Azula felt the first rays of the morning light cross her eyes as she lay on her bed. Turning over viciously, she attempted to hide from those rays under her red silken blanket, one of the few things the guards had allowed her to have in her otherwise sparse cell. Lord Ozai, her father, had always said the the nation should wake with the sun, for it fueled its people and strengthened its armies, allowing for glorious conquest for the Fire Nation. She had never bought into his propagandic words. The sun served the nation, not the other way around, and it should know it's place and wait for it's royalty to say when it is time to rise.

A small click followed by a telling creak attempted to disrupt her slumber again. She closed her eyes tighter, mentally cursing the custodial workers for not keeping her cell door oiled. "Psst, Azula!', came a hushed voice from outside her cell. She paid it no mind, she didn't even need to hear him speak to know who it was. If that foolish boy thought she was going to get up with the sun for him when she didn't even for her father, he had another thing coming. 'Perhaps if I lie still here, he will think I died and go away', her sleep-addled mind thought.

A sudden rush of air tore her warm, silken blanket for her grasp. She bolted upright in bed, staring wide eyed at the one person who could possibly have the audacity to waken her before she was ready.

"Oh good, you're up!" said Aang with a childlike, beaming smile.

Azula glared at the young air bender, making her annoyance known. "You really have no sense of decorum at all, do you?" Turning she planted her feet on the ground, her bed, letting out a huff of annoyance. Aang reached out and offered his hand to her. With a disgusted look and dismissive gesture to his offer, she stood up under her own power. Folding her arms across her chest, she continued her glare at the Avatar. "Is that how you wake that water tribe trolip of yours as well," she said in annoyance, before quickly changing her tone to condescendingly playful " Or perhaps you thought you might catch peek of a real woman?"

To her, surprise, Aang's reaction was not one of angry or flustered denials. Instead, he blushed and rubbed his bald head in embarrassment. "Well," he said with a small giggle, "Katara's usually up well before I am. I've never been a morning person either, so she's gotten into this habit of putting ice down my shorts to get me out of bed. I just thought it would try something like that since that ice always gets me up and awake real quick." Smiling so big, Azula thought his face might just crack, "She's always thought it was funny, too. I think I see why now," he said with a laugh.

Azula angrily closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. How could he be so jovial and uncaring at such an obvious setup. At least Zuzu, for all his many, many faults, was an entertaining person when his buttons were pushed. 'Does this stupid boy even know he's been insulted?' she thought. 'It's like he has the brain of a child. How he managed to beat father I will never know.'

Recovering from his amusement, Aang gathered himself for a moment before looking at her again. His serious expression reminded and the way he spoke reminded Azula just how unchildlike this boy could actually be. "Alright, It's time to go.", he began, sounding far older and stronger than his body should allow. "We've had food and clothes for you packed and loaded onto Appa. Follow me, princess." Turning, not even looking back at her, he walked out of her cell and up the cell block. Hurriedly, Azula folded up her blanket, and walked with a quickened pace to catch up with him.

'Why am I following him?', she thought to herself. A quick glance around the cellblock showed only her and the Avatar to be present. 'More importantly, why is he not watching me? There's not even any guards to keep me from running. Surely he doesn't think he alone could keep me from escaping.' Azula squeezed her hand tight. She could feel the heat in her blood. How easy it would be to take out this annoyance here and now. 'Wait,' she though. "I see his game. This is a test. He's allowing me to think I am going with him of my free will, but he surely has his irritating friends or Dai Li agents hidden ready to strike me down.' Forcing herself to relax, she held smiled and held her held up higher as she continued to follow the young monk towards the stairway out of the prison. 'Alright, Avatar. I'll continue to play your game. It's only a matter of time before we're alone, however. That's when we'll star a new game. One of my own devising.'

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"I still don't like this" Katara said grumpily and she paced back and forth in front of Appa.

Zuko looked back slightly at her while helping Sokka load the last bit of luggage onto Appa's saddle. "Aang knows what he's doing. If anyone can help my sister, it's him. If he believe a trip alone with Azula is for the best, I trust him"

"It's not Aang I have a problem trusting. It's that psycho sister of yours" Katara said as she all but glared at the horizon.

Zuko, rubbing his shoulder, glad to be done loading walked over to Katara. "I wouldn't worry too much about, her. She may dangerous and highly skilled, but she knows better than to try to go one on one with an Avatar at this point. Besides' he said smiling, laying a hand on her shoulder "I don't think she's stupid enough to hurt the future husband of the woman who whipped her butt only a month ago."

Katara started to smile as well, but suppressed it, her worry still present. "He should at least take one of use with him to help keep an eye on her. She might escape or she might have made a plan with one of the guards to slip her a weapon or she might even just catch him while he's asleep. There still isn't much organized force in the Southern Water Tribe, and none that would be able to stop her. What if-"

"You know what I don't like?" asked Sokka as he animatedly wiped sweat from his brow, completely cutting off Katara's grim line of thinking. "That we're stuck here doing the grunt work while all Aang has to do is bring little Miss Crazypants up here." Hopping down from Appa skillfully, he dramatically pointed a finger accusingly at Katara. "And you! What are you doing to help?"

Now Katara couldn't suppress her smile this time. "Isn't it obvious? I'm supervising. Good job you two!", patting both he and Zuko on the shoulder. "You're both free to take your ten minute breaks now."

Both Katara and Zuko laughed lightly as Sokka jokingly acted indignant, making promises to tell the union about this. Almost as if on cue, the jovial mood turned sour as they all turned towards the entrance of the prison and the two Fire Nation guards opened the large doors. Aang walked out first, showing no emotion on his face. He was quickly followed by Azula, walking just as regally as ever, her head held high and her face one of smug superiority.

"So much for a break" Sokka murmured. Narrowing his eyes, he spoke quietly to his sister "No guards with them. Guess it was test in trust or something like that. Did you know he'd do that"

"No," Katara almost hissed. "He didn't even have her cuffed" she noted grumpily. Zuko, remaining quiet, walked towards the pair.

"Avatar Aang," he said with a quick bow, "we've finished loading the your supplies onto Appa. Are you ready to depart?"

Aang looked at him and raised an eyebrow, "Uh, yeah." he said with a nod, before catching on and smirking at his friend. "Your advisors have you taking extra diplomacy lessons, huh Zuko?"

'Just another proud responsibility of being the Fire Lord" Zuko replied with a huff. Turning his head, he looked at his sister who was doing her best to act as those he were not even there before turning back to one time enemy turned friend. "Please Aang, take care of my sister" he said as he pulled him in for a hug, "and take care of yourself as well."

Aang, hugged him back "Don't worry, I take good care of both her and myself" he said letting go. Walking past Zuko, he could see Katara and Sokka waiting patiently for their goodbyes.

"Sokka" Aang said, pulling his friend in for a hug "take-"

"Ya ya. I'm her brother. I think I already know I should take care of my sister, Aang." he said, returning Aang's hug. "Now you, on the other hand need to take care of yourself and watch out for Miss Zappy over there" jerking his thumb back towards Azula, who was currently waiting by Appa looking at the sky bison in undisguised disgust. Apparently she wasn't one for emotional goodbye, or any goodbyes at all.

Aang nodded knowing before looking towards Katara. Taking a deep breath, he walked over to the one he wanted to say goodbye to the least.

"Aang…" Katara started softly in her concerned, motherly voice.

The air bender quickly wrapped her up in a tight hug. "I'll be ok" he whispered, "I'm not the reckless kid you once knew. I know how dangerous she can be. I'll always keep my guard up. I promise." Pulling back slightly, he could see her beautiful eyes begin to well up with tears. "Have faith. I'll be back before you know it, sweetie, and we can finally have some time to ourselves."

"It better not be too much time!" Sokka all but shouted at the two, before being scared quiet by their dual glares.

Aang and Katara looked back with a quiet laugh. "I love you, Aang" Katara said lovingly, with a kiss "And I trust you too. I know you'll succeed in your plan and will be back soon."

Aang smiled brightly and warmly. "I love you too Katara," pulling her in for a deep kiss and hug, happily ignoring Sokka's strangled gags. Breaking the kiss, he smiled dumbly at Katara for a moment before getting a grip of himself. "Goodbye, Katara."

"Goodbye, Aang."

With a startlingly high jump only an air bender could pull off, Aang onto Appa's back and grabbed hold of the reigns. Looking down, he expected to see Azula getting help from either Zuko or Sokka getting aboard, but instead, to his surprise she climbed up rather skillfully on her own. It made Aang wonder if she had ever ridden a sky bison before. He was about to voice his question to her but the princess gave him a glare that made him think otherwise. Giving him a curt nod as she sat down, Aang could only guess that was her signaling she was prepared to leave. 'I didn't expect her to speak to any of the others, but now it seems she isn't even talking to me,' he thought a little sadly. Shaking his head, he looked back down one last time at his friends. He smiled and have them a wave before kicking the reigns and giving the command to fly.

"Appa! Yip Yip!

Katara, Sokka and Zuko waved, shouting their farewells, encouragements /or advices to the as they departed

"Godspeed, Avatar! I know you can help her!"

"Goodbye, Sweetie! Remember the ice around the village is really thin this year, so be careful!"

"Hey Aang! If you see a really neat black sword somewhere in the ocean when you're flying, it's mine!"

As they flew off into the horizon, Aang looked back at Azula, who had purposefully set herself as far back and away from the Avatar as possible on the saddle. She graced him with little more than and angry glance before going back to giving the clouds her undivided attention. It was obvious she wasn't in a talkative mood, nor would appreciate any attempt at a conversation. Aang faced forward once more with a sigh. 'Well…here we come Southern Water Tribe' he thought, frowning slightly. 'Here's hoping I don't screw this up.'

A/N: Whoa…what happened? A second chapter? I thought this was supposed to be a one-shot kind of deal? What can I say, inspiration hit me out of nowhere again. If that keeps happening I may have an actual story completed by 2020. Also, man I hate goodbye scenes! Anyway, hope it's not too rough, I kind of knocked this out in one sitting. Hope some of you guys and gals enjoyed it.