Disclaimer: Not mine.

11 Years After Sozin's Comet

It was common knowledge that Azula had since lost most of her sense. Ever since her father was defeated by Avatar Aang and her world came crashing down around her.

She sat now, in her prison cell in Boiling Rock. Her hair, lack luster, hung in front of her face as she stared at the floor, staring at the same spot that her vision had become accustomed to. She missed the spas of the Royal Palace. This was not where she was meant to be.

Soon.

Soon her time would come and she'd be in her rightful place again.

"Dinner time." A crude almost tin pan was pushed through the slot at the bottom of the door while the slot at the top opened up to reveal the face of a Fire Nation guard. It hadn't been so long ago when that face would have been serving her, fearing her but now that face could only gaze down at her with pity.

He would be the first.

"Do you follow me?" she asked in a soft voice. It was the same question she had asked each and every guard for the last twelve years. The guards continued to question her sanity, said she was crazy to ask and to think that they would answer yes.

Little did they know that she was just waiting for the right person, biding her time.

"Eat your dinner," the guard said, shaking his head as he closed the slot.

Azula continued to stare at the ground in her dark cell.

Soon.

The slot slid open suddenly.

"Do you follow me?" she asked, softly.

"The Earth revolves around the Sun."

The ground beneath her shook for a minute and there was an unusual crash of rock against metal before her door opened.

A small smile appeared on Azula's face.

She rose lucidly to her feet and called out in a sing-song voice.

"Oh, guard."

Screams broke out as Ba Sing Se was caught in a surprise attack from the inside. Walls could protect no one and it no longer mattered which circle one belonged to as everyone who got in the way was taken by not only by Firebenders who too sought to regain some sort of control and power but also by the infamous Dai Li, who had not been as disbanded as previously thought.

Smoke clouded the sky. Avatar Aang flew through it, over the city on his glider, using water from the waterskins at his side to put out the nearest fire as the smoke clogged his airways.

"GO!" he called to those who could hear him. "GET OUT OF HERE!"

He watched, helplessly as those who fought were captured or – or worse. Giving his glider a yank he flew back to the apartment that belonged to his family.

Katara came running out when she saw him from the window, visibly pregnant and yet that didn't stop her from using her own waterskin to bend water into a whip, knocking back an approaching Firebender.

"Katara!" he yelled as another Firebender attempted to sneak up behind her. He landed, swinging his staff in a fierce arc, knocking their opponent away and clear through into another house.

"Go inside!" he said and Katara nodded, coughing as she went into the house.

"Aang!" Aang spun as Fire Lord Zuko came running forward, helping along his elderly Uncle Iroh. Mei was in front of him, their one-year-old son Houjin held tightly in her arms.

It must have been planned this way, Aang thought as he motioned Zuko and his family, who had been visiting Ba Sing Se, into his house. Whoever was behind this had wanted them all together at this time.

Taking a deep breath, he stomped and punched forward, raising a thick rock wall in front of his house. He did the same thing to each side until his home was surrounded. This would hold the Firebenders off until they could get Earthbenders through.

That would be enough time.

He rushed into his dark home, the amount of people surprising him. He hadn't seen Sokka or Suki run in or Toph but there they stood. Eleven people, including his unborn child, looking to him for an answer, for what to do now.

"You all need to leave," he said, much to the surprise of the rest.

"What?" Katara stepped forward. "Aang, we're not leaving you here!"

"Katara, you're not fit to fight!" He shook his head. "No, you have to go, you have to take care of Meifeng."

Almost on cue, Aang felt someone tug at the bottom of his trousers. He looked down into the large grey eyes of his two-year-old daughter. Smiling sadly, he gathered her up into his arms, holding her to him tightly. "I love you," he whispered softly.

"Aang," Katara said, tears in her eyes.

Aang stepped forward and pulled Katara into his other arm, holding her there for a moment before transferring Meifeng into her arms. "I love you both. Here," he said, handing Katara his staff. He smiled at his daughter. "She'll need it soon."

The ground rocked beneath them, a signal that the opposing forces were attempting to break through. He looked to Sokka and Zuko. "Appa's out back. Make sure they get out of here safely."

"I'm staying with you, Aang," Zuko said. "It's my crazy sister out there. Sokka will get them to safety."

Sokka looked torn but he nodded as the ground shook again.. "Come on, ladies."

He grabbed Toph's and Suki's hands, pulling them out the back door. Mei leaned forward, kissing Zuko before following after, Uncle Iroh's hand gripped in hers. Katara stayed a moment and Aang smiled at her again. "I'll meet you wherever you guys end up."

Katara nodded, a tear falling down her cheek. "I'm holding you to that," she said, her throat constricted.

He kissed her and then placed a kiss on Meifeng's forehead, sending them out the door as the earth seemed to shatter around them.

"You not planning on getting out of here are you," Zuko muttered, stripping off his robes so that he was left in only his trousers.

Aang followed suite. He smiled at the other boy. "I'm not going to stand here and not try though."

"Well." Zuko placed his fist on his palm and bowed. "It was an honor fighting beside you and being your friend, Avatar Aang."

Aang bowed back. "The same to you, Fire Lord Zuko."

The two of them shared a glance before bursting through the front door of what used to be Aang's home.

Dozens of Earthbenders and Fire Nation soldiers stood outside in a crescent. There would be no where to run now.

Zuko flung out his arm, a fiery whip appearing in his hand. Aang pulled all the water from the waterskin at his side, long tendrils of water now on both of his arms. They didn't even get a chance to move, however.

"Zuzu." The two friends looked up as the crescent parted slightly to let Azula through. She shook her head sadly. "And here I thought we might be able to chat and come to some sort of agreement."

She nodded and the two Dai Li jumped forward, the rocks around their hands shooting and enclosing themselves around Zuko's wrists, pulling him to the ground. "Azula," he started. "Azula, you don't know what you're doing!"

"I know exactly what I'm doing," she said, angrily. Lightening crackled in the air and on the tips of her fingertips. "I'm finishing what no one else could. Are you ready, Avatar?"

Aang stood up straight, arms at his sides. "You should know, Azula, that it doesn't end with me. Your world conquest will not succeed. You will not win."

"I will win!" Azula screamed. "And no one – not Zuko and not you or any Avatar; certainly not some insignificant Waterbender – will defeat me this time!"

The lightening in her fingers shot out viciously. Zuko cried out his friend's name.

Aang closed his eyes and knew no more.

Azula stared down at the body with cool indifference.

"You're a monster!" Zuko screamed at his sister.

"That's what mother said too," Azula said with an eerie grin. "Take him away and lock him up somewhere where I'll never have to see him."

"Princess." A soldier stepped forward anxiously. "Princess, shouldn't we have . . . shouldn't we have kept the Avatar alive. He will just be reincarnated in one of the Water Tribes."

Azula spun on the man. "Funny. I don't remember asking you to question me. Don't you think I've thought of that? The new Avatar will be nothing more than a newborn in a week's time. By then, we'll have already taken care of that little problem. Get the ships ready. We depart in a day's time."

There was a murmur of consent as Fire Nation and Dai Li alike bowed and hurried off in different directions.

"Oh and solider. It's no longer Princess. You may refer to me as the new Queen of all Nations."

A Week Later

A pain filled scream filled the medicine room.

Katara held her healing hands over the woman's stomach. "You're going to be alright, Ai. You have to stay strong. Push!"

Ai did so, her hand tightening on Suki's, who grimaced but held on just the same.

After the attack on Ba Sing Se, they had fled to the Northern Water Tribe. Knowing that Aang was gone, they knew it would only be a matter of time before the new Avatar revealed themselves and they would be a Waterbender. There was also no doubt in their mind that Azula would make it her duty to kill the Waterbenders off as Sozin had done to the Airbenders. As it was, Fire Nation ships were on their way here. The child would need to be protected, whoever it was.

Earthbenders and Earth Kingdom dwellers who hadn't pledge their allegiance to Azula were either killed or they fled. Toph was among the few who had taken up refugee in some unknown parts, working to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. The same went for Fire Nation natives who didn't believe in Azula's cause. But, despite being locked up in prison and her ever dwindling sanity, she had a very strong following and was still very powerful.

Ai screamed again, tears flowing from her eyes. Suki couldn't help but feel bad for her. She was still so very young and her husband had already been killed in the Water tribe Fleet who had gone out to meet the Fire Nation before they could get to the Tribe. They had failed. Now Ai, the only woman whose time of birth was the only one close enough to be the one, was in terrible pain. Suki and Katara exchanged glances; she might not make it.

Ai gasped, looking in Suki's direction. "Is – is my baby the one?"

Suki took the girl's hand in both of hers. "It would seem like it."

Ai nodded, swallowing. "Please. Please, take care of my baby. Raise her right and take care of my baby. Please."

Suki could only nod as Ai cried out in pain again, giving one last almighty push.

A shrill cry pierced the air. Ai's hand went limp in Suki's almost unexpectedly. Suki looked to her to see her eyes were closed and another Waterbender shook her head sadly.

"Suki." Suki turned just as Katara placed the baby in her arms, still crying, wrapped in cloth. She went to protest when she look down at the little child who was staring up at her with the most beautiful blue-eyes, though they were tear-filled.

Smiling slightly, she rocked the baby in her arms. "Hello pretty girl."

Suki looked up to Katara who was breathing heavily. She shook her head when she saw Suki's concern. "I'm fine . . . just slightly exhausted. Poor thing," she added, looking over at Ai who was now had a cloth drawn over her head.

"Both of them," Suki said, indicating the baby in her arms. An elder woman appeared in front of her. She smiled softly before taking the baby from her arms.

"This little one is a blessing," the woman said softly as she walked from the room.

"Come on," Katara said, pushing herself to her feet. Suki rushed to help her up. "There'll be a ceremony."

Indeed the remaining natives of the Northern Water Tribe were gathered in the Chief's Hall not but a few hours later.

Suki, Sokka, Katara, Mei, and Iroh sat at the head table with the Elderly Chief Arnook, who stood when the old Waterbending woman brought forth the baby, placing her in his arms. Chief Arnook turned to his people. "Here is the new Avatar!"

A cheer rose up for which the baby girl cooed in the old man's arm. He smiled down at her before looking back up again. "She is parentless and at a great risk from Azula's scorn. While this great Tribe has proven impenetrable before, but that may prove true again. This child must be taken somewhere where she'll be able to grow safely without fear of tyranny. Who will care for this child?"

There was a long almost tangible silence. It would be a great honor to raise the child but a great danger also. Who would risk so much?

Suki bit her lip before turning to look at Sokka, who gazed back at her. He could almost see what she was thinking and they didn't have any children yet of their own. "Are you sure?" he whispered.

"More sure than anything," she replied softly.

Taking a deep breath, Sokka nodded before taking Suki's hand and pulling her to her feet. "We'll talk care of the baby."

There was a slight murmur in the crowd as the couple stepped forward. Katara was smiling at the two of them. They'd give the baby a good home, she thought. She, Mei, and Iroh had to find a hiding place now and, seeing as how Houjin and Meifeng were both so young and Katara was due to have her second child in a few months' time, there was no way they'd be able to support another baby. Sokka and Suki would make good parents.

Chief Arnook gazed at the two of them as they stood beside him. "Do the both of you swear to protect the child as if she were your own?"

Sokka and Suki looked at each other once before. "We do," Sokka said.

"Do you swear to ensure that she is raised properly?"

"We do."

"Do you swear, on her sixteenth birthday, to ensure that she receives the knowledge and training that she needs to become the next Avatar?'

"We do."

Arnook nodded. "Very well. It is settled. She is now your full and complete responsibility."

That night found Suki and Sokka in one of the guest houses, the baby in Suki's arms. They would all be leaving early tomorrow morning, Sokka and Suki on a boat for Kyoshi Island (at least a week and a half journey) whilst the rest flew on Appa to distract those who may choose to follow. No one would expect the little Waterbender baby to have been sent off so soon and especially to such a place where should wouldn't receive the Waterbending training that she needed. She would be safe there.

Sokka moved to sit next to his wife, leaning over to look at his new daughter. The baby yawned, her eyes closed and Sokka couldn't help but smile. "What should we call her? Little Avatar?"

Suki shook her head. "She isn't the Avatar yet. What about a traditional Water tribe name? Something like home."

"Sakari is a nice name," Sokka said. "It kind of sounds like ours. People will never guess she was adopted."

"I like it." Suki smiled down at the small little person in her arms. "Hello there. Welcome to the family, Baby Sakari."

A/N: WHOO! Long opening chapter! I hope you guys like this. It's a new one for you. Apologize for the early brutality but what can you do? Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time.