Well, here we are, the next chapter of Walking a Wire. Told ya it wouldn't take a month. Would have been up sometime during Thanksgiving, but to make a long story short, FF temporarily glitched and I lost four hours of typing, so I've been too mad/busy to try again until now.
Authorly rant aside, thanks to all you guys who are at least reading the story, reviewers or not. Taffy0823 is a continuing source of ideas, whether she means to be or not, and the fact that so many people have gone beyond the second chapter must mean I'm doing something right. And I own nothing of Avatar beyond the DVD box sets and any good novels they may someday come out with.
As a final side note, Kojimo's name was originally KojimA, was changed due to a typo I let slide, and is now back the way it should be, including all instances in past chaps where his name is used. If I've missed one, or if I let it creep back in, let me know!
And now, the main event that I'm sure you're wishing I would get to eventually, THE CHAPTER!
Chapter X: Revelations Part 1
The impact jolted him back to his senses, for what felt like the fifth time that evening. Wincing, he pulled hiimself back up, massaging his back as he climbed back onto the ostrich-horse. I'm not falling asleep, I know that much. I'm just...not there for a second. Wierd. He shrugged off the latest episode as he tried to ignore the persistant ringing in his left ear. It doesn't matter anyway. I have to get back to the capital and tell them that the Avatar is alive and still gathering benders. Powerful ones, too. As these thoughts crossed his mind, he replayed the battle in Gyudon. He didn't even really attack--just shunted my attack out of the way and let his companions deal with me. The thought stung as he envisioned the response from his men. Getting beaten by the Avatar was one thing, but two girls (I guess she was a girl, her voice sounded girlish anyways) defeating a captain of the High Guard? Unthinkable, and yet that was exactly what had happened.
Looking down at his blackened cloak, he simply thanked the spirits that he had been able to free himself with only minor blistering along his legs and feet. Raising his eyes to the road again, he spurred the beast faster as the great natural walls of the city came into view.
An annoyance, that's all I am to him.
Wake up, Pink!"
"Hnnnguhwazgoinun?"
"Cute baby talk, Pink, but let's move it! Now would be nice!"
"Wha--?"
"Sorry, but you made me do this." Ty Lee was instantly awake as she bolted upright, rubbing the stinging spot on her cheek, "Did you just--"
"Slapped you, right. We don't have time for a leisurely morning rise-n-shine, got it?"
"Umm, we don't?" Mina pushed herself off the edge of the bed and turned to stare at the acrobat, "You gonna really wake up soon, or am I gonna have to slap you again?"
"No! No, I'm awake!"
"Good. Well, now that you're hopefully awake, a miracle in itself, see if you can hunt through this complete disaster you call a room for some good working clothes." Picking her way across uncluttered spaces of floor, Ty Lee made her way to the small wardrobe in the corner.
"Umm, what do you mean by 'working,' Mina?"
The archer looked up her spot near the overburdened desk, "Well, I guess you'd call it getting attacked. For us, it's just another day on the job." Ty Lee jerked her hand away from her first choice, settling instead on an old, slightly worn outfit she had used during her travels with Azula. Sniffing of the fabric, she was rewarded with the stale smell of old mud. Oh right, that drill-thingy back in the Earth Kingdom. She looked back at Mina, one eyebrow cocked, "Umm, you mind?"
"Nothing I don't have, Pink, now move it!"
"Fine! Just stop yelling!"
"Father, I can't do this. I have to tell you the truth."
"Oh? And what is this 'truth' that I am about to hear?"
"I didn't defeat the Avatar in Ba Sing Se. Azula did, and she lied to you when she said I did it."
"And you tell me this now. Why?"
"Because I'm tired of Azula's lies and schemes. She doesn't care about anyone, Father. No one but herself."
"Interesting. And, if what you say is true, what reasons would she have to lie to me about that?"
"Azula knows that you've always loved her more than me. She knows you would probably rather see her on the throne than me, so what would she gain from the extra prestige of defeating the Avatar? And--"
"Continue."
"And, if the Avatar--If the Avatar is alive, all the shame and dishonor would be on my head, and I would be banished again, leaving her unopposed for the Fire Nation throne."
"Prince Zuko, these are grave allegations you are bringing against your sister. This is not something to be taken lightly."
"I only want what is best for our nation, Father, and that isn't Azula. She's horrible, she doesn't care about our people at all, except as pawns in her own games."
"Very well, Prince Zuko, I will think upon what you have said. Please, leave me for now."
"Yes Father. Father, I--"
"Yes?"
"Azula my be horrible, but she's still my sister, and I--"
"You have done the right thing, Prince Zuko, in telling me this. I do not doubt that Azula would lie to me, although for something as important as this, I shall continue to hope that she has been truthful. I am nonetheless proud of you, my son, sacrificing your honor to end a potential lie with the ability to destroy our entire family."
"Thank you, Father."
"You may leave."
"Let me guess, this isn't what it looks like?"
"No, you ignorant little girl, it is exactly what it looks like. Seize them!" The soldiers rushed Mina and Ty Lee, forcing the pair to flee into the catwalks of the ironworks. Fire blasts followed their footsteps as the raced among the stairs and chains holding up the platforms. As a particularly well-aimed blast roared by her ear, she reflected on exactly why they were now running for their lives from men who should have been their own allies.
Earlier...
"Alright, Pink, listen up." Mina ran alongside the acrobat through the streets of the capital, making for the industrial section near the harbor. "There's been a group reported to be sabotaging the largest iron plant in the city, weakening the metal by adding impurities, messing with the furnaces, and in general making a big nuisance of themselves. Thing is, this time something big's been planned."
"What--What is it?" Ty Lee gasped out. Mina glanced over before rounding a corner and confronting a massive building that dominated the warehouses and factories for blocks. "Is--Is that--the iron plant?"
"Yep, that's the iron plant. And if these guys pull off their plan, it's going up in flames and taking half the capital's production facilities with it. Now come on, I know a way in." Abruptly turning down a side street, Ty Lee nearly lost her in the ensuing maze of alleys and boxes. Finally, she caught up with the archer outside a small metal door.
"Took ya long enough, Pink." Grunting with the effort, the heavy door slid open to reveal a darkened hallway, "maintenance are the only people who really use this, and hardly anyone even knows it's back here, so no one really keeps watch. Follow me." As they moved along into the shadows, Ty Lee nervously glanced around them. Either it was her imagination, or some of the shadows were moving. It's all in my head. Just a big, creepy building, nothing can really hurt me. Everything's going to be fine.
"This isn't right, they shouldn't be starting yet. And are those ours?" Mina's voice startled Ty Lee just in time to avoid running into her. Glancing over the girl's shoulder, she saw only a large, seemingly empty room. "What do you--?"
"Shut it." Was the only response, as Mina remained motionless in front of the view port in the metal.
"Definitely ours, and that's the part I'm getting answers for. Pink, follow me and don't get yourself too banged up." Shoving open the door, the archer strode confidently into the midst of the crowd. Glancing around, Ty Lee noticed a number of carts, similar to the ones she had seen at the Market. Also, several men in dark cloaks reminded her of the men from the warehouse. Before she could say anything though, Mina spoke up.
"So, let me start. It looks like you're hauling several loads of blasting jelly and flare charges, and you intend to either do some serious harm to some structure, or put on a completely illegal fireworks display. As for you," Here Mina jabbed a finger at a knot of men dressed in Fire Nation Army uniforms, "You're going to just sit back and let them? What was it, get your request for leave denied, or are you all just a bunch of traitors?"
One of the cloaked men spoke up, "Miss, I'm really very sorry to have to tell you this, since I can tell you're obviously a fine, upstanding young soldier, but--"
"Let me guess, this isn't what it looks like?"
Present
"Hey Pink, looks like we've run out of places to run!" Looking ahead, Ty Lee felt her stomach tie itself in knots as several of the cloaked men approached from the other end of the catwalk. Turning, that knot fell into her shoes as a group of the Fire Nation soldiers made it up the final stairway to stand level with them, not ten feet apart.
"Pink?"
"Y-yeah?"
"Jump."
"What? Do you know how far up--?"
"I said jump!" Suddenly, Ty Lee wasn't standing on metal anymore. As the heat from a fire blast raced across her skin, the world spun into a series of chains, railings, and brief flashes of fire as she once again found the floor rushing up to greet her.
I feel evil ending the chapter like this, but if I had added the next section, no one would have been able to read all the way through without needing some kind of breather. Let's just say that Azula's lies are going to catch up with her rather painfully. Also, I want ideas on what happened to Suki and the Kyoshi after the fight with Azula. I have a few ideas, but I want to hear what some of you think would happen. Until next time, faithful readers, and don't make the platypus-bear angry.
P.S. God is the source of all talent, we just get it on loan.--NullChronicler