A/N: Set post-finale and regards the possible events of The Search as water on a turtle-duck's back. Other than that, enjoy! This first chapter is mainly Sokka.

Zuko sits from across the table from his good friend and sips his cup of hot tea calmly. He dreads having to ask his friend for this favour, but he knows no one else he can trust to get to Azula first. In his head he thinks about how he should properly phrase his request but in the end, he decides to get straight to the point.

"I need you to help me find Azula."

Sokka puts down the cup that was halfway to his lips and stares at the current Firelord, momentarily speechless. Zuko managed another full sip of tea before Sokka recovers his composure.

"What do you mean, find Azula?" Sokka finally bursts out, "Isn't she supposed to be in the…"

Sokka trails off before he can say 'mental hospital' but Zuko answers him anyway.

"Officially, she is still there. Few people currently know that the Fire Nation princess is missing and I would like it to stay that way," Zuko says pointedly. "It would not help the current international tensions for the public to know just yet that Azula is free. She might even planning an attack against any known enemies, including the Earth Kingdom."

"An attack? Really?" Sokka asks, genuinely shocked.

"We have no idea of the extent of Azula's motivations, or her resources." Zuko declares seriously. "Though I suspect her resources may be limited from the few years she's been… institutionalised."

His words create a tense silence before Zuko suddenly sighs deeply.

"I need you to help me find Azula, and fast. My sister has more than a few enemies and I dread to think what would happen to her if these people got to her first."

Sokka takes in Zuko's words and tries to quell his conflicted feelings. He wants to honour his friend's request but at the same time, he doesn't relish the thought of meeting again the person who threatened the lives of his friends and put his girlfriend in the Boiling Rock. Zuko reads Sokka's attitude and tries a gentler tone.

"Listen, buddy. I know Azula's not anyone's favourite person but right now, I just need my little sister home safe. You know what it's like to be a big brother, right?"

Sokka meets Zuko's eyes, surprised at the turn of the conversation. He thinks about his own younger sister Katara and manages an affirmative grunt in reply to Zuko.

"I haven't been much of an older brother to Azula." At this confession, Zuko lowers his eyes to the cup in his hands, his voice softer. "The least I can do is make sure she gets back home safe."

Zuko then puts down his empty cup on the table and says firmly, "I trust you, Sokka. I cannot leave my responsibilities here to find her myself, so I trust you to please help me find my sister."

Zuko is clearly emotional but manages to tilt his head respectfully at his friend. It is a small bow to match his sincere request, as humble a bow as can be made by a Firelord. Taken aback by his friend's intensity, Sokka tries to lighten the mood by slapping Zuko's back.

"Hey! No need to be so formal there, buddy. Don't worry, man. I got this. I haven't got anything else to do anyway," Sokka laughs. "You don't happen to know which way she went though, did you?"

Zuko smiles at his friend's attempt at humour and walks over to a map on the wall.

"My secret soldiers have told me that Azula was seen stowing away on a ship headed here." He points to a port on the western end of the Earth Kingdom. "I tried to send the secret soldiers to get her before she left the Fire Nation, but she managed to successfully elude them. You probably already realise that sending the soldiers to the Earth Kingdom would be a bad idea."

Sokka frowns at the potential catastrophe that action could cause in the middle of unsettled peace talks. Sokka nods and allows Zuko to continue.

"I'm not sure why she chose to get on that ship and what she's planning to do. I'm not entirely sure about her mental stability either. Her doctors told me before she went missing that her condition was getting better. At the institution she was prevented from firebending, but you can't be too careful. She is still a very capable firebender."

Zuko emphasises his last point, making sure Sokka knew the danger.

"The ship left this morning and will most likely arrive in the western Earth Kingdom in a day or two days, since it's not too far from here. So far, Azula has chosen to keep to a disguise and lay low. No one from the public has recognised her yet, and it should stay that way. Azula may be my sister, but she is still considered a threat to any nation."

Sokka thinks about all this information and quickly offers up a plan.

"With Appa, I think I could follow the ship, that way I would know if the ship made any detours. Taking over the ship might force Azula into exposing her identity. So once it becomes clear where the ship's destination is, I will push ahead and get there before it does. There, I will follow her to wherever she is intending to go, especially if she is meeting with any old allies. Once I have Azula alone or suitably isolated from the public, I will capture her quickly and silently. Aang and Katara are going back to Ba Sing Se to discuss your peace plans with King Kuei, but I think I could convince them to make a small detour."

Sokka then turns to Zuko and asks, "Does this need to be a secret from the both of them too? It'll be difficult since they are part of this plan."

"No, I will inform them myself. I'd appreciate it if this news stayed in our circle of friends though."

The two friends shake on it, before Sokka surprises Zuko with a brotherly hug and a pat on the back.

"I got this, Zuko."

Zuko is still for a moment before awkwardly returning the hug.

"Thanks, Sokka."

"What in the name of the spirits am I doing?" Sokka thought to himself as he threw in some spiced beef jerky into his bag. He can't be going after a crazy firebending prodigy who didn't want to be found, even if she hadn't firebended in years. What if he couldn't even find her? Sokka's doubts pile even as he continued to pack.

Rope, tarp and a few more essential travelling items later, Sokka stares at the black sheen of his sword. It's the last thing he needs to tie to his pack. He grips the handle and thinks about the difficulty he and Toph went through to find it after losing it on the day of Sozin's comet. He recalls the words his master once said to him. "Creativity, Versatility, Intelligence." The traits of a great swordsman.

The memory of his master gives Sokka a renewed sense of determination. Finding Azula might be difficult, but he had to succeed in his mission. Not just for his friend Zuko, but also for the peace of the world.

"So you're only going to go after one of the most dangerous firebenders since Firelord Ozai and just bring her back here?" Katara says from the door, unable to keep a mocking grin off her face.

Coming back to the present, Sokka sheathed his sword in its scabbard and narrowed his eyes at his sister.

"Oh, you make it sound so easy," Sokka counters sarcastically.

Katara chuckles, before pulling on a mask of worry on her face.

"Are you sure you don't want our help?" she asks gently.

"You and Aang have more important business with the Earth King, and Suki is staying here to protect our Firelord Zuko" Sokka still can't get used to the title behind the name.

"Besides, I will work quicker if I travel alone."

"Is there nothing we can do?"

"Yeah, there is." Sokka grins. "Say hi to Toph for me."

Aang and Katara drop him off outside the port town so Sokka has to walk in to get to the harbour.

Sokka arrives at the port just in time to see the ship he'd followed closely come into the harbour. Dressed in Earth Nation clothes to blend in, Sokka stays a safe distance away while studying the every person that gets off the ship.

After a while, a suspicious-looking hooded figure come out from behind a cargo crate. He spots a length of long, jet-black hair peeking out of the hood and an unmistakably distinctive curve of lips. He knows he's found his target, but decides to approach cautiously. This was one catch he didn't want to scare into running away.