Gladiator

by Seyary-Minamoto

In a world where the Avatar wasn't found, the Fire Nation took over two nations and they strive to overcome the last one. Water Tribe warrior Sokka seeks to fight for his people's rights, but he's captured by his enemies. His life is no longer in his hands as he fights as a Gladiator, and his fate will eventually depend on the Fire Nation Princess, who needs him for her own ends...

179. Chapter 179: Slave Riot 4

A/N:

As promised, here it is, an update one week earlier than usual! And it comes right on the heels of Gladiator's big Seventh Anniversary celebration. Feel free to browse my Tumblr and/or my P / A / T / R / E / O / N to see the artworks I drew this time around for this particular milestone (FYI, the posts are free and available for the general public on both sites, so there's no need to pay to see them on P / A / T / R / E / O / N, in case any such confusion arises again). The very last one is actually an artwork video, the first one I've completed for Gladiator so far! I have others in the works, but it'll be a while before I can finish them. Either way, if you check out the artworks and the video, I really hope you enjoy them!

At any rate, thanks for reading this story up to date, as ever. Kigozula is planning on holding another Gladiator Week event on Tumblr in two weeks, so if you'd like to join in, I'd be quite honored (if you don't have a Tumblr, feel free to send your entries for it through any of my blogs' submissions boxes).

Alright, I won't take much more of your time with this note… hope you enjoy the chapter! See you again in two weeks for the conclusion of this arc!

He hadn't returned yet. She didn't expect him to, she was aware that his self-imposed mission would take some time, but it was the second morning now since he'd left. Azula wanted to believe no news would be good news… but the unease in her gut only increased with every passing moment.

She had visited Song yesterday in the afternoon to find her alone, waiting for Sokka just as much as Azula was. They had spent a great deal of the evening together, eventually joined by Rui Shi, who had no new information regarding the slave riot either. Zhao's men had to have reached Fazhan by now, though… whatever had happened in that town would be known sooner than later. It couldn't be much longer now.

Azula climbed out of her bed by sunrise, readied herself for the day, ate the breakfast the servants brought for her, and resonated to be sure Seethus was nowhere around, a habit she had grown accustomed to in the past months. To her chagrin, she felt echoes of his presence in her father's room and several areas of the Palace. He was gone now, it seemed, for she didn't feel his inner fire in full this time. She guessed her father summoned him whenever his rule faced complications: a quick solution of smoke and ashes to do away with any enemies that might threaten his stability on the throne.

But it wouldn't make much sense for Seethus to deal with a slave riot already known to military leaders of the nation. Perhaps Ozai merely wanted him around as an assurance, in case there was no way to put down the riots without resorting to quick murders… but Azula truly hoped the potential consequences would deter her father from using Seethus this time. Otherwise, Sokka's mission would be even more dangerous than it already was.

She had only just finished fixing her hair – by now she could do it by herself, despite she always thought the servants and Sokka did a much better job at arranging her dark locks neatly – when she heard a soft knock on the door. She frowned, hoping it would be something small and menial, meaningless in the grand scheme of things…

An unknown Imperial Guard stood behind the door when she opened it. Her stomach clenched.

"Is something the matter?" she asked, schooling her expression into practiced neutrality.

"The Fire Lord requires your presence by noon at the Palace's front gates" the Imperial Guard answered.

The words hit her with the force of a crashing tsunami.

If Azula hadn't kept a hand on the door's frame, she wasn't sure she would have managed to stay upright. She closed her eyes, despite knowing she shouldn't have, but there was no way she could control her reactions even if she tried. Not after what this soldier had just said.

"Who will be executed?" she asked, unable to keep her voice from trembling. Outside of the festival's parade, the only events that would see the Capital's citizens and elite gathering in front of the Palace's gates were executions. Despite knowing this, despite the sinking feeling in her gut, she had to know for sure that her worst nightmare was coming to pass: "Is it… the rebel slaves?"

"Indeed" the Imperial Guard answered, curtly. Azula's throat closed in immediately.

He had been caught. All of them been caught. Sokka's escape attempt had failed.

Was this guard here to gauge her reaction, to make sure Sokka was acting on his own accord and that his sponsor had nothing to do with it? Was it, as ever, a test of her father's?

If so, she was doomed to fail it. If just this time, there was no way she could control her emotions over the news she'd received.

"Be ready when the time comes. You are expected to stand by your father's right hand" the Imperial Guard said, before bowing his head and turning on his heels.

Azula gritted her teeth and covered her face with a hand. No, if Sokka was involved, this guard would have dragged her to her father's Throne Room without explaining anything, and she would have been questioned, outright. It was obvious enough that Sokka wouldn't have heard about this rebellion through any means other than Azula. If he had been caught, she wouldn't merely be told to stand next to her father while he was executed in front of her.

Bile rose inside her as what she was about to witness sank in. She scrambled to her room's privy and the food she'd only just ingested poured out of her in a rush. Her head was light, tears were welling in her eyes, and common sense battled her emotions in a war that would tear her apart. There was no way he'd been caught, and yet… and yet a part of her, a really loud part of her, told her that was exactly what had happened. For, if it wasn't Sokka and the rebel gladiators he'd intended to save, who on earth would her father be executing today?

---

The last trip to the coast began by midmorning. Relief washed over Sokka as they drifted away from the forest and the hill, knowing that, even if their trail was followed, they would have seemingly vanished from existence to anyone who tried to track them now. As long as the hot-air balloon was out of sight quickly enough to avoid being seen by any of Zhao's men, they would be safe.

The first trip had been the most difficult one: they had to find a safe enough place to land, somewhere away from any villages, towns and cities. As soon as they'd succeeded, Sokka had taken off again, leaving Yukio and his group to hide amongst the rocks of the tall cliffs where they'd take refuge. The second group, Zian Li's, had been ready and eager to go, and by the time he collected Shinya's, the man was a bundle of nerves. They had stashed the now-empty food crates on the basket, and they served as seats for the gladiators as they waited for Sokka to steer them all the way to the second volcano.

"Can you see that place, the Black Cliffs, from the volcano?" Yunru had asked Sokka, halfway through the trip. He had insisted on being with the final group, regardless of how anxious he was, for being near Shinya and Geming helped him feel safer.

"Not really" Sokka answered "But don't worry. We'll get there before long. As far as I can tell, things are going to work out for the better now. If Zhao couldn't catch up to us so far, I doubt he will at all"

"Do you know that Zhao guy well?" Yunru asked "Feels… feels crazy that you're so close to the Fire Lord's people. I mean, it's good, because if you weren't you couldn't have helped us, but… it's crazy"

"I know, even I find it a little hard to believe at times" said Sokka, running a hand through his hair "But it's been a good thing, ultimately. I've helped plenty of people because of it, so I can't say I have many regrets about it"

"Really?" Yunru said.

"Yep. I helped my tribe a while ago, when I convinced the Fire Lord to order his troops to abandon the settlement in the South Pole… and I'd say I've influenced Azula enough that she has tried to improve things for the lower classes in the Fire Nation and the slaves. She even proposes a project for laws on slavery that would favor the slaves, but… her father shut it down, unsurprisingly"

"Must be awful being near him" Yunru muttered "You say your Princess is nice, but… he must be horrible"

"He is, no doubt" Sokka said "He's always manipulating everyone around him, and always getting his way regardless of the cost. I've always tried to sabotage his plans in whatever ways I can, but… it doesn't tend to work out as well as it should. As much power as I may have, I can't really go toe-to-toe with the Fire Lord as I am"

"Yeah, I guess you can't. I think that, if I met the Fire Lord… I'd probably try to kill him" Yunru said, an unexpected aggressive edge in his voice. Sokka glanced at him from the corner of his eye and sighed.

"I thought the same thing, back in the day" he said "And if I'd followed up on that urge, the dead one probably would be me"

"R-right, but you know, it's all he deserves…"

"I suppose" said Sokka, sighing "Though… there could be worse punishments for him to undergo than death, if you ask me"

"Oh? Like… slavery?" Yunru asked, frowning "Making the Fire Lord a slave… that'd feel just right, wouldn't it? After everything he's done to us…"

"Heh, he'd be such a lousy slave too" Sokka smirked "Always full of himself, roaring about how powerful he is and how he's going to make everyone pay… though I also think that, as far as punishments are concerned, it'd be pretty great for him to sit back and watch as his daughter becomes Fire Lord and puts an end to the war he and his ancestors were so stoked about. She'd end slavery eventually, too…"

"He'd be pretty pissed if she did all those things, huh?" said Yunru, smiling now.

"Yup" said Sokka, grinning too "More than anyone can imagine, I bet"

"You think we'll be able to return home by then?" Yunru asked "You said that maybe we can find a way back to the Earth Kingdom from the island you want to take us to, but… things won't be the way they used to be even if we do return, right?"

"No, I'm afraid not" said Sokka, sighing and lowering his head "I guess all your family must have been forced into slavery, huh?"

"Well, yeah" said Yunru, his gaze lost in the horizon "We didn't have much choice. Soldiers just… stormed our village a few months ago. Or, well, not really soldiers, it was those weird uniformed people"

"Right" said Sokka, frowning "How exactly did that work, if I can ask, Yunru? I know it's a horrible experience that you probably don't want to relive, but… I was badly wounded when I was sold off to an Amateur Arena. Things were blurry for me and I never really understood how it all worked by the time I was lucid again. I should've tried to give it more thought than I did, but… I thought maybe you guys can help me piece together how the slavery system really works"

"Well, I don't know, it all seemed pretty straightforward" said Yunru, shrugging "That Fire Nation group stormed our village and singled out everyone they thought could be sold as slaves. I was sent to the mainland, but I don't know where the rest of my family was taken. Everyone was on different ships, I guess, and… then we were brought to a slave market and left there until someone wanted to buy us. Shizeng… b-bought me because he thought I'd be an easy kill for Geming. I think the price was… ten yuans"

Sokka scowled and shook his head. Shizeng seemed less sadistic than Huang Li in some regards, but he was merely a different manifestation of the same repulsive principles: violence provided them with profit, and the more gruesome the violence, the higher the profit. Sokka doubted there was that much profit to be had anyhow, for the public always seemed to be comprised by the same people in Hui Yi regardless of how gruesome the fights were, but he guessed that didn't deter handlers anyhow.

"Either way, I… I don't know where I'd go even if I return to the Earth Kingdom" said the young boy "My village's probably occupied by the Fire Nation now, or by those uniformed goons, and if they find me they'll just send me right back to the slavers. So… I'm not sure what I'd do. It's not like I could even reunite with my family there, they were all taken too, and I don't know where they are anymore…"

"Well, not to give you false hopes, but some families have been able to reunite despite everything" Sokka said, biting his lip "Two of my friends did. Their mothers were slaves too, but with plenty of luck and some hard work, we managed to bring them together"

"Really?" said Yunru, surprised "But… I doubt I'd have that much luck"

"You never know" said Sokka, grinning gently "Well, that's one more thing to suggest to Azula once it's time to end slavery for good. Helping former slaves track down their families…"

"Would she really do that?" Yunru asked, eyes wide "But then… what would happen with the Earth Kingdom? We don't have kings anymore…"

"I'm afraid you'll likely still be part of the Fire Nation" Sokka admitted "Even if you don't want to be. The one ruling the Earth Kingdom continent by now is the Fire Lord, as you know, so…"

"Huh. Then if she's Fire Lord, she'd make us part of her nation officially?" Yunru grimaced "I don't think I want to be a Fire Nation citizen"

"Can't blame you for that" Sokka said "I don't want to be one either, myself…"

"Really? Even if you like it here?" Yunru asked "I mean… I figured you did, you don't seem to hate it as much as the rest of us do…"

"It's become a home to me, in ways I never thought it would be" Sokka admitted "Truthfully, had anyone told me I was going to be happy in the Fire Nation after I left Hui Yi, I would've thought they were barking mad. But… it's been three years since then. By now I've worked for Azula for longer than I spent in the Amateur League. And as crazy as it may sound, I think I'm right where I need to be. I'm more convinced of it now, too, seeing how I managed to help you guys"

"Well, I'm glad you could help us too, but… what about you? What about your own family?" asked Yunru "Isn't the Water Tribe still safe if you got that settlement emptied?"

"It is, or should be" Sokka said, nodding.

"Don't you want to go back? Wouldn't you rather be there than here?" Yunru asked. Sokka swallowed hard.

"Truthfully… no" he said. Yunru's confusion only increased upon hearing that answer "It's not only that I can help more people by being here, but… it's also that I attacked the settlement recklessly, when I knew I shouldn't have. For ages it's felt like… like I deserved the fate I got. I've always thought I need to become a worthier man before I can so much as think about going back"

"Huh… well, I think you're worthy enough as it is" Yunru said, lowering his gaze "You're strong, brave, and you helped us even if you didn't know us. You could've done nothing, but you came all this way for us…"

"I'm only sorry I didn't do it sooner" Sokka sighed "It was wrong of me not to help in Amateur Arenas before it came to this"

"Well, you can start doing more things now, right?" said Yunru, smiling a little "Maybe you can liberate Amateur Arenas all over the Fire Nation, and ruin their stupid business"

"Heh. You're a visionary, for sure" said Sokka, smirking "That'd be a fine goal, for sure"

"Maybe once you do that, you'll feel worthy of going home" Yunru suggested. Sokka nodded.

"Maybe" he whispered, biting his lip.

Sokka's achievements had outdone his own expectations so far, that couldn't be denied. He had done a better job resisting the Fire Nation from within it than he ever did while openly fighting against it. And some days, if just some days, it felt like that ought to be enough. But then he'd remember the disappointed look on his father's eyes, the warnings he'd offered, the lessons he'd wanted Sokka to learn without having to suffer through them directly. He'd remember all those young warriors whose minds he'd filled with delusions of how they'd become the greatest army of all, and they'd take back everything the Fire Nation had stolen from the world… they were the dreams of a child, of a boy with no understanding of the world as it truly was.

There was a strong chance his father would be proud of him for surviving, for coming home to them, once he did. That he wouldn't be displeased or disappointed in Sokka for having failed, for having ignored his father's wisdom. Would his opinion of himself change if his father didn't condemn him? Would he feel worthy of his own people again?

Would they still consider him worthy, once he turned his back on them again to return to Azula, this time leaving of his own volition?

That last thought was enough to solidify his fears: they might have been proud of his achievements, they might have been glad to see him safe and sound, until they discovered how much he cared for the woman he had once sworn to hate for eternity. They wouldn't understand that he couldn't possibly fathom a life without her anymore. He had found belonging by her side… and he was sure his tribe would never make their peace with that. Especially not his family.

But that couldn't deter him. He couldn't give up on his cause to stop the war and bring back balance to the world, even if it earned him the hatred of those he cared about most. He and Azula had decided to work towards restoring balance, as much as it would be a different, new kind of balance, as opposed to the one that had existed before the war. His tribe's conditions would improve from it, he believed it wholeheartedly… and even if they didn't thank him for his efforts, he'd do his best to help them this way.

"Hey, isn't this already the second volcano?" Geming asked Sokka, from the other side of the balloon. He had been sitting with Shinya and one more gladiator, and the former had been dozing off until Geming's voice jolted him awake.

Sokka nodded and steered carefully. Just a little further ahead they'd find the rest of the group, hiding together in the coast's cliff. As long as no one had found them while he returned with the last members of the group, anyways.

"Alright, we'll land, and then we're off to the Black Cliffs" said Sokka, maneuvering with the ropes to guide the balloon "By now we should've given Zhao's men the slip, and all soldiers too, but it's hard to say for certain. So, I advise you guys to be careful when you're waiting in the cliffs. Try to stay put until I can get back to you, alright?"

"No problem" said Shinya, breathing out and standing up "So far you haven't led us astray, I think we can trust you in the last part of our trip, huh?"

"I only hope those rogue gladiators you talked about aren't in the Fire Lord's pocket" said Geming, sighing "If they were to tell on us…"

"I'll find their leader" Sokka promised "He seemed a sensible enough man when we last met. He'll probably keep your identities secret if I ask him to. We'll pretend you guys are merely refugees of some sort, I don't know…"

"You think they'll buy that?" asked Shinya. Sokka shrugged.

"I hope they will" he responded, though he doubted he sounded too convincing.

Finally, the rendezvous point came into view: the other eight men hid amongst protruding rocks at the cliff, and they all looked exhausted by now, albeit hopeful. Sokka could hardly blame them for it, though he wasn't feeling his own exhaustion yet, despite he had been pushing his body's energy reserves for two days without respite so far.

He slowed down the balloon and guided it to the open space where he had landed every time so far. By then, the waiting gladiators had sighted him, and they rejoiced upon his return. Fuuma was the first to walk up to the hot-air balloon with a broad grin.

"Alright, everyone's together again" Sokka said, smiling and jerking his head at the ones who had been traveling with him just now "As for this next trip, I think the wounded should come right away. I'm hoping those guys can help tend to your burns"

"Oh, thank you" said Bojing, grimacing as he glanced at his patches of damaged, darkened skin "I shouldn't complain too much, but I could really use a balm for them…"

"So, the three wounded should go first, with a fighter?" asked Shinya. Sokka nodded.

"Let's hope there will be no need to protect anyone, but still…" he said "Never hurts to err on the side of caution, especially when you're a runaway slave, huh?"

"I can't believe we're this close to freedom, though" said Fuuma, grinning "I never even let myself dream we might be free again… but it's finally happening, isn't it?"

"We'll do our best to make it so, yeah" said Sokka, with a confident grin "Alright then: you guys ready to start your new lives as renegade gladiators?"

"Uh… are we?" asked Geming, uneasy "It sounds dangerous…"

"Yeah, well, the title's hardly elegant, and if you get a lift on a ship to someplace outside the Black Cliffs you would just as easily stop being a gladiator altogether" Sokka admitted, with a low chuckle "But either way, this should be a new start for all of you"

"It sounds like it will be" Shinya said, nodding "Alright then, get going. The sooner we're all in that island, the less likely it'll be for us to get caught by soldiers"

"Quite right, so come on ahead, you guys" Sokka said, urging the first group to climb onto the hot-air balloon.

The trip promised to be shorter, though the winds were more treacherous above sea than between the mountains. All the same, Sokka steered the hot-air balloon while following the directions of his map faithfully, the wounded men on the basket watching him with admiration at first… and then warily, once they began wondering if the island should be within sight by now…

"You're sure we're on the right track?" asked Zian Li, the assigned fighter for this group. Sokka swallowed hard but nodded.

"I don't think we're in the wrong one. At least we're still above a large mass of water" he said, with a crooked grin "As long as the first sign of land is merely an island, we should be okay"

Zian Li decided not to ask again, electing to trust Sokka despite there was a strong, latent fear to be found in every moment spent away from Fazhan. It wasn't that any of the gladiators wanted to return there… but everything ahead was unknown, uncertain. Even Sokka's best efforts to reassure them weren't easy to give credit to.

"Oh, I think… yeah, there we are! That's got to be it" Sokka exclaimed, and with that, the men scrambled to their feet to glance at the small strip of land Sokka had glimpsed in the horizon.

The unease now shifted into hopefulness, even if nervous hopefulness all the same. Indeed, their salvation might be found there, and it would be the end of their journey with the Princess's gladiator, but would everything be as simple as this? Could it be so easy by now? Had their plans been so impeccable, truly…?

Ten minutes after sighting the island, Sokka had steered the balloon into the best landing site he had found in his journey up until now. The island offered an imposing image at a distance, but the koala sheep pacing at the topmost surface of the Black Cliffs made for an amusing sight, taking away from the natural eeriness of the island. Sokka maneuvered carefully with the ropes, and the basket finally touched ground once the koala sheep had made enough room for him to land.

"Woah, it's like a herd of clouds" said Bojing, eyes wide. Sokka chuckled.

"They kind of do, actually. I hadn't seen those the last time I came here. Alright, then, no time to waste!" he said, climbing off the basket and ushering the others to follow him off the balloon. They stared at him in surprise, not expecting him to leave his flying vehicle unattended.

"Weren't you going to fetch everyone else first, like you did before?" asked Zian Li.

"I'd rather make sure you guys are welcome here, first of all" Sokka explained, glancing about himself with uncertainty. How did someone climb down from the cliffs and into the caverns where the Arena was hosted, anyways? "As long as these people are as weird as I remember, they shouldn't mind if you stay here but…"

"It's not a sure thing?" asked Zian Li "I thought…"

"Look, you don't have to worry" said Sokka, patting his shoulder "If this fails, we'll find another solution. I have at least one more plan, though it'll take a long time for it to work, and it may be dangerous too, but…"

"Well, well… what do we have here?"

Sokka reached for his knife immediately, blood drumming in his ears as he turned around to where the female voice had come from… to find a black-haired woman was sitting on a black rock, a few paces from where they had landed. Her clothes, hair and eye color betrayed she was a firebender, her demeanor reminded him of Toph's… his jaw dropped when he recognized her, surprising even himself by placing her so quickly.

"Hey, you're… the Priestess of the Flames" he said, blinking a few times. The woman raised her eyebrows.

"Heh, I guess I am. And you look like some sort of corrupt soldier who's bringing criminals to our funny little island…" she said, with a nonchalant shrug. Sokka grimaced.

"Uh… yeah. That's me. Corrupt soldier" he said. Maybe it was a good thing for her not to recognize him, even if it injured his pride a little to be so forgettable "Say, uh, is it okay if I bring more criminals here?"

"What, there's more than just these guys?" the woman asked, amused "Jeez, officer. You sure look like you're a piece of work, huh? The Fire Lord's probably going to be pretty pissed if he hears about this…"

"Which is why I hoped he wouldn't" said Sokka, eyeing the Priestess warily, fingering his knife again. The Priestess didn't miss the movement.

"Well, dang, corrupt and violence-prone. What has this world come to?" the Priestess sighed, pushing herself off the rock and dropping on the ground, at a fair distance from Sokka.

The other gladiators, despite having proved to be ruthless enough to kill their guards and handler, now stood behind Sokka as he spread an arm protectively before them. It was almost comical for the Priestess to notice that, despite he looked like the youngest of the group, the soldier was acting like a parent to all those men behind him…

"I could, indeed, tell the Fire Lord…" the Priestess mused, before sighing "But I can't say I care to. If only I was a nationalist, the story might be different, but I can't say I'm particularly attached to our ruling lord…"

Her words seemed to deflate the tension, if just a little. Sokka didn't draw back his hand, still holding onto his knife while the Priestess of Flames stretched her arms and back.

"So, how many criminals are you going to bring here, huh?" the Priestess asked. Sokka bit his lip.

"Twelve, if you'll let me" he said. She snorted.

"Are they any good in a fight?" she asked.

"Some might be. But they've been fighting for a very long time as it is. I think they'd prefer a break" he said. The Priestess snorted.

"That's boring. But I suppose you can't have it all in life" she shrugged, shaking her head "I take it they're not exactly criminals then, or are they? With that getup, old nasty clothes, bad haircuts, underfed… they're escaped amateur gladiators?"

"Well… yeah" Sokka said. The Priestess smirked.

"That's cool. I always thought we'd start having those around the Dragon's Pit eventually" she chuckled "Alright, alright, there's enough koala sheep for everyone, so it's fine, you can bring the rest…"

"Wait… we'll eat the koala sheep?" asked Bojing. The Priestess glared at him.

"If you don't like it…" she said, with a threatening voice "Then pick up a rod and go fishing, because I won't do it myself. Am I clear?!"

"U-uh, yes! I just, well, thought the koala sheep were cute. I didn't expect we'd eat them…" Bojing mumbled. The Priestess cocked an eyebrow and glanced at the creatures.

"Well, they're cute enough, I'll give you that" she said "Okay, then, you can pick out your favorite and it'll be your pet. The rest, we'll eat when the time comes!"

"Heh. Okay, then" said Bojing, with a curt grin. The woman before them was certainly her own brand of crazy, but a much better brand than that of most Fire Nation people he'd met so far.

"So, uh… you think you can smooth things over with that boss guy you had over here?" Sokka asked the Priestess "To convince him these guys can stay? I had thought I'd talk with him directly, but…"

"You know an awful lot about the Dragon's Pit for a corrupt soldier" the Priestess said, crossing her arms over her chest. Sokka stiffened "How'd you know we have a boss, or, well, sort-of-boss? And how about recognizing me so easily? If I didn't know any better, I'd think…"

Sokka fell silent as the woman studied him intently with narrow eyes. He guessed she'd remember him soon enough: as unmemorable as he might be on first sight, he was still Azula's gladiator and perhaps the Priestess would remember that particular challenge because of his very memorable sponsor, right…?

Finally, the Priestess opened her mouth again, to say…

"Nope, I'm pretty sure I haven't met you before" and Sokka only grinned awkwardly. Maybe she was simply that forgetful "So how do you know so much about us, huh?"

"I'll… explain once I've brought the rest of the group, okay?" Sokka said, finally sheathing his knife again "I'll have to make two trips, but I'll be back soon. Just… can you get these guys some medical treatment, by any chance?"

"You really do know how to abuse someone's hospitality, eh?" the Priestess said, scowling. Sokka grimaced: was he really pushing her kindness too far? Probably, but at this point he had no idea what else to do… "I'll see what I can do, damn it, but it's not like I actually owe you or any of these people anything! By the time you get back you'll have to come up with a damn good idea of how to make this up to me!"

"I… yeah. Thanks" said Sokka, laughing softly "I'll think of something"

"You'd better, corrupt soldier! You'd better!" the Priestess declared, making a threatening gesture with her hand as she turned around and walked towards another cluster of rocks, behind which, Sokka assumed, stood an entrance into the underground caverns where the Arena was hosted.

"Uh, okay then. Sorry about that" said Sokka, turning to his new friends again.

"Do you know her?" asked Bojing "She looked… uh, crazy"

"Yeah, I thought so too when I first met her" Sokka said, with a lop-sided smile "I fought her once before. She clearly forgot all about it, though…"

"Oh, wow. Maybe it's because of your disguise?" asked Bojing. Sokka shrugged.

"I prefer it if she doesn't recognize me, honestly" he said "At any rate, though, if they'll let you guys stay here it's one less headache for us all, right? I'll go get everyone else, so please try to wait here unless the crazy Priestess drags you all underground for some reason…"

"Underground, for some reason?" said Zian Li, grimacing "You said these gladiators were crazy indeed, but I hope they're not crazy enough to, uh… do stuff like human sacrifices and such"

"I don't think they'd do that, but it's not like I know them very well, so… let's just cross our fingers and hope for the best" Sokka said, to the others' chagrin "Anyways, off I go!"

"B-but what if…!"

"Protect each other!" Sokka said, before climbing on the hot-air balloon "Stand by one another, and hopefully this won't be half as dangerous or dark as you're afraid it might be"

The gladiators seemed uneasy, but Sokka's words encouraged them all the same. The four men nodded and watched as the Princess's gladiator set off again, waiting patiently until their friends could join them in the Black Cliffs. And hoping, most of all, that the dangerous, wild and reckless Arena they had been brought to wouldn't be worse than the one they had left behind…

---

She needed answers but found only silence whenever she sought them. Her guards knew even less about this crisis than Azula did, and her father was nowhere to be found, although Azula hadn't expected otherwise. Ozai wouldn't be likely to make himself available for questioning in these situations, especially if said questioning would come from his daughter.

Nothing made sense. She sent a hawk to Song, hoping she would tell her Sokka was home, miserable, moping over his failure… the answer was discouraging: he hadn't come back so far. The entire world around her seemed unreal whenever Azula let herself think, if just briefly, that he might be in line for today's executions, along with the rest of the gladiators.

But it couldn't be, for if that were the case, her father would have already accused her of treason, banished her or punished her in whatever gruesome way he could think of. She was responsible for Sokka's actions. So maybe he had backed off from his quest to save these rebels, merely to spare Azula a bad punishment…

The thought wasn't heartwarming, despite it should have been. Three years ago, Azula would have cared little for the lives of the gladiators who would be executed today. Three years ago, she would have held her own interests as the only worthwhile priority, and she would have mainly wanted Sokka to survive and stay safe so she could carry forward her own agenda, regardless of her budding feelings for him.

But those three years had changed her deeply. She was different from the woman who had recruited Sokka in Hui Yi. She was worlds away from that person, for the awareness of what she would be witnessing today weighed heavier on her soul than her Barge's anchors. A group of rebels, standing up against the authority that had been abusing them for years, didn't deserve to die for their so-called crime of refusing to bow down to their oppressors. If Sokka would never deserve such punishment, even after all his years of subtle and effective rebellions, why would they?

Her thoughts were in overdrive, rushing through her head at vertiginous speed, leaving her dizzy. Her body felt heavy, and yet empty, as though the life was being sucked out of her. For so long she had said she couldn't rebel openly, she couldn't stand up to her father… and it was still true. But the urge to do so was growing wilder inside her. For she couldn't just remain silent, unwillingly complicit with her father's decisions…

That was the same logic that had pushed Sokka to act, she knew as much. But she was, still, afraid. She was as afraid as the first time Sokka had encouraged her to rebel against her father, right after she confronted him about Seethus. He hadn't insisted on the subject, he hadn't pressured her to gather troops and start an insurrection…

But suddenly she wished he had.

Maybe that way she could prevent the executions that were ready to begin.

Rui Shi and Fei Li collected her in her room. As hard as she might try to be the picture of perfection, she was doomed to fail at it today. The two men understood the gravity of the situation, and they could see their Princess was displeased, disturbed by it. Thus, Fei Li was uncharacteristically quiet as he walked by Azula's left flank, Rui Shi by her right, on their way to the main halls and the Palace entrance.

Murmurs, quelled voices could be heard, their source beyond the Palace walls. Word of executions always spread fast through the Fire Nation, unsurprisingly. As much as the Superior League was more civilized than the Amateur one, the notion of holding gladiator fights between slaves had been born from the bloodlust of those Fire Nation people who basked in controlled violence that wouldn't affect them. These executions were no different.

"Are you alright?" Rui Shi asked Azula, as she glared at the open gates, her fists trembling.

"Is it relevant, whether I am or not?" she whispered back, pain rushing through her chest upon speaking. No, it really wasn't. Not to her. Whatever pain and anguish she was experiencing was meaningless as opposed to the horror taking place today. The horror she had to be a silent accomplice to, regardless of how unwilling she was to partake in it.

Rui Shi didn't speak again, and Fei Li glanced between his comrade and the Princess with uncertainty. He had never seen Azula quite as angry as she looked right now, and yet the usual glow of fierce determination in her eyes was absent. The Princess was hardly straightforward with her feelings and intentions, but today she was more puzzling than ever.

The crowd was restless when they reached the gates, although it was out of sight for the three new arrivals: a tall platform had been erected between the large group of onlookers and Rui Shi, Fei Li and Azula. It was the platform from where the Princess was expected to watch the execution, by her father's right hand.

Rui Shi and Fei Li guided her to the stairs that led up to the tall platform, and the three of them climbed the steps to the top. The temporary construction was decorated with flowing, red fabrics that bore the black Fire Nation emblem across them. The fabrics were meant to cover the rudimentary but sturdy wood that comprised the platform, offering it a more dignified appearance than it deserved. Azula's stomach lurched again as she stepped upwards, her teeth gritted. She would have to act like nothing was bothering her, like this wasn't driving the worst fears and horrors deep into her heart. How? How could she put up the act her father would expect from her? How would she find the strength not to turn away from the executions she dreaded so deeply?

She reached the top of the platform. By then, the heavy sensation inside her had worsened. Even raising her head seemed impossible.

By then, her father was in sight, at the center of the platform, his arms behind his back. By his left stood Zhao, and the sight of them together, the co-conspirators who had captured the rebels and arranged this execution, brought forth the wildest impulse inside Azula to push them both off the platform, in hopes they'd be the ones to die instead…

And just as she thought it, her entire body ached, her stomach twisted in a whole other, acute way, for she couldn't do it. No, not to her father. No matter how bad he was, no matter how many horrors he committed, he was still her father, and she…

She was weak where she most direly needed strength. Fleetingly, she wondered if Zuko would have hesitated. If he would have lashed out, rushed their father, stopped this execution even if it meant his life would be forsaken. If the people executed mattered to him, yes, he absolutely would do that. So why couldn't Azula do the same, when, for all she knew, the one person she loved most would be given to the flames today…?

Her head was spinning when she stepped forward. If Sokka was truly there… then the twisting feeling in her gut would have to become something to live with for the rest of her life. For if he had been caught, if this was all her father's sly trap to humiliate her for her gladiator's actions… she wouldn't be able to control herself anymore. She knew as much.

Why could she control herself still, then? Why couldn't she just… act? Why was she such a coward, when she needed courage the most? She was shameless, spineless, completely abhorrent…

Upon reaching her father, after walking past his guards and the other important officials who were given the honor of witnessing today's grand event beside the Fire Lord, she had a perfect view of the waiting pyres below.

Men, of all different ages, builds and sizes, wearing ragged clothes. From a distance it was hard to assess them properly, to distinguish them… but all of them were underfed. All of them were thin, all of them looked sickly. Their heads were hung, their arms tied behind the stakes they stood against. At their feet, kindling waited to be lit by the firebending soldiers below.

She had looked for him frantically at first, but after a quick glance it was apparent that her strong, well-fed gladiator wasn't amongst them. He had gotten away. He had, and as selfish as she might be to find relief in that, she still did.

She clenched her jaw, guilt washing through her while she closed her eyes. Yes, Sokka wasn't there… but he easily could have been. And for that matter, where on earth was he? What had happened? Had he been caught, but held for trial, unlike the rebels? Was it he never had a chance to help them at all? What on earth could have kept him from saving these men, when he had been so determined to do so…?

Whether he was safe and sound or in terrible danger, Azula didn't know… but he wouldn't forgive himself for failing. He would be even more aghast about it than she was, she knew, for even if her entire body trembled over this dreadful ordeal, this meant even more to Sokka than it did to her. He would never forgive her father for this… not that he would ever forgive Ozai for most things he'd done up to date, but when it came to gladiators, Sokka took matters personally. This would be no exception.

"Princess Azula. You have arrived" Ozai acknowledged her presence before Azula was ready for him to do so. She should have announced herself, she knew, and it was rude that she hadn't… but she couldn't think straight after seeing those men in their pyres. Twelve men, forced to face damnation for killing people, after spending years doing nothing but killing people. The hypocrisy both chilled and boiled the blood inside her somehow.

"Were you waiting for me to begin?" Azula asked, speaking faster than usual: she hoped her father would fail to notice how her voice trembled with each word she spoke.

"Not quite, they are still setting up the pyres" Ozai said, gesturing at the soldiers who were bringing more kindling. Nothing was quite as loved by their crowds as tall, fancy fires, regardless of what was being burned in them.

Her eyes darted to her left, and she noticed Zhao did not bear the look of a successful, proud admiral who had achieved his goals. He was glaring at the pyres, perhaps because his hatred for the rebels was so strong… and yet it seemed undignified of him to hold such resentment towards men who were going to face certain doom already. Azula frowned before glancing forward again.

"I see your retrieval mission was successful, Admiral" she said. Being addressed by her startled Zhao out of his glaring daze.

"Oh, yes. I wasn't about to fail the Fire Lord" Zhao declared, matter-of-factly. Azula only frowned.

He seemed to be lying. She wanted to think she was developing a better sense for reading him, but she wasn't sure. Lying about what, though? They were here, weren't they? Was it because… because of Sokka? Had Zhao caught him helping the rebels and, despite everything, chosen to let him go? Or was Sokka his prisoner for now? Wouldn't he already be acting smugly towards Azula if that were the case, though? Wouldn't he have told Ozai…?

Well, he hadn't mentioned anything about Sokka's obvious feelings for her, despite knowing about them. Was he paying her back for all the favors he owed her, then? Was he going to cut her and Sokka some slack for their reckless, poorly-planned mission…?

Confusing theories ran through her mind for the next half hour or so, countless possibilities to explain whatever had taken place over the last two days… but she didn't know enough. She couldn't come up with anything but conjectures, of course, and she knew she was a fool for letting herself ponder both the worst and best-case scenarios, but she couldn't stop doing it.

The best-case scenario was, of course, that Sokka had rallied a large group of fighters that would rush the execution and save the rebellious gladiators. They would have to be fast to perform an operation of the sort, but if he did something like that, her entire existence would grow brighter anew. If he saved the day at the last minute, if he rescued these men…

"I believe we are ready, then" Ozai said, suddenly. Her illusions turned to shambles.

Powerlessness. That was the weight dragging her down. The anchor that held her in place. She was powerless to change these gladiators' fate, no matter how much she wished she could act. No matter how loudly she yelled at herself to do something, anything, for if her father gave the command…

He stepped forward. It was now or never.

Ozai waved his hand, and a commanding officer below roared:

"FIRE!"

No sudden rescuers came. No bouts of brilliance occurred to her. Nothing, not even the spark of an idea, no way to put a stop to this before it could go too far.

All she could do was tremble violently, eyes wide, as the soldiers took up the traditional firebending form: their dominant hand raised into a fist, the other hand drawn back, their elbows flexed. Bursts of fire poured from each fist in quick succession, aimed at each pyre.

The kindling caught fast, especially the superficial one. The flames were quick to spread across the pyres, licking away at the feet and legs of the men.

The first scream came from the third one. It was a scream of desperation, not yet pain. A cry for help, from any source… but none came. Nothing would.

They pretended to be civilized. They pretended to be superior. But what could be lowlier than this disgusting ritual, witnessed with almost religious fanatism by that crowd? How could they pretend there was anything better about their nation, their people, compared to the others when their people were… this? When they would enjoy the sight of torture, of death, as they did?

And Azula hated it now, truly. A few years ago, she would have been foolish, childish enough to think that witnessing an execution without flinching was a sign of strength. What she had once thought was strength looked like nothing but brutality, barbarism, plain stupidity in her eyes now. But as much as she hated it…

As much as she hated it, she was, indeed, a coward. She couldn't act. If she did, if she tried to save them, all she would achieve was delaying the imminent, and throwing her lot with them would mean damning every other slave she still had some hopes of saving in the future. But what was the likelihood that she'd save them at all? If she couldn't muster the courage to fight her father's worst decisions, how could she have the gall to pretend she was strong enough to defy his treatment of slaves through more daring means than those she already had resorted to?

Fear stayed her hand. Fear, even though her father had taught her to fear nothing, to embrace her power, to bow down to no one. But she was terrified of acting against him. She couldn't embrace her so-called power if she was as afraid as she was. And why? Curse it, why was she afraid at all? What was there to fear, when she was stronger than him? The people surely loved her better than her father, too. If she stood up to him, she might just rally military forces to her favor… though she might just fail, too. Either way, if she fought her father directly, she would defeat him successfully. What, then, held her back? What was the point of being strong when she was so weak and useless when it mattered most…?

The horror nestling inside her surged, nearly flooring her, as the men's piercing screams tore through her. She had saved Sokka once by burning him… and he had screamed that way, too. But her gold fire wouldn't save those slaves. Today, she could save no one.

All because she was a coward. All because she was scared.

The fires burned, and the desperate screaming worsened with every passing moment. The crackling sounds of wood filled the air where the voices didn't, and as the putrid smoke rose, she had no choice but to inhale it. No choice but to taint her body with the crime they were all witnessing and abetting. No choice but to take in the scent of burning flesh, and to hold back the urge to throw up all over again, for it was human flesh, and hair, and bones being burned.

How long? How much longer would it last? How much before it ended? A glance up at the clear sky only enraged Azula further. In the fickle Fire Nation weather, storms could gather and rain could fall at any moment… but not today, seemingly. Not this time. Nature was yet another silent witness, powerless like Azula herself, allowing Ozai to get his way, as he ever did. And how it enraged Azula to think he had. To think that, this time, she had stuck by behaving in a way he'd find acceptable. She had already defied him over Seethus, and their conflict over that matter was far from over… how could she stand here and do nothing while Ozai impulsively murdered the people he had enslaved, turning their deaths into a show, a mere occurrence to entertain his noblemen…?

She had no choice. None but to watch and wait until they all withered away. Until there was nothing but smoke and ashes rising from where those powerful fires burned brightly. The flames were wild still, consuming everything, unaffected by their own cruelty, burning because that was what they were meant to do. In some ways, her father was more akin to fire than Azula could ever hope to be.

But until it ended, the rebels would scream. It was their last gesture of defiance, even in complete defeat. Most their cries were unintelligible, but sometimes Azula could make out baseless threats, flung at her father most of all, at the whole lot of them later on. Cursing them, assuring them they'd be avenged… as things stood, Azula could only hope they would be. Standing by here, witnessing these murders, filled her with a certainty she had never hoped to experience.

Said certainty was that her silence, her complicity, meant she was just as guilty as the man who had demanded for these deaths. That with every urge she had to avert her gaze, she proved to be spineless, just as the few rebels whose screams could be understood claimed she was. That the tears she was determined to hold back in her eyes were meaningless. That, if it were Sokka burning in those pyres, she would be just as weak, just as useless, just as submissive and unwilling to fight her father…

The screams decreased in power. The intelligible ones couldn't be understood anymore. The flames and smoke did little to hide how the fire was destroying each body. One by one, the remnants of life faded out of each man in the pyres, until they were nothing but empty corpses. Corpses that were charred, burned to the bone: within a few days, the ashes would be gone, the burned street would be clean, everyone would go back to their business. Within a few days, they would be forgotten.

But not by Azula. Her fists remained clenched as she closed her eyes, for the tears were threatening to escape by now. No, she would never let this go. She would never forget the act of cruelty she had beheld and stood by silently. She would never forgive herself for it. Rebelling against her father could cost her everything… but doing nothing would lead to the same result, too. Settling for pleasing Ozai, all be it in the name of doing things the right way in the future… it would be futile. For nothing she could do in the future would ever make true amends for this. Not a thing.

She lowered her head, opened her eyes again to find the fires still burned, even as the crowd was leaving. Her father spoke to Zhao, and before long, they had climbed downstairs again too, off to deal with their next undertaking, whatever it might be. For once, Azula couldn't care less for what it was.

Within ten minutes, only Azula, Rui Shi and Fei Li stood on the platform still. The pyres were weaker by then, but still burning. And as devastating as it was to watch them burn, Azula couldn't dare leave yet. No amount of respect she could show for the rebel gladiators would be enough. She didn't know their names or their stories, but she found herself mourning them far more earnestly than she had the two known deaths in her family – at the time of Lu Ten's passing she had refused to mourn properly, even if she had endeavored to make amends for it many years later.

The injustice committed on this day could not go unpunished and forgotten. She didn't know what she'd do… she didn't know if she had the courage Sokka had in spades. But she wanted it so badly right now. She wanted an answer. She wanted to do the right thing, with far more conviction than she'd felt ever before…

But until she could muster the strength she needed, the least she could do was stay. Stay, until the last of the pyres had withered, until there was nothing left of the rebels but the memory of their demise, and the certainty that their deaths would result in change, be it however it may…

---

"It couldn't be helped, even if they weren't the true culprits" Zhao sighed, back in Ozai's office. The Fire Lord grunted, shaking his head and rubbing his forehead with his fingertips "I wish I could have done better, but the team I sent to track the fugitives came up with nothing. Their tracks vanished at a hill, and so far, no one understands how…"

"Perchance their flagrant savior was an earthbender" Ozai said, shrugging "If so, he could have hidden them away inside the hill when your men came close. Did you consider that?"

"The earthbenders in the squads reported no signs of earthbending on the hill" Zhao said "Still… they could have been lying. Who can say honorary citizens would rather obey us than save their kind?"

"They're not supposed to be their kind anymore…" Ozai mumbled.

"It's not like they'll care" Zhao said "You know the honorary citizenship system is merely a quick way to evade slavery for those with the coin to afford being spared. Their ties with their old culture and people are bound to be stronger than whatever attachment they might feel for ours, if they feel any at all… which is a weakness within our ranks. One we should be cautious about, Ozai"

"I am aware" Ozai sighed, shaking his head "Either way, your plan worked. No one suspects anything, no one knows these weren't the actual rebels. Which Amateur Arena did you yank them out of, anyhow?"

"There was another one in a nearby town, Fangui" Zhao said "Better stocked than this one, fortunately. Twelve gladiators off their hands wasn't enough to leave them out of business"

"Other things will leave them out of it in time, either way" Ozai whispered, eyes narrow. Zhao frowned.

"What is that supposed to mean?" he said "Do you suspect these rebels will try to set other Amateur Arenas free?"

"It's hardly impossible, but I suppose what I'm planning on doing might, presumably, put a stop to them long before they try at all" Ozai said, standing up and pacing towards one of his bookshelves.

Zhao raised an eyebrow with uncertainty as Ozai pulled out a large, neatly bound pile of papers. He took it into his hands once Ozai offered it to him, but his confusion only increased as soon as he read the title of the project he was holding.

"What is…?" he said, raising his eyes at Ozai. The Fire Lord's face remained impassive "You're… you're serious?"

"I will bring this project to the council. Of course, I will speak with my daughter about the difficulties she may face when presenting it… but I believe this may be our only choice if we want to prevent more of these pesky revolts in the future"

Zhao stared at the papers in his hands, more uneasy than reassured, regardless of how efficient and capable Azula had always been. A change of this magnitude, after a decade of slavery as it was…

He wouldn't know if it would be that big or bad a change until he read the project, though. Azula had certainly achieved the unthinkable so far. Her ability to shape the world around her might just extend beyond the Superior League, after all.

He pushed past the first page and read the premise for the project. Ozai eyed him with narrow eyes, genuinely hoping his friend would become a voice of support rather than opposition for this project. As things stood, enacting most of Azula's ideas would be difficult enough, and the more approval she gained, the smoother this whole process should be…

---

The group of rebel gladiators had gathered around a small fire San had started near their hot-air balloon's landing site, where they currently ate roasted meat to their heart's content. The corrupt soldier, though, remained near his black hot-air balloon, surely readying it for his trip home. And as much as she was pretty sure she didn't know him, San kept thinking there was something vaguely familiar about the man…

"So, how do things work around here?" asked one of the gladiators. San raised an eyebrow, glancing at the stout man.

"Uh… they just do?" she said, shrugging "Most of us just want to fight. We've got a few runaway gladiators, a lot of dropouts from the Superior League, a few criminals…"

"Criminals?" asked another one, the one with the nastier burns. Finding enough balm for him hadn't been easy for San "What kind of criminals? Are they… rebels against the Fire Lord?"

"Beats me. Might be they are" said San "Generally we're not in the business of pestering each other about our personal lives and whatnot, so don't go around poking your noses into places where you're not welcome. As long as you don't pick fights with anyone, no one's bound to pick them with you"

"Sounds simple, and yet I doubt it will be" said the first man again, but he sighed in resignation "In any case, thanks for the meal, and for treating our wounded. We don't want to be a burden, so maybe… maybe we could help you farm these koala sheep?"

"Say what?" asked San, raising an eyebrow "You have farming experience?"

"Of course. I lived in a farm for most my life" said the man. San blinked: the notion of farming the koala sheep had never so much as occurred to her so far.

"Well, then… say, what's your name?" she asked, cocking her head sideways.

"Shinya" said the man. She nodded promptly.

"Alright, then. Shinya. I'll try to remember that" she said. She didn't miss how the koala-sheep lover from the first trip snorted at that "And what's so funny to you, huh?"

"W-well, it's just… sounds like you don't have the best memory, huh?" he said. San huffed.

"It's more like I only remember people worth remembering" she said.

"Then all the more reason you should remember Sokka" the man rebuffed "After all the crazy stuff he did to save us, I can't believe you wouldn't remember having fought him…"

"I… I did?" San said, cocking an eyebrow "Well, damn it, no wonder I can't place him. Do you have a clue of how many fights I've been in?"

"Uh, no" said the man. San blinked a few times, unable to remember the accurate number either.

"Well, it's been a lot! And I do love doing it, but it's pretty hard to remember every single one of them. Not everyone's that memorable" she huffed.

Sokka had been listening in on the conversation, even if at a distance. He laughed softly and shook his head, making his way back to the fireplace in hopes to nab something to eat. He was starving at this point, and his body demanded not only nourishment but proper rest.

The bulk of his mission was over: he had brought the last two groups to the Black Cliffs, and the Priestess of the Flames had promised to help them out. It might not be wise to trust the word of a woman he'd only met once before, but the rebels had trusted him when they had first met. He would have to hope San would be more helpful than harmful for his new friends.

"Well, I'm glad I'm not memorable, if anything" said Sokka, startling San. Despite how confident and proud she always acted, she seemed genuinely guilty about not recognizing him, going by the uncertain stare she gave him "I'd rather you can't place me once I'm gone"

"Why's that? Are you that important?" asked San, with a disbelieving smirk. Sokka shrugged.

"I might be" he said, enigmatically, before reaching out to pick some of the roasting meat with his bare fingers. As much as it was quite hot, he was far too happy to eat to care about how his mouth was burned by his first meal since two days ago.

"Can't you give her a hint?" Yunru asked, smiling at Sokka "Would be awesome if she guessed…"

"Should I?" Sokka said, chuckling after swallowing the hot mouthful of food "Well, uh… our fight turned into an open brawl?"

"What? That's no use! Like half my fights turn into them! Most times because I want them to!" San exclaimed, prompting the others to laugh "I'm not kidding! A better reference, please!"

"Hell, if not that, then…" said Sokka, scratching the back of his head.

He was pondering what else to say just when they were joined by someone else who had climbed out of the hidden entrance behind the rock San had snuck into earlier. The bald man with the moustache was just as easy for Sokka to recognize as San had been: he blinked a few times, surprised that the only two people he remembered from the Dragon's Pit happened to be the ones he'd run into…

"San! Curses, ye' hide like a blushing virgin on her wedding night!" the man exclaimed. San snorted at the ridiculous metaphor, giving Gang Hong a disbelieving stare for it "Been looking for ya' for hours!"

"What for? Can't put up with a single day without me, Gang?" she asked "You're so needy…"

"Ain't me who's needy, yer sponsor sent a message" Gang said, handing over a letter to San. The woman was unexpectedly quick to take the paper, reading it over eagerly. Sokka and the others watched her, noticing she had devoted herself to the letter completely. Her attention span was very peculiar, from the looks of it: whatever caught her interest would capture her completely, all else went forgotten.

Gang Hong wasn't quite as curious about San's behavior and reaction to the letter as he was over the group he'd found San with. He recognized no one, they were newcomers no doubt… but why would there be a Fire Nation soldier among them?

"Heh, yer all new here, looks like" he said, smiling "Well, then, welcome to the Dragon's Pit! That is, if yer here to stay…"

"We hoped to be, yeah" Shinya answered promptly "If just for a little while. Is that okay?"

"That it is, everyone comes and goes whenever they want here, kid" said Gang Hong, grinning at the group "My name's Gang Hong and…"

Again, his eyes drifted towards the soldier. The soldier who stared at him uneasily with blue eyes. Water Tribe eyes.

Gang Hong cocked his head sideways, and Sokka grimaced. Before long, the Dragon Pit's boss had raised a hand, pointing his index finger at Sokka.

"I know ya…" he said "Hell, I know ya. Yer… yer that bloke! Haha! The Wolf boy!"

"Well, at least you did recognize me" Sokka said, with a weak grin "Been a while, huh?"

"Whatcha doing here? Ya' escaped the Princess? Why would ya' do something so foolish?" Gang Hong laughed. Sokka shook his head.

"No, I… I just wanted to help these guys" Sokka said "I'm going back home as soon as it's dark enough…"

"Wait, already?" asked Yunru, looking at Sokka with uncertainty "B-but…"

"It's alright, kid" said Sokka, smiling at Yunru "Everything's going to be better for you now. But if I don't go home, things can get complicated. I can't leave her waiting forever"

"I… I wish I could go with you" Yunru sighed. Sokka chuckled and leaned over him to mess with his hair.

"You wouldn't feel the same way if you did" he said "The Capital's so obnoxious and everyone there's so prissy and proper they'll drive you crazy within days"

Yunru laughed at that, and Sokka straightened up his stance. Gang Hong met his gaze, and Sokka found thoughtfulness in his small eyes. Perhaps he found Sokka and his group to be a reflection of his own situation, to a fault, as he was the caretaker of all the wild gladiators inside the island, just as Sokka had taken care of the rebels for a short time.

"Sure must have been a big risk helping 'em out when yer as important as ye' are'" said Gang Hong "Yer good people, Blue Wolf"

Sokka smiled, somewhat embarrassed by the compliments. By then, though, San had finished reading her letter and heard Gang Hong's final sentence. She frowned and stared at Sokka in confusion, before lifting a hand and pointing at him too.

"You… oh, shit! You're the Princess's gladiator! Shit!" she exclaimed, eyes wide. Sokka smiled matter-of-factly while the entire group of gladiators and Gang Hong broke out into laughter "Hey! It's not funny! I just didn't remember him because I was more interested in his sponsor during our fight! That's all!"

"Yeah, well, she's definitely more memorable than me, I'll give you that" Sokka laughed.

"It's not like you were even that strong…" San pouted, and Gang Hong laughed.

"Ye haven't heard the talk lately, San? They say he's the best non-bender in the League by now" he said. San stared at him derisively.

"You're pulling my hair, aren't you?" she said, but Gang Hong chuckled and shook his head "What the hell? For real? How?!"

"Training hard, learning new skills, acquiring great weapons to defeat firebenders with…" Sokka recited, with a smirk "It was a whole process, yeah, but it's worked to my favor, alright…"

"Y-you'll have to forgive me for doubting you, it seems unlikely to me, but… okay then. If Gang Hong says so…" she said, shrugging before biting her lip.

"You know, now that I think of it, our fight was a waste of time because you were hung up on fighting my sponsor…" Sokka said, rubbing his chin "And that turned into a ridiculous brawl. So, considering that… maybe I don't owe you anything, and taking care of these guys will be your way to make up for that failed fight, huh?"

"Wait, really now?" San said, scowling "Well, that's not fair. It was hardly that big a waste if you're already that good in the League"

"Still…" Sokka said, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Tell you what" San proposed, raising her eyebrows "If you promise that one day, someday, your fancy sponsor will fight me… I'll help these guys without qualms. Really"

"Really, now?" Sokka said, smiling "Well, shit. I suppose she might not like that, but… I guess I can convince her, she might just enjoy fighting another firebender"

"Oh, I know I will" said San, eyes gleaming.

"Sounds like you really look up to the Princess…" said Shinya, but San waved a hand carelessly in his direction.

"It's not like that, it's just… she's supposed to be the best firebender of our generation" she laughed "I'd learn so much if I fought her, maybe I'd pick up a new style or two…! She'd kick my ass, sure, but it'd be worth it!"

"That's quite a noble reason to want to fight her, and hey, you know you're going to lose already and you don't mind it…" Sokka said, smiling approvingly "Yeah, alright. I'll see what I can do, San"

"Damn right!" San said, beaming "Thanks, Blue Wolf! T-that was your name, right? That's what Gang Hong said but he gives people weird names sometimes, and…"

"Yeah, it's the Blue Wolf" Sokka said, smiling and nodding before glancing at the whole group "Well, it's already dusk, so… might as well get going?"

"You should, yeah" said Shinya, grinning too "Once you're back you'll just pretend you don't know anything about what happened with us, right?"

"Naturally" said Sokka, smirking "I'll spread rumors about you guys and everything. Some crazy spirit, uh… spirited you away! That's why you vanished suddenly from the face of the earth!"

Some of the other gladiators laughed, and Sokka smiled as he made his way back to the hot-air balloon. He'd kept the engine running, albeit at a weaker capacity, so he could take off as soon as it was dark enough. It looked like the time for his departure was already here, though. Azula would be waiting to hear all about what he'd done, and he couldn't be prouder of what he'd achieved. They'd always wanted to save slaves, to fight to bring back balance to the world… and they'd succeeded this time. Maybe it wasn't the best way to succeed, but he hadn't caused problems. Nothing had gone wrong, he hadn't been caught or seen, as far as he knew… he had executed his strategies perfectly, even if he had mostly made them up as he went. He could only hope she'd be proud, too.

To Sokka's surprise, the whole group of liberated gladiators crowded around the hot-air balloon once he climbed it. Where only a day ago they had been frowning, suspecting Sokka of all sorts of heinous things when they had first met, now they were smiling brightly, gratefully. His heart was tight, full of relieved happiness over the change he'd brought into their lives.

"None of us really thought we'd survive two days after rebelling" Shinya said "Let alone did anyone think we'd ever leave Fazhan. We couldn't even dream of it…"

"Dreaming of that possibility was just more painful because it was unattainable" Fuuma interjected, and Shinya nodded.

"But you still helped us" Geming smiled "You came to us when we needed a hand, and you… you saved us, even if you didn't know us or anything about us!"

"Well, really…" said Sokka, with a shy grin "I'm only glad I had the chance to do it at all. You guys deserved it, as do all the gladiators in the rest of the Amateur Arenas. I really am pondering if I ought to start sneaking off at nights to liberate them too, honestly…"

"That'd be awesome" laughed Yukio "You could bring them all here! We'd all be like… like your personal army!"

"That sounds insane, but your enthusiasm is appreciated" Sokka laughed.

"You're going to come back one day, right?" Yunru asked "You could fight San again, can't you?"

"Heh, maybe I can suggest it to Azula. She might agree to that" Sokka said, smiling and looking at San, who had stayed behind by the fire, busy arguing about something with Gang Hong now "I don't know for sure if I'll be able to, but… I do hope I'll see you guys again. And that we're all one step closer to true freedom by the time we meet once more"

"That'd be a dream. The best of dreams" said Geming.

"Good luck with… well, everything" Shinya said "Your trip back, the Princess, your gladiator career and your missions to save the rest of us… all of it. You know, by now I think I can understand why you don't hate her…"

"You can?" Sokka asked, amused. Shinya laughed.

"It's impossible to hate the person who saves you from the Amateur League" he said "Shit, I just hope one day we can have half the guts you have. You're…"

"An inspiration!" Yunru finished, and the group laughed while Sokka shook his head.

"You guys are too damn nice for your own good" he said, smiling "Thank you"

"We're the ones who are grateful!" exclaimed Geming. Sokka laughed and nodded.

"I am too, believe it or not" he said "Thanks to you guys I know… I know this can be done. I know I can fight the Fire Nation this way, even if it's dangerous. Because… it's worth it. It's absolutely worth it"

He smiled and messed Yunru's hair again before dropping the lid fully on the balloon with the yank of a rope. Slowly, the airship began rising, and the rebel gladiators stepped away from the basket as they watched Sokka take off into the night. He waved at them as he rose, watching as the island grew smaller in the distance. Even if they had only worked together for two days, Sokka developed an attachment for the group surprisingly quickly. He only hoped they'd either find some sort of stability in the wild and reckless Dragon's Pit, or that they would hitch a ride on a ship of any kind, all the way to the Earth Kingdom. Either way, he'd done right by them and he was certain of that. Gang Hong and San were bound to look after the group properly until the escaped gladiators were ready to move on.

After ten minutes of flight, the sky and sea were so dark it was impossible to distinguish the island in the distance anymore. Sokka smiled all the same, gazing in its direction as the hot-air balloon continued to rise higher. The higher he went, the less likely he was to be noticed by guards pacing through the Capital's defenses once he descended into his house again…

After the last two days, his usual life felt unreal, to some degree. Being in an Amateur Arena again, setting it on fire, fighting to save these men… all of it had been so overwhelming that his entire lifestyle until now had been blurred into the back of his mind. Tomorrow he'd go back to training with Azula, as though nothing had happened, as though he were entirely innocent of what would amount to treason in Ozai's eyes…

Well, he was already involved with Azula, and he had deliberately sabotaged the bombs' process in the Northern Air Temple. This new brand of treason was hardly worse than everything else he'd done, wasn't it?

He couldn't stop smiling to himself as he descended into his house's backyard. This final trip hadn't taken remotely as long as all the others he'd taken through the past two day. Relief and peace filled his heart as he landed: he was home. He was alive, he hadn't been caught… all he had to do now was take down those black fabrics around his balloon, return them to Song and everything would be over. No evidence, or at least, none strong enough to make him suspicious of the crime of saving rogue gladiators…

He deflated the balloon quickly, between laughs of disbelief, and he wasted little time before working on cutting off the seams that bound the fabrics together. He removed them all before long, and his balloon was back to its unsuspicious, red, Fire Nation-emblem-bearing self…

"Sokka?"

Song's voice drifted towards him from above. The gladiator turned around, glancing up at his room's window, where the healer stood, smiling in disbelief at him. Surely she had heard noise, and that was the easiest window from which to peer down at the backyard in the house's second floor. He grinned too, waving.

"I'm home, Song" he said, and she laughed joyfully.

"Sokka!" she exclaimed, vanishing from the window as she raced downstairs to meet him. Sokka made his way to the house, grinning proudly, leaving the fabrics folded awkwardly in a heap in the backyard.

Song caught up with him right at the backdoor's threshold, and she threw her arms around him promptly. Sokka hugged her back, as they both laughed and rejoiced in his successful return.

"You're happy, s-so it means… you did it! You did, didn't you?!" Song asked, near-euphoric now. Sokka laughed and nodded.

"Yeah. I actually… shit. It's a long story" he said, shaking his head now "And hell, I'm so tired and starved, and…"

"Oh! Yeah, I have plenty of leftovers!" Song laughed, grabbing his forearm and pulling him to the kitchen "I kept cooking too much, as though you were still here, so…"

"You are such a lifesaver" Sokka said, smiling gratefully, near tears as Song offered him the many dishes she had saved for him.

He explained everything while he ate, and Song listened as intently and with the same fascination as she ever did. This time, though, she was about as delighted by the story as Sokka himself. The idea of saving others from dreadful fates was ever-present in the minds of slaves, especially once their lot in life had improved. That Sokka had succeeded at rescuing them this time was delightful for Song.

"That Dragon's Pit place sounded crazy the last time you told me about it" Song said, smiling "But it is the best place for them to blend in, right?"

"It's why I took them there" said Sokka, after emptying a bowl of rice "There's gladiators and non-gladiators alike, so they wouldn't stand out… or so I hope. Either way, if Gang Hong will look after them, they'll probably be okay"

"I hope so" said Song, biting her lip "Goodness, the Princess will be so happy when she knows you did it. She's been so tense and miserable…"

"Yeah, I figure she has been" Sokka said, grimacing "I didn't want to make her worry, but… truthfully, after this worked out so well, I think she'll be less likely to worry if I ever do something like this again. If I could get it right this time, then maybe…"

"Wait, do it again?" Song said. Sokka smiled and shrugged.

"I'm not sure I'll be able to stop now" he said, and Song giggled.

"You're crazy, Sokka"

"If burning down Amateur Arenas is crazy…" Sokka said, with a crooked grin "Then I'm very proud of bearing that title!"

Song laughed again as Sokka continued to eat, his empty stomach finally feeling as full as his heart after he had finished around ten different dishes. Song playfully scolded him for his gluttony, and all he could do was smile shamelessly.

"I think I deserve eating all I can tonight, don't I?" he said "It was a crazy couple of days, I barely had anything to eat until a few hours ago…"

"Yeah, well, that doesn't mean you should stuff your face so recklessly" said Song, biting her lip "You'll put on weight at this rate"

"I'll just turn it into muscles!" Sokka declared proudly, prompting Song to laugh again "Say, Rui Shi isn't staying over tonight?"

"Uh… no. I mean, that'd require him dropping by, and as he hasn't so far, I suppose he won't" said Song, her cheery mood dampened by Sokka's question. He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Did you guys have a fight or something?"

"Not at all" said Song, shrugging "Everything was fine, but he didn't drop by for dinner tonight. He did yesterday, but… I don't know. We ate together, all three of us, but today they didn't drop by, neither of them"

"Azula hasn't come around today?" Sokka asked, surprised "Here I thought she'd just gone home for the day…"

"No, she didn't visit this time" Song said "I thought it was weird, she was so stressed out about you yesterday and she said she'd come, but I don't know. I heard some strange noises in the city, but I didn't really check what it might be… could be they were busy with whatever that was? Though maybe nothing was happening at all and I'm imagining things"

"Ugh. I hope it's not another crisis" Sokka sighed "If it's not, she'll probably drop by tomorrow"

"And she'll be much happier too, once she knows you're safe and sound" Song said, beaming. Sokka nodded.

"Rui Shi might have just had an inconvenient shift too or something like that" Sokka suggested "So we shouldn't make a big deal out of it, right?"

"Definitely" Song agreed "Anyways, you should go to bed, right? You look like you haven't slept since… well, three days ago, I suppose? Which isn't the best idea, you know. You had made a decent recovery from the poison, but no one said you were all better yet…"

"Heh. Well, I had no choice but to jump into action, did I?" Sokka laughed "I'll finish recovering now, I promise…"

"You'd better, else it's not only my wrath you'll have to deal with" Song smiled "You need to look after yourself some more, Sokka"

"You guys always say that…" he sighed dramatically, to which Song laughed again "Alright, alright. I'm off to bed"

"Good call" said Song, nodding as Sokka stood up from the table and stretched, with a loud yawn.

Regardless of his exhaustion, of the strain he had put his body through, Sokka could barely settle down. Thoughts of how he had cheated Ozai from killing the rebels were invigorating, and no amount of muscular pain would convince him to stop pacing through his room, laughing in disbelief. He took off the stolen uniform and smiled as he did, knowing he'd have to do away with it. At least he'd left the helmet all the way back in Fazhan and disposing of everything else shouldn't be too difficult.

After a short while of restlessness, he decided the best way to calm down would be with a proper bath. Perhaps that was what he needed, seeing as he hadn't cleaned up at all since he left to Fazhan. He headed downstairs and washed thoroughly in the bathroom, the water cleansing the dirt, the smells of Fazhan and the wilderness, every lingering trace on his body that betrayed what he'd been up to. The convictions inside him only seemed to grow stronger, alongside his joy and pride over what he'd done. Over the men he'd saved, and the ones he might still save in the future…

He tied up his towel around his waist, as he ever did upon leaving their exterior bathroom, and he meant to return to his room when he heard a soft knocking sound at the door. He frowned as he reached the bottom of the stairs, glancing at the front door. There was no way she had come by this late at night, not again. There was no need for it, was there? She could have just come by tomorrow… though, knowing Azula, she was simply desperate to know if he was alright. She would be anxious, surely, and appeasing her wouldn't be easy, but once she knew he was safe and successful…

Or perhaps… perhaps he hadn't hidden well enough. Had someone seen him? Had someone traced the mysterious soldier back to him? How could anyone do that? The blood slowed in his veins as he stopped in front of the door, uncertain and wary. If it was Azula, though, he shouldn't leave her waiting. If it wasn't… well, nothing was quite as inoffensive as a naked man with only a towel as protection, right? Perhaps he wouldn't seem so suspicious this way…

He reached out towards the door, opening it cautiously while still holding the towel in place.

"Oh, hell, it really is you" he sighed happily when he recognized Azula, her golden armor gleaming under the pale moonlight. His face broke into a leisurely grin as he opened the door fully to usher her inside "You could've just waited until tomorrow, you know…"

"You're back" Azula blurted out, eyes wide as she stared at him "Y-you're… you're alright"

"Yeah, you've got to hear the whole story" Sokka said, grinning proudly "Come on, just come in and… Azula? What's…?"

She lowered her head, confusion plain across her face. It struck Sokka then that her behavior was about as weird as the last time she had visited him late at night, merely three days ago. With how nervous she had been about seeing him off, wouldn't it have been more like her to throw her arms around him as soon as she confirmed he was alright?

She was tense, and the expression on her face spoke of something darker than Sokka had noticed right away. He frowned, knowing he had seen that same expression in other faces… in other eyes. In the eyes of the men he had saved from Fazhan, just upon meeting them.

"Azula… what's wrong?" he asked, urging her to come in so he could shut the door behind her. By now the Princess complied, but she kept her distance all the same. Sokka followed her with his gaze, concern gnawing away at him, doing away with his pleasant mood gradually "I'm back safe, and I saved them. I got them to safety, Azula, I…"

"You… what?" Azula said, and now her confusion only grew more accentuated "You… no, Sokka. You didn't… you didn't save anyone"

"The hell? Of course I did!" Sokka exclaimed, frowning "I got them out of Fazhan. I stole a soldier's uniform, I snuck into the Arena's building and together we burned the whole place down before I got them away through the forest…"

"You… burned it?" Azula repeated, eyes wide. How hadn't she heard anything about that? Why hadn't Zhao mentioned anything like that…?

"And then I used the balloon to take them all to the Dragon's Pit. Yeah, I know, it was a crazy idea, but Gang Hong and San said they'd look after them" Sokka finished, again with a small smile "Everything is fine, Azula, really…"

"When did you…?" she asked. Sokka raised an eyebrow "When did you come home? Before noon, or…?"

"Uh, no, around then I was still floating people into the Black Cliffs" Sokka said, crooking an eyebrow "Why?"

Azula's wide eyes were a bad sign, but it was worse yet when she covered her mouth with a hand. His leisurely behavior couldn't last through that. Something was profoundly wrong, something he couldn't fathom, apparently… and going by Azula's reaction to it, he wasn't going to like it.

"Azula, what's going on?" Sokka asked again, his voice firmer than before. His eyes were already gaining the icy quality that made him terrifying once he grew serious.

Her stomach sank. Her entire world seemed to be knocked out of balance all over again. She had to tell him, though. She had to. Even if she couldn't find a way to get the words out of her mouth…

"Azula…" Sokka said again, his voice grave. She shut her eyes tight and closed her eyes.

"I'm sorry" she said "I couldn't… I couldn't do anything. I was too stupid, it never even crossed my mind that you… t-that you could have succeeded. I just thought you'd gotten away, but now…"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"There was… a mass execution today" Azula said. Sokka gasped "Zhao… h-he said he'd caught them, the rebels. M-my father, he summoned me for the execution, and I… I thought it was them, Sokka. I thought you might be amongst them, and I was… I was terrified, I was furious, I was powerless, I…"

"But he didn't… he didn't catch them!" Sokka exclaimed, frowning "Zhao didn't catch anyone! If you're saying this execution happened halfway through the day, there's no way he caught the actual…!"

"I see that now" Azula said, gritting her teeth and reaching up to yank at her hair "I… I'm sorry, Sokka. Zhao must've… he must've found slaves elsewhere. And then… and then they executed them in the place of…"

Sokka's eyes widened. The hand gripping the towel released it. His mouth opened slightly, as Azula's words sank in.

"They thought no one would know" Azula said, fisting her hair "Shit, even I didn't know! I…! I wouldn't have realized it either if… i-if you hadn't taken off to save them! They just found substitutes, they killed those instead, and…! And I… I couldn't do anything. I couldn't… I'm so… I'm so sorry, Sokka…"

She couldn't stay upright anymore. She couldn't stand on her own two feet. She dropped on her knees before him, tears spilling from her eyes after she had spent the entire day holding them in. She had been a fool. A worse fool than she had realized. She had underestimated her father, underestimated Zhao… how could she be so blind? How could she forget what they were capable of? To them, slaves amounted to nothing. They were all one and the same, weren't they? The crime of one was the crime of all.

She had been useless. Powerless, and useless. Even her attempt to help had served no use. Sokka had saved twelve lives… and by doing so, condemned twelve others to death by Fire Lord Ozai's command.

Sokka's teeth were gritted, and his hands had turned into fists so tight his nails were drawing blood from his palms. The snarl over his face was wilder than the one he had displayed when he had lost himself in his fight against the Millennium Dragon…

He hadn't failed. He hadn't, and yet his success had been paid for by people who had nothing to do with it. People who had every right to live, just like those he had saved. And he hadn't had the power to do anything about it. Neither had Azula.

Fury like none he'd known before boiled under his skin. The woman on her knees before him seemed to feel defeated, her head hung, her shoulders slumped… but Sokka's rage was too strong. It was too impetuous. It wasn't defeat… it was hatred. Burning hatred of the sorts he hadn't felt in more years than he could remember.

The same hatred that had burned inside his heart in the South Pole, the same hatred that had built up into poisonous vitriol when he had lived in Hui Yi.

The kind of hatred that now urged him to rid the world of Fire Lord Ozai.