A/N- Here it is everyone! The third and much longer chapter of this fic. In this chapter we get a bit more into Azula's thinking, I really hope it makes sense. Anyway, the formatting on this one is a bit odd... I'm not entierly sure what happened here- oops. anyway, hope you enjoy! let me know what you think!

Chapter 3: Explanation

Once they were up in the air, the only complication the two firebenders had was keeping an eye on

the avatar while remaining unseen.

"Ok. Now that we actually have time to talk, why did you join me?" Zuko asked, crossing his arms as

he looked at his sister.

Azula sighed. "I guess you could say that I came to the same relization as you. The fire nation is feared. If we want to end this war the right way, then we need to be on the right side. That would never happen with the way our nation does things." she explained, looking out over the side of the aircraft, watching the little group on the back of the bison.

"I don't understand. At the meeting, you're the one that gave father the idea to burn Ba Sing Se to the ground!" Zuko nearly raised his voice before remembering they could be spotted if not careful.

Azula turned to look at Zuko, glaring, "Yes, it was my idea. But who's to say it was a good one?"

"What are you talking about!" Zuko snapped, "You just subjected the entire earth kingdom to hundreds of angry firebenders on the day the fire nation is at it's most powerful! The earth kingdom dosen't stand a chance!"

Azula leaned back against the railing keeping them from falling overboard, again glancing at the little group below them.

"It may seem that way brother, but you weren't there, you have no idea how powerful the earth kingdom really is."

Zuko, for his part, just looked confused. How much more powerful could the earth kingdom be?

Seeing his confusion, Azula rolled her eyes and began to explain.

"OK smarty, look, when I was in the earth kingdom, I took reign of the Dia li. I knew for a fact that by the time I got back to the fire nation, father had a meeting scheduled. I knew that he would be looking for a way to get the upperhand over every nation, including the earth kingdom. The only way he would be able to snuff out the little rock throwers compleatly would be by eliminating them entirely. He would without a doubt use the commet to his advantage. With this information in mind, I informed the Dia Li of what I was planning. I would lead father to belive he could wipe out the earth kingdom with the help of the commet. What father does not know is that I warned the Dia Li that he would be coming after them. Ever since that day, the earth kingdom has been preparing for the attack that is sure to happen. Evacuating residants, strengthening their troops. When we went to the meeting, you brought up the hope of the earth kingdom and I realized that this was the best opprtunity to present my little plan, and as I predicted, he took the bait. Now by the time father gets to Ba Sing Se, he won't know what hit him. So really I should thank you, for providing such a generous opening for me to present my idea at that meeting."

Zuko was now stumped. "Why…why would you change sides just like that? Before you even got back to the fire nation you had made up your mind. What made you do it?" he asked quietly, still unbeliving about how this had played out.

Azula looked to him and then down. "It was actually Ty Lee. Belive it or not, I actually care what her and Mai think of me. After I took control of the Dia li, I gave a little… speech. Ty Lee commented how it was terrifying yet inspiring. I knew she was right and brushed the comment off. But later that night, I realized something." she took a breath, looking up to meet her brothers eyes, "I was glad she had found my words inspiring, but something about the way she told me that I was also terrifying struck me, and not in the good way. I'm not sure why but I suddenly felt that maybe terrifying was not such a good thing to be seen as."

Zuko squinted. "You've never had a problem with being terrifying before. You loved it. What changed?" He demanded. He neede to know if she was being sincere. If she was telling the truth. She had spun lies before. If she were lying now- the whole world would be at stake.

"People change Zuzu. You did. Now look at us, we are on the way to join the avatar, as self proclaimed traitors. Life has a funny way of twisting things up." She whispered. Her tone took Zuko by surprise, she almost sounded… broken.

He couldn't blame her, after he considered switching sides- doing the right thing- it left him sick for days. Maybe this was her way of changing.

But…

"…But what about the Avatar?" Zuko asked after a moments consideration. If she was telling the truth, why did she try and kill Aang after she had supposedly "changed"? Why capture Uncle? "You nearly killed him and then conqured Ba Sing Se."

Azula sighed. "People also make mistakes. That was mine, I realize that now, I was still unsure of my choice. I only told the Dia Li after the Avatar got away. However, due to the fact that I was on the fence about switching sides, I struck the avatar with a blow I knew wouldn't kill him. Hinder him? Yes. But not kill him."

Zuko studied his sister. She had admited her mistake, no matter how large of a mistake it was.

She… was sincere. Zuko smiled. A real smile, one Azula had not seen for a long time. Well, now that he was sure she had changed for the better…

"This won't be easy. We don't have their trust. We have to gain it. The only way to defeat the firelord is if we stick together." He said.

"I know. I just we hope get them to belive us before the commet comes. The earth kingdom may be ready to defend themselves, but they will still need help." Azula replied, glancing down to check on the avatar again.

Only to find they weren't there.

"What…Zuko, where are they?" She said, panicked.

Zuko just chuckled lightly. "You have some things to learn about tracking the avatar. Their bison is probably tired, they had more people with them then usual. They must have landed."

"Well then we have to get closer to the ground." she stated.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea… look!" He said, pointing off in the distance to a large rivene that split throught the ground.

"A giant hole… how helpful." Azula muttered sarcastically.

"It's not a giant hole! It's the western air temple. I should have known this is where they would escape to, this is where Aang used to live."

"I'm assuming Aang is the avatar?" Azula asked, trying to mask her curiosity.

Zuko switched gears, lowering them into the split.

"Aang is the avatar, then there are the water tribe siblings, Sokka and Katara."

"And Katara is the waterbender. I heard you two were imprisoned together in Ba Sing Se." Azula raised her eyebrow suggestivly, at which Zuko glared.

"We were only imprisoned because you made it happen. Besides, she was too busy yelling at me for us to… nevermind." Zuko felt his cheeks heat up against his will, to which Azula snickered, before sobering up.

"I'm…sorry. About the imprisonment…" She muttered reluctantly. She was just full of surprises today.

"I accept your apology. But I'm not the one you have to worry about. If she dosen't forgive you, or me, we might not even stand a chance. Aang seems to deeply respect her opinion."

"What about the rest of them, Sokka was it? And what about the blind earthbender?"

"She's blind?!" Zuko asked. He had never noticed before.

"Apparently. One of the reasons I find her skills particularly impressive. What was her name anyway?"

Zuko shrugged. "I haven't heard it. But I assume we'll find out."

The two teens were jostled as the balloon made a shaky landing.

"So what's the plan? Just waltz into their camp and beg for their forgivness?" Azula asked, looking to her brother who looked down at his feet.

"Aaaaaand you don't have a plan. Well this is great."

"I was thinking we could just explain to them our situation. Aang needs a firebending teacher and a direct tap into fire nation knowladge." Zuko answered.

"It also helps that he will have two of the most powerful firebenders on his side along with first hand knowladge about the firelord himself." Azula added, touching her chin thoughtfully.

"Good, so we already have the reasons we would be good additions to the team. Now all we need is to show them we really mean no harm."

Azula sighed. "I suppose that means I should apologize for all I've done… This is a long stretch but perhaps we should show them we have changed."

"A long shot? Try Impossible!" Zuko exclaimed, getting out a long rope to start climbing down to one of the many hanging buildings.

"That isn't the hard part- showing them we have changed- the hard part is doing what we are going to do to show them."

"And what is that, Azula?" Zuko asked, mildly irritated that her train of thought seemed to be going around in circles.

"I happen to know a certian prisoner kept on the boiling rock that Sokka has a particular interest in." she said, glancing at Zuko.

"…That Kyoshi girl."

"Suki is her name I believe. If we free her then that would get Sokka on our side… but what of the others."

"Sokka and Katara's father. He wasnt with them on the Bison, he must have been taken prisoner in the invasion. He might be at the Boiling rock as well, it's a long shot, but it's worth it."

"Let's just try talking to them without getting frozen first."

"Or blown off a cliff."

"Or buried alive"

"Or getting hit in the head with a boomerang."

"What is his obsession with that thing anyway?"

"Beats me."

The two siblings bantered back and forth like they used to all those years ago as children. It was a nice change of pace. Maybe things would be better.

Zuko slid down the rope first, looking up to see Azula right behind him.

Once they touched down on the ground of the hanging building, they were greeted by the sound of a roaring bison and a few chattering voices in the distance.

"That's them… What should we do?" Azula asked, looking to her older brother. It was unlike her to lean on others for help- especially under extreame circumstances- but she wanted to change. To a fourteen year old girl-warrior or not- a big brother made a world of difference.

"Why are you looking at me?" Zuko asked, a bit uncertian of how to care for a younger sister, not that she actually needed to be cared for exactly, he just wasn't used to kindly socilizing with his usually life threatining sibling.

"You are the one that has had the most encounters with them, what do you usually do?"

"…Try to kill them- I don't know Azula! I haven't tried making friends with them, how would I know what to do?"

Azula gave a long-suffering sigh, glaring at the ground in concentration. So much for Big-Brotherly help. "We have to think of something, and fast." She glanced werily at the group flying around up ahead, looking for a place to land

"Let's not get spotted before we come up with a game-plan." Zuko said, cuatiously grabbing onto his sisters wrist and dragging her in the opposite direction of their soon-to-be allies.

A/N- There it is! hope it went over well, let me know and I will see you guys in chapter 4!