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Sorry about the wait. One of my dogs died of bone cancer, and it's kind of hard for me to concentrate. (R.I.P. Bruno 6/12/11)

On with the show!

Disclaimer: …

She absently remembered the strength endowed on her by Sozin's Comet, and the thought ran through her head that that power was nothing in comparison with the noon day sun on her scales. She wondered what it would have been like that day if she had had this strength. Almost immediately those thoughts left as warm soft hands ran through her mane. No amount of power bestowed by Agni could compare to the warm comfort of those talented hands.

Words were spit from her mouth with more venom than could be found in a lion-cobra's fangs, "you should have feared me more," without thinking she moved into the familiar deadly movements, but before she could release the heat building in her muscles, looking for an outlet, deceitfully soft hands slammed into her back killing the heat and power before it could be sparked.

She had to pull herself away from the girl petting her as the memory brought flames to her throat, licking at her teeth and begging to escape. Instead she let out a mouth full of smoke, trying to rein in the anger that had risen at the memory. The smoke was thicker than she'd expected, and the anger harder to dissipate. The air was heavier when she inhaled again.

The last thing she registered was the sound of all hell breaking loose as the world turned black around her.

-D.-

The calm morning disappeared, melting into smoke and fire. Shouts and fighting echoed into her ears while smoke clouded her vision. The smell of smoke burned her nose enough to make her gag; its purpose didn't hit her until the confused angry roar echoed over the chaos around her, all other noise seemed to die. Bluebell flames chased smoke through the air, taking its place and surrounding her.

When the air cleared of smoke and fire she found herself staring into gapping jaws.

-D.-

Everyone in camp looked toward the sky as the huge beast rose into the air, its blue scales contrasting harshly with the pink bundle hanging from its jaws.

-D.-

The young acrobat awoke with a groan. Her… everything hurt. She could feel bruises sinking to her bones. Lacerations covered her. Cleaned, stitched and bandaged, as they were, they stung. She sat up slowly, wincing as pain shot through her back. Her eyes were slow to open but as soon as they did surprise and confusion lit her thunder gray orbs.

She was in a cage, large enough for her to stand or lay down in, but only barely; if she tried to lift her hands above her head they would bush the ceiling. The cage was in a large cavern, lit by luminescent stones that ran along the walls and roof of the cave. Beside her cage was another cage, much larger. Large enough to house Appa and still give him room to fly within. She expected to see the dragon within but instead her breath caught in her throat at the sight she did see.

Chains wrapped, like heavy dog chokers, around lean limbs. No longer did pale skin stretch taunt over bone instead now taunt for the regained muscles. Long dark locks hung down glossy and healthy once again. Her breath hitched when her eyes met foggy gold, the image of all too similar clouded gold eyes surrounded by shimmering blue scales flashed through her mind's eye.

"Azula."