For all his bravado about being hungry, Sokka had a hard time actually eating the food set in front of him. He listened with barely any interest as Aang and Iroh recounted the previous night's battle for Zuko and the Earth King. Looking at the banished prince, Sokka couldn't help but be suspicious; wondering if his former enemy had purposely let his maniacal sister escape despite the King's insistence that Zuko had hunted her until daybreak and was only forced to give up the chase due to sheer exhaustion. And Sokka had to admit, albeit grudgingly, that the fire bender did indeed looked haggard and anxious over the turn of events. At last, the water tribe warrior couldn't stand his own doubts anymore and he pushed his half-eaten plate away.

"I think I need some fresh air," he said, excusing himself from the others and ignoring the worried glances cast in his direction as he walked out to one of the balconies. A short while later, the rest of the group started making their way out of the dining hall, and Katara came up beside him, leaning onto the balustrade without a word.

"I shouldn't have let her go back out there," Sokka said firmly.

"Suki will be fine, Sokka," Katara said gently, "She's a Kyoshi Warrior and has two Dai Li agents with her. The village where the other girls are recovering is only a day away. They'll be back before you know it."

"And what about Azula?" he asked irritably, "What if they run into her again? What if…?" He couldn't bring himself to finish the thought aloud.

"Azula undoubtedly has bigger concerns at the moment," said a soft voice from behind them. The two turned to see Zuko coming over to the balcony as well. Sokka glowered at the intrusion.

"Oh? And how would you know?" he drawled accusingly as he stepped away from the balcony to stand protectively near Katara, arms crossed angrily as if waiting for Zuko to say something that would reveal some hint of betrayal.

"I know my sister," he replied, completely unperturbed. "She'll find some place to bide her time while she plans for another strike. And she will make another strike," he said grimly as he looked at them, before turning his gaze back to the city below and saying, almost to himself, "she always does."

"Humph, persistence must run in the family," Katara mumbled before she could stop herself. This earned her a cold sidelong glare from the fire prince, but it lasted only a moment before it dissolved into a resigned sigh.

"I suppose it does," he replied, almost sadly. "At any rate," he continued with a tone of certainty, "it's unlikely she'll give them a second thought if she doesn't think she can use them in some way. Azula isn't one to waste unnecessary energy, even to further her own goals."

"Well, for your sake, I hope you're right," grumbled Sokka darkly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Zuko asked as he looked over at Sokka, narrowing his eyes dangerously at the tone in the other boy's voice.

"How do we know you didn't let your sister escape?" he replied hotly before he lost the courage to say it.

Sokka was certain he'd pay for the insult. In fact, he fully expected to be hit or burned, and almost welcomed it because that would prove his suspicions correct. So he was beyond stunned when, after a moment of tense consideration, Zuko instead turned away and slammed two flaming fists onto the stone railing with a howl of rage. There was a distinct flash of pain in his eyes as he bowed his head. The siblings backed away, staring at him in confusion and fear as he took several shaky breaths, each one slowly forcing the flames flickering off his knuckles to die out.

"Azula was right, I should have killed her when I had the chance," he finally whispered remorsefully.

"You can't mean that," gasped Katara once she recovered from the shock of what he had just said.

"Can't I?!" he shouted as he spun to face her. "Azula got away, free to wreck whatever havoc she can dream up. People's lives are in danger," he took a labored breath, nearly choking on his own self-loathing, "and it's my fault!" As he started to storm away, Sokka finally spoke up again.

"But…kill her? I mean…she's…she's your sister," he said, horrified at the thought. Zuko paused for only a moment, his voice trembling with quiet fury.

"Don't remind me."

And with that, he stalked off into the late afternoon shadows of the massive palace, leaving the two water tribe siblings staring at each other with a mixture of anguish and regret.

"Way to go there, Snoozles," said Toph, coming out from behind a nearby pillar.

"How long have you been standing there?" he inquired petulantly.

"I heard the whole thing," she replied quietly. Sokka regarded her thoughtfully for a moment, stroking his chin.

"Was he really telling the truth?"

And the next sound out of his mouth was a loud yelp as his sister and Toph both smacked him upside the head simultaneously.

It didn't take Toph very long to track Zuko down. She had felt the direction he'd headed and in no time, she 'spotted' his unmistakable form sitting at the top of the grand stairway leading up to the palace.

"Hey Princey," she said casually as she flopped down on the ground next to him. "Sure is a gorgeous sunset, isn't it?"

"I…" he started as he looked over at her, and then realizing he was about to fall prey to one of her 'blind' pranks, "How would you know?"

"Oh-ho! Fast learner," she chuckled, "I'm impressed."

"Not funny," he replied dully, as he stared back out the horizon as the light slowly faded from the sky.

"Wasn't trying to be," Toph replied offhandedly. They sat in almost companionable silence for a few minutes before she decided to get right to the point.

"Sokka's an idiot," she stated irreverently, "you shouldn't take what he says too much to heart."

"He has every reason to mistrust me," Zuko replied quietly.

"Maybe, but he's still an idiot," she grinned. When this got no response, she continued more soberly, "and to be quite honest, I don't think he does have any reason not to trust you."

"You weren't there when I chased them halfway across the world," he said evenly.

"You had your reasons, didn't you?"

"That's hardly the point," he growled, suddenly growing tired of the conversation.

"Actually that's the entire point," she responded firmly. "The others may not understand, but I do."

"Understand what?" he replied crossly. She hesitated for a moment, choosing her words very carefully.

"You know, there's not much I wouldn't do to hear my father say, just once, that he is proud of me. Unfortunately, I don't think I can ever do anything to gain his respect. He's ashamed I even exist."

"What?" Zuko stared at her incredulously as he stammered, "I don't understand…how…" His mind raced with a hundred questions, not the least of which was how he could be so transparent to a blind girl. At last, he decided to turn the focus of the conversation back to her, if for no other reason than morbid curiosity.

"Why would your father be ashamed of you?" he finally asked.

"Duh!" She turned her face towards him and waved her hand frantically in front of her clouded eyes.

"That hardly seems like a good reason," he frowned as he looked away, but Toph brushed his statement aside as she interrupted, her tone betraying not a whisper of regret.

"It's not, but it's the reason he has and there is nothing I can do to change his opinion."

Zuko scowled a bit, not missing the obvious parallels between her situation and his own, "Have you ever tried?" he said with a hint of accusation.

"Yep," she said stonily, "and it didn't do a lick of good, so I won't waste any more energy on it ever again."

"But," he said as he fought his confusion and loss for words, "Don't you care?"

"Of course I care," she scoffed, "but I'm not about to force myself into becoming something I'm not just to gain his approval." Her voice softened with a twinge of sadness, "Nothing is worth denying who I am…that's something I've learned since I started traveling with Aang." She took a deep breath, preparing to say something else, when her attention was diverted to a pair of light footsteps coming near.

"And speaking of Aang" her tone brightened, "What's up, Twinkle Toes?" she called. Zuko turned around to see the air bender coming out of the palace.

"Hey guys," he greeted them merrily.

"You come out to watch the sunset with us?" she asked nonchalantly, as though the serious conversation with Zuko had never happened.

"Um, I think I missed it already," he smiled sheepishly, as he looked out over the city lights twinkling in the darkness.

"Really? Huh, no wonder it's so darn chilly." She punched Zuko not so lightly in the arm, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Zuko scowled a bit as he rubbed his arm, but his voice was tinged with humor when he answered.

"I must have forgotten you were blind," finally letting a wry smirk tug at his lips.

Aang looked on with a puzzled expression as the other two grinned; suddenly comprehending that he wasn't in on the joke.

"Um, anyway," he started as his friends stood up, "I came looking for you because the Earth King wants to see us in the throne room. He's gathered the council of five to discuss what to do about..." he trailed off as he looked uncomfortably at the banished prince.

"Just say it, Aang," Zuko sighed.

"Well, about the war," he finished lamely.

"Oh joy," drawled Toph as the trio went inside the palace, "this should be loads of fun."

The Council of Five was already gathered and waiting with Katara and Sokka in the throne room when Aang, Toph, and Zuko arrived. As they entered, they noticed that Iroh was not yet present and the Earth King was addressing the council, but spotting them, he broke off mid-sentence.

"Ah, here is Prince Zuko, now. He and his uncle, General Iroh, were both largely responsible for the successful expulsion of Princess Azula from Ba Sing Se," he intoned grandly to the gathered advisors. Zuko shifted uncomfortably as all eyes turned to him.

"It was hardly a success, considering Azula got away," he said faintly, suddenly wishing to be anywhere but there.

"Ah, but the important thing," Kuei began regally, "is that she is no longer here and in control of the city." The banished prince nodded, but he still didn't feel any better as silence descended for a short while until it was interrupted by Iroh being led into the room by Heng. Iroh made a short bow before the throne as he apologized.

"I am sorry to keep you waiting, Your Majesty," he said with an embarrassed chuckle, "I got a little lost." The Earth King simply nodded and smiled as General How stepped forward.

"General Iroh," he said with warm familiarity.

"General How!" The old fire bender returned cheerfully as he moved to greet the other war veteran, "Long time no-"

But his words were cut short as How made a move so sudden and unexpected that not even Top saw it coming. Before anyone could comprehend what was happening, Iroh was encased in a solid block of stone as General How spoke with calm and sober authority.

"You are under arrest for acts of war against the Earth Kingdom."

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