THE AIR THAT BREATHED LIFE INTO THE FLAME

A/N: I do not own Avatar:The Last Airbender, any of its characters or setting, however it would be awesome to haha...

CH 1

In The Dark

The darkness, it was suffocating… at least that is how she felt. Azula had wandered the darkness with nothing but the bright blue flames that made her famous in the palm of her hands to convince herself that she hadn't suddenly gone blind for five long years. Tonight after what had seemed like hours of meaningless roaming the voices she so despises reached her long before she saw where they were coming from, the first she had heard there was her father former Fire Lord (and Phoenix King) Ozai, who sneered at her then proceeded to remind her of her greatest failure, letting her 'traitor' of a brother Zuko and that filthy Water Tribe peasant defeat her.

The other voice is that of her mother who did nothing but watch with sad eyes telling Azula that she loves her and that she never stopped loving and caring for her. She hates this last part more than anything and whenever she does hear from her mother she screams at her "LIES, LIES, AND YOU NEVER LOVED OR CARED ABOUT ME." Whilst hurling the flames at her, once struck Ursa would dissipate only to reform in another location to Azula's right. This struggle between the disappointment of her Ozai and false care from Ursa truly sent her further and further, spiralling into the dark abyss that was her dreams that she could never escape.

Meanwhile at the Fire Nation palace …

It was Summer and the sun was still up despite it being already evening, its glow reflected off of those grey, stormy eyes as he come upon the Fire Nation, that confident, goofy and still rather childish smile that all of his friends know him for spread across his face as he approached his greatest friend for the first time in months. "Zuko, it is so good to see you, Sifu Hotman." Aang said whilst bowing, not noticing the grimace that flitters across his friends face at the sound of an old nickname.

"I agree Aang it is wonderful to see you too" Zuko replies as he returns the bow before the two embrace in a hug resembling that of brothers.

As the pair arrived at the Fire Lord's private dining chambers all that could be heard throughout the palace was "AANG!" he turns around to see Katara, Zuko's wife and Aang's longest living (human) friend running through the halls to give him a hug that could have been mistaken for a tackle.

"It's good to see you too Katara" Aang gasps trying not to be crushed by the mocha skinned waterbender, who immediately lets him go beaming at him "Where have you been we haven't seen you in months we were starting to get worried." Katara asks in her trademark motherly voice.

Aang's smile falters briefly to which only Zuko saw before he says "lots has happened in those months, not all good either." Katara hearing this squeezes him to her tighter before Zuko just shakes his head before telling his wife "Katara, let him breath he can tell us all about it over dinner."

After reciting tales of his adventures for the past six months over tofu and vegetables for himself and Kimodo chicken for the royal couple Aang looks to Zuko and Katara and asks "Have you heard from Sokka lately, I haven't been able to contact him in ages. I mean I sent messenger hawks to here and the two water tribes but got no response?"

Zuko glances at Katara briefly, to which she nods slightly before turning back towards Aang and tentatively replies, " Aang don't get mad but Sokka proposed to Suki about two months ago moved in with her on Kyoshi Island." All Aang can do is burst into a fit of laughter before answering " Mad, how could I be mad, that's great news I just wished someone had told me before I sent all those letters to Gran Gran haha."

Both Zuko and Katara join in Aang's laughter at the thought of Gran Gran being overwhelmed with letters.

However as the night wore on and Katara retired to bed Aang asked, "Zuko what is it that you have to ask me that is couldn't be put in a messenger hawk letter?"

Zuko tenses briefly knowing that this would come up sooner or later (he would have preferred later being tomorrow morning of course) and looks Aang in the eyes trying to get a read on his friend before stating " Aang I need to ask you a favour."

Aang looks with confusion at Zuko before erupting into another fit of laughter, after calming to a chuckle he replies "Zuko, you are my best friend, a brother even, whatever favour it is you need I would be more than willing to do."

Zuko visibly relaxes at this and continues, these words however Aang had never thought he would hear and leave him speechless, "Aang I need you to help me bring Azula home."

A/N: so that's it for chapter one let me know what you think, until next time...