Thank you so much for the reviews, guys!
Chapter 12 is up!
After the gang landed near the party hall, Ozai realized the sun was already high in the sky. The party will be starting soon and he had his whole plan already in his head. He was relieved that the avatar was caught, so now nothing stood in his way. Everyone jumped off Appa and approached the hall. Ozai noticed that all of the decorations were set. There was a line of drummers in front of the hall, playing music in the Avatar's honor. Everyone bowed as they passed them and entered the party hall.
"I remember when they used to do that to me," Ozai thought, sadly, but realized that they will resume doing that once more when they surrender to him. Once they entered the hall, Ozai was amazed at all of the intricate decorations set up around him. There were orange ribbons with a golden air symbol framing the walls. There were food and drinks all set up. At the front of the hall, there was a stage with a wooden podium, where they will be reading speeches. The party arranger man noticed they arrived and rushed over to them.
"Avatar Aang, I will have to ask you to stand outside to greet everybody. They are coming in your honor, after all." He said. Ozai groaned and stood outside, where he noticed fans were gathering. They were pushing through the guards, trying to get to him, but the guards held them back. A man with a list standing in front of the door bowed to him in deep respect.
"Happy birthday, Avatar Aang. We apologize for the screaming fans, but I assure you-no one will get inside without your permission," The man reassured. Ozai just gave him a fake smile. He noticed the first guest arriving-his brother.
General Iroh.
His stomach twisted and turned in hatred of seeing his older brother again, but he knew he could not say anything that might affect his plan. He knew that his brother was wise, and therefore would probably suspect something about him. He was dressed in a simple Earth Kingdom robe and approached him. He bowed to him.
"Happy Birthday, Aang. You are becoming a man now! I should teach you my secret recipe for my famous Lychee Tea!" Iroh said, laughing. Ozai almost scowled at him. Iroh hugged him for a few seconds and entered the party hall.
"Good. He doesn't suspect a thing." Ozai thought, relieved. He looked up and saw some Kyoshi Warriors come up to him. Then, he noticed one of them-Ty Lee.
He couldn't believe that she had betrayed his daughter, causing her to go insane. And now, here she is, dressed up in the most ridiculous outfit, with the rare chi-blocking technique that she possessed now going to waste for protecting others.
The Kyoshi warriors walked up to him and bowed. Then, Ty Lee gave him a fierce hug that knocked the breath out of him.
"Happy Birthday, Aang! It seems like it was almost yesterday that I was hunting you guys down with Azula!" She exclaimed, pulling back. Then, she and the other Kyoshi warriors went inside.
"Pah! Is EVERYONE here going to be people I hate?" Ozai asked himself. He looked up and noticed that hundreds of fans had already gathered, screaming the Avatar's name. It looks like it was going to be a mad house. Then he looked up and found a dangerous site-the white lotus.
Master Pakku, Master Piandao, Master Jeong Jeong, and Earth King Bumi approached him. His stomach turned into a knot. These were the wisest men he knew, and was not sure if they would detect something wrong about him. All four bowed to him, in which he reluctantly bowed back. Then, they shook his hand, saying congratulations….except for Bumi. He hugged Ozai and started half-snorting and half-laughing.
"Looks like you and I are the same age now, Aang. One hundred and thirteen!" He said, laughing and snorting. Then, Jeong Jeong stared at him.
"Aang, I sense there is something different about you…is everything all right?" He asked. Ozai's heart started pounding against his chest.
"Yeah…I'm just a little nervous, that's all…" He replied, nervously laughing. The men decided to leave it and entered the hall. Ozai sighed in relief.
This was going to be a long day.
"Come on, Chen! We have to keep going! Who knows what Ozai's planning now? There are hundreds of innocent people there at the party. Look! You can hear their cheering all the way here!" Aang urged Chen, who was falling behind, panting tiredly. They were so close to the celebration. Aang could definitely see the different lights shining up in the air and he could hear people calling out his name.
"I…can't…do it…I'm too tired…" Chen replied panting. Aang slowed down a bit. He realized that Chen wasn't under the same demanding training as he was. They slowed down to a fast-walking pace.
"How much longer until we get there?" Chen asked with his breathing now steady.
"One more hour by walking and thirty minutes by running…" Aang told Chen. He groaned. They picked up the pace. Aang noticed the sun was already past the middle of the sky. The party would be starting very soon.
After ten minutes, they made it to the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se. Aang spotted his house and sped over to it, with Chen following. He burst through the doors and expected to see his friends, but there was no one there. Chen groaned, collapsing on one of the soft pallets on the floor.
"They must already be at the party! Come on, Chen! People's lives are at stake!" Aang urged Chen. Chen quickly drank a glass of water and began running out of the door. Aang saw the tiny figure of the party hall in the distance. Then, he heard the sound of drums playing a different tune than before. He heard a man's faint voice. His eyes widened.
"Oh no."
"What?" Chen asked.
"That party's starting." He said, dread filling his stomach.
"How are we ever going to get there?" Chen asked, desperately. Then, Aang realized something.
"Chen?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you forget you're an Earthbender again?" He asked. Chen lowered his gaze and stopped running.
"Oh yeah…" He said before summoning the earth under their feet and rocketing them across the landscape. It was the same move that Toph used to escape from Xin Fu and her earthbending teacher. Aang just held onto Chen's back, being careful not to fall off.
He knew that they were going to make it in time now.
"Thank you for gathering here today on the Avatar's birthday! This is truly a great honor!" A man's voice echoed outside. It was the party arranger on the balcony of the party hall. He was making a speech, which means that the party was starting. Now, he had to meet his fans. Joy.
He walked down to the center. All of the fans were screaming and the guards were having difficulty holding them back. He just waved at all of them. The lights blinded his eyes as the shone down upon the avatar. He grunted in frustration.
"This is a waste of time!" He thought, staying there for a few minutes.
Meanwhile, inside the party hall, everyone was enjoying themselves…except for Zuko. He was jittery, sweaty, and stressed. He was pacing with his arms behind his back.
"This is it! I am done for! Aang is back at the prison and Ozai is here! What am I going to do?" He thought. Then, a man came up to him.
"Fire lord Zuko. This is a message for you." The man said. Zuko accepted it and opened it up to read it.
Dear Firelord Zuko,
I am extremely sorry to say that Ozai and his accomplice have escaped from the carriage carrying them. We are on the lookout, 24/7. Do not worry. We will catch them and the guards who let them escape are fired.
Sorry for the inconvenience,
Hun Lee (Warden of Ba Sing Se Prison)
Zuko had to restrain himself from jumping and screaming in joy. Aang was coming here to save them. They just had to hope they were coming in time. Zuko left the party hall and waited outside to search for Aang. The fans screamed louder now that the Fire Lord and the Avatar were in their presence. He waited outside for a few minutes before the party arranger told him he had to go inside with the Avatar. The party was already starting. A dreadful feeling rose up in his stomach.
"No! Aang, where are you?" He thought, panicking. Ozai had already gone inside. Zuko was following him, and gave a last glance behind him, hoping to see his friend.
Then he saw him. He was being restrained by the guards. His eyes widened.
"Zuko!"
Aang and Chen were almost there to the party hall. Chen sped up the Earthbending for a few more minutes.
"Okay, Chen. We made it. You can stop now." Aang informed him. Chen suddenly stopped the moving earth and both of them were launched forward. Both of them collapsed on the ground. Aang stood up, dizzily and helped Chen up.
"Next time, can you do it a little more gently?" Aang asked. Chen blushed. Then, they started running towards the party hall.
They had finally reached the gigantic hall with the screaming fans right in front of them. Aang ran forward towards the entry doors, but a guard held him back.
"Whoa! No getting in! You are not on the list!" The guard said. Then, he looked at Aang, his eyes widening.
"O-Ozai?" He whispered. Then, two other guards came over and try to haul Aang back, but he fought against them. He looked behind him. Some guards already captured Chen. He had to do something. He had to get in somehow. Then, he saw a young man in Fire Nation clothing, going inside the doors. He gave a glance over his shoulder and widened his eyes when he saw him.
"Zuko!" Aang shouted.
Ahh! Suspense! Haha. Well I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! :)