I went back and read the last chapter and I realized that I was extremely cruel to the gang. Then there was the schmaltzy moment between me and Katara. But there was some Zutara, only because I couldn't stop myself. I must know if you want to see more of any of that because more can be given, but I will NEVER KNOW if you NEVER REVIEW! I applaud my constant reviewers because they are great and they are the only thing, beside Meg, who keeps this manifestation of history and insanity and other stuff going. As promised, this chapter is the COLISEUM! Yay!

Some of this chapter was written by my friend, Meg. I said I'd use it. I'll give credit when it comes up.

Chapter SEVEN: All Roads Lead to Rome

XSeabiscutX, thanks for the title.

"Y'know," Sokka said, "It's not as horribly gruesome the second time."

"Hold on a sec," Dragon reappeared, "I made a small miscalculation. You're only eighty years in the future. Not 120. 'Kay? That's more for my readers than you really."

"Uh, okay," Zuko said. "You say this…why?"

"Insert usual answer for your stupid questions here. Because I can," Dragon said, "Keep an eye out for familiar faces by the way now that you have some connections. Toodles." With that she vanished.

"Alrighty then," Aang said. "Let's stay together this time, okay Zuko?"

Zuko sighed. What other choice do I have? Well, you could wander off on your own. His other half said. You'll be fine. I'm not so sure of that. His thoughts argued. I don't want a repeat of last time. Oh, yeah…that crazy guy with the cabbage. But what are the odds of that happening? As Zuko stood there fighting with himself, he was interrupted by a voice yelling, "Look out!" He was hit with a cart and as he lay on his side he saw a bunch of cabbages fall on the ground beside him and roll away. The carts owner yelled, "My cabbages!" Zuko promptly got up and not paying any attention grabbed Katara's hand and yelled to Sokka and Aang "Run!" The he ran through the crowd of people and animals and carts. Eventually he stopped to breath.

"What was that?" Katara asked breathless.

"Last time we were in this market, I ran into that same guy."

"He can't be the same. This is 80 years in the future."

"Then he's a relative with the same fetish for cabbage." They waited a while until their hearts stopped pounding. "Well, do you want to go find your brother and the Avatar?"

"Okay," Katara replied. The two of them casually walked through the throng. Katara stopped to look at a small display of necklaces with designs on them. Zuko cleared his throat loudly and they moved on.

"Oh, we're not gonna find them," Katara said after a while.

"Find who?" asked a voice Katara recognized as Aang's. Katara raised her head. Sure enough, it was Aang.

"Find you," she replied, "Where's Sokka?"

"Right here," Sokka said pushing through the people and coming into view.

"Good, we're all back together." Katara looked around at the crowd and saw a face she recognized and began running toward the person. "Orcus, is that you?" Katara asked as she came up to a girl who looked much like Orcus.

"Orcus was my Nana's name," the girl said, "I am Caelum, her granddaughter. You look like someone she once described to me. What's your name?"

"Katara." Caelum's jaw dropped.

"That's not possible," she said quietly. "My Nana met you 80 years ago. And you haven't aged a day."

"Uh actually," Katara said making up a lie, "I'm named after my grandmother, Katara. Our grandmother's must have met."

"Hmm," Caelum mulled over it, "Makes enough sense." She finally said, "Are you here with friends or family?"

"Yes, actually," Katara replied, "Come with me." She made her way back to where she'd last been with Sokka and Aang and Zuko. They, luckily, were still there.

"This is my cousin, Sokka, and my friend," Katara began but Aang jumped out and introduced himself.

"Bonzu Pipinpadelopsocopolis, at your service!" AN: The name was taken straight from the King of Omashu episode. As many may have noticed.

"Pleased to meet you?" Caelum said smiling.

"And this is Zuko," Katara said politely. When Caelum laid her eyes on Zuko she blushed and shyly said 'hi'. Zuko nodded. Caelum cleared her throat.

"So, what are you in town for?" She asked Katara.

"Uh, just passing through."

"Well, if you aren't in a hurry or anything, would you like to come to a gladiator fight with me?"

"A gladiator fight?" Aang asked.

"Yes a gladiator fight," Dragon said she was sitting hovering in the air.

"What is it?"

"Two guys fight each other to the death. Or they fight a lion. Or they race in chariots. Or they flood they place and race in boats and fight each other at the same time. Or they have a bunch of Christians and they release a lion on them. Uh, you get the point."

"That sounds awful!" Katara exclaimed.

"Well, it can be as 'awful' as it wants, you're going,"

"I don't want to," Katara complained.

"Did I ask if you wanted to? I'll answer for you, no I did not ask if you wanted to nor would I ever do so. I say you're going so you are going!"

"Do you enjoy this kind of entertainment?" Katara asked.

"Not really," Dragon retorted, "I'd rather have you go to an amphitheater to see a play, but I've promised my readers a chapter of Coliseumy goodness and by God, I'm gonna give it to them! Now hold on for a minute while I talk to Zuko." She grabbed Zuko roughly by the upper arm and yanked him around the corner. They were now in a dismal dark alley. Zuko shook Dragon off him. "See that man over there?" She pointed to a guy with long dark greasy hair. He was frozen looking over a boy no older than Zuko. They were the only ones in the alley. Zuko nodded. "Okay, he is looking for Rome's next superstar gladiator. Mostly because they all keep dying. I want you to talk to him and be his next superstar gladiator because trust me; you have the soul and the body to be a gladiator and more. When you walk by this alley, he'll see you and start talking to you, just say 'yes' to everything he says okay?"

"Why do I have to do this?" He asked simply.

"Because I said so," Dragon said looking him straight in the eye. Zuko sighed.

"Fine," he eventually said.

"Good, now go back to the others and don't tell them about our little talk. Okay?"

"Sure, whatever," Zuko went back to the other three.

"So what'd she want?" Aang asked.

"Nothing," Zuko replied.

"Okay," Aang said. Though Dragon wasn't in their sight anymore time started so she had to be gone.

"So what do you say?" Caelum asked.

"Sounds great!" Aang said happily. Caelum smiled.

"Follow me," she said. They all walked past the alley. As Zuko pasted he heard a voice whisper.

"Hey kid," Zuko turned to see the greasy man Dragon had pointed out to him.

"Yeah?" he stepped into the alley.

"How'd you like to be famous? Sleep with a different woman every night for the rest of your life?"

Sounds good. One half of Zuko's mind said. I don't know. He thought. "Keep talking," Zuko eventually said.

"Well, there's just one thing you have to do to live in the lap of luxury for the rest of your days,"

"What is it?" Zuko asked, playing along.

"You gotta win a gladiator fight." The greasy man finished.

"Sounds easy enough," Zuko said.

"Good, you keep that state of mind," the greasy man said. "Follow me," He quickly walked out of the alley and started pushing through the crowd. Zuko struggled to keep up. In no time, they were out in front of the biggest white stone building Zuko had ever seen. The man yanked him into a side entrance. "We have to get you suited up," he said. In a matter of moments Zuko was wearing gray tunic with a shining helmet, a chest plate, and what looked like shin guards over it. The greasy man gave him a sword and a shield. Dragon appeared.

"Lookin' good," She said impressed looking at him up and down. "I want to, one, wish you good luck. And, two, remind you not to die please mainly because the fangirls would have my head on a platter!"

"Fangirls?" Zuko asked slightly freaked out.

"Yeah, girls with mental issues who worship you."

"I can't even start to say how completely disturbing that is,"

"You're telling me." She sighed. For the first time in a while, Zuko genuinely smiled and laughed softly. Dragon beamed back at him. "Luck," And she vanished.

"You ready?" the greasy man asked him.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Zuko said boldly as he walked out into the huge ring with several other young men his age.

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A Few Minutes Earlier…

"Awesome!" Aang said, "Four seats right up front!"

"What about Zuko?" Katara asked. "Where is he anyway?"

"Who cares?" Sokka asked. Katara scowled at him.

"The gladiators are coming out!" Caelum yelled over the crowd.

"Is that Zuko?" Katara yelled. She leaned forward and saw that it was indeed the prince. She gasped and almost fell over the edge. Sokka grabbed her hair and pulled her up. "Ow!" she screamed and she kicked Sokka.

"You're welcome," he said scoffing.

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With Zuko

Oh, why did I listen to Dragon? This is crazy! I'm gonna die!

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Augustus stood up in his high seat with a prime view and raised his hands for quiet.

"Who's that?" Katara asked looking at him.

"That's Augustus," Caelum said.

Augustus began to speak, "Good people of Rome, I am so glad that you have come here on this beautiful day to be entertained. So, without further ado, release the lions!"

"Fuck," Zuko said quietly as six huge lions were released from cages in the opposite side of the ring. AN: This'll get gory. If you have a vivid imagination like me and don't like gore, don't read it. I think I owe you that warning. Zuko jumped to the side as one of the beasts leapt at the guy next to him. He turned to see the young man dead having his throat torn. Zuko wanted to throw up. Due to his distraction, he didn't see another lion run up and tackle him. He fell hard on the ground and immediately put up his shield. The beast's claws went right through it and the shield was wrenched from his hand. The lion brought its claws up again. Having no shield, Zuko raised his arm to protect himself. There was no amour on his arms. The lion struck him and Zuko screamed in pain. The lion raised its claws a third time but this time it fell over on its side with a gleaming dagger sticking out from between his ribs and crimson blood running down its side and slowly pooling around him in the dusty ground. Zuko panted and looked around for the person who'd thrown the dagger that'd saved his life. He saw a tall young man run over to the lion's body and pull the poniard out of the lion's side. Zuko got up. His savior wiped the blood from his dagger on the lion's fur and put it in his belt. He nodded to Zuko. Zuko started to say thank you but instead pushed the young man out of the way and thrust his sword into the lion the had been charging at them. The beast fell and Zuko put his foot on the lion's neck and drew his sword from the lion's neck. Then he did as the other young man had done and wiped the blood on the lion's fur. Then he looked around. AN: End gory sequence. All the beasts were dead. Sadly though, so were all the other gladiators except himself and the young man who had saved him. He turned around to see his savior standing before him.

"You saved my life," the young man said.

"You saved me first," Zuko replied, "It was the least I could do." It was just then that Zuko noticed the crowd cheering. He also saw the Avatar, his peasants and Caelum running toward him across the ring. Katara ran right to him and looked like she was about to hug him but she restrained herself and instead said, AN: Much of the following was written by Meg, who is the awesomest!

"Are you okay? Oh, I was so worried!"

"Yeah, I'm- wait! Did you just say you were worried?" Zuko was slightly confused. I thought she hated me. Katara was blush furiously.

"W-well, yeah…we all were. Right guys?" She looked behind her at Aang and Sokka for support. Aang nodded slowly and Sokka shrugged. It was then that Katara saw the three gashes on Zuko's arm from the lion's claws and she gasped. She reached out to touch it but Zuko moved quickly away and growled at her like a feral animal. She grabbed his arm and made him wince. She looked closer at it. Katara whispered, "Oh, I wish we could still bend, then I could heal you,"

"I'll be fine," Zuko said smiling slightly despite the pain. AN: Thanks again, Meg. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned to see the young man who'd saved him. Except, he wasn't a man at all. Zuko was staring into the face of a girl about his own age in full armor. "What the hell?" Zuko yelled in surprise. She laughed at him. "Who are you?" he asked.

"I'm Aquila, I believe I saved your life," she replied with a smile.

"I saw that, nice job," Caelum said. "Zuko, this is my sister."

"Really? Well, thank you," Zuko said.

"The only reason I was going to these fights was because Aquila competes."

"Would you like to come stay at our home?" Aquila asked. "I can put some bandages on that arm of ours."

"That would be great," Zuko said. "I'm very tired."

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A couple hours later, they stood before the familiar house surrounded by farmlands. It almost feels like home. Zuko thought as they walked inside.

I'm gonna have to stop there because I need to think about where to go from here. Hooray for the Coliseum. I've got name meanings. Caelum means sky and Aquila means eagle. I think this is the longest chapter I've ever written ever. 19 Pages. I'm very tired so I'm gonna go sleep. Have a lovely life. Until next time.

The Muffin Dragon