Azula stayed silent as Mother combed her hair. Zuko laid on the bed beside them, still asleep and feverish. His hair was now cut short, since most of it was burned off. After two days of rest with actual medicine, his burns were looking a lot better. Piandao said that he would wake soon. Azula would not leave the room until he did.

Mother set the comb down and gathered her hair up into a top knot. Azula resisted the urge to pull away. They were no longer royalty; they no longer had the authority to wear their crowns.

Piandao had told them. Well, he had told Mother, and Azula happened to be listening. Mother was declared a traitor to the crown for attempting to murder her husband, and there was a hefty reward for her capture. She had kidnapped the Royal children and is now a wanted fugitive.

The penalty for treason is death.

It seemed that Father wanted her and Zuko alive, as the bounty for Mother did not extend to them. But Azula would not go back to him. She would kill him for trying.

"You've been quiet, turtleduck," said Mother, who was now pouring out the pot of tea Piandao had brought earlier.

"There's been a lot to think about," Azula muttered, accepting the tea pushed into her hands. It was true, really. Azula had nothing to do but think as they waited for Zuko to wake up.

Mother searched her face carefully. "And what have you been thinking of?"

The terrible, paralyzing fear when she realized that Grandfather had ordered her death. Father's cold eyes and cruel voice as he stepped towards her. Zuko screaming under their Father's hands. Hiding in the dark. Listening to Zuko's labored breathing, praying that he would take another breath.

Azula found that she couldn't say anything, and just quietly sipped her tea.

"You've always been so brave, Azula," Mother sighed. "I wish you didn't have to be."

Lu Ten had been brave. Zuko had been brave. Now one was dead, and the other came close to it. She couldn't be there to help Lu Ten, but she could have helped Zuko. Instead, she did nothing but watch as he burned.

This was all her fault. Zuko's burns, the bounty on Mother, all of it.

Her thoughts must have shown on her face, because Mother leaned forward and gripped her hands. "Azula, it's my job to protect you, and I failed in doing so. But you do not need to hide your emotions around me. You can feel what you want to feel, even if it's anger."

"I'm not angry at you." How could she be? She was the one who was supposed to die that night. If she had just let it happen then Zuko and Mother would both be safe.

"Then what are you feeling?"

"He's looking for you. They all are. And if they find you, they're going to kill you too, and it will be all my fault." She felt the words rush out of her, and she could feel the panic set in as she said them. They were being hunted, and Mother was going to pay with her life.

"None of this is your fault, Azula. It is my job to protect you and your brother, and it is my job to worry." Mother pulled her close, cradling her head with her hands. "Please do not take the blame for my mistakes."

Azula felt her throat close up and the beginnings of tears threatening to spill from her eyes. And even though she didn't quite believe Mother's words, it was nice to pretend for a moment that they were true.

Zuko huffed as Azula adjusted his blankets for the fourth time. He's only been awake for a couple of days and he's already sick of sitting still. The pain still radiating from his face and arm doesn't improve his mood. The burns are stiff and itchy under the bandages, and while the ointment Mother applies every few hours does help, it never fully goes away.

He desperately wanted to get up, to do something besides rest, but he was under strict orders from Mother and Piandao to stay in bed. He tried a few times, when Mother and Azula weren't in the room, but when he moved too much he would get dizzy and weak. He doubted he would even be able to stand. So he sat in bed, while Azula hovered constantly at his side.

When he opened his eyes for the first time in days, it was Azula who he saw first. He couldn't describe the relief that swept over him when he saw that she was there- that she was alive. All the pain was worth it if it meant that she was okay.

Normally Azula would tease him when he was sick- but instead she sat anxiously beside him, even holding his hand while he slept. It wasn't like her, and Zuko didn't know if he could fix it. Neither of them could be the same after what had happened.

"Are you okay?" He asked her after Mother left for the night.

Azula hunched over in her chair, staring at her knees. "I should be asking you that."

"You did, at least twenty times today," He joked. He was just trying to cheer her up, but instead Azula burst into tears.

"Azula!"

"You should hate me!" She wailed. "This is all my fault!"

Zuko was lucky that she was sitting beside his bed, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to lean over and pull her into a hug.

"I don't hate you," he said, squeezing her tight and ignoring the twinge of pain from his burns. "And it's not your fault, Zula."

"I should have stopped him. I should have done something, but I just stood there while he- he was hurting you and I didn't do anything," she bawled, clutching the front of his shirt desperately.

"This is Father's fault. He's the one who burned me."

"It should have been me."

Zuko's heart clenched at the thought of Father hurting her. It pained him to hear her speaking that way- as if she was more deserving of their Father's fire.

"No," he said forcefully, squeezing her even tighter. "Zula, I would do anything for you. I won't ever let anyone hurt you."

She stayed quiet for a few moments, fingers lightly tracing over his bandages, before pulling away from him. "Do you regret it?" She asked quietly, not meeting his eyes.

"I got these protecting you, Azula," Zuko said softly. "And I would do it again."

At these words she shuddered, but she managed a small smile. "Next time I'll be the one protecting you." Her tone was lighter, but Zuko could still hear the determination backing her words.

He smiled softly, before pulling her closer for another hug.

"I love you, Zula."

"I can't thank you enough for what you've done."

Piandao glanced up as he set the pai sho board. "You do not need to thank me. I would gladly do anything to help you and your children."

Ursa studied him as he placed the tiles. "I consider you a dear friend, Piandao, but I don't understand why you would risk harboring fugitives considering your past with the Firelord."

"It is true that I am not on great terms with your Father-in-law," Piandao said, smiling wryly. "But you and your children are worth protecting." Once all of the pieces were placed, he sat back and gestured at the board. "The guest makes the first move."

Ursa pushed a tile forward. "I take it that this is not an ordinary game of pai sho."

Piandao arched an eyebrow. "How much did Hinata tell you?"

"He's told me enough. Your Order of the White Lotus does not just play games, do they?"

Chuckling, Piandao moved his own tile. "I'll admit that we do play quite a bit of it, but not just for our own enjoyment."

"So it's a cover."

"It is our way of communicating. To identify each other safely and without suspicion."

Ursa moved another piece. "And why must you remain so secret? What is your purpose?"

"We are a group that transcends the divisions of the four nations. A group of philosophy, beauty, and truth."

"Is it a requirement to speak in riddles and proverbs?" Ursa teased.

Piandao's eyes twinkled as he pondered the board. "Our members strive for peace, Ursa. An end to this war."

"And how does protecting members of the Fire Nation Royal family bring about peace?" Ursa asked, already anticipating his answer.

"You are a descendant of Avatar Roku. Zuko and Azula have both Roku and Sozin's blood in their veins. Your children are our best opportunity we have to end this war."

She had guessed his intentions, but at these words she felt a flash of anger. "My children are not pawns to be used for your plans."

Piandao pushed forward another tile, unphased by her harsh tone. "I do not wish to anger you, Ursa. I am very fond of Zuko, you know this. But he is the best chance we have to bring peace. There is good in him- something that the Fire Nation needs to cure the corruption from Sozin."

"So that is why we are here." Resigned, Ursa gazed down at the board. "So you can raise my son to challenge the Firelord."

"You are here because I wish to protect you." Piandao leaned forward, his eyes sorrowful. "I am sorry that I put you in this position, Ursa. But you must know that this is the only way for the war to end peacefully."

Ursa watched as Piandao pushed his final tile to the center of the board. The white lotus tile.

"He is just one of many pieces needed to end this war."

"The warrior practices a variety of arts to keep his mind sharp."

Azula resisted the urge to roll her eyes. When she agreed to learn swordsmanship under Piandao she assumed she would actually be using a sword. Instead, she was practicing her calligraphy. As if she needed to- her penmanship was impeccable.

"I know how to write my own name," she said, doing her best to keep her annoyance hidden. "What does this have to do with my training?"

"When you write your name, you stamp the paper with your identity. You must learn to use your sword to stamp your identity on a battlefield."

Azula thought that a good fire blast would be a better way to make an impression on the battlefield, but she carefully wrote her name as instructed. After studying her work for longer than she thought was necessary, he gave her a warm smile.

"Very good, Azula. Bold and precise- the perfect qualities of a warrior."

Azula flushed, avoiding his eyes. A warm feeling had risen after his praise. She felt almost embarrassed after Piandao hung her name on his wall. She could see Zuko's name up there, as well as many other students Piandao had taught.

But that warm feeling soon turned to annoyance again. Piandao marched her out the back side of the castle, blindfolded her, and led her up the side of the mountain.

"Landscaping teaches the warrior to keep the lay of the land in his mind," said Piandao as they reached the summit. "In battle you only have an instant to take everything in."

He ripped off the blindfold, and Azula only got a moment to take in the enormous waterfall and towering mountains before she was turned around and sat in front of a table.

"Now paint it."

As Azula took up the paintbrush, she found that she could not start. How could she paint something she only saw for a moment? There was a waterfall, but how wide was it? How much of the landscape did he expect her to paint? Did he expect the colors to match perfectly?

She sat there for a few minutes, completely frozen, before Piandao sat beside her.

"Why do you hesitate, Azula?"

"You didn't prepare me for this," she snapped, embarrassed and furious. "I barely saw anything and now you want me to paint it?"

"Just paint what you saw, I do not expect a masterpiece."

Azula's temper flared. "Forget it," she said, and threw the paintbrush back onto the table. "This is pointless anyways. I wanted to learn how to fight."

"You refuse to start because you know it won't be perfect. But perfection is not always necessary, Azula." Piandao placed a hand on her shoulder. "If I wanted an exact replica of this land then I would stand here and look at it. I want your own interpretation. Swordsmanship is just as much of an art form as painting, and the arts are not meant to be perfect- they are meant to be unique."

"What's the point of learning something if you're not going to master it?"

"A master is not flawless, and one who thinks themselves so is not a master." Handing her the paintbrush, Piandao gestured at the blank paper. "Please try, Azula. Your need for perfection will only get in your way."

Her painting joined the wall as well.

A full month has passed, and there has been no sign of his wife and children. Ozai knew that Ursa could be slippery, for she often avoided his presence at the palace, but now his honor and chance for the throne was on the line. He had spies and soldiers searching the country for her, as well as some in the Earth Kingdom.

The problem was that Ozai had not a clue of where she would have gone. Her own family in Hira'a was one of the first places he looked. He went there personally, and burned down several homes until he was satisfied that they were not there. It was entirely possible that they could have fled by boat to the Earth Kingdom. It wouldn't be hard for her to blend in with the crowds of starving peasants roaming that vast land. Ozai was facing an impossible task, one that he must accomplish to win the throne.

Iroh had yet to return from the Earth Kingdom despite his defeat at the walls of Ba Sing Se. The Firelord himself was not sure of where he was at the moment. This had Ozai fuming when he found out. Here he was, a loyal son who would have sacrificed his own prodigal daughter for the Firenation, while Iroh moped about the Earth Kingdom after failing to conquer it. Why was the lesser son given so much lenience? Ozai was clearly the better choice for an heir.

But it didn't matter. As soon as he found his runaway wife and children, he would prove his worth and regain his honor.

Hands trembling, Zuko took deep breaths as he meditated. He could feel the candles in front of him, the flames calling out to him. But he didn't want to control them. He couldn't. It was stupid- a firebender scared of his own element. Everytime he called a flame it was as if he was writhing beneath his Father's hands once again- the sickening smell of burning flesh would fill his nose and the ache of his burns would intensify.

But Mother insisted that he begin bending again. "It's not healthy for you," she said firmly. "Fire is in you, Zuko. You cannot let your fear control you."

He knew she was right. Steeling himself, Zuko cupped his hands together and summoned a small flame. Already, he could feel himself shaking, his breath in ragged gasps, barely able to keep the flame steady.

"Fire comes from the breath, dum dum." Azula's voice came from behind him. Zuko flinched, and the flame died out. He clenched his eyes shut as she sat beside him.

"I can't," he gasped, his hands still trembling. "I can't do it."

Azula's hand crept into his own as he tried to calm down. They sat there quietly for a few minutes, and, when his breathing had slowed, she turned to him.

"You want to see something cool?"

Zuko nodded.

Holding her hands out, Azula created a miniature flame dragon. It flew in small circles, sparkling and graceful. It was the coolest thing Zuko's ever seen. Azula smirked as he gaped.

"How do you do that?" He asked excitedly.

"You just have to concentrate hard, and control your breathing. I've been practicing." She hesitated, and then spoke again in a soft, sad voice. "Lu Ten taught me."

Zuko's breath caught in his throat. So much has happened in the past month that he's barely had time to properly grieve his cousin.

"He also taught me this," Azula continued. The dragon vanished, and in its place was a tiny flame. It was bright blue. "He said that our emotions change how we bend. You can't control your bending with improper breath control, and you can't bend strong flames if you're afraid." Azula leveled him with a serious look. "That's why you're struggling. But it's not so scary if it's a dragon, right?"

Zuko suddenly realized that he didn't feel apprehensive or afraid at all while looking at Azula's flames. She was right.

"Maybe if you start with something small like this, you can work up to the bigger stuff."

He grinned, grabbing her arm in his excitement. "Show me the dragon first!"

A year they spent in Piandao's estate. Slowly Zuko recovered from his burns, as well as training with fire again. It was hard, especially after his bandages came off. His left eye and ear were permanently damaged. Relearning to fight without half of his sight or hearing took a lot of time.

He continued his sword training alongside Azula, and Master Piandao declared him a master swordsman by his thirteenth birthday. While Azula became proficient with the dual dao, she decided to train with other weapons as well, and soon took up archery and double daggers. Piandao's partner, Fat, taught them close quarters fighting, which they excelled at.

Mother and Piandao did not let them abandon their education either. They both were subjected to hours of lessons: geography, diplomacy, strategy. But even then they were happier than they ever were at the palace- without the cold, oppressive presence of their father. Looking at Azula, who now smiled often and seemed more herself than she ever was, Zuko thought all the pain and terror of that night was worth it.

Ozai wearily collapsed at his desk. Another day of fruitless searching had turned up nothing. For a second he almost regretted his cold indifference to his wife. Perhaps if he stopped and listened to her every once in a while he would have learned of her habits and friends.

Her friends. Ozai suddenly remembered her long trips with the boy to a swordsman's estate. He had been furious that his own son was training with a weapon when his fire was so weak, but the Firelord approved of it. This swordsman had a history of defying the Firelord's commands.

Rushing to his map, Ozai scanned it frantically. His eyes landed on a small island southeast of the caldera.

Shu Jing.