Avatar: the Rider
Chapter 2: The Rider Appears…
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Avatar the Last Airbender or any of its products. Nor do I own Ghost Rider, which is a product of Marvel.
Ba Sing Sei
Zuko: Age 17
Azula: Age 15
After the coup inside the Earth Kingdom's capital, there had been slight chaos as the new leader, Crown Princess Azula, dug her claws deeper into the various bureaucracies of the mammoth city.
With her takeover, several monument things had happened. The Dai Li grew in power, becoming nearly the official army of the city. While their leader Long Feng did order them, each knew that the true power rested with the fifteen year old girl who had grown up far too fast.
A surprise addition to her ranks was her now seventeen year old brother, Zuko. Having been on the run for a good portion of his teenage life, Zuko was now apparently falling back into his father's good graces. Or so he hoped…
Said brother was pacing his assigned quarters, his unkempt hair swinging every time he spun around. He was slightly confused, but his inner hope of being finally accepted by his father was what kept him moving.
Is it finally over…my exile?
He wasn't sure…he had trusted his sister…
Didn't I once say Azula always lies?
He shook his head as he went and sat down on the edge of his bed. Then…something that seemed very similar to his past happened.
"Hello Prince Zuko…"
Zuko froze, feeling his heart nearly stop. Didn't he know that voice? He leapt up, firing encircling his hands. He quickly shifted from a casual stance to a defensive one. Whoever had sneaked inside obviously didn't harbor good feelings-
"Come now dear Prince…we haven't spoken since that night of your sister's illness…"
Zuko spun, his eyes searching for whoever was in the room.
Damn it to hell…where is he?!
Then he saw him…standing in the corner just like last time. The man hadn't changed one iota since that last time, all those years ago. The man smiled,
"We made a deal Zuko…your sister's life for your soul and service…time to pay up…" Zuko glared,
"Pay up? You have my soul…or so you say…" The man smiled,
"Indeed I do…but the service has not been rendered…"
Zuko didn't dissipate the fire around his hands,
"Service…what service…" The man smiled once more…Zuko was getting the feeling that he wouldn't like what was coming.
"You see Zuko…normally I have no causes to leave the spirit world…unless someone breaks out…then I have a problem…" He pointed to the scarred teen,
"Then I need someone like you to bring them back…a rider…" The apparent 'rider' was not impressed,
"A rider? What do you mean rider? Quit speaking like my uncle and get to the point!"
The man smiled,
"Ah yes…General Iroh…you followed your sister instead of him yes?" Zuko narrowed his eyes,
"Don't change the subject, what do you mean I'm now a…rider?" The man nodded,
"A rider…quite simply…is a spirit empowered bounty hunter…" Then with a swiftness that Zuko didn't expect, the man rushed towards him…and tapped him once on the chest.
Zuko was about to strike back…when the heat hit him like a good batch of Fire Nation sake. Zuko nearly doubled over. But he did manage to choke out,
"What…did…you…do…to…me…you…bast-" He was cut off by what felt like pure lava boiling in his chest. The man nodded,
"This is only a side effect of your change…if you were Water Tribe, it would be ice instead…and if you were an Earthbender, it would be a very heavy feeling of gravity…I don't know what an Airbender would feel…they never give up their souls…"
Then he turned and started to walk away. But Zuko yelled out,
"What is happening to me?!" The man turned only for a second,
"You are becoming the rider…I hear the first time is quite…exhilarating…have fun…"
Bored…
Lady Mai was bored…but then…wasn't she always bored?
She casually looked over at the throne, as she leaned against the wall. Azula was in her element, giving orders and having grown men quaking in fear. Mai rolled her eyes as she watched. It was better than staring at the wall after all.
"Hi Mai!" The usually gloomy girl repressed a sigh. She turned her head, and stared at the bouncy form of Ty Lee. The little acrobat was bouncing on the balls of her feet, looking quite excited. Feeling that a headache might be coming soon, Mai quickly looked for a reason to leave.
Azula was pleased. She had done what ever her Uncle had failed to do…take the entire Earth Kingdom city in a few nights. She smirked to herself.
I have done what everyone else has failed to do…
As she was congratulating herself for the near hundredth time, she glanced over at Mai and Ty Lee. Azula chuckled, seeing that Mai was quickly going to have a headache soon.
I should get something for my little dart thrower to do…Ty Lee will drive her nuts…
Azula cleared her throat. Almost instantly both Ty Lee and Mai were quiet and awaiting orders. Azula smirked once again, and said,
"Mai, could you be so kind and go and get Zuzu for me?"
Thank Agni for Azula…
Mai nodded and started to walk down the hallway and out of the throne room. She was still trying to live down having been Zuko's fiancée, and Azula she knew would never let her forget that.
Turning a corner, then another, Mai was quickly closing on her destination.
I wonder what Zuko is up to…he hasn't appeared yet today…and it is well after sundown…
Mai turned one last corner and found herself mere meters from Zuko's door.
Finally…you think these idiots in this stupid kingdom had built this place to be this damn confusing…
Mai was about to reach for the door when a loud 'smash!' could be heard from inside.
What the…
Mai opened the door and stepped inside. Quickly glancing around, her eyes fell on Zuko.
Her eyes widened in surprise. The scarred boy was holding his head and was half bend over, obviously in pain.
"Zuko?" Mai moved in one smooth motion and put her hand on his shoulder. Instantly she gave out a yelp of pain and yanked her hand back. She looked down at her palms.
I'm…burnt?
She glanced at Zuko as he finally managed to turn around.
Now, normally Mai is about as emotional as a rock. She normally only rarely (As in avatar rarity) smiled. She almost never lets her emotions get the better of her.
This was one time she let her emotions get the better of her.
Zuko…
Zuko…well…looked like hell. Literally…
He had bits of his face seemingly on fire. His hair was starting to smoke. His eyes…his eyes were gone...replaced by fire…
"Mai?" His voice was labored, as if he had trouble breathing. Mai simply stared,
"Wha…what is…" Zuko suddenly grabbed his head again, as more fire seemed to burst from his skin. He did manage to speak,
"Mai…get…the hell…away…from me!" Zuko staggered to the corner, holding his head. His hair now seemed on the verge of bursting into flame. Mai took one step forward,
"Zuko, what is goin-"
Zuko then exploded.
Well…not literally this time. But a wave of fire roared off of him, picking up Mai and slamming her against the wall. She only saw stars for a second, before sinking into blissful unconsciousness…
Azula was in the middle of chewing out an incompetent Dai Li member, and seriously considering using the fool for a bit of firebending practice, when the shockwave reached the throne room.
BOOM
The shockwave rocked the room, causing things to rattle and shake. Azula gripped her chair as the wave passed. Then she got to her feet,
"Someone tell me what the hell was THAT!" But the various Dai Li didn't have an answer. She spun to Ty Lee,
"Lets go, that was not normal…we'll collect Mai and Zuzu on the way…" Ty Lee, after picking herself off the floor where she had crashed, followed Azula.
Mai winced as she returned to the land of the living.
Ouch…that…hurt…
She pulled herself off the ground. She then noticed she had a few boards and things lying on top of her. Grunting, she pushed the various debris off herself, and got to her feet.
Her back was to the doorway, which was still shut. Squeezing her eyes shut, she steadied herself before looking around for Zuko. There was someone else in the room with her. Their back was to her, but she could see the flames roared off of his head, as he was bent slightly so she couldn't make out his head.
"Zuko…?" Then the figure turned to her.
Mai found herself gripped by an emotion she had almost forgotten. It took her a second to realize was it was. She was…terrified. She was gripped by sheer terror at the site of the thing in front of her.
It had only a human skull for a head, surrounded by flames. Its hands were skeletal as well, surrounded by fire.
The things clothing helped to complete the image. Around its frame, a long coat, reaching to its knees, hung. It had various holes in it, allowing smoke to escape. It included a set of six spikes on the shoulders to complete the image. Under that coat…clothing she knew was Zukos…
And wrapped from its right shoulder to its left hip was a twin layer of thick chain…
By Agni's light…what have you become Zuko?!
The thing then laughed, but this was a laugh that would frighten even Azula possibly. It was a demonic roar, promising pain and destruction to everything that got in its way.
Mai's body finally got the message and she tore open the door and ran. She ran from the monster that had been, only a little while ago, Ex-Prince Zuko…
Azula and Ty Lee were marching through the hall ways, looking for the source of that blast. A dozen Dai Li backed them up, but Azula led.
They turned another corner. Azula glared at Ty Lee,
"What the hell was that blast…"
"Maybe Zuko?" Azula snarled,
"If he blew up part of my new palace, I will skin the idiot alive…"
Then something odd happened. As Azula was walking, she could feel the temperature of the area actually rising. She narrowed both eyes, and called for a halt.
Then Mai came skidding around the corner and ran to them. Azula actually let her eyes widen in surprise. Was Mai…frightened?
"Mai…what is going on?" Mai glanced over her shoulder, another surprising thing,
"It's Zuko…he's…"
Azula rolled her eyes,
"What has dear Zuzu done this time…"
Then she heard the laughter. It was slightly similar to Zuko's…but this couldn't be Zuzu…Zuko didn't sound like a demon coming looking for something to play with…
Mai spun around; her eyes looking for the demon that worn human flesh only a short time ago. Ty Lee grew worried,
"Mai…your aura is scared…" Mai nodded,
"I didn't know I could still get scared…"
Then Azula felt the heat. And she watched as fire spread from the corner that Mai had come around and started to burn everything. She took a step back,
"What is…"
Then the fire came with a roar. It surged up and engulfed a good amount of the structure. The Dai Li, with professionalism, moved past Azula and formed a protective barricade, protecting their leader. Azula glared past her pawns, and looked into the fire. Then she heard footsteps over the fire. Mai felt her eyes widen,
"Don't fight him here Azula…lead him back to the throne room…we have more space to dodge…" Azula glared at Mai,
"Don't tell me how-" She was cut off as she watched a chain, a chain of all things, tore from the flames and wrapped around one of the Dai Li. The man screamed, as it burned into his flesh. With a mighty pull, it yanked the man deep into the flames. His screams rebounded off the walls until they abruptly stopped. Then a body was flung from the fire and it crashed down in front of Azula.
She found her voice lost. The man's entire face had been brunt clean, leaving only the smooth skull showing on the front. She glanced up, as a voice spoke,
"Azula…you…are…my…prey…" Said princess growled,
"I am no one's prey Zuzu, come out and face-".
Her voice died, as he did appear. Mai started to shake as she fully got a look at what Zuko had turned into.
Azula was too…scared? Did she get scared anymore? Well…this definitely counted for her being scared.
His skull was surrounded by fire; he didn't have any flesh left. Then his jaw bone opened and that same dark laugh echoed out. It continued to laugh. The remaining Dai Li took a step back, as if they had received a physical blow.
Ty Lee let out a shriek and leapt to the back of the group.
The thing laughed again, and pointed one bony finger at Azula, its burning eye sockets hollow,
"Lets play little sister…"
Well...how is that for Chapter 2? I was astonished that I got three reviews in around 24 hours! I was so happy!
