...Chpt 1- The New Mission...

*Aprox 2 years after the defeat of The Pheonix King*

Team Avatar sat around the meeting table in the FireLord's palace waiting to find out the reason they had been summoned so urgently. FireLord Zuko walked into the room causing everyone to become quiet.

"Hey Zuko, Is everything okay?" Avatar Aang asked standing up to greet his friend.

"I have some bad news." Zuko answered looking at Aang and the rest of his friends. "Azula has escaped from prison last night. I've sent guards out looking for her, but she is no where to be found."

"Well, this is just GREAT!" Sokka whined flailing his arms in the air. "The Lunatic Lighting Loser Lady is on the run again."

"Do you ALWAYS have to nickname everyone with stupid names?" Toph remarked obviously annoyed by his constant immaturity.

"Yes, and they're NOT stupid! I happen to have a GIFT and I intend to..."

"Sokka not now." Katara interrupted shutting her brother up. Sokka glared angrily at his sister as he crossed his arms and pouted like an immature child.

"What do you think we should do?" Aang asked as he kept his attention on Zuko. Zuko's gaze shifted to Katara and then back to Aang.

"I have a few ideas, but I'm not sure you guys are going to like them." The FireLord answered with a cold serious look on his already stressed and exhausted face.

"We are willing to do anything to make sure that the world remains safe and at peace." Aang replied as the others nodded in agreement. "What are your ideas?"

"Azula's very crafty and knows that she can't easily escape out of the firenation without being noticed so my thoughts are she is probably going to be residing in the small towns gathering soldiers and people who are against the Harmony Restoration Movement. She's probably going to be creating an army of her own and win approval from the small villages eventually leading to a revolt." Zuko informed slowly pacing back in forth over the massive table that had the picture of the whole world painted skillfully on it.

"So we split up and search out the small villages to find her and take her down." Katara stated holding her hand out in her usual habit as she shared her suggestion to everyone.

"It's not that easy... With so many fire nation loyalists already trying to start a revolt it's going to be very hard to find out who is on our side and who is against us. They will stay quiet until Azula gives orders to attack." Zuko replied sitting down with the rest of the gang.

"What do you suggest?" Sokka asked unfolding his arms and putting his hands on his knees.

"Aang, Sokka, and I will stay here and protect everyone in the firenation. Toph will go to the Earth Kingdom with Uncle and keep their eyes and ears open for any information on Azula."

"What about me?" Katara asked.

"You will return to the Southern Water Tribe where you will be safe." Zuko instructed.

"Are you kidding me? Why can't I be involved in this?" Katara shouted rather than asked.

"Azula will be after you. You're just bait, and we can't afford to have you getting hurt or killed. It's not safe here for you." Zuko calmly replied.

"Well what about you? She has just as much of a grudge toward you! Plus I've already beat her once... I can do it again." Katara fumed as she fought the urge to waterbend some sense into the stupid FireLord.

"Katara, you beat her only because I SAVED you from HER LIGHTNING BOLT! You don't stand a chance against Azula." Zuko's voice became even more impatient. Katara's whole body seemed to be boiling with anger and frustration.

"I was The one who ended up beating her and SAVING you! If it wasn't for me YOU wouldn't be alive right now and SHE would be FireLord!" Katara shot back enraged that Zuko was even thinking that she was weak and helpless in anyway.

Zuko closed his eyes in frustration. When he opened them the sternness in his amber eyes caused a massive cloud of tension to form in the air.

"Katara, you are leaving for the Southern Water Tribe and that is Final! I will banish you from the Fire nation if I have too." Zuko threatened.

Katara stood up fixing to knock some sense into the new FireLord, but Aang's arm blocked her.

"Katara.." Aang's voice full of loving concern shot through her rage. She looked down at where Aang sat and stared into his calm grey eyes. "Zuko has a good point. If you stay here Azula will be after you. You aren't safe here. As much as I hate to say it... I think it would be best if you did what Zuko has suggested and go back home until this matter is resolved."

"What?" Katara yelled feeling betrayed that Aang would take Zuko's side on this matter. "Aang, I have NEVER left your side! I have fought in countless fights right beside you! You can't expect me to just up and leave just because Azula's escapes."

Aang remained calm as he sincerely replied, " It's for the best, Katara. If Zuko says that you need to go somewhere safe.. Then we have to trust him." Katara sighed heavily seeing that Aang wasn't about to change his mind on the matter.

"If that's what you two think is best.." She whispered accepting her defeat in the matter. Then getting up from the table she left the room glaring at Zuko as she past him.

"She'll be fine just give her sometime to cool off." Sokka said to Zuko after Katara the slammed the door forcefully behind her.

"I know. I'm not worried about her being mad at me." Zuko replied dully then he turned his attention to the blind earthbender."Toph, you need to leave immediately and go to Uncle's Tea shop. Give him this message when you get there. He will explain all the plans to you."

"Alright , I'll head over there." Toph stood up and yanked the scroll from Zuko's extended hand.

"I'M NOT GRUMPY." Zuko gritted through his clenched teeth in an effort to keep from yelling.

"Sure you're not." Toph replied back while walking to the door, and slamming it on her way out just to emphasize how tough she was. Zuko moaned as he closed his eyes and shook his head. After a few seconds he took a deep breath and turned his attention to the young men sitting in front of him.

"Sokka and Aang, you should probably take Appa and go to the outer regions of the Firenation and begin searching for Azula. You guys can leave tomorrow if you would rather do that."Sokka knodded his head as he accepted the new mission while Aang looked at the FireLord with worried eyes.

"What about Katara? How is she going to get to the Southern Watertribe without Appa? I assumed I would be taking her there to make sure she gets home safe." Aang asked in is concerned voice.

"There is no time. I will give her a small fleet ship to get back home with a few guards to keep her safe.. She will be fine Aang." Zuko reassured as he stared at the Avatar's stressed face.

"I still don't like the idea of her being without us... But if you feel it's safest and crucial to the mission... I will do what you think is best." Aang stated with an unsureness in his soft voice.

Back at the firenation house the gang was staying in, Katara was packing up her belongings. Toph had already came and gone ready to start her mission, but Katara had no reason to rush since she was going home to do absolutely nothing. Aang and Sokka entered the house discussing their part of the mission. Sokka soon went into his bedroom stating that he had to pack and write Sukki a letter explaining the mission he is now a part of. Aang left Sokka to his business and walked into Katara's room. He watched his beautiful waterbender pack up her things as he leaned against the door frame.

"I still don't see why I have to go home at a time like this. I'm just as good of a warrior as Zuko is." Katara complained to Aang while throwing some clothes in her traveling bag. Aang could tell she was still very upset about leaving everyone.

"Azula is just like Ozai, Katara. She is crafty and sneaky and can easily defeat Zuko if she wanted to. We are only doing what is best. I don't want you hurt, Sweetie. I agree that you don't need to be here right now considering the circumstances. The only thing I wish I could do is take you the Southern Water Tribe instead of you traveling on a ship without us.." Aang explained while walking up to where Katara stood beside her bed.

"I know what you mean.." Katara sighed looking at her blue traveling bag. "I'm just going to miss you, Sweetie." She said while turning and throwing her arms around Aang's neck in a huge hug.

"I'm going to miss you too, Sweetie. I will be down there as soon as I can... I promise." Aang replied holding his love tightly burying his face in her soft wavy hair. He released her from the hug and stared into her deep blue eyes. "As soon as I find Azula I will head straight to you Katara. I promise." He tenderly repeated as he looked into his love's tear filled eyes. The waterbender smiled and her eyes brightened at the promise.

"I hope it's soon." She whispered in a soft loving voice. Aang ran his fingers through her hair and gently caressed his love's smooth olive face. Slowly he leaned into Katara's soft gentle lips kissing her passionately, just as they had done that beautiful day outside of Iroh's Jasmine Dragon Teashop.

The next morning Katara sat staring off into the bright morning sky. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Katara reluctantly stood up from where she was sitting and opened the door. Standing before her was the new FireLord.

"What do you want Zuko?" Katara asked in a frustrated tone.

"The ship is ready to set sail. I came to escort you to the ship's dock. I want to make sure you're safe." Zuko answered as he stepped inside the house.

"I don't need an escort." Katara spat out as she walked away to go get her bags. When she returned Aang and Sokka were in a deep conversation with Zuko. Once seeing the Katara had finally returned, Aang walked over and took Katara's bag from her.

"Lets head out." Zuko ordered as they went and got in the firenation carriage. The gang arrived a few minutes later at the ships dock. The smell of the salt water sailed with the slight breeze that occasionally flew through the air. As they neared the ship, Sokka gave his sister a long bear hug.

"Be safe out there sis. Take care of Gran-Gran and Dad for me, and write once you get there." Sokka instructed while still holding his little sister.

"I will." Katara replied as they let go of eachother. Zuko then stepped forward.

"Hopefully you won't hate me for making you do this, Katara. Be safe." Zuko stated giving her a quick hug goodbye.

"I'll do my best." Katara replied with a half smile on her face showing she was done being upset with him.

Aang then walked up to her and pulled her into him in a tight embrace.

"This is going to be so hard not having you with me. I hate that you are leaving where I can't protect you.. I'm going to miss you so much, Sweetie." Aang said as his grip around her tightened.

"I know. This is going to be so hard...I'm going to miss you so much!" Katara replied with tear-filled eyes.

"OKAY GUYS! You are giving me the Oogies AGAIN!" Sokka interrupted them putting his hands over his eyes to emphasize his uncomfortableness.

Katara pulled away from her boyfriend's embrace and was about to jump down her brother's throat for talking about his "Oogies", but the Caption of the fleet ship called down to her from the ship and told her they needed to be heading out. Katara gave Aang a quick peck on the lips and a loving hug and then ran on to the ship waving bye to them with tears streaming down her face. Aang also couldn't keep a few tears from escaping from his concerned eyes. Suddenly he felt a strong hand on his shoulder, "She'll be fine. Katara's a strong spirit." Zuko reassured the young Avatar.

"I know. It's just going to be tough without her being with me. Ever since we have met we have never been apart for longer than a week. I'm going to miss her." Aang replied with a deep heavy sigh as the young men watched the ship disappear in the distance.