Ch.1 Escape the Guilt

It had been three days since they left the town the witch had been attacking innocent people. Katara had become a monster the minute she used the gift Hamma taught her. She would end up hurting the ones she loved if she stayed. Momo perched on her shoulder as she wrote out a letter for the others.

She finished and handed it to Momo. "Give this to Aang when he wakes up." she whispered as she pointed to the sleeping boy. "Watch them for me boy." she held back tears as she pulled her cloak over her head and disappeared into the darkness. Momo watched her go with large green eyes.

He had been visiting his uncle for the past few weeks, only to be ignored. He now sat in his room staring at the painting of his Mother.

"Everything I've done, I've done to protect you." her whispered words. "Never forget who you are Zuko."

He sighed as he remembered her last words to him. Ever since that night his life became miserable. He realized he'd never followed her wishes. He became what everyone wanted him to be. He was the heartless Fire Prince. His father finally had the perfect drone, just like his sister.

A knock at his door had him placing the portrait face down and standing. "Come in."

"Zuzu," Azula cooed. "Mai tells me you and her are getting along well. Are you planning on a wedding? It is near time you marry is it not?"

He scowled. "I don't intend to marry for a long time, Zula." he turned away. "What do you want?"

"Only to warn you." Azula smirked. "Father might see it as a perfect couple. If you hurt Mai, I will personally take care of you. I know you've been going to see that uncle of yours."

"I have not!" he snarled. "And if I had been he wouldn't talk to me anyway! I betrayed him."

Her smile grew dark, one that Zuko knew meant trouble. "You might have Mai, Ty Lee, and Father fooled Zuzu. But I know better. I know you hired an assassin to hunt the Avatar down. I know you believe him to somehow still be alive. No one has ever survived my lightning except Uncle, but I'll humor your idea." she said coldly. "But, if you are seen near uncle again I will turn you into Father. He knows the way his worthless brother works. And as far as I can see, you're still undecided on your loyalty."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he snapped. "I am loyal to my nation! I am the Prince of the Fire Nation! Where else would my loyalties lie?"

She shrugged as she turned towards the door. "Don't think I haven't heard or seen you talking to that portrait of your mother." she chimed walking out the door.

Zuko felt his blood run cold. Azula set him up to fail. He had betrayed not only his uncle, but his mother in order to return home and regain his honor he'd never have.

"I thought you'd changed!" a voice shouted inside his head.

He fell to his knees. The water bender had offered to help him. She didn't show him pity. She showed him compassion, something only his uncle and mother ever showed him. And he betrayed her. He wondered where she was now. Those deep blue eyes still haunted him. Even with Mai, he still thought of her. Her name was...Katara? Isn't that what the Avatar had shouted? Another knock on his door caused him to stiffen.

Ty Lee's head poked in. "I have a message for you." She whispered in an un-Ty Lee like manner.

He motioned her in. "What is it?"

"Iroh is forgiving." she said in a hushed voice. "He said you are to get out of this palace. Find an ally."

Zuko stared at her. "Ty Lee? What's going on?"

"Azula is planning on framing you." she said nervously. "She saw you go last night to visit your uncle. Mai's upset about it but she agreed you're a lost cause. You need to leave tonight."

"Ty Lee, what you're doing is treason." he warned.

"Oh, I left yesterday." she smiled. "As far as Azula and Mai know, I went back to the circus for a few weeks. Therapeutic for my karma."

"Azula agreed to that?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Of course she did." Ty Lee smirked. "You've seen me when I get out of hand. Bouncing off the walls. Azula about threw me out the door when I mentioned it."

He allowed a small smile to grace his face. "What am I to do? Where do I go? What about Uncle?"

She stopped. "Iroh has his own plans. He said he will meet you again where the bats hang. As for you, I heard the bison was spotted not far from the shores of Ash."

Zuko paled. "What? Does Azula know this?"

She shook her head. "No. Only the Lotus members know. They are doing everything to keep it silent. Many people want this war to end, not just other nations. I also heard the water bender separated herself from the group."

"What why?" he mused.

"You'd have to ask her." Ty Lee smirked. "I'm going to find the avatar and offer my assistance. You should find the water bender."

He shook his head. "And what? She'll kill me the second she sees me." he sighed. "But it's better than my options here."

They packed as much as they could. Zuko left a letter for Mai and one for his sister, before they left he took one last look at his mother's portrait. Ty Lee watched with sad eyes as they slipped away into the cool night.

Aang stared out into the sky as Appa flew. Sokka and Toph were subdued, which set him on edge. Even Momo and Appa were showing odd behavior. When they had read the letter from Katara they had attempted to go after her, but the animals refused to follow. Appa planted himself firmly on the ground, and Momo gave them each the cold shoulder. He looked at the letter again with a sad sigh.

Aang, Sokka, and Toph,

I couldn't stay with you. I have to find my way. Please don't look for me. I will see you all again soon. I need to find something I lost. No, Sokka, not my necklace. Toph, I'm leaving it up to you to take care of the boys. I know you can. You're a strong young woman. Aang, you've mastered water bending, work on earth bending. I will find you a fire bending master. Sokka head west to were the clouds meet the sea. I'll meet you there. I love you all. Take care.

Katara

Sokka had read the letter a thousand times. Aang asked him several times if he knew what the code was that she used. Toph had been completely silent, causing both boys to worry about her. Appa started to grow tired. He steered the bison downward and hoped it was safe.

"Guys." he called. "We landed."

Toph got up and jumped off Appa creating an earth tent immediately, and hiding away. Sokka unloaded some food and two sleeping bags robotically. Aang sighed as he dug out a peach, as he watch Sokka pour over a map again.

"What do you suppose is wrong with Toph?" Aang questioned.

Sokka shrugged as he traced his fingers over the map. "Maybe she thinks Kata left because of her." he mumbled.

The rock door on the earth tent fell and Toph stomped out. She stood in front of Sokka on his map. "My fault? It's not my fault she left! If it's anyone's fault it's Twinkle Toes and his love talk." she growled. "You didn't help matters much either Snoozles! Always whinning and leaving her with the work."

Aang felt his face grow red. "I didn't force her to leave!"

"If you didn't notice, she was uncomfortable about you spilling your guts to her. She sees you as one of her children." Toph said pushing him backwards.

"Toph, get of my map." Sokka growled. "And I do help her."

"Help her feel miserable!" Toph shot as she stomped her foot wrinkling the map. "Sugar Queen left me in charge of two idiots. Momo, come. I should have left with her. But god knows what would happen to you two." her rock tent shut tight again.

Sokka and Aang looked at each other in surprise. "I guess..." Sokka glanced at his maps and jumped. "Toph! You're a fucking genius!"

She and Momo poked their heads out of the tent. "What?"

Aang stared at him. "How is she a genius? She just tore us apart and messed up your map. How is that genius?" he chuckled.

Sokka pointed to where she had wrinkled the map. "I know where Katara's going. Toph's little tantrum wrinkled this part of the map. West, where the clouds meet the sea."

Aang smacked himself on the forehead. "I'm an idiot."

"Duh! Didn't you just hear that come out of my mouth." Toph said kicking her feet up against the wall of the cave. "Or do you want me to repeat it."

"Toph." Aang warned. "What I meant was, I should have known she meant the western air temple. It's in a mountain that's in the middle of the ocean. Kinda like a cove. No one could find it though unless they were air benders. There was a rumor that if enemy ship were near a cloud of mist would form for a thousand miles confusing the ships. Many sank because of it. I wonder if the fire nation found it."

Sokka sighed. "Well, at least we know where to go. Let's turn in."

They all curled together in Toph's earth tent on her orders. She wasn't going to let Katara down. She knew Katara had changed after the witch tricked her. She just hoped the girl found what she was looking for.

She managed to make it to a small fire nation town. She had been here for a day and a half. As she walked through the market, she wondered how the others were. Hoping they got the hint about the temple.

"Miss..." a young boy called her attention away from her musings.

She turned to face a shaggy haired boy about her age. "Yes?"

"You're not from around here are you?" he smiled.

"N-no." she stuttered. 'Damn it. I've got to pay more attention.' she thought to herself.

"I'm Kahn." he held out his hand. "And you are?"

She took his hand. "I'm..."

"Rivlyn!" a voice called over her shoulder.

She turned to see Ty Lee bounding up to her. "T-ty Lee?" she felt dread knot up in her stomach. "S-so nice to see you."

Ty Lee beamed. "I have missed you. Who's your friend?"

Katara watched her suspiciously. "This is Kahn." she replied. "And what are you doing away from... the circus?"

Ty Lee shook Kahn's hand. "Oh, Rivlyn, I was just headed back. My friend and I just happened to stop by here. He'd be excited to see you, I'm sure."

Kahn stared at the girls. "I'll let you go. Maybe I'll see you around Rivlyn."

"Uh, sure." Katara smiled and watched him leave. She turned to Ty Lee expectantly. "What do you want?"

"You really should thank me for wandering in on that." Ty Lee said quietly. "Of all the towns to stumble into, Lava Rock, is not a safe town for single women."

Katara blinked. "Where's Azula and Mai? If you're looking for the avatar, he's dead."

Ty Lee placed a finger on her lips. "Not here."

The subdued tone in the normally bouncy girl's voice caused Katara to believe something was out of place. "How do I know you won't attack me?"

Ty Lee looped her arm in Katara's and put on her usual happy face. "You have a room here right?" she beamed as she looked at a necklace on a cart.

"Yes."

"I'll stop by tonight with my friend, Rivlyn." she smiled. "You should go get some rest." she hugged her. "Don't run, please."

"Until tonight then, Ty Lee." Katara hugged back.

She watched as Ty Lee bounded away, before heading back to her room. She sat on her bed determining whether or not she should just leave. Something in the way Ty Lee acted made her want to stay, but it could also be a trap. She decided a short nap would clear her head, and if when she woke it still bothered her she'd leave.

"I have changed!" a voice called in her dreams.

She was in the catacombs fighting Zuko, but for some reason that sentence seemed true. She watched as the fire and water entangled together. He pulled hard causing her to fall forward into him.

"You have to understand, I didn't realize what I was giving up." he whispered. "I know now I broke many hearts. My mother, my uncle...you." His face was getting closer to hers.

She sat up with a jolt. Looking around she realized the sun was setting. The dream had unnerved her. Quickly, she started gathering her things and shoving them in her bag. She pulled on her cloak and strapped her bag to her shoulder, slipping out into the hall. She peeked out into the street to find it mostly empty.

"Going out?" the inn keeper hummed into her ear.

"Yes sir." she smiled. "My friends invited me over for dinner. I had no idea they were here. I just bumped into them today."

He eyed her suspiciously. "Be careful, young miss. This town can get dangerous at night."

She nodded and stepped out of the inn. That was two people to warn her this town was dangerous. She stayed in the shadows as she crept through the town. Being the Painted Lady taught her of stealth. The witch, even though she was evil, taught her she no longer needed a water skin for water. It kept her from drawing attention to her more.

She leaned against a building as a group of drunken men stumbled out of a tavern. She knew she'd be in trouble if they spotted her, and she couldn't use her bending. She vowed to get a weapon and learn how to use it. Now was not the time to rely on water, especially in the fire nation. As one walked uncomfortably close to where she was hiding, she saw a glint of silver hanging from his hip.

"Weapons." she whispered to herself.

The man was far behind the others leaning up against a barrel.

"Hey! Li, you okay man?" one of the others called back to him.

"Ya, I be up inna min." Li hiccuped. "Jus let meh get me head strai.."

They waved him off with calls of "drunk" and "smashed". Katara took this as her chance to get the swords. She picked up a pot nearby and crept up behind him. Just as she was about to hit him on the head, he turned.

"Who.." she smashed the pot on his head knocking him out quickly. She grabbed the swords quickly and ran for the forest on the edge of town. She didn't see the two shadows following her.