Here ya go. Another violent chapter. By the way, there are only three more chappies after this :) Enjoy!
Chapter 25 - Interference
Shen sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Finally!" he laughed, barking in laughter.
Katara, horrified, shook her head numbly. "No. This isn't right . . . this isn't supposed to happen . . ." Shock began to take over her body, possessing her thoughts and actions. She began to shiver violently, elbows giving out beneath her. She cried out in pain when her body hit the ground, snatching her hand back when her fingertips skirted the edge of a pool of blood.
Sokka had managed to keep it together, miraculously. He was terrified and sick to the stomach, staring at his best friend . . . who had fallen, eyes glazed over. Averting his gaze, he glanced at his sister, who was entering the first stages of shock.
"Hold it together, sis," he muttered, touching her head. Her body curled in on itself, cradling her belly.
"It hurts, Aang . . ." she whispered.
"I am a hero!" Shen howled, raising his fists. "Killing the Avatar is something enough . . . but killing him while in the Avatar State?! That's a first!" He continued to laugh, covering his eyes. "I am safe from those damned non-benders . . ."
"I wouldn't say safe," Sokka clarified, voice trembling. "I'm still here. I'm not hurt . . . but you hurt my sister AND my . . . my brother."
Shen snorted. "You really think that you could kill me? I could blow you up without a second thought, boy."
Sokka forced back the stinging tears. "No. I don't think . . . I KNOW I can kill you." He stood. "I will not let my niece be born while scum like you still lives!"
Suddenly, a terrific scream echoed through the ruins of the house. A man suddenly fell from the sky, landing with a crunch between Sokka and Shen.
"I second that!"
Sokka grinned, immediately recognizing Toph's voice.
"Got your bloody archer, Shen-Shen!" she laughed, still holding Sokka's fur vest to her wound.
Shen's smile only flickered. "No matter," he countered, "I am still a fighter myself." He stanced, backing away slightly.
"This is all yours, Sokka," Toph called, strained, "I wasted all of the energy I have on that dirtbag."
"I know . . ."
Katara felt a vague sense of panic. It was pounding at the back of her skull irritably. But . . . she just couldn't bring herself to feel anything other than an overwhelming sense of numbness. She didn't want to admit the terrible truth. She couldn't accept it right now . . . Not while the baby was on the way. She WAS going to believe that Aang would be by her side, holding her hand in excitement.
But, goodness did it hurt! She couldn't believe the pain that she was feeling.
Why hadn't Aang arrived to comfort her yet? What was taking him so long?
"He'll be here . . ." she mumbled, now fading in and out of consciousness.
Sokka prepared to fight, grasping the machete in a white fist. His breath emerged as puffs of steam, fading quickly. He took one last glance at Katara, worried. Then, he began to approach Shen.
They circled each other, predator VS predator. Sokka tried his best to scowl when, in actuality, he was terrified and scared. All he wanted to do was run into his father's embrace, full grown man as he was.
They circled for ages, sizing each other up. Shen would never admit it, but he was nervous. The man before him had just watched his "brother" die and his sister take a dip into denial. Losing family was a powerful incentive.
Toph "watched", breath bated. She cried at the same time, silent but steady tears running from her eyes. She could feel Aang's body, lifeless and cold. No vibrations. No heartbeat. Katara was fading fast, dying in childbirth. The baby . . .
Strong and healthy.
Thank goodness.
Her attention was riveted back to the fight, vibrations telling her that they were still shuffling around in a pointless circle. She paid attention to the footsteps, the heartbeats, the breaths. She knew when they were about to attack.
Tension built, thick and strangling. Breathing was hitched. Hearts stuttered. Blood rushed through the veins. Adrenaline sung through the body.
In short, it was unbearable.
Several moments passed. Toph could barely stand it.
Sokka chanced a glance at the ceiling. "Suki . . . Yue . . . watch over me . . ." he whispered.
With a strangled war cry, he charged Shen.
Shen inhaled sharply, leaning back to brace himself from the explosion he was about to create.
There was a stifling second of silence as they prepared, foreheads creasing in secret worries.
However . . .
Out of nowhere, a searing white light exploded into the room, bathing every nook and cranny in a gorgeous glow. Shen and Sokka both cried out, falling back in surprise to shield their assaulted eyes. Even Toph yelped, the light piercing through her blind eyes.
"What the-!" Shen screamed, stumbling over a body.
"Such a disgrace."
The powerful voice instilled such a terror in Sokka that he fell to the ground, planting his palms over his ears. His eyes widened, wildly attempting to adjust to this new level of brightness.
"To think that WE, the Spirits, would have to get involved in a mere human affair . . . it's disgraceful."
Shen froze, mouth gaping.
Before him stood a centipede, towering over him menacingly. It's plates glistened. The coarse fur on its underbelly stunk of death, and it's many legs twitched and creaked compulsively. It stood twenty feet tall, swaying back and forth.
The most terrifying part was his face. Under what appeared to be an enormous eyelid was the face of a clown. Smeared makeup donned its features. Its sneering mouth exposed sharp teeth, yellowed and jagged.
Suddenly, faster than his eyes could follow, the Spirit was two inches away from Shen's face, breathing lightly. Shen fell to the ground, body paralyzed with fear.
"You're showing emotion, human . . ." he murmured, licking his lips. "The terror on your face is most . . . appetizing . . ." His many legs clicked in excitement.
Sokka watched, horrified. The strange bug-spirit thing said something to Shen, grinning maliciously. Then, as if savoring Shen's fear, it slowly opened its mouth, jaws spreading to a size that could easily devour a head. Its entire body expanded as it took a breath, absorbing Shen's emotions.
Sokka tore his gaze away, throwing his face to the floor. But, he couldn't block out Shen's scream of agony. It lasted for an eternity, drawing out as if he was falling from a cliff.
Then, all was silent.