Before anything else, I own nothing but the original characters, and content therein related to them. Avatar: The Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon, and any mentioned creator's work belongs to them, and them alone.

Book Two. Hellfire.

Chapter 1 The Fire Lord's Favor Returned.

The trip back to the Fire Nation was a long and slow one. Azula and all present company first were escorted via carriage to the nearest port that could accommodate the royal procession, then upon arriving at the naval base, needed to wait nearly a week for the sloop to receive their direction and reach them. After which, another week at sea was expected to be endured at an economic speed alongside two cruisers. One a standard cruiser that had been modified to house three decks of guns, and the other, the new Lightning Class light cruiser.

The newer ship sat shorter than the old standard cruiser, missing two entire decks from its hull, as well as an additional deck from the tower. The distinct bow crest and ramp had been removed completely owing to a lower profile, but the most notable change was the inclusion of two squat cylindrical turrets forward of the tower, one after another, each containing two large muzzle loaded cannons, and their magazine loading elevators directly aft of them.

Only a day's journey now from the Fire Nation capital of Caldera, (a name that Connor chuckled at, now that he realized the pronunciation in common sounded similar to the Spanish word for boiler,) Connor sat on the side of the ship's rail, tempting fate to swallow him into the sea once more. Looking up at the moon, Connor shook his head.

"Careful…" Connor heard Azula say from behind him. "I don't want to be the one explaining to the Fire Lord why you drowned."

Connor swung one leg back onto the deck, and straddled the railing as he faced Azula. "Suicide sounds reasonable." Connor shrugged.

"You're still upset about Ba Sing Se?" She asked, crossing her arms.

"And you aren't?" Connor asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Azula pulled her cloak around her shoulders tighter. "In truth…" She glanced towards the door of the conning tower, then the hatches that led below deck. "I… I'm furriose. Ba Sing Se, in one form or another, was supposed to be my conquest once we infiltrated the city. Minister Qin had no right to pull the rug out from under us and take the city by force."

"That's what upsets you about all this?" Connor asked, putting both feet on deck and standing up to face Azula.

"What do you want me to say?" Azula asked as she narrowed her eyes. "That I regret deciding to kill The Avatar once and for all? That I feel guilty about manipulating the people to their own nation's downfall? What needless conscientious objection must I present, Connor?"

"Perhaps the objection to savage and barbaric attacks on civilians!" Connor said loudly. Azula resisted the urge to step back a pace, showing no signs of fear. "I'm not dumb, I hear soldiers joke about it, and that prisoner we took was scared shitless I was going to rape her." Connor scratched the back of his head as he exhaled forcefully. "I kept my opinions to myself because I'm the stranger here, but the way I see it your war went too far when Qin invaded Ba Sing Se after we'd already won it's heart."

Azula scoffed. "War means victory is to be achieved at any cost. What should it matter who's caught in the middle of it?"

"That's…" Connor paused. "Not how war's supposed to be waged." He said before sighing, knowing he'd said it himself that how their two people fought was not to be meddled with. "A proper war is supposed to be soldier against soldier." Connor turned and leaned against the ship's side rail.

Azula stepped up beside him and looked out over the sea to the North, finding their light cruiser escort ship not too far away. "War is just a means to an end. One nation obtaining what it wants through force. What rules you might believe about it only matter when everyone involved agrees to them… And I assure you, The Earth King's army has no issue with committing their own atrocities, as I'm sure you'd call burying an entire town in a landslide."

Connor hung his head. "All is fair in love and war." He said to himself in English, though Azula caught most of what he said, and looked at him inquisitive. "Poet from my world… He'd agree with you."

Once port had been made in the city of Caldera, the procession ferried both Azula and Zuko on palanquin to the palace, with Connor, Mai, and Ty Lee riding beside them on komodo-rhino. Their entrance was not grand or celebrated, for the ceremony would be saved for the next day once the group had rested from their journey and were clothed appropriately.

Upon their return, Azula, with Connor by her side, met with Fire Lord Ozai in the throne room. The flaming reservoir of oil between the throne and the rest of the room burned low in the early morning.

"Princess Azula, it is good to see you return home." Lord Ozai said, as both Azul and Connor bowed to him. "Arise, my daughter." As Azula stood, Connor remained on his knees. "If what War Minister Qin tells me is correct, Ba Sing Se has finally fallen."

"Yes, my lord. The Earth Kingdom's armies officially surrendered once the walls fell." Azula said, regretting her lack of motivation to include the real reason the city crumbled in her message home. Feeling as if she could push the envelope, Azula continued. "I would however like to point out that War Minister Qin's destruction of the walls was not the reason the city was concurred."

The Fire lord raised an eyebrow. "Oh… Then what allowed us to capture the city?"

Azula decided to keep both her and Connor's names out of the story for the moment, as it would look incredibly bad if her father found out she'd intentionally armed the Earth Kingdom with knowledge of how to make guns. "A resistance from within the city formed, and overthrew the Earth King as an unfit leader… It seemed as though some manner of soldier, or refugee had recreated the hand cannon. Their spread throughout the city led to the toppelling of the crown. War Minister Qin invaded only after the kingdom had become disillusioned with the war and its continuation. Though with his occupation of the city chosen over an alliance with the new government, I can only imagine it's a matter of time before another uprising takes place."

Lord Ozai hummed at this. "I'd read in your message home that you had killed The Avatar, permanently."

Azula spoke, both confidently and quickly. "While the plan to end The Avatar cycle was mine, I can not take credit for the death of The Avatar…" Azula looked down to Connor, who was still on his knees.

"He was the one who killed The Avatar?" Ozai asked, sounding surprised. Connor swallowed a lump in his throat, a bead of sweat dripping past his ear, as anger and fear swelled in equal. Azula nodded once. Ozai chuckled mostly to himself, as Connor looked up at The Fire Lord. "Tell me, how did you, a non-bender do it?"

Connor cleared his throat. "I…" Connor paused for only a second, coming up with as convincing a lie as he could. "I... I was patient... I waited as he fought Azula and Zuko, and when he used his full power…" Connor looked up at Azula briefly as if to check if his words were accurate.

"The Avatar left himself open, and vulnerable to an attack from behind." Azula said. "Zuko recognized The Avatar State for what it was, and ordered Connor to strike him down from behind."

Connor inhaled shortly. "I drew a gun, loaded with nails… And shot him… As ordered… Wounds like that…"

"Near impossible to survive." Azula interjected, glancing down at Connor for the briefest of moments. "He was dead before he could fall to the ground…" Azula was unsure of that, having survived being shot herself. "I would however like to add that the Earth Kingdom had made plans for an invasion on the upcoming eclipse, The Avatar supposedly leading the charge. It's not entirely out of the realm of possibility that a rebellious general would still lead his men against the Fire Nation, despite The Avatar's death."

Ozai stroked his chin. "Yes… Preparations will be made in any event… But without The Avatar, any chance that The Earth Kingdom has at resisting my rule now, is all but fantasy." Azula, for once, was doubtful of her father's claim. Ozai looked at Connor again. "I can not thank you enough for what you have done in the betterment of The Fire Nation, no, the betterment of the world."

Connor shrugged almost pathetically. "I was just following orders."

"And follow them you did." Ozai smiled thinly. "Your name will forever echo through the halls of history, as one of our most honored heroes… Rise, Sir Campbell." Connor stood, accepting his title, though with closed eyes. "As rewarded you for all you have done, I Fire Lord Ozai, grant you both citizenship, and a deed to lands within The Fire Nation, so that you might better serve the nation yet."

Connor opened his eyes, though looked down as he spoke. "I would be honored." He lied.

The following day, the fire siblings and Connor under his title of a hero were welcomed back to The Fire Nation with cheers and applause in the royal port's plaza. Despite the fancy dress, and celebration to be had, Connor tuned out most of what he was hearing, seeing it all as the formalities of yet another empire indulging itself in its own grandeur.

Later, Connor retired to his old room in the palace grounds for the night, before he was set to move into one of the city's many more luxurious single family homes, nursing a bottle of rum he'd kept to aid in his sleep.

Meanwhile, Azula sat with her father at dinner. They ate in silence. It was done more so out of circumstance than any amount of familial love. They'd happened to have chosen the same dining room within the palace, and neither refused the other's company. As she ate, Azula glanced at her father, before pouring herself a small cup of rice wine from the pitcher nearest her. She sipped from her glass, and the comforting burn the wine provided was… Disappointing. This wasn't the first time she'd had the same rice wine, and yet all the same it left her wishing for something stronger… She brought her fingers to her lips, remembering the dark caramelized taste of sugar from the rum she'd had before infiltrating Ba Sing Se, and the drink's equally aggressive bite.

Seeing his daughter look lost in thought, Ozai spoke. "Does something trouble you?" He asked.

Azula's attention snapped to her father. "Just pondering on the future of the nation now that the Earth Kingdom has fallen." Azula said.

Ozai hummed at this. "I suppose that is something on everyone's mind as of late." Ozai said, before he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "And I suppose as well that when speaking of the future, now is as good a time as any to discuss yours, Azula."

Azula looked at her father, before drinking more of her wine. "What is there to discuss?" Azula asked, as she set her glass down. "Zuko has returned home, his honor restored. My right to the throne has been superseded by his. When the time comes and he is eventually crowned Fire Lord, barring extenuating circumstances, I will have been relegated to courtly duties, or have taken up governorship of a province or colony, or at the least have become an officer within the home guard." Azula said.

Ozai didn't roll his eyes, knowing full well Azula was never good with social cues, by his own doing. "I am not talking about your choice of career, Azula."

"Oh…" Azula said, looking at her father.

Ozai cleared his throat. "Speaking frankly, while I believe Zuko has proven his birthright worth restoring, he is still of a physically diminutive stature for his age, and the woman he no doubt intends to wed, is far too scrawny… Unless a marriage is arranged for him, of which I'm sure he would protest to in every way, I would not be surprised if within a decade he does not produce an heir."

Azula kept her initial comments to herself. "So that's what this is about." She thought.

"In considering your future, also consider the royal family's bloodline." Ozai started. "You are far stronger than your brother. If in the event he can not spawn a successor to the throne, it would ultimately be your duty as the princess to assure the Fire Nation will continue to have strong leaders."

"I…" Azula blinked. "I will consider the matter, Father."

"I'm sure you will." Ozai said with a smirk. "You know, Governor Hochi and his son are going to be in the Capital for a few weeks..."

Later that night, Azula had changed into a night robe, and attempted to find sleep, though it evaded her. The door to her bedchamber opened, and her brother's voice reached her ear. "Why?"

"You're going to have to be a little more specific with your question." She asid, not bothering to open her eyes.

"Why did you tell father, that I was the one who ordered your servant to kill the Avatar?" Zuko asked, clenching his fists.

Azula sat up, and looked across her shoulder at her brother. "To share the glory of our victory with you Zuko. Like I said, I wanted to see you return home, and what's a little embellishment if it means that end is achieved?" Azula asked rhetorically with a shrugged as she slid out of bed, and stretched. "Besides... In the event that The Avatar survived being shot, something I have personal experience with, then some of the blame will be taken away from Connor." Zuko narrowed his eyes at his sister as she yawned. "Unlikely as it is. Even the Snow Savages best can't possibly heal a pierced heart. So unless you know something I don't, you shouldn't have to worry." Azula rolled her neck. "However if you did know something, you'd tell me... Wouldn't you?"

Zuko glanced away from Azula as she stretched her legs a little. Would he? Would Azula really have had the decency to make him look good for their father, or for that matter try keeping the blame off her servant in the same breath? "The Avatar surviving... It's... Plausible." Azula's attention turned to her brother. "The Avatar's friend. The water bender. She had water from a spiritual source in the North. She said it had special properties."

Azula raised an eyebrow. "And you believe that it could bring him back from death?"

"She said it could take away my scar..." Zuko paused. "Scars can't be healed, but she was confident it could be... If anything could have saved The Avatar, it was that water."

Azula held her chin between her thumb and index finger as she sat on her bed again. "I think this goes without saying, but... Don't tell father about any of this." Azula said. "If he discovers we failed to kill The Avatar, it would be disastrous for both of us... Worse, if he discovers we knew The Avatar could have lived, and did not tell him by now."

Zuko turned away from Azula, before the last sentence she spoke ran through his mind again. "If you thought The Avatar could have survived, why not just claim I was the one who killed him, and acted alone?" Zuko asked, looking back at Azula. "I would take the glory and fall alone. You and your servant would be safe."

Azula looked away from her brother for a moment. "I suppose..." A realization struck her. "I suppose I made a mistake."

"You... Made a mistake?" Zuko asked in disbelief. "You admit you made a mistake?"

Azula shrugged. "I was trying too hard to keep the possible blame off of you, Connor, and myself all at once, and instead put it on all of us. Call it bad luck."

Zuko looked up to the ceiling. "Amazing. 14 years, and this is the first time I've ever heard you admit you did something wrong." Zuko said, still in astonishment. "Who are you and what have you done with Azula?" He asked her with a small grin.

"Oh, go crawl up your own ass." Azula said with a small scoff, before throwing a halfhearted blue fireball at her brother, who stepped out of the way, letting the flame fizzle out in midair. "And shut the door when you leave."

As Zuko exited the room, pulling the door closed behind him, he peeked inside one last time, and for what felt like the first time in far too long, saw the little sister he remembered caring for when they were younger, laying still in bed. "Sleep well, Azula."

It had been three long weeks since The Avatar was struck down... And a longer day since his return to the world.

Stopping on the second closest Fire Nation island to the Earth Kingdom, after finding Aang washed up on Crescent Island the morning before their arrival, the gang had found a cave to hide out in, clothes to blend in with, and a warm meal to eat… Well, three of the team of four had found a meal. As the other's stopped at a meat restaurant, Aang remained outside, owing to his vow as a vegetarian.

Sokka had left his weapons at their cave camp along with Appa, fearing that the thunderstick most of all would catch far more attention than it was worth carrying. Suffice to say, he was surprised to see another man in the restaurant with a pistol tucked between belt and his tunic. Thinking little of the sight, it wasn't until after the three had left the restaurant and dispersed through the market to gather supplies that Sokka noticed a few more people, none soldiers by the look of it, carrying guns with them, two out of five walking with full length thundersticks on their shoulders.

Investigating further, Sokko followed the trickle of people up the street, and found a weapon's store on the corner. Stepping inside, Sokka was met by the expected array of sword, spears, maces, and bits of armor, but the pieces that caught his eye were the literal bargain bin barrels filled with thundersticks, and their shorter pistols.

"Excuse me." Sokka said to the store clerk after he finished selling a knife to another customer. "But, what's up with the…" Sokka paused, remembering the weapon's proper names. "The muskets in the barrels?" As he understood it, these were supposed to be highly expensive hand made weapons, going for only a handful of silver.

The Clerk looked over and chuckled at him. "Guess you haven't heard. The Army's selling surplus weapons."

"But…" Sokka paused again. "Aren't these, like, brand new?"

"New is relative. Yeah, some genius in Caldera created a locking system some few months ago, that's safer or better than the flint strikers or something, and the military's been replacing their inventory as quickly as it can." The clerk said as he stepped out from behind the counter. "Personally I think some minister or some such has his hands in the pie, since the new mechanism could be forged onto the old guns just as well, but I'm not one to complain about a product this easy to sell."

"Do you mind if I…?" Sokka started, as he reached into the barrel and picked up a pistol.

"Oh sure, go ahead." The clerk said.

Sokka looked over the hand held weapon, and compared it to the swords for sale, finding some of the better quality pieces to be twice as much. "Why so cheap though?"

The clerk shrugged. "Well it's mostly the cost to manufacture, and the man hours, a good sword might take a smith four or five days to make if he's working on a loose schedule, a good musket, maybe a day or two. My cousin's a blacksmith in the next town over, and he tried his hand at making one from scratch, took him three days. Only part that gave him trouble was the flint striking lock." Sokka put the gun back in the barrel with the others, and then looked over to a shelf with accouterments for the weapons. "Interested?" The clerk asked.

"Ah, no, I sort of have one already… Got it in the colonies… I could use some supplies for it though." Sokka said.

His goods purchased, Sokka walked back out into the street finding Toph and his sister. "Hey, have you seen Aang?" Katara asked.

Later that afternoon, in the capital City of Caldera, Connor had officially moved into his new home. The single floor abode was only a short walk from the palace grounds, surrounded by other similarly designed houses, many occupied by lower nobility. After a self guided tour of the place, Connor sighed upon finding an empty kitchen. He'd need to go shopping for groceries.

A short walk to the market and back later, and Connor found Azula walking up the front steps. "Need something, princess?" Connor called out before she could knock on the door. "Or did you just want my company of all things?" He pushed past her to open the door. Azula marched right in behind him.

"The Avatar's not dead." Azula said quickly, once the door shut behind her.

Connor dropped the basket of vegetables and wrapped meat he was carrying, before he slowly turned to face her. "The Avatar is what?" Connor asked.

"I spoke with Zuko last night. It's entirely possible that The Avatar's waterbending companion could have brought him back from the dead and restarted The Avatar Cycle with the assistance of a spiritual water from the north pole." Azula explained. Connor rubbed his temple for a second before he picked up his basket of groceries, and started walking to the kitchen. "The Fire Lord doesn't know… You understand what this means, yes?"

"Oh, I know what it means." Connor said, setting the basket on the nearby table, before he started putting his food into the nearby ice box. (This wonderful device he'd heard of being introduced only recently in his own world, as it was in the new one.) "It means that when your dad eventually finds out that The Avatar came back with a little holy water, he's going to blame me for not checking to make sure he was dead to begin with."

Azula crossed her arms. "You understand I also would be to blame? As would my brother?"

"We'll hang together then, how poetic." Connor said sarcastically, looking over his shoulder at Azula.

"I didn't have to tell you about this. I decided you should know because…" Azula paused, trying to find the right word.

"Because you care?" Connor asked, closing the ice box, and facing Azula.

"Because I trust you." Azula said sharply. "Because for some reason, one I've still yet to figure out, you're willing to follow me."

"Is it that hard for you to see?" Connor asked.

"Either way…" Azula said ignoring his question. "Despite your motivations being an enigma to me, which would usually warrant suspicion, you've proven yourself in the short time I've known you… I believe that you'll prove useful still, and in the event that The Avatar does come back, I'd rather have you be by my side to at least testify that we had no idea The Avatar could have returned when you shot him."

"So you want me to lie for you? Then blame your brother who knew about the spirit water?" Connor asked.

"No, I want you to lie for him as well, if needed." Azula checked her nails, just recently clipped. "Believe it or not, my brother isn't a complete moron. He'll claim ignorance. If The Fire Lord decides not to believe us is an entirely separate matter." Azula locked eyes with Connor, who exhaled through his nose.

"Alright… Ignorance and denial it is." Connor said, before he turned back to the ice box. "Would you like to stay for dinner?" He asked, pulling out a wrapped steak. "I'm not much of a cook, but ah, I figure after being in the Earth Kingdom, your standards might have lowered… Besides, not like anyone's gonna judge you for being seen with a commoner outside of professional business now, on account of the whole… Sir thing." Connor said, feeling uncomfortable even mentioning the title Ozai had granted him.

Azula felt a knot in her gut, and her pulse beat a little faster. It was an uncomfortable feeling she hadn't experienced in so long. She was losing her nerve. It was such a sudden shock to her system, she didn't know how to handle it.

"Oh, speaking of seeing people, and Zuko. I saw him leaving the palace late last night. Is that related to this whole lying to your dad thing?" Connor asked turning back around to find Azula, almost already halfway turned.

"No." She said, pausing, and briefly looking at Connor. "It's unrelated… And while I appreciate the offer, I need to go." And with that Azula left the house, and left Connor standing in his kitchen dumbfounded.

Connor eyed the steak he carried, before cupping a hand over his mouth and nose, breathing out to see if his breath was that bad.

Azula knew exactly where her brother would be, as Mai told her, nearly gushing really, that sha and Zuko were going to have a picnic at sunset along the ridge of Caldera's western hillside. Azula found the two on a laid out blanket, kissing. Zuko broke away from Mai when he'd heard Azula clear her throat, but didn't seem to get the message.

"Can't you see we're busy?" He asked, before resuming his kiss.

Azula resisted the urge to roll her eyes, as it looked like she'd need to break them apart more overtly. "Oh Mai, Ty Lee needs your help untangling her braid." Azula said.

Mai, who knew that Ty Lee never had such an issue with her hair understood the message loud and clear. "I need you to go away for a while." Mai translated in her head. "Sounds pretty serious." She said, getting up, and passing Azula, before making her way down the hill. "Bitch." Mai muttered under her breath once out of earshot.

Azula locked eyes with her brother, who nearly scowled at her, just before she spoke. "So... You've been visiting Uncle Iroh?" Azula asked.

Zuko shot to his feet. "That guard told you!?" He asked accusatively.

Azula shrugged. "Actually no, you did, just now. But I wouldn't have suspected anything had Connor not seen you sneaking out of the palace in the middle of the night."

Zuko balled his fist. "Ok, you caught me... Now what do you want?"

She shrugged. "I don't want you being locked up after you just got home, dum-dum. Uncle is a known traitor, if people know you're talking to him they'll think you two are plotting to take the throne."

Zuko sat back down. "And why do you care?"

"Because you're my brother Zuko. Can that not be enough of a reason?" Azula asked. "You might be a weak failure most of the time, but that doesn't mean I don't like having you around to torment." She smirked. "And more to the point, if you haven't forgotten, you, Connor, and I all are all walking on eggshells at it is."

Zuko grunted. "So you're just worried about yourself then?" Zuko asked.

Azula rolled her eyes. "I'm worried that one of you two boys might say or do something stupid without my knowledge. I've trusted Connor with the fact The Avatar may have survived, so you should be happy to know he'll cover for both of us... And I trust that you'd do the same if our father asks any questions about Connor's aim, or my suspicions on the subject?"

Zuko stared at his sister for a moment. "Why would she trust Connor?" He thought. "Yeah..." Zuko said halfheartedly.

That night, after speaking with Zuko, Azula lay in her bed, curled in on herself. In her sleep, she was met with a terrible dream.

Bound in chains, cold and soaked through her clothing, she raved, pulling against the iron constraints, breathing fire in every direction. In front of her stood her brother, sporting a fresh scar on his chest. Beside him was the Water Tribe girl, The Avatar's friend… And standing in front of them both, was Connor, holding a pistol with two barrels. Azula fought harder now to break free, as Connor raised his gun.

"Crazy bitch."

There was a crash from down the hall, and Azula shot up in her bed, first throwing a fireball towards the door, illuminating the room briefly. After a few hastily taken breaths, she winced, and held her side, the now months old bullet wound throbbing in pain.

Irritated, she flopped onto her back, the mattress below her bouncing a little. "Spirits, what is any of this supposed to mean?" Azula asked aloud, recounting the grand total of three visions she'd had so far. Rolling over, Azula tried her best to go back to sleep, setting aside whatever dreams and nightmares she might have, finding it better to ignore them.

Far away in the conquered city of Ba Sing Se in the early morning, soldiers marched through the streets on parade past sunrise in celebration of their victory over the kingdom, and as a display of force for the many frightened citizens. The City's new governor, Chun Lou stood in his open top carriage, making a show of his new authority while traveling through the lower ring on the way to the palace, unaware he would never arrive.

Jin burned the letter she'd received, before wrapping her spring coat around her shoulders. Setting out from home, she ducked into an alley, avoiding the Fire Nation soldiers on her street corner, and making her way to the parade. Jin wasn't a soldier. She was a commoner. She never knew about the war that was being waged beyond her city's walls... But now that the Fire Nation was at her door, she would fight, though with the strangest of bedfellows.

As governor Chun Lou smiled and waved, he looked up to the sky at the fireworks display, glad to see such a comfort from home having been imported to the kingdom ahead of his arrival. He smiled and waved, as the primitive people of the Earth Kingdom looked up at the explosive show in astonishment.

Jin met with a blacksmith who'd made weapons for the rebellion against the Earth King. He took notice of her, as one of the few people in the crowd not paying attention to the fireworks. As she passed him, a length of iron was put in her hand, which quickly disappeared up her coat sleeve.

From the sidelines, a strong jawed man, a Dai Li agent in exile, slipped into the shadows.

Governor Chun Lou fell over in his carriage, as the front right wheel sank into a mud filled pothole, the parade coming to a halt. As he picked himself up, his wife and son helped him stand. The nearby soldiers all turned their attention away from the crowd, as they tried to help free the governor's cart.

The Governor barked orders over the sound of the fireworks above him, before he felt a sharp and warm pain in his chest. Holding a hand over his heart, Chun Lou felt blood seeping from an unseen wound, as his red robes concealed his bleeding. Falling off his cart, The Governor lay dying in the street, the soldiers only recognizing too late that their escortie had been shot. Unseen, a commoner woman slipped away through the crowd, leaving only a small trail from the smoking barrel of her gun.

Author's note.

Relevant characters height and age information I might as well share since I never really integrated it other than saying who looks up and down.

Shortest to tallest in Feet and Inches at the start of the story for living characters. (Sorry metric users, It's what I grew up with.)

Toph 3'8" (12)

Azula 4'4" (14)

Aang 4'6" (12 Bio)

Katara 4'9" (14)

Iroh 4'9.5" (Mid 50s)

Sokka 4'11" (16)

Zuko 5'0.5" (16)

Ozai 5'10" (Late 40s)

Connor 6'2" (16) At 235 pounds, when I say Connor is a giant, I mean that for the era he's found himself in and his age, he is indeed big and tall. (And he wears boots that make him look taller) If numbers don't do it justice. Azula if facing him straight on, would be looking at the bottom of his sternum.

Combustion man, being 7 feet tall is the true outlier here.