"You… You continue to… disappoint."

Zuko tried to roll over. Tried to lift his head. Panic coursed through him as he realized his limbs felt like they were attached to hundred pound weights. All he could manage was a weak groan, barely able to crack his eyes open long enough to see Ozai standing by his feet.

"You weren't supposed to survive your training. Yet you did. You weren't supposed to survive your first arena battle. Yet you did. You weren't supposed to survive this battle. Yet you did.

"Six years later, and here you lay. The Champion of Capital City. Guanjun of Ba Sing Se. Victor of the Northern Water Tribe. From a little pissant who cried when turtle ducks died, to the best gladiator in the Three Kingdoms. The boy who just wouldn't die."

Zuko groaned again as his head was harshly pulled up by his hair, desperate to make his limbs move, struggling against whatever held him paralyzed.

"You can't even die right. You keep lingering on, healing injuries no one should recover from. At least your cousin gave the arena a glorious death. He died with honor as he was supposed to. But you remain, feeding the rumors, and the tales. People talk about the 'Scarred Dragon', calling him 'Sozin's Bane'. Why… Why do you not… just… die?"

The last was hissed into his ear, sending shivers racing down his spine as he tried to turn away, hot tears of shame escaping as he felt the warm piss sliding down his leg.

"Worse, perhaps, than even that… Is the fact that at every single turn, you defy me. When you should limp away, like a broken child, you continue to stand. When I make you kneel, you look at me as if you're the master! My slaves –mine! –worship the ground you walk on. The people scream your name, as you march past them in chains. My wife pulls away from me, can barely stand to look at me –because of you! They're not supposed to worship you! A lowly, common slave! I slave I could kill any time I wanted to! Your life –everything you are –I control! I can do anything –anything –I want to you, whenever I want!

"I could flick my wrist, and have a hundred slaves in here, each wanting a piece of you. Or… Or perhaps, once we get home… I'll have that beautiful girl you try so hard to hide your feelings for brought to me. How long do you think I could drag out her death, slave? How long do you thinks she could hold on, looking in your eyes, as you watched the very life bleed out of her? Hours? Days? Perhaps even weeks? All while you look on, chained, unable to move? How long before it drove you insane, hmm?"

"Aang, you need to go and find Sifu Iroh. Now," Katara whispered, heart thudding in her chest as she stared at the door. She wanted to believe it was something stupid, something innocent. Wanted to believe that maybe a passing healer had closed it, or even Zuko himself had gotten up and closed it.

But somewhere, deep down, she knew it wasn't either of those, or anything else that might be remotely 'okay'. There was a feeling of… absolute wrongness… emanating from behind that door. It was so strong, she barely noticed Aang running off to do what she'd told him, so caught up in the absolute evil radiating from the little room.

She took a hesitant step towards the door, raising her hand to go for the knob…

And that was when the door exploded in a million splinters, the heat from the room driving her scrambling backwards. Her mouth dropped open in silent horror as she watched the flames dance around the room, the inferno causing sweat to pour down her face as she tried to get to her feet.

"Zuko! Zuko!" She screamed, pushing her way forward, trying to get closer to the room. When the flames drove her back again, she turned towards the rest of the room, trying to find something to put the fire out with.

The entire place was in a panic, with gladiators and healers alike scrambling to get away from the inferno, which had spread to the outer walls.

"Ka… Katar…a…"

She spun around, shock filling her at the sight of Zuko pulling himself from the wreckage of the burnt room. Despite the questions that demanded answers, she ignored everything, grabbing a hold of the boy's arm, and throwing it over her shoulder. Grunting with the effort, she pulled both of them back to their feet, and struggled past the fire, to the door.

Outside was pure chaos. Slaves and freedmen alike milled in the courtyard, pushing as close to the gates and walls as possible in the courtyard, some yelling for the Water Benders to put out the fire. She spotted a few Benders trying, but without a concerted effort, they were having little effect.

"Have… To… Run."

"What?" Katara shouted, trying to make herself heard over the screaming of slaves, and the growing destruction as the fire grew.

"Ozai… Dead. Have… Run…" Zuko grunted again.

"You…" Katara couldn't even finish her sentence, her mind racing. He couldn't mean what she thought he meant.

"Katara! Zuko!"

Katara turned, Zuko on her shoulder slowing her movements, to see Toph darting towards them.

"Are you two alright? Did you hear? Master Ozai is missing!"

Zuko cracked open one eye, glaring up at Katara. "Told… you. Need… Run."

Katara took a deep breath, trying to think for a few minutes, before turning to Toph. "Are you with us, Toph?"

"What?"

"Are you with us?"

Instantly, the girl's eyes hardened, and she rubbed her hands together. "Tell me which part of the wall you want brought down."