A/N: A new chapter! I know the updates are not as frequent as I would like, but I'm glad you're still here. Life is crazy, but I have every intention of writing this story to completion. Thank you to all my awesome readers, and to all those who've favorited this story, and a shout out to those who go the extra mile and review :) I love you all!

The ship groaned, rocking side to side, buffeted by the swelling waves. Katara sat against the wall and watched with wry amusement as her guards, Yao and Zhang, struggled to stay upright and keep from vomiting, tilting against the door frame, faces contorting with every lurch. Not accustomed to life at sea, apparently, she thought with a smirk.

A light rain had started a few hours earlier, just as Ozai had returned and they had set sail again. Now, as dusk drained to night, the rain had mounted into a sizable storm, complete with wind gusts and thunder. The rain hammered against the sides of the ship and now drops of water had begun slowly leaking into the cabin. It splattered onto the floor across the room.

plink…

plink…

plink…

The sight and sound of it turned her mouth to dust.

The thirst was becoming an aching, clawing thing, the need of it wringing and writhing up her throat, and her stomach gnawed with hunger. She thought of Ozai sitting before her, holding out the water and bread, the smug smile on his lips. There had been no offers of food or water since, as he had promised, and he had not returned to her again, not yet. He was biding his time. Her hands curled to fists behind her back, the movement chaffing the rope against her raw flesh. Famished and thirsty as she was, she preferred to think she would turn up her nose at it again just to defy him, to wipe that sneer off his face.

She swallowed as she stared at the beads of water on the floor forming a tiny puddle, her mouth working. Animalistic need surfaced and on instinct she stretched her unbound feet toward the water, as though that might somehow will the liquid across the cabin and into her mouth.

And then… Katara blinked, a small gasp catching in her throat. Had the water just moved? No. Probably just her imagination. Still, she couldn't help the flicker of hope that bubbled up inside her.

She slid a glance at the guards. They were nearly green with sickness, closing their eyes against the nausea and clutching the sides of the doorframe for dear life. She simpered and turned her attention back to the water. Katara focused her energy and gave a small jerk of her foot so as not to draw attention. The puddle wobbled and a globule rose up from the center, just slightly, until Katara released her control and it quietly sunk back into the converging beads of rainwater.

Her eyes went wide as she stared at the tiny shuddering pool for a long moment.

And then she smiled.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Ozai sat on the edge of his cot, clenching the open scroll in his hands. He scanned the text again and again, but the garbled words and symbols meant nothing to him. He cursed himself for his stupidity. Of course it was written in an archaic language. Why had he expected otherwise? The sages would never have been so careless as to write it in the common tongue. But obvious or not, the thought hadn't occurred to him and now it would add another step to his journey and that meant more time for the Capital to sound the alert, a greater chance that every town the world over would be on the lookout and someone would spot him. No doubt Zuko would issue lofty rewards for any tips leading to Ozai's capture. People would be chomping at the bit, eyes peeled.

He cursed himself again and stood. Finally, he made his way up the stairs from the hull and opened the door to the deck. Ozai grimaced. Rain slanted in sheets and blew in through the door, soaking him before he'd even set foot outside. He wouldn't have bothered, except now they had a major dilemma on their hands. One that needed dealt with as soon as possible. The last thing he cared about right now was a little rain. So he pulled the hook of his cloak down farther and stepped out onto the deck, to where Lu Da was bent and squinting against the wind and the rain, the black stripe of his hair matted against his head. Rain streamed down his face and Ozai imagined it must be stinging where the drops pelted against the burn.

"There's a problem," Ozai shouted above the storm.

"And what's that?" Lu Da said, casting him a glance.

Ozai held the scroll in one hand and the side of his cloak in the other, shielding it from the driving rain. The captain scanned its contents and pinched his eyes shut with an exhale. "Agni's tits." Ozai cocked a brow and almost laughed despite the snag in his plan. The man had an interesting way with words. Lu Da shook his head. "I wish I could say I'm surprised. But considering the hexed out place we got that thing…"

"Change of plans," Ozai said, returning the scroll to the dry safety of his inner cloak. "We need a way to translate the scroll. It's useless to me as it is, and the entirety of this mission hinges on this damned sheet of parchment."

"Right. Okay. But where do we even start?"

"We need–" A clap of thunder drowned out his words and Ozai scowled as he began again. "We need to find someone versed in the language, someone who's studied it. Or, at the very least, a book that can help us."

"Hmm. A scholar from the College of the Ancients maybe, somewhere in northcentral Earth Kingdom. You know about it? The one where limp knobs with no social skills from all over the world convene to compete for the title of supreme nerd? You'd probably have your pick of brains to do the honors there."

Ozai had heard of it, but the extent of his knowledge ended there. It could be risky. By the time they reached it, his face would likely be plastered on the walls of every city. They could figure a way to deal with that later, but it was still a huge risk.

He considered the options. With no other leads, they would be wasting time, going in circles until they found something, if they were lucky. Lu Da seemed to think the college was worth the chance. Ozai had never trusted anyone, not really, but his relationship with the Captain was the closest thing to the way he imagined it might be like. To trust someone.

He nodded. "All right. Set course for–"

The sounds of muffled shouting pierced through the storm from below deck. Ozai's attention snapped to the open door leading to the belly of the ship and in an instant his mind was spinning, centering on one thought.

The waterbender.

Even as he darted toward the door, down the stairs, into the hull, he told himself that her hands were bound, that she couldn't bend without the use of her arms. And yet, doubt gnawed as his gut, tightened his chest, as the shouts intensified in the small space below deck. Ozai dashed around the corner and skidded to a stop outside the vacant doorframe. Yao and Zhang were sprawled unconscious across the floor and suddenly the girl's bonds fell away as she sliced through the rope with a ribbon of water.

A ribbon of water she was bending with her feet.

His gaze shot to the leak drip drip dripping and his brows drew low. The waterbender spun and ran through the door, registering Ozai's presence in the hull a breath too late. Her hand moved to attack the moment they collided and Ozai grabbed her hard and slammed her up against the wall, pinning her hands above her head. The girl grunted, kicking, and Ozai darted his other hand for his blade, cursing as he remembered he'd left it on his cot. She writhed as he tried to restrain her legs with his weight but the stance was awkward and an instant later she kicked the air and there came the unmistakable thud of piercing skin and a deep, stinging pain.

Ozai staggered back, the biting cold of ice embedded deep in his shoulder blade as the girl shoved him off, racing up the stairs. Ozai wrenched the spike of ice from his back with a grunt and took off after her.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Katara sprinted onto the deck, drenched to buckets in an instant. Her eyes met the captain's and in that brief moment, she vaguely registered something was wrong with his face. The captain's shock quickly melted to grit, but in the second it took for him to pull the dagger from his belt, the second Ozai burst onto the deck behind her, Katara was already gathering a massive wave. It surged and loomed over the ship a moment before it came crashing down, laying the captain flat and blowing Ozai back against the deck, the force of it pitching the ship dangerously on its side. Katara and the two men slipped and skidded down the wet, slanting deck, clawing to find purchase. Finally, it righted and the vessel gurgled as water rushed down into the ship's belly.

Ozai scrambled to his feet and nearly succeeded in tackling her, but Katara slipped through his grasp and hurtled herself overboard.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Ozai shouted profanities as the waterbender leaped over the taffrail and into the dark waters below. The ship was starting to sink, he could see the black waves consuming the vessel, inch by inch. If he jumped in after her, he could lose the stones and the scroll. If he stayed with them and let her go, the mission would be just as futile, rendering the objects useless. He needed the girl.

There really was only one choice.

He spun toward Lu Da who was dragging himself up off the floor. "Get the satchel! Save the artifacts!" And then he jumped in after her.

Ozai hit the water just in time to grab on to the girl's ankle. The icy water was like pins and needles all over his body, filching the breath from his chest as he was sucked beneath the waves, the waterbender with him.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

A wave was rushing up to carry her to freedom when a strong hand wrapped around her ankle, dragging her under. Katara kicked, broke free, spluttering to the surface, but Ozai's hands climbed up her body until his arms wrapped around her neck, his weight pulling her down a second time. They breached again, droplets of water sucked into her lungs as she gasped. She wrestled against him as Ozai tried to pin her arms behind her, an elbow finding his cheekbone with a crack, and his grip slackened for just an instant. Katara roused the sea beneath her and a wave surged up, carrying her toward the shoreline, Ozai's crushing grip still tight around her.

Katara had maneuvered waves before. It had been taxing then but nothing she couldn't handle for a time. But now, being tossed by a stormy sea, fighting with a powerful ex-tyrant on her back, weakened from lack of food and water, she was struggling to maintain her hold. The wave stuttered and they dipped beneath the surface just before Katara regained control, but she was slipping.

Ozai wrapped his arms tighter around her chest. "Take us back to the ship," he growled. "Right now."

Katara opened her mouth to say no, but briny water rushed in. His weight was throwing her off, tipping her control. They were careening toward the coastline now, close enough to where Katara would have slowed their pace and rolled the wave to allow for an easy landing. Instead, her shaking arms barely managed to see them to the coast.

They crashed hard onto the rocky shore and Katara's vision burst with blinding pain as her head collided with the ground, the wound from Ozai's hilt torn freshly open. Ozai slammed down on top of her and Katara scrambled to get out from under him but he pinned her there forcefully on her stomach. She gasped for air and the world dissolved to red as blood mixed with the rain, running into her eyes. Exhaustion and pain and fear engulfed her and she felt the last shreds of her energy drain away.

Ozai's breath came in ragged hitches, his hands clawing into her shoulders. The force of his strength crushed her against the hard, wet ground as she tried to breathe. "You treacherous little water serpent." Warm breath scraped against her ear, his tone dangerously low as though he could barely utter the words. In an instant, Ozai had both her wrists in one hand, retrieved a length of rope from his cloak with the other, and tied it around the tender skin there, twice. His weight shifted and then he seized her legs, securing them together tightly at her ankles.

Ozai looked back toward the sea. The ship was nearly submerged now, swallowed up beneath the surging black waters. He was murmuring something under his breath – a scroll, the stones, gone – and suddenly he grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her over hard, hovering above her helpless form. Fresh panic fluttered in her chest.

"Do you realize what you've done?" he roared, a sound more creature than man. Rage exploded behind his fiery eyes as Ozai snarled at her with black fury, rain dripping off his nose, the ends of his hair. Katara's heart thudded violently, and she felt herself shrink back beneath him. "You will regret this," he growled through his teeth.

Ozai pushed himself off her then, sinking to his knees, and fell forward onto his hands with a groan, black hair falling in wet slicks around his face. His arms quivered and Katara knew it was every bit from rage and not a modicum of fatigue, and she was afraid he might actually try to kill her when a harsh scraping sound cut through the cacophony of rain and crashing waves.

A small dinghy was tossed up on the coast, occupied by a man whose form she recognized. Ozai glanced up and shot to his feet as the other man dropped the paddles with a clatter against the boat and waded through the seafoam onto the shore.

He shook water off his boots and shot a fuming look at Katara. "You just sunk my favorite ship."

"Lu Da," Ozai said, something like relief brimming in his voice. "I feared…"

"What, no faith in your captain?" He smirked, his arms full of objects distorted by the dark of night. "If I was that easy to get rid of, someone would've offed me a long time ago." He tossed something long and narrow through the air. Ozai caught it with ease, attached it to his belt. His sword, she realized in a cold rush through her abdomen.

"And the artifacts?" There was a strain as Ozai said it, as though he were afraid to ask.

The Captain held up a bag with a small smile. "Safe and sound."

A degree of tension faded from Ozai's posture as they met. He accepted the parcel, placing a hand briefly on the shorter man's shoulder. The simple gesture struck Katara. She'd almost call it caring, but that might be going too far. It was obvious Ozai was relieved not only for the safety of his bag.

Ozai turned then and stalked toward her, and suddenly fear was surging back through her like a broken dam. He stood over Katara and studied her, hands curled to fists and the captain came to stand beside him, arms crossed.

"So," he said in a frown. "Plan B?"

Ozai glowered and looked around. "Where do you think we are?"

A few faint lights winked in the distance. A small town. Katara's throat went tight. Help was within eyesight but unreachable.

Lu Da followed his gaze, scanning the coast. "Somewhere on the western coast of the Earth Kingdom, though it's hard to tell where exactly. But I'd say luck was with us in some capacity. The Earth Kingdom is not one to squander the sea's resources, most of their shores are littered with towns. Must have slid right into a rare pocket of rural coastline."

"Lucky us," Ozai growled, his eyes fixed dangerously on her again.

"We could sniff out a town tonight, while it's quiet. Replenish our supplies first thing before carting our asses to the nearest forest. Almost everything went down with the ship…"

"It's not worth the risk. By dawn, the port towns will be buzzing and this whole area could be far less quiet than we imagine. I think we should make our way inland and aim for more remote regions, as you said, forests, countryside before morning. Once we put some distance between us and the coast, we can search for a market. Get supplies then, pick up a map. Find our way to the college."

"Alright, then," Lu Da nodded. "You lead, I'll follow."

Ozai stooped down and speared her with a menacing look. A cold weight sunk heavy in her chest. He gathered up her weakened, bound body and hoisted her up and over his shoulder in an effortless motion, like a sack of potatoes, and the dark brooding sea slowly faded into the distance.

The messenger hawk was fading into the dreary grey horizon. Zuko leaned against the terrace balcony and watched it disappear as Sokka's hand came to rest on his shoulder.

"Chances are my father has already heard about Katara's disappearance with the Concord Assembly involved. But I know he'll appreciate the personal letter, given how, uh, close you and Katara have been."

Zuko released a tight breath. "He may appreciate it. He may also blame me for everything."

"Zuko," Sokka started, letting his hand drop from his shoulder, "none of this is your fault."

"Whether it is or isn't doesn't matter," he said turning toward him. "I pushed her away."

"You had to," Toph cut in.

"I know," Zuko sighed. "But I was essentially the catalyst. Now it seems she's done some unspeakable things or been kidnapped or both–"

"Ugh, I can't believe all of you could turn on Katara so easily!" Sokka said, throwing his hands out. "You've been talking about her like she's a criminal when we don't know for sure if she had anything to do with this."

"The evidence is pretty convincing though." Aang said, quirking an eyebrow.

"And I mean, Katara does sometimes get a little crazy when she's mad," Toph added.

"Okay, look," Sokka paced, rubbing his forehead, "I admit my sister has a jealous streak and can fly off the handle in a fit of passion, but usually for good reason. Like avenging our mom's murder. But this?" He looked at Zuko, shaking his head. "I know things didn't end well between you two, but the Katara I know isn't spiteful enough to go through with something like this. Consider it? Okay, yeah. Probably. But execute it? No way."

Aang placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sokka, it's totally normal to want to defend your sister. I don't blame you. But try to look at it objectively. Bloodbending was used on those guards, no question. Do you really think someone else could be responsible?"

"I think it's possible. And okay, let's assume for one crazy second that my sister is guilt of this. Maybe she was blackmailed. Maybe the rebels got to her and gave her no choice. I mean, what would possess her to – first of all – break into the prison tower and take out all those guards like that and – second of all – for the sick purpose of chumming around with the Loser Lord, the worst person in recent history?"

A voice from behind cleared its throat and they turned in unison to see Jing, one of Zuko's head servants, bow deeply. "Lord Zuko, forgive the interruption. A representative from the Concord Assembly has arrived to–"

Zuko straightened. "Bring them in."

He and the others walked briskly from the terrace back inside and through the hall into the throne room. Zuko took his place on the throne, flanked by Aang to his right and Sokka and Toph to his left. A moment later the Grand Councilor of the Concord Assembly was shown into the room. Jing bowed and stepped aside into the shadows as the Councilor approached.

"Fire Lord Zuko," the man bowed. "The Assembly has uncovered a bit of information that may be pertinent to the case and Lady Katara's disappearance."

His throat tightened and he nodded. "Go on."

"It appears Katara had a certain gentleman she was slipping out to see at night. A boyfriend, it would seem."

Zuko's stomach dropped. Katara had already started seeing someone else so soon? Could that have been why she was acting strangely?

"We are not entirely certain why she may have wanted it kept secret, but we were able to confirm the sightings of the couple by multiple witnesses. Of course, we are actively searching for the whereabouts of Ozai and Katara and have sent letters to the heads of each nation alerting them to the threat as well as petitioning for military aid if needed. In the meantime, we are trying to identify and locate the young man. As of yet, we have little to go on."

His head was spinning but Zuko managed a nod. "Thank you, Councilor."

"I will be in touch when we have more news." He bowed again and then turned and the servant showed him back through the door. It closed with a soft click that echoed in the large chamber.

The silence stretched. No one said anything for a long time.

"So. A boyfriend," Aang said sourly. "That was… quick."

"Yeah. Rebound maybe?" Toph shrugged.

Sokka straightened then, his face lighting up. "Wait, guys. Don't you see? If Katara was sneaking out to see a new boyfriend she didn't want us to know about, that would explain her odd behavior and slipping out at night. You heard the Councilor, people saw them together. The prison and asylum were probably just unfortunate coincidences. Maybe Katara was out with her boyfriend the night Ozai escaped and he took her hostage."

"Why would my father take Katara?"

"I don't know. Ransom, maybe? All I'm saying is that she might have been an innocent bystander after all."

"I'm not sold on it. If that's the case, where's her boyfriend?" Aang said. "Why hasn't he come forward in the search to find her?"

"And why would she want to keep him secret?" Zuko added.

"I mean." Sokka shifted on his feet, his gaze shifting pointedly between them with a sheepish smile. "I can think of two reasons."

"Look. Maybe Sokka's right," Toph said. "Maybe we jumped the wagon a little. This was definitely not what we expected and does give some reasonable doubt. I think we should back up a little and withhold judgement, at least until more evidence comes in."

"What more evidence do we need?" Aang said darkly.

"I admit, there is a crap ton of evidence against her. But, like Snoozles said, this would explain some things." Sokka smiled at her and Toph seemed to blush. Zuko quirked his brow.

"And who knows what resources the rebels have or what they're capable of," Sokka picked up. "It seems that right now, anything's possible."

Whispers and murmurs trailed in her wake as Azula was escorted through the slinking sanctuary. One side of her mouth tipped up as she savored the shock and awe in their voices, the way their worshipping eyes followed her through the halls.

She was led through a curtained-off doorway and stopped, flanked by a guard on each side. At a rickety desk a young man was bent over a roughly sketched map, his back to them. Even from this distance, she recognized his posture, the slope of his shoulders, the mop of dark brown hair.

One of the guards cleared his throat. "Sir. Someone to see you."

The man turned at his desk. His familiar tawny eyes met hers for a long moment. His eyes narrowed as he rose from the chair. He tilted his head and blinked once, twice, and a beat passed before he finally spoke.

"Princess Azula."

"Matsu Jin. Or, Matsu the Cleaver now, so I hear. Clever title. Did you think of it all by your big bad self?"

She could sense the guards shift nervously beside her. Matsu's lips pinched and a dark shadow crossed his face. He did not take his eyes off her as he addressed his men. "Leave us."

The two guards glanced at each other and then at Matsu and lastly at Azula. And finally, frowning, they slipped quietly out the door.

Matsu held Azula's gaze for a long time, unflinching. "How did you get out of that asylum?" he said at last. "Not on good behavior, I'm sure, and certainly not due to soundness of mind."

"Why, haven't you heard?" she chuckled. "My father has been liberated from prison, by a lowly water tribe peasant no less. Quaint, isn't it?"

"As a matter of fact, I have heard. I was personally involved in his plan. I posed as the girl's boyfriend to provide her an alibi. She played right into your father's hands." His face pinched into a frown. "What I don't understand is Ozai's poor judgment in turning you loose."

"Don't pretend like you know my father. You weren't his son-in-law, Matsu, much as you would have loved that, I know. Maybe if you hadn't broken up with me, you could have–"

"Is that what's this is about? Here to exact revenge on your ex-boyfriend?"

"Please. Don't flatter yourself. I'm not here for you. Well, not entirely. I'm here because you're being demoted. I'm leading the rebel charge now. I'm to mobilize our forces in preparation to take over the capital while my father takes care of some loose ends. You don't really think he would have abandoned his baby girl to rot in that place, do you? His perfect prodigy, his rightful heir. I was the first stop he made after he gained his freedom. After we overthrow Zuko, I'm to be Fire Lady."

Matsu snarled, shook his head. "Then he's even more foolish than I thought."

"Hmm, that sounds an awful lot like blasphemy. I'd be careful if I were you."

"Oh, you're threatening me now?" he said, standing straighter, broadening his shoulders.

Azula smirked. "Of course not. Just reminding you."

He scowled. "I won't step down. Not until Ozai's returned and leads the charge himself."

"Then you are in direct defiance of Ozai's orders," she said, stepping forward.

"I will not see you on the throne, Azula," he said in a low tone, mirroring her step until they stood eye to eye. "You can be sure of that. Some here may admire you, even worship you. But they haven't seen the things I've seen, they don't know you the way I do." He shook his head again. "And you wonder why I broke up with you. Your place in that asylum was well-deserved. You would lead our nation to ruin faster than Zuko ever could."

Rage pulsed hot through her veins but she smoothed her brow as she stepped into him. Matsu leaned back a fraction but held his ground.

"I'm feeling generous today, so I'm going to give you one last chance to get out of my way, Matsu." Her voice was silky but did not mask the venom just beneath.

He almost smiled. A ghost on his lips. "Make me."

"I was hoping you'd say that," she said, a hard glint in her eyes. "This will be fun."

A breath of a moment fanned out between them. And then room filled with the shing of metal and the woosh of blue flame as Matsu spun and duck and drew his broadswords in a flash and was on her before she could launch another attack. He swung quickly and Azula jumped back, the metal singing through the air, once, twice, the duel swords slicing in a blur. The second bit into her cheek and Azula reeled back, pressing a hand against the wound and smelling the copper tang of blood.

Azula growled and barely had time to launch another attack before he lunged again, nearly slicing into her arm. He was fast. She'd never had to fight him before, not physically at least. And an odd flutter of fear rose up from her gut. She pushed it back down and shot another burst of flame. He spun back and cut toward her again.

"I didn't give myself the name Cleaver," he said, swinging his blades again in perfect harmony. The metal hummed dangerously close to her ear as she cut back just in time and spun into a kick. Blue flames barreled toward him and he darted past them with ease. "It was given to me by the masses you passed through when you walked in. When they chose me to be their leader, after they saw what I could do. Now, you get a personal demonstration."

Matsu's lips curled as he sprung forward again. He may be fast, she thought, but Azula was cunning. And cunning was better than fast any day. She waited for him to attack again and when he did she feinted right and then dodged left, leaving him exposed for just an instant. Azula kicked the sword out of his right hand and it sailed through air, clattering to the ground behind her. Matsu snarled and swung his other blade and Azula ducked back and then seized his arm, slamming him back against the wall, her other hand clutching his shoulder.

A grin split her face and she summoned just enough flame to heat the exposed skin of his wrist she had pinned there. Matsu dragged in a breath but fixed her with a venomous glare. She let it burn hotter, hotter, and finally he let out a throttled groan and the sword dropped from his hand with an echoing clatter.

Azula pressed her body into his and relished the way he tried to pull back, trapped against the wall. She let her lips graze from his cheek down to his lips, barely brushing against his as she spoke. "I wish it hadn't come to this, Matsu. You know, it doesn't have to be this way."

She pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. The glare he shot her was intense but his eyes raked from her eyes down to her lips. Her smile widened. And then he kissed her. Hard.

Azula smiled against his lips and pressed into him harder. His mouth moved with ferocity and Azula rose to match it, tilting her head, deepening the kiss until he was engulfing her. She bit his bottom lip, tasting blood, and he made a deep sound in his throat, and then she was clutching his shirt, his hands clawing her waist. He kissed her harder then, one hand fisting the tangles of her hair.

And then in one swift motion he yanked her head back and threw her off, darting for the sword at his feet. Just as she had expected him to do. He spun around and swung the blade at her but Azula was already firing off a bolt of lighting.

The electricity burst toward him and licked along his blade, conducted into his arm and through his body with a crackling buzz. Matsu dropped his weapon and curled to the ground in a splitting scream. Azula slowly came to stand over his singed body as he groaned and writhed on the floor. She knelt down and brought her lips to his ear.

"Never play games with a girl who can play them better. I'd have thought you'd learned that by now." She smiled as she stood and stepped over him, through the now open door and into the murmuring crowd. The looks on their faces told her they had heard the commotion in Matsu's quarters, but they must have known better than to try to interfere.

Azula climbed up onto a stone bench and squared her shoulders as she gazed out across the multitudes. "As most of you have heard by now, my father, Fire Lord Ozai, has been freed from prison and is on his way to taking his rightful place as supreme ruler of the world. He has sent me here to lead you all in the battle for our country, against Zuko's illegitimate regime. Your former leader, Matsu the Cleaver, has deliberately resisted Ozai's orders to step down and can no longer be trusted. It is time for us to take back our great country. To reclaim our place of authority and power in the world. The Phoenix King will rise again, and I will be your Fire Lady. And together, we will show the world just how great the Fire Nation can be!"

The cavern erupted into cheers. Azula smiled and glanced behind her to see Matsu slumped against the doorframe, spearing her with a dark look. She flashed him a wink before hopping down from the table into the swarm of worshipping faces.

The rain was unyielding, heavy sheets of it slanting and lashing as they walked through the night. Katara hung over Ozai's shoulder, wet hair clinging to her face, her limp body swaying lightly with each step. Water dripped off her nose and chin, and her clothing was heavy with water. She shivered, a chill permeating through her skin, down into her core.

Eventually, Katara must have fallen asleep somehow because when she opened her eyes, night was fading into hushed tones of grey. The rain had finally stopped though the air was still heavy with moisture. She could smell the sweet rot of fallen leaves and as her vision came into focus she realized they were surrounded by trees. They were in a forest.

She could tell by the labored sound of his breathing that Ozai was exhausted. They had been walking all night long. After a few more minutes, his pace slowed and he and the captain came to a stop. The shorter man collapsed against a tree with a groan as Ozai lowered Katara down against another tree and slumped beside her, much too close for comfort.

Neither man said anything. It was obvious that they needed rest. The morning was still quite dark, beneath the gloomy skies and the thick tree cover, and Katara felt the wave of fatigue engulfing her again as everything faded to black.

Katara awoke some hours later to a sea of trees awash in grey. Fog was creeping between the branches and over the ground, encasing the world in an eerie, ashen cocoon. Katara wriggled herself up from where she'd slumped in sleep against the tree and suppressed a groan. The ropes bit into her raw flesh tighter with every move. Her body was stiff and sore. Her arms were screaming to be stretched out, her shoulders aching from the way her hands were clasped tightly behind her.

It was too quiet and Katara looked around to find she was alone. Both Ozai and the captain were nowhere in sight. Confusion and fear and hope were threading through her veins. She reined it in, forced herself to think and focus as the opportunity took shape. If there were something she could rub the rope against, something sharp or jagged, maybe there was a chance…

Of course she knew there was nothing near sharp enough in the forest and Ozai had taken his sword with him. Katara's eyes landed on the pointed knot of a thick tree root breaching the ground. It was worth a try. She shimmied over to the exposed root, the ropes biting harder into her skin with every move. She felt for the jagged knot and then began rubbing the rope vigorously against it. It slipped a couple times, the bark scraping against her arm and she could feel the warm wet of broken skin, but she didn't think about that. Didn't think about anything except that she had to act fast and how close she could be to freedom if this worked.

A twig snapped and Katara startled and spun to see Ozai fixing her with a dark scowl, the captain standing a pace behind him. Fear darted through her and Katara's heart thumped erratically against her ribcage as Ozai stepped forward. She recoiled as he came to kneel down inches before her.

"That," he began in a slow, menacing voice, "is a very bad decision. One that will not end well for you." He leaned in closer and skewered her with a look that filched the breath from her chest. "If I didn't need you, waterbender, I would have killed you on that beach." His voice was so low it was almost a whisper, but the edges were sharper than a blade. "And before you thank the stars that I do need you, for now, remember there are some punishments that make death seem the more favorable."

Ozai paused and let his words sink in. His eyes on her were like a kick in the gut. Katara turned her face away but he caught her chin, forcing her to look at him again. She fought the urge to shudder.

"You do not want to further test the limits of my patience with you, girl. If you hope to live after your usefulness to me is exhausted, you will stay in line and there will be no more of this nonsense. Have I made myself clear?"

Katara cast her eyes to the ground, blinking as she fought to hold on to the last threads of her resolve.

"Answer me."

Her nostrils flared and she squared her jaw, but reluctantly Katara nodded, refusing to look at him.

"Good. Now that we have that settled." He pulled away and Katara instinctively looked up to see him drop his satchel to the ground. He reached in and pulled out some mushrooms, a few apples dotted with faint brown rot, vines of some sort of berries. "You must be starving."

Ozai held an apple out to her with a faint smirk and feral hunger clawed its way through her, followed by fluttering dread at knowing she would lose some part of herself if she gave in. It took all her strength to turn away.

He made a sound somewhere between a scoff and a laugh. "Is that any way to thank the man who foraged this morning so you might have something to eat?" Her eyes slid to him in a cold glare but she couldn't help the way they drifted to the apple hovering inches from her mouth. His smirk hardened and he touched the fruit lightly against her lips. Something inside her bristled and her hands clenched to fists behind her. But she was so weak and her head was woozy and she knew she didn't have a choice.

So, closing her eyes, she willed her mouth open with a shudder and took a small bite. Katara had to force herself to chew against the revulsion that gnawed at letting herself be fed by him. The apple was tangy rather than sweet and not very satisfying, but the hunger was suddenly overwhelming and she devoured the rest, and then a mushroom. Ozai picked off some of the berries and placed them slowly in her mouth one by one. He was toying with her and enjoying this. Katara glared at him, her nostrils flaring. She hated him, hated herself for being so hungry, hated the way a basic need could be used against her, reduce her.

She was still hungry, but Ozai did not retrieve any more food from the satchel. Instead, he pulled out a black canteen. "The rest of us have to eat too," he said with a small smirk as he popped off the cork. Katara could hear the sloshing of water as he held the canteen to her lips. She shot him with an icy look but let him tip the canteen and then cool water was rushing down her parched throat, spilling down her chin, and suddenly she didn't care about Ozai or her pride or anything other than the water, and the way it felt like life against her withering body.

"There now. Was that so hard?" Ozai tossed the satchel to Lu Da. The captain caught it and sat down against a tree to eat, studying her. She was scowling back at the man when suddenly a hand came up against the side of her head. Katara flinched and jerked back.

"What are you doing?" she snapped.

"Let me see it." The wound on her head, she realized. He reached up again and Katara fought the urge to shrink back under his touch. His fingers grazed lightly over the ragged wound and she gasped, her eyes clamping shut at the pain. He drew back his hand and Katara opened her eyes to find him holding a tattered cloth, dampening it with the canteen water.

He reached up again and dabbed the wet cloth against her wound, squeezing water over the dried blood and wiping it away. Dabbing the wound again. Slowly, methodically. He brushed a damp hair out of the way with his fingertip and then wiped again. His touch was careful, almost gentle and it all just felt so wrong so she kept her eyes fixed on a beetle crawling along the ground and suppressed a shiver. She would have almost preferred the roughness she had come to expect – at least it was familiar, but this…

She lost sight of the beetle beneath a pile of rotting leaves and finally risked a glance at Ozai. "Why are you doing this?" Her voice came out smaller than she'd intended.

He didn't meet her eyes, but kept his gaze on her wound. "To keep infection from setting in."

"You know what I mean. I mean all of this. You said you need me. Why?"

He took in a breath and then sat back, wringing out the cloth. Katara watched it rain red onto the forest floor. Ozai studied her for a long moment, just a corner of his mouth tipping up, and she fought against the urge to look away. Finally, without a word, he braced his hands on his knees and stood. As though on signal, Lu Da stood and threw the satchel over his shoulder, popping the rest of a mushroom into his mouth as he came to stand next to Ozai.

"Ready when you are," the captain said. "Should reach a market before dusk."

Ozai nodded. He stooped down and fixed Katara with a smirk. "Time to go." He picked her up, hoisting her over his shoulder, his hand holding tightly against the crest of her thigh as they began to walk and she felt a rush of heat to her face. Katara tried her best not to think about where his hand was and forced her mind on to other things.

They were heading for a market. There would be people. How did they expect to hide a conspicuously tied up water tribe girl? A spark of hope fluttered in her chest.

The hallways were dim, the lanterns having been turned down as the evening drained to night. Zuko walked along the corridor toward his chambers, staring into nothing. He felt emotionally drained and wanted nothing more than to fall into bed and shrug off this nightmare if just for a few hours.

He reached his door and the guards nodded and parted as it was opened for him. Zuko entered and gave a long sigh and had begun to remove his royal robes when a soft knock came at the door. His teeth clenched and he shut his eyes. He wanted to ignore them but he knew that would be unwise given the state of affairs. So with a tight exhale he turned and opened the door.

Three of his advisors stood there, bowing fist into hand. "Pardon the interruption, my Lord. But we have an urgent matter we wish to discuss. May we come in?"

Zuko stepped back and motioned the three of them in, closing the door behind them. He ushered them into the heart of his chamber and turned to address them.

"What is it?"

"We know that you and Lady Mai have already talked of getting married sooner than planned, and that you moved the wedding, but…" The man shifted and cleared his throat. "In light of the current events… we strongly urge you to marry now."

Zuko stifled a sharp laugh and shot a look that made his advisors flinch in unison. "Now?" Zuko barked, throwing up his hands and looking dramatically around the room. "As in right here? Right this minute?"

The man's voice came small and shaky as he looked at the floor. "A–as in tomorrow morning, my Lord."

Zuko shook his head, glaring eyes searching pleadingly between the three men. Tomorrow. His thoughts were scrambling for a way out. "But, that's so soon. We'd need more time to prepare–"

"I'm afraid there's no time now for elaborate show," the second advisor cut in. "The wedding would be a small, private affair, a smart political move that will strengthen your place on the throne. And you would be very wise to try immediately for an heir."

He felt the color drain from his face. His head started spinning and he grasped the back of a tall upholstered chair to keep from sinking.

The third advisor took the barest step forward. "We know this is a lot to take in, Sire. I wish there was another way. However, we have no choice but to act quickly. Perhaps, once the conflict is dampened, we could host a ball in celebration of your mar–"

"I don't want a ball." The words were strangled, almost a whisper.

The first man glanced nervously at his colleagues. "My Lord?"

"I don't want any of this!" he bellowed, an arm slicing the air, his head snapping up to expose the pain etched on his face. His advisors recoiled, shoulders bent, hands clasped meekly in front of them as they stared at their feet.

"I want to marry for love, not politics. I'm not ready for a child. I have no idea how to save my country from the brink of civil war or how to heal the wounds my father caused on the world. I can't do this!" He grabbed fistfuls of his hair and paced away. He stopped and leaned against a tall chest, his breaths coming in short ragged bursts. "I don't know how."

Several moments later, a hand came down tentatively on his shoulder. "These are trying times, my Lord. But you do not go it alone. You have advisors who will guide you, friends and council who would go with you to the ends of the earth…"

Zuko just shook his head where he leaned against the chest. "I will not punish others with a burden that is not theirs. If I go down, I will go down alone." The man took a breath to speak but Zuko spoke first. "Leave me."

The hand lifted from his shoulder. The room was silent for a long time. Zuko did not turn around to see if they had gone, but eventually he heard the soft click of the door shutting as they left him in solitude.

He pushed off the chest and went straight to the small bar in the corner, pouring himself a tall, strong drink, much taller and stronger than he probably should, swigging it back in one long gulp. He slammed the glass down on the tray and threw his robes to the floor and then climbed into bed, wishing that sleep could swallow him whole.