Aang sat in a large clearing, his head empty with his hands resting open on his knees.

Breath in.

Breath out.

Breath in.

Breath out.

Aang focused his mind. He tried to reach out to the energy around him and focus on the world around him. The words in Mai's brief letter swirled in his mind, focusing his consciousness. Maybe if he could contact past Avatar Asa, he could ask her about the prophecy. Maybe he should contact Avatar Roku instead? There were so many places to begin, Aang struggled to focus on where to start.

One stray thought popped into his mind, then another, then another! Aang took a deep breath in, and tried to focus his thoughts again. Prophecy. Avatar Asa…threat to the Fire Nation…

Aang opened one eye with hope building in his chest. He groaned. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Aang flopped back on the ground, flailing his arms. "This is useless. How can I speak with past Avatars if I can't even focus my thoughts!"

"You're trying too hard, twinkle-toes." Toph stomped into the clearing and slumped down next to him.

Aang threw a hand across his eyes dramatically. "You think so," he groused.

Toph picked at the toe jam between her toes idly. "I can practically feel your brain turning in your noggin. Stop it."

"Well I can't help it." Aang crossed his arms stubbornly. "I need to help everyone, but how can I when I can't even ask the past Avatars for help?"

Toph shrugged. "That's your problem. You're waiting for some brilliant rock to strike and spark an idea."

Aang sighed. "I guess you're right." He cast a sidelong glance at her. "What are you doing over here anyway?"

"Katara's on a cleaning rampage, and I want no part of it."

Aang laughed. "She does do that before leaving anywhere, doesn't she."

Toph groaned. "Ugh, I can literally feel your heart rate pick up whenever anyone brings her up. It's disgusting, you know that right?"

Aang poked her, rolling his eyes. "I can't help that I love her, Toph. She's just…so amazing! and beautiful, and-"

Toph pressed her hands against her ears. "Enough already, geez. You're going to be horrible when she leaves, great balls of rock."

Aang pouted. "I'm not that bad. I can't help it, I'm going to miss her."

"Have you told her that?" Toph said with a pointed look. Aang was silent. Toph sighed. "Why is she going anyway?"

"The Earth King knows her well, and she's going to make sure Sokka doesn't spend all his money, plus…she wanted to go and I can't make her stay; that would be wrong," Aang explained. He rubbed the top of his head absentmindedly.

"You didn't answer me," Toph said tiredly. "Does she know you are going to miss her and don't want her to leave."

Aang huffed. "I tried to tell her, but she just thought I was trying to persuade her which I guess I was, but that's not the point."

Toph hummed, getting up on her feet and stretching. "Well you better tell her fast because Suki just arrived."

He bounced up, grabbing his flying contraption. "Really! Already! But it's too early!"

Toph punched his shoulder. "You're too wrapped up in your own head. I keep on telling you that's your problem."

Aang smiled at her, his grin almost too wide like a toddler's. "But it's also a part of my many charms"

Toph huffed. "Go on ahead, I'll meet you guys on the beach."

Aang jumped on his glider, taking a running start. From the sky he saw Appa on the beach and two small little ants on top of him. Aang touched down with a bound, running over to his best friend, giving him a warm and fuzzy welcome. "Appa! It's good to see you!" He stuffed his head in Appa's fur. Appa moaned amicably, shuffling his feet and headbutting Aang back, licking the side of his head. Aang giggled.

He turned to the newcomers, Ty Lee still on the saddle and Suki just touching down. He bowed down in a traditional Airbender greeting. "Hi Suki! Hi Ty Lee! I'm glad you guys could make it."

The two girls, in their Kyoshi uniforms smiled like twins. "I'm glad we could stop by," Suki said.

"SUUUUKIIIII!"

They all turned to look as Sokka came running towards them with his arms wide, and his smile even wider.

The Kyoshi warrior stumbled back as Sokka latched himself on to her. She hugged him back just as strongly. "Sokka," she said breathlessly, softness seasoning her words.

Katara came walking behind her brother, greeting everyone with that charming smile Aang loved. "Hey, nice of you guys to pop by." She stopped beside Aang, her hand brushing his in greeting. She carried a large bag on her shoulder, her hair was braided up like it had been back in the South Pole. Toph and Momo came not too far behind, greeting Suki and Ty Lee.

"Where's Azula?" Suki asked, looking around the camp with Sokka still hanging off of her, her own arm wrapped safely around his back. "Is she giving you guys too much trouble?"

Katara nodded to the tent that was separated from the rest of the camp with a disdained look painted on her lips.

"She's taking a break from our training this morning," Aang said lightly, a fake smile plastered to his lips. Memories of the painful session that morning making him wince.

Suki wrinkled her nose. "That bad?"

Aang puckered his lips like he had eaten a sour lychee berry. "I wouldn't say it went well."

"How is she?" Ty Lee asked softly, hopping down from Appa's saddle with her own bag strung over shoulder.

Aang looked her over. He had only met Ty Lee a few times, and the only things he really knew about her were from what he had learned from their scary interactions while in the Earth Kingdom and from the word of mouth. People that knew her dearly exclaimed at how loveable and amiable she was, always describing her smile and bright atmosphere that she brought with her everywhere. However, the older girl in front of him seemed like she had a mask on rather than an honest smile. "I think she's doing better out here in the wilderness," Aang finally said.

He migrated towards her and held out his arms for a hug. "Nice to see you again, Ty Lee. I'm glad you agreed to come."

There was the open smile and warmth Aang expected, the mask gone in a flash. Ty Lee hugged him tightly, bouncing light on her feet. "Thanks for inviting me, Avatar Aang! I don't know how much help I will be, but if I can help Azula in anyway, I will try."

"If anyone can, I'm sure you'll get to her," said Toph gruffly, stomping into the clearing.

Katara swung her arms around Toph, and Aang could tell Toph appreciated it. Sokka ruffled Toph's hair with a grin, looking as gangly as ever. Toph came to stand by Aang as the travelors readied their supplies by tying them onto Appa's saddle.

"Well, are you ready to head out?" Suki asked, unraveling herself from Sokka to hug the rest of the group. She nodded to Katara's bag. "Got everything you need?"

Katara beamed. "Yeah, I think so."

"Thanks for going…Katara," Aang said, mustering up the courage to smile at her. Katara looked at him, their eyes the same level with his new growth spurt.

"Thank you Aang for understanding. I'll be back in no time, don't worry." Katara held out her arms to him and Aang held her close.

"I'm going to miss you," he mumbled into her shoulder. "Sorry if I was pushy."

Katara stepped back with a bittersweet smile. "It's okay. I understand where you're coming from, but I'll be back soon. Ba Sing Se needs me."

Sokka slung an arm around Aang's shoulder and pulled him into a half hug. "Have fun with the crazy sister, and send Hawky if anything goes wrong, okay?"

With a wave and a groan, Appa lifted the crew into the sky, and just like that half the Gaang was gone.

"Looks like its just the crazy ones left," said a bored voice behind them.

Azula was leaning up against a tree looking at the small group of them with half-lidded eyes.

Aang could feel a chill in the air as he watched a look pass between the old friends. Ty Lee suddenly turned to him. "I'm going to go get settled."

"I'm going to go plot something evil," Azula said sarcastically, retreating back into her tent.

Aang looked over at Toph, she in turn swiveled to face him. "Well this is going to be fun," they said in unison.

Hello Readers! Here is another update where we get to see what Aang and Azula are doing as things start to get a little deeper into the plot and deeper into Azula's redemption. We will get to see more from Mai and Zuko in two weeks, but I hope you liked this small little chapter. School has been hitting me hard this semester and I have a few chapters laid out for the next few updates, so please look forward to new chapters coming soon! Please leave a comment, favorite, or follow if you would like, and until I write again, TTFN!