A/N: To eliminate any confusion, this starts out just as Azula, Ty Lee, Mai, Zuko, and Aang are all chatting in the same room onboard the ship.
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"Katara, you need to wake up. Azula's ship is directly below us." Sokka's quiet voice pulled Katara out of a dream. She sat up, rubbing her eyes. For a moment she didn't understand why she was leaning against Iroh, ex-General of the Fire Nation, or why Long Feng had taken Appa's reins. The sky bison's back seemed oddly empty. She realized that they no longer had the company of the Earth King, his bear, Jet, Zuko, or Aang. She also realized where they were headed: to the Fire Nation to defeat the Fire Lord before Sozin's Comet arrived. Her heart gave a start in realization that the Day of Black Sun would be the next day. She hoped they would reach the Fire Nation in time.
The sun burned hotly overhead and sweat slid down Sokka's brow. He had been dangling his head over the edge, trying to peer through the clouds at Azula's ship as if he could catch a glimpse of Zuko and the Avatar.
"We may have to wait until nightfall," Sokka mumbled, though only really to himself.
"And how do you expect us to do that?" Katara demanded. "What, are we just going to hover over them all day?"
"If we have to," Sokka shrugged. "We'll just have to pray that they don't look up." Katara stared at him. "Well, do you have any better ideas?"
"Yes, in fact, I do," said Katara snottily. "Why don't we just tip the boat over? I can just do a little bending and everyone will be so surprised and worried about surviving to notice us making off with Zuko and Aang."
"Oh right," said Sokka sarcastically. "So while you play with your magic water, Aang and Fairy Princess drown in the process."
Katara smacked him in the face. "How many times must I tell you? It isn't magic!"
"Ooh, I've got it," he said, rubbing his pink face. "We can send Momo down to distract the guards and while he has the crew chasing him around the deck, you and I will sneak down to the cells and rescue them."
"No," said Katara. "Like they aren't going to notice us come down on a giant bison. Right."
"Fine," said Sokka. "How about we send Momo to-"
"Why do I get the impression that you don't like Momo very much?" Toph interrupted suspiciously.
"Yeah, they'll set his tail on fire," said Katara quite seriously, frowning as the lemur chattered away in protest.
"I thought I was the idea guy!" Sokka exclaimed crossly.
"You were," said Katara, "until you decided to sacrifice Momo every chance you got. I say we tip the boat over."
"And I say we beat Azula on the head with a big stick," Toph grumbled, "but unfortunately you can't always get what you want."
"Well, we do have Aang's staff here," said Sokka thoughtfully. He suddenly exclaimed, "I know! We'll get Appa to sit on the guards!"
"Tipping the boat it is," said Toph with a sigh.
"Well, I don't know if I'll be able to get a wave that powerful...," said Katara hesitantly, "but I may be able to knock everyone off deck."
"Do it," said Sokka encouragingly. "That way we might get the chance to hit Azula on the head with a stick."
"Okay. Long Feng? Get me as low as you can without breaking through the clouds."
"Aw man," said Toph. "We're all going to get wet."
They dropped down into the mist and Katara tried her best to be able to reach the seawater with her bending from such a great height. She struggled and struggled, managing to keep her balance as she dipped her wrists in and out. The water was swelling somewhere below her. She couldn't see it through the fog, but she could feel it and she could hear it. There were shouts down on Azula's ship, though they were too far away to make out the words. Katara lifted her hands slowly up in front of her and as they broke through the clouds, she roughly pushed her hands forward.
The gigantic wave broke onto the deck of the ship. The crew was instantly swept into the water. Katara grinned triumphantly and waited for the ship to stop rocking so violently before allowing Appa to land. There was standing water on the deck. They were all soaked from the clouds as they waded through the ankle-deep water. Katara casually bended it away from them as Sokka removed the boomerang from his shoulder.
They pushed open the metal hatch and stomped down below into the dark.
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"What the hell was that?" Azula demanded, after having to brace herself in the doorway. She glared at the Avatar. "Did you have something to do with this?"
"I swear, I did nothing," said Aang hastily.
Ty Lee and Zuko glanced around fearfully. Mai just looked bored.
"Guards!" Azula called through the doorway. "Go check it out."
They did as they were told and dutifully marched down the hallway.
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"Can you see anyth-AARRGG!" Sokka crashed into a Fire Nation soldier. Everyone went down after him, hitting their chins on the cold metal. Only Toph remained upright. Suddenly, they could all see as the hallway was lit up by spurts of fire.
"Obviously," said Katara as a guard pulled himself up using her hair braid, "we didn't think this through." She punched him and bended what little water there was on the ground into his face. He stumbled backwards into Toph. She promptly hit him on the head with Aang's airbending staff.
"This is fun," she said cheerfully, kicking up some metal to a random firebending guard.
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"What is going on out there?" Azula demanded, listening to bodies slamming into the metal walls. "Mai, you watch them and make sure they don't escape. I'm going to check this out." As she left, Mai remained staring at the three people before her.
"She can't blame you if we knock you down," Ty Lee shrugged. "After all, there are three of us and only one of you."
"There is also only one exit, and I'm not letting you pass," said Mai defiantly. Zuko stepped forward hesitantly. Mai removed a simple blade from the pocket within her left sleeve. She waved it threateningly in front of his face. He gently pushed it aside and stepped forward once more. "What are you doin-?" Mai never got to finish her sentence. Zuko was much too close now. He slid a warm hand behind her neck and pulled her face close to his, kissing her very gently.
Aang and Ty Lee stared at them, open-mouthed. Aang looked slightly disgusted but Ty Lee had started to giggle.
When Zuko finally pulled away, Mai's face felt hot and she was gasping for breath. She stumbled sideways into the wall. Zuko grinned triumphantly. "I knew you would move." With a flick of his fingers, Ty Lee and Aang followed him out into the hall.
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"Aang!" Katara exclaimed, running towards him. The hem of her dress caught fire and Sokka instantly stamped it out.
Aang and Katara embraced tightly as she kissed his cheek. "Thank the gods they haven't killed you yet."
"I don't know about you," Zuko whispered into Katara's ear, "but I don't think this is the best time for reunions. In case you haven't noticed, there's a hall full of fireben-" Just as he said that, a flash of lightning forked down the hallway.
Sokka's eyes widened as it passed him. "That thing almost hit me!" he exclaimed in terror.
Azula growled, pushing Sokka aside. "Out of the way, dimwit!" She was streaking towards the Avatar, launching herself at him.
"COME ON!" Zuko roared, taking Katara's hand. She held onto Aang and the three of them raced down the hallway, dodging various combatants. Sokka, Long Feng, Ty Lee, and Iroh charged after them. Toph was the last one to stumble out into the sunlight. The others were all crowded onto Appa and were shouting at Toph to hurry up. She waited until she felt Azula's footsteps pounding after her before she spun around and slammed Aang's staff into her skull.
Azula crumbled like a rag doll.
"HURRY UP!" Long Feng bellowed, as he cracked the whips. Toph surged forward and reached out for someone's hand, anyone's hand. She felt Sokka's warm fingers beneath hers as her feet lifted off of the ground and they soared into the air, leaving Mai to look up after them as she stood over Azula's still form.
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"That. Was. Awesome," said Sokka breathlessly. "Did you see when Toph shoved that one guy into the wall? I mean physically, into the wall! And Katara! The way you shoved that icicle up that guard's nose...I was proud to call you my sister."
Katara gave her brother a small smile as she settled next to Aang. Her eyes suddenly fell on Ty Lee as if she just noticed her. "What is she doing here?"
Everyone turned to face her. "Yeah," said Sokka, puzzled, "what is she doing here?"
Ty Lee shifted uncomfortably as Aang explained what happened. Katara continued to look at her suspiciously. "Is this just part of Azula's little plan? Are you the spy?"
"No," said Ty Lee crossly. "Azula was going to have me executed."
"I wouldn't blame her," Katara retorted. "You are a traitor."
"Why are you criticizing her?" Zuko demanded. "She helped us escape!"
Katara lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. She turned to Aang. "It's good to have you back."
"Ahem," said Zuko, clearing his throat expectantly.
"Oh, yeah," said Katara, giving him a half-hearted hug. "You too."
Ty Lee frowned. "Zuko, do you like Katara?"
Zuko and Aang choked. "W-what? Why would you think that?"
"Just wondering," Ty Lee shrugged.
"Is this about Mai?" Zuko demanded.
"What about Mai?" Katara frowned.
"He kissed Mai!" Aang giggled.
"He did what to Mai?" Sokka cried, aghast.
"Zuko kissed a girl, Zuko kissed a girl," Toph chanted, grinning like a fool.
"Would you rather me kiss a boy?" Zuko demanded hotly.
"Who kissed a boy?" Sokka demanded, thoroughly confused and giving Katara a suspicious look.
"Don't look at me, I didn't kiss anyone!" Katara exclaimed hastily.
Iroh sat patiently, staring at each of them in turn and shaking his head. "Teenagers," he grumbled.
"Do you love her?" Ty Lee asked, giggling.
"I-What?" Zuko demanded sharply.
"Aw, he does," Ty Lee wailed gleefully. "Look at him! He's blushing!"
"Am not!" Zuko exclaimed, his cheeks pink. "I don't blush."
"Zuko and Mai, sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G...," Toph started in a sing song voice. Zuko tackled her and covered her mouth with his hand.
"Shut up!" he said furiously.
"Can I be godfather?" Sokka asked hopefully. "I'll teach your kid how to run, and chop things, and spit, and..." The list went on and on.
"I'm not having a kid with Mai!" Zuko exclaimed, coloring to an impressive shade of red.
"Aw, why not?" Ty Lee asked. "I already told Mai to name it after me."
"You did what?" Zuko demanded, horrified.
"She said I could go ahead and do it," Ty Lee went on. "I hope she's not born with a scar..."
"Why were you two talking about me?"
"Oh, all girls talk about this kind of stuff," Ty Lee explained.
Zuko looked disgusted. "They do?" He glanced at Katara to see if this was true. She shrugged helplessly. "Well...What did she say about me?"
"She said you were devastatingly handsome," Ty Lee squealed. "Though, I can't see how with that ugly thing on your face," she added in afterthought. "But Mai gets all giggly when we talk about you. She says that your face is the only thing that keeps her going through the day. Just the thought of seeing you again makes her-"
"Whoa!" said Sokka, holding up his hands. He gestured to Aang and Toph. "We are in the company of children. Seriously, let's not get too adult here."
"She said that?" Zuko asked Ty Lee, looking positively shocked.
Ty Lee nodded. "She cannot stand to be apart from you."
"She did not say that," said Zuko, narrowing his eyes as he finally came to his senses.
"Look Zuko," Aang whispered, "'gullible' is written across the ceiling."
"What ceiling?" Zuko asked absent-mindedly, not getting it.
"Oh, never mind," Aang sighed, stretching out and using Katara's lap as a pillow for his head. To think, here they were chatting pleasantly the day before the Solar Eclipse when all hell was to break loose.
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A/N: I'm trying to get caught up on all of these chapters I missed. Thanks a bunch for all of the reviews and all...More suggestions/ideas are welcome!