Yula coughed, as a plume of smoke wafted into her lungs. She waved the smoke away, but it quickly returned, thicker than before. This time she let it engulf her, simply burying her mouth and nose into the crook of her arm. A dark, billowing haze poured out of the engine room, so thick now she couldn't even see the engineers within.

"How long until the engines are repaired?" she asked, calling into the smog.

An engineer emerged moments later, wearing a fitted gas mask over his face to protect against the smoke. "A few hours, maybe less."

Yula lifted a brow, turning a curious gaze into the smoke-filled room. "That's it?"

The engineer nodded, and wiped a growing layer of soot from the goggles of his mask. "Yes, Empress. It looks worse than it is. Should have the smoke problem cleared out soon, then it's just a matter of metalbending everything back into place. The structural damage to the airship might take a bit longer, maybe half a day."

"Excellent. Keep at it, then. I want to know as soon as we're able to fly again."

"Of course, Empress." The engineer gave a low bow, and disappeared once again into the blackened haze.

Yula turned from the engine room and marched back down the corridor, up the maintenance shaft, and onto the main bridge of the airship. Captain Han greeted her on deck with a firm salute.

"Dragon Empress, the prisoners have been detained as requested," he said. "The remaining United Forces and Water Tribe troops are aboard our Navy battleships, awaiting transport to the Fire Nation."

Yula nodded. "Good. When they arrive, I want you to give them a choice. Those who wish mercy may have it, as long as they pledge their loyalty to the Dragon Empire and assimilate into our military. Those that refuse will rot in prison for the rest of their miserable lives."

"Yes, Empress. It will be done."

"What of the world leaders and their associates?" she asked, turning her gaze out the airship's front windshield. The sun lifted fully into the sky now, highlighting the ruins of Republic City with a bright glow of late morning light.

"They've been taken aboard a separate vessel, as you commanded."

"And the Avatar?"

"Restrained and sedated according to protocol."

Yula's lips carved into a smirk. "Very good. Keep them here until we're ready to return. I have something special in mind for those fools."

Captain Han nodded. "As you wish, Empress."

"What about Azula? Were you able to locate her?"

"Not yet, but we still have teams searching the mountains where her dragon was last seen."

Yula grumbled out a sigh, and slowly shook her head. "Don't bother. Call your men back for now and prepare for departure."

Han turned a curious look towards her, raising an eyebrow. "Empress?"

"Azula is of no consequence. If she is still alive, she's only one person. She can't do anything to us." Bringing her hands down to her hips, Yula widened her grin. "The Dragon Empire controls everything now, or at least we soon will. All that's left are the Water Tribes, and we've already decimated half their armies and captured their leaders. Bringing the rest of their people to heel will be simple."

"Of course," Han replied, with a single nod.

"Is there anything else?"

"Just one more thing. When our troops invaded the city, we recovered your sister. She's in the medical bay now, if you wish to see her."

Yula's brow lifted with surprise. "Shayu is... alive?" She fell silent, clutching a hand against her chest. Warm relief poured through her. Oh thank the spirits. Sacrificing Shayu for the good of her cause hadn't been an easy decision to make. Crushing, in fact. She'd never wanted to kill her own sister, but those fools had left her no choice, and forced her hand. For Shayu to have survived... Perhaps the spirits were granting her a second chance. "Thank you, I'll see her right away. You're dismissed now, General Han."

"Yes, ma'am, I'll get right to—" He paused abruptly, his jaw falling open in shock as he realized what Yula had called him. "Empress...?"

She smiled at him. "You've served me and the empire well, Han. I think you're deserving of a promotion, don't you?"

"Y-yes, of course!" he said, holding his hand up in a stern salute. "Thank you, Empress. I won't let you down!"

"You're welcome, General." Yula gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder, and marched down the bridge. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to pay my sister a visit."


"Shayu?" Yula eased open the door, peering into the medical bay. "Are you awake?"

No answer. She didn't need one. Her sister sat upright in one of the beds on the far side of the room, gazing out the window. Another wave of relief washed over her at the sight of Shayu alive and well. Pushing open the door the rest of the way, she stepped inside and approached the bed.

"I'm so glad you're alright," she said, with a warm smile. She paused, waiting for an answer. Still nothing. Shayu merely stared out the window at the ruins of Republic City in the distance. Yula leaned closer. "Shayu?"

"I have nothing to say to you." Shayu's words lashed out with venom, sharp and biting.

Yula recoiled, eyes wide. "Shayu, what's wrong?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Shayu snapped a glare towards her, a painful flash of grief and anger igniting across her face. "Are you kidding? You tried to kill me!"

"I wasn't... You have to understand," Yula insisted. "I thought the Avatar had turned you against me. I thought you were lost. I couldn't just let them stop me like that, after everything I've accomplished. I wasn't trying to kill you just to kill you, I was sacrificing you so I could—"

"Would you listen to yourself! Sacrifice me? Is that all I am to you? A pawn to be sacrificed for your goals, whenever it suits you?"

"No, of course not. You're my sister, and—"

"I am not your sister!" Shayu's anger flared, flushing her cheeks deep red, as tears brimmed in her eyes. "If I was your sister, you never would have done that to me! The sister I knew, the sister I loved? You're not her! You're a monster!"

A heavy knot surged into Yula's throat. She swallowed it down, tried to calm herself. No use. Her gut bubbled, churning with sickened nausea. "Shayu, that's not true. I'm still your sister. I'm still Yula. Please..." She leaned forward and reached out a hand towards her sister's shoulder.

"No! Don't touch me!" Shayu shrieked, swatting away the attempted embrace. An angry sob hiccuped into her throat. "Do you really not get it? Do you not realize the things you've done? The people you've killed, the lives you've destroyed, the crimes you've committed? The Yula I knew wouldn't have done those things, not in a million years. She never would have become Dragon Empress, she never would have turned into a tyrant, she wouldn't only care about herself and her own strength..." Her gaze lowered towards the floor, distant and solemn. "The Yula I knew was sweet, and kind, and loved her family, and her friends. She was a good person."

A quivering breath rippled out of Shayu's throat. She steadied it, hardened herself. Her glare burned hotter, boring straight into Yula's soul. "So don't you stand there and try to act like everything is alright, like everything is normal and you're still the same person, because you're not! You're mean, and cruel, and hateful, you don't have any remorse over the things you've done! You've killed people! Innocent people! And look at what you did there!" She turned to the window, pointing out at the remains of Republic City. "People lived there. People died defending it, all because you wanted to flex your own stupid ego! A good person doesn't do those things! You're not a good person anymore, Yula. You... you're rotten. You're just... rotten, and horrible, and evil, and..." She paused momentarily, a twisted crease of disgust contorting across her face. "...and I hate you."

Yula stumbled back a step, a silent gasp lifting into her throat. Her chest seized, and tightened, as though someone had jammed a knife through her heart. "You don't... you don't mean that." Her words cracked out in a whisper, lacking any sort of conviction. More an attempt to comfort herself, rather than to dispute her sister's claims. "I'm still trying to help people, just like I said. What I'm doing is best for the world. These people... They couldn't see that. They tried to stop me, and I couldn't let that happen."

Shayu shook her head, and wiped her eyes. "No... No it isn't. This is the worst thing to happen to the world since the Hundred Year War. You're the worst thing to happen. Just... just get out. Go away."

Yula sucked in a shuddering breath, and made one more attempt to reach out to her sister. "Shayu, please..."

"I said get out!" Shayu swatted her grasp away, same as before. "I hate you! Get away from me!"

Yula straightened herself. A harder look darkened across her face. Fierce, unyielding. She couldn't show weakness. Never show weakness. Only strength. With one deep breath, she swallowed down any lingering grief, gone and forgotten.

"Fine," Yula said, curling one of her hands into a tight fist. "If that's how you feel, you can join the prisoners. If you ever come to your senses, I'll welcome you back. Until then... you can rot with the rest of them."


Thick, death-like silence clouded the prison hold. A silence of despair. Of defeat. Failure. The Dragon Empire had won, and Republic City was no more. With no more capital, no president, and no military left to defend it, the remainder of the United Republic would fall soon after. The empire would expand, consume the nation, and move on to both Water Tribes. In a matter of weeks, maybe months, the entire world would be under Yula's control.

Kuvira stared at the door of her cell. Wood, same as the walls. Same as the floor, and the ceiling. Even were bindings were made of simple rope, knotted tight around her wrists. No other way to contain her, as a platinumbender. She'd long since been stripped of her armor and jewelry, even the pendant Korra had given her so long ago. No metal. No earth. No way to escape.

Cold, knotted dread coiled in the center of her stomach. She'd been locked up aboard this ship for hours now, waiting to be transported back to the Fire Nation, and no one had told her anything about Korra. As far as she knew, Korra could have been taken prisoner like the rest of them, could be injured, or... or dead. The knot in her gut ruptured, doubling her forward with a shuddering, choking gasp. No. She couldn't be. Kuvira settled her stomach with a deep, steady breath. Korra was alive. She had to be.

"Hello? Anyone there?"

Kuvira lifted her head at the sound of the voice, eyes squinted curiously at the narrow slit in the wooden door. She knew that voice. "Anraq?"

"Oh, hey, there is someone," he replied. "That you, Kuvira?"

"Yes, it's me." She hobbled to her feet and made her way towards the door to look out the window. Nothing but an empty corridor beyond, lined with additional cells down its entire length. "Where are you?"

"Judging from the sound of your voice, I'm right next to you."

Kuvira glanced to her left. She couldn't see Anraq from this angle, but she could hear his voice coming from the cell next to hers. "Are you alright?"

"Oh, just dandy. Pretty banged up from the battle, and I'm pretty sure I passed out for a while, but at least I'm conscious now."

"I'm just glad you're alive," she said, with a gentle sigh. "Is anyone else in there with you?"

"Not in this cell specifically, but I came in with Eska and Desna. They're here somewhere. I think I saw them leading Chief Tonraq into another cell earlier, but I haven't seen anyone else."

Kuvira bowed her head. Still no news on Korra. "I see..."

"What about on your end?" Anraq asked. "You couldn't have been brought here alone."

"General Iroh, Izumi, and Bolin surrendered with me," she replied, sinking against the wooden wall of her cell. She heaved a deep breath and slid down to the floor. "I don't know anything about Korra or the others."

"So... nothing about Azula?"

Kuvira held her head in her hands. No mistaking that weight of concern lingering in Anraq's tone. The same she felt herself, worrying about Korra. "I'm afraid not, no. I never actually saw her on the battlefield, so I have no idea what happened to her."

"Oh... I see."

"I'm sorry, Anraq. I wish I knew more."

"I just hope she's alright." His voice hissed out in a tired whisper, laden with a solemn dread. "I need her to be alright. I can't... I can't lose someone else."

Kuvira let her head fall back against the wall behind her. She closed her eyes and uttered another long, empty sigh. "I know. Neither can I."

Silence returned, choking the air around her. The only sounds came from outside the ship. Waves lapping against the hull, as they glided through the ocean. What a horrible, deafening silence. Suffocating. Spirits, everything about her made her want to scream.

"You know where they're taking us?" Anraq's voice echoed through the cell, shattering the silence.

"To the Fire Nation capital, according to one of the guards," she said. "Should be there in a few days, by ship."

"Ah, Capital City. Nice place, actually," Anraq said, with a feeble attempt at sounding enthused. "You know, if you're not a prisoner."

"What I can't figure out is why." Kuvira tucked her knees up to her chin, staring at the wooden floor. "Why did Yula take us prisoner? She killed thousands of people today, so why not us?"

Anraq hummed a thoughtful breath. "Way I see it, there's two possibilities. Number one: she wants to keep us prisoner so she can mock us, let us drown in our failure and self-loathing. We're still no threat to her, and she gets to come by and throw it in our faces whenever she wants."

Kuvira frowned. "That does seem like something she would do."

"Yeah, and it certainly beats the other possibility."

"What's that?"

Anraq paused, as if trying to withhold from answering for as long as possible. When his voice returned, his tone was quiet, grave. "She's saving our deaths so she can make a public example of us."

Kuvira's stomach gurgled at the suggestion. "You mean...?"

"Yeah," he muttered. "Executions."


Azula awoke with a panicked, coughing breath. She shouted, but the sound was muffled, and bubbles poured out of her throat. Bubbles? How were there bubbles? Snapping her eyes open, she found herself confronted with murky, blurry darkness, floating weightless in an empty void. Empty, and breathless. Her lungs burned, desperate to breathe. Water. She was submerged in water. Another cough burst from her mouth, this one stinging with a lack of air. Her heart jolted. Which way was up? Which way to the surface?

A firm grasp latched onto her shoulders and yanked her upwards out of the water. When she broke the surface, she heaved in a deep, frantic breath, desperate to fill her lungs. Her nerves calmed, a sense of awareness returning to her as she plopped against the ground, soaked and dripping. She took careful note of her surroundings. Trees, flowers, and a winding river, from which she'd been pulled moments ago. Mountains towered on all sides of her. A valley of some kind, probably not far outside of Republic City. How did she get here? And who had pulled her from the river?

A deep bellow grumbled behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she found the great scaled form of Druk looming over her, watching her with careful eyes. An instinctive bubble of disappointment sank in her gut. Of course it had been Druk, no doubt having flown her here after being struck by Yula's lightning. Or rather, her own lightning redirected back at herself. A small part of her had hoped she'd find Annie waiting for her. Foolish, wishful thinking. Annie had been with the Water Tribe Navy out in Yue Bay. He couldn't have been here with her now. No one could.

With a disgruntled sigh, Azula frowned up at the dragon. "Did you throw me in the river?"

Druk tilted his head to the side and uttered a low growl in response.

"Yes, well, thank you for waking me up and all, but don't ever do that again. I much prefer not almost drowning." As Azula went to stand up, Druk leaned close and nudged her with his snout, prompting her to ease out a long sigh and roll her eyes. She gave the dragon a gentle pat and added, "Yes, yes, I'm glad you're okay, too. Can we quit it with the mushy stuff now?"

Azula stumbled to her feet, muscles sluggish and throbbing. Dull numbness tingled throughout her body, an endless blaze of pins and needles that made every movement a struggle. At least she was alive. The tingling appeared to be the worst of her injuries. No burns, no shortness of breath, no pain in her chest. She shifted a curious gaze down at herself. How could that be, when she'd taken a direct hit from her own lightning?

She had her answer when she noticed the charred, burnt patch on the front of her armor. She hadn't taken the hit at all. Her armor had. It must have dispersed most of the residual charge before the lightning tore through her body in a weakened form. Lucky. Had the bolt struck her heart directly, she wouldn't have awoken with a simple dip in some water. With a weighty breath, she looked up to the sky.

A bright half-moon stared back at her. The churning in her gut tightened, sank deeper. The battle had only begun a short time after dawn, and the fighting had ended less than an hour later. So much time since then. Who had won? Had the United Forces been able to hold back the Dragon Empire, or had Yula overrun them?

Even as she asked herself the question, her throat knotted with reluctant acceptance. They'd have had to pull off a miracle to defeat the Dragon Empire. In the state she'd last seen their Army, any such miracle would have been far out of reach. That fact only reinforced itself with the knowledge that Druk had kept her in the mountains this long. Had the United Forces been victorious, there would be no reason to remain hidden like this. No doubt about it. Azula knew it in her bones, with utter certainty. Yula had won. Republic City had fallen. The United Forces and the Water Tribes had all been defeated. The survivors...

Would there even be any survivors? Yula certainly had it in her to save herself the trouble by killing them all. Annie, Kuvira, Korra, Izumi, President Sato... Were any of them still alive?

"No, don't start thinking like that," she muttered, scolding herself with a furious grumble. "You can't afford to think like that. Not yet."

Druk leaned close and uttered an insistent growl, staring at her with piercing eyes. Azula returned the gaze. A jolt of urgency tore through her, pushing her forward to climb aboard the dragon's back. Druk straightened himself to full height, and she took hold of the reigns. With a furious beat of his wings, the dragon flew skyward. She had to get back to Republic City. Had to see for herself what had happened. Had to find Annie, and the others. Without them, there was no one else left to stop Yula. No one else left to resist.

There was only Azula.

Alone.