Welcome to Chapter Two.

It wasn't the Impenetrable City, but it would have to do.

Getting inside had been amusingly simple, to say the least. The citizens were too trusting for those who had just come out of a war. No one had given her a second glance.

She hadn't felt right changing out of her fire nation clothes though. Her loyalty to her homeland was the most important thing in her life. Disgracing herself by wearing the colors of another nation was as good as treason. However, her survival depended on it.

The guard (whatever his name had been) told her that the largest attacks from the fire nation rebels had taken place in Omashu. And so she was here.

Time to find the rebels.

The sun shone down, hot as a dragon's breath, on the earth kingdom sanitary worker. He was hard at work, scrubbing the inky black letters from the inner wall of Omashu.

"What's that you're up to?" An oddly friendly stranger questioned him.

The stranger was an interesting sight. He was a young man, possibly sixteen or seventeen, with long, messy brown hair. He sported a strange smile and even stranger clothing. In one hand he held a map and in the other an apple

"Cleaning up this graffiti. 'S my job." He replied, returning to his work.

"Hm. Not the kind of job I'd like to do." Stated the stranger, taking a bite out of the apple. "To each his own."

The worker looked over the stranger again. "You're not from here, are you?"

"Nah. I used to live up north."

"Mmmh." The worker turned back to his task. A few minutes later, he noticed the stranger still had not left, but instead was leaning against the wall, chewing his fruit with a nonchalant air. "What brings you to Omashu, then?"

"Looking for family. We were separated while travelling." A tear began to rise in the stranger's eye, but anger rose faster. "The fire nation took them away from me. They took everything I had." His fist closed around his apple, crushing the fruit.

"Hey, pal…"

The stranger began to laugh. "No, it's okay," he smiled. "I'm used to it."

The worker shook his head as the stranger walked away. This crazy war was finally over, but it had ruined too many lives.

Jet smiled, wiping what was left of the apple off of his hands. It hadn't been too clear, but he had been able to read what was written on the wall before the worker washed it off.

Freedom Fighters. In dark black ink.

He had found his family.

"And you are?"

Azula frowned.

"Do you not recognize your own princess?"

Finding the rebellion had been easy. Most earth kingdom citizens still feared the fire nation solders, so it was a simple matter for the rebels to receive room and board for no cost from a terrified young shopkeeper. And if you asked the right people – with the right amount of force – a few hushed words and a pointed finger could get you right to the secret rebellion.

"Of course you're the princess. So is every other dark-haired girl who comes by here."

"Do not play games with me infidel! I am the princess!"

"Fabulous. Now please get out of my sight. War is not a game for little girls."

Azula began to grow angry. "How can you not recognize your own fire lord?"

"Look miss, I don't have time for this. Maybe you can firebend? None of the other fakes could."

"How dare you insult me? I am no fake!"

"Yes but can you bend?" The solider smiled. He had been though the same ordeal about five times already today, and was beginning to enjoy it.

"I do not need to prove myself to you." She had been afraid of this. She knew these people could not be trusted.

"Sorry lady, but if you can't bend fire, you're gonna have to leave."

Sparks flew from Azula's eyes. "I'll show you fire bending!"

The fire that spread through Omashu that night was quickly put out, though not before it destroyed the entire Yu Hǎo Inn. Three dozen bodies were found in the ashes, later revealed to be thirty-five fire nation soldiers and one very unfortunate innkeeper.

By then, Azula was long gone.

Lighting is the most advanced form of firebending a bender can perform. Only through intense training, disciple, and inner peace can one achieve this art. However, the gift is not often used with good intentions.

For example, lightning was an efficient way of striking down birds. And Azula found it was pleasing to her to watch their little bodies curl up and fall out of the sky like rocks. This game of sorts entertained her for a while – until a different bird came along. A royal messenger hawk – and it was carrying a letter from the "fire lord" himself.

Aang,

Things have changed quickly. You must come to the capital as soon as you can.

While sifting through the ashes at Boiling Rock, my soldiers found this journal. It seems one of the guards had a hand in helping Azula escape. I am now almost certain she is out there.

The pages of the journal are attached. I think you'll see what I mean.

Please leave for the capital as soon as you get this letter. Azula is out there, and she could attack at any time.

-Zuko

So he knew she had escaped. It didn't matter. The Avatar would never find out.

The letter was addressed for the North Pole. She had her next destination cut out for her.

Wow! This story has really taken off. Thank you for all the great reviews! More to come – as soon as I have time to type it!

~Martes