Merits 53


Tension was rife through the plane's cabin.

"No."

"Toph, we don't have a choice," said Aang, his voice patient but tired, stressed.

"No."

Sokka sighed and with quick movements tightened the belts and adjusted the harness strapped around Toph, connecting her to Aang. "You don't really have a choice."

"Faster, faster, faster," muttered Zuko, pacing in the aisle. His shaggy hair was dishevelled from him running his hands through it, his eyes wild, overbright, hard.

"Down to your last twenty seconds," called the pilot from the forward cabin. "Or we'll be too far off course."

Sokka reached for the handle of the cabin's air-lock, nodding at the others to back up and hold on. "Hold on tight, let Aang handle everything, and focus on not struggling," he advised as they all felt their ears pop, the door hiss, the suction wallop them, the noise deafen them.

"No," said Toph, her arms trembling as she felt Aang grab her around her middle and drag her towards the open cockpit door.

"Too late. Hold on tight!"

With a grin at the rest of the assembled passengers, Aang winked behind his goggles and leapt from the door out into the deepening blue sky, Toph strapped tight to his body.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!"

"She'll forgive him," assured Suki. She glanced at Sokka as he watched the screaming pair (Toph in fury and fear, Aang in pure unadulterated joy) plummet, then seal the door again. "Right?"

He locked the handle and joined her in the seat beside hers, letting out a small sigh. "She may be touchy about it for a few years, but yeah, eventually."

They glanced at Zuko, standing in the aisle as he glared out the front of the cabin through the wide cockpit windows. His arms were tense as they knotted across his chest, his stance erect, inflexible.

"Twenty minutes and we'll be arriving. All support personnel are nearly in place for Toph and Aang; our air support are due in less than an hour," called the pilot.

Zuko nodded, not speaking.

Sokka and Suki looked at each other, and, without a word, reached for each other's hands.

They had one chance.


(Meanwhile, as they hurtled through the cold air, Toph clung to Aang like a woman possessed.)

"If we make it through this alive, I'm going to kill you!"

"I knew you'd love it!" Then, a second or two later, "I think I can see the scaffolding; we're going to shift to the right. WhoohooooO~!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"


"I seem to have caught you at a disadvantage," said Azula sweetly, though her smirk belied the statement.

Through the rushing in her ears, Katara felt herself spacing out and deliberately began flexing and unflexing her toes, grounding herself. Water slipped and slid over her, warm and cooling, wet and protective. She had water. She had armour.

Outside the water dripping down her body, Jet's whimpering, whining in her arms, and her own heartbeat, Katara realized just how quiet the room was.

"Far from," said Katara, finding her voice. Her fingers slid to Jet's shirt collar and held tight, not letting him go. Her fingers slid beneath his shirt and she sent soothing energy through her hands into his scalp, calming him. His whimpering eased to panting, then even, he sank down at the foot of the bath, worn out. Leaving Azula and Katara a clear view of each other.

Azula's smirk widened.

"So, the little waterbender intends to play?"

"No."

The little waterbender intends to win.


With a tap of her still trembling feet, Toph sensed out the outdoor 'landing pad' they had dropped onto, and a grim smile reached across her lips. The wind blew around her hair, and she could hear the openness of the valley they had settled in… and people. People coming, from everywhere.

Still unhooking his part of the chute in the encroaching darkness, Aang glanced over at her. "Still need me here? Is everything okay?"

She stepped to the front of the raised platform, and trailed her fingers over the mixing tables; buttons, switches, keys all at her disposal. All exactly where she needed them. Sokka had done well, whomever he had contacted; it was a perfect match to her regular setup.

"Send the e-blast," she said, smile widening until it showed her teeth. She was in her element again. "The Blind Bandit has a free concert, starting in five minutes, right here."

She touched the wrap around her wrist and slid out the first of her USB keys.

As she plugged in, music pulsed from the massive speakers on either side of her stage, and lights sprang to life around her like a blue halo.

"Let's get this party started."


"What do you mean, we're walking right in?"

Zuko scoffed at Suki.

"Trust me, she knows we're coming. She's banking on it."

Suki and Sokka looked at each other before Sokka nodded, face hardening. They approached the palatial campus where Zuko had grown up; gardens and ponds and wing-tipped roofs greeted them in the evening's fading light.

Until up ahead they saw torches lit, lining the walkway.

"What does that say?" asked Sokka, squinting at the banner that hung across the main entrance. Suited men and women, vampires, were lined up on either side of the path.

"Welcome home, Zuzu, Everyone's favourite fa…" Suki swallowed and broke off. Her wide eyes looked away from Zuko, and Sokka glanced between them as they approached.

"Everyone's favourite family shame," read Zuko, his voice low, level.

His head was high and his shoulders back as they passed beneath it into the main building.

As he'd expected, they were greeted immediately inside.

"Welcome home, Zuko!" Ty Lee bounced in place, wide smile on her beaming face.

"Took you long enough," said Mai, arms crossed.

Sokka lifted a hand to ask a question, and just as smoothly Suki had put her hand on top of his and lowered it down again, shaking her head.

Ty Lee shrugged her shoulders at everyone's lack of enthusiasm. She pointed behind her. "Follow us. We're just getting to know… that new girl… what's her name again? The Spirit one?"

Mai deadpanned. "The whore."

Zuko's eyes narrowed as his lips firmed to a white line.

"Katara. Her name is Katara," said Sokka, his temper flashing in his own eyes and in the stiff set of his shoulders.

"Right! We're just about to start our chat. She seems really nice."

Then the floors shook as an explosion rocked the building.

"Oops. Sounds like Azula started without us," sighed Ty Lee, shaking her head. "And she promised to wait this time! Damnit!"

"I'm not doing any clean-up," said Mai.

Zuko had already taken off in the direction of the sound.

Ty Lee and Mai turned to look at Suki and Sokka.

"I'm Ty Lee, by the way. This is Mai."

Mai slid a round of shuriken through her knuckles.

"I'm Suki, this is Sokka."

Suki slid her fans loose and snapped them open.

A glint of interest flashed in Mai's golden eyes.

"Well, at least the evening won't be boring."


Keeping her ice-shield up in front of her, Katara gasped in air hungrily as she reached down to place a glowing hand on Jet's unconscious skull. She had grabbed her shirt and a pair of pants and struggled into them, but it wasn't ideal in terms of battle gear. They needed to get out of there. "Come on, come on, wake up," she muttered under her breath, her eyes failing to pierce the steam that had fogged up the small room.

"Come on out, waterbender. Don't you trust me? I offered you a lovely opportunity others would kill for." Azula's voice echoed off the walls around them, distorting them.

Right. More like die for, Katara thought to herself. She reached through the bond. You're close?

Almost there, came the reply.

She let out a small sigh of relief, and slumped forward as she felt Jet stirring under her hands.

"Thank goodness," she whispered, glancing around. Still too much fog; at least it worked in their favour at the moment. "Jet, we need to move. Help is coming and—gck! Jet!" She let go of her healing and grabbed at his arms.

His eyes glowing gold, Jet had seized Katara around the throat and squeezed, his movements jerky, awkward.

"So… sorry… K-Katara…" he hissed between his elongated teeth. His brow furrowed, tighter and tighter, as his eyes went white and wide. "So… sorry…" He shuddered, and again, and high-pitched whining sounds came from his throat as if he were the one being strangled.

As Katara reached through the bond, she forced her breathing to settle and steady. Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic, she repeated to herself. Stay in control. Zuko, that goes for you, too.

Growling and snapping sounds met her request, and she almost smiled.

She kept open her link to Zuko even as she felt her ice wall cracking, splintering. The sound gave away their location to Azula and Katara heard pointy-heeled boots making their way slowly closer.

"Honestly, did it need to come to blows so soon? I have an opening in mind for you, you should at least consider it," said Azula, her form coalescing from the fog that surrounded them. Through the cracked ice Katara could make out her twisted smirk, the confident arch of her dark brows. "One would think you felt threatened by me, waterbender."

"Not on your life," snapped Katara, choking around Jet's grip.

Azula frowned. "That was a particularly poor choice of words. You almost sound like my brother."

"Zuko is far more worthy than you."

Jet, I'm really sorry, but…

With her hands still around his arms, Katara took a deep breath and blew out hard, covering Jet's face in a thick film of ice, choking off his air supply. After a half second his arms dropped and he began scrabbling at his face, trying to rip the ice off with his claws.

Azula's thrall had been broken and his self-preservation had taken over.

"Finally, you're at least doing something to save yourself. I was beginning to think there was no fight in you at all," lamented Azula. "It was like watching Zuko's humiliating Agni Kai all over again."

Furious, Katara staggered to her feet, calling water to her from around the room. The fog disappeared, reforming around her arms.

"Zuko has more honour than the rest of your entire family put together."

"Of course he does, dutiful girlfriend, of course he does." Azula's mouth twisted to the side as she folded her arms across her chest. "Now, are you ready to speak to me like a reasonable person, or do I need to sic another pet on you? I have many. It is kind of important we chat, though, and it won't take long."

Katara didn't dare look away from the vampiress. "What do you want?"

Azula's smile was cold, victorious. "To quote a great and powerful woman, "Just a token, merely a trifle. What I want from you is,"" she leaned forward. "Your Spirit."

Katara shook her head. "It's part of me. I can't. I… I don't even really control it."

Azula's smile grew wider. "That's what you think."

A deep raspy voice called from behind Azula, and the hair on Katara's neck and arms stood straight up as if electrified.

"Azula... The spirit. Is she there?"

The vampiress's expression turned to Katara in triumph.


It was only through his heightened senses that Zuko caught the presence of the two vampires ahead of him as he rounded the corner, dodging their concert of fire blasts. With a quick roll on his shoulder he was back on his feet, tall and commanding, steam rising from his nose in his anger at the senseless delay.

"What's the meaning of this?" he demanded, fists clenched. These two should know their place.

"Oh, nothing much," said Zhao, smug grin on his face. He rubbed at the beard on his chin as he eyed Zuko up and down. "You've grown since your time with the peasants. Tell me, how is your Uncle these days? Still kicking?"

Across from Zhao, his long robes no doubt concealing all manner of weaponry, Long Feng folded his hands inside his voluminous sleeves. "Did you forget your manners, Prince Zuko? To greet The Five upon your arrival? Or have you not been received yet by the Council?"

"I don't answer to the Council," spat Zuko. "Move."

Zhao's grin widened, as did his stance. "Such disrespect is considered treasonous, is it not?"

Long Feng's hands slid from their sleeves, brandishing knives, long and sharp. "Indeed it is."

Zuko had slid his twin dao from the sheath on his back as the two vampires appeared in front of him, blocking his path. He lifted his chin. "Suit yourselves."


Aang swallowed, looking out over the crowds that had amassed. It still blew his mind how popular Toph was. It was like she was bending the music…

He glanced over at her, poised with arms outstretched over her tables and tools, sweat building on her temples, mad grin on her face.

"How're you feeling, Twinkle Toes?" she called.

He smiled back. "Pretty great."

"Good. By the way, get ready. We have company."

Yeah, he could see that. Thousand of them were dancing in front of Toph in the open field—

"Not there. There!" She tilted her chin towards the hills.

He lifted his binoculars to his eyes and his stomach plummeted. He saw what she eyes glowing, their gait staggered, their mouths gaping to reveal split-forked tongues and sharpened teeth. Droves of them were spilling over the side of the hill into the valley field towards the masses of ravers.

"Reavers," said Toph, voice grim. Aang nodded, coming to stand beside her as she straightened, letting go of her table.

For a moment, he took her hand and gave her a squeeze before she let out a deep breath.

"The fight begins," breathed Aang.


Reader Review Replies!

(I apologize for missing them last chapter, I was in a rush!)

PurseMonger: Yes, Jet's still a jerk, and yes, he has reasons why he is. You're very welcome for the info on Zutara Week—I hope you enjoyed! Thank you for commenting!

Guest: Yes, Jet has a bond with Katara, too. (And… you're heading in the right direction with the type.) ;) There will definitely be more on the bond before we close off the story, promise! Thank you for commenting!

Kslamm: Oh, sweet child, you have no idea how much I needed that recipe this month, hahahahhaha! A thousand blessings on your house! Thank you thank you thank you! Yes, Jet is a favourite tortured child of mine. Thank you so much for your kind words, and your generous recipe. I appreciate every word. Please forgive this short chapter, it'll be better next month. Thank you for commenting!

Uchiha.s: Jet is going to get his redemption, I promise… at some point. Working on it! Please bear with me: ripping my own heart out in progress. More on spirit-bond soon. As for Azula, I just thought, "What would my inner-psychopathic-bitch do in this situation?" And voilà! Instant-Azula granules with which to brew a vampiress. Thank you for commenting!

Persephone's Melody: I take this as a high compliment! ;) Thank you so much!

YoungVolcanoBlood: Thank you! I try to update monthly, towards the end of the month. Thank you for commenting!


AN: Apologies for the delay on this chapter; I waited until it was in better shape before posting. (Yes, this is 'better shape' than it was before. I know, it could still stand some improvement. However, we can only re-write things so many times before we need to just buckle down and move on.) On the bright side, Chapter 54 is already partly written! See you at the end of the month (hopefully). Cheers! Thank you for reading.