Toph had been having a busy day. Apparently, she was needed down at the council's office. They were trying to figure out how to minimize the new city's crime level. With more and more people moving to this modernized community, the more criminals there would be. However, the real head scratcher was that this city didn't want to enforce immediate executions just for committing a minute robbery like it was done in Ba Sing Se and in the Fire Nation. Sokka had been helping with this situation too. What they needed were guards that would take care of the entire city's crime rate, not just those of high ranking in social status. That is why the Police Force was created. Sokka was already writing down rules, laws, and Toph was recruiting people. That is what she was focused on doing these past few days. That is… until Aang told her they were going back to the Fire Nation.

This made her feel mixed emotions. For one, she was relieved to finally be leaving this crowded town. But she was also on a roll and this disturbance agitated her quite a bit. As she was weighing her options, Katara came up to her, "Are you planning on going with us, Toph?"

"Oh hello, sugar queen. It's nice to see you too. Thank you for asking how I've been doing, you are so thoughtful." She sarcastically remarked.

Katara rolled her eyes but remembered that Toph was blind, "Wow okay, sorry then. But, we are about to head out and I wanted to ask you something."

"What's up?" Toph asked, intrigued.

"Where do you think Azula has been hiding all this time?" Katara said.

"Why are you asking?" Toph suspiciously turned her head sideways.

"I guess you could say that ever since she escaped, I've been on edge. Her past actions haven't made me feel comfortable around her or even the thought of being around her. Especially what she did to Aang, to Zuko, to all of us really. I just really hope we can find her before she does something."

Toph gritted her teeth, "Yeah, I feel you. That lady is so scary that sometimes the thought of her on the loose is unsettling. But if you're asking for my personal opinion, I have the strong sense that she isn't going to stay quiet forever. Ever since she disappeared at Zuko's apology speech at the Fire Nation, she's been hiding and we know her enough to know that she doesn't like to stay still for very long. Especially not when Zuko is ruling the Fire Nation."

"That's true but who exactly do you believe she will be targeting?" Katara asked, with desperation in her tone.

"Oh so that's what you're worried about… I honestly don't know. She might go after Aang to, you know, finish the job. Or she might go after Zuko so that she can claim the throne once again. Or she might even go after you for defeating her all those years ago. Hell, she might even go after me!" Toph exclaimed. It just made Katara feel more nervous and Toph could sense that, "Sorry! Sorry! Totally not helping. Let's just stick together and be ready for any moment she grows the balls to strike. It's Azula we're talking about, she's coy and smart but together, we're smarter."

Katara regained her posture with these words of encouragement, "Thanks Toph. I guess I've needed that. I'm not supposed to tell you yet but Aang has been worried about the state of the world and Azula is still, sadly, a part of it."

"Don't worry about it, Sweetness. We don't want your nerves to burst… Twinkles won't be attracted to you as much if that happens." She joked around with a punch in Katara's arm.

Katara glared and punched her back. Toph smirked as they walked towards the house.

The ride to the Fire Nation was quiet and solemn. Sokka was equally nervous and ecstatic to see Suki once again. Katara and Aang were in their own little world, both sitting on top of Appa's head, occasionally steering Appa. They would cuddle, talk, joke around, but mostly make out. Toph and Momo were snoring so loud it almost sounded like a contest. It was annoying and amusing at the same time. In the distance, Capital City was visible to those with their eyes peeled on the surroundings, AKA Sokka.

He exclaimed aloud in joy, "Look! Look! Suki! Suki!"

Katara and Aang halted their session to look around. Suki was nowhere in sight.

Katara rolled her eyes, "Sokka… Suki isn't going to magically appear out of thin air. Let's just wait until we make it so that we can surprise her as planned."

"Yes, I agree. You're taking this too far, man. It'll drive you nuts." Aang said with concerned eyes.

"Ok, fine! But all your guys' oogies are going to actually drive me mad so if you could all just pause until you get a room… that would be very helpful, thanks." Sokka surrendered with his arms crossed over his chest and disgust on his face.

After Sokka finally got off the young couples' backs, Katara began to speak to Aang in a hushed tone, "So, I was thinking… that maybe Zuko's mom can also help us with finding her. Once we explain everything to the team, after Zuko, Ursa knows Azula more than anyone. Because I am quite certain that no one is going to want to ask Ozai about any of this."

"You're right. It's not like that man is going to give up information about his daughter for free." Aang said, after thinking of her proposition for a good minute.

"When exactly should we bring this up? After the festival or…? The sooner we speak to them about this situation, the safer we'll be and the more alert we can stay-"

"No! That is out of the question, Katara." Aang retaliated.

"But why Aang?! You didn't even hear me out!" Katara yelled back.

"Because I don't want to be the reason for them to lose this time they could use to enjoy themselves for once! Sokka was right, the only times we are all together as a family is when there is a battle in our way." He reasoned with Katara.

"I understand you… I really do! But they should be the ones to decide. We knew what we were getting into when we decided to be part of your team! By not telling them, we are putting them and everyone around us in danger! You need to see that." She insisted.

Aang looked away with sorrowful eyes, "I'm sorry Katara but my mind is made up. Please respect my decision."

"Damn it!" Katara yelled as she stormed off to the back of the saddle, next to Toph. Sokka looked at Aang and back at Katara with a befuddled expression.

"What the hell just happened?" He whispered to himself. Next thing you know, Appa groaned signaling that they had arrived at the palace. Appa began to circle down in the air until he gracefully landed on top of the fire bending training grounds.

Sokka was the first who jumped off. Aang followed second along with Momo. Katara was on "waking up Toph" duty. She splashed the earth bender in the face with water, knowing that nothing else would wake her up on command like that. Toph shot up from her sleeping position and yawned loudly. Katara hopped off and so did Toph, in a very drowsy manner. They walked past the guards and told them to not announce their arrival right away. One of the servants led them to where Zuko was. They made it to the Turtle Duck Ponds. There, they found Zuko in his royal robes laying his head on top of Mai's laps. They looked adorable which is something they would never expect from this particular couple.

Mai heard footsteps coming their way and reacted first. She hastily turned around with her knives at hand just in case but quickly softened when she saw who it was.

She regained her monotonous expression and just sighed, "Never mind, it's just you guys." Zuko turned around and smiled.

He waved at them, "Oh hi! What an unexpected surprise!"

Everyone came up to the couple, greeting them with hugs and awkward smiles. Everyone in the group had grown fond of Mai. Her boring aura was astoundingly enjoyable. Katara and Mai had become quick friends, both of them enjoying physical training and learning about different cultures. Toph and Mai were also good acquaintances. Toph doesn't rely too much on showing her emotions and neither does Mai which was something they had in common. Aang's bubbly personality reminded Mai of Ty Lee, so she found him good company. Meanwhile, Aang found joy in everyone so that was not surprising at all. Sokka and Mai didn't talk much but they found each other bearable. Thus far, Suki and Mai spoke the most considering Suki's role at the palace. They would both train together and they would even joke around. Mai would mostly be the one listening or listing dark jokes that Suki didn't know she enjoyed.

"Why did you guys come here now of all dates? Aren't your presences needed back at the growth of Cranefish town?" Zuko asked with confusion and happiness on his face.

"Well, we sort of took a break from all that crap. It was getting awfully overwhelming. Snoozles wants to see Fan girl, Twinkletoes wants to take Sugar Queen out on that festival thingy, and I was sadly dragged along." Toph explained.

Sokka shot back, "Hey! Today you were the one sleeping on the way over here. My nickname should be revoked." Toph did her best at rolling her eyes but failed, "Anyways, do you know where I can find Suki?"

Zuko laughed at their small banter, "Well… I'm not sure but she should still be down at the palace prison. They just locked someone away, but you should definitely go check it out." With that note, Sokka dashed out of the gardens on his way to the hallway that leads downstairs into the dungeons.

"What's his deal?" Asked Mai with an eyebrow raised.

"Relationship problems." Katara murmured. Mai then left out a soft 'oh'.

As Sokka ran down the stairs, he made it to the dungeon. In there were the most notorious prisoners of the Fire Nation. As he frantically ran through the hallways looking for his beloved, the criminals gave him weird stares wondering what the hell this weirdass was doing.

As Sokka paused to breathe, he heard the most beautiful voice in the world. He followed it and was led to a guards room.

"Suki!" He exclaimed in happiness.

The gorgeous kyoshi warrior turned around and smiled. She ran into his arms giving him a feet swooping kiss. "Sokka! I've missed you!"

"Really?!" Sokka grinned.

"Of course! Why would I not?" She said in between lengthy tongue kisses.

Suki's co-workers, fellow warriors, looked in amusement and disgust. They cheered for the reunited couple.

"I thought you wouldn't want to see me considering how strained it has been with this distance thing." He whimpered.

"Oh Sokka, I know it's been tough but it does not mean I love you any less. Always until the end, remember? We fight in battle and in the name of love." She looked at him with sadness and pure adoration.

Sokka teared up, "I love you, my kyoshi warrior."

"I love you more, my southern water tribe warrior."

In between long and passionate kisses, he countered back, "No I love you more."

"No, I do!"

"No, Suki, I do!"

The couple began to bicker and the Kyoshi warriors began to feel awkward. They quietly left them alone. They needed their space, and their privacy. They couldn't help but be curious, however. What would they do next?

It was quite obvious…

Sex.

Festivals are a celebration of life. They bring peace and joy to humanity, reminding them what it means to be alive. Numerous festivals are hosted worldwide. However, the Fire Nation is known for their advanced technologies, rich society, tyrannical governors, their spicy food, and their amazing parties and festivals.

General Iroh, 2 years back, had invented a new holiday. An excuse to celebrate the art of tea once a year. National Tea Day. For the years this festival has been thrown, it has always been a blast to the attendants.

Different shades of red decorated every cranny, the streets were filled with junk food and merchants, there were hanging lights all around, candles lighting up even the darkest corners, performances cheering up the crowd, and loud music to make everyone feel vividly better. Some would argue that the best thing there was the amount of tea served. Tea of all varieties and flavors. Needless to say, no one would sleep through these sorts of festivals.

Team Avatar had decided to arrive together, prior to getting ready. Katara was wearing her traditional Fire Nation getup but this time with a fire nation jewel in her hair. Aang wore red robes and the school belt that he wore on his head. He thought it would be funny if someone from the Fire Nation school would recognize him. Sokka wore his Wang Fire costume minus the beard. Katara scolded him and told him it was ridiculous and tacky so he decided to take it off. There were lots of tears. Toph and Suki also wore their regular Fire Nation outfits. Zuko and Mai really leveled down on their royal clothing. Zuko wore his shaggy black hair loose and Mai kept her hair in her half-up and half-down hairstyle.

"I don't know about any of you, but I'm really excited!" Sokka exclaimed. Everyone agreed.

"The food smells amazing!" Toph sniffed the air and Sokka joined her.

"Come on! Let's go, Toph. We'll catch up with everyone else later!" Sokka yelled through the loud crowd.

"I'll go too!" Suki budded in and followed them.

Aang and Katara stepped aside to talk privately, "Look Aang, I'm sorry for picking a fight with you earlier. I just really think that everyone would be safer if they knew. Especially at a big gathering like this one."

Aang sighed, "I'm sorry too, for yelling. We can tell them in a bit, I promise. For the meantime…"

"Shall we dance?" He asked with a cheesy smile.

Katara blushed and nodded as he took her hand and twirled her into his arms.

They held hands at a distance, letting the rhythm control their movements. All the scenery and people around the waterbender and airbender dissolved. It was just them, alone.

Her sapphire eyes glistened in the candlelight, and a smile spread across her beautiful face.

Uncontrollable feelings surged through their bodies as they rejoined hands, and Aang's fingers tingled in delight. His hand brushed across her cheek. Their bodies were acting on their own, no chains to hold them back from this pure paradise.

He drew her closer to his chest, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

The booming music was drowned out through their ears, only hearing their loud hearts thumping… struggling to contain overwhelming emotions being held back in their chests. Katara's chocolate locks fell over her eyes in loops, like ribbons blocking out the moonlight of the night.

She began to withdraw her hand to brush away her hair, but his hand clutched onto hers. He carefully laid her thin hand on his broad shoulder. He delicately tucked her locks behind her ear, and her oceanic eyes twinkled back at him in adoration.

Her lips went to his ear as she whispered ever so softly.

"You know how to be romantic, even if you can be a bastard sometimes. But, honestly, so can I." She admitted, breathlessly.

"Me? A bastard? Never." He smiled innocently.

She set her head on his shoulder. They continued to dance, too lost in each other to halt. Time passed as they were lost in their very own thoughts. The world seemed to be against them recently, not letting them breathe together in harmony. Too many problems to solve that these teens had to attend and fix.

She brought her head up and sleepily opened her eyes. She leaned in and planted her lips on his. Her arms wrapped around his neck and his arms wrapped around her waist. It was a passionate kiss. Two lovers just dancing, forgetting all their problems.

They separated and walked away from the dance floor. "Let's get something to eat?" Katara asked. Aang hummed in agreement, as he held Katara close to him.

They made it to a fire-dog stand and asked for corn-on-the-cob and for a mild fire-dog. The man started making their food without even looking up at his customers. He wrapped their food in foil and handed it to them. "That would be-" The man finally noticed who he was serving and gasped so loudly that not even the music could muffle him, "The Avatar and his girlfriend?! You can have your food for free!"

Aang scrunched his eyebrows, "No, it's okay sir. I can pay."

The man insisted, "No! Please don't pay me. As a fire nation citizen, I found it torture living under Fire Lord Ozai's rules. Think of this as a thank you. Please, I insist."

Aang was going to say something but instead surrendered. He offered the man a friendly smile, "Thank you sir. You are a very kind man." Katara mouthed thank you as well before the couple walked away.

"That was nice." Katara whispered.

"Yeah, it was. Let's find the rest of our friends so that we can finally warn them of the impending danger." Aang said as he ate his corn.

Suddenly, the sound of a man screaming in agony behind interrupted them. There were multiple gasps filling the air. Aang and Katara pushed through the crowd. They also gasped when they saw the man, who served them food just seconds ago, bleeding on the floor. He had multiple open burns all over his arms and upper torso.

Everyone fixed their gaze upwards and saw the one woman who had been missing for an entire year.

Zuko, Mai, Sokka, Suki, and Toph emerged from the crowd, seeming to also have heard the loud scream.

"Nice to see you again, Avatar." She said while holding a ball of blue fire in her palm.

"Azula." Aang hissed. Team Avatar took their fighting stances as the crowd began to shriek and panic. People began to run in all directions, doing their hardest to get away from the ex-princess's line of sight.

"It's a real shame, don't you think? This man dared to speak badly of our Phoenix King. Disgrace." Azula spat.

Zuko spoke up, "Zula. Get down from there. We need to talk, like civilized people."

"You want to talk like civilized peasants, Zuzu?! You put me in a mental hospital, in the worst, most vicious and vile prison in the Fire Nation, but you want to treat me with dignity all of a sudden?!" Zuko gulped.

"Well, it's not gonna work on me like it did last year. I won't let mother hurt me again!" She yelled as she got off the roof of the cart she was standing on. With a front flip, she kicked her blue fire in their direction which they barely managed to dodge.

"Katara! Get the innocent people to evacuate!" Sokka yelled. Katara nodded and dashed off but not before sending Aang a look of concern his way.

They immediately got into action. Aang blocked another blast of fire with water bending. Toph shook the ground underneath Azula, then sent her catapulting into the air. Azula punched and kicked fire balls like rain on them from above. Once she landed in a ninja like form, she brought her fingers to her mouth and whistled. Platoons of Ozai Loyalists emerged from the shadows.

They began to fight against the group of war heroes, diverting our attention from Azula to the loyalists.

Azula smirked, "Where do you think I've been all this time? If not building an army, what would I be doing? I'm surprised none of you thought of it. Oh well, what's done is done."

"She's trying to separate us! To make us easier to attack! Stay together!" Suki yelled loudly as she chi-blocked five men at once. She didn't even bring her fans.

Mai threw quick and precise daggers at an incoming attack, pinning her target down. Someone came from behind her so she ducked and threw a knife at his arm, stabbing him in place. The man yelled in agony.

Sokka grabbed a butcher's knife from nearby to slice at his opponents, using his nearby resources as help. He even used a chicken to bite at one of his attackers.

Aang kept his eye focused on Azula. He used his airbending to move the attackers to the side but they kept coming back. So he used earthbending to go underground. He made a tunnel that led him right behind Azula. However, once he rose out of the earth, she was on the other side, teasing him with a wave. Aang was going to go after her until Sokka came up behind him, panting restlessly.

"Aang! What are you waiting for? Use the Avatar State already!" He yelled while trying to catch his breath.

"I know Sokka. But I can't do that without hurting everyone else. Plus, remember what happened last time?" Aang reasoned.

Sokka scoffed, "Spare me the goody goodness! They are the ones attacking so if they get hurt, so be it!"

"No! I won't just be hurting them, I can kill them! No one deserves that."

Zuko joined in on the conversation, "If you two are done bickering, we need to focus on capturing the star of this operation. Azula."

Sokka took a deep breath, "You're right, where did she go?" Aang looks at the spot Azula was supposed to be waiting for them but she wasn't there anymore.

Mai yelled in the distance, "A little help here! More keep emerging from the dust!"

"Yeah! Come on and help us, you dumbasses!" Toph complained.

Meanwhile, Katara had just finished getting everyone out of the battlefield. Everyone was worried and in panic mode but she assured them that the Avatar and his friends would make sure nothing escalated. Katara began to run quickly back to the clearing. You could see bodies and elements being thrown into the sky. This was bad.

Azula stood there on top of a tree, waiting for her prey like a leopard. She saw Katara in the distance, approaching. "There she is." Azula murmured to herself. She then proceeded to jump down from the tree and drew in a deep breath. She twirled her two fingers in the air and created circular motions. Electricity began to appear around her body.

The familiar cackling of the lightning could be heard by everybody. Everyone in battle looked towards the sound and saw Azula aiming her cold fire towards Katara. Team Avatar gasped.

"Sugar Queen! Watch out!" Toph yelled as soon as she noticed this.

Katara turned around in time and gathered a huge amount of water from the trees around her. She quickly made a sphere, considering her natural reflexes were faster than Azula's.

She threw the water at Azula just as the lightning sprouted from her fingertips. The electricity collided with the water and began to sizzle and electrocute the other element, also electrocuting whoever was in control of these particular elements. Katara and Azula.

They both shrieked in surprise and fell onto the floor as their bodies suffered through the shock. They screamed as the pain flowed through their chi pathways. Azula recovered first and groaned frantically. She limped away and used her firebending to boost herself out of there before Team Avatar could even arrive.

Aang ran up to his girlfriend in worry, "Katara! Katara! Are you okay?!"

Katara gave a weak smile, "Yeah, it was just a shock, that's all." She got up and directed her attention towards the battle ahead of them. Azula had fled early leaving her troops behind to fend for themselves. Now this was going to be easy.

Katara used the extra water to freeze her opponents in place. Sokka and Suki incapacitated their opponents using chi-blocking and some mild stabbing. Mai pinned everyone in her path down using her knives, daggers, arrows, and martial arts. Zuko used a fire circle to burn anyone and everyone 7 feet close. Toph and Aang flipped her attackers underground. Soon enough, they won. Without Azula unsettling them, they could have defeated them much sooner.

Toph smiled proudly, "Up top, Sugar Queen! That was some quick thinking."

Katara frowned, "Yeah but I have the strong feeling that it wasn't the last time we'll see her."

"It's Azula, of course not." Zuko sighed.

Aang looked at Katara and back at his friends, "There is something I should tell you guys. Something Katara warned me I should've told you all before. More danger is approaching our way. Danger that Azula is nothing compared to."

Quick Author's Note:

This chapter took a while, for some reason. I couldn't get a good flow on it until today. This story will not be centered on Azula, I promise. Azula is just they're prologue, dare I say the prelude. Just the introduction, I promise. This will have a lot to deal with new spirits not mentioned in any of the comics or shows.

Speaking of the comics, this story, as you well know, is based on the comics. I saw a review made on this story about how the last chapter was confusing. I'm sorry, I know. It was meant to be a time-jump. I hope this chapter cleared up any possible befuddlement between you guys, the readers. Azula escaped in "The Search" comics. She and Team Avatar were on a mission searching for her mother. They found her but she ran away in panic. She was unstable in the comics. Obviously, she came back in the "Smoke and Shadow" comics but she escaped again.

Basically, here I made it seem like she disappeared for an entire year. As you all saw, she came back and she is ready to wreak havoc again. For a short period of time. I hoped that summed it up, Angel Wraith and to the other readers who were confused. See you soon! :)

-kataangforeverrr13