"I really hope this isn't one of those urban legends. This was a long trip."

"I'm honestly surprised that someone that has seen so many spirits and supernatural events is this much of a skeptic." Azula said as her and Sokka walked along the path, him occasionally cutting down branches and brush with his space sword.

"I'm never going to not be a skeptic Azula."

"Even though you're friends with the bridge between the spirit and human world?"

"I mean, most of the spirits we've looked into have been a complete bust. Did Katara ever tell you about the painted lady thing?"

"I read reports of it when I was tracking your group. It was comical once I figured out how the troops were fooled."

Sokka turned and gave her a quick kiss before resuming their lovely walk through a humid forest. It was so cute how she didn't realize how creepy she was. "So if you read reports recently you'd know Katara did see the spirit that night, but that spirits don't really show up often. Humans rarely run into spirits at all, let alone get helped or hurt by them. If anything I would just assume your mother died in the forest."

"You really believe that the highborn granddaughter of an Avatar would meet her end in a forest?"

"Princess, if there's one thing living on a pole taught me, it's that nature doesn't care about your status. From what Zuko told me she probably wasn't a firebender, and she wasn't a warrior either. I couldn't picture her lasting more than a few nights in the forest if she never went back to town.

"You may be right." Azula said looking at the ground.

He looked back, slightly saddened that he hadn't had a bit more tact with his words. His wife to be may be cold and hard to read on the best of days, but the look on her face painted a picture clear as day. She was concerned about her mother and what could have happened to her. Under her cold exterior lied a blazing sun of passion that no one else cared to see. While he wasn't paying attention he almost struck...a person? He jumped backwards which also startled Azula.

"You could have cut me you foo…."

They both saw what lied ahead of them. This was no longer human territory. Faces were scattered across the Trees, the bushes, disturbingly enough even on a rabbit's butt.

Sokka had a big stupid grin on his face. "This isn't a bust!"

"You seem awfully happy for someone the spirit could crush like an insect. Aren't spirits even more powerful than the avatar?"

"Well...yea. Even the low level ones like the painted lady could probably beat us with no effort, but from what the villagers said this one was really nice and sends new people into the village every year."

"Yes. Noriko and Ikem seemed to be giving her quite the praise despite claiming that they had never met her."

Sokka rolled his eyes. Here we go. "What do you mean by claiming Azula?"

"My point is they almost seemed to speak of her with a level of familiarity, Ikem's entire body language was shifty. They know more than they let on."

"Why do you always have to be so paranoid Azula? Do you think they did something to Ursa?"

"Those simple commoners? Doubtful. I do think she could have asked them to not tell people where she was going or what happened to her, but they couldn't be too vague otherwise they would seem suspicious."

"Katara though I was a downer into worst case scenarios on missions. Everything is some scheme within a scheme to you."

"Which is why I am never caught off guard."

"except on the boiling rock." he whispered

"What!?"

"Nothing my sweet fire lily." He said with a big derpy smile that calmed her down after a few seconds. Apparently that was one sore spot even he couldn't fix. Well, he could, it would just be exceptionally difficult and awkward. Convincing Mai and Ty Lee to sit down and talk to her was...straining. He wasn't enough of an ass to command them to do so. And their fear of her lead them to turn down any offers to meet her, even when he talked about how she changed and wasn't going to do something to them involving a metal pole, an orifice, and lightning. He sighed before stopping, as Azula lit the ground right in front of his foot.

"You could have burned me you sadistic…."

This time it was Azula who silenced him with a finger over her pouty lips, before pointing into the woods. He didn't see anything for a second, then he saw a flash of light reflect off a surface for a split second. He drew his sword. Surprisingly she talked him down from violence. I think it's a guide.

"A what? Azula I lived on the poles, that's a wolf."

"You said this was one of the nice spirits. If she wants people to find her but wouldn't want to be in the open she would use a spirit guide. She wouldn't want people to get lost or die trying to ask her for help, would she?"

"I guess. I don't try to understand how spirits think. That giant library owl attacked me for practically no reason. I still have nightmares."

"What on earth are you babbling about!?"

"Uh, nothing sweety." He said with another stupid grin. She sighed at him but he didn't mind. In truth he liked slightly aggravating her at times. If you can't annoy the one you love then who can you annoy? He refocused when he heard the bushes rumbling. She was right, it was following them and it seemed to have no pack, which was unusual. He took a step towards it and felt off. "You sure it's a guide?"

"Only one way to be sure."

He stepped towards it and it stood from the bushes. It was at this moment that he realized it was as big as a damn house. It cocked its head to analyze him. "Uh, is this….is this normal here?"

Azula's eye twitched. "Do you think all wolves in the fire nation are as big as houses….and glow?"

"Hey I only spent a few months in your territory before living in the palace. I don't know."

She was pleased when the wolf spirit casually, but lightly, pawed him to the side, although the surprising strength knocked Sokka over. The wolf came up and cocked its head at her. Then began sniffing her. If she didn't know any better she would think it recognized her. She stood still as the giant circled her. Thinking it would simply walk them to the spirit they were seeking. It soon picked her up by the scruff of her armor and began running away with her through the trees.

Perhaps she had been wrong about this spirit after all.

"Hey! Let go of my wife!" Sokka said as he hopped through the trees. This thing was stupid fast. He would not have been able to keep up with it just a few years ago, although for some reason he got the feeling it wasn't going as fast as it could have.

Azula appeared unbothered. As unbother as one could be when being lead around by a giant animal anyway. She figured it would have to put her down or toss her to properly eat her, so as soon as it did she would make her move. Her life would not end as food for some stupid spirit. She knew she couldn't kill a spirit, but perhaps a stream of lightning would annoy it enough to get it to retreat.

Soon enough the fox spirit seemed to slow down to a trot. When it stopped Sokka made his move. He jumped high into the sky and plunged his sword downwards. If this son of a bitch was going to kill Azula it would have to kill him first, and it would have a hell of a fight on it's hands...paws. Whatever. Right before he could touch the damn spirits skin something grabbed his sword and pulled him upward. Once he refocused and his brain could comprehend what he was looking at, he realized it was a hand. A very massive wooden hand. Attached to a very massive spirit. She/it had no eyes or eyebrows, yet somehow he could tell they were not in a good mood.

"Why do you assault my wolf human?"

"I...I thought he was trying to eat the girl I love. We just came into the forest to ask some spirit for help and he snatched her."

She looked at her wolf. He specifically carried this girl. Odd. She motioned for the girl to be put down, then analyzed her face. She sighed. "I give you a beautiful face and you wish to change it? You're just as beautiful as a woman I changed years ago..."

Azula was slightly puzzled. Spirits aren't exactly known for rambling. "No. We were just looking for information on someone who passed through this forest a couple of years ago. At least if they are dead or not."

"Humans rarely die in my forest, and none by my hand if that is what you are suggesting."

"No...I was just making sure. Did you help a woman that looks a bit like me escape from this forest around five or six years ago?" She was slightly unsettled when the spirit appeared pleased at the question.

"Ah! That is why you are so beautiful. Was she your mother?"

"….yes. Could you say which direction you sent her?"

"Oh. You misunderstand."

"What am I misunderstanding? You're a spirit that helps humans. You would have helped her out the forest."

"She exited the forest, but she was not the woman that entered."

Azula froze. A creeping feeling came over her and her blood ran cold. Of course. The information was right in front of her the entire time. Sokka seemed to completely ignore both spirits and ask her what was wrong with her, but she wasn't listening. She looked at him with teary eyes then pushed him away so he wouldn't get hurt. She then used her fists of fire to fly upward, then towards the village faster than she had ever flown before. Her mind was of a singular focus.

Sokka was lost. "What happened? Did you tell her something in her head? Did you scare her!?"

The mother of faces lowered her faces to him, and leaned towards the smiling one. Then she used her finger to pat his head to calm him down. As a human would pat a mouse. "She simply got the answer she came for. Now what is it that you seek?"

"What I seek is to not be confused. I don't even know where she's going or even what her thought pattern was."

"I am the mother of faces. Those who enter are usually seeking a new life. Away from the drama and agony of a past one. I give them a new face, and sometimes, new memories. I am always happy to give one of my children a new persona."

Sokka's feet felt like lead and all he could do is stare at her. He then reacting the only way he knew how. He began pulling on the giant woman's finger as hard as he possibly could.

The mother of faces was puzzled. Her wolf was going to attack the poor boy to protect her, but she didn't feel as if she needed it so she motioned for him to stay where he was. She picked the boy up and put him him her hand so they could speak face to face, to face, to face. "What are you doing?"

"I know where she's going and I need you to come with me! Quick! PLEASE!" Sokka bowed like he never bowed before. He even kissed her wooden palm.

"Enough. I've never spoken to someone as desperate as you. What favor could you possibly require?"

"I need you to bring her mom back. That's the only way to fix this."

"You wish for me to go against the wishes of one that wanted to escape from their past?"

Sokka animatedly waved his arms. "She was escaping from the fire lord and was probably sad that she had to leave her kids behind. My friends and I took locked him up personally. I even watched the avatar take his powers away personally."

Most of that meant nothing to her, but two words peaked her interest. "You're friends with the avatar? I assumed he was lost for the last few decades."

Sokka held back the need to facepalm at her sense of time. "Yes! He's gonna marry my sister in a few years. Great guy. Funny too."

She pulled him closer. "And you're sure the avatar would want this?"

"Yup! He likes big happy families. He wouldn't want to see Azula in pain anymore."

"If you are lying to me, I will throw you into an endless spirit fog that you will not step out of for a thousand years. Now, are you sure the avatar would want this request fulfilled?"

She had had a few people lie to her before, thinking they could deceive her. Slight threats to instill fear usually worked to break them down. She did not expect what the young boy did next.

"You'll help me? Sweet! I can't wait to tell Aang about this. Maybe he can do that meditation thing and thank you personally in spirit world. He's getting really good at it!"

The fool then hugged her cheek and kissed it several times. In all her eons she had never been kissed before. It was an odd sensation, but pleasant. Her wolf once again stood, thinking she needed protection, but she waved him down. She had seen it a few times before with couples and friends she had helped. He was happy and showing affection, albeit to a being that could cause him significant pain or death, but that didn't seem to register in his mind.

He was one hundred percent pure fool, but at least he and his intentions were pure of heart.

Noriko hummed happily as she cut up the vegetables for dinner. Yesterday was nice, even if the girl made things awkward for a few minutes. She had no idea what she could have possibly been driving at, and Noren waved it off as royals being paranoid when the cute young couple left and she let it be.

She had lead a rather simple life with some light traveling, so she knew nothing of royal business or how they behaved. Although she got a strange but strong feeling that she would not enjoy the politics of high fire nation society. No, she was a plain and simple woman that had learned to enjoy the small things in life. Like seeing the smile on her daughters face. Kiyi.

She sighed and put her utensils down. Her daughter would be severely disappointed that she had not gotten to meet the royals as she was spending the night with her friends. On second thought, maybe that was a good thing. The princess seemed as if she could frighten children with just her aura. Some of the things that were said also were not for the ears of children.

She could not wait for her husband and daughter to return from the market with the hippo cow meat. Their family dinners were always pleasant, and she could not wait to hear about her daughters overnight visit. She still couldn't believe how lucky she had gotten in a partner. Out of all the women in the town, the director of the acting troop chose her. He never quite said why. Just that he thought she was more beautiful than any of the other women there inside and out. She thought he was full of hot air every time he said it. Deep down she loved that he felt that way about her though. Through all her flaws, all he saw was his personal princess. Her smile grew wider as she heard the front door open and footsteps coming towards the kitchen.

"Ikem! The vegetables are almost ready! Why don't you get started on the…."

There stood the princess, but it almost seemed as if it was not her. She was a shadow. Her makeup was not perfect as it once was. Her mascara was running, her hair was out of place, her lipstick was just slightly off, and her eyes were crazed.

"W-what can I do for you princess? Is something wrong?"

"You lied." Azula said, tears clear in her voice.

"What?"

In an instant Noriko found herself shoved against the wall. Fear crept into her tone. "Princess I don't understand, why are you doing this!?"

"You lied to me!" She said with a shriek.

"About what my princess?"

"Stop it!"

"Why don't we sit down and calmly talk about this, then we can….."

Azula performed a haughty laugh. " CALMLY!? All these years and now you just want a calm sit down conversation? After you, my own mother, abandoned me without so much as a goodbye."

Noriko saw it now. She wasn't angry. Not really. She was in pain, and trying to push that pain onto someone else, although she didn't know what the whole mother thing was about. She placed her hand on Azula's cheek gently and used a thumb to wipe away a tear."I'm not your mother….and I don't know who is, but I will say sorry."

"Why would you apologize if you weren't my mother!?" Azula was practically seething at this point.

"Anyone who would abandon such a beautiful strong girl is truly a fool, and if I somehow am your mother and don't remember, then I am sorry that I didn't love you enough to stay. You deserved a better mother."

Azula stood frozen once again. Those were the kindest words from her mother she could recount, yet she still stood there. Lying to her. Does she still not love her now? Does she still see her as a monster? She jumped when she heard bags drop at the door.

"Run along Kiyi. Daddy and mommy will be fine." Noren said. Him and Azula stared blankly at each other for a few seconds before he spoke. "Princess Azula….I have a story to tell you."

Hopefully I'm doing the plot I had in my head justice so far. Thank you all for reading. Also I really wanted to thank Alex for being the first person to throw me a few bucks. It really meant a lot. I almost feel like collapsing on my keyboard sometimes since I'm so tired, but it's worth it.