He's getting worse," Katara wailed. "At this rate he'll..."

"He's not going to die," said Sokka shortly. "He's the Avatar after all. A silly little fever can't kill him off."

"He isn't invincible, Sokka," Katara snapped at him. "Just saying he's the Avatar isn't always going to save him. He can easily die just like you or me. That lightning really got him hard. I don't know if he'll be able to shake this fever. Not only that, but it is practically summer! The Earth Kingdom has fallen and things aren't looking to good for the world. The Fire Nation is close to winning the war. I don't know what we're going to do if he can't learn firebending in time. We have to find him a teacher! I had hopes on Iroh...but after what happened in Ba Sing Se I have no doubts that he's already been killed."

"Wow, that's a lot of things at once," said Sokka, wide-eyed. "Go and ruin all of our spirits, why don't you?"

"Sorry," said Katara. "This is just too much! We're lucky enough that Aang didn't die while he was in the Avatar state. He was close to doing so, too. Imagine if there were no more Avatars! The Fire Nation would take over for sure!"

"Would it matter?" Sokka asked quietly. "About having the Avatars I mean. Aang is the last airbender. Once he dies, there will be no one to teach airbending. Meaning that whoever is the next Avatar won't be able to master all the elements. That kind of defeats the purpose of an Avatar, doesn't it?"

Katara sighed. "I don't even want to think about that." She massaged her temples and collapsed on her sleeping bag.

Toph turned her sightless eyes to face her. "Don't let this Avatar stuff get you down, Sugar Queen," she said calmly. "Things will all right themselves in the end. They always do."

Katara rolled over as she replied, "Well there's always room for change."

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The morning came quickly and with each minute, Zuko became more and more fearful. He still didn't know what to do. How could he save his uncle? How could he save himself? He paced his room, refusing to eat breakfast for he knew that he would surely vomit. A light knock came to the door. Zuko's heart throbbed.

"Yes?" he croaked, praying that it was someone, anyone, other than his sister.

"It's time, brother. Uncle is about to see his justice. I thought you might want to watch," said Azula, her voice dripping with mockery.

Zuko's clenched his hands into fists of rage. He resisted the temptation of telling her to drop dead and he followed Azula out through the door. To think, Uncle could be dead within the hour. The thought made Zuko tremble. What had he gotten himself into?

"Zuzu, are you alright?" asked Azula, as if she knew what he was thinking.

"Perfect," Zuko muttered. "I'm just thinking about how much easier things will be once Uncle is dead."

Azula raised her eyebrows. "I'm glad you finally think that way, Brother."

Zuko didn't answer her. He just walked in silence beside her, their footsteps echoing off of the metal halls. The execution was to take place out in the courtyard next to the turtle-duck pond. Zuko barely noticed where his feet were taking him when he suddenly found himself before practically the entire Fire Nation to watch the former General Iroh be put to death.

Zuko's uncle was bound by the ankles and wrists. His head was raised and proud, refusing to admit defeat. Zuko looked at his father who was viewing the entire spectacle like it was a sporting event. Azula, herself, was positively overwhelmed with glee. It made Zuko feel sick. How could he have ever been against his uncle? Anyone who followed the Fire Lord were sick and twisted inside. Zuko knew that now. He just wished he had learned that sooner.

"What a beautiful day," Azula chirped cheerfully, her golden eyes upturned to the sky. Ty Lee and Mai, both of whom were standing nearby, exchanged looks but said nothing. It seemed like not everyone was as ecstatic about watching a kind, old man die like Azula or Fire Lord Ozai.

Zuko took a seat next to his father's throne, which had been moved out into the sunlit courtyard for the occasion. The Fire Lord did not turn to him when Zuko sat down but he did say, "I do hope you plan to start on the Blue Spirit assignment."

Zuko gritted his teeth. "Yes," he said, forcing himself to keep the anger from his voice. "Yes, I plan to start thought I don't know how much good it will do you."

The Fire Lord raised his eyebrows. "You don't think killing the Blue Spirit will benefit the Fire Nation?"

Zuko turned to look at him. "It will be difficult to find him. It would mean that I would be away from home quite a long time."

"Yes, we all know about how good you are at finding things," the Fire Lord commented dryly.

Zuko ignored that last comment and said, "What I mean is...I could be much more use to you here at home. Perhaps Azula..."

His father cut him off. "Zuko, you've only just proven to me that there is some use in having you around. You are in no position to bargain."

"That's what I thought you'd say," said Zuko quietly, turning his head to face his uncle. He stood up. Everyone in the courtyard swiveled their heads to look at the Prince. He was going to do this exactly as he had when he freed his uncle from the earthbenders. Zuko took a deep breath before he kicked out, spewing flames at the guards surrounding his uncle.

The entire courtyard was on him within a few seconds. So it wasn't the best plan, considering he was surrounded by firebenders and warriors, not to mention the Fire Lord himself. Zuko leaped through the crowd, unleashing a wave of fiery fury at those who were attacking him. It was complete chaos. Everyone had abandoned Iroh to attack Zuko, which was exactly what the Prince wanted. In the uproar, Iroh had rolled away, chains and all.

Zuko smiled smugly and roughly pushed away a guard who was set on killing him. Someone grabbed him from behind and spun him around. The Fire Lord.

"I must say, this isn't what I expected of you. I thought you were better than this."

"And I thought you were better than sinking so low as to try to get his son to commit suicide. What, you couldn't do it yourself? Are you as stupid to think I would do it myself? Are you scared?"

The Fire Lord's face twisted in anger. "Don't flatter yourself, boy."

Zuko gave his father a terrible smile. "I see I've hit a nerve. Didn't think I could do that to the almighty Fire Lord." Was he really saying that? He must have been insane to say such a thing.

"Do you want me to kill you?" The Fire Lord seethed.

"No," said Zuko, raising his hands in defense, blue fire licking his knuckles. "I'm not going to give you the chance." And with that, Zuko sent a blast of fire into his father's face.

The Fire Lord roared in pain, clutching his face with his right hand. Zuko had never seen his father look so weak.

"Oh look, Father," Zuko whispered as guards surrounded him and lifted him up by the armpits. "Now you'll have a scar to rival my own."

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Several days later...

Katara touched Aang's forhead. It was sweaty and hot still, but when he opened his eyes, they were clear and focused. Katara smiled at him. "You're getting better," she told him.

"I know," he muttered as he struggled to sit up. Katara gently pushed him back down. He sighed in exasperation. "I can't believe how much time we've wasted. We're sitting ducks if we stay here!"

"I don't think anyone is after us," said Katara calmly. "I'm sure everyone thinks your dead and no longer a threat."

"Then they're all idiots," said Aang bitterly. "I'll show them threat. I swear, I'm going to kill that Azula!"

Katara's eyes widened. She had never heard Aang talk like this before.

"As for Zuko! That traitor! I thought...I thought he had changed," Aang said angrily.

"I thought so too...But I suppose we were all idiots back there," said Katara sympathetically.

Aang turned to face her. "Do you remember when you and Sokka were sick? After that big storm?"

Katara nodded.

"I had been captured by the Fire Nation that day. I never told you." Aang sighed again.

"You were? How'd you escape?"

"The Blue Spirit," said Aang. "He came and got me out."

Katara gaped at him. "Who was he? Perhaps we can find him and ask him to help-" Katara stopped when Aang held up his hand.

"The Blue Spirit is Zuko," said Aang, shaking his head. "Then, I had thought he was good too. But he was only trying to capture me for himself. He did the right thing, but for the wrong reasons."

Katara sighed. "What I don't understand is how Zuko could turn on his uncle. Back when Azula and her cronies were chasing us, and Iroh was injured...Zuko looked so torn apart. Something about this doesn't seem right. Do you think he has something up his sleeve?"

"I wouldn't count on it," said Aang darkly.

As Katara stared into the dying campfire, she couldn't help but think Aang could be more wrong.

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The tables had turned. Now it was Zuko who was imprisoned and his Uncle who was out free. His plans hadn't exactly worked, but he was still contempt knowing he had had his vengeance on his father. An ugly burn had tainted the Fire Lord's face and there weren't any waterbenders around to heal him. Just the thought of having his father be tortured with curious stares forever made Zuko smile. Now Father will see what it's like to be me. Let's see how he likes it.

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It took a good hour of huffing and puffing for Iroh to struggle out of his chains. However, when he finally did, he began hatching a plan to get his nephew out of the cold dungeons of Fire Palace. Iroh had been hiding in the bushes when he saw Zuko torch the Fire Lord to a satisfying crisp. Iroh had never been so proud, and so shocked, of what his nephew had done.

After scheming for quite some time, Iroh realized that he wouldn't be able to bust out Zuko on his own. The only people he could think of that might help him were the Avatar's friends. For some reason, Iroh seriously doubted getting any aid from them after what had happened in Ba Sing Se. If Zuko had helped them, the Avatar wouldn't have died. But it was Iroh's only hope, so he had to figure out a way to find them. Surely, the water siblings hadn't returned to the South Pole? Iroh figured the best way to locate them was to return to Ba Sing Se and track them.

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A week later...

Sokka sighed as he returned to the stream to go fishing. Katara had been sending him all week to get food while she stayed at Aang's side as he slowly got better. The Earth King had been no help whatsoever; he only stayed with them because he had nothing to go back to. So they had an extra person eating up all of their food and that meant more work for Sokka.

It wasn't like there weren't any fish, for there were plenty; it was just that Sokka wasn't as skilled as his sister in catching them. His spear, once again, stabbed nothing but water and sand. Sokka cursed and stomped into the water to fetch his spear. "Stupid fish," he mumbled, taking aim and trying again. Again, nothing.

"STUPID FISH!" he roared as he jumped into the stream and began stabbing at anything that moved.

"Don't you think you're overreacting?" a voice came from high on a rock. Sokka turned to look up at Toph.

"How long have you been up there?" Sokka demanded crossly.

"Long enough to know that you know nothing about fishing. How long have you been out here? An hour? Two?" Toph laughed.

"Shut up. It isn't like you can fish either," Sokka snapped.

"Hey, in least I've got a reason," she said dangerously. "Oh, and that's real mature! Making fun of the blind girl!"

"Well, you started it. You had it coming," Sokka said defensively.

Toph snorted. "So about those fish?"

"Shut up!" Sokka shouted, as he splashed Toph with some water.

"Oh, it's on Snoozles!"

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Aang was sleeping again. Katara watched him hopefully, praying that he would wake up soon. The Earth King wasn't too far away, watching Momo harass his bear. "Shoo!" the King hissed at the lemur. "Go away you wretched thing!" Momo only chattered and purred in response.

Something snapped in the woods behind Aang and Katara, signaling that Sokka had finally returned from the stream. "About time!" Katara exclaimed. "We're all starving! What, did you fall in?" She turned to face him but it wasn't Sokka with his day's catch. It wasn't even Toph.

"What are you doing here?"

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Zuko wolfed down the food that was passed beneath the door. It was disgustingly cold, as was expected to traitorous prisoners, but he was hungry and didn't care much what it tasted like. He was surprised that he was still alive, considering what had taken place the week before, but the guard feeding him every day told him that the Fire Lord planned to kill Zuko himself and was waiting until he had fully regenerated to do so. It was to be a "fair" duel and secretly, Zuko couldn't wait to fight his father once and for all.

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