Chapter 9: On, Off, Run!

The trio raced through the midnight air and to a small hiding place near the ship. The full moon near its peak, Katara and Hakou both could feel their powers growing.

"There's a problem," Hakou pointed to two guards standing by the ship.

"Not at all," Marron pulled his hood far over his face and took a sizable stick from the ground and headed off in a different direction.

The two guards absently talked about the morning to come. Not really trying to keep watch they barely realized an old man walking toward them. Leaning heavily on a cane he walked up to the guards.

"Excuse me my boys," he spoke in a low crackly voice, "May an old man inquire something?"

"Ok, but make it quick."

"Thank you, which way to Maurburry Island?"

"It's that way," the first soldier said pointing to his left slightly near Katara and Hakou.

"No," spoke up the other, "It's that way," pointing towards the mountain side of the Island.

The old man stroked his chin. "Are you boys sure? I was pointed in this direction from someone in town. He said it was over there," he said raising a hand to motion towards the ship.

Both soldiers turned.

"Well, maybe he's right," second soldier started.

The first looked at him weird; "No I'm pretty sure – 'CLANG!!'

Both soldiers' heads were struck together, the sound of their helmets meeting rang as clear as any bell. The two fell to the ground in a heap. The old man stood in full and dropped his make-shift cane. Raising his hooded head, Marron motioned for Hakou and Katara to follow. Back in the dark brush, the two just looked at each and other and shook their heads.

Sneaking to the landing ramp the three silently crept up the metal walkway onto the ship deck. Three shadows crept across the deck towards the main door. Suddenly a soldier came into view. Marron and Hakou dropped to the deck and shrank against the solid railing. Hakou brought Katara down with himself and covered her mouth.

The over tired and under paid man just about walked by them when Katara tried to shrink against Hakou more and made his swords tap against the railing quite loudly.

The soldier spun around;

"What the…"

The alarm couldn't be given. Marron kicked up into a standing position and launched forward, putting the tips of his outstretched fingers into the man's throat. The soldier staggered back clutching his neck with a choking sound. The man's spear fell to the deck, but was caught and kicked back up by Marron's foot without a sound. The spear spun and with a splash, the soldier was knocked into the water by the metal pole.

Casting the spear into the water, Marron turned and motioned for the others to follow him. Katara took a moment to come back to reality as her face had been frozen in aw at Marron sudden explosion of speed and reflexes. Hakou just smiled in the shadows at his friend's abilities. 'So this is how he survived,' he thought.

Once all three had crossed the deck, they came to a side door. Hakou covered the handle with water to help prevent squeaking as he twisted the lock open. The three rushed in and took defenses positions. Nodding to each other Hakou and Katara ran off towards stairs. Marron found a vent and jumped, punching the grate in. His second jump, he grabbed onto the ledge and pulled himself up and in. Replacing the grate from the inside he began crawling down one of the pipes.

Katara and Hakou ran through the hallways as quietly as possible not to awake any of the officers. They rushed from the main level down to the second level. Sliding from door to door they listened for sounds that would give away Katara's friends' hiding place. No such noises were heard as of yet, but they probably weren't on the right level. But they checked just to be safe.

Marron crawled using his elbows. He soon found a suitable grate to drop into. Removing the slotted steel, he slipped through the hole and landed with a slight thud as his boots struck the metal floor.

The room was a small armory. Firenation armor and weapons lined the wall. Taking a sword known as a banshee; a cousin of the broadswords' older brother the ghost sword, he strapped it to his back and moved a spear to the door. Pulling a small cloth bag out of a pouch, he placed it on the floor and tied a string to a corner. Reeling the string out he walked to the door, tucking the spear under his arm, he walked out into the hallway and shut the door. Taking two spark rocks, he struck them together to produce the necessary element in his 'distraction'. The string caught fire and began to burn towards the door.

Smiling he took the spear and ran down the hall, trying to find a ladder or the like up to a higher level. Finding a ladder, he climbed up and took a defensive position with the pole arm. Sliding to the corner, he put the spear there and jumped. Putting his hands and feet out, he caught himself on the walls. Slowly inching his way up, his back finally touched the ceiling, so he waited.

A little sooner then expected; an explosion was heard from downstairs. Shouting could be heard form across the ship. Soldiers began swarming the halls; orders were flying back and forth. Marron finally heard what he wanted;

"You two, guard the Avatar on level three!"

"Yes Sir!"

"Yes Sir!"

As the soldiers vacated the halls, Marron expertly dropped to the floor and took his spear. Running to the next ladder he followed it up. A soldier stood at the top of the stairs facing the other way. Marron climbed as silently as a cat. Standing behind the guard, Marron took aim and attacked. The edge of his hand collided with a barely exposed spinal cord. The soldier dropped, but was quickly caught with the pole of the young intruders spear and slowly eased down with barely a sound.

Moving so he could only see down the hall, the intruder watched and waited, when deemed safe he moved down the hall. Sliding from corner to corner, he found another ladder.

Katara slipped from door to door, listening against the cold steel at each one. Going down stairs, she began all over again. Hakou slowly walked behind her keeping a look out to insure no one would come from behind.

Katara reached a door and put her ear to the metal. From inside she heard a voice:

"Sokka!" she harshly whispered.

Hakou walked over to the door and flex his arms out; cracking his knuckles. Water spewed forth from his twin water skins. Wrapping around his arms, he then launched the liquid at the door. The water struck with amazing force and then began to freeze. From the other side, the room's occupants watched as water practically exploded from the frame of the door and freeze, creating glacier-like spikes. The metal bent from the sheer force of the ices' entrance. The door fell out of place as the ice became liquid again.

Three soldiers occupied the room. Three soldiers, three seconds. Hakou exploded into action. Rushing forward, his first attack was an elbow that founds it resting spot in the first soldiers face. Spinning to his left, Hakou's left leg came under and across, planting his booted foot into the stomach of the next gut in line. Continuing his momentum, his right hand shot out and bashed the last soldiers head into the metallic wall of the ship.

The two other occupants' faces were a mix of surprise, glee, and awe.

"I'm going further down" Hakou told Katara as he bolted from the room.

"I'm here" Katara said as she ran into the room and began to work on Sokka's lock. Her brother watched her actions for a moment, unable to realize that this was actually his sister.

The lock broke from the freezing conditions Katara presented. Sokka was slowly helped out with his sister's aid. They looked at each other for mere seconds then embraced, tears running down their respective cheeks.

Toph came to the front of her cage.

"Katara, is that you?"

"Yes Toph," Katara said fighting the tears of joy, "It's me."

Katara pulled water from a skin Hakou had given her and cleanly cut through Toph's imprisonment. The two embraced quickly and helped Sokka to the door.

Hakou sped down the hallway. Suddenly a small explosion echoed from a higher floor. Hakou nearly lost his footing, but caught himself and ran with it. A soldier opened a door in front of Hakou to investigate. Without slowing, the Water bender slammed into the door with his shoulder. A small cracking sound, a scream, and then crashing of objects were easily heard. Momentum barely lost, Hakou kept running laughing out loud at his mental image, the soldier suddenly having the door shut on his face; priceless.

The young Avatar was brought from his nightmares when an explosion sounded from within the ship. He heard lots of shouting and soldiers running about. Soon everything echoed to the lower parts of the ship. Aang hung his head, not daring to hope that it was anything beneficial. He then heard the door to his room being opened.

Aang didn't look up; it was just another soldier to torment him, or Azula to laugh at him for getting his hopes up. He heard the sound of metal on the floor, followed by the door closing slowly. The Avatar looked up with only his eyes to see two guards lying on the ground and someone standing above them. This greatly intrigued his young mind, so he tilted his head up to observe. A cloaked figure stood above the downed soldiers, his right hand aglow with some kind of blue light.

"Who are you?"

The figure didn't say a word, he suddenly charged Aang, his hand behind him.

"What are you – WAIT!"

The cloaked man's hand launched forth and collided with Aang's stomach.

Pain, hot burning pain.

Then…life.

The young Airbender's body was flooded with energy. His tattoos began to glow with fierce light, then, it was over. Aang's body felt slightly regenerated. He wasn't as tired or in as much pain. He looked up at the cloaked man in question. But the cloaked warrior seemed to be of a different kind. He spoke first;

"Avatar Aang?"

"Yeah," Aang nodded slowly.

"You are getting out of here."

The cloaked man pulled off his hood, revealing a young warrior with long dark hair and deep blue eyes.

"Names Marron, and you are no longer the Fire Nations prisoner"

Aang looked at him with quite some confusion. Marron stepped back and snapped his arms out, blades extended from within his sleeves. Putting the blades into the chains that held Aang's limbs, he quickly twisted, busting the chains open. Once Aang was free, Marron helped him stand.

"Can you climb onto my back?"

"I think so"

Once Aang had gotten into position, Marron peeked out the door, and then cautiously stepped into the hall. Aang finally needed some answers.

"Who are you, what are you doing here?"

"I'm a friend, and Katara asked me to help."

"Katara's alive?!"

"Alive and well, she should be getting your brother and your other friend."

"What about Appa?"

"That's being handled."

The two ran down the hall and to a ladder that Marron hadn't used to get up. Sliding down, Marron turned to continue his run when a girl in pink stood in his path.

"What are you doing with the Avatar? Azula would be really mad if she found you. Wanna play with me instead?" she giggled.

Marron saw behind the façade. She was a fighter, she was strong.

"Sure, but I can't play for long." Marron smiled.

Ty-lee charged; Marron deftly stepped to the side. She swung and threw herself into a flurry of jabs. After dodging the best he could Marron backed up and let Aang down. Aang gave his blessings and would wait. Ty-lee smiled and charged again. Going for a jab, Marron threw up his left arm.

Ty-lee's hand collided with something she was not expecting; metal. Pulling her hand back with an expected "ouch!", her delay was all the young warrior was looking for. Grabbing her other hand, Marron spun her so he faced her back. Grabbing hold of her sash, he twisted it up. Pulling the banshee from his back, he drove it into the sash. Continuing his momentum he lifted Ty-lee into the air and drove the blade home in between two sheets of metal on the ceiling.

Ty-lee hung in confusion. She flailed, attempting to loosen herself.

"That's not fair! How did you do that?"

Marron smiled and picked up Aang once again. He continued his path to the next ladder, the Avatar on his back. This wasn't going to be as easy as he had hoped.

Katara quickly slipped along the halls with her friends. Sokka walked on his sword while Toph was aided by Katara. The trio quickly moved from hallway to hallway, dodging into rooms when guards were heard to be coming near.

"How did you get here? We thought you were dead!" Sokka whispered when they dodged into another room.

"I met someone who helped me; he's trying to get Aang at the moment."

"Who is he? What did he do?"

"His names Marron, he found me unconscious and nursed me back to health, to make a long story short."

Sokka was about to ask another question, but was stopped short by Toph as she gave the signal that it was safe to venture back into the halls.

Katara quietly explained that they had to make it out onto the deck and off the loading ramp, if that couldn't be done, that would attempt to go down and out the siege ramp. The three quietly walked when an explosion rocked the ship. Coming from the higher levels, Katara thought it must have been Marron; she only hoped he was alright.

As the three ran to the ladder, Toph warned of a great deal of soldiers above them. They agreed to try and get out onto the deck from one of the center staircases.

Hakou slipped down a side staircase into a large room. The belly of the beast. The room was dark except for the raging fire at the end of the ship. Several soldiers were by the fire talking in hushed voices. Several weapons and anvils lined the walls. As Hakou scanned the room his eyes fell across something that made him jump. A huge mechanical device slept. It had a large oval body and long legs that were now folded.

'This must be the machine Marron spoke of' Hakou quickly thought.

Continuing his gaze his eyes fell upon a monstrous cage. A huge sleeping beast resided in the metal prison. Hakou's boots were patted on the bottom, so he walked heel to toe, slowly shifting his weight and silently stalked across the room. Coming to a small cage first, Hakou allowed his vision to shift into the spectrum that allowed for the dark to bear its secrets to him. A small creature was curled in the back.

Tapping on the cage, the small animal then crawled forth. It poked its small head between the bars and looked upon Hakou with large green eyes. Hakou thought a moment.

"Momo?"

The small creature perked its ears up and purred. Hakou smiled and held a finger to its lips. Momo tilted his head and vanished into the cage. The water bender stood and walked to the side of the cage were its occupants' head rested. Hakou cautiously moved his hand in and stroked the bison's nose. The behemoth opened one eye. Hakou grabbed some hay from a bale near the cage and held it out for the caged beast to eat. It snorted.

"Are you Appa?" Hakou quietly asked.

Appa growled.

"I'm here to help; we're going to help Aang too"

Appa stood and grunted louder. A voice shouted from the fire inquiring as to the reason Appa was standing. Hakou shushed Appa and gave him a reassuring pat on the nose. Hakou then walked around the side of the cage and presented himself for the guards to see.

"Who are you?" one shouted drawing a sword.

"As the forces of nature see fit. . ." Hakou began as he walked closer.

"Stop right there!"

"The ocean rises against those who seek shelter…" Hakou raised is arms as he walked closer still slowly with his head down.

"You have five seconds to stop!"

"On the lands we feel so safe; untouchable…" Frost began to grow on the walls of the ship. The soldiers began to see their breath, fog was born form the cool air and the furnace meeting. The soldiers took defensive positions out of sudden fear.

"Stay back, we're warning you!"

"Until the seas turn from our life to send us to our graves!" Hakou's head snapped up, his eyes flashed. Ice spires exploded from the walls of the ship as water forced its way through the hull in small spurts and were instantly frozen.

Hundreds of ice needles exploded from the wall and into the soldiers. Hundreds of needles, no thicker than the width of a pinky nail, become the ends to several soldiers of the Fire Nation. The icy spears stretched from the wall were they were birthed form all the way to pierce the floor. It was gruesome if not in an artistic sense; as the deadly cage glimmered from the fire behind it.

Hakou smiled and turned back to the imprisoned animals.

Marron ran deftly through the halls, careful not to shake the boy on his back up to much. Sliding around a corner Marron came face to face with an annoyed Mai.

"I thought as much. You're going to pay for waking me up just to get the Avatar"

"Not my fault you got out of bed, would have been a lot simpler if you just went back to sleep and I just took the Avatar, then we'd both be happy." Marron retorted trying to sound as honest and sincere as he could at the moment.

Mai's hand flew up, a three-pronged blade shot from her sleeve and whistled towards the young intruder and his prize. This completely caught Marron off guard, he reflexes kicked in and his arm came up in defense. The blade bounced off the metal gauntlet inside Marron's sleeve.

Marron slowly lowered his arm, leery of Mai's speed and accuracy. Mai flicked her wrist and needles shot into he waiting hand. She brought her arm up and took aim. The young warrior watched closely.

"Aang, I need my arms a moment, you'd better hang on tight."

Aang nodded and gripped a little harder.

Metal needles whistled through the air. Metal rang out as the iron surface of Marron's gauntlets intercepted their paths. Throwing star, needles, knife, hurled through the air with amazing accuracy. Marron threw a small pellet to the ground, smoke exploded, engulfing the hall.

Mai fell back with a hand over her mouth to breath. Marron exploded from the smoke and slammed into his opponent. Mai hit the ground hard with a cough.

Marron continued to run; he only needed one more floor.

Appa roared as he stood for the first time in days. Hakou rushed to a giant pulley. Kicking the safety off, chains shook and ropes whistled as they were pulled from rest. Cool air rushed into the room as the ramp began to fall.

The cool night opened before the three. Momo shot off into the air. Appa slowly walked to the ramp, his legs hurt from being caged.

Katara and her friends ran up the central stairs. They burst from the under deck, rushing into the cool air. A massive slam rocked the ship. Sokka pointed out the obvious;

"The ramp fell!"

"Maybe its Hakou!" Katara cried, ushering her friends to follow.

As the three came to the end of the deck, they peered down to see Appa slowly emerging. Jumping down, they landed in the saddle. Sokka quickly crawled onto Appa's head, hugging him as much as possible.

"I missed you buddy!"

Appa snorted a reply.

"Can you fly?"

Appa shook his head, nearly knocking Sokka from his seat.

"Ok, just walk as fast as you can ok? Yip Yip!"

Appa snorted and picked up the pace as much as he could.

Hakou walked out onto the ramp, seeing Katara and her friends jump, he smiled and leapt into the ocean.

Marron tore down the hall, it was the final door. Nearly jumping into it, his boot came up and the doors flew wide open. He saw the final bit of Katara's cloak jump from the deck. Smiling he started down the stairs when a voice echoed from the ships tower.

"Where do you think your going?"

Azula dropped form higher up and used her fire to slow her landing. She was about fifty feet in front of Marron, who was about twenty feet from the door. Marron stared hard. This was not what he wanted, though he should have expected as much.

Azula laughed.

"Your attempt failed."

"No, it didn't" Marron said with confidence.

"What are blabbering about?"

"Everyone escaped."

"You didn't. And neither did the Avatar."

"Oh, yes he did."

With that final statement Marron took hold of Aang's hands and pulled him over his shoulder. Spinning he swung Aang around twice the released. Aang flew into the air with a cry. Immediately, water tendrils shot from the ocean and caught him. Making a bubble, they pulled him beneath the waves as quickly as they had appeared.

Azula stared in disbelief. Turning to Marron, her rage obvious;

"You weren't alone, were you!?" she shrieked.

"I had an old friend tag along," he spoke with a dead tone.

"You just cost yourself your life!"

"Not if my intuition has anything to say about it."

"Oh, your one of those kinds of fighters." She chided, crossing her arms. "Let's see how far that gets you."

Marron took a stance as Azula had now done. Azula smiled. The hairs on the back of Marron's neck stood up. Something was wrong.

In a flash, Marron spun and made a blind shot. A black knife with a ring on the end of the handle flew from his sleeve. It whistled and stuck in the metal door.

Mai stood in momentary shock. Her raised arm that held a knife was caught. The knife held her sleeve tightly to the door. Quickly reaching up with her other hand to dislodge it, Marron's other hand flashed and a second knife pinned her other arm as well. Mai looked back at Marron with amazement. 'How did he do that?'

"How dare you!?" Azula screamed, blue flame ignited the air and hurled towards Marron. He swiftly ducked and spun. The flame cleared his body. Standing, he flourished his cloak behind himself, revealing two large knives he then unsheathed and spun.

"I guess I'm just a daring kind of guy."

"You'll pay; you'll pay for all of this!"

"Sorry, not a copper on me."

The air hissed with heat as fire stormed along the winds towards the young warrior. Marron ducked low and charged. He dodged the flame and came up into Azula's face. His knives flashed, but were batted away in seconds. Marron was not expecting Azula to be so fast; his knives fell to the deck of the ship several feet from his own moving form.

Azula cackled as she swung and jabbed, her hands heating the air to unbearable temperatures. Marron dodged left and right, not daring to try and block. Suddenly his chance came. Azula had kicked one of his knives into the air. The fire princess deftly caught it and now swung down on Marron's figure to finish the pointless fight.

Azula's smile of victory quickly turned to surprise as her attack was stopped short by the ring of metal to metal. She followed down her arm to the handle of the blade to its edge, were it was stopped short. Three long blades intercepted her deadly attack.

Marron smiled. Not his usual half-smile. A full, though thin, smile. A flick of his other wrist and its residing blades extended. He spun up, the blades out wide. Azula's stolen weapon was knocked away. She leaned back to dodge the whirlwind, but couldn't help but notice several strands of her black hair fall away.

The two now stood facing each other. Azula was now a little more wary of the situation. Marron now knew he had to get of the there. He was lucky as it was. He had to leave - now! Marron bolted back towards the ships tower. He heard Azula growl and felt heat explode closely behind him. Ducking behind a corner he looked around to watch Azula's approach.

The sound of chains alerted him. Spinning he was caught on the arm by the fore spoken object. Tai Lee laughed as the chain quickly pulled Marron to the ground and dragged him across the back deck. Tai Lee, behind the controls of the crane, laughed harder at Marron's predicament. He was reeled up and was left hanging at the top. The second crane spun attempting to crush the young fighter's body between the steel arms.

Marron swung his legs, the momentum swinging him up. The two cranes collided, breaking the blades on his left arm. He landed on the first crane and retracted the blades on his right hand. Running up the cranes' arm, he jumped and caught the edge of the balcony overseeing from the pilot's room. Crackling was heard from below him. Looking down he saw Azula use her fire to propel herself up towards him. She grabbed little ledges left by the windows, and then fired herself up again.

Marron quickly pulled himself up and onto the balcony the moment Azula exploded from over the edge and landed adjacent him. She smiled and looked at him.

"Why go through all of this? You should have known you weren't going to get out of here alive. All this for the Avatar? I'm somewhat impressed."

"Maybe you would understand if you weren't such a selfish witch."

Azula sneered but couldn't help but notice. This boy, probably only as old as her stupid brother, was so calm. He spoke with experience and subtle confidence. It annoyed her. How dare someone do such a thing. He would pay. She would destroy him. His confidence and all.

She lashed out with her fury, flame followed.

She smiled as she watched the fire burn towards her target. His arm swung up…powder was falling from his hand…Azula's smile turned to fear as she realized what was happening and what that was. It all seemed to happen in slow motion.

The flame ignited the powder.

Both combatants were lost in burning rage.