We continued walking for some time, following Sokka's lead as he read the map in his hands. What had happened with Hama still weighed heavily on everyone's minds, and we were all eager to put it behind us. My thoughts, however, were on Takara's admission to the old woman about her true feelings for me. After being through so much together, it was only natural that we would grow close, and I had suspected as much for some time. Her words didn't trouble me; in fact, I was overjoyed that she felt about me the same way I felt about her.

The thing most troubling me was that I hadn't said it in return.

We emerged through some bushes, Appa's titanic form lumbering beside our group, into a wide open, grassy field populated by a small cluster of koala sheep. "This is it" Sokka said. "The official rendezvous point for the invasion force".

"How did you pick this place?" Toph asked as she scratched her head.

"Before we split up, Sokka, Hakoda, and I found this island on a map" I replied. "It's uninhabited, and the harbour surrounded by cliffs seemed like the perfect secluded place".

"Nice choice, you two" Katara told us as we all started to set up camp. "And we're here four days ahead of schedule".

"Wait, four days?!" Aang suddenly cried, leaping up and off of his bedroll. "The invasion's in four days?!" His eyes zipped back and forth as he gnawed on his fingernails, and I could tell that the young Airbender was anxious about the coming battle.

"Whatever", Sokka said as he yawned and laid down, "that's, like, four days from now. Let's just calm down and…" He didn't get to finish his sentence, as he instantly passed out and started snoring. I rolled my eyes before setting up near Jin and Li, who, as always, were close to Toph.

"Sokka's got the right idea, Aang" Takara told the tattooed boy. Waving a hand around our camp, she added "We're here, we're ready, and we have a chance to rest before the invasion. The best thing we can do now is get plenty of rest".

Aang didn't look so sure. Given the amount of stress and responsibility that was weighing down on him, how could he not worry? "Yeah, I guess" he said at last. With that, he got down on the ground and rested his head on the soft grass, his brow furrowed with worry and glistening with sweat. I kissed Jin and Li goodnight, and just before I joined them in rest, I noticed that Takara was walking off. With a sigh, I decided to follow her. After walking for a few minutes, I found her sitting on the edge of a nearby cliff facing the sea, her legs dangling off the edge.

For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the woman who I had grown to love. She had been through so much pain and suffering, so much horror, and yet she had emerged brighter and stronger than ever as one of the finest warriors I had ever seen. My eyes ran down her long, black hair, which ran down past her shoulders and billowed like a cloak.

Suddenly, she turned and asked "Well, are you going to join me, or just keep staring?"

It took me a moment to overcome my surprise. Shaking my head, I stammered "Um, I wasn't… I…" What was wrong with me? I was a veteran of countless battles, one of the most powerful Firebenders in the world, and all it took to make me lose my composure was a simple question?

Takara chuckled. "Come on" she said, motioning with her head. "It's really quite peaceful here". I moved to join her, letting my legs dangle off of the precipice of the cliff as I sat beside the Kyoshi Warrior. For what seemed like an eternity, neither of us said a word, content with staring out at the calm night water. "I could just lose myself in the silence" Takara said eventually. "It's so… calming, and peaceful. Back when… when I traveled with Azula, there was never silence. Whether it was the smug little psychopath giving orders, Ty Lee's constant high-pitched voice, or Mai's eternal sigh of apathy, there was always noise. I felt… jumbled, like I was constantly being assaulted by a barrage of noise".

I glanced over to her and took her hand in mine. "You're here, now", I told her, trying to comfort her in the face of uncomfortable remembrance, "with me".

"I thank Kyoshi every minute of every day that I'm with you and the twins and not with her" Takara replied. "When I'm with you three, I feel whole, like I'm where I belong". The corner of her lip then curled into a smirk. "I'm also thankful that you made Azula suffer for what she'd done".

"For what she did to you, I would do it again a thousand times".

Azula, daughter of Fire Lord Ozai and the most powerful Firebender in the world, sat up in her bed. She ran a hand through her black hair, which was loose at that moment and ran down slightly past her shoulders, reflecting on the sleepless nights she had been having ever since that night in Ba Sing Se. Her fingers raked through her black hairs as she stared ahead into the darkness. Suddenly, they encountered the edge of her hairline, touching leathery skin. Azula took her hand off of her head and growled in disgust before lifting the covers and getting out of bed.

She walked over to the vanity on the far wall, pausing in order to flick her fingers and light the candles dotting her large room. The candle flames instantly burst into being, blazing with blue light before settling down to a soft orange glow, scattering the darkness. The Fire Nation Princess looked into the mirror before her, at the reflection that stared back at her, mocking her with its horrid appearance.

Her previously flawless and beautiful face was now completely hideous; the right half was still intact, but the left half consisted of charred flesh that ran from her chin all the way past her hairline. Half of her skull was outlined by the burn, making her even more terrifying. Good, she thought, mindful to smirk with the intact side of her lips. Let all those who face me cower in fear. And yet…

She was now marked for the rest of her life, like little Zuzu. He had been weak, and their father had punished him for it. But did that mean that she was weak? Impossible. She was Azula, daughter of the most powerful man in the world and the most powerful Firebender who ever lived. She was not weak; she had merely been betrayed by that pathetic little Earth Kingdom girl. She should have seen the traitor's betrayal sooner, but she had been sloppy, and had allowed her focus to be on the coup in Ba Sing Se to notice her plotting.

The memory of that day opened the floodgates, and every vivid image of the battle in the catacombs came rushing at her like an unstoppable flood. She saw herself facing her traitorous uncle, Zuko, and the pathetic disgrace Shan We and his pet Earthbenders along with her Dai Li agents. She then saw the ensuing battle, which had been fierce. Azula watched as Shan We came shooting towards her, brilliant blue flames firing from his hands. He then leaped into the air, shouting as he prepared to strike. The Fire Nation Princess immediately moved to defend herself, but the traitor at her back used Chi Blocking in order to make her arm useless. By the time she returns her attention to Shan We, the older Firebender is already landing in front of her, unleashing a blue firestorm that engulfs her face. She shrieks in agony, feeling the heat melting her flesh as she threatens to pass out…

"NO!" Azula suddenly shouted to no one in particular. She then punched the mirror in front of her with as much force as she can muster, causing it to crack along several different places. One of the cracks split her face in half, and she breathed heavily as her amber eyes stared at her and a single drop of blood slowly ran down the mirror from her knuckles. She was not weak; she was the most powerful Firebender in the world, and one day, she would become Fire Lord. Then, the world, and everything that was owed to her, would be in her grasp.

I thrust my fist forward before turning around and aiming a kick at an invisible opponent's head. I held that pose for a moment before resuming my routine, slicing my hand horizontally and briefly casting an arc of blue flames that was extinguished as soon as it burst into existence. I then thrust my left fist forward, sending a stream of blue flames shooting over the edge of the cliff, before aiming another kick at an invisible opponent, summoning more blue flames.

I had been practicing since dawn, having awoken as the sun had started to rise above the horizon. As a Firebender, I rose with the sun, and my Bending was fare more effective during the day. Now, the sun was well on its way across the sky, which meant that the others would start to awake soon.

Leaning my torso so that it was parallel to the ground, I extended my right arm and leg, casting a brief stream of flames from both. I then stood straight and held my hands at stomach level, finally having finished my morning routine. Ever since our escape from Ba Sing Se, I had endeavoured to return to a level of physical fitness that I had maintained for years during my service in the military. After several weeks, I was beginning to return to form, with my sinewy muscles becoming more and more pronounced. A cool breeze blew by, and I felt it caressing my bare torso. Training regimens, I found, always worked best when shirtless.

"I must say, I'm enjoying the view" a familiar voice said from nearby. I turned, and saw Takara standing several feet away, leaning against a tree with her arms crossed.

I smirked as I went to retrieve my shirt. "You truly are talented; not many people can sneak up on me".

She shrugged. "It's a gift. What can I say?"

Suddenly, there was a crashing sound from back where our camp was, and the two of us exchanged a glance before jogging to where everyone else was now awake. I saw the source of the noise: a few feet away from camp, Aang was buried in a mass of leaves that had fallen from a nearby tree. When I had awoken at dawn, I had seen the Airbender relentlessly punching the tree, and judging by the dents, he had been at it a while. The tattooed boy got up out of the leave pile and entered into a ready stance, his eyes bloodshot. "You don't get it, do you?" he asked, moving around as he spoke. "My form is bad, I'm sloppy, and I still don't know any Firebending. Not even the basics".

"If you want, I can teach you what I know" I offered.

"That's okay", Sokka said from where he was lying on the grass as he looked over a map, "the eclipse will block all Firebending anyway. You don't need to know any. Plus, it's a stupid element".

I cocked an eyebrow at the Water Tribe boy. "Oh, really?" I asked. I then clenched my hand into a fist, and a circle of blue flames instantly erupted around Sokka, who shrieked in fear as he curled into a ball. After a moment, I smothered the flames. "There is no such thing as a 'stupid element'. Each element has its own strengths and weaknesses, and offers different approaches in battle. You would be wise to remember that".

Aang rubbed the back of his neck. "Okay, well, I still have to work on everything else. I better spend the whole day training". He then flipped into the air and formed his trademark air scooter, proceeding to speed away from camp.

Looking over at the others, I said "Don't worry. Once I'm through with him, he won't be able to stay awake". I then started walking after the sleep-deprived Airbender, following a trail of displaced leaves and grass. It didn't take long before I found him savagely assaulting a rock with his Airbending. "Aang" I called, standing with my hands clasped behind my back. He cried out in slight surprise during the middle of an attack, and as he turned to face me, he accidentally fired a powerful gust of air at me. I stood perfectly still as the gust, which would have sent anyone else sprawling, slammed into me.

"Sorry, I didn't see you there" he apologized. "Obviously, I need to work on honing my senses".

"Aang, you can't force yourself to stay awake for days on end" I told him, slowly walking in a circle around him. "If you do, then you'll inevitably make a mistake during the invasion, and something terrible might happen".

"I know, I know" he agreed, gripping his head tightly and scrunching his eyes shut. "It's just that, every time I go to sleep, I keep seeing myself losing to Fire Lord Ozai. I can't lose this time; I already let the world down at Ba Sing Se, and if I fail again, then there might not be another chance".

I looked down at the tattooed boy and sighed. I couldn't even imagine the kind of pressure he was under, and the anxiety he was going through with the invasion only a few days away. I walked over to him and, getting down on one knee, placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Aang, you are the Avatar: you are blessed to be the most powerful Bender in the world, but with that power comes great responsibility. Yes, you must ultimately face Fire Lord Ozai, and end the war that my people started, but you also have to ensure that you are ready when the time comes, and that means being properly rested". He nodded solemnly, and I proceeded to stand up. "Now, let us test your mettle, hmm?"

Aang smiled a little before entering into a ready stance. I took several steps back before entering into my own stance. I cracked my neck as I kept my unflinching gaze on my young opponent. Eventually, I launched myself into the attack, aiming a kick and sending a stream of blue flames at him.

When the sun finally set, everyone was ready for sleep. My duel with Aang had been fierce, and it had lasted longer than I thought it would. The Airbender, despite being sleep-deprived and slightly delirious, had fought well, and I had had my work cut out for me. Nevertheless, I had spotted a myriad of errors in his stance and technique, and fatigue had gotten the better of him before we had even started. An experienced opponent like myself would easily be able to counter him, and Fire Lord Ozai was far more experienced than me.

Aang flopped down onto the ground, tired from the day's exertions. "Good night, Katara" he said. "Good night, Sokka. Good night, Toph. Good night, Shan We. Good night, Takara. Good night Jin. Good night, Li. Good night, Jin and Li. Good night, Appa. Good night, Momo. Good night, Appa and…"

"GO TO SLEEP ALREADY!" Toph shouted in frustration. With that, I closed my eyes, allowing the warm embrace of sleep envelop me.

I sliced my twin meteor swords horizontally, dispatching an imaginary opponent, before turning around and slicing them diagonally to the left. The morning sun shone down on our camp, and, following Shan We's example, I had started to wake up early in the morning in order to train and stay in good form. The Firebender was sitting cross-legged across from Toph and Katara, brewing tea for them, while Aang and Sokka still slept on their bedrolls. Jin and Li were currently playing a game where they used their Earthbending to throw a head-sized rock back and forth.

As I returned to the training regimen Master Piandao had taught me, I imagined that I was striking Azula with each movement of my swords, wiping her trademark smug grin off of her face. I also imagined her face as being half-burned, according to when I had seen her last in the catacombs of Old Ba Sing Se. The thought brought a smile to my face, but it also brought back flashes of my time as her prisoner and plaything, flashes that had haunted me last night. Ever since I had freed myself from Azula, I had been plagued by nightmares, and I had made it my mission to conquer them. Shan We and the twins gave me the strength to fight on, and I was confident that I would move past my nightmares soon enough.

Suddenly, I heard Aang cry out "Sokka, get up, I need to know what day it is!" I turned and saw the young Airbender roughly shaking his Water Tribe companion, who woke almost immediately.

"What, who's talking?" he asked groggily as he took his sword in hand and instantly stood up… only to hit his head on a nearby rock. I tried, somewhat unsuccessfully, to stifle a laugh at the sight.

"Relax, it's still two days before the invasion" Toph said irritably.

Aang, ignoring the blind girl's words, started pulling on Sokka's leg. "Sokka, you've got to get up and drill your rock-climbing exercises".

"What?" my fellow sword-wielding warrior asked.

"In one of my dreams, you were running from Fire Nation soldiers, trying to climb this cliff. But you were too slow and they got you". I shook my head slightly; Aang was really letting these dreams get to him.

"But that was just a dream", Sokka protested, "I'm a great climber".

"Then climb that cliff, climb it fast" Aang challenged. I craned my neck in order to see the top of the cliff; it was at least several dozen feet up, which meant that Sokka had his work cut out for him. The Water Tribe boy started climbing, angrily muttering as he did so, and I got back into my routine. "Don't drink that!" Aang suddenly shouted to Toph, who was in the process of drinking her tea. Sokka screamed in surprise, and out of the corner of my eye, I could see him sliding down to the ground, while Toph spit out her tea, hitting Katara.

"Why, is it poisoned?" the blind girl asked as the Waterbender used her Bending to get the tea off of her.

"In my dream, we were right in the middle of the invasion, and you had to stop to use the bathroom. We died because of your tiny bladder". I pursed my lips as I resumed my exercises. If this kept up, I would have to have… "Takara, stop!" The comment caught me off-guard, and my surprise caused me to accidentally let go of one of my swords in the middle of an attack, launching it into the air. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the twins stop their game at the same time, and Li was struck square in the face by the rock as my sword hurled through the air towards where Sokka was climbing.

"Sokka, watch out!" I called. A moment later, the sword imbedded itself into the rock mere inches above the Water Tribe boy's face. He screamed in surprise, and once again slid down to the bottom of the cliff. I winced as he came crashing down. "Sorry". Turning to look at Aang, I asked in a sharp and annoyed tone "What is it now?"

"In my dream, you were practicing with your swords so much that your arms were too sore during the invasion! You need to stop and relax!"

Finally, Shan We stood up and walked over to Aang. The Firebender proceeded to slap the Airbender across the face. As the boy's cheek instantly turned red, Shan We gripped his shoulders and said "Aang, you need to get a grip and focus! You are unraveling from a lack of sleep. You are exhausted and delirious, and you will be no help during the invasion if you keep going like this!"

After a moment, Aang slumped his shoulders and sighed, looking tired despite the sting he must be feeling. "You're right" he said at last. "I'm losing my mind". In the background, Sokka screamed as he yet again slid down the cliff.

Azula entered one of the many private spas in the Royal Palace, stress threatening to boil her insides. It was around mid-day, and from the first moment she had awoken, her half-melted face had caused her nothing but grief. The servants and Imperial Firebenders walking about the palace had been staring at her disfigurement whenever they came near. Many of them tried to be discreet, only glancing in passing before openly staring when they thought she wouldn't notice. Azula always noticed, of course. How could she not? She was the most powerful Firebender in the world, and one of the most skilled manipulators of all-time. She's already had to see to it that several servants and guards had been severely punished, for if the commoners didn't fear her, then of what use were they?

The only people who openly stared when in full view of her were her father and Zuzu. The Fire Lord questioned whether Azula was still fit to be a Princess of the Fire Nation; he never said as much, but she could tell what he was thinking. After all, she would have done the same. Zuzu, however… whenever he caught sight of her, he always looked away after an odd expression passed on his face. He was probably feeling sorry for her, or maybe even guilty that he hadn't stopped Shan We from permanently disfiguring her. He was always so sentimental, just like their mother had been.

The servants in the spa stopped dead in their tracks upon taking note of Azula, some even gasping at the sight of her. The Fire Nation Princess smirked marginally, pleased that they still feared her. As she moved to sit down, she turned to one servant and said "I need my hair washed and combed. Make one little mistake, slip up and cause me even a miniscule amount of pain, and you'll live to regret it".

The servant meekly bowed her head in acknowledgement, and Azula sat down, letting her hair down and resting her head back as they went to work. Not a minute later, someone else entered the room, and Azula opened her eyes to see her brother walking towards her. Upon seeing his scar, she reflexively reached up a hand and lightly touched the leathery skin on the left side of her face. She quickly snapped it back down, silently admonishing herself for such weakness.

"Hello, Zuzu" she greeted, slipping on her comfortable, in-control exterior. "If you've come for a royal hair-combing, I'm afraid you'll have to wait".

"So I guess there's a big war meeting coming up, huh?" Zuzu asked, sounding irritable as ever. So that was why he had been even more sulky today, Azula thought to herself. "And apparently I'm not welcome there".

Azula sighed. "What do you mean? Of course you're welcome there" she replied.

"Oh, yeah?" Zuzu retorted. "I guess that's why no one bothered to tell me about it".

"Oh, Zuko, don't be so dramatic" Azula said, using a tone one would use when talking to a petulant child, which described her brother's personality perfectly. "I'm certain dad wants you there. You probably just weren't invited because it's so obvious that you're supposed to be there".

Zuzu mulled the comment over for a moment before asking "Well, were you invited?"

"Of course", Azula replied with a smile, "I'm the Princess".

"And I'm the Prince" Zuzu added, like she needed to be reminded.

"Exactly, so stop acting like a paranoid child" Azula admonished. "Just go to the meeting".

"Forget it" Zuzu growled angrily. "I'm not going". He then stalked out of the room, and Azula couldn't help but lightly touch the skin on the left side of her face.

"All right, what you need is a good old-fashioned back-pounding to relieve your stress" Toph said as Aang laid on a bed of small stone pillars. I stood with my arms crossed, witnessing the latest in a series of attempts to relive Aang of his maddening stress. Katara and Sokka had both failed in using yoga and therapy, respectively, so now it was the blind girl's turn, and the rest of us watched the proceedings.

"Pound away" Aang said. I saw Toph smile before she started striking her feet against the ground in a constant stream, causing the pillars to all lower to the ground before shooting back up and pounding at the Airbender's back. He grunted with every impact, his face scrunched up with pain, eventually saying through clenched teeth "Toph, I think this is bruising me".

The blind girl stopped, and the bed of pillars became still. Aang, however, was still vibrating, and he slowly fell off. "Sorry", Toph apologized, "I forgot you have baby skin. Well, there's one other thing we can try…" She then struck her foot against the ground, summoning a rock pillar several feet from our camp that launched something into the air before it landed in her outstretched hand: a boar-q-pine, which extended all of its sharp quills as Toph said "Acupuncture" with a slightly-disturbing smile.

Aang screamed in fear before turning around and running away from our camp at lightning speed. I nodded over to Jin, who struck his foot against the ground, summoning a flat rock wall in front of the Airbender. He struck the wall with full force, remaining plastered against it before Jin lowered it back into the ground, allowing Aang to fall to the ground. I walked over and picked him up, dusting him off as I did so. "Come take a walk with me" I said, and I proceeded to lead him away from camp, towards the cliffs.

Aang groaned as he stretched his arms. "I'm still kind of sore" he said, and I smiled sympathetically down at him.

"After a pounding like that, I expect nothing less" I said. After a few moments, I asked the young Airbender "Aang, how familiar are you with the concept of Chi?"

He gazed out at the ocean before replying "It's the energy that flows through our bodies and gives us our Bending".

I nodded. "Correct. It flows through our bodies along specific paths, like rivers flowing through the land. A healthy flow of Chi maintains balance, within our bodies as well as our spirits. If the Chi flow is interrupted, or the flow becomes muddled, then we can suffer from all kinds of maladies".

"So, do you think that that's what's happening with me?" Aang asked, rubbing his eyes as we walked along the cliff.

"Yes" I replied, clasping my hands behind my back. "When Azula struck you down back in Ba Sing Se, she permanently interrupted the flow of your Chi. Katara brought you back, but your inner flow is still muddled, and I believe that that is what is causing the imbalance that plagues you now".

"I don't know what I'm going to do" the Airbender said helplessly. "Whenever I go to sleep, there's some impossible problem waiting for me. I think I'm coming prepared, but there's always something new".

"The key to solving your problem is by trying to re-orient your Chi flow" I told my young companion. We then found ourselves standing in front of a solid block of stone in the same shape of Toph's 'pounding table'. "And I believe I have a solution". I then reached into my pocket and withdrew several small, sharp needles. "I had Jin and Li make these last night".

"What are those?"

"Acupuncture needles" I replied. The young Airbender's eyes widened in fear, and he looked about ready to leap off of the cliff in order to escape what Toph had formerly promised. "You don't have to worry", I assured him, "I have studied acupuncture, so there is no danger. Besides, what do you have to lose?" For a moment, Aang regarded the needles, staring at them with his bloodshot eyes. Eventually, he nodded his head, and proceeded to lie down on the stone table. Standing over him, I said "Now, just relax, and breathe" before I took a needle and gently tapped it into a precise spot on his back.

Aang didn't flinch, and I continued, gently tapping more and more needles into his back. My aim was to attempt to correct the flow of his Chi; the needles were the instrument of that correction, and each time I tapped one into place, I was encouraging the Chi to move back into its proper place.

Eventually, once all the needles were in, I asked "So, how do you feel?"

Aang turned his head in order to face me. "I think that might have helped a little. I'm starting to feel a lot better". I stared down at him with my unflinching stoic expression, arching an eyebrow as I posed my silent question. Aang sighed. "Actually, I don't feel any better". I sighed as well; at this rate, the spirits themselves would have to join us in the invasion if we were to succeed.

Azula watched as Zuzu and all the other high generals and admirals filed out of the throne room, the Fire Nation's grand strategy for what remained of the Earth Kingdom having been developed. Her brother's opinion had been asked by their father, who had allowed little Zuzu to sit at his right hand. He expressed his belief that the people of the Earth Kingdom would fight on, so long as they had hope.

It was no matter; Azula had voiced her thoughts, and their father had formed his new strategy based on her words.

Now, she found herself kneeling before him as he stared down at her from atop his throne, a wall of crimson flames shielding his visage from her and leaving only a shadowy outline. For what seemed like an eternity, she waited in silence, running through all the possible scenarios in her head. Finally, he spoke up, saying "Your brother did well in the meeting, wouldn't you say, my dear?"

Azula shrugged. "I suppose" she replied. "After all that time at sea and dredging through the mud in the Earth Kingdom, he's finally learned his manners".

She could see the outline of her father's head nodding. "Your brother has proved himself since his return" he agreed. "He is finally becoming a worthy successor to my reign". Azula felt the muscles on the scarred side of her lips twitch in annoyance before she forced it down. "I find myself concerned, my dear".

"About what, father?" the Fire Nation Princess asked, suddenly finding herself a little worried.

"I am concerned about you" he replied. "You have not been the same since your return. Your behaviour has changed since your maiming". Azula resisted the urge to touch the leathery skin on the left side of her face. "I have always favoured you, Azula", he continued, "but now, I am starting to doubt your ability to carry on our family's legacy".

"I am your daughter, now and always" Azula replied, perhaps a little too quickly. "I fought your enemies when Zuko was running around the world in search of the Avatar, I delivered Ba Sing Se to you after 100 years of resistance, I…" She managed to catch herself before she let it slip that she had been the one to strike down the Avatar. She couldn't afford to look weak to her father; if the Avatar turned out to still be alive, then Zuzu would take the fall for it. Maintaining her pristine image was now paramount, and it sounded like it was already cracking in her father's eyes.

"You have accomplished much, it is true" he said at last, standing up. He then clasped his hands behind his back and proceeded to step through the wall of flames. "But now, I am hearing troubling news, news that you are starting to unravel after the traitor Shan We burned your face".

Azula's hands clenched so tight that her sharpened fingernails were drawing blood from her palms, though she was careful to maintain her composure. "Shan We will burn and suffer for what he did to me" the Fire Nation Princess promised. "He dared to harm me, and he shall suffer as no one has suffered before".

As she looked up at her father, she thought that she saw him starting to smile.

"What is so important that it couldn't wait?" I asked as Takara led me by the hand towards a secluded spot along the cliffs. Until a few minutes ago, I had been helping the others by shearing the wool from the koala sheep that we intended to use as soft padding for a bed for Aang. The Kyoshi Warrior had come up to me and said that she had something to show me, which is why she was leading me along.

"I don't want to spoil the surprise" she replied cryptically, barely managing to contain an almost giddy smile. A few more minutes, and we arrived at our apparent destination. Takara released my hand, holding her own outwards and saying "Ta da!"

I looked ahead, and despite myself, my mouth fell open a little at what I beheld. Proudly displayed on stone tables were a magnificent suit of armour and a fearsome pole weapon. The armour was pristine, and looked to be freshly-forged; it looked like it would almost completely cover the wearer's body, and it was entirely black in colour, with various Dragon motifs, right down to the helmet, which was shaped like a Dragon's head. The pole weapon was equally magnificent, consisting of a long, black pole, most likely made out of wood, with a deeply curved blade at the top which was serrated on the inside and a pointed metal counterweight at the bottom.

"Well, what do you think?" Takara asked me, barely able to contain her excitement.

"I…" I started to say, not able to find the proper words in that moment. "They're wonderful. Did you make these?"

She nodded, her lips curled into a proud smile. "I did. I used the training Master Piandao gave me, along with a little help from Jin and Li. It was the perfect way for them to work on their new 'Metalbending' technique". I walked over to where the weapon and armour were displayed in order to get a closer look. They were just as splendid up close, and as I ran a hand along the front of the armour, Takara explained "I based the design off of the armour that Firebenders use. I never much cared for the skull part, so I decided to use Dragons instead. Since the eclipse will take away your Firebending, you'll need something to keep your edge, so, while Sokka decided to make armour for Appa, I decided to make armour and a weapon for you".

I turned to look at her, gazing into her alluring green and blue eyes as I smiled. "This is a truly wondrous gift. Thank you". For a moment, I merely stared at her, feeling my heart thundering in my chest. "Takara, I…"

I never got to finish my sentence, as the Kyoshi Warrior wrapped her arms around my neck and smothered my lips with her own. Instantly forgetting what I was going to say, I wrapped my own arms around her waist and closed my eyes, relishing the moment. For so long now, I knew, deep down in my heart, that I was in love with Takara, and she with me. I had come to know this incredible woman, and after everything we had been through together, we had forged an unbreakable bond together. We mashed our lips together, breathing through our noses as we released what seemed like ages of pent up frustration. Whenever we had been in this position before, we had been interrupted. Now, there was only the two of us, with only the sound of crashing waves in the background.

Takara pulled back a little, a smirk on her face as she said "I know".

Well, it's about damn time, wouldn't you say? I don't even want to imagine the kind of tension these two have built up, sexual or otherwise. I decided to have the kiss happen here so that Takara could interrupt Shan We when he's about to say "I love you" and pull a Han Solo ;)

Also, this chapter gave me the chance to write some Azula scenes, which were very interesting to play out. As the theme of this segment is about battling one's inner demons, I thought it appropriate to cover her inner demons, which continue to plague her. The relationship between her and her family was also very neat to explore, and gave me a little practice for stuff I'll be covering in my future Legend of Korra fanfic.

So, up next is the big battle: The Day of Black Sun. I'm really looking forward to writing that chapter, and I'm also looking forward for you guys and gals to read it.

Stay tuned!