A crash had me up and running, bracing myself for impact. Behind me, Aang whipped out his staff, spinning it professionally and rising up an an air twister. A pillar came crashing, and Aang broke through the solid concrete easily with his staff.

"What's going on?" Katara asked, getting to her feet. She opened her watersack, bending a bubble in the air with utmost control.

"We're under attack, I'm guessing," I said, squinting through the sun's rays.

"No way," Sokka yelled. "It's them. Azula's back."

Three airships rose from the mist, with the leader standing on top. "I wish I could kill her," I said under my breath. 

"I'm going to hold her off," Zuko said, "You guys go ahead and take cover."

"Yeah, good idea," I said gruffly.

"What? You're not going to help?" Zuko asked. "You're so stubborn. I thought you were going to argue to fight her yourself."

"Nope. I'm not going anywhere near her. She's all yours," I said with a jerk of my head, turning around. "Toph, bend the wall down. We're going to have to get through the tunnel." Zuko started to run towards the airships, while Aang and Toph pushed a tunnel through the wall. "C'mon, Appa!" I yelled, trying to push him into the tunnel. "We don't have time!"

"Appa hates tight spaces," Aang groaned. "We'll have to figure another way out."

"Dad, you have to take the airship," Sokka said. "Get everyone out of here." We'd brought back a few more people from the Boiling Rock after we stole Azula's airship to escape, including the deceased Chit Sang's friends.

"No. You can't go!" Katara argued. "We can't let them split us up again."

"I'll see you again, Katara. I promise you. But Sokka's right." Hakoda said, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I've got to get these guys out of here."

Katara sighed and nodded. "Be careful." Hakoda motioned for everyone to follow him, and they ran towards the airship parked out back.

"I have an idea," Toph said. 

I looked over my shoulder to see Zuko grab onto the edge of the airship, pulling himself up. Azula grinned wickedly, shooting fireballs at him. My attention snapped back to Toph. 

"What's your idea? Because if we don't get there now, Zuko's going down."

"Hop on Appa," she ordered, and we did as she said. She bended a rock shield on Appa's face to protect him and us. 

"Yip-yip!" Aang said, and with one mighty push of his tail, we were flying towards the airships. Fire wrapped around as as Appa cut through the attacks. Below me, Zuko had pulled back his fist to punch a blazing ball of fire at Azula. But she had the same idea in mind. 

As blue collided with red, the explosion pushed them both back off their feet. Zuko rolled towards the edge so fast, I knew he wasn't going to make it.

"We have to get Zuko!" I pointed. The sudden boom! of two great powers colliding reminded me of the time I'd first met Zuko, and he'd challenged me to an Agni Kai, only because I'd pushed him that far. The day the color of my fire had changed into a cold blue instead of a scorching red. 

Zuko was turning his leg in the air and the fire tornados of red and blue were turning huge. I brought my leg back down, as did Zuko, and I put my two hands in front of my chest towards the tornado whipping at our clothes, the flames licking the air, and pushed. 

Iroh's face was frozen in fear and his hands were up, trying to tell us to stop, but it was too late. Zuko had kicked off his fire tornado. 

Zuko's red fire came towards mine, and collided, and that's when everything exploded.

The explosion was so powerful, the metal pipes on the ship and rails rattled and doors flew off their hinges. I was blown off my feet. There were cries and shouts of surprise, then, all I remembered was flying through the air and slamming into something. 

Zuko rolled off the edge, falling below. On the other side, Azulo also fell, much more ungraceful than Zuko. We swooped below and Katara grabbed his hand, pulling him down onto Appa.

"Is she going to make it?" I asked, my heartbeat quickening. Azula's eyes met mine, and then she blasted blue fire from her feet, sailing towards the cliff. She grabbed on, safe, watching us like a hawk.

"Of course she made it," Zuko scorned. "She's Azula."

🔥🔥🔥

We camped somewhere close by, setting up tents with rock walls with the help of Toph and Aang. I started the campfire which we all huddled around.

"How does she keep finding us?" Toph asked, keeping her feet a close distance from the flames. 

"I don't know," Zuko said. "Azula has all kinds of tricks up her sleeves."

"I still can't believe she tried to kill Sokka. The things that go on in her mind are starting to scare me," I shuddered.

"Wait." Katara raised her hand, blinking. "Who tried to kill Sokka? And why did I not know about this?"

"It's a long story." Sokka said.

"Azula almost shot lightning at him," I explained.

"Almost? What do you mean, almost?" Katara asked. "What made her stop?" The entire place fell silent. Even the bullfrogs stopped croaking. "What do you mean, almost?" she repeated, putting her hands on her hips.

"She did that creepy thing Hama showed you," Sokka said.

"You bloodbended Azula?" she raised her eyebrows, a look of surprise and admiration in her eyes. "She couldn't break free?"

"I had to do it. The power in bloodbending, though . . . it scares me," I said. "You could take out armies with that power."

"I know," Katara crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back. "I've vowed never to use it . . . except on the enemy at the most needed times. Like the Fire Nation." She pursed her lips.

"The whole Fire Nation isn't bad," Zuko put in. 

"Oh, really?" she said, getting to her feet abruptly. "It isn't?" she turned on her heel and stormed off. 

"I thought she was over the whole anger thing," I said.

"She's over it alright. But only to you." Zuko stood up, running after her.

"Aren't you going to go after them?" Aang asked.

"What's with them, anyway?" Sokka sighed. "I don't understand these things at all."

"I'll let them bond," I said, leaning on my back, relaxing. "They need it." 

🔥🔥🔥

That night, in my tent, I heard footsteps. I sat up slowly, listening carefully. 

"Are you serious?" Aang's voice came through the thin fabric of my tent, bouncing off the rock wall. "You're taking Appa?"

I shot out of the tent, faster than lightning. Katara and Zuko were dressed in black. Her eyebrows were pinched together like she wanted to kill somebody. 

"Where are you going?" Sokka asked.

"I'm going to find the person who took Mom. Zuko says he knows who took her," Katara said. "And you can't stop me."

"Katara, are you sure you want to do this?" Aang asked. "Revenge isn't the answer to this."

"I told Zuko what happened to Mom last night," Sokka explained. "I know you're mad, but I don't think this is the way."

"I knew you wouldn't understand," Katara scowled. "I loved Mom, and they ripped her away from me."

"I love Mom too," Sokka said, pointing at himself. "But I don't want to get revenge on the person who took her. It happened a long time ago."

"Then you don't love her the way I do." Katara said simply, the scowl never leaving her face. 

"Katara!" Sokka's eyes widened. "Why would you say that?" I reached forward and pulled Sokka back, gently. She needed her space.

"She doesn't mean it," I whispered.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Aang repeated.

"Of course she does," Zuko's fists curled at his sides. "She needs this more than anyone."

Katara turned to me. I nearly jumped out of my skin. "Do you want to come with us?" she asked. "I know you know what I mean."

I put my hands up in surrender. "I do know. And I love Mom, too. But I think this trip is for you and Zuko," I said with a smile. "I know you need this."

Katara nodded, her eyebrows knit together. She climbed onto Appa, Zuko right behind. When they left, Aang turned to me.

"Really?" He raised his eyebrows.

"What?" I asked. "They need some bonding time. We can't have Katara hate Zuko. She's my sister and he's my—" I cleared my throat, continuing. "And besides, I can't not agree with her. Did you see her face?" I shivered. "She would've killed me if I told her not to go."

Aang sighed.

♋♋♋

Azula sat in front of her mirror. 

"I'm celebrating becoming an only child!" she'd thundered, laughing maniacally when Zuko had chosen to fight her on the airship. 

She stared at her reflection. Mai had betrayed her, and then Ty Lee, to save Mai's life. 

"I love Zuko more than I fear you." Brave, but stupid. Mai had tried, but she failed. And anyway, Zuko didn't even like her. Azula smirked in the mirror, her hair loose over her shoulders. It reminded her of Ayame.

Ayame had betrayed her. The smile washed off Azula's face, and she scowled at the mirror. She didn't understand why she'd felt so helpless when Ayame had taken control of her. How had she taken control of her?

She'd felt her insides turn hard, and then she was on her knees. On her knees. Ayame had the power to take control of her. 

Azula stood up with rage, kicking her chair over. The table went next and she slammed her fist against it. It broke in half.

There was no way, no way somebody could take control of Azula. It was impossible.

She wanted revenge. And this time, she would be ready. Ready to take down Ayame once and for all. Ayame, the only person she'd actually trusted in her life.

"You're a monster."

It wasn't Azula's fault that she didn't know how to tell Ayame about her stupid siblings. When Ayame had run out of the room after not being able to make her decision, Azula had been so angry because she had truly believed in Ayame. So the truth came out the wrong way.

And now she was with the Avatar and Azula's stupid, stupid brother, Zuko. Azula hated him. He loved to ruin everything. She wished he'd never been born.

Azula screamed at the top of her lungs, collapsing on her bed opposite to the mirror. Hatred coursed her veins in a way she couldn't describe, couldn't let out. She ripped the covers off, brutally tearing the pillows apart as feathers floated to the ground. Her chest rose and fell as she breathed heavily.

Revenge. That's what she needed. Revenge from her brother, or from Ayame. Whoever came first.

♋♋♋

Zuko was impressed. The bloodbending thing still hadn't set in his mind properly, but seeing Katara with control over five people at once surprised him. Ayame was right; this wan't something sane to do. Katara was angry. She wasn't thinking properly. Knowing she was so close to her mother's killer, she wanted to take down everything in her path.

And there was no way Zuko was stopping her. 

The man pleaded for his life, "I don't know who you are! I don't."

Katara's eyes widened, her mask pulled down. "He's not the guy."

Internally, Zuko groaned. He grabbed the guy's arm and twisted it behind his back, wanting to give him as much pain as possible. "Then you can tell me who it was."

And he gave Katara and Zuko the name of the retired killer who'd left four years ago, and lived with his mother.

It was raining hard, and Katara hid behind tree, waiting. An old man. Katara leaped, and had him down in seconds.

"Do you remember me?" she yelled over the pattering of the rain. "Do you know who I am?"

"N-no!" the man yelled feebly. "Please . . . let me go!"

"Well you better remember her," Zuko ordered, "because today, she's not taking prisoners."

The words cut through Katara like knives and her eyes watered. The man seemed to remember them, too. "You . . . you're that little water tribe girl."

"And you killed my mother," she said. 

"You can take my mother, then! Just leave me. It's fair." 

Katara looked at him with disgust. "You're pathetic." she raised her hands, and the rain froze around them, turning into daggers. She pointed them at him. "I always wondered what kind of a man you'd be. And now I know. You sicken me. You are dead inside, and that why you could do something so pathetic. My mother wasn't the last waterbender of the tribe!" Katara yelled, and the tears fell down her cheeks. "I was. She saved me. And you turned out to be the failure, because now I'm here, standing in front of you."

And the knives flew straight towards him.

🔥🔥🔥

Appa returned, landing right next to me. "How did it go?" I asked, as Zuko and Katara dismounted. 

"Did you get your revenge?" Aang asked. "Or did you forgive him?"

"Neither," she said. "I will never forgive him. Seeing him cowering was enough," she said with disgust. "But," a smile replace the look, "I have forgiven you, Zuko." and she threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you."

"Well I'm glad that's settled," I said as she walked away. "Was she scary?"

"She bloodbended," Zuko said, taking my hand. "That was enough for me." I laughed. 

"Who's going on a field trip with you next, Zuko?" I rested my head on his shoulder. "Everyone's suddenly wanting to go everywhere with you."

"Do you want to go somewhere?" Zuko asked. The question took me by surprise. "Do I—" I blinked. "Where?"

"There's this really nice place," he said. "Near the water. Let me show you," he pulled me along, and I suddenly thought, I am so lucky to be here. I smiled, getting emotional. I sniffed, but Zuko was too excited to hear, thank the spirits.

And the place was perfect—a sunset and everything.