A/N: As promised- the next chapter in quick succession! Haha! I hope you all like it- let me know what you think, I always look forward to reading your comments!

(This one isn't super long either- but hey, two posts in one day makes up for it I hope=))

Chapter 5: Pleading

"…All day echo chambers!"

The fire nation siblings could hear the bubbly avatar rambling on about the place he grew up in as they snuck up behind his large bison for cover.

That cover was short lived.

"That's going to have to wait." Toph said, pointing at the now exposed firebenders.

Sokka screamed in a pitch that was never meant for a man and pulled his boomerang out from behind his back, aimig it in a (hopefully) threatning manner at the two.

Katara opened her water-skin, arms raised, ready to attack.

Toph took her battle stance, staring blankly at the ground.

Aang stood and stared at the two people they had learned to fear most.

"...Uh, hello, Zuko and Azula here!" Zuko stated with a wave.

Azula rolled her eyes.

"Enough with that!" She looked at the group of benders- well benders plus Sokka- and pursed her lips.

"I guess you're surprised we're here." Zuko spoke again, prompting his sister to glare at him.

"Not really, considering you followed us around the whole world." Sokka spoke up, slacking in his stance a bit.

Azula sighed. "Ok, look, this isn't easy for us, so it's hard to imagine that it is okay with any of you, but… we would like to join your team."

Silence.

"You wanna what now?" Toph asked, and Azula eyed her curiously.

Zuko stepped forward. "We want to join you in defeating the fire lord. We know that you need a firebending instructor, and we would be happy to help." He nodded to Aang.

At that moment, Appa decided to step in, dragging his giant tounge up Zuko's side. Zuko grimced and rubbed slobber from his eyes while Azula-despite the seriousness of their situation- had to keep from laughing.

"Appa seems to like them." Toph commented as the large bison sniffed at Azula.

"So what! They probably just covered themselves in honey!" Sokka yelled, waving his boomerang around.

"If you think for a second that WE believe-" Katara began but was cut off by Azula.

"What do we have to loose? If we join you, join forces, we are one step closer to ending all of this."

"But at what cost?" Sokka said unkindly.

Azula looked down. "I know-we know- that considering everything we have doen, it must be hard to forgive us-"

"Hard to forgive you!?" Katara cut back, venom lacing her words- which impressed both royal siblings if they were honest, "It's down right impossible! What makes you think you have any right to join us after all the horrible things you two have put us through?"

"That's the point, we don't have any right. But we were hoping you could see past hard feelings. The avatar needs to master firebending and we can help him do that. Besides what about the good things we've done? Like setting your bison free?" Zuko siad, taking another step.

"Once again, Appa does seem to like them."Toph spoke up again.

Azula was just grateful her brother had not mentioned that she was not part of rescuing the bison.

"Hard feelings- you mean towards incidants like when you attacked us in Omashu?" Katara asked hotly, chosing to ignore Toph's inquery all together.

"Or when you ganged up with pirates to hunt us down?" Sokka added.

"Or used my mother's neackless to track us down and capture us?"

"Or when you struck Aang with lightning!?" Sokka screeched at the Fire Nation Princess.

Zuko shook his head, "Look, we know we did a lot of awful things," Azula nodded, guilt- of all things- heavily coursing through her, "Like tracking you down, and trying to kill you, and sending that fire nation assasin to-"

"Wait. YOU sent combustion man!?" Sokka asked as Azula looked at her brother in confusion.

"…W-well that's not his name but-"

"Oh so now you're defending your friend?" Sokka probed.

"He's not my friend!" Zuko snapped back, then instantly pinched the bridge of his nose.

"How about this," Azula said quietly, trying to quell the now heated atmosphere her brother initiated, "If you won't take us as allies," She got down on all fours, an ultimate respect, wacthing from the corner of her eye as Zuko followed suit, "Then maybe you'll take us as prisoners." She dipped her head.

"No," Katara said, readying her water, "We won't!" She unleashed a small wave on them, a warning, knocking them both back a few feet.

"You need to leave, and if you come back… well, you better not come back!" Katara said with finality as she watched them get up and regretfully take their leave.

Before they vanished completly, Appa groaned, and Azula reached out to rub his nose. A small, friendly gesture that did not go unoticed by even Toph, who seemed to be mulling things over as the two fire nation siblings dissapeared from her feet's sight.

Aang remained silent.

There it is! Let me know what you think! I'll chatch you in chpater 6! -Writer out!