Shyu opened another secret door, leading the way into the sanctuary. "No!" Shyu gasped out, running towards the large and intricate door in the middle of the room.

"Shyu, what's wrong?"

"The sanctuary doors, they're closed," Shyu groaned, staring up at the door.

"Can't you open them with firebending? Like you did with the other doors?" Katara asked, pulling on the door.

"No. Only a fully realized Avatar is powerful enough to open this door alone. Otherwise, the sages must open this door together with five simultaneous fire blasts."

"And we only have two firebenders," Azara grumbled, trying to think of an alternative.

"Five fire blasts, huh? I think I can help you out," Sokka spoke, stepping forwards. He pulled out five bags and instructed Shyu to grab some lamp oil from the room. "This is a little trick I picked up from my father. I seal the lamp oil inside an animal skin casing, then we just have to light the oil soaked twine, and ta-da! Fake firebending!"

"You've really outdone yourself this time, Sokka," Katara complimented as Azara stared back up at the door.

"Let's hope this works." Sokka finished preparing the bags before stuffing one into each opening in the door, the twine hanging out.

"The sages will hear the explosion, so as soon as they go off, you rush in!" Shyu warned Aang, who nodded in affirmation. Katara, Sokka, and Azara hid behind a column as Shyu lit the bags, setting off the explosions. Aang jumped forwards but stopped in front of the still closed door.

"They're still locked!"

"It didn't work," Azara sighed, sounding dejected. Aang whipped several air blasts at the door, but it did not budge.

"Why, won't it, open?!" he huffed as Katara grabbed his shoulder.

"Aang! Stop! There's nothing else we can do . . ." Katara replied, causing Aang to momentarily relax as he stared at the floor.

"I'm sorry I put you all through this," he mumbled, as Azara and Sokka inspected the door.

"I don't get it. That explosion looked as strong as any firebending I've seen," Sokka replied, wiping the soot from the door. Azara stared at the soot for a moment before a thought popped into her brain.

"Sokka, you're a genius!" she exclaimed as Aang looked over questioningly.

"Wait. How is Sokka a genius? His plan didn't even work," Aang pointed out as Sokka crossed his arms over his chest, clearly pleased with the compliment.

"Come on, Aang. Let her dream," Sokka smirked as Azara rolled her eyes playfully.

"Sokka's plan didn't work, but it looks like it did. The scorch marks make it look convincing enough. As far as any of the Fire Sages know, you're inside."

"Did the definition of genius change over the last hundred years?" Aang quipped as Katara nodded, stepping forwards.

"That's true, but is the scorch marks enough to convince the Fire Sages to open the door?"

"What if someone was already inside?" Aang suggested, pointing towards Momo, who blinked up at the group. Hurrying to set the plan in motion, Azara moved to hide behind one of the pillars as the sound of footsteps got louder. Peeking out from behind the statue, Azara spotted the remaining Fire Sages appear in front of the door as Shyu lied.

"Come quickly! The Avatar has entered the sanctuary!" Shyu shouted, standing in front of the door to the sanctuary.

"How did he get in?"

"I don't know. But look at the scorch marks! And down there!" Shyu pointed out, referring to the shadow under the door.

"He's inside! Open the doors immediately! Before he contacts Avatar Roku!" the Great Fire Sage ordered as the sages lined up, each sending a powerful fire blast at the door to open it. As the door swung open, only a soot-covered Momo was visible. "It's the Avatar's lemur! He must have crawled through the pipes! We've been tricked!"

Momo took the opportunity to jump out and grab the Great Fire Sage's hat. Shyu, Katara, and Sokka moved to grab the other sages as Azara turned to Aang's hiding spot. "Now, Aang!" she shouted, but grew confused as Aang failed to appear. Zuko stepped out from behind the column, Aang's hands pinned behind him.

"The Avatar is coming with me," Zuko snapped at his sister, who glared at him as he walked towards the stairs. As Shyu, Katara, and Sokka were overpowered by the sages they grabbed, Azara ran forwards, sending fire blasts at her brother. As he moved to block them, Aang was freed from his grip and jumped towards the door.

"Go, Aang!" Azara yelled out, dodging a fire blast from the Great Fire Sage as Aang jumped over them, sliding into the sanctuary as the door shut. Azara smiled for a moment as the doors locked, a bright light emanating from the sanctuary. Her moment of excitement, however, quickly came to an end as she quickly found herself surrounded by her brother and the remaining Fire Sages.

"Surrender, Princess Azara. You're outnumbered," the Great Fire Sage demanded, though his large hat was missing thanks to Momo.

"That would be easier, wouldn't it?" Azara spoke, glancing at Katara and Sokka, who were chained to a pillar and stared at her in concern. "Unfortunately, for you, I never take the easy route." She stepped forwards, sending several fire blasts out and dodging those shot back at her. Despite her adversaries, her lithe and agile style allowed her to evade their attacks.

Azara yelled out, sending a powerful fire kick at a Fire Sage, sending him flying back towards the column Sokka and Katara were chained against. They both stared at the Fire Sage with surprise as he groaned on the floor, before turning to each other. "I never knew how powerful she was," Katara commented as Azara cartwheeled away from another fire blast.

"Yeah . . ." Sokka trailed off as he watched with amazement as Azara dodged a swipe from another Fire Sage, grabbing him by the arm and sending him into another one. Resuming her defensive stance, Azara glared at the Great Fire Sage and her brother, her chest heaving from the fight. The sound of sarcastic clapping broke up the fight momentarily.

Azara's eyes narrowed as she spotted Zhao and his soldiers walk into the sanctuary. "Well done, Princess Azara. I see your firebending prowess hasn't been affected by your traitorous ways."

"Zhao," Azara and Zuko spat out at the same time as they spotted the smirking commander.

"I should have known from the overwhelming stench that you were close, Zhao," Azara snapped, as Zhao's expression darkened.

"You're still as articulate and pleasant as I remember, Princess," Zhao scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Bite me," she spat as his soldiers stepped forwards.

"That can be arranged," Zhao replied as Zuko stepped in front of his sister.

"Stay out of this, Zhao. It does not concern you," Zuko growled, causing Zhao to roll his eyes.

"And what about this does not concern me, Prince Zuko? You're in violation of your banishment and your sister is public enemy number one, save for the Avatar. This has everything to do with me," Zhao stated, before turning to his soldiers. "Arrest them."

"I got the left; you got the right?" Azara asked, turning to look at her brother. While the siblings had their differences, they shared a mutual hatred of the conniving Commander Zhao. Zuko yelled out as he charged the Fire Nation soldiers. Azara turned to her own bunch, knocking two into a pillar and kicking another down the stairs.

Looking up at Zuko's cry of pain, Azara jumped back as Zhao sent a fire blast towards her. Turning against him, Azara glared as she was surrounded by more guards, the others busy chaining Zuko to his own pillar. "You're too late, Zhao, the Avatar is inside, and the doors are sealed," Azara spoke as she refused to lessen her stance. "You lost."

"He will have to come out eventually," Zhao smirked confidently, walking down the pathway of guards to stand a few feet in front of Azara. "Now, surrender, Princess Azara."

"Or what?" Azara challenged, glaring up at Zhao.

"It would be shame if anything happened to your friends. Of course, casualties happen in a war," Zhao shrugged as Azara's eyes darted over to Katara and Sokka as two soldiers moved to menacingly stand in front of them. Zhao took a step closer as Azara's stance relaxed at the change in situation. "Maybe you can evade me, but they can't."

"Stop!" Azara called, standing up with her hands in the air. "Leave them alone." At her statement, the two soldiers backed off and two more grabbed her from behind, forcing her to her knees as Zhao strut forwards. "The Fire Lord will be pleased that I will return both of his disobedient little brats to him," Zhao smirked, grabbing Azara's chin in his hand.

Still defiant, Azara glared up at Zhao and spit in his eye. The commander reeled back, wiping the spit from his eye. As he stared down at Azara, she saw his eye twitch in anger as he turned back towards her. Raising her hands to block the oncoming shot, Azara was thrown back as Zhao sent a fire blast at her. Sliding on the floor, Azara groaned as her back hit the door.

"Azara!" Sokka and Katara shouted out for her, pulling on their restraints.

"One more insolent action, Princess, and you'll get a matching scar to your brother," Zhao hissed as two soldiers pulled her to her feet, dragging her over to the pillar her brother was currently chained to. The two siblings didn't acknowledge each other for a moment, Azara looking over at her friends as Zuko glared at the floor.

"You're lucky you have fast reflexes," Zuko commented as Azara turned to look at him. "But . . . nice shot." The corners of Azara's mouth twitched up at his words before she looked away.

"When those doors open, unleash all your firepower!" Zhao ordered as his soldiers lined up in front of the door. The same white light as before emanated from under the door, causing the firebenders to get into position. The doors unlocked and opened as smoke gathered around the room. "Ready!"

"No! Aang!" Katara yelled out as the light faded, revealing a pair of glowing eyes.

"Fire!" Zhao commanded as the assembled firebenders each launched a powerful stream of fire at Aang. The fire began to swirl around the figure, revealing Avatar Roku.

"Avatar Roku," Azara gasped out as Avatar Roku sent the fire back at Zhao and his men, knocking them off their feet and melting the chains. Azara pulled herself free as Zuko turned to leave. The siblings shared a look before Zuko took off for the stairs. Azara shook her head before turning and running to Sokka and Katara, who were talking with Shyu.

"Avatar Roku is going to destroy the temple! We have to get out of here!" Shyu warned as Azara reached them, crouching down next to Katara.

"Not without Aang!" Katara replied as Shyu turned to run himself. Avatar Roku stepped forwards, cracking the floor, and pulling the magma through the cracks. Azara, Katara, and Sokka huddled behind one of the columns as the destruction continued, Sokka attempting to shield them the best he could. The temple stopped rumbling for a moment, causing Azara to stick her head out from around the pillar.

Spotting Aang instead of Avatar Roku, Azara rushed forwards, Sokka and Katara close behind her. Azara and Katara helped Aang stand as he looked around the destroyed room. "We got your back," Azara assured him as he stood on his own.

"Thanks. Where's Shyu?" Aang asked as he couldn't find the Fire Sage.

"I don't know," Katara sighed as they moved to leave. Spotting the stairwell, which was now covered in lava, the group shared concerned expressions. The hole in the wall was their only option as the temple started to lean.

"Appa!" Aang called as the flying bison swung down. Sliding through the hole and down the roof, the group landed on Appa's back and sailed away from Crescent Island. Azara glanced back at the island, sighing in relief when she didn't see Zuko on Zhao's ship. He had escaped Zhao and, by extension, their father. For now.