As the days passed the group fell into a rhythm. Some of them would attend meetings during the day, but the group always managed to find each other by nightfall. They would spend their evenings laughing, eating, dancing, and even showing off their bending from time to time.

It was the last day before they would all have to depart when Katara noticed something odd. She noticed that there seemed to be a large number of men in green uniforms following her around, They were Earthbenders, and this was Omashu, so it made sense for them to be there, but she had rarely noticed them so often. She dismissed the idea of being followed, after all, this was a meeting meant to keep the peace.

Katara spent that morning in the gardens with Zuko, walking around in the peace, their hands clasped tightly. They passed the pond of turtleducks from the first night and they decided to sit and watch them.

Zuko cleared his throat as he stared at the pond. "Katara, there's something I want to ask you."

Katara stopped pulling on the grass and looked over at Zuko. "What is it?"

He looked at her intently and said "I want you to return to the fire nation with me."

Katara was startled. The thought of going to the fire nation intrigued her, but she had never lived on her own before. "Zuko, I -"

"As my wife, Katara."

Katara stared at him in shock. She had not been expecting this.

Zuko saw her shocked expression and smirked. He took her hands and moved closer to her. "Katara I know it's only been two weeks, but I want you to marry me. I feel like . . . like this was pre destined. I feel like I've always known you, and that we would have found each other, no matter what. Please, do me the honor of becoming my wife."

Katara stared into his golden eyes, the emotion written clearly on his face. Her eyes welled up with tears as she felt herself nodding in consent. Zuko's face lit up and Katara jumped forward into his arms. They both laughed as they fell to the ground sharing kisses and their lives.

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Aang's senses were all highly alert. He intended to meet Toph that night, but something was distracting him. Something was wrong. There were unnecessary presences around the palace. The hair on the back of his neck stood up, and he noticed a dark shape shifting in the background. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Princess Azula advancing towards him. It was just the Princess. Only, why was his heart still beating rapidly?

"Avatar Aang, a pleasure to see you. Might I interest you in something to eat?" Azula said, her voice silky smooth.

Aang, not wanting to offend the princess, nodded and followed her a few steps, before asking where they were going.

"Oh, just my rooms. I have some excellent tea that I'm sure you're going to love."

Aang could hear part of himself screaming at him to get as far away from her as possible. Aang pushed the fear and worry away, reasoning that Princess Azula was merely being friendly. He entered her rooms and sat down at the low table while she poured tea.

"What kind is it?"

"Jasmine," Azula answered quickly.

Aang took a sip and began to feel fuzzy. He took another sip and his vision blurred. He felt himself fading into darkness and his last image was of Princess Azula smirking above him. And then his consciousness faded.

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Katara was practically walking on air as she returned to her rooms. She was going to marry Zuko! Three weeks ago, she would've never imagined her life going in this direction, but it felt so right. She heard a soft thud on the other side of the door, and her mind went into high alert. She shoved open the door while pulling water from a nearby fountain. She opened the door to find. . . nothing. There wasn't a soul inside. She took a step inside, surprised at her response.

Then she heard another thud behind her. That's when she felt someone swing at her. She swiftly dodged and raised the water like a whip. She turned to face her attacker when a dart hit her in the neck. Katara lurched forward. She felt the world pitch left and right, but tried to dodge her attacker's onslaught. She formed ice daggers, bending them at the Dai Li agents. It was no use, she was out in a few seconds and her body hit the ground with a soft thud.

Zuko, she thought. Help me.

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Zuko left the meeting with his Uncle smiling. Well, they were both smiling. The only thing Iroh hadn't been looking forward to was settling things with the Bei Fongs. But Zuko was nonplussed at the idea. He decided to head towards their rooms after the meeting and discuss what to do with them. As he approached the door he noticed that it was ajar. Panic gripped him.

He opened the door widely and saw the furniture in disarray and water and rock scattered about.

"Katara?" He called. There was no answer from her.

He called again, running through the rooms hoping to find her. He found something else entirely.

"We've been waiting for you."

Zuko whirled around, fire already in his palm. The Dai Li agent simply scoffed.

Zuko heard whistling and ducked to dodge the shirshu venom dart. He jumped forward, blasting a large flame from his foot.

A Dai Li agent in the corner threw rock hands around Zuko's wrist, pinning him to the wall. Zuko tried to pull them away, but to no avail. He felt a sharp pain in his neck as his world became black. Why, he asked. Who would do this? Azula, his mind answered. Only what could she want?

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Azula smirked as she strode between her incapacitated prisoners. They were all here. The Avatar, the water tribe peasant, he family. even Zuko. She cackled as she thought of what was going to happen. They had no means of escape. All their hands were bound, and the Dai Li were watching their every move.

It certainly was a good thing to have them in her pocket.

Their failure in Ba Sing Se was not so fortunate.

After her failure to overtake Ba Sing Se, she had to move to different means to get the power she so craved. And this was the perfect opportunity.

She remarked at the convenience of their location. It was not far from the Earth King Palace, making transport easy. But the underground tunnels supplied plenty of opportunities for her to hide her captives for as long as necessary. And Uncle has no idea.

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Toph was the first to notice that Katara was nowhere to be found. She also noticed the Aang was untraceable as well. She decided if there was nothing else to do, she would just return to her rooms. Upon entering it, she immediately sensed the events that had occurred. Katara wasn't just missing. Katara had been taken. And nobody, could take Toph's sister without her doing something. They're going to pay.