Chapter 7

Disclaimer .I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.

Story- Set 5 years after the series ended. A young fire nation officer is given the task of watching after Azula .Can he succeed after others had failed.

Zuko looked at Azula as she sat there. Her eyes had a wild look about them and her fingers twitched as if itching to fire a blast of lighting at him .He took a seat in front of her not taking his eyes off Azula for a moment. They sat in uneasy silence until he spoke up.

"You snuck out of the palace in total disregard to our deal," Zuko told Azula who just snorted her disgust. She wouldn't deny it and in fact was quite delighted to see Zuzu all up in arms about it. This confrontation had be brewing between them since the very day Azula had returned to the palace and she was eager to air her compliments about being stuck in the palace and the gall of having to get everything she did approved by Zuko first. She smirked and stared right back at him defiantly causing Zuko to raise an eyebrow.

"Well if I asked you I would have had to wait until eternity. Besides I took that young attendant you gave me, "Azula retorted. Ando she thought was only doing as she had ordered him to and to his credit had not gone blabbing to Zuko nor protested his innocence once they had arrived back at the palace. His loyalty deserved better, not that Azula would say so to Zuko who probably would have the young man sent to perhaps the Boiling Rock or most likely have him on sweeping duty as Zuko didn't have the nerve to punish as severely as Azula would have.

"I don't know how you manipulated him into escorting you. I will deal with him later, right now you're my biggest concern," Zuko replied. Azula let out a disgruntled snort.

"Oh really dear Brother, well if I'm the issue here why don't yet let me just leave and then everyone will be happy, or are you afraid I'll get up to some mischief that would make you look bad?" Azula point blank was daring Zuko to not beat around the bush and try and deny his reasoning for keeping her within arm's length. He stood and glared at her before closing his eyes and letting out a deep sigh.

"A lot of people wanted you locked up or worse after the war ended; some still do. I'm trying to do the right thing Azula so maybe one day you'll understand that," Zuko spoke before walking out without another word. Azula watched him go and then stormed off to her bedroom. No doubt Zuko would have ordered some guards to stand outside her door and that he would now have her more heavily guarded or watched. If she was to escape than it would have to be soon, perhaps even this very night.

Meanwhile Ando was pacing round his room before dropping down onto his bed and staring up at the ceiling. He should have been firm and not agreed with the Princess. And yet part of him felt glad that he did. All his life he'd done as he was told, never caused any trouble or done anything risky. Yet he'd basically defied the Fire Lord, who if he wished could punish Ando quite heavily by sending him off to one of the colonies or at worse a spell in Boiling Rock. Ando figured he'd have plenty of time to figure things out so he had better start packing tonight on the assumption come morning he'd be leaving the palace.

Ty Lee thanked the guards as they opened up the door to Azula's quarters for her. She had heard from Mai all about Azula's day out and the trouble it caused Zuko. She was happy for her friend even though she didn't dare say so to Mai, whose reaction was not in the least surprised manner, and observed that Zuko should have seen it coming. Having excused herself from dinner early Ty Lee wanted to check on Azula herself. Easing the tray, she brought with her as she told the guards that she was bringing the Princess a meal from the kitchen and would only be a few minutes. Knocking on the door of Azula's bedroom she opened it before backing herself into the room. Turning round Ty Lee gasped as she saw Azula packing a travel bag which could only mean one thing.

"What is it Ty Lee? I'm in a hurry." Azula spoke without looking up as she tied the opening of her bag and tightly sealed it. Ty Lee put the tray down and sat on Azula's bed silently watching her friend, unsure of what to say. Azula ate part of the meal, took some and wrapped it up to eat on her journey. Where she would head towards was unknown and really she didn't care. Getting away from the palace was her goal, anything after that would be dealt with in due time.

"So you're going to leave without a goodbye or anything Azula?" Ty Lee spoke having calmed herself. Azula looked up at her and then adjusted her boots without pausing to answer.

"Fine don't answer me! I won't stop you this time but you owe that guy something after he risked helping you," Ty Lee continued. Azula stood up and walked out of her room towards the door. Ty Lee followed her and continued to ask about Ando and remind Azula that she had very few people that would dare risk anything for her and that the Princess should be thankful for that. Azula stopped and turned around and glared at Ty Lee who took a step back nervously

"Ty Lee are you going to help me with these guards then? I'll go get the fool; besides he'd make a good hostage just in case," Azula cracked into a smile and Ty Lee let out a sigh of relief. After Ty Lee called the two guards outside the halls into the room, Azula feigned being ill. The pair of them soon were walking away as the guards took notice, but they went towards Ando's quarters.

"There, that's the last of it. Well I'm all packed up to go," Ando said putting the last of what few items he had brought with him to the palace away. He guessed there wasn't anything else to do but try and get some rest after a trying day. A knock at the door interrupted him causing Ando to go check on who it could be. His first thoughts were it was his summons to go see the Fire Lord or maybe his last meal from the palace kitchen. The knocking got more urgent as if the person on the other side of the door was in a real hurry.

"Coming who is it...Azula!" Ando exclaimed his eyes widened in surprise. Azula put two fingers to his lips and pushed him back inside as Ty Lee followed in behind her checking if the coast was clear. Ando protested the intrusion until Azula gave him a look suggesting 'don't argue.' She had Ty Lee go grab a bare minimum of luggage for Ando to take.

"Unless you want to have lightning shot in a sensitive place you'll come with me right now! We're leaving the palace tonight! "Azula informed him. Ando looked at her and could tell she wasn't joking and that this was serious. Without another word of protest he grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder and followed Azula while Ty Lee covered behind them. The three quietly crept out towards the gates. Once there they could see that the number of guards had increased and they would not be able to sneak out as easily as they had in the morning.

"Figures Zuzu would have increased the guards," Azula mused as the three hid behind a nearby bush. Ando looked at her as she placed her hand on her chin and silently planned. A distraction would have to be more carefully executed and timed so not to set off the alarm. He peered over the bush and counted at least six guards with two at the gate and the rest patrolling the area around it. Azula then stood up and smiled and just strode out from their hiding place and started marching towards the guards.

"So much for a plan…" Ando muttered and hurried out after her. The guards who were startled had surrounded Azula and were firmly reiterating that they had been ordered by the Fire Lord to make sure she didn't leave the palace and that Azula should return to her quarters before the guards escorted her there. Azula tilted her head back and laughed before moving into a fire bending stance. She then let out a blast of blue flame forcing the guards back onto their heels. Ando stood behind her and looked around as the guards slowly began to circle them awaiting an opening.

"I have your back Azula," Ando whispered as the guards charged in. Ando let out two small blasts of flames with the intent of forcing the guards away. They were just following orders he told himself and he was one of their own. Azula smiled as the look of fear in the guards eyes as her blue flames tormented them. Ty Lee watched in amazement as Azula and Ando edged closer towards the gate. One of the guards raced to lock the gate to prevent any escape causing Ty Lee to leap across and subdue his chakra points. Azula kicked open the gate and turned to leave when whizzing past her flew a dagger that was very familiar. Ando stepped back as it nearly hit him and looked around to see the figure of the Fire Lord's fiancée standing in the exit.

"Well this is very familiar," Azula spat out glaring at Mai who reached for another pair of daggers. The two women glared at each other almost daring one another to deal the first strike. Ando noticed the guards had almost recovered and the flames that had surrounded him and Azula had almost fanned out. Ty Lee watched too, memories of that faithful day at the Boiling Rock replaying in her mind. Mai said nothing and fired away two daggers before anyone could blink. But they weren't at Azula, instead they pinned two of the guards down onto the ground. Ando reacted fast as he dared blasted a flame at a nearby wall setting the Fire Nation banner on it alight. He raced out only stopping when he noticed Azula and Mai standing face to face.

"That was a onetime pass Azula, so if you do anything that threatens Zuko next time I won't be so generous," Mai spoke and strode back towards the palace. Ty Lee wrapped her arms around her friend and thanked her causing Mai to roll her eyes at the display of affection. Ando merely nodded thank you as Azula strode off ahead of him. Mai called out to him before they left.

"As for you, look after her, otherwise you'll answer to me," Mai warned in a voice that chilled Ando's spine. He raced after Azula leaving the chaos of their escape to be dealt with by Mai and Ty Lee. Inside his mind he wondered what chaos lay ahead of them…and was this new world ready for Azula's return?

To Be Continued.

Hey everyone .1st off to all those that have reviewed and favourite this fic I want to say a HUGE Thank You it really means a lot .I'd also like to apologise for the delay as I had to wait on my laptop when I returned from my Canada trip due to the motherboard needing to be fixed. Now that its back I hope to continue on with this fic for a while yet. So as always please read and review comments welcomed as are any suggestions for where this fic could lead no flames please .