Chapter 26

Azula quietly exited the radio room and glanced around. There should have been an ambush...or an attack, or anything? There was uncertainty and it was stressing her out. But that was normal. Something else was wrong and the image of the crowd flashed in her head. She brushed it off even if it made her head hurt. Something was supposed to go wrong.

Zuko noticed the worry. "What is it?"

"Everything is going as planned." She was outwardly calm but something was nagging at her. The news made Zuko tense up. Azula was amused but hid it. looking at him still made her annoyed.

Asami, who was still new to these adventures, looked between them confused. "That's a good thing...right? Why do you both look like this is a bad thing?"

"Things always go well up until they don't." Azula explained, annoyed. Planning for the plan to not work was part of the plan but still annoying.

"Probably. It's still a good plan if we remain calm." Zuko defended. Azula scowled at him.

Asami glanced between the two. "You people need to have more hope." Asami said, shaking her head.

Zuko smirked and Azula rolled her eyes and went back into the radio room. She watched Korra and Amon fighting a bit more, it seemed like they were taking forever.

Perfect. It meant more people would be...umm...oh damit what was that stupid term that Bolin used? Turned in? No...tune on?... that was it. Probably. Anyway, she still didn't quite understand radios. But she did know that if more people were listening, the more people would hear about what was going on.

For now though Korra had caught Amon and the two struggled for a moment until the next part of the plan went into motion. Korra's arm was around Amons neck and as he struggled orange flames burst from his hand as he fought to push the Avatar away.

The crowd went into a frenzy, something about the sound made the ache in her head grow. Iroh, who was currently wearing the Amon mask they had found, had taken a beating from Korra but it was worth it as their plan had finally worked. Revealing Amon as a fraud should take most of his support away and hopefully create enough of an opening for the next wave of Republic ships to arrive and put down the rebellion.

But over the roar of the crowd something sounded wrong. The radio announcer wasn't talking, he was fiddling with dials and buttons on his machine.

Azula scowled and made her presence known. "What are you doing?! Get talking!"

The man jumped and spun around. "What are you doing here!"

Azula put a ball of blue fire in her hand and scowled. "I said get on the radio and start talking!" The sudden heat in the room made the announcer freeze and stare at the blue flame. "I-I can't! I want to but something is making the machine not work. It might be down in the power room. It's not me! Honest!" Azula glanced around obviously not knowing how any of this works.

But her eyes were drawn to the stage where the lieutenant and Mr. Sato did not seem overly concerned by what was happening.

Azula smirked. "There it is." making the announcer confused.

Maybe there was a spy or maybe they were more clever then she gave them credit. But there was no way their lack of concern and radio stopping was a coincidence. Turning back to the announcer she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close. "Get these machines working again by the time I get back!" The man turned white and nodded rapidly.

Still with a scowl she threw him into the console and stormed out of the room.

"This is why we don't stay hopeful we stayed prepared!" Azula snapped, cutting off any questions from Zuko or Asami.

It was a little rude, sure, but she was feeling a little stressed and her head was starting to really hurt. Knowing that Korra was currently on the stage alone also made her a little tense.

Stage. Something about that made her mind go fuzzy for a moment. Weird.

The three of them rushed through the hallways with Azula barking to Asami that she needed to get closer to the main stage. They reached a crowded staircase just as another roar erupted from the crowd. The stairs were full of people as they neared to the main arena seating, but that didn't stop Azula from forcing her way through.

Ok she might have broken someone's wrist as she forced her way though but it was probably not a child. Besides she really didn't care.

What she did care about was the site on the stage. Iroh was on his knees and the real Amon was over him while Korra was on the other side of the stage looking ready for a fight but Azula could tell she was nervous. Azula understood why. Amon had been haunting Korra for months and now they were both on stage and Korra was alone. This had not been part of the plan.

Azula scowled. She had to get over there. She had to help Korra.

But Korra was on stage and many eyes were on her. Azula had wanted to stay out of that kind of focus, she didn't want to draw too much attention to herself. That was the plan. That had been the plan for years. The last time she had been in the area was during the Pro-Bending match and she had a helmet on then.

It wasn't that far though. She just needed to take a jump up to the stage. But the crowd was pressed against her and she needed room to make the jump. There was no time though as she saw that Amon was going to the mic and would be addressing the crowd soon. If he was allowed to restore order with the Avatar and a pretender on stage he would more powerful then ever. She also had a feeling the radio announcer would suddenly get his machines working again.

Igniting her hands the crowds around panicked and even one tried to jab at her as others ran. She caught their wrist as they lunged forward and twisted it around to throw them to the ground, with a stomp on their back to keep them there. Twisting around she took a few steps to gain some distance before she ran forward to leap off the ledge.

She briefly wondered what happened to Zuko or Asami….oh well. They would figure out how to be useful.

Punching the air she gave herself a boost. With that she entered with a wave of blue fire that no one could miss. When she stood the sun shone down upon her and she could smell the sea air, but her head hurt. Li and Lo gave her a reassuring nod from the corners of the great balcony but something wasn't right. She wasn't wearing her fire nation royal robes. She turned to look over the gathered crowd near the fire-nation docks. They stretched out as far as she could see, all looking at her with adoration.

She felt like they were lying. All eyes were on her as she stood triumphantly on the balcony high in the air. But it wasn't right. She wasn't wearing the right clothes and she was older then she should be. She was not here. Her head started to hurt and she wanted to hold her hand to her head but a fist flew at her face and connected sending her reeling to the ground. She opened her eyes and the crowd in the arena was cheering and Mr. Sato was standing over her shaking his hurt hand and everyone else on stage was looking at her.

She had made quite the entrance. A quick glance around saw that the entire arena was staring at her. She had been center stage before back when she took Makos' place in the tournament, but this was different. She was wearing no helmet or mask and they could all see her face. She was not hiding.

Twisting to her feet and looking at the crowd, and all the eyes were on her, made her mind faze. It had been just so long since she had been the center of attention, so long since she had not been hiding. So long from the center stage. So long since she had been properly seen. Properly feared. She grinned devilishly and glared at the senior Sato who took a step back suddenly nervous.

It felt good to have so many eyes on her again. It made her feel powerful, it made her feel like the royalty that she was.

The firebender noticed Sato back up but it did not help him. She lunged and brought her leg sweeping across him sending out a sharp line of fire that cut through the pathetic Earth Kingdom soldiers clothing and burned into their chest.

She froze as the world before her eyes shimmered and she found it hard to focus. It was as if she had just finished spinning. She was dizzy and her head ached.

'Wait no that's not right.' part of her questioned. The stench of burning flesh hit her though and pushed those thoughts away.

She was in a fight. A good fight. A fight where everyone could watch and see how perfect she was. How much better she was then everyone else. Her instincts took over as a nagging feeling of wrongness nawed at the back of her mind.

The crowd was even cheering as they watched her cut through a few more grunts and moved towards the masked figure who was moving to the far end of the stage with a prisoner.

Cheering crowds, or maybe screaming crowds? She couldn't tell. Equalist grunts came at her and she burned them away as she moved across the stage towards Korra.

In all her confusion she remembered her goal. Get to Korra.

It was strange. In all the confusion this goal acted to focus her as much as possible and she burned through the crowd of Earth Kingdom soldiers to get to her.

Korra's happy smile of her lover coming to rescue had faded away by now. It had turned to a stunned worry. She had been dragged to the far side of the stage and was being held firmly by Amon. He was focused on the bursts of blue fire that was leaving his men screaming in pain and the crowd beginning to panic at the sight.

The airbenders looked on worried and tried to squirm against their ties. A stray blast of fire hit the ground near Ikki but they were not the focus of any attack.

Korra had a plan… plan was a strong word...Korra had an idea.

"Let go of me!" Korra yelled. She got Amons attention and he glanced down at her. "Let go of me before you run out of people." She looked back to the firebender who had just caught a taser glove to her open hand. The Avatar and Amon watched her transfer the electrical shock to another Equiset before melting the glove causing the wearer to scream out. The crowd was panicking to a crescendo of noise now and a stampede seemed imminent.

The revolutionary ignored the Avatar and hauled her to her feet. He twisted her arm behind her back and jabbed a few pressure points so she lost control of her arms.

Azula looked up from her molten work just in time to catch Amon in the eye and grinned when he broke away. He was not far away. Neither was Korra who he was now desperately pulling away. She heard nothing but the roar of the crowd in her aching head as a few more Equlists went towards her. Except one who instead decided to take their chances and jump off the platform into the water.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a tied up airbender glare at her intently. The blue arrow burned into her mind and filled her with rage. She did not need his judgemental glare and only snarled before igniting her hands and took a step towards him. His eyes widened in fear for a moment before an Equalist charged from behind him distracting the firebender.

A fire blast to the knees impacted and the fool went down legs burning right at her. She twisted to avoid the body and saw the blur of blue of Korra's shirt. She would get Korra and she would bring glory to the Fire Nation.

Amon pulled Korra through empty halls, sending anyone he met to try and slow down the torrent of flames that could be heard coming towards them. Finally he turned into a training room and tossed her in before slamming the heavy metal door.

Korra groaned from the treatment but was happy to at least have landed on the training mats. It was a mostly empty room save all the equipment and it was so quiet that she could hear the heavy breathing from Amon as he leaned against the door.

Korra wasn't giving up. "You won't get away with this! You can't run and hide every time."

Amon tried to face her. "You and your benders have caused so much pain today and scared so many people I probably won't have to run much longer. Right now though I will stay away from your beast."

"Naga?" Korra questioned. "No wait! Hey! You leave Azula alone she...she is...she's just determined."

"She is possessed!" Amon spat back.

Korra smirked. "You're afraid." She couldn't see his face but she guessed by the way he moved that he was taken aback. He was afraid. It brought him low and suddenly in a moment all the fear of facing him seemed followed away. He was not all powerful.

"And you're not?!" Amon said angrily. "She was even glaring at you like she was going to kill you."

Korra bit the inside of her cheek. She didn't think Azula would hurt her. She hadn't since she thought she was someone else. But she did know that something was wrong on that stage. Azula looked and acted like the night she had run off. Did something happen with Zuko? Something must have caused this. Her fire bender had always been fierce in battle but she had seemed to be out for blood. Korra hoped that no one would think it's to much or try to arrest her. She had promised to never let Azula go back in a cage and she meant to keep that promise.

A crash could be heard outside the training room and the odd pair glanced at each other, Korra shot him a smirk.

"Enough of this." Amon groaned as he stormed over to Korra.

"What are you doing?!" She yelled as she tried to shake him off and he put his finger on her forehead.

"I will not be denied my victory." He threatened.

"NO NO NO NO!" Korra struggled again.

A clang on the reinforced training room door drew both their attention. After a moment's pause there was not another sound. "Seems you are alone Avatar." he mocked.

But Korra was still looking at the door and saw a flash of blue on the opposite side of the door from the lock, then another. She then felt Amon press his thumb into her head but she was not afraid. Azula had told her about this trick.

The firebender burst through the metal door. Her hair had fallen by this point and was laying wildly around her head. She looked at Amon in his red and black, and Korra in her blue and her world shimmered a bit. She knew she had to find them, she knew she had to face the person in red. Why? Why did she need to? Did they do something...no. He was going to take something, something from her!

"You won't beat me!" She yelled. "The throne is mine!" the firebenders eyes shifted wildly. Korra's heart sank and she knew what was happening now. It explained things but it also meant that her Azula was not here but buried deep somewhere in that thick head, She would have to pull her out.

"What - what are you talking about!" Amon shouted in disbelief and confusion. Azula responded with a giant blast of flame. It was not wide but deep, and had a great weight behind it. He tried to jump out of the way but the column of fire was too fast. It hit him and he went flying back against a wall and landed in a crump. His clothing did not burn but he did not move.

Azula stood there heavily breathing her arms hanging low. Staring at the body for a moment more before turning to Korra. She was still snarling and bawled her fist as if to attack

Korra noticed but met the firebenders gaze with worried sadness. Struggling for a moment for what to say. "Thank you for coming to save me." She offered honestly. She just wanted to get her Azula back, but she knew she had to be careful. She knew how volatile the firebender could be.

Azula was taken aback by the peaceful gesture and stammered to speak. Her head still hurt and the columns of the court yard shimmered and twisted. As she looked back at Korra she seemed to shift and change. She stammered forward to Korra who only gave an encouraging smile until the fire bender was looming over her. The image in her mind shifted back and forth.

"Peasant." Azula snarled. Korra's eyes went wide and she knew exactly who Azula thought she was. She wanted to jump up and hold her but her arms were still hard to move and she didn't want any sudden movement to startle the firebender. "No it's me Korra."

Azula brought a shaking hand to tug her face up a little by the chin. Korra kept her gaze and even smiled a little. "I knew you'd come to help me. It's why I love you."

Azula's hand moved to the side of Korra's face. "You are so strong and beautiful." Korra added.

The image in Azula's mind settled more as she looked at the blue of Korra's eyes. She dropped to her knees and was surprised by the feel of a padded floor rather than the hard stone of a courtyard. The jolt helped as the images around her started to settle into the training room.

"Korra..."

A pain washed over Azula's body as if she had been drenched in ice water, her muscles contracted and she winced in pain.

Korra gasped. "What's wrong?!" She watched the firebender jolt away and tried to reach out before Azula was thrown across the room into a training net, her arms and legs getting tangled in the roops.

Korra twisted to see Amon on his knees, his mask at an odd angle as if a strap had broken. His arms were up and Korra recognized what he was doing immediately.

"Your blood bending! You're a water bender!"

Amon turned towards her and the mask flopped around. With a grunt he tore it away and wiped the streaks of what looked like red paint or blood off his face. As expected he looked like a member of the Water Tribe.

"That's not important now!" He growled. Azula tried to pull herself free but with the ropes and blood bending she could barely move. She felt trapped, caged, chained. The ropes around her arms blurred and twisted into an ice cold steel. She was hit by a combined force of panic and rage as the world got blurry again. She screamed and struggled against the ice holding her down.

.

Korra shot her a worried look and struggled to get up to her feat, to which Amon countered with a wave of his hand sending her to her knees.

"Not so fast Avatar this is ending now. I'm not taking any chances." He stumbled on to his feet but fell back to one knee. The blast from Azula was clearly still taking its toll. Azula saw him struggle, and she tried to break free but he held her and the Avatar in place.

Korra was on her knees when he looked over her. She was struggling knowing what was going to happen. She had been so relieved when she got Azula back just a moment ago and now she had lost and become a failed Avatar.

Azula struggled like a chained beast and her hand ignited at last. It set the ropes on fire and she felt them burn her wrist a bit. She gritted through the pain and tore her hand free. Slamming it down in a clap of flames. Amon jerked up to look at her and with a wave of his arms twisted her arm back.

She cried out. It twisted too far and it consumed her mind and made her eyes blur but she looked back at the pair and saw Amon put a thumb to Korra's head.

Her left hand, her now only working hand, clawed forward as she blinked her eyes to try and focus. Her vision shimmered again and she felt herself slipping. Her mind was confused as it held her back, she wanted to run to escape and survive but she knew she could not now. She could not run away when Korra was in danger. Her aching mind could not always see her. A part of her kept her reined in just enough. Hopefully enough to stay ever going in the right direction.

The image of a figure in black and red who was water and blood bending confused her. Furry and fear motivated her and she shot up and brought herself to one knee with a blaze of blue in her hand and scowled with furry as she looked up again.

She was too late.

Korra was laying on her side. Amon looked over at her but he did not look triumphant, just tired. He snarled as he stepped over the Avatar and with a limp in his step and raised hands went over to the fire bender.

"Korra!" She cried out as she felt the blood bending take over her again.

His shadow fell over her and she forced herself to look at her executioner. Just like every time.

"You look like you're in pain." He snarled. "Good."

Azula glared at him with a snarl. Her breathing was pained but she forced it under control. She had been in this position before. With blades or benders above her, it was oddly calming. Everytime she had been here before she had survived. It gave her mind something to focus on. She had been here before and still thought it better than chains.

He put his thumb on her head and moved slowly to bring his other hand around. Just as his control slipped a little to get ready, she roared a blast of blue fire from her mouth. She didn't do that often, she liked to save it for special occasions. She smirked as he reeled with a yell and desperately patted out the flames in his hair and clothes.

She went to stand only finding it a little hard. Her one arm was hugged into her chest to keep the pain down but still she had her chance; she was not going to waste it. She kicked out with a flash of blue but Amon recovered enough to roll out of the way. Azula was too slow now. To hurt perhaps from the blood bending. Amon jumped towards her arms outstretched and where she would normally throw herself out of the way she was caught in the grip of the blood bending again.

This time Amon took less chances and when he got close made sure to have a few pressure points up her side so that now she was laying on her side with a pained scowl gritting her teeth.

He was silent and deliberate in his work and she was dragged, as if there were ropes in her body to a kneeling position. It hurt and she couldn't help but cry out.

He put his thumb to her forehead.

'I wonder if he will kill me after'. She thought in pain. She did pull against the force holding her down, but this time it wasn't enough.

She noticed the light before he did. She was facing towards it after all. It was blueish white and she not only could see it, but feel it. Her mind screamed in terror even if her body could not as she knew what the light was.

Amon, however, did not. He turned slowly more in confusion then fear as he saw Korra. Her eyes were glowing. The air in the room started to swirl violently and the avatar rose a couple feet off the ground. He finally grasped what was happening and released Azula who crumpled over and swung his arms towards the Avatar. He was too slow though and a blast of air smashed him against a wall.

He recovered quickly though and rolled out of the way of the next blast as he weaved for any sort of cover or escape. Finally he was pushed back towards the far wall.

Korra, her eyes still bright and an orb of swirling air around her grabed a full stack of Earth bending disks and condensed them into a solid mass. With a forceful punch she launched the condensed mass at Amon as he was running across a wall.

It hit. It smashed him into then through the wall behind and he fell out of sight. After a moment Azula figured he was not coming back up and the Avatar seemed to agree and turned to face her.

She recoiled as much as she could and tried to drag herself away. "Korra?"

A flash of light blinded her and as she blinked to clear the haze she saw a taller figure walk towards her. Her sight returning she flinched as she saw the orange robes. He was almost transparent as he loomed over her. She tried to pull away but her hurt arm hobbled her.

"Get away from me." She spat. He leaned over and put his hand on her good shoulder.

He smiled warmly. "I am glad you make her happy."

Azula blinked in surprise. But snarled and painfully brought her good hand up a flaming fist. "Liar." She spat ready to attack.

He only smiled and shook his head as Azula tried to rise to her feet. "You're hurt. Stay down."

"I will not." She readyed her good arm. "Surrender to you!" She stuck out and suddenly he was shorter and the fire passed by him. It's form shifted. She was out of breath and so tired but she threw another ball of fire and the figure pushed it away. The figure got coser. It had hair. That was her first clue. A hand grabbed her good wrist before she could attack again and right in front of her were the blue eyes that she recognized.

Korra grinned. "Please stop throwing fire at me." Azula was so tired. But she snarled and struggled to stay standing. "I will not surrender to you Avatar…"

"I know. You are just so strong. But it's me Korra and I got you."

Azula weekly tried to pull her wrists away, her mind was settling the more Korra looked at her but still her dying craze rebelled.

"You are the Avatar." she groaned with a scowl.

"Still, yeah.'' Korra was being patient.

"You air bent." Azula murmured defeatedly. "Korra can't airbend."

"I can now. Guess I needed the right motivation." Korra eased her grip on the firebender. Azula's scowl eased as her mind cleared and more and more of what had gone on up until she got here flowed in. It was...it did not look good for her. "I was supposed to rescue you." Azula mumbled, seeming to shrink.

"You did! In a way. I knew you were coming for me." Korra tried to confort.

Time stopped going forward for Azula as the full memory flooded back to her. She knew the feeling, it was like the morning after finding out she had been erased or the day after the comet. It was the feeling of sorting out dreams from reality and reality always eventually painfully burned itself to the front.

"Everyone else was afraid." Azula did not meet her eyes. She didn't want to see how Korra would look at her.

"Oh yeah you should have seen the Equalists run away, and when you came through the door? I couldn't see Amon's face but I could imagine." Azula looked at Korra and saw her smile. She was impressed and encouraged. She was an idiot.

"You idiot. Don't you get it?! Everyone was afraid! They wont let me just walk away from this! They think I'm dangerous! I am dangerous!". Her panic was rising and her urge to start running was growing in her gut.

"And I'm the Avatar." Korra pulled Azula into a tight hug. The distraught firebender was rigid but the smell of Korra's hair reminded her more of relaxing moments. "You were...more rough then I think people are used to. But they will understand."

"No they won't." Azula snapped back. "They will see me as cruel, they will see me as barbaric, they..they will see me as insane they will put me in chains..." She tried to pull away but did not try much harder as she felt Korra not let go.

"No they won't." Korra parroted. "I won't let them. I told you, trust me."

Azula stayed attached to her. "I said I would." her head still hurt and she was still scared but she could hide it now. "Not a very impressive rescue was it if you're now holding me together."

Korra chuckled. "Well you did the hard part, and I do like holding you."

Azula frowned. "Still at some point I am going to be more trouble them i worth im-"

"I'm not leaving." Korra interrupted. "And I'm not letting you leave." she put as much strength into her arms as she could.

Azula smirked. "Idiot."

"Your idiot." Korra tried to correct her by pulling away to look at her fire bender. But her face shifted to confused thought. "Hey!" she said more amused then annoyed. "Just for that I'm not healing your arms."

Azula raised her eyebrow. "Oh really." Korra held out for as long as expected. "Nah probably not, but not here. Come on we should find out what's going on."

With her mind moving back into reality and focusing on Korra her body was finally catching up. Fuck she was tired.

Korra probably noticed how much she had to help Azula to her feet but didn't say anything about it. She just held her against her body and put her arm around her shoulder holding her up. Azula didn't protest. They moved first into the hallway and both looked left and right but could see nothing. Deciding on a way they started walking.

Walking to find one of two groups of people. People she had burned or people who had watched in horror as she lost control. But apparently Korra wouldn't let her retreat. So she was stuck just waiting and worrying for this to get worse like normal.

"So Airbending." Azula started trying to get her mind on any other topic.

"Airbending." Korra beamed.

"Tell me about it?" A good distraction would be nice. And Korra provided one. How it felt and the moves she used. She also talked about the moves she wanted to learn. Azula listened, welcoming the distraction and putting a mental list together of questions to ask her later.

"I saw Aang and talked to him for a brief time." That got the firebenders attention.

"I dont remeber you being down for that long?" Azula questioned.

"Well I didn't like see him see him." Korra defended. "It felt like a vision. It was amazing he told me I was doing well and told me he wanted to show me energy bending. He got all of my bending back!"

Azula remained neutral during this. She had of course heard about the old Avatar using this skill and the idea of it being used on her had kept her up on more than one night. But still she did not know much about it and wanted to know more.

But before she could ask she heard talking ahead and Korra tenced hearing it as well. Azula pulled herself off Korra who took a step to be in front of her. Azula smirked and took a step to be next to her Korra. "I can take care of myself, thank you."

Korra shot a smile back. "I know but I haven't been able to punch enough people today and you've done enough." Azula gave her a smile and let her lead the way.

Rounding a corner the pair saw there would be rescuers. Mako ,Bolin and Tenzin. They were out looking probably for Korra so hopefully that meant everything else was stable.

"Korra!" Bolin shouted bolting forward.

Azula instantly tensed but eased as his target was clearly Korra who he grabbed in a big hug. The others were quick to follow and focus on the Avatar. For an instant she felt insulted and worried they were avoiding her. But she calmed as she remembered she was just a little behind Korra. Besides moments later the group turned to focus on her. Bolin almost jumped over with a big grin but seemed to remember Azula did not like hugs and was almost shaking as he held back. "Azu!"

She gave a smile back in acknowledgement and thanks for his restraint. Mako also shot her a relieved smile. She had not seen either of the brothers since before the battle started. It was part of the plan but they were unlikely to have seen the events in the arena.

Tenzin had been there though. He gave Azula a neutral look but definitely not a happy one. Still though he went to Korra who welcomed him in a hug. "Tenzin look." Korra said pulling away a moment later she produced a ball of rushing air in her hand. He was shocked, Bolin and Mako too. Azula smiled with a sense of pride in her love.

Tenzin's jaw had dropped but he tried to collect himself. "Korra that's...how did you..."

Korra shot him a cocky grin. "Oh I have so much to tell you Tenzin but maybe it can wait? I need to get Azu healed and does anyone know what's going on?" Tenzin, Mako and Bolin finally broke the tension and Azula felt all their eyes on her. Her stomach churned and her fists clenched. A familiar sense of betrayal slithered up her spine, a moment ago they seemed happy to see her. Korra noticed the glances and took a step between her love and friends. A voice in her head suggested that she was keeping her from them.

"There's a riot." Bolin started sounding worried. "First everyone got scared out of the arena then all the sudden Amon blasts through a-"

"Oh right fuck." Korra interrupted "He's a blood bender!". Again there three rescuers looked surprised.

Mako nodded."That makes sense. He was last seen blasting through a wall and landing in a column of water that he controlled right in front of everyone."

Azula was surprised. He had made a major slip but he was probably trying to save his life. "Was he captured by the crowd?" She asked, genuinely curious. The mob might rip him to shreds.

Bolin shook his head. "No he got away. Lin went after him. While we said we would find Korra."

Korra nodded "Well you found me and she is going to need help."

"Korra." Azula got her attention. She kept emotion from her voice as much as she could but hoped Korra would pick up on her worry. She didn't want Korra to leave right now.

The Avatar glanced at her and deflated a bit. "I...Ok I need to get Azu healed and somewhere safe then we can move into the city."

"I will help her." Tenzin said, stepping forward. "Now that you're found I was going to get my family out of here. Ikki managed to sneak a bison whistle with her and once we get to the roof we will try our luck."

Azula kept her glare towards him hidden as much as she could but honestly she was having some trouble even standing at this point. Her adrenaline was definitely wearing off. Whatever look she gave him he didn't react to. He only looked at the worried and suddenly nervous Korra. Bolin and Mako shifted anxiously.

"Korra the city needs the Avatar, don't worry I will take care of her." He turned towards Azula at last "Come on you helped my family let's help you get out of here."

Azula felt the offer was sincere. But there was a look in his eye. She didn't trust it one bit.

"Are you going to be ok?" Korra asked, reaching for her good hand. Azula thought for a moment. Tenzin clearly had something planned. It was not just the voice in her head giving a high pitch scream for her to run away there was something there. Something that made her head hurt but she wasn't fighting it so much as accepting what was going to happen.

It was time for things to go more wrong. It was over due after all.

"I will be fine." Azula offered Korra. She was always fine one way or another.

"Ok be safe I will see you soon." Her Avatar gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before a 'come on' had her running with the brothers. The fire bender watched them go and it felt like a goodbye. She shot the Airbender a glance but he looked warmly towards her. "Come they are on the roof. We have all had a rough night but I don't think you'd accept me carrying you."

Azula was not amused but kept her anger in check. Her urge to run or fight grew but Tenzin kept watching her calmly. "Don't worry the elevators are working. We should make it to the roof." and he turned his back to her.

The back of an airbender. An airbender that could ruin her life. Her mind wavered and images of green lit caves eked into the edges of her vision. She focused on the spot on her cheek where Korra had kissed her and she used it and exhaustion to keep those thoughts away as she went to catch up with the airbender.

"You left your family on the roof? Seems…risky." she felt herself strain against a need to lash out and knew it showed in her voice.

He didn't respond. He seemed to be walking more slowly then she had seen him before. When did the Avatar get so tall? No. They were Tenzin. She refocused to keep control.

"They are safe. It seems most of the Equalists lost their will to fight tonight after your...appearance on stage." He commented. He was carefully picking his words, trying to play it safe.

Azula scowled and stopped walking. "Spit it out." It was a threat. She worried she wouldn't be able to hold her mind at bay much long if they avoided what was going to happen. The edges of her vision were shimmering like before, and she wanted to be in control as much as she could.

Predictably he stopped and turned to her.

"Azu I saw you in the arena. It seemed like you...well it seemed like there was something very wrong. What I saw reminded me of the reports I read that night when the island was attacked and you went running into the city."

The firebender glared at him to which he did not show signs of backing down. "That night and tonight... I may not have been on my best but I always survive." She meant it as a challenge as her mind took in her surroundings. There were windows to her left, she would have to avoid being blasted out of them. The doors on the other side might lead to small enclosed rooms that airbenders were weaker in.

"I have known you long enough to know that you will 'survive'. But if my family is in danger I want to help them." Tenzin countered. But it wasn't a threat like she was expecting. It was concern. It was odd but might be a trick.

"If you are referring to the platform I didn't burn any of your kids!" She was mostly confident in this. She couldn't really remember it all and he would have said something by now.

"What?" Tenzin was visibly confused. "I know that. They're fine. I'm talking about you."

The tension Azula was feeling snapped in a way she wasn't expecting. Her foggy mind took a few moments to process those words. "What ..what do you mean?"

Tenzin looked sad. "Azu, do you think i'm afraid of you? I'm worried for you. You are family at this point just as much as Korra or Bolin, Mako and Asami. From what I saw in the arena, well you seemed to be not yourself. While it is true I don't know much about your life before you helped Korra you always seemed calm and under control. Out there though, and now, you seem to be having trouble. A kind of trouble I have seen in others. I know people who you can talk to, if you will let them. People who can help. You don't have to go through this struggle alone."

The firebender scowled and turned away. Everytime she thought she was going to be hated for her actions like before she was not. She thought she was going to be feared by her friends, but they seemed to only like her more for her skill. Everytime she thought she thought she was going to lose everything, the people around her reminded her that she still had support. The former princess thought about how everything fell apart last time. Everytime she thought things would happen like they did before, they did not.

"Azula." She corrected looking around at the airbender. The edges were still fuzzy but the feeling that the haze was creeping in had abated. Tenzin looked confused. "It's my real name that I have only shared with Korra." she added.

Tenzin looked surprised but not angry. "Good to meet you Azula." He said with a slight bow. "Now Jinora is waiting for us and I think we have been here long enough."

Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo helped her onto the back of the bison that had arrived. Pema was there with Rohan, apparently they were held somewhere in the arena. The mother noticed the rough shape Azula was in and asked if she could help. It was...nice.

Jinora helped her onto the bison and Meelo just praised her about what he had seen. The bison had a saddle that looked a bit worn. Jinorra mentioned that before they had abboadned the island they had as many bison as they could fly away to safty. The one that answered Ikkis whistle just happoen to have an old saddle on when it escaped. Azula stayed quiet and just let them be around her enjoying the surreal experience before laying down. She heard some vague words about heading out to sea to a fleet. She didn't care. She was oddly calm so she laid there as Jinora got Meelo to leave her alone. She appreciated it as she did not want to interact with them so she rolled onto her side. A lump could be felt though in her pocket and she reached in to find her hair piece. She had forgotten it was there. It was bent now and a little misshapen but it would still work.

The symbology was not lost on her. 'Oh shut up.'

Azula walked through metal halls in the ship. Walking a little slower then normal to accommodate the other person. Zuko was old. Something she didn't care or notice too much when they had first met again but in the last couple days on the ship it became apparent he had strained himself. He was old and the Equalist Crisis and her return had taken a lot out of him. So he walked a little slow. She would be walking slow at his age probably. She had been walking slower two days ago but she recovered faster.

They passed by a couple United Forces soldiers who gave slight bows to Zuko

"After the war we started to understand mental health better. A lot of people needed help." Zuko continued when the pair had left. "It took a couple decades to get there but the Fire Nation has a number of people who you could talk to."

"I will try the people Tenzin suggests." She was not attacking him but she did not trust him. He did not argue though. He just walked quietly next to her through the halls. She didn't want to talk about this. "I don't want you to come back unless I ask for you." Her tone shifted to more hostile "I don't want you to think you can just stop by."

"I helped found this city and I want to see you." Zuko countered. "I want to tell you all that has happened and have you meet Izumi. You would like her. So tell me honestly. Will you ask me?"

Azula scowled. "I will think about it."

Zuko got a face that reminded her of Iroh. "I will accept that for now. But let me know if you need anything. I am the only one who can, and will, prove your royal line, if you want it."

"We will see what the water bender allows." She hadn't forgotten. Apparently Katara had gone back to the south pole.

Zuko sighed. "I will talk to her."

"Do that and let me know if she convinces you to have me killed...again."

That shut him up.

They walked up the stairs and Azula waited at the top with Zuko holding the rail. Sympathy pinged in her and she struggled to push it down. He was old and she might not have much time left if she wanted to make peace. But he made it and the two of them stood on the deck of one of the stupid catamaran battleships in the bay. The city wasn't burning any more so that was a good sign. With Amons deceit known there had been a riot that thankfully was not her job to fix. It was Korra's though, and the Avatar had insisted on going out into the city everyday to help people like a real hero.

What a pain.

The firebender had instead volunteered to stay on the battleship with Tenzin and his family. Something that was less work and gave her body and mind a chance to rest over the last couple days. Which had mostly worked except for a headache after meeting Bumi. Oddly though she had also spent that time talking to Tenzin. The fact that he shared her annoyance at his brother somehow made things easier.

Also Meelo had decided to latch onto "The Queen of Death." As he put it. Which made her feel….well it was a something. Right now though he was somewhere else and not bugging her. News had come that Korra and the police had retaken the City Hall from the Equalist remnants and the Avatar would be heading back to the ship.

Azula wanted to be there to see Korra, of course, and more importantly and amusingly…

"Here she comes." Zuko gestured to the single figure soaring over the bay on a glider. Azula smirked. "I got her."

Korra really enjoyed her airbending and the glider.

The Avatar came in too fast and jerked at the last moment dropping to the deck at an odd angle. Nearly running into the side railing.

Korra hadn't quite gotten the landing down yet.

Her firebender grabbed her arm and stopped her from running into the metal rail pulling the Avatar into a hug and steadying herself.

"I'm getting better!" Korra said pulling away but not letting go.

"Sure you are." Korra stuck her tongue out at the fire bender. Azula did not hide her amusement. "How did it go at City Hall?"

"We took it back! They fought for a while but most ran off. I wished you were there, it was a good fight. Lin said we will need to go into the under city next. You gonna be ok to come then? How are you feeling?"

"Like I want to get off this ship." Azula smiled. A good fight beside Korra sounded nice.

"How's Bumi been?" Korra mocked, to which Azula's smile dropped but she did not let go of holding the Avatar.

"Annoying like most people on the ship."

Korra laughed. "What about Tenzin? I know you two have been talking."

Azula opened her mouth but turned to glare at Zuko who was watching the pair across the deck. Seeming to be caught he gave a slight bow and walked off. The firebender turned back to the Avatar and lowered her voice. "We have talked…I want you there next time I think." Korra pulled her tighter which Azula loved. "He wanted to know about what happened in the area so he could point me to the right person. He also wanted to meditate."

"Of course I will be there! Yeah he always wants to do that, but that's good. Tenzin told me he wants to change the government in the city. I told him you might have ideas? If you are up for it?"

Azula smiled and thought of the Avatar in her arms asking her to help remake their home. Thought about the Air nomad she would be talking to later. Thought about her brother and new family that she was intrigued in meeting. Thought about her life here.

"Sounds like you are just trying to avoid boring meetings." Azula mocked to which Korra pulled away and stuck her tongue out. "It won't be boring with you there and if I'm going you are going."

"I'm sure i can make it interesting." Azula smirked as her mind started forming Ideas.

End.
_

8 years. Where were you 8 years ago? I was starting something that would be part of my mind for 8 years. Every day i thought about it, through 3 different colleges 4 jobs and just so much. I had no idea how big this would be when I started. Thank you for everyone who put up with my crazy writing and grammar. Thank you to my Beta readers. I knew I had to finish it before started something new. And holy shit I really finished.