Chapter Thirty Five

Anything and Everything

"Which way?"

"This way…"

"You sure?"

"Nope."

I chuckled as Sokka looked at Toph with wide eyes, but the earthbender merely shrugged, not worried.

"Well, are we going or not?" Toph snapped in annoyance, crossing her arms over her chest.

Aang sighed, motioning forward. "Come on."

We then broke into a run, our footsteps loud and echoing against the hard ground. It was like a labyrinth. We would run a straight stretch, then Toph would nod right and we would jeer right.

A sharp left took me falling over something, causing the thing and I to fall flat on the ground. Alarmed, I jumped to my feet, hesitantly looking at the man I knocked over.

"I'm sorry!" I exclaimed briskly, "I'm really sorry!"

The elderly man moved quickly to his feet, and suddenly he let out a startled yelp. "A-Ah-Ah! The A-Avatar! And his friends! Oh dear, oh dear…" He then began to shake violently, breathing out deeply.

I frowned, "Are you okay?" I asked, concerned. He looked like he was having a heart attack.

"I-I'm fine! Pleasure to meet you all - heroes to us against-" He froze, peering around, "Ozai." He whispered.

Aang suddenly interceded, "Nice to meet you, sir, but could you point us to where Firelord Ozai is?"

The older man nodded, pointing a shaking finger straight ahead, "That way. Third doorway on the right. Good luck, Avatar and his friends." And with a deep bow, he was gone, scurrying down the hall opposite the one he appointed us.

With a waving hand, Sokka hither us into another run, as we sprinted down the corridor. Suddenly, Toph let out a grunt, raising her hand to stop us.

Just as quickly, men fell from the ceiling, dropping swiftly onto the ground. I recognized these men with a sickening feeling as the Dai Li.

Sokka cursed under his breath.

The Dai Li swept forward, gliding on their toes across the earth. With a single movement, they shot their arms forward, propelling their hand-rock things at us.

I instinctively ducked, dodging the three hands that were aimed at me. I drew my leg across the ground before flipping forward, bending the air into a gale which knocked a few of the warriors away. The others, however, dug their feet into the earth to remain standing.

Toph moved her fists up, crushing some of the men away. "Go!" She yelled, and Aang used his staff to blow away some of the on coming Dai Li. I leapt over some rocks being shot at us, deflecting the boulders with my bending.

"There's the room!" Aang said through clenched teeth, and we all narrowly moved inside of the door. Toph earthbended the door shut, muttering obscenities under her breath.

Letting out a deep breath, I looked around the room, expecting to see the Firelord himself.

But instead, there was Princess Azula.

"Spirits!" Sokka cursed again.

A smirk played on the Princess's lips as she rose to her feet, her black hair framing her pale face. Her amber eyes were piercing as they observed each of us. "Well, well, well." She purred, not moving at all. "Hello, Avatar Aang and his…friends."

Aang bristled from his spot beside me. "Where is Ozai?"

Azula frowned, but the frown did not reach her eyes. "Oh, my father. He's not here. Not even in this bunker…"

Toph snarled, "You're lying."

A startling laugh rolled off her tongue, "Oh?" She gingerly placed a finger to her chin, "How can you be so sure?"

"She's stalling," I muttered.

Sokka looked proud, "She knows. Toph is the best earthbender in the world."

"Oh?" She repeated, "Well, why don't we test that?"

"Go for it." Toph challenged.

Azula's smile was sickening, "I am a thirty-foot tall purple platypus bear with curled hair and rainbow eyes."

Toph didn't say anything, except, "Okay. You're a good liar."

Aang was growing angrier by each passing second. Princess Azula seemed to notice it. "The Eclipse is going on…I'm completely vulnerable. No firebending for me," She cooed with a fake sigh of sadness.

Aang clenched his fists together, "Where is Firelord Ozai?" He repeated.

Azula shrugged.

Suddenly, a pillar of earth shot out of the ground, aimed for Azula. The Fire Nation Princess flipped out of the way, a coy smile on her face as she landed yards away from her original spot. Toph gritted her teeth together.

Just as sudden, the Dai Li made their entrance, and there had to be at least ten of them.

Two turned to me, gliding forward, their hands moving in sync as they controlled the earth around them. Two boulders rose out of the ground, and the two men rolled their hands downwards, calling the rocks down on top of me.

I rolled out of the way from the boulders, moving my palms outward, creating slices of air which flew towards the two warriors. I dodged an oncoming column of rock, kicking controlled spheres of air forward.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a quick blur. Instinctively I whirled around, and to my dismay, saw that Azula was sprinting towards the exit.

Aang must've noticed it, too. Pushing the three Dai Li which were attacking him away, he dashed after her.

I followed, as well as Sokka who grabbed Toph. We were about to catch up with her when a large rock wall suddenly rose out of the ground, cutting off our way.

Aang jumped into the air, and with a grunt, smashed a large hole into the wall with a single punch. I didn't even have time to be amazed, as I was already leaping through the hole.

Once out in the hallway, I took a second to look around. Azula could've ran anyway, to the left, right, or even straight.

"Do you know which way she went?" I asked, just as Toph and Sokka reached us. Toph earthbended a large series of walls to cover the doorway, but she seemed to know that nothing could keep the Dai Li back.

Aang nodded a solemn 'no', a frown settling on his lips.

Toph sighed, crouching down to place a palm flatly on the ground. After a few seconds, she pointed to the right.

And without another word, we were sprinting again.

Toph's strategy proved us right, again (not that I would ever doubt it). It was a dead end, and right at the end of the corridor, stood a smug looking Azula. I then realized that this was her plan all along; to distract us for the four minutes left of the Eclipse, for that we couldn't reach Ozai.

I was about to tell the others this when Azula's voice caught my attention, "…Vinca, the girl from humble beginnings, right?"

I stared at her, not able to say a word.

The Fire Nation Princess continued, a sly smirk plastered on her blood-red lips, "The recent addition to 'Team Avatar'? The airbender." her lips twitched, "I must say, Vinca, that you're airbending has become…spectacular." Her black bangs fell over her face, "Of course, you've had the Avatar to teach you. Oh, well. I also have the information that your brother - Olin? Is that his name?" Azula didn't wait for an answer, "Olin has the potentional to be an airbender himself."

"Leave my brother alone." I hissed through now-clenched teeth, glaring at her.

A coy smile danced on her lips, "You and the Avatar are the only airbenders left…not including your brother."

"Olin isn't an airbender." I spat angrily, my body tensing up.

A loud, menacing laugh rose from her throat, "You don't know that for sure, do you?" She blinked her deathly amber eyes, "Exactly. Well, I'll know for sure, soon…"

"Don't talk like you've captured him." I interrupted her.

She only smirked smugly. "It's not like it was hard. He is just a useless boy, doesn't even know how to use a sword…I don't know why they chose him for the army. I'm surprised he hasn't been killed. Oh, wait, he's already dying."

An explosion of anger erupted in me just seeing that small twitch of her lips, hearing those words. How dare she talk about my brother - my injured, on the edge of death - brother like she had him in her clutches? My only family member - the one who I would do anything, everything for? The only one I had left?

I suddenly lunged forward, losing control of my body as my hands wrapped her neck, pinning her against the wall. She was shaking - no, that was me - and her amber eyes widened slightly in fear, my reflection dancing off of them.

"Vinca!" Someone yelled in surprise.

I didn't move, my fingers didn't enclose. "Don't talk about him like that. You don't know. Maybe I should just kill your whole family and see how you like it…" My fingers suddenly went slack and I stumbled backwards, feeling the urge to laugh.

I felt disgusting.

"Vinca…" Aang was suddenly by my side, a look of pure terror on his face. "What…What was that?"

I exhaled shakily, moving away. "I'm sorry."

Sokka was staring at me with wide eyes.

"I'm sorry." I repeated again.

I felt disgusting, sickening, and revolting. But Olin was my brother and I will, and always will, protect and defend him. Even though I can't always do it I will always try.

Even against monsters like Azula.

AN: Welp, a little sibling-love? I think yes. Well, there's chapter 35 for you. As always, thank you all for the wonderful reviews. I love reading them all! And over 100 reviews? Wow! Thank you all so much! (group hug)

Anyway, as some of you are aware, I'm going on vacation the 10th through the 17th. I'll try and get another chapter up before the trip! But no promises!

Have a lovely week!