A. N. : I always found Zuko to be a very single-minded person. Always forgetting the biggest picture to focus on what he's doing right now. Which is sometimes good... and sometimes very bad. This chapter marks the end of Book 2, and the start of (hell) some difficulties for me, as I still don't really know where to lead this story. But I'll manage, don't worry. Well then.

It's all over.

The Avatar is falling and Ba Sing Se is falling and Zuko would fall to his knees if it weren't for the water – he's drowning, the Avatar is down but he's drowning like Zhao did, like all the ships and did his crew even survive he doesn't know, he never thought about it.

He is drowning.

There's air again suddenly and Zuko breathes – he coughs up water and looks around. Chaos and confusion, Dai Li agents on the ground looking like washed up algae, Jet, shaken up and clutching his throat, and Katara, Katara holding the Avatar and she's so vulnerable right now and where is Azula –

Zuko starts running even before he sees the blue flame but he is too far and –

Uncle steps in and stops Azula and says he's going to hold them off – no he's alone and he may be the Dragon of the West but he can't fight Azula and the Dai Li he can't – and Zuko wants to stay he won't let him do this, but someone – Jet, it's Jet – grabs his arm and drags him and screams – think of Lin you moron – and there's water again but this time he doesn't drown – but Uncle he abandoned Uncle –

He's shaking. They are finally out in the sun but he is cold – he abandoned Uncle it's all his fault – and he barely notices when they get to the bison – it's his fault he should have stayed with him – and people are screaming around him and there's a strange beast and why can't everyone just shut up –

Jet punches him.

Jet punches him and screams that Zuko – Li or whatever the fuck his name is – is going to stop this shit, now is not the time for breakdowns, and is going to go get Lin and tell Bee and Longshot that Jet is counting on them to give hell to the Fire Nation – they can't take everyone on Appa, does he think he is the only one who has to leave people behind –

He is fuming and looks like he wants to hit something, hard, but he just points away and says to go.

Zuko obeys. He hears some more confused shouting behind him, and then a small girl catches up to him and tells him to hold on tight. He doesn't understand at first but then the ground starts moving and he doesn't have any choice but to grab the girl's shoulder and pray.

The ground is not supposed to do that and Zuko is pretty sure he's going to be sick, but he still manages to give directions.

Lin is here, spirits, she's here and he takes her in his arms and tries to explain the situation to Smellerbee and Longshot – he doesn't think he's making any sense honestly – while tying Lin to his chest. He grabs his swords – you never know.

Longshot looks at him. Nods. Smellerbee grins and punches him in the shoulder – come back in one piece – and, like an afterthought – don't let Jet do anything too stupid –

And shit he's going to miss them, he really is, but he doesn't say it, he just – nods awkwardly.

He's back outside with the earthbender and she says to grab her arm and tell her when he sees Appa above them. That's when he realizes she is blind.

He's going to die, isn't he.

She launches them with a stone pillar and Zuko doesn't believe in all that spiritual nonsense, but right he is ready to pray anything so long as he survives this.

They land on the saddle and he swears he's never doing this again. The girl seems to agree, because she is still holding his arm like her life depends on it.

Katara is healing the Avatar, Jet is looking at the sky like it's got all the answers. The Earth King stares at the city behind them.

Ba Sing Se has fallen.