A/N: This is another chapter that is important to the later plot of the story. The first part is a continuation of what happened in the last chapter (It's in Azula's POV), the second part is basically about what's happening with Zuko and Katara (Katara's POV), and the third part is more of Zuko's POV. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender. If anyone says otherwise, tell them that they're lying! I OWN NOTHING!

Azula looked off the main balcony in the fire lord's palace. "Pathetic," she muttered to herself.

What she saw was the absolute ruin that she and her brother had caused over the city. And she thought that Zuko was no threat…

'Well he wouldn't have been if it wasn't for that water bending peasant. He would be dead if she wasn't there! So, it's now time to get back at Zuzu and his precious little girlfriend,' the more devious side of her said.

There was, however, part of her that didn't want to do the unfathomable task. But, this side of her was quickly squashed by her utter hatred toward the water bender.

She turned around to face the palace. She stepped forward, and continued to walk through the empty hallways of the palace until she came to a room reserved for the fire lord.

She inhaled, and then pushed the door open quietly, just in case someone was actually in there.

When she saw the interior, her mouth fell open in shock. She had been in there only once before, but it was so different now that there was a new owner to the room.

The room had previously been coated in the fine, regal red that symbolized the Fire Nation's glory. There were also beautiful golden drapes hanging from the windows on either side of the room. Apart from the furniture that pretty much everyone would ever need, there was a bed in the center of the room that would have been bigger than at least five of the southern water tribe igloos put together. The sheets matched the walls and were a deep crimson color.

Azula noted that the bed was still in the same place that it always was, but sheets were now a light blue—the main color of the water tribes. The rest of the room had also changed.

There were colors from all four nations around the room, and all the furniture seemed to have been replaced by furniture from either the earth kingdom or the water tribes. The colors surprisingly blended together nicely, so it actually looked quite regal.

Azula smirked when she saw that there was a bit more blue and red then any other color. She knew then that her hunch was correct.

"So Zuzu did have a little crush on the water tribe peasant. It's a real shame that I won't allow him to be happy. He must suffer before anything good will happen to him. And by that time, if all goes well, he will be dead," Azula said in a sickly sweet voice.

"Now where is it?" she asked herself quietly as her eyes scanned the room. She saw a subtle gleam on a small dresser, and went over to pick up Zuko's dagger that was given to him by their uncle.

She smiled as she brandished the deadly weapon in her hands. Her previous doubts were now completely gone. She was going to do it, and she was going to do it right.

"Now to find Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe," Azula said, a grin slowly creeping up her face.

About a day after Azula escaped…

Katara looked across the Pai Sho table at Zuko. He was grinning from ear to ear.

She shushed him. "I'm trying to find a way to beat you, so just be quiet!" Katara said in a tone of defiance as she glanced back down at the Pai Sho board.

"I didn't say anything," Zuko said. Katara looked back up at Zuko and when she saw him still smiling, she sent a kick his way underneath the table.

Katara smiled when she saw Zuko wince slightly. Of course, it wouldn't have been noticeable to anyone else, but Katara had really gotten to know Zuko really well over the past few months, and she could identify his facial expressions from a mile away.

"You deserved it you know," she said quietly.

"I did not! It isn't my fault you're a poop sport!" Katara kicked him again. This time, he shot her a glare that would have made Ozai scared.

"You're over reacting. Now let me just move this here…" Katara said as she slid her tile across the Pai show board.

Zuko smirked and moved his tile. Katara looked down and slapped her head as Zuko took the part.

"Don't feel bad. You haven't been playing my uncle for the last 10 years," Zuko said happily.

Katara aimed another kick at his leg. Zuko rolled his eyes. "Would you please stop doing that? I'd like to have both of my legs when I go back to the fire nation," Zuko said.

Katara's smile widened as she sent another kick at Zuko's leg. Zuko sighed, and then stood up.

"I'm going to get us some more tea," he said to Katara gently. Katara looked up at him and continued to smile.

"Hurry back," she said so quietly it was barely audible. Zuko paused, but then continued to go toward the kitchen.

Katara sighed heavily. 'Why aren't the others here yet? They were supposed to be here a couple of days ago… Maybe I should send a messenger hawk just to see if they're all right…' Katara thought worriedly.

Just as she was thinking that, a messenger hawk flew through the window. She looked at the bird and took out the letter.

"Thanks little guy," she said softly. She patted him on the head and gave him a corn kernel that was lying on the table.

The hawk nudged her hand lightly. She looked back down at the letter in her hands. On the front, Zuko's name was written on the front. Underneath it, there was a word scrawled hastily. 'Urgent'.

Katara looked behind her shoulder at Zuko. He walked into the lobby of the tea shop and sat back down next to Katara.

"Hey, what's this messenger hawk doing here?" he asked Katara. The hawk squawked and then pecked Zuko's hand.

"Ouch," Zuko muttered. Katara slid the note across the table. Zuko picked it up and his eyes widened.

"This is a letter to you. It came a couple of minutes ago with this little guy," Katara said happily.

Zuko nodded and then opened the letter. As his eyes scanned the page, his face fell into a deep frown.

Katara put her hand on Zuko's shoulder for a moment, but removed it after she felt his body tense. Even the smallest touches between the two of them sent a current of electricity through Katara (and possibly Zuko's) veins.

Katara sighed inwardly. She wished that their relationship wasn't so complicated. All of a sudden Zuko slammed his fist on the table.

"What's the matter Zuko?" Katara asked gently.

He let out a deep breath. "It appears that I have to go see the Earth King immediately. And he doesn't have good news. He said that after I go to see him I should head straight back to the fire nation. I would hate to leave you here with uncle… Partially for his sake, and partially for yours. I love him, but you know better than anyone how he can get," he smiled apologetically.

Katara sighed. "Well let me come with you then! I know that I can help you!" Katara said boldly.

"I'm not so sure that that would be the best idea in the world. If it's this urgent, then maybe you shouldn't come…" Zuko said.

"Please Zuko?" she asked longingly. Zuko put his head in his hands.

"Katara, I really don't think it's a good idea…" Zuko trailed off. Katara put on the saddest face you can muster and sighed.

"You are stubborn, aren't you?" Zuko asked while looking through the hair that was covering his eyes.

Katara smiled. "I'll tell you what. You can come to the earth King's palace with me, and then if the information isn't too bad, then you can come back to the fire nation. OK?" Zuko asked.

Katara walked around the table and threw her arms around a very surprised fire lord. "Thank you Zuko!" she said happily.

He tried to pry her off of him, but she refused to let go. He finally collapsed in defeat. She could hear him mutter something about, "love…stubborn…benders…not…"

"What was that Zuko?" she asked quietly as she released him from her death grip. Zuko rubbed his hand on the back of his neck.

"I was just saying how I needed to tell my uncle where we were going. Excuse me for a moment," Zuko said while walking to the back of the tea shop.

Zuko and Katara slid off Appa. The earth king was waiting outside the palace for them. His face was extremely grave.

Still, he gave a weary smile to the two benders as they approached. Zuko cleared his throat and then began to introduce himself.

"I'm Fire Lord Zuko, and this is Katara of the Southern Water Tribe. You wanted to see me?" Zuko asked the Earth King rather forcefully.

This seemed to make the Earth King rather uncomfortable. He scratched his neck and then spoke. "Well, you see… I need to talk to you. Preferably alone," he said while throwing an apologetic glance at Katara.

Katara looked up at Zuko and took his hand in hers. Zuko squeezed her hand and then nodded.

"Just wait here for a while, OK?" he said to Katara. Katara nodded and then gave him a light push towards the door.

"Go on Zuko, I'll be here," she said.

He walked forward but couldn't help looking back at Katara. She gave him an encouraging smile and he turned to face the Earth King's palace.

They walked into a meeting room in the palace silently. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Zuko asked the Earth King.

The Earth King sighed. "Always straight to the point. I didn't want to be the one to tell you this, but I was the closest delegate to where you were. So, I'm the one that has to tell you that your sister escaped from the asylum that she was staying at," he finished.

Zuko let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "That's it? She can't do anyone much harm, can she? I mean, Aan—I mean the Avatar took away her bending right?" Zuko asked the King.

"He did, but there's another part to it that is a little more… erm… frightening," The Earth King said.

Zuko gave him a look that told him to go on, so he continued. "Shortly after she escaped, there was an assassination attempt on one of the water tribe delegates," he continued.

Zuko shook his head slowly. 'She wouldn't,' he thought to himself.

"It was Katara's father. He's alive right now, but just barely. He lost a lot of blood. And this knife," he gestured toward Zuko's own dagger that he had acquired so many years ago, "was found in the chief's back where he was stabbed. All of the delegates have been thinking that Azula might have been behind the attack. We wanted to know what you thought," the Earth King said quietly.

Zuko shook his head again. "A couple of months ago I wouldn't have put it underneath her to do something like that. There is no doubt in my mind that it was her, and she went into my quarters to get that knife. Is it really the best idea to go back to the fire nation though? And does Katara know yet?" Zuko asked the king.

"Well, we were actually thinking that you could tell her what happened. You know her better than I do," the king said quietly.

"And you think I want to tell her?" Zuko nearly shouted. "I'm sorry, but I care about Katara very much, and I don't want to see her hurt," Zuko said more quietly.

"Well, we really need you in the fire nation. There's no other way that we'll be able to track down your sister without you. Tell Katara about the incident and then go to the fire nation. Please don't take this personally, but you have to fulfill your duties. I will see you later. Now I have some other matters to attend to. We are trying to keep this as quiet as possible so that the people don't rebel. Thank you for your time."

And with that, the Earth King left, leaving Zuko in a state of shock, completely unable to move.

A/N: So, what did you think? Sorry, that last part was a little choppy, but I said I was going to post today, and I ALWAYS keep my promises. Thank you for all of your reviews, they are appreciated. Sorry there wasn't a lot of fluff, but don't worry, there WILL be some coming SOON! Happy New Year everybody!