The Rider Redux

Chapter 3: Fury of the Rider

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender or Ghost Rider


"Let's play little sister…"

Without warning the flaming skeleton formally known as Zuko charged. The walls erupted and the ground shook as it ran; coming closer towards Azula, its intent clear. A single Dai Li agent leapt between Azula and the monster. Acting quickly, he bent a massive wall of earth between them, filling the entire hallway.

But this did nothing to stop Zuko. For a second later what sounded like ripping paper could be heard as a flaming arm ripped through the wall at a high arch and came slashing down. The bony appendages ripped right through the agent like fire melting ice. As quickly as the arm appeared, it just as quickly disappeared; even before the now dead agent had fallen to the ground.

Everyone watched in sickening horror as the agent fell. The smell of smoldering flesh filled the air. The group then gazed back at the wall of earth that now had a large slashed like hole in it, as a flaming skeletal hand grasped the left edge.

"Here's… Zuzu!" Shouted the monster, as its face suddenly appeared in the hole. It then walked through as though the wall of earth was nothing more than wet paper.

The flaming skeleton that Zuko then swung out his left arm, causing a shaft of searing hot flame to erupt and race towards Azula's chest. Deftly twisting out of the way, Azula avoided the spear of fire. The Dai Li behind her was not so lucky. Striking in the dead center of his chest, the flame incinerated the man. Azula stared at his ashes in surprise. 'Zuko got an upgrade… He was never like this before.' Azula thought to herself.

Pulling back her hands, Azula launched her own, unique blue fire at the thing that had worn her brother's skin. The monster merely leaned to the side, allowing the fire to shot past.

It laughed again, sending a chill down their spines, "Is that the best you can do…little sister?"

Said sister was getting fed up with that tiny taunt.

But Mai, despite her fears, spoke quickly, "Azula, we have to pull back and get more space to maneuver. In here we can't dodge that well."

Azula wanted to argue, but she was stopped by the rather impressive spray of fire that attempted to cremate her. Dodging again and being forced to watch yet another Dai Li get incinerated, Azula growled, "Back off…we'll lead him into an ambush."


The small group of Azula's friends and the remaining Dai Li basically ran for their lives down the small hallways and corridors leading into the throne room. Azula spun and yelled, "Barricade that door!"

The Dai Li proved themselves once again expert earthbenders and reinforced the door against Zuko's, or should we say the demon's wrath.

Azula let out a long breath and then she turned to Mai, "Alright, explain to me how that thing is Zuzu?"

Mai nodded, "I went to get Zuko, just as you ordered, but he seemed to be in pain. When I attempted to touch him I got burned."

Ty Lee looked up, "You mean, he blasted you with firebending?"

Mai shook her head, "No, I mean he was hot to the touch, nearly burning, even through his clothing." She shuddered, if only slightly as her mask of indifference finally fell in place, "The most notable thing, was that he seemed to be burning up from the inside out…"

Azula rolled her eyes, "Well obviously…Zuzu is now a flaming skeleton with a chain for a weapon and Agni knows what else…"

BOOM

Azula heard the stunning impact on the doorway.

"Great…he's here."


Zuko pounded on the door, driving his flaming fist into the wooden frame. Azula was just on the other side; he could still pay her back!

He then stopped and scratched his skull in thought. Didn't he have a mission? Didn't he need to bring something back to the spirit world?

Zuko thought about that. 'That man wanted me to bring something back to the spirit world…something that had escaped. That prey could be more fun then this prey. It may not run from me.'

Zuko turned, and started down the hallway from which he had come. There were other ways out of the massive palace than just the front door.


During all this chaos, two people had been putting a rather sly plan into action. The two conspirators, both female, were walking down a tunnel that one of them was creating.

"You sure this is a good idea? What if we…" Spoke the young waterbender known as Katara.

"Shut up would you? Twinkle Toes will need a firebending teacher, when he wakes up, right?" The young earthbender known as Toph asked.

"Yes…but breaking into the same place we barely got out of?"

"They'll never expect us to pull the same stunt twice! That's the beauty of it Sugar Queen! Now kindly shut up and let me work!"


As the flame headed warrior smashed his way through a wall, he glanced about. This prey he was after was, hiding outside the city. If not, he would need to search for it. He would need something to move fast-

"Well Zuko, having fun?"

The flame headed teen spun, and spotted the man who had seemingly both gifted and cursed him with these abilities.

The man smiled and tossed a slip of paper to Zuko saying, "Here's your first target. Return him to the Spirit World with extreme prejudice."

Then something moved up beside him. Zuko would have blinked if he could. It was a Komodo Rhino, a large animal usually found in the Fire Nation. But this one wasn't the usual grey. Instead it was a deep black, and it locked eyes with Zuko's hollow sockets. It tossed its head, its three horns sharp in the harsh glows of its rider's flames.

"Every rider has a beast of burden that carries them. This is yours…"

Zuko stared, and touched the beast. In a heartbeat it transformed. Its skin and muscles were mostly burnt away, leaving a charred skeleton. It retained some of its flesh, but it was on fire. It shot flames and ash from its nostrils. Zuko turned to ask the man, but found that he was gone. Zuko, shrugging, mounted up.

His head nearly brushed the top of the low ceiling. Then the rider kicked both heels into its sides, and the beast took off, leaving fiery foot prints and scorch marks on the walls in its wake.


Azula had moved from the main throne room, and was outside, planning to make a stand where she had the advantage. Ty Lee and Mai followed her. Azula snapped, "I want everyone on their toes, Zuzu could-"

SMASH

Everyone spun at hearing the ripping stone, and watched in some shock as Zuko landed, riding what some described later as 'a beast born from the depths of hell itself'.

Azula watched as the rider turned to look at her, then turned back and caused the beast to leap into a dead run. It tore over the stone stairway, and started towards the city.

"Get him!" Screamed Azula.

Several Dai Li had the Mongoose Dragons that Azula had hidden just outside the palace. After all, after beating the oddly dressed female warriors, Azula had not just intended to walk to Ba Sing Se. Azula and her two cohorts leapt into the saddle.

"This might not be the wisest idea…" Commented Mai.

"I won't allow that thing to run about in my city," snapped Azula.

She kicked her heels hard and the Mongoose Dragon tore after the fiery beast that left such a clear, if somewhat fiery, trail.


Meanwhile, the two females under the city were close to their goal or so they hoped.

"Are you sure he's in there?" Asked Katara.

"I'm the girl that can see through most solid rock remember? Of course I know he's in there!" Toph replied.

"Just checking…"

"Here we go!"

Toph Bei Fong pushed against the rocks and caused it to cave in, exposing the cell.

Iroh was calmly sitting against the wall until he saw it crash down. When he saw the two girls enter his cell his first words to them were, "Might I ask what you are doing here?"

Grinning Toph replied, "What? Never heard of a jail-break before?"


The rider tore through the open area of the Upper Ring gardens, burning them as he passed. With little clutter, it was easy to bypass much. He then turned to look behind him. 'Come on, let's see you keep up with this Azula,' he thought as he watched the princess chase after him. Zuko kicked both his heels into his steed, and the beast let out a shriek like a dying animal as it moved faster.

Azula, meanwhile, was furious at the pace that Zuko's new animal could do. 'Where the hell did he get that demon?'

Spurring her Mongoose Dragon on, Azula smirked as she looked past Zuko. The Dai Li had closed the gates to the Middle Ring. "He's got no where to go!" Azula shouted to Mai and Ty Lee.


Seeing the closed gates, the beast increased its speed.

The rider let out a roar and the beast started to run strait up the closed gate, heading for the top of the earthen fortification.


"He's got nowhere to go but up!" Ty Lee shouted. Azula stared, in some shock, as Zuko's animal seemed run strait up the wall with little or no effort. Her eyes blazing, she changed course, went towards a staircase that headed up to the top of the fortification. Several Dai Li were waiting there, and taking a cue, started earth bending a ramp for her to run up.

Zuko had his beast running across the top of the fortifications, until he noticed Azula and her goons coming up a ramp. Azula stopped her mounted Dragon right in his path. Then she put her fingers together. Thrusting out her arm, a bolt of lightning shot at what had been her older brother mere hours before.

Zuko's animal seemed to anticipate the move, and it leapt over Azula and Mongoose Dragon, landing on the other side and continuing its run.

Zuko laughed, again with the demonic howl, "Try again, little Zula."

Glaring, Azula promised she would. Whatever it took; there would be suffering.


Jin was tired. It was late and she had been forced to keep working through the night to make end's meat.

She was also disappointed that both Mushie and Lee had vanished. She liked Lee, after all who wouldn't? He was tall, handsome, and seemed a bit of a tragic figure.

It was then that she noticed what looked like a little ball of fire running along the edge of the Outer Wall fro the window of the shop she was working in.

"What's that?" She asked herself aloud curiously.


Next chapter: By Fire, Shall He Ride

That's it for this chapter. The next chapter will be up in a couple of weeks. Please leave a review and tell me what you think.