"I want to bring the Earth Kingdom to its knees. I want to rule at your side." Zuko knows what he offers. He knows what it means to so willingly hand over such power. Especially to Azula. Her eyes are glowing and her lips twist into a smirk. "No one will stop us."

He closes his eyes at the truth of her words. Aside from Ba Sing Se, the other nations offer little challenge to Fire Nation supremacy. Thanks to Azula's machinations Omashu is so economically reliant on the Fire Nation that King Boquin wouldn't dare oppose Zuko. The Southern Water Tribe is still small and needs trade with Fire Nation merchants to survive the harsh landscape. The Northern Tribe can hide behind her ice walls for only so long, as slowly the people are realizing it's better to be a part of the world than to be hidden from it. Even the Air Nation depends on Zuko's generosity. No, the other nations won't stand in his way; Azula has made sure of it.

Opening his eyes, he meets the fiery stare of his sister. No one will stand in their way, he corrects himself. This, all of this, is because of Azula. It is all because this is what she wants. And Zuko knows it is best to just give her what she desires and if she desires the world than he shall give it to her. Or more likely, he will stand out of her way so she can take it.

There will be opposition. There always is but Zuko isn't Sozin. He won't subjugate the other nations. He won't brutally put down rebellions or execute prisoners, not without reason, not anymore. There will be peace. There will be harmony. Surely this is better? Surely the world can accept that?

Azula leans back, taking the heat of her skin with her. With deliberate slowness she makes a show of using lotions and oils on her skin. She slips into a thin silk robe and picks up her brush to detangle her hair. Steam rises as she uses what little bending she has to dry it until it falls in soft waves over her shoulders and back. Zuko is her rapt audience and she catches his eye in the mirror.

"What about the Avatar?" The name feels strangled in his throat as he asks. Aang's whole purpose is to keep the balance. He fought a war for it. He died for it.

Azula purrs in thought as she sits the brush down and full on meets his gaze in the mirror. "Our forefathers were small men with small minds. You aren't them. The people of this world need guidance. They need a ruler that cares. Make their lives better. Make them love you. How can the Avatar argue with that?"

How could Aang argue with peace? How could he ignore the wants of the people? Zuko could appeal to the masses. He could usher in a new order of change and prosperity. War reparations only go so far. The people are forgotten by the kings and nobles who drape themselves in Fire Nation gold. Zuko could change that. He could use the wealth of his country to better the lives of the people that truly matter.

"Ba Sing Se?"

The name hangs between them like a funeral shroud. The burning sense of revenge weighs heavily on his shoulders. He wants to raze the city for what they did, for what they took.

Azula blinks slowly, lips curling up until the sharp edges of her teeth shine in the firelight. "Kuei is weak. He lets his ministers do as they will and cares not for what the people suffer. Perhaps they should see what a true king is really like."

"You think they would accept me?" Zuko's voice is colored with confusion. The people of Ba Sing Se fought tooth and nail against Fire Nation rule. Azula knows what Zuko intends for the fabled walls.

Something glitters in his sister's eyes. "All they need is encouragement."

Zuko holds her stare, weighing her words. Azula doesn't mean Ozai's brand of encouragement. His sister isn't suggesting the approach she has taken with his court or with his detractors. Azula wants the Avatar's way. Azula wants mercy.

"After what happened? I can't say I'm feeling benevolent. The people of this city leave Kuei in charge knowing how he is. The Dai Li betray them and they turn a blind eye. Kuei leaves them to Ozai and they take him back. They're as much to blame for what happens."

Azula turns to face him. "You let your passions get the better of you, brother. We can't let emotions rule us."

Zuko stands, agitation flushing through him. "So we do nothing? Let them think attacks on my family are acceptable?" The flames in the fireplace jump higher and the edges burn blue. "They kidnapped you. They tortured you. They…." He bites back the words, fists clenched at his side. Azula knows what they did, knows better than anyone. It doesn't need saying. His voice drops low. "When I am done with Ba Sing Se, the world will know to leave what is mine alone."

Azula watches him with her weighted stare. "You think burning the city will cow the rest of the world into submission? That they will just accept us peacefully?"

Zuko turns away from the reproach in her voice. "No, of course not. We win them over. We will show them we can be what they need. But Ba Sing Se…No, Ba Sing Se will burn for this."

Azula arms wrap around him from behind, her face pressed to his back. Instinctively, he places his hand over hers where it lies across his stomach. Closing his eyes, he breathes deep trying to erase the red fog in his mind. Azula slips around, delicate fingers cupping his face.

"No one will come between us again. No one will stop us. We will rule this world." Zuko grips one of her hands with his, eyes snapping open. He hears the appeal hidden under the layers.

"Why do you want to spare them?"

Most would wilt under the Fire Lord's glare, but Azula is emboldened by it. "Killing the innocent won't right these wrongs. It will only hurt our cause. It will only turn the world against us."

With a growl, he twists out of her grasp and stomps across the room. "I don't care what the world thinks. They can burn too for all they did to stop it." Azula's eyes are wide but Zuko barrels forward. "Maybe if Aang had come for you instead." The thought rankles something deep inside. "But he didn't."

She purses her lips together. "No, he didn't but that hardly matters."

"It hardly matters?" Zuko snarls. "The man you love leaves you in the hands of your enemy and it doesn't matter?"

"No, it doesn't matter." Azula's eyes blaze with malice as she advances on him. Every step reminds him of the princess from the war. "He left me. He saw what I was and he left." Soon she is close enough to feel the searing heat from her body and her small hand shoves him against the wall with surprising force. "Katara left. Aang left. They left both of us, Zuko, but none of that matters. We don't need them. We never needed them. We only need each other. That is what matters." Her voice softens in appeal as she steps closer, fingers from her other hand join their mates against him.

Zuko blinks, looking down at the hands on his chest. Azula's right; it doesn't matter. He won't force Katara to his side. Azula won't manipulate Aang to hers. Maybe in another life they would have given into those dark impulses to twist love into something else but they aren't those people any longer.

Gently, he grasps her hands in his and pulls her closer. Azula easily slides against him, dipping her head into the side of his neck. He wraps his arms tight hugging her close as he presses his nose into her hair. Breathing in her jasmine scent, he feels some of his anger fade.

"You're right. I'm sorry." The words come easily with her in his arms. This is what matters. Azula is the only person he can rely on. The only one he trusts.

"Ba Sing Se?" Her voice is a soft murmur against his skin.

She wants him to spare the city for whatever reason. Zuko wants to give her that. He wants to believe that Azula knows best but at the same time he can't let go of this. He can't let go of his need to punish those who hurt her.

Pulling back to peer down at her, Zuko cups her face in his hands. He sees the glimmer in her eyes. Azula is not above manipulating him. He knows it. She knows he knows it. It hardly changes the dynamic though for he is Fire Lord. His word is law that even Azula won't break.

Quietly, regretfully, Zuko answers, "No, I can't forgive them for this. When the fleet arrives, I will turn Ba Sing Se into a graveyard and erase its name from history. No one will speak its name again."

Azula blinks in confusion as she opens her mouth to protest but Zuko is already slipping out of her arms. The slamming door is his only reply.

Oo

The Fire Lord's rooms are silent as the assembled group takes in Toph's news.

"A volcano?" Sokka questions. "How does an extinct volcano just come back to life?"

"I don't know and I don't care." Toph snaps. "But it's happening."

Katara cuts through the bickering. "How long do we have?"

"Not long. It's ready to go." Toph answers. "Now that I know what I'm looking for I can tell the magma chamber is growing fast. The pressure is about to blow."

"It'll take most of the volcano with it." Aang adds quietly. "The blast might destroy the island."

Katara meets his solemn gaze. They can't evacuate everyone, not in time.

"You've dealt with volcanos before, right? There was that one village." Sokka asks hopefully.

"This is different." Aang replies. "There wasn't an explosion waiting."

"We might be able to buy time, maybe lessen the blow." Toph offers. She can feel the skepticism in her friends. "We relieve some of the pressure. Bleed off some of the magma in a more controlled way. It might delay the explosion."

"We really don't have a choice." Sokka sighs, dropping his head. With a sigh, he raises it. "We need to get as many out as we can."

Katara nods decisively. "Right, Toph and Aang, you do what you can to buy us time. The rest of us have to coordinate the evacuation. Where will we take them?"

They exchange looks before Toph speaks up. "Everyone needs to get as far away as possible. Maybe even off the island."

"Ships. We put them on ships." Sokka says. "We can get out of the way."

Iroh says, "I'll speak with Admiral Tsuji. The Sapphire Flame is the largest ship we have in the fleet. It can hold many of our people."

"Air ships. We have a fleet of them." Mai interjects. "Well, the ones that aren't sailing already."

Zuko's invasion of the Earth Kingdom hangs over them all like a dark cloud.

"There's a lot of people in the city. This could take some time. What if we don't get them all out?" Suki asks quietly.

"How about we do and then we won't have to find out the answer?" Sokka replies seriously as he meets his sister's worried gaze. "Hey, we've pulled off more impossible things before, right?"

Oooo

Toph swipes at her damp bangs and blows out a puff of air. "Who knew digging inside a volcano could be so hot?" Aang huffs out a laugh as he stomps his foot and pushes his arms out widening the tunnel they are making into the mountain. "I mean, really," Toph continues, "I see why Sparky is always so grumpy."

Aang grits his teeth as he moves the earth with more force than necessary. Zuko is a sore point on so many fronts. There has always been an energy between Zuko and Azula and, yes, Aang was jealous of their closeness to each other, of their loyalty to one another. It seems there is nothing the siblings won't do for the other. He isn't sure how his relationship with Azula played into the greater scheme of things. Surely, on some level, Azula truly cared and wasn't just using Aang to further Zuko's ambitions.

"You're overthinking this." Toph states quietly. The Earth Bender always knows more than she lets on.

More earth is moved and they delve deeper into the volcano. The farther they go the hotter it gets. Soon, Toph takes over the Earth Bending and Aang focuses on drawing cooler air into the tunnel to alleviate some of the heat and smell of sulfur.

"I try to not think about it."

"Yeah, well, you aren't that great at hiding it, Twinkletoes." Toph replies. "I get it. It was intense. It was heartbreaking. I was rooting for you and Princess. I really was, but it didn't work out, so now, we have other things to think about."

Denial dies on Aang's tongue; there is no use in lying to Toph. What Aang had with Azula was consuming. It was fierce. It was passionate. But, in the end, none of that mattered for Azula has always been ambitious and those ambitions have always guided her actions. Under Ozai, she sought to claim the world in her father's name. But Ozai had his own designs and Azula was constrained by the Fire Lord's wishes. However, under Zuko, she has no such limits. Zuko will give Azula everything she wants and more. Images of Aang's dream come back to him: two dragons, one red, one blue, flying over Ba Sing Se, the palace burning blue, and Azula on the throne with Zuko at her feet.

"We have to be getting close." Toph bites out as the rock becomes more dense. Pausing, she stretches her senses out searching for the weak point around the magma chamber. Beside her, Aang works to reign in the pulsing need to act.

After several long moments of silence, he prompts, "Well?"

"It's worse than we thought." Toph shakes her head, the natural bravo suddenly gone from her voice. "I don't….I don't know if we can do this, Aang."

"We don't exactly have a choice." Aang reminds her.

Toph swallows a retort. She knows he can feel how large the magma chamber has grown. It's as if it's being fed and funneled. Toph turns to the side, placing her palms on the wall.

"There's something this way." The air moves as Aang steps up beside her, placing his own hand on the rock. "There, do you feel that?"

He's silent as he reaches out. "That's familiar." It is familiar, too familiar, and very out of place. "I can't believe she would do this."

"What? Kill a city of people? Why are you so shocked? This is Jevian we're talking about. She hates the Fire Nation."

"I know, but to do this…." Aang trails off as he reaches out deeper into the volcano.

The man-made tunnels are extensive. Magma is being channelled into them at an alarming rate and building underneath Caldera. Jevian's Dai Li have done this, have been doing this, all right under their nose.

"Maybe Zuko isn't wrong to want to raze Ba Sing Se." Toph says softly. "He just doesn't know it yet."

A capital for a capital. The war will rage only more fueled by these losses. It won't stop Zuko though. The Fire Nation's war machine relies very little on Caldera's resources. This is personal. Jevian is striking a blow that will only serve to enrage Zuko more. The Fire Lord is already short on mercy.

Still, there are lives at stake that care little for the greater scheme of things. The task at hand doesn't change, even if the implications have.

Aang kneels, placing both hands on the ground. "Maybe if we divert some of the flow coming in it will slow down the explosion."

"Hmm,I don't know. It all has to go somewhere. Even if you close those tunnels the magma in them keeps coming. It might damage more of the island."

"What then?" Aang snaps more than he means to.

Toph is unfazed as she crouches beside him. "We have to do this but there's more pressure than we thought and it's increasing every minute we waste yapping."

Ooooo

Chaos descends over the Fire Nation capital. Fissures of steam and sulfur tear apart the ground and buildings buckle under the strain. Soldiers try to stem the tide of people fleeing the city towards the waiting airships. Carts full of fleeing citizens set out from the capital down the volcano's side to the waiting ships in the harbor.

Within the palace, the panic is no better. The infirmaries are emptied as the wounded are moved to safety. Ozai, grunting with pain, makes his way down the hall; Iroh close to his heels.

"We must leave the palace, brother. It is not safe." Iroh pleads with the injured man.

The limp slows Ozai but doesn't stop him. "I'm sure the Avatar is capable of this task if he can do nothing else."

Iroh doesn't take the bait. "Even the Avatar is not infallible but he and Master Toph are doing what they can to give us time to leave."

Ozai snorts in reply. "Yes, yes, save the people but does no one really think about where the real power of the Fire Nation lies?"

They turn a corner down a darkened hall. "Zuko is in Ba Sing Se and Azula with him. We are not without our power, brother. Please, we must go."

"Zuko and Azula could die tomorrow and it would matter not for the future of our country." Ozai replies.

At the end of the corridor rests large ancient doors. Ozai reaches with his one good arm and pulls. The door is heavy and stubborn. The effort is too much and he drops his arm, breathing heavy with the effort. "Our wealth is what has been the true seat of power in our nation. It's good and well to save the populace, but how will we feed them? Clothe them? Good intentions matter little in the grand scheme of things. Gold is what matters. We must save the treasury as well."

Iroh sees the practical wisdom of Ozai's words and pulls open the door. The torches light under his will as they step inside the giant room. The great treasury stands empty.

Ooooooo

It turns out moving magma is surprisingly difficult. The pressure and constant increase in volume. Toph's muscles strain against the effort of doing the improbable but her entire life has been this way.

Reaching deep into the mountain, Toph pulls at the rock surrounding the river of magma. Manipulating earth that is far beneath her is different than earth she can physically touch. Slowly the rock gives and begins to widen digging deeper into the earth. Magma quickly flows and fills the space left behind. Breathing hard, she reaches for the next bit of earth to move to the side. The effort has sweat dripping down her brow and her muscles tremble at the effort.

Aang is at her side pulling in air from the outside but it does little to stifle the overwhelming heat of the angry volcano. She grabs his hand, stilling his movements as she wills him to feel what she is doing. The nod is imperceptible and she feels his bending joining with hers to pull at the earth below.

"Just like that, Aang." Toph grits out between clenched teeth. If they can keep deepening the riverbed, the magma will stop filling the chamber up. The pressure can bleed off deep into the earth and the city can be saved.

The combined efforts of two bending masters starts to pay off and the shaking in the mountain slows. Both are soaked with effort and stand on shaky legs. Far beneath them though, the magma slows and seeps into the rocks below.

Channeling this much chi isn't easy, even for the greatest Earth Bender alive. Toph drops to her knees gasping in lungfuls of air. Her head feels full and hazy and her fingertips are tingling. She tastes the pungent air and knows she'll never be able to get the taste out.

Suddenly the world tilts and she can sense the magma surging upward right for them. She feels Aang's arms around her, pulling her up, and the quick movement of stone surrounding them before the mountain explodes.

Oooooo

The mountain's side erupts in a violent explosion of lava and fire. The impact shakes the island. However, the city nestled on the top is safe for now. People flee for the airships lining the streets. Others fill wagons that hurry them down the mountainside to the harbor below.

From the deck of The Sapphire Flame, Katara clutches a crying infant and watches the lava rain down to the ocean below.

"I'm sure Toph and Aang got out of there." Sokka offers from her side. He tries to keep the doubt from his voice but their friends have withstood greater odds and won. The warrior in him knows though that eventually odds wear out and the losses will mount up.

Katara nods absently with tears in her eyes. There will be losses beyond that of homes and wealth. Not everyone can make it out of the sprawling city. How many will be lost and forgotten?

Zuko should be here. Zuko should be here, leading his people, guiding them to safety, and defending their home. Instead, Aang and Toph are trying to tame the volcano. Mai is organizing the evacuation. And Katara is leading the survivors away to safety.

Another explosion rocks the island, sending waves to crash against the sides of the ship. The Flame is large enough to weather the attack but the smaller boats fleeing the island are violently tossed side to side.

Handing Izumi to Sokka, Katara steps to the edge of the deck and raises her arms. The ocean responds and settles down, allowing the smaller vessels to make their escape unhindered by the turmoil plaguing the island.

If only other elements responded as easily to her power.

Katara looks back at the volcano. The peak is blooming with plumes of smoke and bright lava pours down the side burning the harbor below. Aang and Toph are somewhere in the mountain. Another explosion occurs. This one blowing the top of the mountain off, obliterating the city above. Around her the lost citizens of Caldera let out a collection of cries and screams.

She can scarcely breathe as lava pours out the top of the volcano like a fountain. Giant balls of lava fly through the air pelting the mountainside and fleeing ships. Gathering the waves with all her might, Katara pushes the other ships in front of The Sapphire Flame away from the destruction.

Lavaballs hit the ocean on either side of the ship. Steam hisses as water envelopes the heat but flecks of lava splatter the side of the ship leaving pockmarks on the once pristine metal. Frantically, Katara bends the water around the ship, trying to put as much distance as possible between it and the volcano.

"Everyone clear the deck!" Sokka yells as he pushes terrified refugees to the front of the ship. "We got incoming!"

Katara turns just in time to see a speck in the sky growing larger and larger. In her heart she knows it's Aang and she is torn whether to continue pushing the boat to safety or slow and wait for her friends.

In the end, the good of the many wins out and she summons a large tidal wave to scoop the ship and the other few stragglers nearby and pushes them out to sea. By the time the speck grows large enough, Sokka has cleared the deck.

"Why isn't he slowing down?" Sokka asks.

Katara is watching the same fast decent and shakes her head. "I don't think he can." Unless Aang found a glider along the way, then he doesn't have anything to help control the air currents. With a quick prayer to Yue, Katara reaches deep into the ocean and pulls a funnel of water to catch the human missile in the air. Tugging the wave towards the deck, she steps back out of the way of the tumbling couple.

Toph and Aang hit the deck hard with the Air Bender having turned to take the brunt of the impact on his back. They slide across the slick surface coming to a stop in a heap of arms and legs. Sokka hands Izumi to Iroh and scrambles to their side. Toph's head lulls in his arms but with a quick press of fingers to his throat he can tell she is still alive. Katara flutters over Aang, pressing a hand to stem the flow of blood from a cut on his forehead.

Shrieks pull her attention from the barely conscious Avatar to the sky above. The volcano isn't done with them yet. Another lavaball, this one larger than the others, is flying right towards them. Toph and Aang are out and Katara can feel her energy flagging. Jumping to her feet, she moves to pull the tides up but she can already tell it won't be enough to stop the impact.

Suddenly a bolt of lightning strikes the projectile causing it to explode a fair distance above them. Flaming debris rains down over the ocean below. There on the deck standing with one arm outstretched is Ozai, his lips a grim line.

"Save your energy for the wounded, Fire Lady. It would seem I have found favor with Agni yet again."

ooooooooo

Nighttime in Ba Sing Se is cooler but Azula ignores it as she leans against the open window of their small room. In the dark she can make out a cloaked figure slipping down an alley. Zuko is angry and sulking. He just needs time to mull over her decision before he makes it his own.

"My brother is a man of passion." She tilts her head towards the small scratch of stone to her left. "But passions can be tempered."

The hidden Dai Li agent inches closer from his perch on the wall. "The city is dangerous, Your Highness. Minister Jevian has put a bounty on both of you. Shall we follow the Fire Lord?"

"Follow a master of stealth?" She asks thoughtfully.

"We, Dai Li, are well aware of His Grace's talents." The agent assures her. Azula smirks. The Dai Li are also well aware of the danger Zuko presents both as a person and as a king. To her right another agent slips down the wall intent on following him.

"Princess?" The man's quiet voice breaks her thoughts.

"Yes?"

"Your imprisonment was not necessary. We could have freed you at any time. You didn't need to suffer."

Azula casts her gaze over the quiet city. In the distance she catches sight of a figure leaping from roof to roof. A soft smile graces her lips. "Consider it a test of sorts."

"A test?" Confusion colors the man's voice.

"Loyalty is useful. The Avatar has a duty to the world. What is one woman compared to that? But Zuko…" Azula smirks. "Zuko will give me everything I ever wanted and more."