It seemed like the desert was never ending, or at least that's what it felt like to Azula. They'd been flying for what seemed like hours now since they escaped from the library, with no end to the desert in sight. It was getting dark now, and she wondered if they'd be stopping to rest anytime soon. Not even Appa could handle flying all night long, after all. And there was always the possibility that he was tired after the ordeal with the sandbenders.

"I think that we should stop for the night. Appa needs a break." Aang said, looking down at the sky bison. Appa groaned in agreement.

"So we're going to spend the night in the desert? What if the sandbenders come back?" Katara asked.

"I don't think we have to worry about them anymore. Mai and Ty Lee scared them pretty good." Sokka said, staring at the two girls in question. Mai shrugged and Ty Lee giggled.

"Hey Katara, can I have some of your water? I'm thirsty." Toph asked.

Katara bended some water out of her waterskin and into Toph's awaiting mouth. The girl happily drank the water, but noticed something odd about the taste.

"Why does it taste…swampy?"

"Well, I did use it against the swamp benders that we fought against in the swamp."

"Eww, I'm not drinking that! I'm going to find something else to drink." Sokka declared. Looking around, he spotted a cactus not too far off in the distance. "A cactus! Maybe it has some water in it. Azula, do you want any?"

"No thanks"

"Ok, more for me!" And with that, Sokka ran to where the cactus was, Momo following him.

"Wait, why did he only ask Azula and nobody else? We exist too, you know." Toph said.

"He's just looking out for his girlfriend, nothing wrong with that." Ty Lee said, smirking at Azula.

"He-he's not my boyfriend!"

Moments later, Sokka came back towards the group, a dazed look in his eyes as he held a makeshift cup full of cactus juice, which he shoved in Azula's face.

"Cactus juice! It'll quench ya! It's the quenchiest!"

Nobody spoke for several seconds until Mai broke the silence.

"Never a dull moment with you guys, is there?"

"Uncle, are you sure that it was a good idea to leave Azula with the avatar? She needs your help! We should have taken her with us." Zuko said. He still wasn't used to this feeling of actually being worried about Azula. Zuko couldn't remember the last time he ever felt that way towards his sister, if at all. It would take some time to get used to.

"Don't worry, Prince Zuko. If anyone is capable of helping Azula, it is the avatar. He is the bridge between our world and the spirit world, after all. I'm sure that he can figure something out and return Azula to normal." Iroh said, hoping that would be enough to reassure Zuko. In reality, Iroh wanted Azula as far away from them as possible. She was under orders to capture them, and no matter what size she was, she was still Ozai's favorite child. She would do everything in her power to please him. And Iroh wouldn't put it past Azula to use her current predicament to get Zuko into a false sense of security, making it easier for her to capture him. Yes, it was much better for them if she stayed with the avatar. He would be able to keep Azula in check, at the very least.

"I still think that we should have taken Azula with us. I don't trust the avatar and his friends."

"But you trust Mai and Ty Lee, right? I'm sure that she'll be just fine. Those two won't let any harm come to her. And if it makes you feel better, Zuko, I gave Azula my white lotus tile if she needs to come and find us."

"HOW IS A STUPID LOTUS TILE SUPPOSED TO HELP HER FIND US?!"

"You underestimate how smart Azula is. She'll figure out what that tile means, I'm sure of it."

Just then, a messenger hawk swooped down from the sky and landed on Iroh's soldier. Startled, the two of them stared at the bird.

"A messenger hawk? I wonder who sent it" Zuko asked.

Iroh carefully took the scroll the bird was carrying and looked it over. One look at it was enough to know who it was from.

"It's from your father, Prince Zuko."

That got Zuko's attention. He grabbed the scroll from Iroh and read it. What he saw shocked him to his core.

Princess Azula is a traitor to the Fire Nation. I have gotten word that she has for some reason allied herself with the avatar. There's also some strange rumors going around that she's a child. I don't know how true that claim is, and to be frank, I don't care. I want you, Prince Zuko, to capture your sister and bring her to me. Do this, and your banishment shall be lifted and you will have your honor restored to you. You can be by my side once more. Do not fail me.

Fire Lord Ozai

"Can someone please knock Sokka out? Actually, can I do it?"

"No Toph, you can't knock my brother out. Because I'm going to do it." Katara said.

For the past hour, the group had been dealing with Sokka's antics, and it didn't seem like the boy was going to stop anytime soon. Whatever was in that cactus juice, they were glad that they didn't drink it.

Sokka was singing a song called "Secret Tunnel" with Momo dancing along to it. He then got a silly grin on his face and stopped singing, much to the relief of the others. Sokka made his way over to Azula, still smiling.

"You know what, Azula? You're cute! I bet you look even cuter in your true form, though. Aang! Change Azula back so I can see how cute she looks!" Sokka pleaded, looking at Aang expectantly.

"I'm not sure that's how it works, Sokka…"

"Oh come on, you're the avatar! You can do anything, right?! As such, I demand that you turn Azula back to normal so that I can kiss her."

"I-WHAT?! KISS ME?!"

"You know, I don't know what was in that cactus juice, but this is very entertaining." Mai said.

At those words, Sokka turned to Mai and extended his cup to her.

"Cactus juice! It'll quench ya! It's-"

He was interrupted as Azula smacked the cup out of his hand, spilling its contents onto the ground.

"NOOOO! WE'RE DOOMED!"

Rolling her eyes, Azula grabbed Sokka by his shirt and forced him to look at her.

"We aren't doomed, you moron, we still have Katara's water. Now do us all a favor and go to sleep!"

"Oh, we're sleeping now? Ok!" Sokka said, with a silly grin on his face. He made himself comfortable on the back of Appa's saddle and promptly fell asleep. There was just one problem.

He had Azula in his arms. And it didn't seem like he'd be letting go of her anytime soon.

"Hey, you idiot! I didn't mean go to sleep with me! Let me go!" Azula said, struggling to get out of his arms to no avail. The others couldn't help but laugh at the situation.

"Mai, help me!"

"I don't know, Azula, you two look pretty snug over there. I wouldn't want to get between that."

"Maiiii!"

"Oh, don't worry, Azula. It's not like you'll be stuck in his arms forever. Why don't you try getting some sleep in the meantime?" Ty Lee suggested, getting ready to go to sleep herself.

Grumbling, Azula decided that the girl was right. Especially since the others didn't seem too keen on breaking Azula out of her "imprisonment" if the amused looks on their faces were anything to go by. Twisting around into a more comfortable position, Azula closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep.

If only she could stop the heat rushing to her face.

Zuko hadn't said a word since he read the letter from Ozai. Truth be told, he was really sure how to feel about it. He wanted to go home, he wanted to finally prove to his father that he wasn't worthless, he wanted to prove that he was worthy of the throne. But did he really want to sell out his little sister to do it? Every time he pictured himself trying to capture her and send her to Ozai, all he thought about was the time they had spent together after they had fallen over that cliff. He thought about how tiny she was, how vulnerable she was in that state. The moment where Azula acted like she was actually a six year old little girl, eager to show him that butterfly she spotted. How could he possibly try and sell her out to they're father after all of that?

She tried to capture me and uncle though. Even if she was just following orders, she still did it. She still lied to me.

Spirits, even thinking that made him feel bad. What was wrong with him?!

"Everything ok, Zuko?" Iroh's voice broke Zuko out of his thoughts.

He had almost forgotten that his uncle was even here. Maybe Iroh could help him decide what to do. He always gave good advice….sometimes, anyway.

"No, everything isn't ok. I'm confused. I have no idea what I should do. I want to go home and regain my honor, but at the same time, I…." He broke off, unable to finish.

"At the same time, you don't want your little sister to rot away in a jail cell, or whatever my brother has in store for her. Is that right?"

Zuko nodded.

"Well this is a surprise. I never thought I would see the day when you would get protective over Azula. It seemed like you two would always be at odds with each other, much like Ozai and myself. I suppose I was wrong about that." Iroh said.

For my sake, I hope you're right, Uncle

"What do you think I should do? I'm so confused. I don't know if capturing Azula is the right thing to do."

Iroh sighed. He really felt for Zuko. The boy was at constant war with himself, never knowing whether to do right or wrong. This time was no different. When Iroh had read the letter once Zuko was done reading it, he was shocked. He never thought that Ozai would declare Azula of all people a traitor, and order for her to be captured. So much for her being the favorite child. And now Ozai wanted Zuko back, since Azula had "proved" to Ozai that she couldn't be trusted. Zuko going back to Ozai wasn't a good thing. Iroh knew this. The question was, did Zuko? With the way he was right now, Iroh doubted it. Which left Iroh with no other options. He would let Zuko take the reins here. Only then would he learn the lessons that he needed to learn. Lessons that Iroh hoped Azula was learning as well while she was with the avatar and his friends.

"I want to help you, Zuko, but I can't make the decisions for you this time. You have to decide on your own what's right and what isn't. And I know that you will make the right decision."

Truthfully, Iroh didn't know how much he himself believed that last part.

Zuko was silent for a moment before he got up.

"I'm going for a walk. I need some time to think."

"Um, Azula?"

"What is it, peasant?"

Peasant? He thought they were past that stage. No doubt about it, then. She was really pissed off. But why?

"Are you angry with me?"

"Gee, what was your first clue?"

"Why?" He asked.

"Why? Do you remember nothing about what you did and said last night?!"

"Um….no?" Sokka said with a sheepish grin.

Unbelievable. She couldn't believe him! Who says that they want to kiss you, falls asleep with you in their arms, and just forgets about it? More importantly, why did it bother her so much that he did?

I don't actually have feelings for this fool, do I? No, that's impossible! I could never fall for him!

There was a part of Azula that didn't believe any of that. She wasn't ready to acknowledge this part of herself quite yet, however.

"You know what? Forget about it. I'm going to sit next to Aang. There's something I need to discuss with him anyway." She then made her way over to where Aang was sitting, on top of Appa's head.

"Wait! Azula, come back! Let's talk about this!" Sokka said, to no avail. He sighed and slumped in defeat, not sure what to do to make the tiny girl forgive him. Ty Lee came towards him and patted his shoulder reassuringly.

"Don't worry, she'll come around eventually. I know she will."

"She seems really angry with me this time, though. I just wished I knew why. Did I do something inappropriate to her? Please tell me that I didn't. I don't know what I'd do with myself if I did." Sokka said.

Ty Lee wasn't sure if she'd call falling asleep with Azula in his arms as inappropriate, so she decided to leave that part out. For now, anyway.

"No, you didn't do anything too bad to Azula. You just kinda embarrassed her somewhat last night."

"I did? How?"

"I think it's best if you remember everything on your own rather than have one of us tell you. It would make Zula really happy if you did."

"Happy enough that she would forgive me?"

"Yep."

"Aang? Can we talk?"

"Hmm? Oh, hi sifu Azula! What's up? Is this about what happened last night?"

"What? No! This has nothing to do with last night! And besides, the one person who I actually want to talk to about that can't even remember anything." Azula said, begrudgingly.

"Wait, does that mean-?"

"Never mind that! I need to talk to you about something that I read about in the library. About the air nomads. You're people."

That got Aang's attention. The playfulness was completely gone from his face now.

"I was wondering where you ran off to while we were in there. What do you want to know?" Aang asked.

"What they were like. How they lived. And what your life in particular was like before…you know. What I learned in school about the air nomads and what I read in that library are two completely different things. One told me that the airbenders were violent people with an army of their own, and that's why my great grandfather Sozin wiped them all out. And the other told me that what I was taught was a lie, and that the air nomads never had their own army. That they were a peaceful group of people who avoided conflicts at all costs. So I want to hear it from you, someone who actually lived in those times. Which is the truth?" Azula asked.

Aang stared at her, stunned. He never thought that Azula of all people would come to him asking about his people. About their way of life. She had never really seemed interested in learning about that before. What she read in the library must have really shaken her up, and going by what she had just said about what she learned in school about the air nomads, he could see why. He looked at her and nodded.

"I'll tell you everything I can about my people and how we lived, Azula."

Iroh was preparing some tea when Zuko finally returned from his walk. It seemed like he finally made his decision. Iroh turned towards him as Zuko sat down in front of him.

"So, have you made your decision, Prince Zuko?"

Zuko sat with his eyes closed for a moment before he took a deep breath and slowly looked up at Iroh.

"I have. We're going to capture Azula."

Perhaps Zuko wasn't quite ready to take the reins for himself just yet.