The Golden Wolf Warrior

By: Agent-Ayu

Chapter 6: The Winter Solstice

Note: Health wise I'm doing a lot better! Also if you're interested here is a link to some of my artworks for Golden Wolf Warrior. The link to the gallery/drawings are in my profile.

Disclaimer: Disclaimer from Prologue still applies.


"Come with us." Haru suggested to Katara.

"I can't. Your mission is to take back your home. Ours is to get Aang to the North Pole." Both Katara and Haru looked down at Appa where Aang was airbending coal around.

"That's him, isn't it? The Avatar."

"Yes, he is." Azula answered. She had just finished checking up on all the former prisoners. "I'm glad we were able to help you to reunite with your father. I only wish I could ever have the chance with my family."

Katara sadly smiled at the firebender. She reached up to her necklace as she thought of her mother. As she touched the pendent the necklace broke.

"Oh no!" Katara gasped. "My mother's necklace!"

"What is it?" Azula asked.

"It broke." Katara replied sadly.

"Let me see it." Azula gently took the necklace into her hands. She examined the damage. "Thankfully the pendent isn't broken. The pendent hook just broke. I'll see if I can fix it. Do you mind if I hold onto it until then?"

"Azula, thank you." Katara hugged the firebender.

Once they dropped off all the earthbenders, the four teens were off flying further north. Sokka was busy looking for more food to eat, Katara was sewing some of the clothes that needed repair, Azula continued to examine the damaged necklace while trying to stop Momo from touching it, and Aang looked onwards toward the horizon.

"You know, since we were busy yesterday tricking the Fire Nation into arresting Katara, I'm sorry to say this to you, but Katara, Sokka, you're acting is really terrible." Azula said bluntly.

Suddenly Azula felt really cold water on her. "I'm just being honest with you. We'll work on it!" Azula defended.

Katara annoyingly turned away from Azula, but smiled once she knew the firebender wasn't paying attention.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

"Happy Birthday, Katara!" Everyone cheered.

Azula had taken Katara away from the igloo for most of the day so her family could prepare for the waterbender's birthday celebration. Kya hugged her daughter followed by Sokka and Kanna.

They spent the evening forgetting about the war and eating all of Katara's favorite food. Azula even ate all the sea prunes that were given to her without making a face for Katara's sake. The night was filled with laughter and happiness.

"Okay time for presents. Here you go!" Sokka exclaimed as he presented a carved wooden doll of a Polar Bear Dog.

"Awww… Sokka!" Katara hugged her brother. "It's so cute. It looked just like Koro. What do you think boy?"

Koro opened one of his eyelids and looked at the wooden doll before falling back asleep.

"Here Katara." Azula handed a rolled up scroll to the waterbender.

Katara opened the scroll to reveal two characters writing in calligraphy on them. "Water Virtue." She read out loud. "Why those two words?"

"Well since you're a waterbender I found it appropriate." Azula explained as she blushed.

"I love it!" Katara gave the firebender a tight hug.

"One last gift Katara." Kya said as she removed her necklace. "Here I want you to have this. Both Gran Gran and I thought you would enjoy wearing this."

The waterbender took hold of her mother's necklace as Kanna explained the history of the necklace. "This was my necklace until I gave it to your mother when she married your father. It has been through many adventures, and needs to be passed on to give the necklace more adventures. Take care of it."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Aang and Azula sat on Appa's head leaning back and enjoying themselves. They were in the middle of a long conversation bending sparring match. Both of them had to imagine what the other was saying and work a counter off of that to try and beat each other. Some of things they claimed to do was rather ridiculous but made a great sparring match.

"Hah, I captured you in my Air Vortex and I slam you into the wall." Aang claimed

"Ouch that's going to hurt tomorrow. I quickly bounce back up I do a roundhouse then a spinning reverse hook back heel kick sending two fire arcs towards you." Azula countered.

"I counter that by creating an Air Dome around me dispersing the flames and then I burst my Air Dome to my surrounding knocking you to the wall again."

Azula flinched as she imagined it, "I think that would have taken me out. Nice match Aang."

Katara sighed as she dreamingly stared over Appa's saddle. "Those clouds look so soft, don't they? Like you could just jump down and you'd land in a big, soft cotton heap."

"Maybe you should give it a try." Sokka replied teasingly.

"You're hilarious." The waterbender retorted.

Aang suddenly jumped up nearly knock Azula off Appa's head. "I'll try it!" He jumped off of Appa with his glider in hand. "Yehhh!"

The three Water Tribe teens looked over Appa's side seeing Aang plunge through the clouds. A moment later Aang landed in Appa's saddle soaking wet.

"Turns out clouds are made out of water!"

Azula shook her head as she brought her attention back to where they were flying. She raised an eyebrow when she saw a patch of darkness in the middle of a forest.

"Hey, guys… I think you should look at this."

Everyone looked and was horrified at what they saw. The closer they got to the ground they were able to see that it was a forest burnt to nothingness.

"It's like a scar." Sokka observed.

When Appa landed the four teens got out of the saddle and sadly looked at the barren landscape. All there hearts sank feeling the sadness and emptiness of the earth.

"Listen, it's so quiet. There's no life anywhere." Sokka pointed out.

Both Sokka and Azula crouched down to see the track marks that were left in the ashes.

"Fire Nation!" Sokka stood up in anger. "Those evil savages make me sick! They have no respect for-"

"Shh!" Katara interrupted.

Sokka brought he voice down to a whisper. "What? I'm not allowed to be angry?"

Azula took a deep breath as she imagined what the Fire Nation soldiers did to this forest. She didn't have trouble believing that they would do something like this, but she didn't agree with them. The firebender picked up a hand full of the ash as it seeped through her fingers. She felt Katara walk up to her.

"How's Aang doing?" Azula asked.

"He's really depressed because he doesn't think he can be the Avatar." Katara knelt down and placed her arms around Azula's neck.

"Aang will find a way. He's done it many times before." Azula said confidently. "I hate this. I hate seeing the Fire Nation destroying all the innocence. Seeing this makes me hate myself. Makes me hate knowing I'm a firebender." She clenched her fist causing the rest of the ashes to fall out her hand.

The two benders stood up and kept staring at the burnt forest. Katara kept holding on Azula for comfort.

"It looked like two or three Fire Nation soldiers destroyed the forest. However, it takes just one small flame to create this much damage." Azula produced a small flame from her palm.

Katara hugged the firebender as she looked to the ground. As she looked at the ground she noticed several bumps in the ashes.

"Hey, lift your foot." Katara got down on her knees and dug through the ashes to find acorns. She held it up to Azula as she stood up.

"Acorns?"

"Yes, and there seems to be a lot of them. Azula, do you know what this means?" Katara asked excitedly.

"More nuts for dinner?" Remembering the whole problem of almost having to eat nuts for dinner before they met Haru.

"No." She walked over to Aang. "Hey Aang, are you ready to be cheered up?"

"No."

Katara threw an acorn towards the airbender's head with a big whack.

"Ow! Hey, how was that cheering me up?" Aang asked as he picked up the acorn and rubbed the side of his head.

Sokka laughed. "Cheered me up." Katara threw another acorn only this time harder towards Sokka's head. "Ow! Yeah, I probably deserved that."

"One of these days Sokka you'll learn." Azula commented as she sat next to him.

"Aang, these acorns are everywhere. That means the forest will grow back. Every one of these will be a tall oak tree someday, and all the birds and animals that lived here will come back." Katara explained as she placed an acorn in the young boy's hand.

Suddenly they heard a branch snap. The four immediately got into a fighting stance ready to defend themselves. They saw an old man in green with a walking stick approach them.

"Hey, who are you?" Sokka asked.

"When I saw the flying bison, I thought it was impossible, but those markings… Are you the Avatar child?" The old man asked.

Aang looked towards his friends. They all nodded in approval. Aang turned towards the man and nodded to him as well.

"My village desperately needs your help."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

After they had followed the old man to their village they were informed about the Hei-Bai spirit and how Aang was the great bridge between the human world and the spirit world. Azula, Sokka, and Katara watched Aang from inside the building with the other villagers as Aang stood outside waiting for Hei-Bai.

"Hello? Spirit, can you hear me?" Aang asked into the forest. "This is the Avatar speaking. I'm here to try to help stuff."

"This isn't right. We can't sit here and cower while Aang waits for some monster to show up."

The old man walked up to them by the window. "If anyone can save us, he can."

"He still shouldn't have to face this alone." Sokka argued.

As the sunset the world darkened with Aang standing by himself near the gates. "The sun has set. Where are you, Hei-Bai?" Aang shouted. "Well, spirit, uh, I hereby ask you to please leave this village in peace!"

He twirled his staff and planted it into the ground. When nothing happened Aang eased. "Okay. Well, I guess that's settled then." He began to walk back to the village.

The three Water Tribe teens looked closer to see a giant spirit walk out of the woods. The spirit was black and white, as big as a house, and had six legs.

"Aang, behind you!" Azula shouted.

Aang turned around to come face to face with Hei Bai. "You must be the Hei-Bai spirit." He bowed. "My name is –"

Hei Bai blasted a blue energy from his mouth, but Aang didn't move. The giant spirit sat on its hind-legs and blasted another blue energy before charging towards the village ignoring Aang.

The airbender sprinted towards the spirit trying to get its attention. "My name is Aang! I'm the Avatar and I would like to help! Hey, wait up!"

It was terrible seeing Aang trying so hard but failing as Hei-Bai continued to destroy the village. Hei-Bai kept vanishing and reappearing in a blink of an eye at a new location and destroying it.

"The Avatar's methods are…" The two teens and the village chief ducked as debris from a near by building hit the window. "… Unusual."

Azula glared at the chief. "Why don't you try it? He's doing his best!"

"It doesn't seem to be too interested in what he's saying. Maybe we should go help him?" Sokka asked Azula and Katara.

"No, only the Avatar stands a chance against the Hei-Bai." The old man replied.

"Says who?" Azula argued.

"Azula, calm down. Aang will figure out the right thing to do." Katara said trying to calm the firebender.

"Excuse me, would you please turn around? I command you to turn around now!" Aang shouted.

The firebender smacked her forehead. "Never command a spirit!"

Hei-Bai turned around and swatted Aang to the nearest roof. He slid off and collapsed on the ground.

"That's it! He needs help!" Sokka ran out of the meeting hall towards Aang and Hei-Bai.

"Sokka wait!" Katara shouted.

Azula tried running after him, but was stopped by the old man.

"It's not safe!"

"Sokka!" Katara shouted

Azula brought her attention back to the fight she saw Hei-bai grab Sokka and run out of the village.

"Sokka!" Azula and Katara ran out of the meeting hall to the village gates. Aang kept gliding through the forest after Sokka.

"Aang, please bring him back." Katara whispered.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Two hours had gone by and still no Aang or Sokka. Katara hadn't moved from her place by the village gates.

"Hey." Azula said casually.

"Hey."

"Katara, come inside. You can catch a cold staying out here." Azula suggested.

"Not unless I have a firebender to keep me warm."

Azula blushed. "Are you sure that's all you want?"

The waterbender nodded. Azula sighed and slid down against the gatepost till she was sitting on the ground. She opened her arms for Katara to sit between the firebender and absorb the body heat. Once Katara was seated in between Azula, she snuggled up to the firebender causing Azula to blush even harder.

"Thanks Azula." Katara mumbled.

"You're welcome." She placed her head on top of the waterbender's while embracing her.

Katara had her ear pressed against Azula's heart. The steady beating of the firebender's heart brought comfort to the waterbender even though she was worried about her brother and Aang. She felt the firebender's embrace loosen. Katara looked up to see Azula had fallen asleep.

"Aang, come back soon." Katara whispered into the forest.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

The firebender took a deep breath and awoke when the sun rose above the horizon. It took her a second to remember that Katara had snuggled up against her last night. She couldn't help but blush faintly. When she looked down she noticed that Katara had the old man's shawl wrapped around them.

"Morning." Katara mumbled into Azula's chest.

"Morning. Did they come back?"

"Not yet. The old man came by a few minutes ago."

"So I see." Azula said quietly.

The two benders continued to sit by the village gates with their eyes closed. They were both thinking of what they could possibly do next. They needed to find Sokka and Aang.

A familiar grunt was heard as a wet nose was pressed up against the side of their faces.

"It's ok, Appa. I'm sure they're on their way back. I bet they even found you a bunch of moon peaches for a treat." Katara comforted the sky bison. "I'm going to take Appa and go look for them."

"I'll go with you." Azula said as the two stood up.

"No. Someone should stay here in case they come back."

"Okay… but be careful."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Later that night Aang successfully comforted Hei-Bai when he realized that Hei-Bai was the spirit of the forest. Sokka and the other villagers had returned safely. The villagers were helping the group with supplies and money for their journey.

"The Fire Nation. Of all the places, why couldn't Avatar Roku talk to Aang from a temple that we are welcomed in!" Sokka asked.

"Because Avatar Roku was an Avatar from the Fire Nation. From what Aang said he has a temple dedicated to him." Azula pointed out. She looked out the window seeing Aang trying to sneak out of the village. "Hey, he's trying to leave without us."

"So get your big butt off the ground and let's go!" Aang shouted. Aang continued to pull on the reins as the entire village walked out of the meeting hall.

"I think his big butt is trying to tell you something." Sokka commented.

Katara walked up and begged. "Please don't go, Aang. The world can't afford to lose you to the Fire Nation. Neither can I."

"But I have to talk to Avatar Roku to find out what my vision means." Aang urged. "I need to get to the Fire Temple before the sunsets on the Solstice. That's today."

Aang jumped on Appa's back. The three Water Tribe teens jumped in front of the sky bison.

"We're not letting you go to the Fire Nation, Aang." Katara declared.

"At least not without your friends. We've got your back." Sokka finished.

Once everyone was ready to go the village chief handed Aang a parcel. "It's a long journey to the Crescent Island. You'll have to fly fast to have any chance of making it before sundown. Good luck."

"Thank you, for your-" Aang was cut off.

"Go!"

Appa quickly flew off leaving the village behind in a matter of minutes.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Azula took a deep breath. "The sun is rising. The race against the sun begins."

"Aang, can't Appa fly any faster?" Sokka asked as sun began rising above the horizon.

"Yeah, but there's one problem."

"A blockade." Azula finished.

There was a double line of Fire Nation ships stretching beyond the horizons.

"If we fly north we can go around the Fire Nation ships and avoid the blockade. It's the only way."

"Aang, there's no time." Azula argued. "This is the halfway point and it's the Solstice! Meaning the shortest day of the year."

"Argh! This is exactly why I didn't want you to come. It's too dangerous."

"And that's exactly why we're here." Katara responded.

Sokka pointed towards the blockade. "Let's run this blockade!"

"Appa, yip yip!"

The sky bison began to fly faster towards the blockade. The closer they got fireballs were being launched at them. They all screamed. Appa weaved left and right avoiding the fireballs as best as he could. Then one fireball exploded just barely missing Appa. There were fireball grazes on his side. Azula quickly absorbed the heat of the fire dispersing them.

"Appa! Are you okay?" Aang asked.

Appa groaned affirmatively. He flew even faster towards the blockade.

Multiple fireballs kept flying towards them. Appa made the attempt of hiding in the clouds, but that made things worse. They couldn't see where the fireballs were coming from. Two fireballs collided exploding in Appa's face. Appa reared up trying to avoid the combustion bucking Sokka out of the saddle.

Azula had just barely grabbed hold of the warrior's arm. Sokka was dangling outside the saddle.

"Aang keep going I've got him!" Azula shouted to the airbender.

Aang lowered them down to sea level as they got closer and closer to the ship. As Azula pulled Sokka back into the saddle a fireball was coming straight towards them. Aang leaped from Appa's head kicking a burst of air directly to the center of the fireball creating an opening through the center when it burst into debris.

The sky bison flew through the debris' center. Aang was thrown backwards by the wind onto Appa's head. Sokka and Katara grabbed Aang by the shoulders to steady him. Appa flew past the blockade passing a ship holding a certain Fire Nation Naval Commander.

Azula glared at Zhao as they flew by the blockade. It felt like several minutes as the Commander and female warrior locked their despiteful glares onto one another, but were only mere seconds.

"We made it!" Aang cheered.

Sokka and Katara were shocked. "We made it into the Fire Nation. Great." Sokka said in disbelief.

"We're going to need to be careful at the temple. I think we're going to be seeing Zhao again."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Once the door was completely shut all three of them began running away from the entrance. As they ran past the throne room, Azula grabbed hold of Lu Ten's hand causing him to stop running.

"What is it Azula?"

"Lu, there's a secret door in Grandpa's throne room!" Azula exclaimed.

"What? Are you sure?" Lu Ten knelt down to his cousin's height.

"Yes, Zuzu and I accidently found it when we were hiding from Grandpa. We were playing there and didn't want to get in trouble. It leads just outside the palace gates!"

Still holding Lu Ten's hand, all three of them ran into the Fire Lord's throne room. Once they entered Azula let go of her cousin's hand and ran to the wall below the throne.

"See the fire symbol Lu. All you have to do is fire bend and the secret door opens." Azula said proudly.

"Oh really that's great!" Lu Ten said happily.

Azula quickly took a firebending stance and fired a fireball at the Fire Nation insignia. After a few seconds there was a shift and the secret door exposed itself.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Azula gripped her head and groaned a little as Shyu opened the secret door that was disguised as a floor outside of the sanctuary doors.

"Are you okay?" Katara asked as she placed a hand on Azula's shoulder.

"Yeah. Just had a small flashback that's all."

Shyu walked up the last steps into the temple followed by the four teens.

"NO!" Shyu exclaimed.

"Shyu, what's wrong?" Aang asked.

"The sanctuary doors, they're closed."

"Can't we just firebend them open?" Azula asked. "Like you did with that other door?"

"No. Only a fully realized Avatar is powerful enough to open these doors alone. Otherwise the Sages must open the doors together with five simultaneous fire blasts."

"Five fire blasts, huh?" Sokka looked up at the lantern above him. "I think I can help you out."

Sokka had taken the lantern down and began making a bomb with them. "This is a little trick I picked up from my father. I seal the lamp oil inside an animal skin casing, Shyu or Azula lights the oil soaked twine and tada!" He held the last bomb out. "Fake firebending!"

"You've really outdone yourself this time, Sokka." Katara praised.

Shyu gave a big smile. "This might actually work."

Azula and Sokka placed the bombs into the mouths of the lions. Before running behind one of the pillars where everyone else was.

"The Sages will hear the explosions, so as soon as they go off, you rush in.

"Are you ready?" Katara asked.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Aang had just barely made it inside the sanctuary. When the doors became fully shut there was a blast of bright light encasing the doors before fading. Two of the sages had the three Water Tribe teens tied up against one of the columns.

Shyu was on his knees facing the Great Sage. "Shyu, why did you help the Avatar?"

"Because it was once the Sages' duty. It is still our duty."

The Great Sage was furious at Shyu's answer. Suddenly they all heard clapping coming from one of the main stairway. Azula looked over and saw Zhao and his soldiers.

"What a moving and heartfelt performance. I'm certain the Fire Lord will understand when you explain why you betrayed him." Zhao said smugly.

"You're Fire Lord is a traitor himself! He betrayed the real Fire Lord and murder the real Royal Family!" Azula shouted.

Zhao turned his attention to Azula. "Ah, yes, there is also the matter of having to deal with you. Two traitors and the Avatar, in one day, the Fire Lord will indeed be pleased."

"You're too late, Zhao. Aang is already inside and the doors are sealed." Azula retorted.

"No matter. Sooner or later, he has to come out."

Azula clenched her teeth and glared at the Commander.

Zhao and his soldiers took a fighting stance in front of the doors. "When those doors open, unleash all your firebending power."

"How's Aang going to make it out of this?" Katara asked.

"How're we going to make it out of this?" Sokka asked back.

Another blinding light blasted from the sanctuary doors. When the light faded the door began to fully open. Two large glowing eyes were visible through the dark sanctuary.

"Ready." Zhao ordered his troops.

"No! Aang!" Katara shouted.

"Fire!"

Zhao and his soldiers all fired a fire blast into the sanctuary. However, the blasts were held only at the doors being controlled by gigantic ball of swirling fire. The fireball slowly began to open. In the center of the ball was not Aang, but Avatar Roku.

The Sage, Zhao, and Azula's mouths hung open in awe and fear.

"Avatar Roku." Azula whispered.

Roku drew a fireball and shot it out into the temple knocking Zhao and his soldiers to the floor. The fireball flew past the Water Tribe teens and Shyu melting the chains without hurting them. The former Fire Nation Avatar looked towards the Fire Sages. They ran for their lives trying to escape from Roku's wrath.

"Avatar Roku is going to destroy the temple! We have to get out of here!" Shyu urged.

"Not without Aang! Wait, where's Azula?" Katara and Sokka looked around and saw Azula making her way towards Avatar Roku.

"What is she doing?" Sokka asked.

The two Water Tribe teens crouched behind a column for protection. Azula was just barely got out of the way when Roku sliced the floor and firebended the lava to shoot up towards the ceiling.

"Aang! Aang, can you hear me?" Azula yelled towards Roku.

Roku lowered his arms and took a deep breath. He looked over at Azula causing her to freeze in her place. Aang's predecessor reached out and placed his hand on top of Azula's head.

Azula felt hypnotized and closed her eyes. When she opened them she was not in the Fire Nation Temple but on top of a mountain range facing Avatar Roku.

"I see. I knew you looked familiar. You look very much like my wife, Ta Min. It is nice to meet you, my great-granddaughter, Azula." Roku spoke gently.

Before the firebender could say anything a gust of wind blew at her causing her to close her eyes. When she opened her eyes once more Avatar Roku was disappearing by smoke that was swirling until it dissipated showing Aang. Azula caught Aang with Sokka and Katara quickly running up to them.

"We got your back." Sokka grabbed hold of Aang's side that Azula wasn't on.

Aang looked up at his friends tiredly. "Thanks. Where's Shyu?"

"I don't know." Katara replied quickly.

They walked over to the stairs to see lava rising. There was no escape for them. The only way out was through the broken wall. When they approached the edge they saw the temple being devoured by the volcano. A familiar groan was heard as Appa and Momo came flying towards them.

The four teens slide down one of the peaks to the temple and into Appa's saddle. Appa managed to fly them away before the temple collapsed on them. They all looked back towards the temple to finally see it disappear into the volcano. All of them knew they survived this time, but knew they would not be lucky twice.

Night had fallen before anyone spoke. Aang was the first to speak and he was panicking.

"There's a comet coming this summer. It's going to give the Fire Nation power that'll make them unstoppable!" Aang panicked.

Everyone was quietly as the information sunk in.

"Is Fire Lord Akuzo planning on using the comet's power?" Azula asked as she looked out towards the horizon.

"Yes! Roku said they're planning on using the comet to finish the war."

"It's the same comet that Fire Lord Sozin used to wipe out the Air Nomads isn't it?" Azula looked at Aang with a hard glare.

"Yes."

"Fire Lord Akuzo is going to use the comet to wipe out either the Earth Kingdom or the Water Tribe. While it'll make sense for him to go after the Water Tribe, he will most likely use the comet's power and wipe out the Earth Kingdom." Azula deducted.

"What makes you say that?" Sokka asked. "We're defenseless if the Fire Nation has this unimaginable power. They can easily take the Water Tribe out."

"That's exactly why I think they're going for the Earth Kingdom. If the Fire Nation is going to be unbeatable they might as well wipe out the current strongest nation. The Earth Kingdom. If the Earth Kingdom falls, the Water Tribes doesn't have a chance."

Everyone was quiet for the rest of the flight. Aang and Sokka fell asleep in Appa's saddle while Azula stayed awake and made sure Appa didn't fall asleep in mid-flight. Her mind wondered back to what Avatar Roku told her.

"Hey, what's on your mind?" Katara asked. Katara climbed out of the saddle and onto Appa's head next to Azula. Azula gripped Appa's reins tighter and continued starring out into the horizon. "Azula, calm down."

The waterbender placed her hands over the firebender's and slowly pried the reins out of Azula's hands. Azula leaned back with a big sigh and looked at her hands deep in thought.

"Avatar Roku… is my great-grandfather."

Katara looked over at her friend. Azula looked back.

"He told me at the temple before Aang gained control of his body again. Now I know why I felt a connection to him at the temple. It also explains the connection I felt with Aang too." Azula looked out to the horizon again. "Avatar Roku is inside me and in Aang. Heh, who'd have thought that I'd be spiritually related Aang."

"I wonder if it was meant to be."

"What was meant to be?"

"Well, Aang is looking forward to you being his firebending master. With your spiritual and biological connection to Avatar Roku, he's essentially going back to his previous life to teach him." Katara explained.

"I guess…" Azula trailed off. "The problem is I'm not a master firebender. I had to remember how to firebend and figure out the motions to do what I'm doing now. And unless we can find a firebending master who is not allied with the Fire Nation, we're screwed."

The waterbender smiled at the firebender. "I think it's because of Avatar Roku that you learned how to firebend again. He might have subconsciously taught you how."

Azula pondered at the thought for a while. "Maybe."

"Hei-Bai was kind of cute. And fluffy." Katara laughed when she saw Azula blush irritably and trying hard not to smile.