Ty Lee awoke alone the next morning. Fear shook her instantly and she had very little time to think about her outfit. Azula had disappeared and that could not be good. Managing to fit into her Kyoshi Warrior uniform and twist her braid into a messy bun, she left the bedroom without her facepaint, screaming when the first face she met was Mai's just outside her room.

Next to the regal woman was none other than her nurse or as Zuko later discovered, his and Azula's long lost mother, likewise trapped in another body. The woman made the foolish mistake of reaching for the acrobat, at which Ty Lee dodged effortlessly by somersaulting past the women.

"Ty Lee!" She heard her old friend call along with the sharp sound of her brandished knives. "Don't make me do this," said Mai before launching the stilettos at the woman's back.

In effort to dodge, the acrobat hopped sideways, avoiding all, but one blade that caught the hem of her clothing by the wrist. She barely had time to blink before Mai sent three more stilettos, nailing her to the wall of the dining commons, unable to move. A brief memory of hers and Azula's first attempt at avoiding capture by the fire nation was brought to the forefront of the acrobat's mind. The looks of hatred from her sisters towards a woman who had lost everything was hurtful to see. Her world revolved around Azula. She only wanted peace to be happy with her princess. How could others not see that?

Shaking away her thoughts, Ty Lee attempted to twist out of the restraints as Ursa and Mai seemed to glide towards her.

"Calm down, Ty Lee, please," begged Mai. "Azula's ok, she's with Zuko".

The acrobat could have spit fire if she was a bender. She knew better than to trust Suki and the others. She knew it! Pure anger was a foreign feeling to her. She was tired of running, tired of being scared for her wife's life.

"If that's the case, she's NOT ok," snarled Ty Lee, brown eyes misting. Her efforts to release herself were fruitless. "If he hurts her again, I'll kill him, Mai! I'll kill him, I'll kill him, I'll him," she promised, meaning every word.

Mai's eyes narrowed and Ty Lee knew from her flickering aura that the future fire lady believed her. The two were nearly touching noses before Mai answered in a low tone, " You know I won't allow that. You will have to get through me, first".

Ty Lee bared her teeth. She felt her breathing quicken. "I should have let Azula do it a long time ago," she hissed back, chest burning when Mai's "unflappable" face crumbled for the first time since that fateful day.

Ty Lee could read it clearly, the future fire lady was taken aback by the comment. "You don't mean that," she said, though the words sounded more like a question.

The friends' eyes locked as Mai searched Ty Lee's for any sign of remorse before Ursa intervened, pulling the noblewomen apart by gently directing Mai to stand behind her. Ty Lee looked away, guilt tugging her heart for hurting Mai's feelings. She could not dwell on their friendship, however, she had one task that required all of her attention at the moment.

"Ty Lee-" Ursa began.

"Not another word," the young woman interrupted, eyes wildly focusing on the woman. "Where. Is. My. Wife?"

#

Zuko felt the tension emitting from the island the moment his airship came to a stop, hovering over the shore. The citizens were still apprehensive about the Fire Nation despite his efforts to rebuild all of the damage he had caused as an obsessed prince. Evidence of his relapse as an obsessed fire lord during his last visit was clearly on the faces of the Kyoshi Warrior leader, Suki and her sisters in arms by her side.

The ship's drawbridge was released with a slow, descending crank, directly behind the rebuilt statue of the island's namesake avatar. Zuko heard the suspicious whispers of the gathering citizens and felt their stares.

I'm making this right. He reminded himself.

"It is always best to admit mistakes when they occur, and to seek to restore honor". Iroh's voice reminded him.

The fire lord took a deep breath with each step he took down the drawbridge. Suki's staredown seemed to grow in intensity as he neared her. When the two were at arm's length, they bowed in tandem. The gesture surprised the fire lord along with the roar of glee from the crowd. Zuko looked up to see Suki staring beyond him to where Aang, supported by Sokka's shoulder, along with Katara and Toph waved to the town's citizens from the drawbridge.

The fire lord stepped aside as the group made their way off the airship along with his mother, and his betrothed behind them. Suki hugged her friends happily in greeting. "It's so good to see you all!" She said, noticing Katara's growing belly immediately. The warrior's smile stretched wide as the girls exchanged another hug. "Congratulations, Kat!" She squealed, giving Katara's belly a rub before turning serious eyes on Aang. "I'm glad you guys made it. I got your message the day they arrived. I-I couldn't believe it until I saw her use the avatar state against the Unagi, but are you sure she's Azula? I mean, it's been two days and she hasn't bothered anyone or said any 'peasants' at all. We've made sure to keep close tabs on them discreetly".

Though it was obvious, he was not a part of the conversation, Zuko approached the group at this, "It's her, Suki and we don't have much time. Where is she?" He asked.

Suki scowled at him before calming herself. "There's no way Ty Lee will let you near her, Fire Lord. Especially after your last visit".

Zuko clenched his teeth shamefully. He wanted to say, 'To Agni's Hell with Ty Lee' though he knew the acrobat was his only chance of getting through to his sister. He felt Mai's calming palm against his shoulder.

"Let me speak to Ty Lee, Suki. She will listen. Are they together?" Asked the future fire lady.

The warrior shook her head. "Azula's been meditating all morning according to my warriors".

It was then, Aang gave a strangled cough, pointing the way to Azula "There, behind the hut. I can feel her," he groaned before losing consciousness.

Katara heaved, hurrying to him before Toph blocked her path."Sokka's got it, Sugar Queen, what did I tell you? Come on, we're going to get you guys to a place you can rest".

"And let Zuko ruin everything, not this time," objected Sokka, before Toph's quick feet bent a seat made of earth under him.

"Hang on the Twinkle Toes!" She ordered, before pushing the ground and all four of them towards the medical hut. "Good luck, Fire Butt!" She called back as they sped away.

Zuko silently thanked the blind bender before walking away without another word, preparing himself for the moment he saw his sister again. Suki watched him go, but remained unconvinced that the fire lord would handle the situation peacefully. "Go get, Ty Lee, Mai. She's in her room. I have a bad feeling about this," with that she hurried after the fire lord, leaving the Ursa and Mai to retrieve the acrobat.

Extremely short chapter, I know...Attempting to finish this story very soon, but there is still much more plot to go. Consider this a bit of a transition update. More to come. I hope you enjoyed!