Once again Katara and Aang found themselves inside the halls of the Fire Nation palace. Sokka was apparently ecstatic at some "good news". Aang kept trying to console Katara whenever she would mutter something about the only good news being him no longer being insane and bound to Azula like they were soul bonded.

"Do you remember where Sokka usually is during this time of day? He said he wasn't doing much due to some new staff him and Zuko hired." Aang said cocking his head and looking down at Katara. He was just a bit taller than her now, which both weren't fully adjusted to.

"How would I know?"

"Sibling connection?" He decided it best to be serious when he saw her deadpan expression. "Didn't you read his letters at all? He sent you a lot."

"I may have started ignoring them when he talked about how beautiful yet another part of Azula's wedding outfit was going to be, and how lucky he was to get to see such a vision of beauty every day." Katara spoke the last bit drammatically and rolled her eyes.

"That's so sweet! I'm glad he's happy."

Her thoughts immediately returned to her idiot brother, and the girl that tried to electrocute her, swapping spit. "It makes me want to vomit, but I'm glad he's happy at least."

They continued their journey through the palace as they attempted to find Sokka until they heard a familiar sound. A terrifying sound. Azula's pleasant battle cries. They began running towards the same stadium that Azula and Zuko had had their legendary bout in all those years ago. and saw Azula in as terrifying a state as she was on the day of Sozin's comet. Her maniacal cackle filled the air as she unleashed a barrage of fire on her hapless victim, instilling a deep-seated fear in all who heard it.

"There's no escape this time peasant, you're mine!" She said with an evil grin.

Katara and Aang were frankly stunned. Had Zuko lost his mind as well and let Azula start casually executing commoners to satiate her bloodlust? They turned their attention to her victim who was holding up a blue shield and somehow holding against this wall of fire when they saw the skin tone and the rest of his clothes…...no. It couldn't be. She wouldn't.

Aang and Katara swiftly sprang into action. Aang blew her into a wall with a gust of wind, and before she could even recognize what was happening Katara was standing above her, ice crystals formed above her head.

"YOU SAID YOU LOVED HIM!"

It was odd as she hadn't see Azula move much at all, but Katara's mind was screaming at her to move out of the way, and she did so almost involuntarily. A wall of white passed her face by a few feet, only then did she realize it was fire.

Aang and Katara looked at the directed the fire came from, and saw a not pleased Sokka with fire coming from his sword.

Katara and Aang were currently waiting in what Zuko referred to as the the war room for some reason. It almost looked like just another cozy room beyond the obnoxiously large table. They mused internally that perhaps they changed some arrangments since he became fire lord.

"Maybe he just created some kind of new gadget? You know Sokka. He did make that underwater boat. That was weird." Aang said with a shrug

"And he still needed benders! It wasn't even the color of normal fire!"

While Katara was trying to reconcile these facts in her mind, they heard stomping down the hall towards the former war room. Surprisingly, they heard Azula trying to calm him down, while also being oddly supportive.

"At least let the servant put on your robe, you want to look intimidating right?" She said

Sokka threw his hand up in the air to wave off the servant woman behind him, which was drastically out of character for him since he was usually ridiculously kind to the workers. Azula looked at her for a split second with a smile before turning back to Sokka. He had only taken off his helmet at chestplate. He would probably look ridiculous walking around the royal palace shirtless if he wasn't so angry.

"It was likely a mistake, why would they decide to end my life right before you?"

He was almost speaking in growls like a damn polarbear dog at this point. "Well, let's make sure that they don't make this mistake again."

With that the doors to the war room nearly blasted open. His eyes kept darting between them, as if he couldn't decide who he should chew out first. Finally his gaze settled upon his sister.

"Have you lost your mind?"

"No I just thought that-"

"You thought my betrothed was going to fucking kill me in a sparring room, of all places, a handful of weeks before our wedding?"

"You were almost surrounded by fi-"

"I think if I can handle several airships full of firebenders on the day on the black sun, I can handle one girl that isn't even firing off lightning at me." Sokka started wiggling his fingers in the air to accentuate his next point. "Or is it that you think just because you've had magical powers your entire life that your defenseless big brother can't handle himself in a fight?"

Katara noticed the smallest of smirks grace Azula's face for a split second, but said nothing.

"Katara. You're my sister, and I love you." Her face softened until his eyes nearly became catlike, it made her hairs stand on end. "But if you so much as look like you're going to try to douse her with water I will disable your bending for the rest of the day. Is that clear?"

"Yes." She said while looking at the table. She felt as if she was back in the Water Tribe getting scolded by her father again.

Sokka then turned his attention to the avatar. The air in the room remained tense. Katara's eyes darted between her brother and her boyfriend. A bead of sweat ran down from Aangs forehead.

"Just….just don't listen to Katara about Azula anymore. You know how she gets when she thinks she's right about something."

"Okay!" Aang said with a goofy grin and a salute. Katara had an expression somewhere between attempting to remain deadpan, and slight irritation so he stopped smiling.

She almost reflexively began bending the water from her pouch to throw at her brother, but she stopped immediately. Once her eyes turned to Azula she saw that she was looking at her as if she was a second away from attacking, but heavily restraining herself. She seemed more...emotional than usual. Katara put the water away.

"Thank you Katara." Azula said.

She flinched. "D-did you just use my name?"

Azula turned to Sokka. "Is that not normal in your culture? I never did much research on your customs because it was never relevant to the mission."

Sokka pursed his lips. Spirits she was funny even when she wasn't trying.

"No….It's just you've never used it before. In fact the last thing I think you called me was peasant."

Azula closed her eyes and performed a minor head bow. "Apologies."

Katara was stunned and confused. She looked between her brother and his betrothed. She then turned angry. "Did you do something to her!? She's broken. I thought you liked her cute evil moments or whatever you called them."

Azula's eyes became catlike once again. "Make no mistake water peasant, I do not like you. I am being kind to you for Sokka's sake because he has a familial attachment to you, and I understand that. Being needlessly inflammatory when the situation does not call for it does not benefit me one way or the other. It may slightly amuse me, but for now it feels rather trite."

While Katara was digesting what Azula said to her and attempting to come up with a retort, Aang cocked his head and stared at her. "Something is off about your aura. I'm getting a weird vibe."

Azula rolled her eyes in annoyance. "As I informed Ty Lee on multiple occassions while we were still acquainted, I do not have an aura, a vibe, or whatever other nonsense you wish to call it."

Aang stood and began squinting while popping his head around Azula comically, as if he was studying her.

"Sokka, I do not like this." She said. Sokka placed an arm between his friend and Azula.

Aang grinned like a fool and held his hands up while backing away slowly. He then looked at Sokka. "Katara." "Yes?" "Can't you see it too?"

She quirked an eyebrow. She never did really understand what Aang and Ty Lee were talking about when they got like this. Still….even ignoring how angry her brother, probably rightfully, was she didn't feel exactly the same as she normally did around him. It was close though. Wait.

"One of your eyes is g-" She then looked at Azula. "One of your eyes is blue. I know what your eyes look like, I'm not crazy!"

Almost simultaneously both Sokka and Azula sarcastically said "Well…." They both became silent when they saw that Katara was seething, although Azula was moreso silent to enjoy this moment of vexation from his dear sister. At this point he decided it was easier to show her over explaining all of the events, so he held up two fingers, and a white flame ignited above them.

"Azula and I are one."

After being told the story of how his newfound bending came to be, Katara was none to pleased. She began using expletives, which she had never done before. Sokka reacted in a similar manner while defending Azula.

"SHE KILLED YOU? SHE FUCKING KILLED YOU!?"

"….Just for a few minutes."

Katara let out a haughty laugh. "Oh my mistake then! It was just for a few minutes! She only killed you a little bit!"

"It's MY life, if I want to forgive Azula and marry her then I will." He grew even more irritated since she had the gall to look at him like he was an idiot.

"You still plan on marrying her? REALLY?"

"Do your ears not work? I said what I said."

"Sokka this is wrong and you know it. She's crazy! Next time she kills you the mother of faces won't be around to save you. Maybe I should take care of that. You might hate me, but at least you'll still be alive. You can't protect her forever Sokka."

Sokka's entire demeanor changed, he was so livid now that a calm came over him and he became soft spoken. "Azula is mine. Do you understand? If you even attempt to hurt her I will no longer have a sister. In fact….." Sokka held up a palm filled with white fire. "I will fight you to the death for her. You will have to kill me if you decide to attack her."

"You stubborn idiot." Katara growled out with her fists clenched. She almost wanted to kill her brother even if that defeated the purpose of this entire exchange. She stormed off before she did something she would later regret. Aang then dutifully chased after her.

Katara stomped the halls for several minutes. From what the servants had heard she was kind. She had to be if she was with a pacifist on the level of the air nomads, yet her rage made them reconsider and avoid her in the halls on this day. In fact she was boiling so highly that she didn't notice that a woman was standing in her path until she bumped into her and rebounded onto her rear. She looked up while rubbing her backside then frowned.

"Azu-no, you must be Lady Ursa."

Her face remained rather stoic. "And you must be Sokka's kind and sweet little sister he talks about all the time."

And just like that Katara's temper tantrum faded into the void. It was fairly odd staring into the eyes of what was essentially an older Azula, but actually seeing some emotion and kindness looking back at you. You kind of get used to the look in someone's eyes after a few attempted murder attempts.

Ursa spoke once again. "I believe we should talk. Why don't you and the Avatar come to my tea room?" She then turned her back and began walking away. Katara and Aang felt compelled to follow her. She had a silent grace about her and a commanding presence despite how soft spoken she was. They turned down a few of the ludicrously large halls of the palace before entering her tea room. Katara and Aang sat on a couch next to each other, while she seemed to pay them no mind while warming her tea kettle and getting her cups and leaves prepared.

For several minutes the room remained eerily silent. The only sounds that were made were those of the clock hands, gears, and eventually the boiling of the water cut through any remaining silence and Katara had enough.

"Why did you call us here!?"

"Thankfully I no longer have to play those inane political games that I had to play with my former husband, so I will cut directly to the point. We are to become a family soon, are we not?" She said with a smile

Katara and Aang both gulped. Her smile masked a palpable sense of intimidation and threat just beneath the surface. Was Zuko's weird ass really the most normal out of the entire family?

"Yes ma'am." Aang said quickly.

Ursa's eyes remained trained on Katara. "My daughter and your brother have been through a lot in recent months. All I ask is that you try to understand them."

Katara looked at her dumbfounded and had to compose herself for several seconds before speaking. "Been through a lot? Try to understand? She killed him. From what I was told she attempted to kill you too! What else is there to understand? Why are you people acting like I'm the crazy one just because I want to protect my brother!?"

Lady Ursa held up her hand and it instantly silenced the young woman, she then took another sip of her tea before speaking. "Do you think that your brother lacks good judgment?"

Katara slightly scowled. The South didn't have royalty to speak of, but she knew enough about proper etiquitte to know that this was her was of asking if she thought her brother was an idiot.

"No." She growled out.

"Did you attempt to listen to his reasons as to why he remained with my daughter after her outburst?"

Katara looked at the ceiling in thought. Right after he told her about Azula attempting to turn him into a scorch mark she started yelling at him. Though…."What could he possibly say that would make what she did okay?"

"Before I reveal his exact reasoning, have you ever once attempted to view life from my daughter's perspective? Or how her upbringing as a child shaped her? Or considered that she may have issues of her own that don't revolve around you or the Avatar?"

Katara wanted to make a smartass remark about her killing the avatar just like her brother, but she thought better of it. "Well, I do know that she's crazy, and that Sokka is supposed to help make her not crazy."

Ursa tapped her finger on her teacup. She saw that it would take a bit more of a direct approach to get this girl to understand her point. "I'm assuming that during your adventures my son told you about the turtle duck incident."

Katara smirked and almost laughed. "How Azula feeds turtle ducks by dropping rocks on them? Yes."

"What are your thoughts on that event? I would not mind if you were honest with me about this."

She wanted to hold her tongue badly, but an even larger part of her blurted out what she percieved as the simple truth. "She's evil. Only a sick twisted person could hurt a freaking turtle duck like that. It's defenseless. She can't really be fixed, it's just who she is."

Ursa let Katara's answer hang over the room for a couple of seconds and poured herself more tea. "I heard from your brother that you froze him solid on the pole."

"I was a ch-" She stopped herself. She was not falling into that. "He was annoying me."

Ursa quickly rolled her eyes in another direction with a hmph that only a mother could generate. Her point had been made. She did notice that this child seemed almost as stubborn as her daughter, so she would have to hammer the point home with a sledgehammer.

"And how did he get out? I'm sure you didn't just free him yourself given that he was annoying you so much."

"My father made me." Katara mumbled out.

"Sounds pretty evil to me." She said sarcastically. She waited for the girl to respond yet all she did was scowl. "Did you continue to freeze him in the future?"

"No."

"And why is that?"

Katara's scowl grew further. "Because my dad explained the dangers of freezing or getting someone wet on the pole. He said my annoyance was temporary, but my guilt from causing my brother's death would be permanent."

Ursa stopped to add a bit more sugar to her tea. "What do you think would have been without that simple conversation? Peer into the future of the path not taken, and state where you believe it to lead."

"I-" Katara paused for a moment to actually consider her question. Things flashed before her eyes before she began to speak again. What would she be like? "I guess I would be a bit ruder. Maybe less mature since I'd never have to listen to Sokka's input. If he tried to tell me what to do or make suggestions I would probably threaten him. I can't think much beyond that. Why?"

"Well then. If you think that you would be worse without the positive influence of your father and you believe you're less evil innately than Azula, what chances for change and growth in a positive direction do you think she had?"

"I-….None. Still, how can Sokka be willing to marry her after she killed him? He can still try to help her without putting himself in danger again."

Ursa smiled as it appeared as if she had finally reached her. "He seems confident that she is unlikely to relapse."

"Unlikely? Nothing has changed. I get that her mind was breaking that day, but what's to stop it from happening again?"

Ursa pursed her lips trying to remember what the boy said. "He said something about a combination of plants being for her mind and it working out well. I don't exactly know the details. You can ask him if you're interested."

Katara wept into her hands. Her brother was such a fucking idiot.

Author's note: Life has finally slowed down enough for me to begin writing again. I'm considering just making this the "end" of this story and just writing a wedding epilogue. All loose ends seem to have been tied up. While it's sad, every story has to have an end =/. If you have an idea for another Sokkla fic I could possibly write let me know. The only idea I have for now is something involving Sokka and Azula seeing through each other's eyes for a few years before realizing they are enemies. Similar to the in your eyes movie. Welp, let me know if you want that epilogue or have an idea before i do.