Zuko stumbled through the hallway as the guards pushed him. He grabbed one of them by the collar and looked him straight in the eye, saying, "What the hell is going on?"

"We're under attack. There are earth and water benders standing outside and tearing down the walls." and then he pulled away, starting after the rest of the Fire Nation guards. Zuko's hand fell to his side and he started after the guard, his jaw slightly hanging. He pressed his palms against the wall and took deep breaths, trying to calm himself. His head hung low between his outstretched arms, and he tried his best to fight the stinging feeling behind his eyes. It burned through his nose, and finally slid down the good side of his face.

Zuko frantically wiped at his eye and turned, letting his back touch the wall. A shiver ran through his spine as he remembered Ayame's face, looking up at him childishly as she spoke the three words he'd always wanted to tell her. But she'd chosen the worst timing to talk to him.

Zuko took a deep breath in and then focused on his father—on the Fire Lord. Ayame had made her decision, but now it was time for Zuko's.

🔥🔥🔥

I burst through the doors and looked both ways, going the opposite direction of Zuko. The warning bells only rang when there was an attack, as Azula had explained before. I shuddered at the thought of Azula, but forced myself on. If this was the Avatar, I was going to find him again.

No matter how long it took.

♋♋♋

Everyone split up like they'd been ordered to. Aang fled to the throne room as the eclipse began. Sokka went to hold off the guards at the gates, and Toph metalbended through walls, crushing oncoming enemy while Katara followed Sokka into the hallway that led to the gates.

She twisted her arms through the air, slicing them to create sharp water spurts that pushed the guards back, knocking them unconscious. Sokka used his sword as a battering ram, only stopping for a moment when the rest of the wall crumbled with a loud boom that shook the entire palace. The walls were down, and the army was in.

As Aang approached the throne room, he took a deep breath, looking through the window. The sun was almost completely covered, so he waited.

And then it was dark.

He kicked the doors open, only to find the room empty. Aang fell to his knees.

🔥🔥🔥

The guards weren't doing anything to me. I ran and pushed them out of the way, trying to pass through one of the doors.

"No one's allowed out there," he said to me. I looked up at him, opening my mouth to say something, only to realize this was the some young boy that I'd nearly fallen against on my way to meet the Fire Lord.

"I am though," I said to him. "Let me go, please," I pleaded.

"The Fire Lord has strict orders—"

I tried to shove him against the wall, but I suddenly felt weak at the knees. It was hot and cold and the same time, and my breathing was too shallow. I pressed a hand to my throat, and he reached out to steady me by the arms.

"Please," I repeated, fighting the pain. I felt like i'd just lost a piece of me, leaving me half empty.

"You know I can't," he said, and I tried to move back to bend fire but nothing was happening. I was starting to freak out.

"I have to get out there. I have to do something."

Without a warning, he leaned forward and his lips brushed my ear. "Zian is waiting for you on the right side of the wall. Be quick and unseen. The guards are looking for you."

With no time to be surprised,  I nodded at him, pressing one hand to his cheek as a way of saying thank you, and shimmied through the small space he'd made for me through the gate. I followed the path where he'd said, taking deep breaths. I tried not to panic. I felt so, so empty all of a sudden, nearly falling to the ground again, but then I heard my name.

"Ayame!"

I spun around and someone crashed into me full speed, lifting me up in the air and giving me a little spin.

"Zian," I breathed, a small laugh of relief bubbling from my lips.

He kissed my forehead. "Long time no see," he said, setting me on the ground.

"How did you get here?"

"I'm fighting, can't you see?" he grinned as a rock went flying and rattling a Fire Nation helmet.

"But how?"

"Remember Haru?"

I pondered over it for a second. "Your cousin? The one taken by the Fire Nation for bending?"

"That's the one," he laughed. "Turns out he was a friend of Katara's, and they busted him out. He contacted me and needed my help, so here I am." His smile faltered. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Fine," I nodded with a smile, but I felt so weak. "Hey, you shouldn't be worrying about me. There's a war going on." I pointed out.

"True," he nodded, but there was still concern in his eyes.

"Where's Aang?" I asked, and suddenly his mouth shut, his jaw setting. "What's wrong?"

He looked away, squinting, his hands in his pockets. His green eyes wouldn't meet mine.

Realization swept over me like a storm over an ocean. My mouth opened, but I closed it, fearing that I would break down if I actually tried to speak. And then I finally managed to croak out, "Oh my God. You've been told not to trust me. You don't trust me."

"It's not like that—"

"Then why won't you tell me?" I whispered. " I'm not evil. I just need to talk to Aang."

"Look," he put his hands on my shoulders, "it wasn't my idea. I'm just following orders—"

"From who?" I exploded. "The Avatar? Maybe Katara? Those people you met after me? I was your friend first, Zian!"

"But we're against the Fire Nation," he touched my cheek, "and you're on their side now."

I pulled away. "I'd never betray you," I whispered, heartbroken at the idea. "None of you. Not even if they tortured me for information."

Zian looked so guilty, but I pulled away from him. And without a word, I made my way to the other side of the wall.

♋♋♋

"You've got Suki?" Sokka slammed Azula against the wall, suddenly feeling stronger since she was powerless against him. "Where is she?" he hissed, putting the sword at her throat.

Azula laughed. "I've enjoyed torturing her, if I do say so myself. She tried at first, but she finally broke."

"Where is she?" Sokka repeated, pushing his sword into her neck. Beads of blood appeared around the sharp blade, but she didn't even wince.

"You'll never find her." Azula smirked, her ruby red lips matching the Scarlet starting to appear at her neck.

"Sokka," Katara said suddenly, "she's stalling us. We have to find Aang."

Sokka wasn't listening. "Where is Suki?"

♋♋♋

Zuko threw open the secret room the Fire Lord had taken refuge in, with only four words on his tongue.

"Where is my mother?"

🔥🔥🔥

I was waterbending, but it wasn't helping with my situation. I felt weaker with every step. My firebending was out of order, and I couldn't find anyone. I was neither fighting against the Fire Nation nor for, and I was glad that the Fire Nation wasn't attacking me. The few people who knew me from the other side ceased fire as I crossed, but I stayed hidden most of the time.

I found my way inside again through a different part of the palace. I took deep breaths, trying to keep a leveled head as I walked through the halls. Everything was earth and water. There was no roars of fire or the hissing of flames as it curled up around its enemy, suffocating them, as nimble and as slinky as a snake.

Where was the firebending within all of us? Why did I feel like I was choking up? How could I feel so terrible when I still had my waterbending?

I heard shouting in the next hallway. I peered over the edge of the wall, trying to stay hidden as I figured or what the commotion was all about.

And then I saw her. And I was running towards her, full speed, throwing my arms around her neck, squeezing her. I'd almost thrown her off my feet but did I care?

"Ayame?" I felt Katara look down at me.

"I'm so sorry," was all I could say. "Katara I'm so sorry."

"What's wrong?" She pulled my arms away, putting me at an arm's length.

"I just . . . " I couldn't say it. I was just so upset and sick at the same time I couldn't get my words out.

Katara pressed her palm to my forehead. "Oh God, you have a fever." she shook her head. And in that moment she suddenly brought back that memory off my mother when I was so, so young that I'd never remembered before. That memory where she gently put her cool hands to my warm forehead and rocked me in her arms till I fell asleep, and I couldn't do aything but sag against the wall.

"Take me away from here," I whispered, and she looked so concerned I couldn't help but smile weakly.

"Can you tell me what happened?" she pressed.

I felt like I was starting to wheeze. She noticed, and she told me to stay put while she went to get someone, telling Sokka to stay put. Sokka bent down next to me.

"Sorry," was the first word I heard from his mouth in a long time. "I shouldn't have mistrusted you like that."

I rolled my eyes, laughing softly. "Not your fault."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "You dont look so well."

I gave a shrug, trying to concentrate on my breathing. "It's worse than it looks," I joked, but he didn't crack a smile.

"Azula got away. You missed her by a second," he said, his face serious.

I didn't answer. It pained me to thing I trusted someone like her. What a terrible person.

"I'm sorry," I said hoarsely, feeling light headed.

"Not your fault," he patted my arm. This was my brother. I had a brother. I smiled at him, and then I heard Katara return.

"This is Haru," she pointed to a tall earthbender. "He's going to get you somewhere safe, since you obviously aren't looking well and we kind of owe you now. And we'll work this out with Aang after this is over." As soon as she said his name, I saw a flash of worry flicker past her blue eyes. I nodded, not pursuing the topic and stood up, pressing most of my weight against the wall for support. Haru, looked a lot like Zian, bringing me comfort into trusting him. He held out his arm for me to take, which I took thankfully.

Right now, I didn't care about anything but getting out of this place. I was prepared to whatever Aang was going to say, even if it meant getting kicked out of their group forever. This might've been my last chance to escape before I was caught in Fire Nation clutches forever.

Haru asked if I needed carrying which I blushed at and plainly refused. "I'm not that helpess," I managed to say. He smiled at the remark and didn't ask further.

And then we walked right into battle.