Chapter 3

"It still befuddles me that the world leaders agreed to have someone like you as the head of this task force!"

Sokka bashfully looked down at his boots before scowling. He had forgotten how well her 'sight' was. He looked every bit like a man should, his shoulders broad with his face hinting at the regrowth of facial hair. Apparently the ladies loved a man with five-o'clock shadow, nevermind that Suki was the only woman in his life. He couldn't help that he loved the attention.

"You forget that I'm the Southern Water Tribe's Chieftain," he began, his fists on his hips. It was true. His father, Hakoda, had decided to step down as chief and enjoy the life of peace that the Avatar had so graciously provided.

"Whatever. You call yourself a chief but you can't even walk in a straight line. Those rebels would probably try to sneak up on poor, little, old me and while you're attempting one of your so-called attacks on them, you'd trip!"

"Toph, that doesn't even make sense!" Sokka exclaimed waving his finger in front of her, forgetting like usual, that she could not see.

Toph Bei Fong leisurely slouched on her throne, her legs curled beneath her figure. She didn't keep her hair wrapped around her head as she did years ago, choosing instead to wear it up high in a loose pony-tail. She had grown to be a beautiful young woman, and many a suitor came through the Earth Kingdom hoping to have her hand. She sent them packing.

"Why not?"

"Because no one can sneak up on you!"

"That's besides the point, stupid. I can't have a task force leader who stumbles at every step," argued the master earthbender with a roll of her non-seeing green eyes.

"Well, we can't all have what we want. Now, what did you want me in here for?"

An air of seriousness took over causing Toph to sit up straight in the throne before reaching behind her. She pulled out a scroll with a red string tied around it to secure its contents. She reached out blindly and waited for Sokka to grab it.

"Who's it from?" asked the brown-skinned man.

"I cannot see, Sokka. How about you open it and tell me. I was told by Iroh that it was delivered by a messenger hawk from the Asylum specifically marked for you," Toph sighed.

Sokka winced at Toph's mention of the Asylum. It had taken a lot out of him to have that establishment built. Workers from all over the world had assisted in building it securely, day and night, so that Azula could not escape. And now, his Suki was guarding the place.

He hesitantly pulled the string hoping that the Kyoshi warriors were just fine and read the scroll. The writing was hurried and messy which made it a difficult read. Finally, he scrunched his nose at the signature located at the bottom.

"Your heartbeat tells me that something's wrong. What is it?" questioned the ever-knowing earthbending master.

"It's from Azula. She demands a meeting with me regarding information that her brother may want to know."

"Why didn't she just message him?" Toph leaned forward and rested her face in her hands, her bare feet firmly planted on the ground.

"She knows that he won't allow any of her messages to be delivered to the palace which makes total sense to me. It's quite obvious that she's no better than she was when she was admitted. Shall I send a message to the Fire Lord?"

Though Toph was younger than he and a good friend, Sokka answered to her while his task force was in her command. He was a part of her army for the time being.

"That would be best. He knows how to work around those loose screws of hers."

It took an earthbending mail courier five days to deliver the message to the Fire Lord due to Toph's trust issues with messenger hawks. When Zuko read Sokka's short message, he wasn't thrilled.

"You don't look too happy this morning, Fire Lord," came the soft tone of Katara's voice. Zuko looked up at the waterbender, his frown quite evident.

He was sitting in the center of his throne room with his arms crossed, his body stiff in that disgruntled way of his.

"I've received word that my sister claims to have information that I require...no doubt that she's referring to our mother."

Katara didn't bother to hide the look of shock upon her face.

"Are you going to speak to her?"

She knew how difficult it was for him to speak of his immoral family members. She knew it was tough for him because no matter how horrible his father and sister were, he couldn't help but love them though he would not admit it to anyone. But...she knew.

"I don't believe her, Katara. I think it's just another one of her mind games," Zuko sighed.

"How can you be sure though?"

"I think I know my sister!" was the snappish reply. Katara frowned before turning towards the doors.

"I'll be having breakfast. Please join me when you've realized that I'm just trying to help, which you asked me to do, might I add."

Zuko sighed audibly and blew steam from his nose before mentally kicking himself. Azula was a psychopathic mastermind even in her fractured mental state and she still managed to get into his head from her place in the Asylum. She'd had quite a few years to come up with something to get under his skin.

Yet, it was still no reason to snap at the woman that he cared for. The Fire Lord stood up from his throne and began the short walk to the dining quarters, one memory of Kyoshi Island replaying in his head.

He had appointed new guards at the dining room doors after Katara had nearly drowned the previous two. The Fire Lord smirked as he remembered the nonchalant attitude that the waterbender had presented over the entire situation.

The guards bowed before opening the doors. Katara was sitting across from Aang who had recently finished his morning meditation ritual. Zuko took his place beside her with a nod towards the Avatar.

"Good morning, Zuko. How're you?" questioned the airbender with a small smile.

"I've been better. Katara, I'd like to apologize for my attitude earlier. It was very disrespectful of me."

"Forgiven, Fire Lord. I know that I'll get you back during one of our future spars." Katara smiled up at Zuko in reassurance and noticed a new smirk on his face.

"If yesterday's spar was anything to go by...I doubt you'll be getting me back anytime soon, Master Katara."

Aang watched as the two went back and forth over breakfast, his grin still on his face. Friendship truly did make him happy.

Xxxxx

"You've gotten pretty strong, Fire Lord," breathed Katara from her defensive wall of ice in the palace's outside arena.

After breakfast the two had decided on a sparring match in order to further prepare Katara for any potential threat that could arise since she hadn't seen battle for some time. Sure, there were occurrences that required the use of a water whip or two while she assisted those needy provinces but nothing too big of an issue.

They had practiced the day prior which had resulted in a few hard blows to Katara but she just healed her injuries and kept on. She was a determined woman.

"Stop talking and fight, peasant," smirked the scarred man as he brought up his hands, on the offensive. Katara readied herself with a puddle of water at her feet before she let the wall melt. In an instant, Zuko was three feet in front of her ready to fire but he missed due to her dodge.

The waterbender had propelled herself upward with the puddle and the slush from the wall in order to flip over the Fire Lord. It only took a split second for her to kick through his legs causing him to fall back. All of the water from her attack dropped onto his shocked form.

Zuko grinned in amazement at the waterbender's mastery of her craft. It hadn't taken her long at all to get back into the pull of battle. Katara leaned down to offer her hand which Zuko gladly accepted.

The two sparring partners bowed to each other to formally signify the end of their match.

"I told you that I'd get you back," boasted the tired woman with a grin.

"So you did," chuckled Zuko, "We should be ready to leave tomorrow afternoon."

Katara looked over at the drenched man's face and her own lit up. This was what she had been waiting for. And he had delivered. Her grin widened at the tilt of his crown on his forehead and she was extremely tempted to right it but she kept her twitching fingers at her sides.

"I'll have to write Sokka to alert him of my whereabouts every time that we reach a new location."

"He's still that protective over you?"

"Unfortunately, but I suppose that's what older brothers are for. He doesn't even know that I'm here so imagine his surprise when he discovers I'm out searching for your mother with you. He may send his Sword Squad to look after us, though we're fully capable of taking care of ourselves."

Katara's thoughts turned to her loving brother. Sokka had convinced Suki to allow a sword division as a sect of the Kyoshi warriors. She remembered him mentioning that it made him feel like he was doing something special although he'd pretty much come up with most of the world's rebuilding plans on his own.

"I wouldn't put it past him. I must go finish briefing the Avatar on what's to be done whilst we're gone but that shouldn't take long. I'll see you at dinner. Please don't drown my guards," smirked Zuko with a wave of his hand. Katara lovingly watched as he sloshed his way into the palace.

Even after he'd been away for more than a few minutes, she continued to look in the direction he'd left in. And she became upset. Perhaps he didn't remember their fun on the island after all when it was so vivid in her mind. She remembered everything, especially the way that they had held one another on the beach.

She remembered.

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The events of Kyoshi Island may actually be exposed in the next chapter.