A/N: Sorry, sorry, I'm should've updated waayyy sooner. Since it's been so long, here's a short synopsis to catch up.

Kuvira was put into prison, where she was wracked by hallucinations until she drove herself into the spirit world. In the spirit world, she met Iroh, and they began trying to heal the wounds her childhood left. Kuvira is about to continue the story of her arrival in Zaofu.

Caught up? Good. Ready, set, new chapter!

"What is your name?" the woman asks

"Kuvira..." I whisper. Somehow my name is the only piece of my old life I have left.

"Pardon?" she quips, raising her eyebrows and staring deep into my eyes.

"Kuvira," I manage, with a bit more force. My mouth feels strange when I say my own name; I have talked to few, and I've told my name to even fewer.

"Kuvira...not bad. Has an almost lyrical quality, doesn't it?" she panders.

My eyebrows wrinkle. "I've never really thought..." I mumble. I break away from her heavy gaze and focus my attention on the miniature metal city sitting between us. The air thickens as she waits for me to finish my thought, but she and I both know there is nothing left to finish.

"Why do you deserve to live in my city?" She asks abruptly, following my eyes to the model of Zaofu.

"Wh-what?"

"Why do you deserve to live in MY city? Zaofu?"

"I don't...I, I don't know"

"You must figure that out. I seldom offer refuge here. Everyone who was allowed to live in Zaofu had an important contribution to make to this city, whether it be resources, culture, architecture. This city thrives on the idea that you have a special attribute that will help shape the city."

"I have nothing," I whisper.

"Speak up!"

"I HAVE NOTHING!" I yell. My angry cry reverberates off of the cold, unfeeling walls, and there is a horrible screeching sound as the miniature city bends to my will.

"A metalbender," Su murmurs, looking from the city to me. The room is still vibrating from my yells.

But something isn't right. I watch as Su reevaluates the younger version of me, but everything is beginning to get fuzzy around the edges. The crescendoing echoes of my outcry overtake my ears as the scene becomes blindingly bright. I feel immense pain as I am ripped from my memories.

And then there was nothing.


Light is piercing through my eyelids, jolting me into to consciousness. When I try to move my arms to protect my eyes, I am met with resistance and a resounding clang.

"Look who finally joined us," a voice calls out. In my stupor, I cannot make out the owner.

"Iroh?" I murmur, foolishly hoping that I am still in the spirit world.

"You had me there, kid. I thought that you had tried, sentenced, and executed yourself. I guess I still get the pleasure," the voice continues flatly, oblivious to my hazy wonderings. As I continue to get my bearings, I recognize that the voice belongs to Lin Beifong, Republic City Police Chief and sister of Su. I tilt my head to try and catch a glimpse of her, but am only met with the outside of a newspaper. "Crazy Great Uniter Goes Crazier! What Will the Council Do?" the headline reads. Lin gazes contemptuously at me while I read it, waiting for the right moment to strike. "It's a good thing you're locked within such a strong prison. I'd hate to see you outside these walls, in the real world, where everyone wants to kill you." I grimace at her sentiment, or lack thereof. As I skim the rest of the article, I feel hot tears coming to my eyes. All the work I'd done was forgotten when I was locked in here.

"That little outburst three days ago made things a whole lot worse for you," Lin continues, "talking to walls? Not the most sane thing to do, but okay. Banging on walls, bending at walls, and screaming at an invisible person? Not okay, not in the least. You maybe had a chance at a light sentence and a semi-normal life before that outburst..." Lin keeps reprimanding, but I focus on only one word

Normal? Normal?! I see the Great Uniter standing over Lin's shoulder laughing. I snort; I cannot help myself. "Do you honestly believe I ever had a chance at normal. My life, since I was seven, has been anything but normal. I was just another tool for Su, a little piece of the great Zaofu. All my hard work and undying devotion got me a night shift and a goddamned dance with a woman who cares nothing for me or my mental health. It's not normal, nor will it ever be." The Great Uniter is nodding carefully at my outburst, considering every words. She then smirks at me, daring me to continue. "If voices in my head were the most abnormal thing about me, I would consider myself lucky. You have no idea what it's like! No one does! The only person that does isn't even real!" I screech. I try to bend my restraints off, but I feel nothing. As I become more desperate, I begin to squirm, my hair falling across my eyes. Through the unmanageable strands, I see the Great Uniter smirk and shake her head. She steps to the side as orderlies rush through the door. I narrow my eyes as I realize what she has forced me to do. I evade the oppressive hands of the orderlies as best I can. "I'm not crazy! I'm not insane! It's her!" I cry as they begin to overpower me.

"Hold her still," Lin orders. I feel a small pinprick. The Great Uniter is once again smirking as she fades away. She won, again.

"I just want to be free..." I sob, "I just want to be free." Lin's tired, sorrowful eyes are all I can see as I am dragged into a drug-induced abyss.