Chapter 21. Mission: Fox Hound – Moving out

A few minutes as passes by since the battle of the two royal blood has ended, Zuko final made it to the tram where the others were at. He was surprise to Mai with them as well. Katara was busy healing Samanosuke's wounds. Fox was at watch as Atoli sat next to Samanosuke. Zuko enters the tram as he then close the sliding doors. Before he pulls the switch, he notices the two people are missing.

"Katara, where's Jin?" said Zuko as looks at her.

Samanosuke looks at him and said, "She can take care of herself. Don't worry about her."

"Are you sure?" said Zuko.

"Yea, she will be fine on her own." said Samanosuke.

"If you say so, but where's Suki?" said Zuko.

Katara stops healing Samanosuke as she looks around. She remembers telling Suki to meet with at the tram before the riot started. Katara began to worry as she decides to look for her friend. Before she opens the door, she looks ahead and spots Suki walking out of the prison's door. Katara was relief to see her, but soon fear craws up her spin. As Suki walks out, Azula was behind pressing her blade against Suki's neck. Azula holds Suki tightly as several Fire Nation's soldiers follows them. Before Katara had the chance to rush out to save Suki, Zuko places his hand on Katara's shoulder to let her know to let him to care of this matter. Zuko walks out of the tram as the soldiers spread out around him. He glares at her young sister and notices she is injured from their battle.

"Let Suki go, Azula!?" said Zuko as he walks towards them.

Azula presses her blade against Suki's neck as to draw some blood out, causing Zuko to stop. "Stop right there, brother. You don't want her pretty little head to be sliced off her body now, huh?" said Azula.

Zuko watches her carefully as he make sure not to make any sudden movement that might cause Suki her life. "What do want then?" he said.

"It's simple really. . ." said Azula as she grins, ". . . all I want is your head to show to daddy."

Suki eyes quickly widen when she heard what Azula wants. "Don't do it!?" she said as she struggle to get out from Azula's grip.

Zuko did not show any emotion as he knows Azula is dead serious. He was deep in his thoughts as he tries to find way with hurting himself and Suki. A few moments as passes by, Zuko have no choice, but to give Azula what she want without hurting Suki.

"Fine, I will give you my head for Suki's life." Zuko removes both of his weapons and places them on the ground. He takes a few steps forwards to Azula as he places his hands behind his head.

Azula's grin widen as she watch her brother move closer towards her. "Stop right there." she ordered him when he came to a certain distant. He did what he was told to do as he glares at his sister. "Now get on your knees." said Azula. Zuko got on his knees and lowers his head. Azula turns her head to the side to look at Snake and said, "Snake, go and calm his head for me."

Snake walks up to the young prince as he draw out his blade. Snake a line his blade against Zuko's neck. Snake lifts the blade over his head as he stares down at Zuko. Suki tightly close her eyes as she turns her head to the side. Azula was filled with lust for blood as she waits for Snake to cut her brother head off. Snake took a deep breath before he cut through the air with his blade. The sharp long weapon draws closer towards Zuko's neck. The world seems to slow down as the blade gets near his neck. The young prince closes his eyes as he welcome death with open arms.

Suddenly, the blade stops near the touch of Zuko's skin when a sound of an explosion got everyone attention. An Alchemy airship flew closet to the volcano, nearly hitting the prison. Smoke and fire comes out through the opening of the airship as it crash in the sea. A raven like shadow flew across the platform where they stand. The shadow flew round several times before it came straight down at them. A white blur comes down at center of the platform like meteor hitting the Earth. The ground shook as dust clouds cover the field. The dust slowly fades away as it reveals female wearing white cover in blood. The blade of her scythe is dripping with blood.

"Wh-who are you!?" said Azula as for first time fear crawl up her spine.

The girl did not say word as she reaches to the back of the blade and pulls the rip-cord. The fans on the back of the blade start to spin as the sound of the engine sent chill down everyone spin. She began to walk towards Azula. First time feeling fear, Azula starts to panic. Azula takes a few steps back as she still held Suki as hostage. Azula arms start to shake a bit as she told to stay back. The girl in white did not listen to Azula as she draws closer to the princess.

"Snake get her!?" said Azula, but nothing happen. "Snake? Snake where are you!?" Azula looks around, but he was nowhere to be found. She looks ahead to find the girl in white getting closer to her. "Get away from me!?" she yells.

"We must protect the princess!?" said one of the soldier.

The Fire Nation's soldiers surround the girl in white causing her to stop in her track. The six soldiers aim at the girl and using their fire bending skill, they shot a fire blast at the girl. The heat was intense as the girl in white was engulf in flame.

"Jin!?" said Zuko as he watch in horror, seeing his friend being burn alive.

Soon the soldiers stop their attack, the only thing there is a thick black smoke that reach to the sky. Azula feels relief knowing the girl is gone. Her grin slowly appears once again as she looks at Zuko. The prince looks down, he feels hopeless that he did not save his friend in time and now she is gone. A strong gust of wind blows the smoke away. When the smoke clear, something rolled on the ground that got everyone attach.

It was a Fire Nation Soldier's helmet, but there was a blood trail that follows long the helmet. Azula's eyes follow the blood trail that lead to something that made her skin crawl. Her eyes spots a soldier missing a head as Jin stood behind the headless soldier. The body soon fell to the ground as one of the soldier rushes at her. Jin uses her air bending skill to lunch the soldier into the air. She quickly catches the falling soldier by letting her scythe go through his chest. Blood splatter hit her face as she swings the Ketuseki Rain hard enough to remove the corpse from the blade. The corpse hits the wall not far from Azula. Jin already took down two of the six soldiers in a bloody way.

"If I were you Azula, I give up right now." said Snake as point the edge of his blade on the back of Azula's neck.

Azula can feel the cold sharp tip against her neck as her heart sink. "Sn-Snake. . ."

"Let the girl go." he orders.

Azula did what she was told as tears starts to build up. Suki quickly got away from her and head towards Zuko. As she ran, she turns her head back at Azula and notices the tears on her eyes. Suki could not help, but to feel sorry for Azula as she ran towards the safety of her friends.

Snake grabs Azula and presses his blade against her neck. "I'm sorry, but I have a mission to complete."

"I. . .I trusted you. . ." said Azula as she look at him.

Snake stays quiet for a few moments before telling Jin to fire flare into the air. As soon as Jin fires the flare, their ride to leave the prison has come. The airship floats next to the tram as the hatch door opens. Zuko and his friends quickly head inside the airship. Snake slowly head towards the airship with Azula as his hostage. The soldiers watch him enters the airship with the princess.

"I'm sorry for doing this and lying to you." said Snake.

Azula voice was filled with sadness as she spoke. "Your promise, was it a lie too?"

"Yes, I'm sorry for leaving you." he said.

"Please don't leave me. . . I need you. . ." said Azula.

"I'm sorry. . ." Snake pushes Azula out of the airship and closes the hatch.

Azula fell to the ground as she starts to cry. The airship quickly leaves prison and heads back to the air temple. Snake presses his back against the wall of the ship as he looks down. Guilt runs through his body as he thought about Azula.

"I'm sorry, Azula. . ." said Snake.

I finally I'm down with this chapter and I'm sorry for being late. I got some many reader blocks and I end up writing this so many time _