Tada! Chapter seven says hello. Once again let's all thank Lionfire5224 for making this chapter wonderful! Enjoy the fight!
I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender
Chapter 7: Fight or Flight
They all gaped at Azula wide eyed, their eyes full of hate, piercing her. Her intimidating golden eyes showed no fear; they only bore anger and a sadistic evil. The Gaang shifted positions into their attack stances, but Azula didn't move a muscle, in fact, she looked…bored. Zuko knew this was going to be a precarious battle but he shifted that thought from his mind.
Without the slightest bit of hesitation, simultaneously, the entire gaang shot all that they had at Azula, but their attacks were blocked by the couple of dozen guard's firebending and the Dai Li's earth walls that came out from behind the trees just like Azula had. Each one of the gaang members redirected their gazes away from Azula to take on three enemies each. Aang and Zuko stood back to back, staring at their attackers. Without taking his eyes off Azula, Zuko said to Aang darkly, "Azula's mine."
Zuko knew Aang understood and Azula smiled evilly as they circled each other waiting for one another to make the first move. "Oh Zuzu, you know you can never defeat me, even with the help of the Avatar," Azula laughed.
Zuko narrowed his gaze at her and fired volleys of fire balls from each fist at her, grunting with each punch, as she dodged his arsenal of attacks. "Azula, if it wasn't for Katara you wouldn't even be alive," he shouted at her angrily, and her smile faltered a little. Zuko noticed this and as they kept attacking each other he queried nastily, "Where's your adherents? Did they finally come to their senses and leave you on your own?"
This hit a nerve and she screamed manically, sending blue flame at Zuko which he merely dodged. Lucky he had good reflexes from his Blue Spirit days. Azula then made a ring of fire around the two by lifting her arms to the sky that acted as a wall between them and the others, and lit the surrounding trees on fire.
"You don't know what you're talking about, brother," Azula argued.
Zuko ignored her previous statement and asked, "What happened? Did daddy leave his little prodigy too?"
"Just because dad never loved you! Just because he scarred you for life. Only our precious mother-," she spat the word, "-ever cared for you. She's the only one who ever has and ever will love you!" Azula laughed hysterically.
Meanwhile, the rest of the gaang was battling it out with the Fire Nation prison guards and the Dai Li agents, avoiding the ring of fire. All that could be seen was flashes of all the elements and the reflection off of Sokka and Hakoda's weapons from the blazing sun that warmed their backs.
Iroh and Aang had knocked out their Dai Li agents and their guards and were now helping the others out. As they attacked and maneuovered, working together, they all heard Zuko shout fiercly, "Dad said that you were born lucky, and that I was lucky to be born. But I don't need luck to finish you off. You are worthless scum and today it ends, Azula," he smirked.
"Yeah...for you brother." Zuko noticed her smile return and his smirk vanished.
Azula tripled the height of the ring of fire, the sudden heat increase causing Katara to turn around. Before she had time to think, Azula was bringing the ring of fire down on top of Zuko, encasing him in blue flames. Everyone else was preoccupied with the Dai Li agents and the prison guards. So in one swift action Katara had brought as much water as she could from the ocean. Using all of her strength, she bent it to where Azula was standing.
Katara managed to veer the flames away from Zuko's lifeless, burnt body and a wall of water and flame met between both Katara and Azula. Katara had a look of utmost horror and hatred across her face, wisps of hair hung in front of her eyes tickling her face. I will get my revenge. Azula's hair was messy and her bangs hung in her face. She looked like she hadn't slept in ages, and overall Azula looked utterly crazy.
Slowly, Azula's flames started overpowering Katara's element. The sun was giving Azula the power she needed against the Waterbending master and she was full of adrenaline. Katara's stance began to slip, but she managed to hold her position.
And all of a sudden, something shifted in Azula's face. She faltered, bringing her arms down to her side. Her eyes widened, as a realization seemed to hit her. Her eyes pricked with sudden tears, and before Katara knew what was happening, she was on the ground screaming, tears falling hysterically from the princess's eyes.
Slowly, Katara brought her arms down and the water descended to the ground, unnoticed by all. The gaang had defeated the Dai Li agents and the prison guards who either laid unconsciousness on the ground or were in too much pain to get back up. And there stood two figures, Ty Lee and Mai, near Azula who lay on the ground, shaking uncontrollably as tears poured down her face.
As the gaang gazed around at the destruction that one person could cause, Katara ran over to Zuko with tears streaming down her face. She kneeled next to him and sobbed over his body. Regardless, with her hands still shaking she bent the water that was left lying on the ground and began to heal Zuko's major burns.
Toph encased Azula's ankles and wrists with earth so that she couldn't get up. The rest of the gaang, with Iroh in front ran over to where Zuko laid still, his lips slightly parted and his eyes closed, surrounding him in a circle.
Gradually, some of Zuko's major burns began to heal as everyone remained silent, apart from the occasional yell from Azula struggling against her bonds. After a couple minutes of healing Zuko began to awaken, opening his eyes slightly. Despite his burns, Katara placed a hand under his head and sat him up, embracing him softly. He groaned quietly and Katara let go, making way for Iroh to see his nephew who also wrapped his arms around him gently.
After a couple of minutes of comforting Sokka suggested, "I think it might be a good idea to get out of here."
The gaang silently agreed and looked over to where Mai and Ty Lee stood in the exact same position.
Indicating to Azula, Mai told them blankly, "We'll take care of her."
They turned toward the balloon and Aang asked, "Uh, the balloon looks much smaller up close. Are we all going to fit in there?"
The gaang looked expectantly at Sokka who put up his hands defensively, "Why are you all looking at me?"
"Because you're the idea's guy," Aang shrugged.
Sokka opened his mouth to respond but his response was drowned out by a groan from above them. And sure enough, a massive, white bison came diving down from behind the clouds, with a small lemur flying alongside him.
"APPA!" Aang called joyfully, jumping up to hug Appa's head.
The group smiled at each other and Sokka said, "I was just about to suggest that you use Appa's bison whistle."
They all groaned. Suki shook her head and pecked him on the cheek. "I have to admit it, I missed you."
He grinned and began to shout out orders, "Ok, Aang you will have to fly Appa, Iroh, we will need your firebending to operate the balloon, Katara you go on Appa so that you can keep healing Zuko, Toph you can go on Appa, dad and Suki you can come with me and Iroh on the balloon, because you don't know where to go." They all nodded and went to their respective means of transportation.
In a matter of minutes the gaang, accompanied by their three new members were on their way back to The Western Air Temple.
On Appa, Toph was laying against the saddle lazily and Katara said to her, "Toph I need to lie Zuko down but there's not enough room with you in the saddle."
Toph replied sarcastically, "Well what do you want me to do about it? Sit on Appa's head?"
"Actually, that's exactly what I want you to do."
"No way, Princess!" Toph argued.
"Please Toph. I can't heal Zuko if he's not lying down," Katara pleaded.
Aang who had been listening to their conversation had an idea and called behind him teasingly, "Toph, I know you're scared of falling, but I'll make sure you won't."
Toph scoffed, "Me? Scared? Whatever, Twinkletoes."
"So what's the harm of sitting here with me?" He asked.
Toph opened her mouth to respond but closed it again as she had no retort. She let out a frustrated sigh and asked angrily, "Well are you going to me help me or not?"
Aang suppressed a laugh and helped her from Appa's saddle. I always know how to get to Toph. Her weaknesses are easily penetrated.
For the rest of the ride, Toph held on tight to Aang, feeling their faces get hot as Momo flew in circles around them and Katara continued to heal the dazed Prince.