough alerting any of the guards."

Azula's mouth curls into one of her cruel smiles, "Well, we'll see about that. Put all the guards on their highest alert. I'll be in the courtyard, waiting."

No sooner than sundown does the mysterious girl appear at the entrance to the courtyard. She's dressed in near rags and doesn't have any shoes on. The majority of her face is covered to hide her identity, but her hair is tied up in a pony tail so it stays out of her way.

"Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation, I challenge you to an Ag-Ni-Kai. The conditions are; if you win, I turn myself over willingly, if I win, you leave the city tonight," shouts the girl.

Azula huffs, "Can't we just avoid this whole Ag-Ni-Kai formality and find out who's better?"

The girl growls and throws a concealed dagger past Azulas head close enough to cut off a few hairs, "This will be and official Ag-Ni-Kai."

Azula glares at the girl, "Fine, Zu-zu, will officiate."

With this, Zuko steps out of the shadows and into the dying light in the courtyard.

When the girl agrees, Azula's lips once again form that cruel smile. The two girls meet in the center of the courtyard and then face away from each other taking 10 steps each in the opposite direction then kneeling on one knee. When Zuko gives the signal, both girls stand to face the other and Azula immediately fires a lightning bolt at the other girl, who deflects it using a similar technique to Iroh's.

Suddenly, it seems like the other girl is performing a dance, and the skies are growing dark. Suddenly lightning flashes and it starts to pour. When the dancing girl faces Azula once again, she's taken off her mask and is smiling. Azula frowns but is not deterred. The dancing girl starts to take small steps towards Azula and makes several downward slashing motions with her hands. First lightning strikes on Azula's left, then right in back of her, then right in front of her.

Azula lets off a frustrated yell and fires another lightning bolt at the other girl, who this time, makes a wall of water to block it sending sparks in every direction. The girl uses a modified version of the water whip and wraps the water around one of Azula's legs, then it pulls and Azula goes into a split.

"Zuko, this is a Fire duel, not a bending duel," Azula complains over the roar of the storm.

"She's right, stick to Fire, or I will declare Azula the winner," He shouts back.

The girl smirks and releases the water. Even in the pouring rain, she is able to create large, white hot fire bursts from her wrists and feet. After firing several at Azula, Azula fires back with more lightning and white hot fire bursts. The girl avoids all these just as Azula dodged her attacks. Finally, The girl get's fed up with the long range attacks and charges in with white hot fire daggers at the ready. Azula faces her as if not afraid, but has never really done much training in close quarters combat. Like every firebending child, she can of course make flame daggers, but is not very skilled in using them.

Both girls start stabbing, slashing and burning with their own set of daggers, Azula making less of an impression than she would like. The duel ends when the other girl has Azula pinned on the ground with a dagger at her throat.

"Duel over! Winner, declare your name!" Zuko announces.

"My name is Aya, don't you ever forget it," She states coldly. She leaves Azula with a long thin burn down one of her arms to remind her of her loss as is her right.

"I dispute her claim of victory!" Shouts Azula angrily.

"There is nothing to dispute, you lost Azula," Zuko states plainly, "And I enjoyed being able to watch it. She found your weakness."

"She was waterbending! How can she do both? Are you the Fire Lord's son or not? Arrest her!!!" Azula spouts off at Zuko.

Zuko just looks at his insane sister saddly, "If I were to do that, I wouldn't be able to see mother."

"Mother is dead. Father killed her himself," Azula shoots back at him.

Aya breaks in at this point, "He couldn't do it. He loved her and smuggled her away. Out of the Fire Nation's graps. Now, I expect you out of this city by sunrise."

Zuko just walks up to Aya and starts to hug her, "Aya," he begins.

Aya shoves him back so forcefully, he falls on his butt, "Don't touch me. You have no right. I still maintain I should kill you. However, Lady Ursa want's to see you. Do not think of me as your friend. Do NOT touch me... Ever. If you want to see your mother, follow me. Otherwise, leave with your sister."

She turns and starts to walk gracefully and silently out of the palace and Zuko follows behind her eager to see his mother.

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A/N: I hope this quashes any mary sue problems. Let me know how I did with the fight scene!! Review!!