Azula sprinted to her Uncle's chambers, where she found a shirtless Yuudai seated next to her unconscious brother. She covered the distance between them and pulled him into a tight embrace, craving comfort only he could provide.

"You fool!" she cried against his chest, "you don't know what you have done."

"Must you have so little faith in me, my love?" Yuudai jokingly questioned, "Do you really think I have no chance against this man?"

"I don't think you understand the ramifications of your actions," Azula snapped, "This is no duel of honor or love. This is a duel of superiority in the eyes of the entire Fire Nation! There are only two ways these fights end: Death or submission!" Yuudai smiled as she vented to him, exasperating her even more.

"What are you smiling for?! Do you think this is some sort of game?!"

"Of course not," her warrior replied coolly, "you're just beautiful when you're angry." Azula blushed, trying to remain upset with him. He made it so difficult for her when he was his normal, joking self.

"I ask only one thing of you Azula," Yuudai said, his carefree attitude dropping, "I ask you to trust me. I have never failed you or your brother in my life, and I certainly won't now." Azula wilted noticeably and looked down at her feet, guilt replacing her fear. Now was not the time to question her love, not when he needed her support above all others. She felt his strong, rough hand under her chin, bringing her eyes back to meet his. She hated herself for the tears that involuntarily welled up, but Yuudai gently brushed them away and cupped her face, putting her mind at ease. Azula instinctually felt herself lean into his touch, almost nuzzling his palm affectionately. Her massive lover brought his face down to her level, kissing her lovingly to erase her final doubts.

"You must remember your biggest advantage over the Admiral, Yuudai," Iroh calmly stated from behind the young couple, snapping them out of their trance, "Zhao is fighting for station and advancement. He doesn't love Azula as you do. Remember that, and you will be victorious."

"I will remember that Father, thank you. However, that is not the only advantage I hold this day," Yuudai responded, squaring his shoulders and steeling his gaze, "I simply have to make Zhao quit, whereas he will have to drop me dead before I stop fighting. I have worked too hard to let the will of a madman tear me from Azula's side."

By the time the commanded hour was up, every inch of the arena was full of fire nation citizens. The news of the duel for the hand of the princess had spread through the capitol like a raging flood, seemingly making its way to the ears of every citizen. Azula begrudgingly took her place at her father's side, his look of smug triumph nearly forcing her subdued rage to the surface. She put on a look of regality though, refusing to show her emotion to the man who had changed so much in her eyes. Ozai seemed oblivious to her anger, addressing her with a tone of victory.

"Today is a glorious day, my young princess. Today, our family legacy will be truly solidified. Zhao will crush this arrogant fool, and you will have a man truly worthy to sit at your side when you rule."

"We shall see, father," Azula replied through gritted teeth, "perhaps Yuudai will surprise all those present and emerge victorious this day."

"I think not," Ozai answered cryptically with a malevolent chuckle, unsettling Azula even further, "measures have been taken. Today, my brother's fool of a whelp will meet his end."

Yuudai embraced his father one final time, silently reassuring the retired general before presenting himself to the Fire Lord. Zhao stood a couple meters away, a cocky smile on his face. Strangely, he still stood in full dress uniform, seemingly unprepared for the fight about to take place. This didn't go unnoticed by Yuudai, but he forced himself to remain focused on the task at hand. He believed the wily commander to have something up his sleeve, and readied himself for any situation that presented itself. Ozai stood and addressed the crowd in a booming voice, calling all attention to the ring.

"Yuudai Agni, you have presented yourself as a potential suitor for the hand of my daughter. Do you have anything to say before we begin the duel?" Yuudai stiffly shook his head, flexing his hands and centering his focus. Ozai nodded and turned his attention to Zhao.

"Admiral Zhao, you have presented yourself as a potential suitor for the hand of my daughter. Do you have anything to say before we begin?"

"I invoke the ancient rights of combat, calling for a champion to represent my name in this contest." Yuudai snapped his attention towards the Admiral, not expecting this development. Zhao's arrogant sneer deepened, his confidence once again unshaken. Ozai smiled victoriously, ignoring his daughter's obvious displeasure, and addressed Zhao once more.

"Who is the champion you have called to represent you?"

"My champion goes by no name, but I believe his unique abilities will speak volumes for him," Zhao declared, before motioning for his champion to appear. Yuudai looked around the arena, trying to locate his new opponent, before an explosion rocked the arena floor behind him. Whirling around and adopting a fighting stance, what stood before him threatened to freeze the young man's blood cold.

Standing in a small crater, surrounded by a billowing column of smoke, stood a mountain of a man with metal limbs and a third eye tattooed in the center of his forehead. Yuudai stood in disbelief at the sight, almost hoping his eyes deceived him. He had heard of this man, though only from whispers and stories. This was the greatest assassin the Fire Nation had produced, the only known combustion-bender in recorded history. He was, unquestionably, the deadliest fighter in the world, utterly ruthless and unflinching against any opponent. Yuudai felt a very unfamiliar tremor of fear crawl up his spine. So, this was the plan of the Fire Lord: Yuudai was to face a man they believed he had no chance of defeating; Yuudai was to die this day, or submit in front of all those present and prove himself a failure.

"I find your champion a worthy competitor in this duel. Yuudai Agni, do you still wish to proceed?" Ozai mockingly questioned. In his mind, this battle was already over. No matter what the boy chose, he would lose. Yuudai, unwavering in his resolve, squashed the fear within himself, replacing it with rage. He channeled every ounce of anger he had repressed for eighteen years towards the forefront of his mind: the constant mistreatment at the hands of his adopted uncle, his own doubts in pursuing Azula, the circumstance leading to his adoption, Zuko's branding, and now the plotting of a coward to ensure his defeat. With every fresh thought, his rage rose, blinding him to everything else. He didn't think of Azula, he didn't think of his father; his only thought was putting this monster in the ground.

"I GLADLY ACCEPT!" he bellowed, his defiance ringing through every word. He would not die this day. He would be victorious. He faintly heard Azula cry out, but her cries fell on deaf ears. Ozai smirked, amused by the fool's bravado.

"Very well, BEGIN!"

Yuudai slowly advanced on the assassin, refusing to let his rage make him reckless. As they drew nearer, the fighters circled one another, like two lions fighting for dominance. The assassin struck first, combustionbending at the ground Yuudai stood on, trying to shake his footing. Yuudai leapt over the explosion and attempted to firebend a series of fire balls at the assassin's face, attempting to distract him long enough to engage in hand to hand combat. The only problem was the assassin was no longer there. Before Yuudai could stop himself, he felt a something hard and strong make contact with his ribs, fracturing at least two. The blow sent him sprawling, gasping for air. Before he could gather himself, a metal fist made contact with his face, splitting the skin above his right eye. Desperate to regain his footing, the teenager sent a barrage of fire in random directions, hoping to at least force the assassin back. Rolling to his feet, he was grateful to see his ploy had worked, singing the clothes of the assassin and forcing him into a brief retreat. Switching to a defensive stance, Yuudai waited for the next move.

The assassin didn't give him much room to breathe, pouncing like a wolf on a jackalope. The two brawlers fought hand-to-hand for what seemed like an eternity, landing haymaker after haymaker on each other. The cut above Yuudai's eye had leaked blood into his vision, blurring his sight slightly, but Yuudai had managed to land a solid kick to the assassin's left knee, slowing him down significantly. After an hour of this trade-off, the assassin finally managed to bring Yuudai to his knees with a hard kick to the stomach, knocking all the air from his body. Azula screamed as he collapsed struggling to breathe. The assassin grabbed Yuudai by his shoulders, forcing him into eye contact, and charged a final, fatal combustion attack. Reacting out of instinct, Yuudai headbutted him as hard as his massive body could muster, striking him directly in his third eye. The assassin released him, clutching his head and screaming in pain. Yuudai collapsed again, struggling to move and get back to his feet. He looked over to his father, who was desperately screaming for him to get up. It was in that moment he heard it: the screaming of the woman he loved.

"GET UP YUUDAI! Please just get up!"

Fresh energy surged through his veins, his resolve pushing past his pain. He had been so focused on the fight that he'd forgotten what he was fighting for, who he was fighting for. He had to win, he had to win for Azula. His massive body seemed to move on its own, as if a grand puppet master suddenly controlled his strings. Power he'd never felt before coursed through his veins. His blood felt white-hot, as if it would boil out of his skin. Energy crackled around his hands, and he made eye contact with the assassin. His silent attacker fumed with rage and sprang at Yuudai. Instinctively, Yuudai brought up his hands and unleashed the energy he felt, directing it at his foe. Lightning screamed from his hands and struck the assassin dead in the chest, sending him flying into the arena wall with a sickening crunch.

The screams of the crowd died instantly, shock replacing bloodlust. Lightning benders were extremely rare in the fire nation; only those who had truly mastered bending were able to control the volatile force of nature. Zhao roared his protest, demanding the assassin get to his feet. Unfortunately for the Admiral, the assassin's heart had burst upon impact, killing him before he hit the ground. Azula cried out with joy, tears running down her face as she left her father's side to join Yuudai in the ring. Ozai simply sat on his throne, fuming at his plans being foiled by this whelp. Yuudai smiled when Azula came within reach before he almost collapsed into her loving embrace. He'd done the impossible; he'd bested the Fire Lord at his own game.