The Search Within the Force and Flame

V

Travel time: Approximately four hours since depature (currently midday).

Location: Somewhere above the sea near the Fire Nation Island chains.

"AHHH," Sokka exclaims stretching his arms looking up. Logan, sitting next to Sokka, slightly flinches at the unexpected movement. "The open sky above us, a daring mission before us, and friends all around! Just like old times, isn't it," Sokka says.

"Even better than old times," Aang exclaims atop Appa's head holding the reigns with Katara sitting next to him and Momo gliding to the right. I always wanted to kiss Katara and now I actually get to do it!" he continues enthusiastically.

"AW, sweetie," Katara exclaims as her and Aang lean in for a quick peck on the lips.

Sokka, now has one hand under his chin and the other arm on a part of the saddle as he stares with an unamused look on his face. Him and Logan glance at each other and roll their eyes. "I for one could do without that part," Sokka says, flatly. Logan gets up and moves to the center left side of the saddle. He is currently situated between the two groups, Sokka, Aang, Katara, and a now landed Momo towards the front. The Fire Nation siblings sat towards the rear.

"Too bad Toph couldn't be here," Katara says.

"Well, instead of Toph, now we have..." Aang says as his voice trails off, followed by Azula's cold tone.

"So tell me, kids. I've been dying to know," Azula pauses, her face darkens and amber eyes blaze with anger. "WHICH OF YOU MISCREANTS DID SHE APPROACH FIRST," she asks with vitriol.

"What are you talking about?" Katara asks

"NONE OF YOU HAD EVEN MET ME YET! HOW DID SHE CONVINCE YOU HELP HER RUIN MY LIFE?!" Azula yells

Zuko jerks forward and raises his fist. "THAT'S ENOUGH AZULA!" he yells as his fist begins to smoke.

Azula's face returns to normal. The darkness and unhingeness subsiding. Her trademark smirk returns as she looks at Zuko. "Put that away Zuzu, it's just small talk," Azula says, sarcastically.

"You have a funny conception of what 'small talk' means, Princess," Logan says.

Azula's head whips to look at him. She narrows her eyes and studies Logan for a moment. "Hold your tongue boy," Azula spits out.

Logan rolls his eyes and looks back at her. "You do know we're only a year apart," he says.

"Congratulations, you can do basic math," Azula retorts.

"Evidently you can't if you think I'm nothing but a mere boy," Logan says with a grin on his face.

Katara snickers towards the front as Azula visibly reacts with ire to Logan's unwillingness to back down from her. Fearing an outburst Zuko stands between the still sitting Logan and Azula and with a booming voice declares, "ENOUGH! Both of you!"

Azula turns her head and rolls her eyes. Logan gives a salute, but Zuko knows Logan well enough to realize when he is being sarcastic, either through verbal language or body movement/gestures. Back towards the front of Appa, Katara, Aang, and Sokka with Momo perched on his shoulder look utterly defeated. Sokka lets out a long winded *sigh* before he looks up and says, "I miss Toph."

"You said it," Aang says.

Katara looks off in the distance as a low rumble resonates within her chest. The sky begins to darken the farther she looks. "I don't like the look of that," she says, wearily.

Logan furrows his brow and frowns slightly. He unzips his duffel bag and pulls out a pair of macrobinoculars. He peers into the viewfinder and looks at the impending, still far out, storm clouds. This model of macrobinoculars puts a feint green hue over the subject as well as offering various pieces of information in the galactic basic language of Aurebesh.

As Logan looks at the clouds, lightning strikes and thunder rumbles. In between the arcs of light Lyra's face appears between the flashes. Logan jerks away and awkwardly looks down. "Yeah...terrible storm...and NOTHING MORE," Logan says, deadpan. Sokka looks at Aang and all Aang does is raise both his arms and shrugs, going back to controlling Appa's flight path.

Azula sits with her head in her hands, rocking ever so slightly, back and forth. Logan puts the macrobinoculars back into his bag and zips it closed. He looks over at Azula. As much as he wants to ignore it, his empathy for seeing someone in duress is firing on all cylinders. He cautiously approaches Azula with his hands displayed out to show he means no harm.

Peeking up slightly, her golden eyes narrow. "What do you want?" Azula says, darkly.

"Easy your highness, I saw that you seem...in distress," Logan responds.

"In distress," Azula repeats, now looking up at Logan.

"I...AM FINE," Azula snaps, her face darkening as she rushes in front of Logan.

"AZULA!" Zuko yells

"No, Zuzu! You think I don't know this one's game?! He was sent like the others by HER!" Azula exclaims.

Logan remains calm as he stares down at Azula. A face of someone who has been through a lot for one so young, much like himself. "I don't want any conflict with you, your highness, but know, you're not the only one who sees ghosts when they close their eyes," Logan says.

Azula's face drops, she continues to stare as she looks down. Her eyes dart back and forth. A dozen different thoughts all run through her head. Logan steps away from Azula. He goes and stands towards the middle of the saddle area, looking down at the green forestry below. Sokka slowly moves into Logan's view. "Buddy, what the hell was that?!" He exclaims.

"Just trying to be friendly," Logan says, earnestly.

"To AzUlA!" Sokka exclaims, again.

"Just because we've sparred in the past and we seem to get under each other's skin, she is still human Sokka," Logan says.

"But it's Azula..." Sokka reiterates, treating Azula's name as if he was spewing out a poisonous substance.

Logan *sighs* as he runs his hand through his hair. "Sokka, ever since I was a kid I've always wanted to help people. It's just my nature, no matter how much chaos a single individual can bring," he says.

"Well, don't get your hopes up. When it comes to her helping you, I mean," Sokka says.

"I don't expect it in return," Logan says.

Sokka, knowing that what he said to Logan didn't have the affect it wanted, begins to say something else and then leaves.

Azula still in the position of when she confronted Logan. Her mind raises with lots of ramblings and questions.

"Why would HE care!? He knows NOTHING of what I've been through! Azula pauses. "Maybe he wants something, using an old trick against me!" she continues.

"Or maybe he knows what you're going through and wants to help," another voice says, softly.

"YOU!" Azula hisses in thought.

"So, you did send him mother," Azula says, starkly.

"No, Azula, he's just someone who knows what you're going through and wants to help," Azula's "Mother" says.

"LIES, ALL LIES!" Azula hisses in her mind.

Through gritted teeth and out loud. "You're one thing she can't have control over!" Azula says.

As Logan turns around, Azula beelines it straight toward him and jumps, spearing him directly in the chest as the two tumble off Appa.

"AZULA!" Zuko yells, panicked

"LOGAN!" Sokka, Katara and Aang yell in unison.