The Calm before the Storm

All we see of someone at any moment is a snapshot of their life, there in riches or poverty, in joy or despair. Snapshots don't show the million decisions that led to that moment.
--Richard Bach

"Can I talk to you?" It was Azula's voice.

Toph yawned and tilted her head. "About what?"

Hesitation. "A couple of things. It won't take long," the firebender promised.

Toph scratched her neck and slowly stood up. She folded her arms and demanded in a quiet tone, "Are you dumping me, Princess?" Katara's heartbeat quickened, making Toph grimace. "Well?" She asked, aware of two pairs of eyes watching her. "Are you?"

"No."

Short and simple. Could be a good thing. Could be the end of the world. "Then what's there to talk about?" Toph asked cheerfully. "Unless of course, there's something you forgot to tell me. Like, I don't know…the Fire Lord's plans?" Her smile widened. "We're all ears, Azula."

"I know nothing of their plans, Toph." Azula replied placidly. "I want to talk about us."

"So you are going to break up with me. Why? Is it because you're secretly planning to sell all of us to the Fire Lord? Join the dark side again? Or is it because—"

"What am I to you?"

Nothing. Everything. The whole world, maybe? Toph bit her lip. Does it really matter? "You do know that we have an audience here."

"You're the one who couldn't keep her mouth shut. You're the one who had to confront me in public."

"We're the public?" Katara slapped Sokka's arm and glared at him.

Thanks, Katara. "You're the one who's being mysterious all the time." Toph snapped. She took a deep breath and shook her head. "Sorry." What do you want me to say? "I'm just…"

What do you want me to be to you? "Nervous?"

"Well, who wouldn't be?" Sokka asked. "After all, today just happens to be the Day of the Black Sun." To emphasize his point, he waved the map he was looking over only moments ago.

"Yeah, nervous." Toph took a step forward, a small smile on her lips. "You know any place we can talk? Away from prying ears?"

"Oh, stay here!" Sokka said, dropping the map and pointing to a spot near him. "I insist! We'll be really quiet. You won't even know we're here! Right, Katara?"

"A place? I have one in mind." Azula took Toph's hand and the two walked away.

"No!" Sokka dropped to the floor and raised an arm in protest. "Come back." He said, his voice muffled by the grass. "We'll close our ears! We promise."

"Close our ears…" Katara snorted and shook her head. "You've really outdone yourself this time, Brother."

He pushed himself off the ground and spat the grass out. "I didn't see you doing anything."

"That's because we didn't have to do anything. You just had to open your big mouth and make them go away with the force of your voice."

"I did?" Sokka asked, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Yes, you did. Now go back to planning. We have a long day ahead of us." Katara snapped. "Or didn't you know? Today just happens to be the Day of the Black Sun."

"Right." Sokka stroked his chin. "Do you think if we build this…machine that-that could make people fly away with the magnitude of my voice—"

"No, Brother, I think it's impossible."

There was no way of knowing what their leader was thinking, but Shen knew that he had to try. Approaching her quietly with the grace of an assassin, a skill taught to him by his predecessor, he bowed low and spoke in a neutral tone, "What seems to be on your mind today, O Great One?"

The young woman looked at him, her eyes unreadable for a moment. Suddenly, she laughed a bitter laugh and shook her head. "Come now, Shen. You know I hate that title. Why don't you just call me Ty Lee like all my friends do?"

He was flabbergasted. Surely this woman wasn't serious? She helped conquer Ba Sing Se after all—a feat which no ordinary individual could do—so why would she insist on being called by her name? Did she consider one as lowly as him a friend? He was of great help to her during her stay there but was it not the duty of the temporary head of the Dai Li to do so?

"Um…Shen? You look sort of…dazed. Is there something wrong with what I just said?"

"No!" He almost shouted but stopped himself in the nick of time. It wouldn't do for him to do such a…disgusting and vile thing as to talk back to their leader like that. "Wh-what I mean is: there's nothing wrong, Ma'am. I just thought it strange that you would insist on letting me call you by your name when I am simply a lowly servant of yours and therefore believe that I have no such right as to call you by your name."

She blinked and looked at him oddly. "So you're saying we're not friends?" She asked, sounding a bit hurt.

"No! I-I…just think that it's strange. After all, you're my master! And I have to obey you. And-and you're so great—the way you defeated Ba Sing Se and all—that I thought I wasn't good enough to be your friend." He argued and cursed himself mentally. Long Feng would laugh at him now if the man could see him. He might have been a traitor—along with that good-for-nothing Joo Dee—but he was still good in what he did. If Long Feng still commanded the Dai Li, Shen knew that Long Feng wouldn't make a mess of things just like he did.

Shen had been given the title of Head of the Dai Li after helping Ty Lee stop Long Feng from turning Ba Sing Se against her. It was wrong—siding with a firebender like that—but Ty Lee was better than having Long Feng back in control. The man was a tyrant and would do anything in his power to restore the perfect utopia he had once created.

Currently, Shen was having a hard time controlling the Dai Li. Even though it was evident that he had earned the faith of their leader, it was yet to be seen that his fellow agents actually trusted him. He felt that the reason to this was because of his inferiority complex; he was taught to follow orders—not to give them, and it was pretty obvious that he was bumbling fool whenever he talked to someone who was superior in his eyes.

"You know, you're really spacing out on me, Shen." Ty Lee said. "Maybe I should be the one asking you what's on your mind."

A small smile appeared on his lips. "I'm sorry, Ma'am. I was just taking a walk down Memory Lane; it isn't really important."

She shrugged. "If you say so, Shen." Turning her attention towards the large window overlooking most of Ba Sing Se, she mused out loud, "I wonder what Azula is doing now."

"She's probably conquering territories as we speak," Shen quipped. Azula was the one who brought about the fall of Ba Sing Se and he felt a sort of pride at the thought of serving such a grand and powerful woman. He had also heard of the tales Ty Lee would tell about the Fire Princess and how majestic the woman was. He remembered that time when Azula was talking to her Dai Li agents. She had managed to strike fear in the hearts of grown men even though they were all much much taller than her. Now there's a woman you could really follow. He thought admirably. Not that I think Ty Lee isn't doing her job properly… He added quickly and realized that he had called the Great One by her name.

She shook her head. "I don't think so; she's probably doing something stupid."

"Something stupid?" Shen asked, confused.

"Yeah. She had an odd look on her face before she left."

"Oh." Shen frowned. Was that even possible? Could someone as great and as perfect as the Fire Princess do something stupid?

"Shen?" Ty Lee said, waving a hand in front of Shen's face.

The Dai Li agent blinked and looked at her questioningly. "Yes, Miss Ty Lee?"

"I—" Ty Lee paused as a small smile formed on her face. He still insists on being formal with me. She thought. Well at least it's not somewhere along the lines of Almighty Ruler or Your Most Honorable Majesty. "I need you to assemble the Dai Li agents."

"Might I inquire why?" Shen asked.

"Don't you see?" Ty Lee turned to look outside the window once more. "There's a war coming and we have to choose a side."

Azula was kneeling on the ground; her arms were around Toph's waist and her face buried against the girl's shoulder. Her back was arched and stiff, her breathing slow and rhythmic.

"Azula…"

"I just need to know."

Toph closed her eyes and gulped, forcing back the overwhelming emotions which tried to take over. They were standing side-by-side, staring towards the horizon—or in the case of Toph, copying Azula—when the firebender had suddenly grabbed her in a fierce hug asking Toph the question which the young bender had futilely avoided.

"What am I to you?"

"What does it matter to you? Why do you need to know?" She asked, desperate to turn the topic around.

Azula's grip on her tightened. Seconds which felt like years passed agonizingly by, making Toph's stomach churn in nervous anticipation. Finally, the princess spoke, her voice low, "Because of a lot of things. Because…because if something happens—something I can't control—I don't want to make the wrong decision and hurt you."

"I don't…I don't get it." The younger girl said, frowning. "Why does it sound like you're about to say good bye to me or something?"

Azula pulled away and looked directly at Toph's eyes. She knew the girl could not see her, but she still looked at those light green eyes, a pained expression on her face. "That's because I am—in a way. Listen, I'm going to the Firelord's palace now. And yes…I have a means of going there."

"Stop doing that!" Sokka shouted and moved into a standing position; the maps which were on his lap a few moments ago, had fallen to the ground in disarray. "Stop acting so—so formal with me."

"Whatever you say, Brother."

"See? This is what I mean. I just asked you one question—one question!—and you answer me like I'm some—some servant or something."

Katara looked up at him calmly. "You're not a servant, Brother. If you were, I would have you do all sorts of menial tasks like—"

"You're mocking me!" Sokka grabbed his sister by her shoulders and screamed, "Who are you and what have you done with my sweet little sister?!"

"Ummm…guys?"

"Don't tell me you've been possessed. Maybe Aang can talk the spirit out of you. Where is he anyway? Still haven't woken up yet? That guy sure is a heavy sleeper—"

"Sokka!"

"Oh," Sokka let go of Katara and straightened, a sheepish smile on his face. "Eh…sorry I woke you up? Please don't go Avatar State on me!" He cried out in fear and knelt to the ground, waving his arms about like some idiot.

Aang scratched his head and pulled Sokka to his feet. "First of all, I'm not…that angry with you that I'd go into the Avatar State. Besides, it's not like I could, even if I wanted to. Second—"

"Wait," Katara said, interrupting Aang, her voice filled with concern. "What do you mean by that? Has something gone wrong?"

"And then she goes back to normal!" Sokka threw his arms up in disgust and fell to the ground before crossing his arms like a small child denied of his fun. "Really what has the world gotten into these days?" Suddenly jumping off the ground, he pounced at Aang's legs and looked up at the Avatar. "What did you mean by that?" He asked, his own face marred with worry.

Aang took a deep breath before he spoke, "When Azula shot me with lightning, my seventh chakra was locked, cutting my connection to all the cosmic energy in the universe."

Sokka pushed his jaw, trying to close his mouth which had flopped open. Failing to do so, he slapped his forehead and groaned, before reaching for a map on the ground and hiding his head underneath it.

"If you knew this then why did you accept her?" Katara said angrily. "If you knew…"

"She's changed," Aang said and looked up at Katara's eyes pleadingly. "Can't we just forget it ever happened?"

"Forget what ever happened?"

They all turned and froze. Toph was standing in front of them.

Sokka dropped the map and raised a finger as he said, "Well you see…" He looked at Aang and pointed his finger at the young Avatar. "You explain."

"I'm just explaining to them why I can't go into the Avatar State and how Azula has nothing to do with it!" He said rather quickly and winced.

"She doesn't?" Sokka asked. "But I thought—" He let out a yell as he fell to ground, a strong gust of wind being the cause of his sudden…collapse.

"Where is Azula, anyway?" Katara said, effectively changing the topic.

"She's going to the Firelord's Palace." Toph said, a neutral expression on her face.

"What?!" Sokka jumped to his feet and waved his finger around. "Why didn't you stop her? Why-why didn't you tell us sooner?!" He sputtered.

"Because if I did then you would have tried to stop her?" Toph asked. She sat on a rock and folded her arms. "Besides, it's not like she's going to betray us or anything."

"But-but you just accused her of betraying us a while ago." Sokka complained. "And don't you think it suspicious of her to go to the palace first and not tell the rest of us?!"

"I was just trying to annoy her." The blind bender said offhandedly.

"That doesn't exactly answer my question," Sokka grumbled and crossed his own arms, his chin jutting out, a pout on his face.

"I don't think it suspicious of her to go to the palace."

After a few seconds of unbearable silence, Sokka broke it. "Well? Aren't you going to tell us why you don't think it suspicious of her to go to the palace?"

"Alright. I don't think it—"

"And stop saying the whole sentence again! It's only adding to the suspense of things," Sokka demanded.

"By cutting her off, you're also adding to the suspense." Katara pointed out as she examined her fingernails.

Toph rolled her eyes and sighed. By pointing that out, you are also adding to the suspense. She thought. And I'm not really helping either. "Because she doesn't want to complicate things by staying here. We all know that she is a strained topic among the others, especially the earthbenders. Remember Ba Sing Se? Remember how she brought it down? It's going to take a lot of time to convince them that she's on our side; time that we don't have."

Aang nodded, "She does have a point. Well, Sokka? What do you have to say?"

Sokka lifted his arms in defeat. "I'm sorry that I doubted you and your girl—I mean, Azula." Making a face, he asked, "Happy now?"

"Ecstatic." Toph growled.

"Oh great. I just had a bad mental image there."

Zuko was kneeling on the floor, his palms rested on his knees, and his gaze on the picture of his mother, Ursa.

Zuko, regardless of whatever happens between us, know that I will always be there for you. We're siblings after all…and siblings look out for each other, don't you agree?

Remembering Azula's parting words before she left for Ba Sing Se, Zuko sighed and lowered his head, his shoulders hunched. "Will you still be there for me even when you find out that I have betrayed Father?" He asked, his voice quivering.

He knew that Azula had always been a pain. She was ruthless and cruel…and the things she had done when she was younger had left a permanent scar in Zuko's mind. The girl she had blinded when they were much younger played through his mind, making him shudder. He couldn't do anything; couldn't stop his sister from…

He heaved a sigh and stood up. From becoming a monster. It was true, and he knew it; the words Azula said on that night during that fight they had on the shores of Ember Island echoed through his mind.

"My own mother…thought I was a monster."

"Regardless of that…she still loved you," Zuko murmured. Sighing, he brought the picture frame face-down. "She loved both of us."

The fog rolled along the horizon, catching Aang's interest. "Hey, Katara, do you think this fog is going to delay the invasion?"

Katara offered Sokka some tea before standing up. "I don't know, Aang. Sokka, what do you think?"

Sokka took a sip of the tea and grimaced. "It's too hot, that's what I'm thinking," he grumbled to himself. Katara cleared her throat. Sokka grinned sheepishly. Standing up as well, he narrowed his eyes and stared at the fog. "Hey! I think that is the invasion."

No. No. That wasn't true. Zuko turned away and looked up at the ceiling, his face contorted in a frown. If she did, then she wouldn't have left; wouldn't have disappeared without a trace…and without an explanation. "Well there's no point in dwelling in the past," he said. Closing his eyes, he murmured, "Maybe I should just have followed you, Azula."

Azula had gone to Ba Sing Se to avoid the upcoming onslaught led by Katara and her brother. It was common knowledge nowadays with the upper nobles—the eclipse—and everyone was expecting them to use it as an opportunity to attack. Azula had heard of a rebellion stirring in Ba Sing Se and had departed a few weeks ago with Ty Lee in tow. The Firelord was enraged, to say the least; he disapproved of Azula's decision and had almost labeled her a traitor if it were not for his councilors who had managed to convince him that what she was doing was for everyone's interests. After all, Ba Sing Se was a great asset and it wouldn't do to have it fall in the hands of an insurgent.

"Father." His voice sounded hollow. The word…it just didn't feel right anymore. In his mind's eye, he saw Iroh's pathetic form, lying on the floor like a rag doll without its master. His chest ached. He touched it lightly with his hand and shivered. "Uncle has been more of a father to me than you would ever be, Ozai." Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes and grabbed a piece of parchment and his writing kit. "Which is why I'm going to bust him out and join the Avatar."

"Suki!"

"Aang! Katara! Toph! Sokka!" Suki, dressed in a simple green dress, walked down the plank, her face radiating with happiness. "It's been so long."

"It has been," Sokka said and grinned. He walked towards her, his arms wide open.

"You look rather handsome in that uniform, soldier," Suki said, giggling.

Sokka dropped his arms. The smile on his face had vanished. "And you as beautiful as ever."

Suki tilted her head. "Is there something wrong, Sokka?"

"Yeah, Sokka, is there something wrong?" Aang asked. Katara and Toph exchanged glances. The blind earthbender made a face. Katara winced.

Sokka hesitated. "Suki, there's something you—there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it, Sokka?"

"I—"

"Hey, guys!"

"Teo!" Aang ran towards the Mechanist's son and motioned for the others to stand by his side. "Toph, I don't think you've met Teo. Teo, this is Toph. Toph, Teo. He's—"

"Sokka, Teo and I…we're sort of going out." Suki said and looked down, her face flushed. Aang's jaw dropped.

"I've been seeing someone else too." Sokka spoke quickly, his own face red with embarrassment.

"What?!" Aang turned to look at the two of them. "Since when? And why don't I know these things?" At the corner of his eyes, he saw Toph groaning and Katara staring at the sky in mild interest. "What else don't I know?" He demanded. "Sokka, you're not secretly meeting with the enemy are you?"

"No! I'd never do that." Sokka looked indignant.

In another world, with another Creator, on a different genre, perhaps on a different site, Sokka smiled into his lover's eyes and said, "I'll always be yours…Zuko."

"And Toph!" Aang glared at his young friend. His expression softened. "Well, we already know about your—" he coughed and mumbled under his breath, "—secret love affair."

"Worst kept secret ever," Sokka said, emphasizing on every single word. Toph snorted and rolled her eyes.

"Whatever."

"Katara!" The Avatar grabbed his friend's hands…and dropped them after a few seconds of contemplation. "Heck, I don't even want to know." Shaking the Mechanist's hands and murmuring a quick hello, he nodded to Hakoda and said, "Well, I gotta go. Need to shave my hair and all. See ya!"

"Wait!" The Mechanist shouted. "We still have that glider of yours to give." His eyes flickered to his son who was wearing a confused expression. "I take it they didn't like the news much?"

"I snuck in some white jade tea. I know you like rare teas," Ming whispered and beamed.

"Thank you, Ming," Iroh said and took the cup of tea from the platter, sipping it thoughtfully. "Ever since I was put in here, you have been very kind to me. Thank you, Ming."

Ming tilted her head and nodded. "Thank you too for your kind words, sir." The sound of laughter resonated from outside the room, making Ming wince. "Well I better go, sir. The warden might think that I am fraternizing with the enemy."

Iroh smiled sardonically. "We wouldn't want that to happen now would we?"

"No, sir."

Iroh watched Ming go before placing the cup down. He reached for the bowl of rice and lifted it, frowning as he saw a piece of folded paper lying on the platter. "Wonder what this is," he murmured to himself. Adjusting his position on the floor—he wouldn't want the warden to see after all—he opened the letter and chuckled. It was written in the old Soldier's Language. A code he had invented himself, it was designed to be used in times of warfare to send messages inside the enemy lines. No one used the code nowadays though. Some of the other generals had believed that his code was the very reason for his downfall during the fight for Ba Sing Se. They speculated that some of the scholars of Ba Sing Se must have gotten their hands on one of his coded messages, deciphered it and had relayed his messages to their generals, thus ending the war.

Iroh knew the truth though but it was still a far too depressing matter to ponder upon at the moment. Brushing his fingertips against the parchment, he read the message. It was short and very clear:

We're breaking you out. Sir.

Katara watched her father climb down the submarine's ladders. Grabbing a fistful of Toph's sleeve, she whispered, "We need to talk. Now."

Aang gave the two of them a sad smile and unfurled his glider. "Good luck," he said and jumped into the air, disappearing behind a pair of clouds.

Toph tugged her arm and glared at Katara. "What?"

"Despite her being the enemy? Despite her being the Firelord's daughter? Was that what you wanted to tell me?"

The earthbender shook her head slowly. "I don't quite understand where you're going."

"We talked once, remember? I needed…advice on how to deal with Aang. And you needed advice on how to respond to Azula."

She sighed. "She's a fun person, despite her being—"

Katara frowned. "Despite her being what?"

Toph remained silent.

"There's something you're not telling me." Katara said suspiciously.

"It's not my secret to tell." Toph said and looked up determinedly. "So you're not getting it out of me, no matter what you do."

"Oh." Toph bit her lip and asked, "Is that it? You…basically confronted me, ignored Aang who wanted to tell you something, and wasted precious time when we could have been submerged underwater by now and heading for the Firelord's palace. And all for this?"

"Toph…"

"I better go. You're with Appa, right?"

Katara sighed. "I just really hope you made the right decision."

Toph laughed bitterly. "Funny. I feel like saying the same thing I said last time."

"Me too?'

"Yeah," Toph turned and walked away. Once Katara was out of earshot, she spoke softly, "I just hope Azula made the right decision as well."

Azula gripped the flaming crowlion's reins, her legs clamped tightly against its body. Having crawled through a set of tunnels to reach the crowlion's nest, her back was aching ferociously. The harsh wind did not make things better.

"Why did you do it?"

"You're going to have to be a little more specific."

"Why did you tell Father that I was the one who killed the Avatar?"

"It wasn't my intention, fool," Azula hissed in annoyance. The crowlion, Ji, looked at its master questioningly before focusing once more to flying across the ocean.

"Can't this wait until morning?"

"It can't." Zuko said sternly. "Why, Azula?"

"Because in our father's heart of hearts, you will always be the better son. It doesn't matter that I have done something no person has ever done before—to capture Ba Sing Se. It doesn't matter that I've always been better than you. He assumed that it was you who killed the Avatar, Zuko. I simply played along." She spat, her anger causing the crowlion to squeak in surprise and fly through a rain cloud. He shook his tail furiously, trying to get the water out of it before the flame would die out. Patting Ji's head apologetically, she generated heat from her body, warming them both in the process.

"You have another motive for doing this. I just haven't figure out what it is."

Azula snorted. "Oh please, Zuko. I don't always have a motive. Except maybe potentially making you side with the Avatar." She laughed. "I wouldn't be surprised if you're planning to run away right at this very moment."

Zuko stared at the picture for a moment before closing his eyes, "I'm sorry, Mai."

"Sorry for what?" Mai walked towards him, a slight frown on her face. "Sorry that you're running away? Sorry that you're leaving me?"

"How did you know?" Zuko asked, surprised.

Mai touched his face lightly, "Because I knew this day was coming. It was my job to watch you after all. And my job to stop you."

It was time.

Aang took a step back and brought his glider forward, bringing a strong gust of wind against the large heavy doors. They burst open from the force. He advanced cautiously, his eyes flickering to his left and right.

The grand hall was empty.

"Fire Lord Ozai, where are you?" He bellowed, trying to hide the nervousness he was feeling. His feet moved on their own accord; they ran up the steps and stopped in front of the throne. He dropped to his knees.

"Where is Azula, anyway?" Katara said, effectively changing the topic.

"She's going to the Firelord's Palace." Toph said, a neutral expression on her face.

"What?!" Sokka jumped to his feet and waved his finger around. "Why didn't you stop her? Why-why didn't you tell us sooner?!" He sputtered.

"Because if I did then you would have tried to stop her?" Toph asked. She sat on a rock and folded her arms. "Besides, it's not like she's going to betray us or anything."

"No. No. No!" He cried out in anger. Pounding his fists against the ground, he leaned forward, his forehead touching the floor. He couldn't believe it. Sifu Azula had betrayed them.

A/N: Finally got to updating. I've had a busy month(besides the fact that this was long) so it took me some time before I could finish this.

If it's confusing, please feel free to ask me a question. I do answer back. Unless you'll find the answer next chapter. (Like: What's going to happen to Zuko?) Also, if you found any grammar errors and whatnot, I'm really sorry. This is longer than my usual word count for BTM and it's really hard to keep track of all those errors. I'm afraid I'm not fortunate enough to have a beta reader of my own.

I've been having too much fun at Sokka's expense. That guy is just so fun to write... (And no, I wasn't planning in the slightest to write that Zuko/Sokka moment.)

Not sure when the next update will be. All I can promise you is this: it's not going to be as long (hopefully) and there's going to be one heck of a battle (I'm praying with my fingers crossed).

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed so far. You don't know how much that means to me. sniff I would also like to mention two fanvid makers who pretty much provided me most of the inspiration that I needed to move this story forward: Ravenhpltc24 and NarutoSixth. I salute you both. That is all.