Ugh sorry guys I suck :/ This shoulda been up days ago, but I kept going back and revising, and yeah... This chapter is shorter than the last couple because I had to split in two.

Thanks for the reviews :3

Generator X: yep, Azula and Aang have been through similar trials with being removed from time, and eventually they will talk, but not yet. Other people need to get their heart to hearts out of the way first xD

Arcus Iris- Huh...yeah I didn't know that. Well I hope they really do fine tune this cure for cancer. Lots of people need it.

Trich-thanks xD

SleepWerewolf- Here's a new one. :3

Everyone read and Enjoy.

Lady Grey stared at the documents cluttering her desk. A small frown was etched upon her face beneath the mask. She was surveying one of the reports that had been thrown on her desk a few hours ago. Every month or so, one of her informants delivered a comprehensive report-so she was constantly being updated with current news about the Fire Nation. She had informants in the other two Nations as well but the Fire Nation was the one that needed to be watched carefully.

This document was exactly why.

One of the spies under the General's command had left a curt assessment of the area he was in. Since Azula's impromptu "release" the Firelord had tripled his military base. Thousands of regulators flooded the area, and he'd sent Iroh out like a bloodhound to track Azula's scent. So far the Dragon of the West had been unsuccessful, but he was like a rock tumbling down a cliff-he seemed miniscule, and harmless until he gained enough momentum to crush someone. If they weren't very careful, Safe Haven would no longer be safe.

Zuko would guarantee that. The Fire monarch was obsessed with order, and his perfect utopia. Safe Haven wouldn't fit into that little box, because it represented everything Zuko was trying to destroy: free will, violence and its consequences, He'd focused the majority of the Fire Nation's funds towards financing his own selfish war, and in doing so drained his country dry. There was no money left in the treasury for anything-no food, no trade, no science, or technology. Nothing

According to this report, in the very near future the Fire Nation was going to be bankrupt.

Zuko's rule was slowly eroding his country's resources. Food was scarce as was water. The Fire Nation was on the eve of the worst famine in its history and Zuko was focusing all of his energy on Azula, and capturing her.

Lady Grey threw the paper down in disgust.

The Fire Nation was her home, and regardless of how mixed her feelings were about it, if Zuko wasn't stopped he was going to be solely responsible for destroying it.

Scowling, she glanced at Horatio who was reclining by her feet. "Go get the General I need to talk to her."

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In the Fire Nation...

My dear Nephew,

This is just a preemptive e letter telling you about our progress. Me and the regulators have thoroughly searched the town of Endai. We overturned every rock, and came up empty. It seems your sister is not using any of her normal tactics to disappear. I searched Endai because it's an obscure town, on the edges of the Fire Nation. Very few visit here. I think she'd be too wary to hide in plain sight. She wouldn't take the risk, but I'll be searching close to home next to be sure. I will be sure to keep you updated so you'll know if we find something.

Sincerely,

Your Uncle

Zuko closed the letter, his expression thoughtful. Where was Azula?

She'd always been adept in crafting strategies, and forging ahead. Very little could deter her, and if she didn't want to be found, he might never find her. It would be just like his sister to outwit them all. Just once, he wanted to beat her. He wanted to prove she wasn't superior and that he could protect his home from her. He had all the power at his disposal. He had the regulators. He had the throne, but it was not enough. Azula still managed to thwart him, but how?

She couldn't do it on her own.

She couldn't escape, nor could she remain hidden without help.

It was mind boggling.

He hadn't the faintest idea who could be helping her. He'd been systematically rooting out all the names on Iroh's list with little to no success. No one would willingly help her because no one could handle her intensity. No one could handle her cold demeanor, and callous attitude. Anyone that was unfortunate enough to encounter her, was rubbed the wrong way, and became convinced she was some kind of Fire Demon.

Azula had that effect on people, so where she gathered enough support to escape was beyond him The only one that he could prove was instrumental to her escape was Ty Lee-who at this very moment was outside of the Fire Nation border feeding the elements. He didn't know where else to look. Although there was one resource he'd left unfurnished. There was one avenue he hadn't investigated yet. He'd been hoping he wouldn't have to resort this in order to find Azula.

Resignedly, He stood up his crimson robes whisking against the palace marble.

He was going to go talk to his father.

Taking long leisurely steps he left the throne room, turning down the long illustrious hallway to a secondary set of chambers that led to the stairs. This would take him to the lower levels of the palace, where prisoners of a certain caliber were held. Azula had occupied a whole floor on her own, and Ozai occupied the level below her.

He had not expected to walk down this path for a long time. The last time he'd walked down these halls Azula was rotting in the prison below. Now she was gone and once again he was walking down this corridor to see another royal prisoner, but this time it wasn't his sister it was his father.

The former Firelord.

Ozai.

If no one else knew who Azula would run to, his father would. Azula had always been his favorite child, and the one who brought him the most pride-the most joy. Unlike him, Azula wasn't a disappointment. In his father's eyes he could never measure up to his sister, and he'd come to accept that. He didn't want to be Azula's equal anymore. He wasn't a boy longing for his father's attention, he was the Firelord, and he needed information to protect his kingdom.

This thought stilled his scattered mind as he descended into the lower levels of the palace.

He bypassed Azula's level not even sparing a second glance towards Maron who was helping lead an investigation in her cell. They were looking for foul play and if they found anything resembling evidence or a possible lead, they were to inform him immediately. So far, nothing had been found. He was still hopeful though. This travesty would not stand. In the end her location would be revealed.

His scarred features tightened as he entered Ozai's domain.

Unlike Azula's prison, his father's cell wasn't comprised of a suffocating stench, nor it was it contaminated by unsightly waste and grime. His cell was crisp, and reeked of a distilled soapy scent. It was cleaned recently it seemed, and still carried the fresh aroma. It was the most noteworthy thing he was aware of when entering, and as he strode past the empty cells it was the most distracting thing he noticed. He was unaccustomed to this level of the palace because he'd visited this cell frequently in the years following the war, but after the Purging he refused to come down here.

His father was happy with ignoring he existed, and affected the same mask of polite disinterest.

He didn't need his father to function.

However, he did need his help.

He blinked warily, trying to discern his father's bony figure from the shadows in the dimly lit cell. He'd come to stop in front of the bars containing Ozai, but he had yet to actually see him. His father blended into the background fairly well, because he'd grown thin and small. He didn't have a huge all encompassing presence anymore, and he hadn't move since Zuko arrived. If he didn't know any better, he would think Ozai had died.

"Father." He greeted the shadows softly, and was met with silence.

The same resilient silence he had received everytime he visited his father. Ozai refused to speak to him. His father was punishing him with his silence, and Zuko resented him for it. Ozai had spent an arduous amount of time breaking him down with words. The majority of his childhood was spent adhering to whatever his father said, and enduring the verbal landslide. Now when he needed his father to speak, and had no intentions of taking his words to heart, Ozai was refusing to talk.

That's fine, if Ozai wouldn't talk maybe he would listen.

"I don't know if you've heard, but your daughter has escaped."

Amber eyes, cold, lifeless and so like Azula's opened to stare at him. With those soulless orbs glaring at him, he felt so…small. He frowned, his lips thinning into a line, and tried to center himself. He wouldn't shrink under his father's gaze anymore. He was past that stage in his life.

Straightening, his own eyes narrowed, and he cleared his throat. "I'm going to great lengths to find her, and have had very little success." He admitted, his voice strained. He didn't like confessing his shortcomings to anyone, especially his father. Showing weakness to Ozai was like baring your throat to a wolf; both circumstances left you liable to get your larynx torn out. "I need your help."

Something flickered in the depths of those vast empty pools.

For the first time in years Ozai spoke, his voice husky and low from disuse.

"You're arrogant enough to ask me for favors while you have me chained down like a dog?..And to add insult to injury you want me to betray my own blood?"

Zuko frowned, his hands clenching into fists. Once again, Ozai's primary concern was for himself and for his precious daughter. "I'm your blood too." He replied quietly, his apathetic expression faltering. "Azula is not your only child, and I'm the one who needs your help right now. She's dangerous…and no matter where I look I can't find her." His knuckles began turning white in response to his anger. "And you never had a problem with betraying family before."

"Still going on about that are you?" The former firelord drawled, his voice flat, and his expression bored.

Zuko scowled fiercely. "You were going to kill me."

"I would have succeeded too, if that insufferable woman hadn't interfered."

"Don't talk about my mother like that." Zuko said darkly, his tone clipped.

"You and that woman deserve each other. As far as I'm concerned, I only have one child. Azula is my blood. Even if I knew where she was I wouldn't tell you." The former firelord sighed tiredly, a vexed expression on his face.

"It's always Azula. Azulon favored her both always thought she was perfect! She's only human. What makes her so much better than the rest of the world?" Zuko threw his hands up in frustration, his face flushing in anger and annoyance.

Ozai shook his head, his brows furrowing concentration as he struggled to articulate himself. This was the longest conversation he'd had in years, so talking was becoming an excursion for him. He pushed on anyways, a cruel amused smile making his lips twitch upwards. "Fool…Azulon favored no one. He treated everyone with the same measure of contempt, and my actions regarding the throne prompted him to order your death. Ursa is the only reason you still breathe today. That was my mistake…one that I should have rectified years ago. You will undoubtedly lead the fire nation to ruin, and the reason Azula appears to be so favored, is because she is the only one in this family that is not a complete and utter failure."

The muscle in Zuko's jaw tightened.

"I'm not a failure."

Ozai quirked one disbelieving brow, and when he spoke his tone was low and mocking. "Is that so? Then enlighten me- what are you Zuko—because you can't seriously call yourself a FireLord."

"I've earned my title." Zuko replied stiffly.

"No you took it, like I did." Ozai smiled humorlessly, and in a way that was all teeth. "But unlike me you've managed to lead the Fire Nation to financial ruin and famine. Congratulations son…"

Zuko winced at the obvious sarcasm, his mind whirling in confusion.

The guards must have tipped Ozai off to the Fire Nation's current state.

These were problems Zuko himself hadn't had time to analyze so he had no reply for his father. He had no way to defend his actions. He was saved from responding because at that exact moment the sound of metal boots clanking against the damp stone floor echoed in the large vacant prison room. His gaze slanted to the left, just as Maron slid to a stop in front of him. The boy was panting heavily like he had just run a race, and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.

He placed a hand on the exhausted guard's shoulder. "Breathe boy." He commanded.

Obediently, Maron took a shaky breath. "Firelord, the excavation unit has found out something of interest. It's about Azula's cell…"

Finally.

Good news.

Zuko clamped down on his expression so he didn't appear too eager.

"Well," He said impatiently, crossing his arms across his chest as he waited for an explanation.

Maron didn't appear too worried. Since Azula's escape, he'd been less sheepish and nervous. He spoke evenly, with confidence and could now look Zuko in the eye, which was something he couldn't understand. Most boys would have a hurt ego after failing miserably at their job, but not Maron. He seemed to grow from the experience, and now actually seemed a tad intimidating. Apparently the boy had been spending an unprecedented amount of time in the training hall, honing his skills so he wouldn't be so easy to incapacitate next time.

Zuko admired his drive, and when Maron placed a fist in his open palm in a customary show of respect, and dipped to bow he felt some of his ire dwindling. Swiftly the boy began to fall into an explanation. "Firelord the excavation unit was checking out Azula's cell and they finally took the time to examine her shackles. They weren't broken, and the key was still with me hidden under my armor."

Completely disregarding Ozai's presence, Zuko blinked trying to wrap his mind around Maron's words. "I…don't understand. The shackles were there and the key was with you? Those shackles are not susceptible to bending, and they weren't broken so how did they just open by themselves? Ty Lee couldn't have done this."

The guard shrugged helplessly. "It's like the metal unclasped itself."

Metal…

Moving…

Metal didn't move on its own. The idea was asinine. With that foolish notion stomped on-That left very little room for plausible ideas. Without the key, and without bending the chains should have remained intact, and Ty Lee although gifted in combat wasn't very fond of metalwork…She had to have help. A small thought began to form in the back of his mind, and Zuko paused, trying to concentrate on the elusive piece of information. He relaxed his cold expression. Metal couldn't be moved…but it could be bended. He knew that for a fact. Just before the war's end ten years ago, he'd been informed that Toph had reached the next level of Earthbending: Metalbending.

It wasn't something he'd thought about before-But in a way it made sense.

Toph disappeared five years ago during the Purging, and he'd checked the records extensively. Her name was not on the list of people to be Purged. None of the regulators disposed of her. No one found her. She just disappeared. Katara, Sokka, Aang, and himself-They all assumed something happened to her. Maybe something did. Maybe she chose to join the other side, and that's why they hadn't seen her in years-she was too ashamed to show her face because she was a traitor. Although why the blind earthbender would choose to help his sister was a mystery. The devastation Azula spread around eclipsed any decent or tolerable qualities she might have. Why would Toph be in league with Ty Lee? Perhaps it was a poor lapse in judgment for her?

Either that or someone else had learned how to metalbend.

It was something to consider. Toph wasn't the only talented earthbender in the world. However-The likelihood of it being someone else was small because even the greatest earthbenders had to train extensively to reach that level of skill. Metalbending fell into the same category as bending lightning. Anyone could potentially learn how to do it, but very few had the drive or inclination.

As far as he knew Toph was the only one that had managed to accomplish such a feat.

The shackles in Azula cell would have been a small matter for her.

Perhaps he had made a mistake in focusing all his attention on Azula, perhaps he should have been expanding his search to look for Toph as well.

With renewed purpose he strode past a startled looking Maron. "I need to go see the Southern Tribe Liasion-Katara. Tell no one of your discovery. Station someone outside this door when you leave." He demanded, leaving the room. Unbeknownst to him, cool amber eyes followed his retreating back, mentally calculating everything that had just happened a few minutes ago.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Azula grunted as the massive beast carrying her lurched to the side to avoid a cart passing by. Her body jolted at the unexpected motion, and she withheld a wince, stifling a pained cry. Sudden moves didn't agree with her. Her body was still battered from the last few weeks, and crippled from the last ten years. Scaling the mongoose dragon's bulk to settle in the saddle was a huge debacle. Actually riding the beast was something else altogether.

The hulking creature didn't absorb the shock that came with each step, instead it rocked her from side to side, rattling her abused limbs, and making her grit her teeth. These lizard hybrids were bred in the Fire Nation, and she used to ride one regularly. Once upon a time she used to be able to handle their speed with ease, but not anymore.

Even though she rode a mongoose dragon just like this while she was pursuing the Avatar, at the present she still struggled to remain upright, and steer. She could barely handle a mount in her condition.

However, considering the alternative a mongoose dragon suited her just fine.

Toph had threatened to carry her if she didn't ride one of these accursed beasts.

Azula had chosen the lesser of the two evils.

She wouldn't be able to stomach the indignity of it all if she was forced to hang limply off Toph's shoulders, like a sack of potatoes. The blind woman had unceremoniously dragged her out of bed this morning, and told her they needed to go visit a few places in the market so she could gather supplies. Toph needed to replace the things Azula had destroyed in her old room, and the earthbender also needed to gather things that Azula might need to recover: splints, bandages, ointment, herbs, and other necessities. She also mentioned something about restocking the pantry because they were running low on food.

Azula wasn't sure why she was forced to go along.

She couldn't carry anything.

Moving was still equivalent to falling off a cliff. It produced the same dizzy, nauseous feeling, and the same muscle shattering result. Frankly- She wasn't up to meandering around Safe Haven. The idea of being out in public left a sour taste in her mouth. She wasn't overly fond of people, in this Agni forsaken wasteland, that ingrained characteristic was even more true.

That being said-She wasn't looking forward to encountering more refugees, some who might be more familiar than others. She had no lack of enemies, and given her present condition, and emotional status she would not fair well against one.

Although somehow she doubted anyone would make an attempt on her life while Toph was present.

Her gaze sharpened as it fell on the woman's back.

The earthbender had a steadying hand on her mongoose dragon and was leading it seamlessly through the crowd. The people parted in waves to let the esteemed General by, and although she loathed to admit it, Azula was almost impressed by the control the blind woman had amassed over the inhabitants of Safe Haven. Apparently she commanded immense respect.

"General look out!"

Azula stiffened and her gaze darted around for danger. Her mongoose dragon hissed as suddenly, his face was free from the blindwoman's iron grip. Toph stepped away from the beast, and Azula watched with wary eyes as the earthbender slid fluidly into an earthbending stance. Toph's palm slid up, and she crouched low her fist slamming into the ground. In response to the blind woman's bending, a mound of earth erupted from the ground. Toph whirled, making a swift cutting motion and the mound of earth curved turning into a makeshift slide.

This all happened in an instant, and a second later a man flew through the air, colliding with Toph's spur-of-the-moment curved pillar of earth. He slid down the earth slide, a strangled cry escaping his lips as his momentum made him airborne once again. He hovered for a second in the air before gravity took hold of him and slammed him into the ground.

Everyone winced as a crack resounded through the marketplace signaling a few broken bones.

"Idiot." Toph murmured.

Azula blinked as once again, her mongoose dragon was submissively forced to follow the blind earthbender through the crowd. They stepped over the twitching man, whose face was suddenly a sickly pallor, and continued walking.

"What was that?" She frowned, less bothered by the injured man, than she was by the random act of violence she just witnessed. Who attacked him? Why? And why did everyone else appear unsurprised by his impromptu arrival and sudden defeat. Her question was swallowed by the noise of the people around her, but Toph seemed to possess keen hearing because she answered anyway.

"That was the beauty of Safe Haven. Tyrin, the guy that just flew the air is always annoying Kairo, the one that just broke his arm. Here, we don't have guards, or soldiers stationed anywhere. The people are responsible for themselves. What you just saw, was similar to the Fire Nation's Agni Kai. Someone got slighted. They fought till someone was satisfied. Now Kairo's gonna cart Tyrin off to Kei's healing den." Toph said boredly, an amused smile playing on her lips.

A place with no soldiers?

No guards?

How had this place survived without anyone enforcing it?

People could not be depended upon to keep order on their own.

They were foolish and selfish, and prone to deathly mistakes.

Especially these miscreants…

"Princess."

She looked up to find Toph's pale green orbs staring at her. As always, they were looking through her, and spoke volumes about how the earthbender was feeling. At the moment she was amused.

"What?" Azula asked, trying to contain her irritation.

"You're doing that thing again where you get quiet, and worry about nothing."

Toph chuckled, ignoring the indignant look Azula directed at her.

"Don't you have somewhere to be? Like gathering food?" She prompted icily, not finding the humor in the blind woman's words. She was most definitely not in the mood for this.

Toph took her chilly dismissal in stride, merely smirking response. "Always so touchy." The blind woman shook her head morosely, laughing quietly to herself. She loosened her grip on the mongoose dragon's nose, letting the beast have free reign for the time being. "I'll be right back. The vendor's over there." Toph said confidently walking off in the direction she indicated earlier. Azula watched her walk away with narrow eyes.

Touchy didn't' even begin to describe her.

A more apt description was that she had standards and didn't enjoy being placed in such detestable company.

Toph wandered off towards the food stand leaving her alone for the time being. She reveled in the silence, for a moment, happy to be alone. She sighed resting her hand on the mongoose dragon's scaly neck. She'd been spending an unnatural of time with the blind earthbender. They spent almost every waking moment together. Whenever Toph wasn't with Lady Grey, or occupied with Navaro, or whatever her station required of her, she was with Azula. They were unwillingly joined at the hip, and Azula was tired of constantly being around her.

She was used to isolation-it had been her staple for the last several years, caging her and steadying her.

Now she wasn't able to claim anytime for herself.

It was a daunting transition for her.

"Hey princess are you hungry?"

It seemed Toph was back, carrying an armful of bags.

"I'm fine." She sighed wearily. "I believe you fed and watered me a few hours ago." She replied airily, without any of her usual bite.

"Do I need to take you out to piddle too?"

Azula didn't dignify that with a reply, letting the earthbender snicker quietly to herself. Sometimes Toph acted like a glorified teenage boy. It astounded, and perturbed her every time. The blind woman, after letting her laughter dissolve, spent the next few minutes distributing her bags of food on top of the mongoose dragon's back behind Azula, letting most of the weight rest against the edge of the saddle.

Suddenly the earthbender paused, tilting her head to the side as if she was listening for something.

A sudden barking caught her attention. Azula craned her head, searching for the source of the noise. Her mongoose dragon was completely still, his serpentine eyes focused on the were-jaguar in front of them. Judging from the glacier look the ethereal beast was fixing them with, this were-jaguar was of a higher standing than Onteel-who was in Toph's quarters sleeping. This one must be Lady Grey's companion Horatio.

Toph knelt down next to the raven furred creature, her fingers gently caressing his head. "Horatio…what are you doing here?"

One of his two tails swayed gently in front of the earthbender, and dropped a parchment into her hand. Toph stared blankly at the document. "Why does she always do this? She knows I can't read." She murmured.

Azula smirked at the exasperated words. The earthbender was a menace even without her sight. Adding her fifth sense back into her repertoire would make her a formidable enemy indeed.

She didn't need any more of those.

The enemies she had accumulated over the years had already beaten her, and the price of loss was so costly.

She'd lost her health.

Her keen mental facilities.

Mai.

Ty Lee…

"Hey princess, do you mind?" Toph gestured at the paper, and Azula was drawn out of her reverie. She shook her head trying to clear the images her subconscious had provided her with, and her gaze fell on the parchment held out for her to take.

"You're joking." She drawled, her voice lilting in annoyance.

Toph's expression suggested otherwise.

She sighed sharply, and none too gently grabbed the parchment from the earthbender's outstretched fingers. Unfurling the edges she skimmed the note's comments mentally summarizing the message written on in front of her. "Lady Grey is summoning you. She wants to talk about the Fire Nation and Zuko."

"Oh yay…I was worried were finally going to talk about something else." Toph grumbled glancing back in the direction they'd come. "I guess we'll go back to the estate, and I'll drop you off in your room, before I go see her."

Lovely.

Azula could use the alone time…although she wondered what Toph and Lady Grey planned to discuss about the Fire Nation? And Zuko?

What was going on now?

Okay part one of chapter 11 is over. What do you all think?

And just to clarify, a something for those of you who are fuzzy on the Azulon thing-Azulon is Ozai's father (and the one Azula is named after) , and back in the day he was in the process of choosing an heir. Ozai was not his main choice. Ozai told Azulon to betray Iroh, who had just lost his son, and Azulon told him he was not betraying his own blood, and until Ozai lost a son of his own he would never understand what Iroh was going through. So, Azulon ordered him to kill his own son, which he would have done, but Ursa intervened and traded her life for Zuko's which is why she left the Fire Nation, and self exiled herself.

I thought I'd add a confrontation about that since...it's not really addressed in the series even though Azula told Zuko that their father was going to kill him.

Yunno...closure and all that xD

Next update should be in the next week or two.