Author's Notes:
Trombe: Sorry this took too long. I've been starting new stories, my best friend got married, and my wife just turned 30. Hurray.
artsy: noooooooooooooooo
Trombe: Sorry if it's kinda cliff hanger-y. We're already diligently writing the next part so hang in there.
What I Always Loved About You
Chapter 9:Fallen Heroes
The trip to Li Ming Du Shi was generally pleasant for the children, who spent all day climbing the sails despite Bato's warnings, bending the water and air around the ship, and playing with their new friend. Hana tried to tell them all about the Fire Nation and they told her about Republic City, the Water Tribes, and the Earth Kingdoms. Their days consisted of hide-n-go-seek games, and dress up as they tried on different styles of clothes Kya and Bumi had collected from across the world, and Hana shared Fire Nation styles. There was even an attempted raid on the food stores that somehow wound up ruined when Zaheer started crying and knocked a barrel off the storage shelf. Fortunately for Katara, there was no use crying over spilled drinking water - because she could just bend it back into the barrel.
However for the grown ups, the trip had considerably more stress. Though Bato's ship was one of the fastest corsairs fit to sail, every sail needed wind, and they had precious little of it. Enough to keep moving towards their goal, assuredly, but every day they wondered if they would make in on time. Every night they were one moon closer to the blood moon, and a little bit further behind. Then they hit a true lul in the breeze.
The sailors pulled out their oars, and Sokka, Lai Fo and Bato manned them, keeping the ship plowing ahead despite the limited manpower and elemental aid. Lai Fo made no complaint about rowing, but was heard to regret not having an engine like Fire Nation ships did. Sokka pointed out that Water Tribe vessels were lighter without engines, and with no firebenders to power them, an engine was kind of useless. Even without the wind, the sailors made decent speed since the ship was so light, but rowing alone would not be enough to get them there on time.
So Pinyin, Lai Fo's wife, was stuck with all the children as Katara and Aang began to take shifts bending the seas and skies to speed their corsair. Kya bravely took a turn helping Katara every morning after breakfast, and Zaheer pretended to help Aang, though Katara could tell his childlike attention span left his help sporadic at best. Aang didn't seem to mind though.
After two days, the breezes finally picked back up on their own, and the ship was able to make its way into a current that would guide it practically to the gates of Li Ming Du Shi. Rowers, sailors, and benders alike all took turns at much needed rests, but those who knew of the prophecy still slept fitfully, wondering if all their hard work had been enough to keep them on schedule, or if this whole trip would be for naught. Then additionally worrying if there was even any reason to be worrying or if the whole trip was pointless. In all of this concern, Katara almost didn't have time to fret about meeting Zuko again after so long. At some point, if he was alive, she was pretty much going to take whatever reaction she got from him as a victory.
The day before blood moon was the worst. The passengers were all well rested, the sailors putting in all the work to keep the ship moving now that they had both the tides and the winds to power them. But that meant Katara and friends had nothing to do but nervously wait to catch a glimpse of the Fire Nation Capital. They watched the sun slowly climb to its zenith, and then begin a slow descent. When Li Ming Du Shi was finally spotted they all rushed to the side of the ship to celebrate.
As the crew cheered, Lai Fo, Katara, Aang, Bato and Sokka gathered to discuss the next part of the plan.
"How long will it take to reach the port?" Katara asked anxiously as Bato gave the commands to turn the ship and leave the current.
Bato stroked his chin as he considered. "I'd say about three hours, maybe four until we can actually dock. We have to pass the guarded gates, cross the harbor, and register with the dock master before they would let us land."
They all glanced upwards at the sun. It would be setting in little over an hour.
Aang sighed. "I wish we had Appa."
"You know we couldn't bring him," Sokka reminded the Avatar. "He may be the fastest over land, but over seas we have to carry him, and he weighs a lot for a ship like this. Not to mention his food…"
Aang waved Sokka down. "I know. But now we have a choice." He turned his eyes towards Li Ming Du Shi. "Our best hope is that this trip is nothing more than a friendly visit, but if we are wrong and Aunt Wu is right, we only have about an hour to reach the palace. At this distance, with this fair weather, I'm sure I can get there before sunset on my glider. And nobody makes the Avatar stop to register with the dock master." He nodded at Bato.
"That's a perfect plan," Sokka agreed. "Then we can be at the palace before the moon rises and right next to Zuko so no funky hoodoo nonsense can sneak up and get him."
Katara considered. "Aunt Wu did imply that the prophecy would only come to pass if Zuko stood alone, so if you guys can get there before sunset most likely nothing will happen at all."
Sokka sighed. "I think nothing will happen regardless, so that won't really prove a point."
"Yeah but nobody cares what you think," Katara told her brother in a teasing tone.
"I do," said Aang. "Because I think Sokka is a big part of the choice we have to make."
"What choice?" asked Bato. "I thought you were going to fly ahead while we dock?"
Aang nodded. "But I can probably take one person with me."
Katara glanced at the distance across the sea. "Are you sure?" she asked her husband.
"I've gone farther with you just for fun," Aang reassured her with a grin. "It'll be fine. But the choice is…"
"You can only take one of us," Lai Fo surmised, and everyone nodded grimly.
They knew that this was a big choice. If something did go down, or if for some reason the Avatar did not make it all the way across the sea to the city, this person would be the one to have not only Aang's back, but possibly Zuko's. All of their efforts to get there on time, all of their hopes, would be with this one person, and the rest would likely sit this all out and not arrive at the docks until well after dark, far too late to have made a difference.
"I will stay with the ship," Bato stated. "As captain and the one with the license to get us into Li Ming Du Shi, either myself or Sokka needs to be aboard. But I will support you and King Zuko in any way I can."
Aang nodded. "Katara…"
She sighed. He didn't have to say it. Someone should stay with the kids. If something did go down, Zaheer was the last chance for the airbenders to survive, not to mention all of the children needed a great defender who could get them out of the city if things really went south, or protect them. Someone they trusted.
"I'll stay," she agreed to their unspoken understanding.
Aang nodded, the look in his eyes grateful. "Lai Fo, I know that Fire Lord Zuko's protection is not only your job, but that you care very deeply about defending him."
Lai Fo clasped his hands together and bowed simply. "Avatar, it is my greatest honor to guard my King."
"But… I think I have to ask Sokka to come." Sokka jerked to attention, somewhat surprised to have been chosen. However everyone else had been expecting it. "Traveling as an extra by glider is not easy, and this is a long flight. Sokka has experience, and… I trust him to watch my back. He's my brother." Sokka grinned at Aang, his cheeks going slightly red. "And I know Zuko trusts him too."
"Ah shucks," Sokka dismissed the praise.
Lai Fo accepted this graciously. "I would trust everyone here as I would a member of my own unit. There can be no better men to have at his Highness' side."
Aang and Sokka smiled stupidly at each other.
"All right, enough praise," Katara interrupted. "It'll go to Sokka's head. Every minute here counts."
"I second that," Lai Fo added.
"Sokka, get your things," Aang directed, as Sokka ran off to the side to grab his weapons. Aang looked around at Bato and Lai Fo. "Protect my family?" he asked honestly.
"Even as you protect mine," Lai Fo returned, grasping Aang's hand in a promise.
Bato reached out and wrapped Aang in a hug. Katara remembered when the bald head barely reached the Water Tribe warrior's chest. Now Aang towered above Katara's Winter Father. "We'll be at the docks in a few hours," Bato promised Aang. "I'll see that everyone gets there safe and sound."
Before Aang could reply Sokka came running back over, Aang's glider grasped in his hand too. He tossed it to the Avatar before giving Bato a hug. Aang turned to his wife. "Should I grab the kids?" she asked, as she hugged him.
Aang shook his head, then buried it in Katara's locks. "No, we don't have time. It will take forever and… I don't want this to be a good-bye. I'm just going ahead. I'll see all of you in a few hours."
"Probably for the best," Katara admitted. "I won't say good-bye then either." She looped her arms behind his neck and leaned in for a kiss. She knew every second counted here, but… After too short a moment she drew back. "Take care of Zuko?" she asked.
"That's the plan." Aang winked, and opened his glider. "Ready?"
Katara squeezed Sokka real quick. "Be safe you two!"
"When are we not?" Sokka demanded, as he grabbed on to the top of Aang's glider.
Katara was still snorting her disbelief as they dived off the side of the ship, then swooped up, sailing higher into the sky. They did a loop-de-loop (which almost unseated Sokka) - then soared off in a burst of wind.
Please get there on time, Katara prayed.
Beside her, Lai Fo was clearly doing the same.
Katara meant to watch until even the smallest speck of her family was completely gone, but she was interrupted as Bato gave a shout. "Woah there!"
He had just barely caught Zaheer around the waist. The small boy had his tiny glider out and was about to dive off the side of the ship.
"I wanna go!" he shouted. "I can glider too!"
Which was SORT of true. When Aang was around, Zaheer went gliding with him, but on his own the boy didn't get high off the ground, and never for long. Diving off the side of the boat would mean a man over board, and the delay of rescuing him. However minimal a time waste that would be for a waterbender, it would surely be a setback for the boy's confidence as a bender.
"Hold up there," Bato was saying. "The Avatar just went on ahead to tell King Zuko to get dinner ready for us and make up some beds. The rest of us have to enter through the main gates. They have to take our names down."
"But I WANT GLIDER WITH AANG!" Zaheer shouted.
"Zaheer," Katara started in her warning voice.
"But then how will you get a stamp?" Bato asked.
Zaheer hesitated.
"Any airbender can glide," Bato continued. "How many can get a stamp saying they've been to the Fire Nation?"
"True?" Zaheer asked, glancing at Lai Fo.
"Very true," Lai Fo agreed. "It is a very official stamp, and I don't know any other airbenders who have ever gotten it. Not even the Avatar. He never waits to get a stamp."
Zaheer considered this for a moment, then nodded. He stamped his glider down and it shut. "Zaheer will get a stamp. Is this okay?" he asked Katara.
"I think it's a great-" But before she could complete the sentence Kya started screaming.
"MOOOOOOM! Hana just said Dad left! I can't find him - He didn't say good-bye!" She wasn't crying, but was very upset, grabbing at Katara's sash with all her strength, her little blue eyes staring up at Katara desperately.
"Okay, okay. Time for me to have a talk with my kids." She glanced at Bato, who nodded.
"And time for Lai Fo and I to get this ship into dock! We don't want to be stuck out of the harbor when night falls. Let's go men! Draw in the slack! Tonight we dine in the Fire Nation!"
There were cheers as than men began heaving-ho, and Katara guided her children down below to explain that Aang was just going ahead and they'd see him in a few hours.
Zaheer was understandably upset he had been left behind, but still adamant about getting his stamp. Kya was very upset and decided to stay in her bed and cry. Bumi was good about it, but cornered his mom after. "Mom, Uncle Sokka went with Dad right?"
Katara nodded.
"Good. Because I heard you guys talking, and it sounds like something bad is happening…" It was half statement, half question, challenging his mother not to answer truthfully.
She looked down at him. He would be ten soon, only a few years younger than his father had been when they defeated Fire Lord Ozai, a little man in the makings. But still her baby boy too. Katara sighed. She reached out and touched his shoulder. "Bumi, I'm not going to lie to you. That old woman who came to Air Temple Island with Lai Fo was a fortune teller." Bumi's eyebrows twitched skeptically, a trait he had learned from too much time with Sokka, but he also shifted, listening closely, clearly interested. "She predicted that Zuko would be in danger tonight. There will be a blood moon - do you remember those from water bending stories?"
Bumi nodded. "Waterbenders are strongest on the blood moon nights."
"That's right," Katara agreed. "The prediction is probably nothing more than a fool's errand, but..." She waved her hand as if to say she just wasn't sure.
"You and Dad believe her?"
Katara shrugged half heartedly. "She's been right before. Sort of."
Bumi frowned. "So Dad and Uncle Sokka could be in danger?"
Katara shook her head quickly. "No. The Fortune Teller said the danger would only happen if Zuko was alone. If his friends stand beside him…"
"Then nothing bad happens?"
"That's what we hope," Katara answered. She smiled at her son. "It's kind of silly to put so much into a dream someone else had, isn't it?"
"Maybe," Bumi considered. "But at least I know now why we were sailing here so fast." He frowned. "I hope there isn't trouble."
Katara reached out for his hand. "Bumi, you're father will be just fine. He's the-"
"Avatar, yeah," Bumi finished. "I know. I meant, for Zuko. I… You know, I don't really remember him. I think it'd be cool to meet him again. He's my Winter Father, right? Shouldn't I know him better? Like you and Uncle Sokka know Bato?"
Katara glanced around conspiratorially. "Wanna know a secret?" Bumi nodded, excited. "When I was really little, just after your Grandma Kya died, Bato and your Grandpa Hakoda left to fight the Fire Nation. They were gone for a LOOOONG time, and in fact I didn't even see them again until Aang came. We ran into Bato while on our trip to teach Aang waterbending. I was fourteen then. Your Uncle Sokka and I didn't really get to know him well until we were sixteen and eighteen, and we took a sailing trip with him. But I know he always cared about us, and even if we didn't spend a lot of time together, a Winter Father or Mother is family too. I'm sure when you meet Zuko, it will be the same. But go easy on him, Bumi. Zuko doesn't spend a lot of time around kids."
"I'm not a kid!" Bumi protested.
"He's a King, so he mostly hangs out with great warriors-"
"I'm a warrior!"
"-awesome swordsmen and strategists-"
"Oh come on! That sounds awesome!"
Katara grinned here before finishing. "-Not to mention, all the pretty single ladies at court." Bumi went red in the face. "Your Winter Father never married, you see, so I bet he knows ALL the eligible Ladies in the Fire Nation. Even the ones your age."
"Ewww! Mom! That's gross."
Katara ruffled Bumi's hair. "Well you be sure to tell your Uncle Sokka if that ever changes. We had a deal. He's in charge of that area of your education." Bumi stuck out his tongue at his mother, and she pinched it playfully. "Go help Bato out up top?" she suggested. "The sooner we get there…"
Bumi smiled. "You got it." He started up the stairs, then stopped. "Oh, Mom?" She glanced after him. "Thanks for telling me the truth."
Katara smiled at her son. "You deserved it. You've been a big help lately."
Bumi's grin went all the way to his cheeks. "I know!" Then he darted off to find Bato.
For a moment, he had looked so much like his father.
Suddenly she had a bad feeling about Aang being gone.
Aang sneezed and the glider lurched upwards. Sokka shouted in surprise and clung on tightly, his feet smacking into Aang's as he struggled to keep his position atop the glider. ""Watch it!" he called down to his brother-in-law.
"Sorry," Aang sniffed, giving his nose a vehement rub. "You all right up there?"
"No, I'm freezing," Sokka admitted. "I thought the Fire Nation was supposed to be hot."
"Hang in there. We'll be landing very soon."
They both glanced ahead. The Fire Nation was so close they could already smell the aroma of the city in the air, smoke, fish, and too many people. But the sun was already more than half gone behind the horizon.
Aang frowned. "I'm gonna put on another burst of speed," he told Sokka. "Will you be alright?"
"Can you make it all the way if we go faster?"
"Only one way to find out," Aang admitted, and he began using his free arm to bend air behind them even faster. It was very tiring supporting two of them at this pace, especially after having flown so far already, but he was already starting to make out individual guards on the wall. He put on another burst of speed, his arms heavy from the constant bending. "Get ready to land," he called to Sokka over the roaring wind in his ears.
There were shouts on the outer wall as the Avatar shot over them and straight into the city without pause. Aang was close to the palace now. His plan was just to head straight for it. He knew if he stopped he likely wouldn't get airborne again, and dealing with getting past Zuko's guards would likely take too long, even with Avatar privileges. They took their jobs very seriously. He was so focused on the palace he didn't even notice the people on the outer wall until Sokka said something.
"Are they… Those don't look like Fire Nation soldiers…"
Already almost past the wall, Aang chanced a glance backwards at them. They were dressed all in black, even with cloths pulled over their mouths, and they had something red tied on their arms… Definitely not Zuko's guards. His gaze wandered slightly towards the nearest watchtower. There he finally saw the uniforms he expected, but the men wearing them appeared to be tied up and gagged in their own watchtower. Aang circled back around the tower one time. "I don't feel good about this," he admitted to Sokka.
"Neither do they," Sokka agreed, pointing to the agitated warriors in black. "Clearly they don't like us, but it looks like they weren't expecting the Avatar to just fly in so suddenly. Let's go now, before they figure out a way to stop us."
Aang agreed. No sooner had he turned from the watchtower to head towards the palace then a whooshing sound caught his attention. He swerved, just barely avoiding a flying boulder, and Sokka tipped off the glider. Aang dived, just managing to retrieve the Water Tribe warrior. He caught Sokka by the belt and hung on. He couldn't keep the glider up with one hand and hold his brother-in-law. They were slowly going down.
Aang looked down for somewhere to land and saw that the boulder he had dodged had smashed into the homes of Fire Nation civilians, completely destroying two. People were running about, some were screaming.
"WHY WOULD THEY FIRE AT THEIR OWN PEOPLE!?" Sokka shouted.
"How did they fire," Aang asked back more quietly.
"LIKE THAT!" Sokka shouted, pointing back at the wall.
Aang's head spun round to see what appeared to be an earthbender all dressed in black, launching more rocks from the wall at Aang. "Earthbenders!?" he yelled to Sokka. "What's going on!"
"I don't know but that boulder is gonna crush more innocent people."
Aang barely bit back a curse. He rarely cursed, but this situation warranted one.
"We're landing," he told Sokka. "We can't have them killing people with their terrible aim."
Aang dropped to the ground and Sokka stumbled, skidding across the ground on his heels before landing on his butt hard. Aang landed lightly and prepared to catch the huge boulder with earthbending. This had never been his strong suit…
Around them people were poking their heads out of buildings, fear and hope painting their faces. Aang tried to ignore them and focus on the rock. Meet it head on, he reminded himself. He exhaled, and turned his feet into the ground. His arms shot out, and he began sliding backwards across the pavement. His arms were exhausted from airbending all afternoon, but the boulder was dropping down on them, and he could not let it crush anyone. He bent his knees deeper and push back against the boulder's decent, stopping it only a few feet away from his own face. With a sigh, he dropped it into the street. He was dimly aware of people cheering.
"So… I think maybe the Fortune Teller was right?" Sokka statement was still half question, as if even after all this he was reluctant to believe it.
"Yeah. We need to get to Zu-KAH!" Aang cried out as an arrow nicked his leg.
"Aang!" Sokka shouted, drawing his swords.
A whistle blew, and black figures appeared on all the rooftops around them, red armbands tied on each of them. But these were not the same as the soldiers on the walls. Their eyes had markings… "Yuyan Archers," Aang whispered, as each drew and knocked a bow.
"We can take 'em," Sokka declared with a confidence he clearly did not feel.
"Yes, I can," Aang replied. "You have another job."
"Don't even think about it," Sokka started. "Katara would kill me if I didn't have your back-"
"And Zuko will die if you don't have his," Aang reminded Sokka. "Not to mention this will start another hundred year war…" Sokka grumbled. Aang bumped his shoulder. "Hey, I got this."
Sokka nodded. "Fine."
"Right. Bend your knees."
"What!? Why! NOOOOOOoooooooooooooo!" Sokka cry trailed off as Aang punched the ground with his feet, sending the warrior launching from a slab of rock towards the top of the palace walls.
A few Yuyan lifted bows towards Sokka, but none fired. The move had been too sudden and too strong. Each of them knew a shot would be wasted, and apparently they were happy to take Avatar over the random swordsman he had brought along. He could feel them waiting for an order, but he held up his hand. "Wait," he shouted, and he felt the Yuyan pause. Not a single one of them glanced at another, no one giving away their leader, but eight faces were locked tightly on Aang's. "There are civilians here. Let's either move this, or let them leave."
No one answered, but after a moment, there was another whistle. Their postures relaxed, though they continued to keep their bows drawn and focused directly on Aang. He didn't waste a second. "Everyone get out now," he shouted. "Don't stop for anything. Grab your kids and go."
There was a moment's hesitation, then a young man scooped up his son, and grab his wife's hand. "Thank you Avatar!" he shouted as he ran from the street.
That was it. Everyone in hearing distance began running.
Aang sat down to wait. Behind him, the sun set, and the moon, hovering in the eastern sky glowed red.
Get to Zuko, Sokka!
"My King, if possible, I-"
"No."
How long had this been going on for Zuko couldn't tell anymore. Day in day out her beaming face was there to greet him. It was slowly but surely becoming part of his routine.
At the library.
During his meditation.
Even during the quiet free times he had to himself in the gardens.
She had been enough at it all day.
"How long are you planning on following me today, Meng?" Zuko rubbed the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
"Well let's see, today you've just finished meeting with your military council, then there is dinner with lady Kaguya, than afterwards it's-"
"So in other words all day." Zuko concluded in a defeated sigh.
Meng smiled and shrugged.
This had been amusing at first, something he tolerated (truthfully he just didn't had the heart to turn her away). It was slowly something he was beginning to regret. For weeks now the oracle-in-training had been tailing his every footstep like a shadow when she was permitted to. His guards seemed to pose no objections less he told them so... hence his current predicament. Meng was gradually becoming a part of his daily council and each and every single day she would ask him the same question.
And every single time he would start and end with the same answer.
No.
No more predictions.
Zuko allowed her request of staying in the palace. He would even allow her constant need to follow him incessantly (She was harmless enough) but he would pay no more heed to her predictions. Lesser minds concerned themselves with needless worrying of the future. He was forged from better stock. He had already taken as much precaution as he thought was necessary and still the girl thought it wasn't enough.
There was only so much tolerance Zuko was willing to give. Leaving the capital during the busiest time of the year was not an option for the Phoenix King of the Fire Nation. Not to mention it felt like the coward's way out. No, If anything were to happen to the proud golden eyed king he would face it head on. Like he had always done.
Still she made for some pleasant company. Truth be told, Zuko had been feeling the heavy air of solitude much more than usual, A burden all great rulers and kings carried with them; after all no one was more lonelier than the man atop of a mountain. Mai was one of the few comforts he had during such times. With her gone there was only so much work he could throw himself into before the bitter feeling loneliness would crept back in. Meng's presence (annoying it may be) was a breath of fresh air. She might throw on a very convincing disguise of a noblewoman but Zuko could see right through her like a transparent mask. It didn't take much convincing on his part to just let the oracle be herself. What he found underneath was a simple, down to earth girl who was easy to like despite her shortcomings.
It seems he was fated to attract women of the same sort. She reminded him of a certain Ba Sing Se girl many lifetimes ago. The memory was one of Zuko's more pleasant yet guarded treasures… a memory that served to remind him to enjoy the small things in life. Spirits only knew he didn't have that many sweet memories.
"All day, for as long as it takes," Meng smiled assuredly, her tone alluring but formal.
"...Of course. For as long as it takes." He repeated her words with exasperation. Somehow he knew she meant it. "Not enough that I have a legion of guards up upon every corner of this palace... yet you still think that something will happen?"
"Not think. I know. It will happen. Tonight. Unless-"
"Yes, yes, I leave the capital and such and such. I'm well aware of this part, as you can see."
"And still you continue to joke about it," Meng sighed.
"Only because it concerns dubious prophecies at best." Zuko curtly addressed, clearly indicating he would entertain no more notion of the topic. "Listen… Meng, it's a beautiful night. The red moon is a rare and treasured sight for firebenders. Can we talk about something else?"
He was raised a prince, it was only proper that he hold to the manners and traditions of one. Harmless small talk was preferable than the awkward silence that sometimes fell between the two of them.
"...Okay. Like what?" The young fortune teller was apprehensive at first, but warmed up to the proposition.
"Alright. Well, I'm curious. How did you managed to get into the business of… predicting the future."
"... You were going to say conning, weren't you?"
Okay, that was just a lucky guess.
"..."
"It's okay. I'm used to all the naysayers. When you've been doing this as long as I have it kinda comes with the territory." She smiled warmly, assuring him that she had seen his ilk of disbelief before. "To tell you the truth I guess I was raised into it. I was an orphan of the war. I didn't really know my real parents. Aunt Wu took me in when I was very little. I guess you could say I thought that following her footsteps was the best thing I could do to repay her for everything she'd ever done for me."
His heart hurt a little. It often did whenever someone mentioned the hundred year war. He did not start the war, but the feeling of immense guilt he had told him he might as well have. The atrocities his people had committed all in the name of conquest were numerous and endless. He wondered if it was even possible to repay all that they had taken away from the people of the other nations.
"I'm… sorry to hear that."
"What? That I wanted to be a fortune teller too?"
"No, I'm sorry about your loss. Your parents and everything. It must have been hard."
For what it was worth, he would apologize for every grievance his subjects had made. It was the least he could do as their king.
"...Thank you, I knew there was a good man behind that scowl." She smiled contently.
"What?"
" I mean, I knew there was one. Considering what you did for Auntie… but these last few weeks I was beginning to think I was mistaken." She gave a small chuckle.
"..." Zuko sighed and looked at the young fortune teller apologetically. "Meng, I… I know I can come off a little… prickly…"
"A little prickly?" another trilling laugh.
"Okay a LOT prickly," he reluctantly admitted. Zuko thought he was past being the angry and sullen teenager he was years ago. Guess he just had too much practice at the craft. "What I'm trying to say is…"
He stopped.
How had he not noticed?
They had just entered the west wing, a common place for him to walk - a commonplace for many who frequented the palace to walk.
But it was oddly empty, and it was too quiet. Too eerie. It made his skin crawl.
Where were his guards? His servants? The Lords and Ladies who should be here or there on various business… The night was still young. Some people should be about.
Something was wrong. Zuko could feel heavy atmosphere. His personal guards have also picked up on the danger as they drew their weapons.
"...Your majesty?" Meng asked concernedly, concern immediately creeping over her face, as if she had been expecting this moment to come all day.
He raised his hand up, telling her to not talk anymore. "Where are the guards stationed here, Jiang Wan?" he asked his standing Captain of the Guard.
"I, I'm not sure, sire. Hei Bo and Pan De are good soldiers. They would not abandon their posts. Zhu Fan said his daughter's birthday was today but I didn't think that was a problem. In fact I just saw him this afternoon."
It was good that Lai Fo's substitute had the same camaraderie his predecessor had with the other guards but Jiang Wan lacked the steely presence Lai Fo had.
"I did not asked for their life story, I asked for their location."
"I… I will- Your Majesty look out!" Jiang Wan rushed to his side in a blink of an eye.
The young soldier shoved into his King, and Zuko stumbled back a few steps as Jiang Wan dived in front of him, grunting twice. His face contorted in pain as he fell forward. Zuko's eyes widened. His back was riddled with black shafted arrows.
Meng screamed out violently. Apparently whatever she had seen in her prophecies had not prepared her for this.
It was archers?! How?!
Intruders in the palace!
These thoughts went by in a second for Zuko. "Wan!" he heard himself shout, and then he was catching the falling form of his imperial guard.
Time seemed to rush back in on him as he eyed the dark shafts of the arrow protruding from the young soldier's back. They went in deep. Barbed arrows from the looks of it. Deep red circles began to pool around where the arrowheads were. There was no way he could pull them out without endangering Jiang Wan's life even more.
He could feel the slow, weak breath of the soldier in his arms. He was alive. Barely.
He was careful as he moved the young soldier who had shielded him from harm. He still wasn't sure where the attack had come from.
All of a sudden all the lanterns and torches around them were snuffed out, robbing the palace wing of their only light source as darkness began to envelope them.
This was not boding well at all.
"Your Highness!" The twin counterpart of Jiang Wan spoke out, What was his name? Guan… Guan Ping! The other young guard was quick to act. "This way!" The young guard hugged a nearby wall, concealing his location from where the arrows had come from.
Zuko agreed. It was hard to fight what he could not see - not to mention they were a man down. They needed to retreat.
"Meng! Hurry! Between me and Guan Ping!" He could tell the young fortune teller was afraid. He reached out an open hand to her. "Meng!"
Reluctantly he saw her head nod. She took his hand, her own shaking, but she moved in agreement with his orders and fell in place between the two warriors with a steady step.
Zuko looked Gaun Ping directly in the eyes. "Protect the girl! She comes first!" he ordered sternly.
"King Zuko, I-" Meng protested.
Gaun Ping also disagreed. "Your Majesty-"
"That is an order, soldier! I will be right behind you. Just go!"
He hefted the gravely injured Jian Wan's arm over his shoulder. If his guard had anymore concerns he kept them to himself. With some reluctance Guan Ping nodded his head in compliance.
Cautiously they began to move out of their current location and into another dim hallway.
"I… I'm so sorry, my King… I have… failed you…" Jiang Wan wheezed out the words, barely clinging to consciousness.
"Save your breath Wan, I'd rather have a soldier I can send home alive to his mother than a dead valiant one." He chastised the boy, hoping to make light of the grim situation. "... You did well, my friend. You did not fail at all. In fact, remind me to give you a promotion when we get of this alive."
He could feel the young man was about to protest when another hail of arrows came crashing through the windows and fell like hail onto a portion of the hallway. One landed inches away from Zuko's left toes.
Meng gave out another cry of fright and fell back as she retreated, her manners falling away as she cursed colorfully.
"The king is over there!" He heard a loud cry from the outside.
It only served to amplify what he knew. He was definitely the intended prey. And not by some mere assassin. From the looks of it… an army.
An all out open war for his life.
Whoever they were, they held considerable amount of power and influence to pull this off. Where in Agni where his own guards when he needed them?!
But why?! Why here?! Why now?!
A lone assassin could have easily done as much damage. Someone with skills like Mai would have been a threat equal to if not greater than this.
Unless…
His face turned into a scowl upon realizing the fact.
Of course… They needed to send a message for the whole world to see.
This was not an just assassination. This was meant to be a Coup.
… Damned usurpers.
With that many eyes watching for him, there was no way the four of them could escape unnoticed.
"Ping! Take him."
The soldier gave his King a confused look at first before figuring out what he meant. Than Guan Ping took hold of the groaning Jiang Wan, waiting upon his liege Lord's next command. "You heard them. They are after me. So when I make a run for it you take him and Meng here and get as far away from the palace as you can. Take the secret tunnels if you must. I will meet you on the outskirts by the lake. If I am not there within the hour, leave and go to the Jasmine Dragon. Wait for further instructions and not a word to my uncle."
"But King Zuko!"
"I won't be questioned twice tonight, Ping! Do as you are told!" Spirits he was trying to save their lives! Could they just let him do that for once?!
"My Lord-"
Zuko took a firm grip and clasped the back of the young man's head. Much like a father would a son. "This man saved my life tonight," he told Ping, nodding at Wan. "He deserves your best protection. Understood?" After a moment, Ping nodded. "Good man."
The sound of boots and footsteps were closing in on them. He needed to act now.
"Okay... Run now!"
He leapt into the hallway, white fire blazing his path, running as fast as his legs could carry him. He did not need to turn back to know that the guard would follow his last instruction.
That was until…
"Waiiiiiiiiiiit!" he heard her feminine cry.
...Of all the…
"Meng!" He turned around and spotted the young fortune teller, breathing heavily but miraculously keeping up with his pace. Her skirts were hitched up above her knees and she was running full out with all the grace of a farm girl. "What are you doing here?!" He barked at her angrily.
"You... can't... be alone! You know what the prophecy says!" She huffed and puffed.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!" This girl was either braver than he thought or just plain mad. "Grr! Why can't you follow instructions?!" he growled out his frustration, not slowing down his tempo by any bit.
"Excuse me, Mr. High and Mighty!" she shot back, an earthy accent cutting her words short. "For… for your information... I am NOT one of your soldiers to order around!"
For a split second a pair of determined blue eyes came to mind. His frustration was hitting a boiling point now.
When did all women started talking like Katara?!
"Grah! Fine!" He abruptly grabbed her hand and pulled him closer to his side, urging her to keep up. "This way then!"
Zuko and Meng tore through the palace, the red moon streaming through any open windows they passed. Zuko knew they had to keep moving until they got somewhere safe… but where was there anywhere safe now?
Aang pushed himself back up to his feet. Most of the civilians had cleared out now.
A few old people had needed to move more slowly and one kid went back for a dog, but in two or three minutes the street was clear. Aang had taken the time to tear a strip off his robes and tie it about his leg. He could feel the arrows on him, but the archers waited. However, by the time the street was clear, what had been eight archers was now close to twenty-two, if Aang had indeed seen them all.
Still, what were a hundred archers to an airbender?
It wasn't their numbers he was worried about. He patted his leg. It didn't hurt. In fact it was the opposite. It was already completely numb. It didn't seem to want to hold any real weight. Worse, the numbness was creeping up the limb very quickly. He didn't just have to win, he had to win fast, and the three minutes he had already wasted were about all he could spare.
The last old woman ducked off the street. The archers tensed.
A shrill whistle range and instantly arrows fired. Aang slammed his fists together and a ball or wind surrounded him, sending all the perfectly aimed arrows ricocheting wildly back at their owners. Many didn't fly straight at anyone, and very few were actually pointed towards the enemy, but it soon became clear that every shot fired was a potential friendly fire, and none had a chance of touching Aang. However, Aang was getting number. This stalemate had to end.
Whipping up an airball, he slung his numb leg across his good one and shot across the ground at full speed. Yuyan pursued, bolts flying after Aang, but he easily lifted the earth behind him to absorb any shots. The he lifted the earth in front of him, making a launch pad for a loop-d-loop. He ran up the ramp, launched up over the building on his air scooter, and he saw the surprise in the Yuyan's faces as his move caught them by surprise. When he was directly over his closest pursuers he bent the air about him with a waterbending technique meant to move a tidal wave. The whirlwind of air blew the archers away in every direction, and Aang knew many wouldn't be getting up any time soon. He landed his scooter and took off in another direction as quickly as he could.
A majority of the archers were down, but a few still followed, and whistles from them were clearly drawing more. Aang was too fast for anyone archer, but soon whistles were coming from all about him. They want to corner me…
His second leg was going numb. He dropped his air scooter and took to burying his feet in the earth, propelling himself forward with his arms, making the earth swell like the sea as he surfed it, using the rocks to keep his unsteady legs straight. He made a bee-line for the palace walls.
He shot down an open street and saw the inner wall rising up before him. Twelve Yuyan blocked his way, having cornered him in a straight shot road with no turns, and perfect shots. Clearly they expected him to dodge, but he was losing agility to the poison. All he had left now was momentum.
They fired. He tore off the side of a building to use a shield, seeing the shocked faces of the inhabitants inside it for a second before he blew past them. He bent it in front of him like a shield as he drove himself forward across the earth as fast as his remaining arm could carry him. He barrelled into the Yuyan full speed, sending anyone who didn't dodge flying, and tossing his shield aside.
He launched himself as he had Sokka before, straight at the wall, and bent the air so he went into a whirling spin mid-air, extending his arms before him like a diver. He hit the wall like a drill, and bore a hole straight through it, popping out the other side and skidding to the ground. He'd made it to the center. Whatever resistance Zuko and his men were putting up, this was likely to be the hub.
There was the sound of feet running towards him. He grabbed a branch to pull himself up, turning his head towards what he expected to be Zuko's men, his allies.
He groaned as he realized it was more enemies.
By their stances, there were two waterbenders, three earthbenders, and about twenty soldiers. Not to mention the remaining six Yuyan that had been after him were taking up positions on the wall. His left hand was starting to tingle numbly.
Time for the trump card.
"We've got him, men!" one the red-bandana guys shouted. "Do not back down. We are prepared for this. Even the Avatar is human!"
Aang pushed off the branch, feeling air sweeping around him to levitate him. His mind went blank, and filled with so many other thoughts at the same time. The sensation was maddening and peaceful, insanity shared with those he trusted, with himself. A warm glow spread from his head down his limbs and his eyes opened, with the hazy glow that said he was no longer in control. The Avatar state.
"We are only part human," he cried out in the voices of hundreds at once.
"Attack!" the voice yelled, and all the fighters present moved at the same time.
But so did hundreds of Avatars. Much of it was blank to Aang. Some parts he saw clearly, as many men were blown aside, as fire bombs were bent to nothing but smoke with a single gesture, as waterwhips evaporated at the same moments the made contact with the Avatar's skin… but other parts were controlled by other Avatars and he was less than even a bystander. But it was all right. The cacophony of Avatars all had the same goal. Survive. And they moved flawlessly together until all the soldiers they could see were downed. A few stray arrows still pinged uselessly off their air shields, but the threat stood mostly negated.
They turned towards the remaining arrows when a shift in the wind behind them caught their attention.
They spun, something attacking from behind. Above them on the palace roof stood a man with a mask, and two archers. They fired a net.
It passed through the windwall and stuck the Avatars. The force of it, weighted somehow, pulled them downwards towards the ground. They struggled up, and they instantly thought BURN IT. But fire did not stop the net.
Confused, their remaining hand groped at the bindings. METAL.
Now Aang really did curse. If he died in the Avatar State, the Avatar itself would be ended, never to be reborn. There was another airbender in the world, Zaheer, and Aang was almost completely numb. He had a few choices, retain Avatar state, and bury himself in the earth, but if he did go completely numb, it would be possible to lose control, and he could die down there just as easily. The other was to release the Avatar state, and face whatever came next alone… WE ARE SORRY, the voices whispered. WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.
Aang dropped the Avatar state. However, he knew he couldn't let this be his end yet. The faces of his family paraded before him, Katara, Bumi, Kya, even Sokka, Zaheer and his friends. But his children stood out strongest. He wanted to go home to them. With his last remaining strength he raised his hand into the air. "Enough!" he called. "I surrender. Take me to whoever leads you."
Negative jing reminded him to wait and listen. Whoever orchestrated the attack wanted him captured alive - why else use paralysis and a net? Perhaps it would be best to surrender the fight for now. There were too many variables. He needed to find some answers. What better way than to ask the source directly?
His hand dropped uselessly at his side as numbness set in, and he saw the masked face looming over him. "We did it!" the voice cried triumphantly. "We took down the Avatar!"
Around them came the battered but exultant cheers of the fighters.
But if Zuko and Zaheer both live, Aang thought, then I don't matter. After that the world went black, his last vision was of the masked man cheering, his red-banded arm raised victoriously into the air.
Zuko and Meng were winded to say the least. There had been only a few tortured stops when they hid from the voices of the intruders. Outside there were explosions ringing through the air. Someone was fighting back, and Zuko smiled with pride to know it. But here, inside the palace, they were still very alone, and in very much danger.
With no way of knowing where the enemy were, they were bound to run into trouble sooner or later. The trick was to be ready at any moment, to never think he was safe. Mere seconds after he thought that, an unknown patrol of four darkly clad men barred their way. The faces were unfamiliar but tied on their arms were a deep crimson cloth. Each one held dao blades in their hands.
He doubled his pace, racing towards them. "Meng when I let go, you keep running forward!"
"What?"
"Just do it!"
As soon as he was within distance he made a leap, splitting his legs in the air, taking out two of them off guard. Their dao swords fell from their grip and landed into his.
He could not have asked for a greater turn of events. He really didn't want to use firebending in such close quarters with Meng around.
"Ahhhh!" Meng yelled out loud as she did what she was told, running straight at the oncoming party.
The remaining two hefted their blades high and brought down their swords on the passing panicking woman.
Zuko was there to meet their blades with his own newly found swords, letting Meng passed by unharmed.
RIght afterwards he kicked one of them towards the other before bolting after Meng.
"Where we going anyway?!" she asked, her tone breathless with tightly controlled panic.
"My private studies. There's a secret passage there we can use!"
As if to put holes in his plan he saw from the corner of his eyes two arrows fling his way with dangerous accuracy.
The first he dodged as he stepped to the side with ease. The other he mercilessly cut down with his dao blade, smiting it in half with a single swing. He let out a breath as it fell harmlessly on the ground, and couldn't deny himself a proud grin. He still had it.
He glanced around. Where were they even firing from?! It's like he was dealing with phantoms.
A small 'ping' and a sound like a breath of air meant more arrows were being shot with deadly precision. There was only one group in the world he knew that could shoot so perfectly, with such range and concealment. Only one school trained archers for such expert feats. Whoever his enemies were, they were definitely intent on finishing what they started. Few knew about the existence of the fabled archers of Yuyan, much less knew how to recruit them to their cause.
"Zuko!" Meng shouted.
"I'm fine! Keep going! Make a left turn down that hallway!"
They both did but soon enough they were greeted by four of the infamous archers. Two knelt on the ground, while the other two stood behind them. They were blocking the narrow hallway completely. In a straight, tight space like this, Zuko knew killing himself and Meng would be as easy as shooting a fish in a barrel for these men.
They let loose their arrows.
There was no time to waste. Zuko as he sprang into action before the bows even completed their twangs.
Leaping in front of Meng he flourished his blades around creating a wave of white hot fire that engulfed and consumed the flying projectiles. Four piles of ash fell at his feet.
He had less than a second to act. The Yuyan were known to be able to shoot just as quickly as they could aim.
He made a mad dash towards his assailants. Nothing was more disruptive to a band of archers than a stray melee fighter in their midst.
At least that's what he had hoped.
These Yuyan were trained to react. To fight. To Kill.
His blades only hit air as the quartet reacted accordingly and leapt backwards to gain some much needed distance.
Good. They fell for his feint. He slashed the dao sword upward, a trail of flames followed his gesture, erupting when they came in contact with the rooftops. Free falling debris came scattering downwards. The Yuyan were caught off guard by the bold and unorthodox move. Fortunately, they were completely buried by tiles, wood, and stone.
His victory grin was cut short however. A sharp pain in his left arm caused him to wince. Looking at the source of his pain he found blood freely dripping down it, a huge gash was on his bicep.
He hadn't felt anything touch him... Zuko cursed at himself silently. He was definitely going to feel that in the morning.
He motioned for Meng to carry on, his breath heavy. He had been running for close to forty minutes now, and sadly he was not the young teenager he used to be. Zuko was reluctant to admit it, but fatigue was slowly getting to him.
Blood and fatigue. Two common signs that often meant defeat in battle.
He couldn't afford to lose. Meng's life was at stake as well as his, but even more than that, if this was a coup, the state of his entire nation was at stake, with the Fire Nation came the fate of the whole world… Such it was to be Fire Lord today.
Meng must have seen him hesitate for a bit because she went up to him as she tore off a good portion of the robe from her hem.
"What are you-"
She shushed him almost immediately as she began to wrap a solid makeshift bandage around his injury. "Dun worry 'bout it. Now I'll run faster." She tied the bandage, and took a breath, composing herself somewhat. "This should keep you from bleeding out any more," she said more politely, clearing her throat. "But we definitely need to stitch that wound. It's pretty nasty."
He thanked her wordlessly before gesturing for both of them to keep going. It wouldn't do them any good to waste another minute when they were surrounded by their foes.
Luckily they manage to avoid any more encounters, and soon enough they found themselves standing in front of Zuko's private sanctum.
They were almost home free.
Zuko opened the door cautiously. The door squeaked open but revealed no one.
Both sighed with relief.
They made their way in before closing the door behind them, eager to hide their presence.
"Quick, there's a hidden lever behind that statue over there." Zuko pointed to the bronze statue closest to Meng. "Pull it."
"Which one?"
Before he could reply the glass ceiling came crashing down, revealing six more assassins with the same red marking upon their arms. Zuko covered his face to protect his eyes from the glass as he prepared himself for another round.
They all but ignored Meng this time as they focused their attention more on Zuko. Two of them were firebenders, obvious from the way their fists threw blasts of intense orange flames. Perhaps they didn't get the memo. He parted the wave of flames easily with one hand before he spun his way past the two of them, igniting their attire in the process.
He was the Fire Lord. The Phoenix King. That paltry showing of firebending was not even worth the effort. His white flames turned to orange as they licked their way up the bender's clothes, and until they turned orange they seemed to be out of control.
The third man surprised him, taking on a familiar, yet foreign stance. A… waterbender?! Before he could complete his thoughts the man shot out a torrential stream of water which solidified at the very last second, turning the blue liquid into a deadly ice spear.
The move caught the young king off guard. He tried to back off but he couldn't get enough of a distance. The very tip of it pierced through his shoulder with such ease that he may as well have been paper before it.
"Gah!" he hollered in pain.
Careless! He got too damn careless! Aang wouldn't have gotten hit by a move like that.
At this rate the waterbender had the advantage, Zuko was off balance and the assassin clearly had another open shot.
A large ceramic vase flew past him and hit the waterbender directly in the forehead, knocking him to the ground.. He turned to see that Meng had hurled the object. "Fight fair, ya stupid jerks!" she yelled before skittering back to her hiding place.
He owed her that one. Zuko began to concentrate at the task at hand. His nose snorted out steam as he raised his body temperature. It wasn't long before the ice tip began to melt from his shoulder, blood and water mixing as it trailed down his chest.
The only ones left were the two female attackers. They were unarmed. That practically told him what he needed to know. They were benders. But of what?
"Sorry ladies," he called. "I learned a long time ago that if you don't hit girls, they'll just kill you. So don't expect me to go easy on you."
They did not respond except to glance at on another. Than one woman vaulted into the air before she pounded the ground where he stood, Zuko had already jumped aside. The way the marble floor exploded upward could only mean one thing.
An earthbender.
You gotta be kidding. What was this?! Was the whole world conspiring his demise or something?
He had no time to contemplate the matter. Both women stepped into a mirrored stance, the ground answered their call and armored their fists into solid stone.
So the dance began. Rock fist and dao blades. The women fighters were formidable. They showed no openings, and they were definitely stronger than the regular earth benders he had fought in his youth. Every blow he blocked from their rock gauntlets sent a shock to his hands, and his blades sang loudly from the beating. If they kept it up they would eventually overpower him, or break a sword.
On the ground, he knew it was futile to overcome an earthbender. But in the air…
He ran past one and slid under her feet. Careful to avoid her retaliatory blows he ran up a wall before somersaulting behind her. At the apex of his flip he turned and used his momentum to throw out a devastating slash, infused by his firebending. The result was an explosion of firepower that sent the woman flying through a wall. A satisfying smack that must have been her head on stone reassured him she was down for the count.
The last opponent standing cursed at his triumph before flying into a fit of rage and ran to tackle him. She caught him with her shoulder, sending both of them on the ground, and Zuko cursed as he dropped his weapons.
Zuko slid across the ground, feeling his formal robes tearing as he did. When they stopped, she was on top, ready to pummel his face down with unbreakable stone infused fists.
He took hold of her arms with his.
Desperate times… desperate measures.
He took a deep breath and exhaled, air rushing from his lungs towards her chest - air, and fire. She reeled backwards to avoid the stream, her robes catching instantly as his white flames licked the fabric across her chest. "Watch out!" Meng shouted.
At first Zuko didn't understand. The earthbender was struggling to beat the fire out of her robes. Then he understood. In her confusion she didn't see she was moving dangerously close to the window.
She tripped, and her momentum carried her straight through the glass window. Before he could do a thing, she was through the opening and falling to her doom.
Well, sucks to be her.
Exhausted but triumphant he eyed Meng, gesturing for her to pull the lever.
Trembling, she did so.
Never had Zuko been more happy to hear the sound of earth rumbling as a hidden doorway revealed itself from one of his bookcase.
"L…. let's go…" he panted.
But as the rumbling of the trapdoor faded, the pounding of footsteps could be heard close by.
"I heard fighting! Quick! Fire Lord Zuko must be this way!"
He groaned inwardly… How many more men could they throw at him?
"Zuko?"
"Quickly, you go down that tunnel. There's a match and torch at the bottom of the stairs. Follow it all the way to the end. You can't miss it. You'll feel a breeze once you're getting close."
"What about you?"
"They're too close. I need to buy you some time to make sure they don't know about the tunnels. Once we're clear I'll be right behind you."
"No way, 'member what I told you?"
"Meng, I am not having this arguement with you right now."
"An' I told you, I can't leave you alone!" She started walking towards him with conviction.
Damn it, Meng.
"Why do you care so much?! You're not my girlfriend or my wife! You're no one to me... " What did it matter if this strangely loyal girl was here or not, the truth was, he was alone, and had been for some time.
"No!" Meng shouted, drawing herself up proudly. "Maybe I'm not, but that doesn't mean I don't care for you! I'm your friend! I don't want to see you die!"
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" Between their arguing, he didn't hear the sixth person who had crashed through the window, but they saw their opportunity.
A silent assailant, he had waited for the right moment. While yelling, Zuko didn't hear the silent drawing of a bow. Didn't hear the notching of a black arrow or the twang of it being released.
Until it was too late.
Until the Yuyan made the arrow sing.
The deadly shaft whirled flawlessly into the air, cutting through the wind and creating a wailing sound of death.
The archer calculated everything. The King was completely unprepared. He was staring the shaft face on as it came for his unprotected chest. It would have been the perfect shot … if not for Meng.
Somehow, though her back was to it, though there was no way she heard or saw it with normal human insight, she saw it before it happened. "Arrow!" she shouted, and like Wan, pushed hard into Zuko, to shove him out of the way of the deadly shot.
But the arrow somehow still hit its mark.
Because Zuko had moved when Meng pushed him. He had stood firm, moving her behind himself, shielding her with his own body. The black shaft had found its target, the arrow lodged itself in his chest. "Once tonight was enough…" he whispered painfully.
"No!" Meng cried out.
But he had just enough strength in him, enough left for one last shot. With a cry of anger he tossed out an enormous fireball that blew the archer away from the rooftop, leaving only ashes in his stead.
That was all he had. Strength was failing, and he could feel himself fall backwards.
The young fortune teller caught him before that happened. Panic, fear, guilt, her face showed all of her emotions. "No… no… How could this happen - it… I saw… But not this! This… this is my fault!"
"...Wh… what are you… talking about?..." Zuko struggled to say the words. He had trouble breathing, much less talk.
"I… I… I caused this… I'm… I'm a self fulfillin' prophecy!" she wailed.
He could see the tears in her eyes. Another woman he had made cry. How many more would he make cry before he left this world?
No. No more.
This was it.
"...You… you idiot…" He flicked her forehead with what remained of his strength. "...I told you… I don't believe… in prophecies…"
"...But… but…"
They said in extreme cases of danger the body's senses often heightened itself to almost supernatural levels, warning of any more incoming threats or dangers.
In this dire moment Zuko believed it. He could hear more of them coming towards their locations. There was just no way that both of them were going to come out of this alive. He was bleeding profusely… and he could feel the arrow was laced with something. His own blood was boiling against him.
But, at least one of them could still make it.
"Hey… help me up." He urged her.
"But… but ya shouldn't move around with that arrow in-"
"Meng… we… we both need to get out… of here as soon as possible… So let's... go…"
With his encouragement she fell for the lie, helping him to his feet.
No sooner had she done that he pushed her as hard as he could towards the tunnel.
She fell flat on her butt, aghast and confused.
Zuko hit the lever one more time, almost collapsing on it.
"ZUKO!" She held out her hand in futility as the massive stone door was already collapsing downwards.
"...It was nice to have met you, Meng."
Zuko groaned in pain as he slipped off the lever. The cold ground rose to meet him, offering no solace. His will was strong but the flesh was weak. His body ached and buckled under his commands.
His hands struggled as he desperately reached and sought out his fallen dao sword, mere inches from his grip.
A masked assailant kicked it effortlessly away. Zuko struggled to remember when he had entered the room, but found he could not. The blade was ringing as it spun out of reach, crying out for its master.
"I have to admit it… I never thought you'd be this tough to bring down. But, ohhhhh, did you ever put up a fight." The assassin's words were laced with admiration despite his aggravated attitude. "You took on my entire squad, plus a contingency of our troops. And LOOK AT YOU. Still holding on, even near your end."
Zuko's eyes defiantly stared at the soulless mask, desperate to stay conscious. He was losing a lot of blood.
"What was it your Grandfather Azulon was fond of saying? 'Great men are forged in fire. It is the privilege of lesser men to light the flame.'"
The assailant's torch burned with hot intensity and he hefted it high over his head.
"Tell me great king, can a phoenix burn?"