This is my first Avatar The Last Airbender fanfiction thank you to LunaStar07 for helping out with my writing and beta reading my work hope you enjoy the next chapter

First I would like to thank all my patient reads and hope you enjoy this next chapter and for all those reading please stay safe out there especially with the virus going around because if you don't stay safe how will you be able to read what comes next

And second I'm so grateful to see so many people favouriting and following this story it becoming one of the top Suki/Zuko paring fanfics which makes me feel so honoured

Disclaimer I don't own anything related to ATLA

Zuko slept in his cot. He felt at peace. For the first time in a long time, he was content, he was happy. Everything was starting to go his way.

CRACK-BOOM! CRACK-BOOM! CRACK-BOOM!

Zuko shot up as a roar of thunder echoed through the trees. Everyone waking from their slumber and rising from their tents. But as they looked up expecting rain, they were only met with a clear starry sky, not a cloud for miles.

"What the hell was that? You guys heard that too right?" Kikki asked and received a slap at the back of the head from Aikio.

"Of course, we heard it, why else would we be up," she said a little annoyed, rubbing the grime from her eyes.

"Sheesh you don't have to be so rude," Kikki groaned, rubbing her head.

"Guys now is not the time to be fighting," Suki said with a heavy sigh.

CRACK-BOOM! CRACK-BOOM!

They all heard the crackling thunder once more, but the sky was still empty which made them even more confused. "Tam see if you can get a view from up top. If there is a storm rolling in, we will have to move camp," Suki said, taking charge.

"Aye captain," Tam quickly agreed and started to scale one of the trees. But as Zuko watched her climb, he felt his stomach begin to sink, a familiar dread coming over him.

"You know, Tam may be dense, but she's got eyes like an eagle hawk," Kikki whispered to Zuko as they watch Tam reach the top of the tree. "Tam, see anything?" she called out to her.

"Nothing yet," she answered. "Wait... I think I..."

CRACK-BOOM! CRACK-BOOM!

Just as quick as she climbed up the tree she came soring down. "You guys aren't gonna believe what I saw," Tam announced, not sure if she believed it herself.

"Well, what did you see?" Suki asked curiously.

"The lightning was shooting up to the sky," she said and almost immediately everyone scoffed. "I'm serious! There isn't a cloud for miles and just due south of here I saw a bunch of trees were being knocked over, then suddenly a few bolts of lightning were being shot up at the sky," she explained, gesturing with her arms frantically.

"Aikio, you wanna climb up and see what is really going on or shall I?" Kikki asked, not believing a word of Tam's story.

"Hey! I'm telling you the truth!" Tam argued.

Aikio just rolled her eyes "Right and I'm the queen of the Earth Kingdom," she mocked.

"Look, everyone knows lightning comes from the sky, not from the ground. Tell her Blue, tell her she's talking non-" just as Kikki was about to nudge Zuko with her arm she noticed no one was standing next to her. "...wait where's Blue?" she asked as everyone glanced around as Zuko was nowhere in sight.

"She found me! I knew she would find me. It was only a matter of time," Zuko groaned to himself, gritting his teeth as he rummaged through his tent. He quickly donned his armor and strapped his swords to his side, packing only his necessities.

"Blue?! Blue where are you? Where did you go?" he easily heard the girls calling out to him. His instinct was to run, for all of them to leave, but Azula would follow them. She would find them and she would kill them. He needed to face his sister, to protect his family. He couldn't risk them getting hurt, he would never forgive himself if they were. Without a word, he slipped out of his tent and loaded up his things on his Ostrich horse, tying everything off.

"Found him!" Tam called out as they all rushed over to see what he was doing. "Blue, where are you going? Just because Tam is dumb isn't a reason to leave," Kikki said, which earned her a punch in the arm from an annoyed Tam.

Suki simply ignored their bickering but still looked to Zuko with worry. "Blue... where are you going, what's wrong?" she asked, confused and a little hurt.

Zuko sighed heavily, shaking his head. He didn't want to hurt them, but to keep them safe he needed to do this. He needed to protect his family. "It's my sister, Azula... she's found me."

"Azula?"

"His sister?"

"Wait that lightning thing was your sister! Since when can firebenders bend lightning?!" Kikki asked bewildered. "Can you do that?"

"No, it's an advanced firebending move. Very few can master it," Zuko explained as he finally turned to face them. "My sister was ordered to hunt me down, by my own father. And it seems she's finally tracked me down. I thought I lost her months ago, but it seems she found me."

"Then what were you planning to do?" Were you gonna run?" Suki asked, still a bit confused.

"No, I'm done running. I need to face Azula," he answered sternly.

"Alright," Suki nodded and turned to her sisters. "Girls, get packed up we are moving out and-."

"You aren't coming," Zuko interrupted. "I need to do this alone."

"Blue we are a team. We do this together," Suki retorted but he simply shook his head.

"Not this time," he answered, not wavering on his resolve.

"But Blue-."

"No Suki," Suki tried to argue but he wouldn't let her finish. "Don't you remember Akechi?" he asked, his gaze leaving hers and looking down to her arm. "The last time someone wanted me dead you got hurt, I won't let that happen again," he said gesturing to her arm, which only recently healed.

Although she didn't want to admit it, her arm was still rather sore, and even now she had to resist touching her arm when he pointed it out. "This time will be different," she argued once more.

"You're right. It'll be worse," he said gravely. "Azula is far more dangerous than Akechi... she will kill you... she will kill you, knowing it will hurt me and she will enjoy it. Because that is who she is," he explained trying to make Suki understand.

"You think you can beat her, alone?" she questioned.

"I'm not sure, but I have to try," he said matter of factly. "She won't stop until she catches me. Not unless I face her."

"But what if you die, what are we... am I supposed to do?" she asked, her eyes beginning to water as she stared up at him. "You expect me to stand aside and let you face her alone, and possibly die. What are we supposed to do?!"

"Leave," he whispered, his eyes no longer able to meet hers. "Leave... If I'm not back by noon take the refugees, pack up the camp and leave," he said as he turned away ready to grab onto his saddle.

Before Zuko could mount up, he felt a hand on his arm stopping him. "I'm not letting you go Zuko. I'm not letting you go and die," she said, tears finally spilling from her eyes and rolling down her cheeks. As Zuko finally looked at her, he felt his heart twist in his chest seeing how much he was hurting her. Even the other Kyoshi warriors looked on silently begging him not to go, but to him, he had no choice.

He didn't know how to answer. Instead, he reached behind his back grabbing something tucked away in his belt. "If I'm not back by noon, leave. If you are gone I will meet you in Ba Sing Se. I swear it."

Before she could utter a word, she felt his lips crash against hers. Her eyes went wide in surprise but began to flutter close as she cupped his cheek, pulling him into the kiss. Then, just before they parted, he placed something in her hand and held it to her chest. "Keep this safe for me... I'll be back for it," he said pulling away as he left her in a daze.

None of them could stop Zuko as he quickly mounted his beast and snapped his reins, riding off into the dark woods. "One of us should ride after him, we should stop him right?!" Tam asked as she watched him vanish into the dark of night.

"I'll get him, and drag him back here if I have too," Aikio volunteered as she went to get her Ostrich horse. But Suki stopped her. "No, we have to keep the refugees safe, and you won't be able to catch him anyway."

"But what if he doesn't come back?" Ami asked, concerned as she turned to her captain.

"He will, I know it," Suki said as she looked down at the Blue Spirit mask staring up at her. "He will," she wiped her eyes as she held the mask close to her.

Zuko rode hard, harder than he had ever ridden before. Blazing a path through the darkness as hours passed and night became dawn. But he didn't stop, he couldn't stop. He needed to find Azula, he needed to end this. He finally came across the tank tracks that tore through the earth. "Found you," he said with a determined growl as he followed the destruction Azula left in her wake.

Soon, the tank came into view, the plume of smoke rising in the air marking its path. Zuko snapped his reins, pushing his beast to its limits to catch up to the metal monster that ploughed through the forest. As he soon got in range and got a better look at the vehicle, he was slightly impressed. Watching the tank race through the forest at such incredible speeds, while tearing away any obstacles in its path. Eyeing it carefully, he took aim. He summoned a ball of fire in his hand and shot it towards the belt tires. With a loud blast, the whole tank shook from Zuko's fire. He then charged up another shot blasting at the tires, watching as the belt started to crack and bend before breaking entirely.

The tank started to swerve out of control. The tires screeched as it slid across the forest floor, tearing it up as it slammed against a few trees, knocking many of them over as it crashed. Zuko then circled. staying on guard as he approached. The hatch then popped open. smoke billowing out as a young girl coughed crawling out of the tank.

"Cough, cough, cough. What was that? Why did we crash?" a girl in pink asked as she crawled out of the demolished tank. She flopped to the ground as she escaped the billowing smoke.

"Ty Lee?! What are you doing here?" Zuko asked dumbfounded, seeing the young acrobat. As he hasn't seen her in years.

"Zuko is that... is that you?" Ty Lee asked as she squinted her eyes to look up at him. "It is you! Hey Zuko!" she said, smiling wide as she waved to him.

Zuko just rolled his eyes seeing she was as bubbly as ever. "Hey Ty Lee, now answer the question. What are you doing here?" he asked once again.

"Oh, Azula recruited me and Mai to capture you and the Avatar," she said nonchalantly, still smiling up at him.

"Azula?" Just as Zuko was about to ask where they were, he felt a sudden warmth approaching behind him. And before he could react, a blast of blue fire struck his back, throwing him off his Ostrich horse. He groaned loudly as he was thrown from his beast, falling to the ground. He turned and looked up as he spotted Ty Lee effortlessly pushing herself to her feet, stretching out as Mai emerged from behind her.

"My, My, Zuzu, you always have to break my toys and ruin my fun don't you?" Azula said stepping out from the shadows, two balls of blue fire in the palm of her hands.

Zuko didn't answer, he just pushed himself to his feet readying himself to fight. His eyes glancing around, seeing himself surrounded he tried to think of a plan.

"Come now Zuzu, tell me. What do you think your punishment should be for getting in my way?" she asked again, a confident smirk gracing her lips as she twirled the fire between her fingertips. She awaited his reply but he didn't give her one. Zuko just planted himself, bracing for her attack. "What a shame I'll have to think of one myself," she said, twisting her lips before they turn into a gleeful smirk. Without warning, she flicked her wrist, bending a bolt of fire towards her disgraced brother.

Zuko tried to shield himself, summoning his own fire around him, but it wasn't enough. Her fire devoured his before blasting him off his feet once more. He rolled back to his fighting stance, jetting blasts of fire towards her. She just grinned in response and weaved through his strikes as she shot back. Orange and blue fire clashing together as parts of the forest ignited around them. But neither of them paid any mind to the destruction that they wrought. All that mattered was their own fight.

Though Azula was enjoying herself beating her brother back, she quickly grew tired of the back and forth. "Come now girls, I shouldn't have all the fun to myself," she said slyly. "How about you show poor Zuzu how much we missed playing with him."

"Finally... I hate staying on the sidelines," Mai said in her signature monotone voice. Pushing herself off the tree she was leaning on she snapped her wrists. Two throwing daggers popping out of her sleeves, she tossed them expertly towards her former boyfriend.

Zuko reacted quickly, drawing one of his katanas, deflecting the two projectiles. They clashed against his steel before clattering to the ground. Right as they fell Ty Lee launched herself at Zuko. Dancing her way between the fire as she darted her fists towards him. Zuko tried to backstep and avoid her attacks, however, she slipped her way through and quickly punched up his left arm.

Zuko groaned and gritted his teeth, his arm stung like pins and needles were digging in his skin. It now falling limp at his side. He had no choice now, he had to retreat, he was no match for all three of them at once. It was a mistake for him to think he could beat them alone. He then tried to make his escape as they pursued him.

Meanwhile, as Zuko was pursued. Team Avatar was near a riverbank arguing with each other. Toph yelled as she was showing a clump of Appa's shedding fur as it blew away from her grasp. "He's leaving a trail everywhere we go!" she yelled.

Aang quickly jumped from Appa's saddle to face her, his anger rising. "How dare you blame Appa! He saved your life three times today! If there's anyone to blame it's-," as he was about to continue his rant, Toph stopped him holding out her hand for him to halt.

"Did you guys hear that?" she asked as she stared off blankly and knelt down to feel the ground.

"Heard what Toph? What did you hear?" Katara asked, concerned as she approached the young earth bender.

"That metal thing chasing us, it... it crashed," she said as she continued to see what was going on.

"Great! Now we can get out of here and find someplace to finally get some sleep!" Sokka said, sighing in relief as he slumped himself next to the flying bison.

"Not so fast Sokka. There is something else... there is someone there, he's fighting those three crazy girls, and he's getting his butt whooped," she explained, trying to picture what was going on.

"That's even better! Now that they are distracted, we can get out of here and lose them for good," Sokka said, still not seeing the downside.

"Sokka, if someone's in danger we can't just leave them, they could get killed," Katara argued, scolding her older brother.

"Yeah, I have to agree with Sugarqueen. We can't leave them to fight them alone," Toph said, more eager to just beat the people who have been ruining her sleep then anything else.

"We have to help," Aang announced and although Sokka wanted to argue, once he saw Aang's determined look, he just let it go as there was no point.

"Well, what about Appa, we can't leave him here. Can we?" Sokka asked as he turned to the beast who was still laying on the ground exhausted from flying for so long.

"Appa will be fine, he needs his rest. Once we are done, we will come back for him," Aang said as he pet his best friend's side, bushing away some of the shedding fur.

"Great, now try and keep up," Toph said as she turned and led them to where the fighting was taking place. She followed their trail as she sensed the girls chasing a man through the woods.

Zuko was now trying to stay on his toes. He used the foliage for cover trying to keep out of Azula's and Mai's line of sight. Each time he got in their view, they rained down fire and blades upon him. And each time he had to block or weave under their attacks, Ty Lee got closer. She may not have been intimidating when they were kids, but her ability to block his Chi was terrifying. The tingling has subsided and he soon got feeling back in his arm.. He still couldn't bend through it, which was problematic for his situation.

"Come now Zuzu, if you surrender now, I might be able to convince father to let Mai keep you as a pet," Azula called out after him. He could even hear her smirking through her words. "Now doesn't that sound nice? I'm sure we could find a nice collar to match your scar as well," she said, taunting him, and sent another wave of blue fire his way. The flames clear cutting a few trees.

Zuko turned to firebend back at her, but that split second gave Mai a chance to hurl arrow bolts towards him. At the last second, seeing the arrows he unleashed a wave of fire incinerating them all. This wasn't working; he needed a new strategy. He needed to take them out quickly or else they could overwhelm him. He tried to dart his way through the trees, trying to create some distance, but Ty Lee was still on his heel. Seeing her gaining speed, he hastily tried to come up with a plan to take her down.

Ty Lee grinned as she chased after Zuko. This being the first time in a while she was able to stretch her legs, and let herself loose. She gleefully skipped through the forest getting closer and closer. She is ready to take Zuko down for Azula. Because to her, getting the latter angry was always the scarier option.

Just as Ty Lee got close, Zuko whirled around, scooping up some flash powder from his satchel. He quickly threw it up and ignited it in the air. Ty Lee's eyes were wide not expecting him to face her so brazenly. And when the powder ignited, it turned into a blinding flash of light. Her eyes welled up, her vision turning black filled with white spots. She rubbed her eyes desperately as she stumbled around in a daze. Zuko took full advantage of her weakened state. He rushed at her, close lining her with his arm and sending her sprawling to the ground.

"Sorry Ty," he said softly as he knocked her out cold. Ty Lee laying on the ground her eyes still watering. He felt bad for her seeing her look so helpless. But there was nothing he could do for her now as he still had Mai and his sister to deal with. And they were eager to remind him of that as Mai launched several more daggers his way.

Zuko quickly dodged the oncoming blades as he drew out his swords to meet her steel. "Nice swords Zuko," Mai said blandly. It seemed nothing had changed with her, she was still the monotone princess. Even now in the middle of a fight, she had the appearance that she couldn't care less. He used to be fine with it when they went out, but now knowing what it was like to be around people who actually did care, it unnerved him. "You know, I have blades of my own too," she sighed as she snapped her wrists once more, two long sai's appearing in her grasp. The forked blades twirled between her fingers.

Although Mai's posture was slouched and carefree she nimbly charged towards Zuko. She quickly jutted and lunged her sai's at him, trying to slip the thin blades between his armour. Even though she was skilled with daggers, she didn't have Zuko's experience in close quarters. He managed to stay on par with her, meeting her strikes, steel clashing with steel. But she swiftly spun her blades, slipping around and stabbing them deep in his sides. Zuko growled in pain lurching forward giving her a chance to stab into his back.

Mai truly didn't want to kill him, but if she was to help him, she needed to bring him down. She convinced herself that this was right as she darted her sai's into him. Littering his sides and back with the thin puncture wounds.

Zuko felt weak, the blood draining from him as he tried to fight Mai off. But his movements were too slow. Each time he tried to slash at her, she would puncture into his extended arm, making it fall almost lifelessly to his sides.

"Good work Mai," Azula praised her as she strode over with the same sickening smirk. "Looks like poor Zuzu didn't put up much of a fight after all," she said with a soft chuckle. "You ready to surrender now brother?" she asked, flicking her tongue along her teeth.

Zuko breathed heavily, his entire body felt weak, almost completely drained from the running and fighting, but he still would not submit. He spat blood at his sister's feet glaring up at her in defiance. "Never!" he growled as he fruitlessly lunged at her.

Azula effortlessly sidestepped his attacks before igniting her fist and crashing it into his chest. The explosion of blue fire sent Zuko flying back, his body bashing against a tree. He tried to get up to stand but she just barraged him with more fire. Sending him vaulting back again, and again as he tumbled and rolled out passed the tree line. His body was badly bruised from the hit and as he tried to crawl back to his feet, he was met with a cliffside overlooking a ravine. The angry rapids crashing against the rocks below. And as Azula and Mai approached behind, he realized he was truly cornered.

"No more running brother, we end this now," Azula called out to him as he turned to face her. "Bring it, Azula!" he roared as he would not bend to her, as he shakingly raised his sword. "Good," Azula replied simply, her hand wreathed in fire. This worried Mai as she leaned in close to her friend. "We aren't going to kill him, right? You said we were just taking him down and taking him in?" she asked confused as she still had feelings for the banished prince.

"Don't worry Mai, he will be your plaything after I'm done with him," Azula whispered trying to reassure her, but her wicked grin remained on her lips. Mai said nothing, just nodded in response. But just as she watched Azula step forward, something cold wrapped around her wrist. Before Mai could react, her body was launched against the trees, her wrist being frozen to its bark.

Azula was stunned seeing Mai taken down. As she turned to face their attackers,a gust of wind was blasted towards her. Azula managed to summon her fire, consuming the howling wind. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the Avatar and his little friends," Azula smirked as she looked up to the bald monk. "Have you got tired of running from me and decided to surrender?" she asked amused.

When the Aang and his friends followed Toph's lead, they had no idea what to expect. "Is that... Is that Zuko?" Katara asked, shocked to see their former hunter, beaten and bloody at the hands of their new foe. "It doesn't matter who it is, we can't let her hurt him," Aang said, still owing Zuko for when he rescued him from Zhao. "We are here to stop you!" Aang announced as he drew back his staff.

"Well then, you'll have to wait for your turn. Right now, I'm dealing with a little family drama with poor little Zuzu. Once I'm finished, I'm all yours," Azula smirked as she was about to turn her attention back to her brother.

Zuko was barely able to stand using his sword to support himself up. And when he saw the Avatar and his friends coming to his aid he had no idea whether he should feel grateful or even more ashamed. His target, the person he was hunting for three years was defending him. It rattled his mind more than the obvious concussion he was experiencing.

Just as Azula was about to reignite her fists, the floor beneath her shifted, tripping her over and making her fall on her face. "What's the matter prissy princess, are you too scared to face us?!" Toph yelled out chuckling at her handy work.

Azula growled in annoyance and rolled back to her feet. "Fine, you have my undivided attention," she said darkly, sending a shiver up their spines as she glared at them. She unleashed a wave of fire at them, the blue fire ready to engulf them whole. But just as Aang was about to shield them, a blast of orange fire snuffed out Azula's flames. "That is enough Azula," an elderly voice spoke, all eyes turning to face the old general.

"Uncle!" Azula groaned as she turned to face the old man. "You truly have the worst timing, you know that," she sneered at him.

Iroh was unphased by her demeanour as he stepped out from the tree line. "It is over Azula, let this end," he pleaded as he stood with the Avatar, ready to defend his nephew.

Zuko was shocked to see his Uncle. It has been so long since he last saw him. So many questions were growing in his mind. How did he find him, where has he been, how is he been doing, but those would have to wait for now.

Azula just chuckled at her predicament. "Enemies and traitors all working together," she said, her eyes wondering as she came up with a plan. She was outnumbered and out skilled, she needed an escape...she needed a distraction. "Fine, you want poor Zuzu, then go get him," she said raising her hand as a bolt of fire leapt out and struck the banished prince. Zuko was thrown back, the force sending him plummeting into the ravine below.

"ZUKO!" Iroh screamed in horror watching his nephew being struck down as he ran to the cliffside. Everyone else's eyes were wide in shock. No one expected her to strike him down. And at the moment they were distracted, Azula made her escape, freeing Mai and heading back through the woods. But going off and chasing her was the furthermost thing on their mind as they raced to Iroh's side to find Zuko.

Zuko's mind was dark. When he hit the water, everything just slipped away. His body simply followed the current as it bobbed up and down along the waves. They all tried to spot him, searching the water until he reemerged. "There I see him!" Sokka shouted pointing to the figure in the water, but they didn't. "Ughhh I'll go get him," Sokka said as he reeled back.

"Sokka wait!" Katara tried to stop him but it was too late. Sokka dived into the water doing his best to swim after Zuko. "Come on we have to follow," Katara said worriedly as they all raced along the ravine following after Sokka. He swam hard as he bobbed up and down along the waves. He kept Zuko in his line of sight. He raced, paddling through the rapids getting closer and closer. Once he saw Zuko's body sink beneath the water he dived down after him.

Katara scanned the waters for her brother, her heart racing as they reached over to the shoreline. "Sokka! Sokka! Zuko!" they yelled out but were met with silence. After what felt like forever, Sokka finally popped out of the water groaning and gasping for air. Zuko's body was held up in one of his arms as he tried to swim to shore.

"Thank the spirits!" Katara said as she tried to bend the water,helping pull them out of the ravine. Sokka coughed hard, spitting out the water that tried to fill his lungs. Doing his best as he yanked Zuko onto land. Iroh quickly rushed to Zuko's side, nearly shoving Sokka out of the way, as he pulled him close into his arms.

"Good work, Sokka," Aang smiled with pride for his friend.

"Yeah, who knew snoozles had it in him," Toph said, punching his shoulder as he got to his feet.

"Well, it was pretty damn heroic!" Sokka said with a wide grin. Katara just rolled her eyes at him in response. "Don't let it go to your head," she said as she rolled her eyes and went to kneel by Iroh's side. "Is he doing alright?" Katara asked, trying to take a look at Zuko.

Iroh shook his head as tears rolled down his cheeks. "He's not breathing," his voice shaking as he held his ear to Zuko's chest. "He's not breathing!" he said once more, the hopelessness filling his voice as everyone felt his dread. "Please save him... save my son!" Iroh pleaded, desperately his heart unable to lose Zuko again.

Please leave a review and let me know what you think and again stay and stay well