Chapter 9 - Combustion Man
Having left Piandao's dojo at nightfall, the intrepid group of four continued their journey of Fire Nation island hoping, traveling further southwest. The next large island they reached was a completely barren volcanic rock with no settlements, and seeing that they would not reach the next island before the break of dawn, they decided to spend the entire day resting on the volcanic island. With their supplies well stocked at Shu Jing, they were well provisioned for the days to come without the pressing need to visit any Fire Nation settlements. And when the group of four came across a lovely secluded cove of hot springs, perfect for swimming and splashing around in the water, the decision to stop and rest until nightfall was made unanimously.
With no sign of civilization nearby, they quickly dropped their guard, changing into whatever swimwear they had available among their supplies, and spent the first few hours of the morning fooling around in the water. Even Toph got in on the act, seemingly enjoying herself a great deal as she splashed around in the shallower parts of the water, dressed in knee-length yellow shorts and a modest red top. Having grown tired of swimming, Toph used her earthbending to raise a shallow pillar from the bottom of the pool, settling on top of it so that it allowed her feet to continue soaking in the warm, rejuvenating water.
When Katara had emerged from her tent, having let down her long hair, wearing a two piece swimsuit consisting from a skimpy white top and matching white shorts reaching just above her knees, with a skirt-like outer layer covering them, Zuko had felt his throat suddenly going dry as a desert from the stunning view. It was fortunate that Sokka had swam nearby at that moment to challenge him to a contest of reaching the other side of the pool and swimming back, Zuko feeling relieved about the distraction.
Their contest was a close affair, despite facing a Water Tribesman and Sokka feeling extremely comfortable in the water. Zuko was no slouch himself and Sokka was struggling to gain a decisive advantage as they reached the other side of the pool and turned around on their way back. It was then that another contestant joined their little challenge, gracefully and effortlessly swimming past them, and comfortably beating them back to the shore. As Katara rose from the water, smiling smugly, rivulets of water glistening as they ran down her coppery skin, Zuko forgot that he still had to stay above the water and ended up swallowing a mouthful of water as a punishment for getting distracted.
"So, what do I get for winning?" Katara grinned at the two boys.
"Pfft, that doesn't count, you used waterbending," Sokka argued, not looking impressed.
"Like you wouldn't use waterbending if you only could," Katara snapped back, hands on her hips.
"I think it's fair, why not use an advantage if you have it," Zuko sided with Katara as he rose from the water, bare-chested and wearing nothing but his baggy swimming trunks.
"Yes, exac-..." Katara nodded, then turning towards Zuko, and seemingly losing her trail of thought as her eyes lingered on his naked torso. She then blushed and quickly looked away. "Anyway, I won and that's that," Katara finished and quickly dove back into the water, continuing to make long, graceful circles along the pool.
"Ugh, why must she always have the last word?" Sokka complained, settling in on the shore, laying on his back with hands behind his head, staring at the cloudless sky above.
"I think that goes with being a girl," Zuko chuckled. He briefly returned to the water and resumed swimming, trying to see if he could match Katara, if only for a little bit, but she was simply too fast for him to keep up with. Sighing in defeat, he returned to the shore and sat there cross-legged, allowing the sun to warm his chest. Now and then, he stole a glance at Katara swimming around in the water, occasionally noticing that her eyes had been firmly fixed on him as she swam. Whenever their eyes met, she instantly became flustered and turned away, but never for too long.
Having had enough fun in the water, the four friends retreated to their tents for some much needed sleep, getting ready for another night flight across the Fire Nation archipelago. Three hours had passed at most, when Toph suddenly woke up, alarmed by the oddest sensation, a light tremor that she was somehow capable of sensing nearby. Curious, she rose from her sleeping mat and pressed her foot against the ground of solid rock to get a clearer sense of what was happening. And what her senses were telling her was definitely something highly alarming.
"Guys! Wake up!" she exclaimed, trying to sound urgent while still keeping her voice low. Whatever was heading their way was still some distance away, maybe half a mile or so, but Toph instantly knew that this was important. When the others failed to react immediately, she dashed straight into Sokka's tent and started shaking him awake. "Sokka, get up! I think we're in danger!" the young earthbender spoke urgently.
"Whu... what?" Sokka blinked, letting out a huge yawn. "What are you talking about, Toph? We're alone on this chunk of rock, go back to sleep."
Toph growled and gave Sokka the kind of slap that instantly shook him awake. "Snoozles, I'm not messing with you!" she insisted. "I can tell there's something heading our way! Something big and mostly made out of metal."
"What, like a Fire Nation tank?" Sokka instantly jumped up to his feet. "Well, why didn't you say so? Katara, Zuko! Get up, it's time to go!"
"What?" a sleepy Katara poked her head out of the tent. "What's going on?" Zuko also emerged quickly, looking around the cove, failing to spot anyone approaching.
"Toph senses a Fire Nation tank approaching!" Sokka exclaimed.
"I never said it was a tank!" Toph argued, hastily gathering her belongings, the others following her example as they quickly threw all their stuff onto Appa's back. "Actually..." Toph froze for a moment, listening in with her feet once more. "Those vibrations are like the footsteps of a really large man. But he's almost fully encased in metal."
"That's ridiculous," Sokka rolled his eyes. "A walking metal man? Zuko, they don't have those in the Fire Nation military, do they? Zuko?" They all turned to face the exiled prince, noticing that he had gone silent and pale in the face.
"Oh no," Zuko breathed out. "Quickly!" he shouted. "Don't bother with the tents, just leave them. We have to go!" Zuko exclaimed, grabbing Toph and all but throwing her onto Appa's back, then helping Katara to quickly climb atop the sky bison. Sokka had made it up by himself and Zuko followed swiftly. A quick yip-yip later, Appa took to the skies, leaving their tents and many other belongings behind.
"What are you so afraid of, Zuko?" Katara asked, still looking a little incredulous.
"Not now, Katara, we're still in great danger," Zuko exclaimed, carefully watching their surroundings. There it was, at the edge of the crater, just the tiniest flash of light, almost like sunlight reflecting from a shiny surface. At the very last moment, Zuko managed to throw a large shield of flames to surround Appa with, before it was struck by a devastating explosion, caused by a transparent bolt of energy, hurled at them from the edge of the crater. Even though the fire shield had absorbed the explosion, the force of it still disrupted the sky bison's flight and sent Appa crashing towards the ground, Sokka just barely managing to stabilize their loyal friend's flight.
"Damn it, what's going on?" Sokka shouted, struggling to control Appa's flight.
"Someone is attacking us!" Katara yelled back. She drew upon her waterbending, summoning a massive wave from the pool and sending it to crash down towards the spot from which the attacks seemed to be coming from. Another explosion struck her summoned wave and evaporated it. "They're bending like the Fire Lord himself!" Katara's eyes widened at their attacker's display of raw power.
"Let's see them blast through these rocks!" Toph exclaimed, and moments later massive pillars rose from the ground, creating a barrier between them and their assailant. The next explosion completely leveled the thick barrier that Toph had created. "Well, crap! That guy really means business!" Toph commented, sounding a little frightened.
Fortunately, it seemed as if Katara and Toph had bought them just enough time to put enough distance between themselves and their attacker. The next explosion came shortly afterwards, but it failed to reach them, detonating some fifty yards behind them. They had managed to escape the range of the assailant's attack and could all breathe easier as Appa carried them further and further away from the immediate danger.
"Damn it, our tents and most of our food was left behind!" Sokka complained.
"That's not good, but also not the most important thing right now, Sokka," Katara said, turning towards Zuko. "You seem to know who that was, Zuko."
"I don't know them as such, but I have heard legends about that man," Zuko began to explain. "He's an assassin for hire. My father has employed him before... and now I think he has sent this man after me."
"Whoa, seriously, your dad is like the worst parent of the century, Sparky," Toph commented with sympathy. "But what's with all those explosions? That's not normal firebending, right?"
"No, that's a very rare style of firebending, called combustionbending," Zuko explained. "It is said that he has a third-eye tattoo on his forehead. He can channel his chi energy through it, creating these bolts of energy that explode on impact. And he can fire off a lot of them in a very short time, so... he makes for a very dangerous enemy. I'm sorry..."
"Zuko, you have nothing to apologize for," Katara spoke softly. "I know you're going to say that if you weren't here, then this assassin wouldn't have attacked us, but honestly... without you, the whole invasion plan might have fizzled out by now. I mean, we certainly wouldn't be here right now." Zuko gave her a deeply grateful look at those words. "Still, what I want to know is, how did he find us?"
"I'm not sure... maybe someone recognized us, though I still think that's unlikely," Zuko mused. "Or... he might have employed June to track us down. You know, the woman I hired to track you down," he added, having faced inquisitive stares from Katara and Sokka. "The one with the shirshu mount."
"Oh right," Sokka snapped his fingers. "Yes, it figures that those types would stick together."
"Well, I didn't see June and Nyla around, so I don't believe that she has joined the hunt," Zuko shrugged. "Perhaps he just paid her to lead him to our location. But one thing is clear, he's not going to stop."
"That's going to make our journey so much more interesting," Sokka sighed. "Anyway, now we have to think about resupplying. Where's the closest settlement, Zuko?"
"It's going to be a long flight and we'll need to make at least one stop along the way, but I think we should travel further southwest and try to reach the Fire Fountain City," Zuko replied. "It's the largest city in the outer islands, we should be able to resupply there."
"Then it's decided!" Sokka rubbed his hands excitedly. "Oh! There's one more thing. Do you know the name of this assassin, Zuko?" The exiled prince shook his head. "Well, then we need to give him one... hmm... I propose... the Combustion Man!"
"Not every villain needs a name, Sokka," Katara sighed at her brother.
"Maybe not, but every recurring villain definitely needs a name!" Sokka argued. "And I have a feeling that we're going to see more of this guy."
"Snoozles?" Toph laughed. "I think you're bang on the money with that prediction..."
"This seemed like a slight overreaction even for you, Azula," Mai commented idly, inspecting her nails, as together with Azula and Ty Lee they stood next to a beachfront mansion, utterly consumed by raging flames.
"Nonsense, Mai," Azula scoffed. "Those idiots should be grateful I didn't set the mansion alight with all of them still inside it. Ha, look at them run!" she laughed, delighting in the screams of the terrified teenagers, echoing through the dark of night.
"That seems like a reasonable sentiment, not that I care," Mai yawned.
"I don't know what you're complaining about, Mai, this is the first time I'm actually having fun on this vacation," Azula frowned at Mai, then turning towards the other girl. "Besides, I heard Ty Lee complaining earlier that she was freezing. You're all warm and comfy right now, aren't you, Ty Lee?"
"I really am, Azula, thanks so much for thinking about me!" Ty Lee exclaimed happily, stretching out her arms towards the roaring fire that was slowly consuming Chen's mansion.
"Be honest, you only set the mansion on fire because you were envious of all those idiot boys fighting for Ty Lee's attention," Mai chuckled.
"Well, they were incredibly annoying, weren't they, Ty Lee?" Azula gave the other girl an expectant smile. "I mean, you knocked out some of them yourself."
"Yes, they were a bit too much, Azula," Ty Lee obediently agreed with the princess.
"Why don't you just date Ty Lee, then you wouldn't have to be jealous of all those idiots trying to butter her up," Mai smirked. "I mean, just look at her," she pointed at Ty Lee who was blushing fiercely. "She's ready to throw herself at your feet, you only need to whistle."
"Hmm, that would make everything simpler, but Ty Lee's just too easy," Azula shrugged. "Besides, she's smart enough to know that she's not my equal."
"Of course, Azula... you're completely out of my league," Ty Lee bowed her head, though she looked rather devastated. "But then again, so is everyone I know..."
"Now, that's true... maybe I'm destined to ascend to greatness alone, all by myself," Azula shrugged. "Anyway, let's head back... if you're done warming yourself up, Ty Lee?"
"I'm all warm and cozy, thank you for asking, Azula!" Ty Lee beamed at her. Mai made a face at their exchange.
"Maybe father has finally sent his orders to Li and Lo," Azula sighed wistfully as they began to walk away from the burning ruin. "I can't wait to return back to the capital! Being sidelined like this is just so irritating..."
"Yes, let's hope that your father sends news soon, there are only so few estates on Ember Island that you can reduce to a crisp," Mai commented sarcastically.
"Good point, Mai," Azula grinned at her older friend. "That said, I'm quite certain about which estate I'm burning down next... and I'm definitely making sure that those annoying crones are trapped inside."
"Wouldn't your father be upset about that, Azula?" Ty Lee gasped. "He seems to hold them in some regard..."
"Well, he shouldn't send me away on a lengthy vacation then. I mean... he knows what happens when I get bored," Azula shrugged. "But... I suppose I'll let Li and Lo off the hook for now, unless they really annoy me. Anyway, race you back to the estate!" she exclaimed, dashing down the rocky path. Ty Lee immediately set after the princess, a look of adoration on her face as she kept on Azula's heels while allowing the princess to win.
Mai simply walked behind them at her own pace, a brief look of disgust marring her face for a moment before her customary blank expression set back in. "A megalomaniac and an airhead," she sighed to herself. "What a lovely couple those two would make."