Disclaimer: Avatar is not my own creation.

Chapter 2

Sokka arrived at the Fire Nation in short time. He had Toph and Iroh with him. He had pushed Appa to race against time. He had no idea in what kind of condition Zuko was in. His one concern was to get Iroh there quickly in fear of the worst. Iroh would never recover from not saying good bye to Zuko and the world may never recover if Iroh was not there to claim the throne.

There was no grand reception for the Dragon of the West. The captain of the guard greeted them and only as a watchman and in formality. Iroh was then immediately rushed to Zuko's side. He disappeared into the Fire Lord's bedchamber and they knew he would in there for several hours.

Sokka and Toph were not allowed to see Zuko. They protested and fought but Jeong Jeong would not allow them in. Then Mai finally came out and scolded them for making too much noise. That was all Jeong Jeong needed to claim victory and sent them away. In defeat, they trudged away and found Aang and Katara next to a pond filled with turtle-ducks. They both had their heads down low and were very quiet.

"What's wrong?" Sokka asked in a concerned tone. "From what I've heard Zuko's going to make a full recovery."

"Nothing," Katara replied.

"Come on Sweetness," Toph retorted. "You know that you're not a very good liar."

Aang and Katara looked around. Sokka and Toph then realized something was going on. They huddled around the pond so that they could keep their voices low.

"There's more to this isn't there?" Sokka asked.

"We're not sure," Aang replied. "But Zuko told us that he does not want any of us going after Azula."

Sokka furrowed his eyebrows. "Is he mad?" Sokka hissed. "Who else will he send?"

"He has already sent conscriptions out," Katara informed him. "He did not say who. He said that he was worried that Azula would be expecting us to come for her."

"Of course we would come for her," Toph muttered.

"I don't understand this," Sokka breathed. "We fought with him in the war. Katara, you beat Azula while she was at the peak of her power. Why does he think that we would not be ready for her like she would be ready for us?"

"That is what's been bothering us," Aang said.

"Then we have to insist that we go with whoever he has contracted," Sokka decided.

"It will have to be you," Aang replied. "Katara has to stay here because Zuko refuses to be tended by anyone else. Mai really wants Toph to stay here to help stand guard and I have to go to the other nations to measure what is happening inside their borders."

"Shhh," Toph abruptly hushed them.

Sokka looked over his shoulder. He saw a young servant approach them. He did not have a patch of fuzz on his face. The boy stared awkwardly down at the Avatar and his friends as he wringed his hands in his nerves.

"Avatar Aang, the Fire Lord and…and General Iroh wish to see you and you friends in…in his bedchambers," the boy managed to stutter out.

This prompted them all to stand. They followed the boy through the halls of the palace. The hallways were loud with guards rushing through the palace as they made their routine checks. Several of Zuko's ministers and chancellors argued loudly about mundane things as Jeong Jeong tried to keep them within his grasps. Everyone smelled blood and they wanted to know the direction the wind was blowing.

They reached Zuko's bedchambers and saw two guards outside the door. This was an added decoration from before. When Zuko was in his weakest state, his only guard was Mai at his side. The boy seemed sheepish around the guards but with one look at the Avatar, they opened the door and allowed them to enter. The boy did not dare try to go in. He slunk back and quickly walked away down the hall.

Inside the room, the drapes were still drawn closed. Zuko was now sitting up in bed with Mai at her usual seat and Iroh next to her. At the foot of the bed was a slender figure dressed in red. There was a golden flame tucked at the top of her bun. There were also two swords safely strapped around her waist. Aang could tell by the set of her shoulders that she was accustomed to being in the palace.

"Aang, this is Captain Inara of the Empress," Zuko announced.

The young woman turned towards them. She had the signature golden eyes of the Fire Nation and a cynical look. She looked unimpressed at the Avatar and his friends. They did not seem to interest her much. This was only an introduction out of formality that she must endure.

"I'm Avatar Aang," he said introducing himself. "And this is Katara, Sokka, and Toph."

"It is an honor to meet you," Inara replied in a polished tone.

"This is who I have contracted to track down Azula," Zuko explained.

Aang and the others were quiet for a moment as they observed her.

"What do you regularly do?" Sokka asked quickly.

The Captain turned her attention to Sokka. "I'm a merchant by trade," Inara replied easily. "I am a member of the Merchant's Guild."

"And what makes you qualified to bring in a princess as dangerous as Azula?" Sokka continued.

"Sokka…" Zuko growled.

"No, it's ok," Inara said to Zuko and then turned her attention back to Sokka. "Familiarity," she stated. "I grew up in the court with the princess and she stayed in contact with me after I left the court."

"Why?" Aang asked.

"She liked to know what was going on beyond the palace walls," Inara replied as if it was a casual correspondence with someone who of normal fortitude. "She could not leave the Fire Nation without her father's permission and so I was her eyes and ears for awhile."

"Is that all?" Sokka pressed suspiciously.

Inara turned her head in a slightly playful manner. "Is that all?" she repeated with a raised brow. "Do you mean if all I did was correspond with her or are you speaking of the information that I wrote of?"

"I believe they are two interrelated matters," Sokka answered.

A broad smile spread across the captain's face. She was genuinely amused by the set of questions that Sokka was pressing on her. She even casually leaned against the foot of Zuko's bed as if she was not disturbed at all by him.

"If you are asking if I ever wrote of your possible whereabouts to her then the answer would be yes," Inara said in a silky voice. "One hears a lot at different ports of call. I ran into her a couple of times and relayed a bit of information to her before the fall of Ba Sing Se."

Sokka's blood began to boil by her audacity. He balled up his fists in his fury. "Zuko, you cannot possibly trust her!" Sokka nearly shouted.

Mai instinctually sprang to her feet. She pulled her hand back ready to shoot a needle but Zuko raised his hand to stop her.

"While the tension is high I suggest that we restrain from raising our voices," Zuko surprisingly suggested in a quiet tone as Mai took her seat. "But I already know of all of this."

Sokka looked at Zuko incredulously but he checked his temper. "She will turn on you," Sokka insisted in a more restrained voice.

"No I won't," Inara said in a dangerously low tone.

"She's telling the truth," Toph piped in.

"And you couldn't tell if Azula was lying," Sokka reminded her harshly and garnished an acid glare from her.

"We've had seven years of peace," Inara stated and gained everyone's full attention. "That's seven years of not having my ships inspected, raided, attacked, or confiscated. Business has never been better. I no longer have to bribe corrupt Commanders. I do not have to lose precious cargo space for artillery. There is no need to hire reformed, or otherwise bankrupt pirates to escort my ships into port. Why would I want her to take the throne?"

The captain's words of reason silenced Sokka. His mouth was quirked into a strange smile. It was somewhere between skepticism and trust. The two creatures of the open water stared at each. They measured each other up and calculated who they really were.

"She does have a point," Toph finally stated stirring the silence.

"But I still don't trust her," Sokka said.

"I'd be disappointed if you did," the captain brazenly responded.

Sokka paid no attention to her comment. "Zuko, I'm going with her."

Zuko let out an irritated breath. "Sokka, I don't…"

"You can't order me to not go," Sokka cut in. "What are you going to do, stop me? You can barely sit up in bed."

"I am perfectly healthy," Mai growled.

Sokka ignored her. "Zuko, this is me. You couldn't stop me from going to the Boiling Rock and you can't stop me from going with the Captain of Darkness, with all insult intended," he said in an aside to her.

"I've heard worse," she drawled.

"Just think of me as a backup. If she gets herself injured or killed then I'm there to finish what she couldn't. I think it works out in the best of everyone's interests. And with my name and reputation, I can get us in places that she would not be allowed in."

Zuko looked like he was about to protest once again but he looked at Sokka's earnest face. He knew that there was nothing he could say. Sokka would find a way to tag along with Inara. Reluctantly, Zuko nodded. "You can go."

Inara's eyes opened wide and she lost all serenity as she quickly turned to Zuko. She glared at him and he glared back.

"You have your orders," Iroh said as the Fire Lord and captain continued to glare. "You leave first thing in the morning."

Inara pulled her attention away from the Fire Nation royalty. She looked directly at Sokka with burning gold eyes. "I leave with or without you." She then shouldered her way between Aang and Katara and left Zuko's bedchambers.

Mai had that look on her face. It was time for everyone to go even if she had to drive them out herself. Katara started to quietly herd everyone out. She gently placed a hand on Sokka's shoulder. He turned to follow her out.

"Sokka," Zuko said stopping him.

Sokka turned to Zuko.

"I will warn you," Zuko said. "Do not get in her way. She may have my trust but she can have the temper of Azula."

Sokka stared back at Zuko but the guard then pulled him out of the room and the doors were closed firmly. Aang and Katara led Toph and Sokka away from the room. Sokka glanced over his shoulder. He could see Inara's faint figure walking in the other direction. He then saw the two guards leave Zuko's door and followed her.

"Strange," Sokka murmured.

"What?" Toph asked.

"Nothing," Sokka replied and Toph did not pursue the topic.

Sokka and Toph followed Aang and Katara through the palace. They walked into the rooms that they were all given to share. There were four bedrooms and a sitting room. Katara made tea for all of them as they sat on the couches and settees. Toph quickly walked to the door. She listened for a moment and then nodded and hurried back to her seat.

"Well played," she complimented Sokka.

"Thank you," Sokka said basking in his own glory. "I knew I would eventually wear Zuko down into letting me go."

"You're taking a big risk," Katara told him. "We have no idea what she is like."

Sokka waved off her concern. "You know me sis. I'll be careful."

"That's what I'm worried about," she muttered.

"The point is that we will have eyes and ears out there," Sokka said.

"I don't know," Katara said timidly. "It doesn't feel right. We are essentially spying on Zuko and he is one of our friends."

"Zuko is vulnerable," Sokka said. "He was almost killed and he wants to keep the same thing from happening to us. I don't think he is able to make a decision without separating his emotions. Just think of it this way. Once he does come to his senses, he can bypass the guilt and regret since I will already be out there."

"You are just completely full of yourself," Katara groaned.

"And when am I not?"

"How in the world does Suki put up with you?" Toph muttered.

"She's still at Kyoshi Island," Katara whispered to her and garnered Toph's usual chuckle.

"All that matters is that everything is in place," Aang said to focus the conversation. "Toph, how long can you stay?"

"As long as needed," she said. "The Duke and Pipsqueak can help out at my family's estate while I'm gone."

"That's good," Aang said. "Katara will be here too. I will go visit Chief Arnook, Bumi, and the Earth King."

"I still think that's the duty of the diplomats," Sokka said.

"Well unfortunately I have it," Aang replied. "But if she does intend to attack one of the leaders I might be able to intercept her. However, now Iroh that is here, do we have any allies in Ba Sing Se?"

"I think Teo is at the university," Sokka recalled.

"Haru is there too," Katara said brightly. "He's studying at the university with Teo."

"So he is," Aang stated in a strained voice. He then blinked rapidly and came out of his private thought. "We have to handle this delicately. We don't want the other nations to go into a panic and to lose faith in Zuko's reign. If they do, then we may lose what we fought for."

Everyone became very sober and serious at Aang's words. They knew the levity of what was at stake but reality had finally hit them. Uneasily, they all looked to each other. They all had to be in this together. Silently, they all agreed that Zuko was not in any condition to make this kind of decision. If he could not make these decisions then they would have to help him.

Katara then stood up and walked towards Sokka's room. "I will pack some things for you."

Sokka shook his head. "I can pack for myself."

"No you can't," Katara yelled back.

Sokka was about to jump up and keep Katara out of his things. There was a severe disadvantage to one's little sister being one of the world's most powerful Waterbenders. This was an argument that he had no chance in winning. Even Katara's warning look could quiet a small army.

Toph and Aang were of no help to him either. Sokka decided that it was time for him to leave. He grabbed his weapons and headed towards the forger's workshop. He wanted to make sure that everything was in good condition before he left. He imagined that a merchant's ship would not have the facilities for the upkeep of weapons.

Sokka heard Aang and Toph start some kind of idle conversation over the recent goings on of the Earth Kingdom when he closed the door behind him. He started to walk down the hall of the palace. He stuck out in his blue clothes against the red décor of the palace. Several people stopped and watched him pass with his set of toys.

The sword, club, and boomerang were his prized possessions. He had lost his first sword and boomerang in the war. Master Piandao had been generous enough to invited Sokka back to forge another black sword. It was an opportunity that Sokka could not resist. Once he returned to the South Pole, he set about forging an even better boomerang. It was a task that he relished and that Katara did not fully understand.

"Well, well, well," a silky voice rolled the word over. "I see you've come out of that imaginary world the Avatar spins around himself."

Sokka was stirred from his thoughts as he halted. He saw the familiar, coy smile of Captain Inara. She was casually leaned against a pillar with her arms folded across her body.

"Were you looking for me?" Sokka asked curtly.

The captain pushed herself off of the pillar. She circled Sokka like a predator but she had the air of a seductress. Sokka knew seduction was not on her mind though. The hairs on his neck would not be standing up if she was.

"No," she answered after she made a complete circle. "I just happened to be around."

"Ah, of course," Sokka replied. "Especially since you are so familiar with the Fire Lord's palace."

The captain paid no heed to his words. "So, where are you heading off to?"

Sokka held up his weapons. "I'm heading to the forger's workshop. I need to do a bit of inspection on these fine instruments."

Inara eyed the weapons with curiosity. "Of course, you wouldn't want to be caught with ill-kept weapons in a battle against the princess. That would be devastating."

"I've been a couple of rounds against her," he reminded her. "But I see that you are skilled in the sword." Sokka motioned to the swords at Inara's hip.

Inara glanced down at them. "You assume a lot."

"Are they for show?"

She shook her head. "I am of skill," she finally confessed with a smile.

"And I thought you were just a mere merchant," Sokka commented. "Is there more to you than meets the eye?"

"The world is a stage Master Sokka," she replied cryptically. "And in our time, we all play many parts."

Inara then gave Sokka a cold smile and walked away leaving him to consider her words. She left him motionless and frozen. He was still caught off guard by her calling him master. It was mocking with no flattery intended. No one had ever called him master before and he wished she had not been the first.

Sokka then started to walk. He began to wonder what he had gotten himself into. She was mysterious and he knew it would be impossible to control her. Then again he was never meant to control her. If Zuko wanted anyone controlled, he would have never picked her to go. He would have just handed this off to his uncle to deal out and Iroh would have probably handed this off to Sokka in the end.

"Yup, she's definitely from the Fire Nation court," he muttered to himself as he tried to gather his thoughts.