A bolt of lightning zoomed directly towards Zuko and the group. Only in the last second did Toph stamp her foot into the ground and raised a wall of rocks to protect them.
How-ever, as the lightning hit that wall it exploded into a thousand pieces and the people behind were cast away in all directions due to the explosion, a rain of rocks falling on them as well as Zuko was rolling across the ground. Katara tried to shield her own face with her arms.
Aang had been thrown backwards and hit the wall behind him now falling down.
There was though no time to recuperate as their enemies was now running straight towards them.
Mai ran for Toph, Ty Lee ran for Katara. Long Feng was grinning as he ran towards Zuko with revenge clear in his eyes and Azula.
Azula didn't hesitate to go for Aang.
Aang screamed as the threat of lightning and blue flames came right for him, and then she fired. Those blue flames which Aang barely managed to dodge.
"So. My brother has given you some lessons has he." Azula commented. "To bad he's an embarrassment among fire benders isn't it?" she asked.
"What? No. Zuko is really good!" Aang gasped.
"Then show me some moves why don't you?" Azula asked making a kick sending new blue flames at Aang who screamed.
Zuko groaned as he laid on the ground, suddenly a rock came from beneath and thrust him up. And then another threw him to the side before he fell down on the ground again.
A man stepped forward. Long Feng. "Pathetic." he snorted. "I'm going to enjoy this."
Zuko glanced up, his eyes burning hot.
"Our city… My city was perfect." Long Feng said. "There was peace! No war, no crimes. People were safe! But you had to ruin it all didn't you?" he asked. "You invited war into the walls that kept us safe. You turned the king against me." he said as he raised a hand. "I will have you pay." he said in a dark tone.
Just then a jet of orange flames came from the side forcing Long Feng to step back, annoyed he turned his head to see Zhau-Li standing with a fist that had just fired. "Step away from Prince Zuko." he demanded.
Long Feng snorted. "You are nothing but a servant, a grunt." he said. "Let the grunts deal with the grunts." he said snapping his fingers and three Dai-Li came jumping from on top making Zhau-Li gasp.
"ZHAU-LI!" Zuko shouted. "Breath and foot work! Center at your inner flame!"
And Zhau-Li took a deep breath as the pillars of stone raised as he tried to avoid best he could. Concentrate on breathing. Don't panic! Don't panic.
Meanwhile Zuko had finally gotten up on his feet, swaying just slightly. "I didn't do anything to you. You did it to yourself." he said to Long Feng as he raised his hands. "You can only maintain a lie for so long. It will crumble eventually."
"It was no lie." Long Feng said. "It was perfect." and then he stamped his foot in the ground making a pillar appear beneath Zuko.
This time though Zuko jumped and while he was in the air threw a fireball at Long Feng who raised an earth shield to shield him, then send that shield right at Zuko who dodge rolled and fired again.
Katara gasped as she tried to use her water to push Ty Lee back. She could not let this girl get close to her! She could not even let herself get touched by the other girl. Then it would be over.
Ty Lee how-ever was incredible the way she seemed to dance with the winds themselves. Jumping and swirling, dodged every other water tentacle with grace.
In all fairness Toph should have been able to make quick process of Mai. But she had trouble going for any hard attack against the knife girl.
While Mai on the surface seemed cold and calculated Toph could feel the torment on the inside. It was clear Mai didn't want to do this, but did it anyway. Behind the cold surface there was torment, and behind the torment there was fear.
Cold and gut wrenching fear.
Still a knife came flying through the air, barely did Toph manage to move her head. Still she felt the sting on her cheek of the clean scratch left behind.
Mai didn't leave Toph any choice. They had to fight.
Zuko kept his attention on his breath, on the pulsing. Ignoring any pain or ache in his body. The key was the breath and remain calm.
Oddly enough remain calm as the world seemed to move in a odd flow. There was a rhythm to it.
Long Feng stretched out his hand, then a boulder would raise and then it came flying. And it was at the third step that Zuko had to move.
One, two, move. One, two, move.
Look for an opening. But then suddenly an attack from one of the Dai-Li came from the side and barely did Zuko manage to turn only for him to be thrown back.
"PRINCE ZUKO!"
Zuko looked up to see Zhau-Li on top of a pillar and Zhau-Li grabbed the swords he was carrying on his back. "Catch!" he threw the swords.
Zuko gasped as he saw them and then he ran, it was his opening. He jumped up and grabbed the swords, pulling them apart so he had one in each hand. Then a boulder came from behind him and Zuko turned. Concentrating his chi into the blades, the fire bending of energy and then he cut it clean through before landing on the ground next to a young earth bender. "TOPH!" he shouted. "Let's switch!"
"Yes!" Toph exclaimed eagerly and turned to Long Feng.
And now Zuko was standing face to face with Mai who looked wide-eyed at him.
Zuko swallowed. "I'm sorry Mai." he whispered under his breath so only she could hear it.
"I know." Mai admitted.
"What-ever you have to do." Zuko took a stance. "I understand. You have to protect your family."
Mai hissed.
"Go for it." Zuko asked. "Go for it so Azula wont even be in doubt."
And then Mai screamed as she came at Zuko with kunais and knifes while Zuko danced backwards and deflected.
The blades were crushing together, echoing as they screamed and then suddenly Mai was behind Zuko having grabbed him in a stranglehold. "Zuko…" she whispered in his ear. "Knock me out." she asked. "Knock me out cold. Please."
Zuko gasped his body tense. "I… I can't."
"You idiot. I just want you to get out of here." Mai hissed.
"Why?" Zuko asked.
"I don't know. When you are there I just can't think straight." Mai whispered. "You are one of the few things in this world That I… That I don't hate." she swallowed.
Zuko closed his eyes. "I'll come back for you." he said. "I swear."
"Just do it." Mai hissed.
Zuko swallowed. "Mai I… I don't hate you either." he said and then finally in a yell, a forceful yell he jumped backwards and into the wall, but with Mai behind him having him in a strangle hold she was the one to hit the wall. Her head slammed against the wall and she grew limp as she fell down.
Zuko gasped as he turned around to see the limp form of Mai now down on the ground.
Zuko hissed, tears falling down his face. "I'm sorry." he gasped and then finally turned to rejoin the battle.
Though he couldn't help but be relieved that as Mai laid unconscious on the ground. She was smiling.
"SOKKA!" Katara screamed horrified as she saw her brother fall to the ground. Left arm clearly broken and right leg chi blocked.
"Sorry cutie." Ty Lee smirked at the water tribe boy that had tried to come between her and Katara despite his broken arm he had gotten elsewhere.
"Yeah… That wasn't the best plan." Sokka gasped for air. "Sorry Katara."
"Don't apologize." Katara asked. "Just get out of the way." she asked as she turned her attention to Ty Lee. Then she yelled slashing a long water whip at Ty Lee who barely even managed to dodge wide-eyed looking up at Katara. "No one hurts my brother!" she shouted.
"Wuah! WAURGH!" Aang screamed as he danced trying to avoid all the blue flames. But they were so fast. So speedy.
He raised a wall of earth only to have it shatter and push him back. Then a flame came for Aang and he sliced through it like Zuko had taught him.
Azula smirked. "Wow. I knew how to do that when I was three." she drawled. "Is that really all my brother could muster teaching you?"
"I don't know Azula!" Suddenly Zuko jumped between them holding up his swords. "Why don't you ask me?"
Aang gasped as he looked up.
"Oh. Zuzu. Hi." Azula sighed. "Maybe there is going to be just a little challenge after all."
Aang swallowed. "Zuko." he whispered. "I… I think I can enter the avatar state. But I need time."
Zuko nodded. "Do it. I'll handle Azula."
Aang gasped but then nodded. "Sorry." he said and then said down, the next moment a cocoon of earth shut up to protect Aang and Zuko turned to Azula.
Azula raised an eyebrow. "What's this?" she asked. "A duel. Just the two of us?" she asked. "You think you can take me Zuzu?" she asked. "Really?"
Zuko sucked in a breath. This was like when they had been on the drill. He didn't have to beat her, he just had to buy time. Ignore every ache and every wound. He could look after that later.
Then the first fire blast came and Zuko slashed it, making sure it didn't reach Aangs cocoon.
One, two, three.
Slash, slash, kick. Each one hit with perfection.
And opening and he send a fireball back forcing Azula to dodge.
Azula smirked as she crouched. "Oh so you didn't forget how to fire bend. I'm surprised." she commented. "Now take this!" she used both her hands to make a huge ball as Zuko took a stance.
The ball was half the seize of Azula herself and came flying for Zuko who reached out a hand and then. He caught it, swirled on his heel and send it right back at Azula who's eyes widened in deep surprise.
Only the last mili second did Azula manage to lift her arms to cover her face and the blast send Azula hurling backwards out into the cave where she rolled around.
Only for Zuko to come jumping out from the smoke, yelling as his blades were engulfed in flames and dropped down forcing Azula to dodge and jump up, now driven backwards by Zuko.
"How-how?!" Azula couldn't help but ask as Zuko kept getting at her. Concentrating solely on not allowing Azula to regain any footing.
It was all about the basics… You could know all the most fancy sets in the world and it wouldn't matter if the basics faltered. The footing. Stay firmly on the ground, like an earth bender. Keep the breath consistent like an air bender. Be able to move with fluency so you didn't compromise your stance like a water bender.
Go!
"That's what happens when you tumble with the worlds greatest earth bender Jerkface!" Toph proclaimed with Long Feng now buried in rock by her feet and she grinned.
Fighting against fire, water or air benders. Toph would have disadvantages. But against other earth benders. Where she could feel any rocks coming at her, feel how they tried to manipulate the earth around them, where she would see every attack coming.
Yeah Long Feng had been better than even the best fighters at the earth rumble. But Toph was still undefeated!
And then Toph felt it, two fire benders fighting.
It was so easy to recognise fire benders from all other people, they would be warmer than others.
And Zuko in particular would have this warm passionate burn. Azula had an odd burn which was so warm that it switched over and seemed cold somehow and she saw it.
This cold burn was stumbling and the warm passion overwhelming it.
"Yes! Go Zuko!" Toph exclaimed. "You can do it! Do it Zuko!"
Sokka gasped as well as he saw it. Zuko drawing Azula back, each of Zukos steps and attack seemed calculated and planned, forcing Azula to just defend as she was not allowed any footing.
"Go…" Sokka whispered under his breath. "Come on man. Get her!"
"Prince Zuko!" Zhau-Li gasped between breaths as he spend his time just trying to dodge Dai-Li. "You can take her! I know you can!" he exclaimed, but that was all the time he had before he had to dodge again.
Zukos mind was blank, all there was was the next step, the next footing. The world was an odd slow motion.
Don't let her regain balance… Don't let her stand up.
And then suddenly Azula fell down on her back, wide-eyed looking up as Zuko grabbed her and pinned Azula down on the floor.
They were face to face. Zuko with one sword wielding hand right on her throat and the other raised.
"Well." Azula commented. "Finish it then."
Zuko hissed. It would be easy right now, his blades were sharp. He could cut her throat. Or burn her face.
Then Azula smirked. "I knew it. As always you are weak." she stated and then kicked Zuko in the stomach sending him backwards. It was over.
Azula was back on her feet and Zukos advantage was over. And now he was the one driven back having to slash and slice the fire.
Then Azula send a jet at Zukos side forcing Zuko to jump away now trapped against the wall while Azula smirked.
"Got you." Azula grinned holding up a hand.
"HEY! Witch queen!" The voice of a young girl screamed. "Aren't you forgetting about someone?!"
Azula only got a moment before a boulder came from right beneath Azulas feet thrusting her aside.
Then suddenly a water bender came with her water. Wide-eyed did Azula only have a moment to realize that Ty Lee had been frozen to the wall. And Azula was washed aside only to land by the feet of a young former fire nation soldier.
Zhau-Li narrowed his eyes as Azula looked up.
Then Azula smirked. "So what did Zuzu offer you to be his servant?" she asked. "What-ever it is. I can offer you a much better deal. You know I will be the one to be firelord by the end of it. You want to be the fire lords servant?" she asked her eyes gliding up the pretty handsome young man. "Or perhaps… even something more? I can handle that." she said in a suggestive tone.
Zhau-Lis eyes narrowed. "I. Serve. Prince. Zuko!" he exclaimed as he kicked Azula away and just then Aang burst out of his cocoon.
Everyone gasped as they turned to Aang who opened up his arms and the whole caved rumbled, cracked open as suddenly day light came from on top. He had opened all the way to the surface bringing the earth apart.
Sokka pulled out a bison flute and blew as hard as he could.
"No… NOOOO!" Azula screamed as she stood up.
"It's over Azula!" Zuko exclaimed as he stepped forward. "You lost."
"I never loose Zuzu!" Azula exclaimed as her hands started to crackle.
Zuko inhaled a deep breath as he took a stance. Preparing himself as Irohs teachings went through his head. Re-direct lightning. He could do this! It was just like the flames but this time, just avoid the heart. He could do it!
Azulas eyes were on Zuko, but then in the last moment a smirk graced her lips and then she fired… At Aang.
It all happened so fast.
Aang was levitating, opening up the earth above them. The lightning came right for him while Zuko had been ready to take it himself.
Katara gasped. Sokka shouted his warning while Toph screamed and Zuko…
Zuko acted without thinking. "NOOOO!" he screamed as he jumped up and right in the way. And the lightning hit him.
"Zuko!" Katara screamed terrified as Zuko fell to the ground, a smelling mess as Azula laughed. That turned Katara on Azula as she brought forward the water washing over Azula while Zhau-Li ran to Zuko picking him up in his arms.
"Prince Zuko! Prince Zuko please!" Zhau-Li cried, but the prince was unresponsive.
"That's what traitors gets!" Azula grinned.
"SHUT UP!" Toph screamed sending rocks at Azula and slammed her to the wall just as Appa came down and Aang stopped glowing.
Zhau-Li didn't even hesitate to run up to Appa and get up carrying Zuko with him, soon followed by the others. Katara having picked Sokka up on the way pulling her brother with her up on the bison and Toph had managed to pick up Zukos swords that had been dropped on the ground.
"We gotta go!" Aang shouted as he jumped up on Appas head. "Yip yip!" he exclaimed and finally they were off. Flying away as fast as they could.
As soon as they were in the air far over the city Katara turned to Zuko. "Zuko!" exclaimed only to see a body twitching.
"You gotta help him!" Toph cried. "He's dying Katara he's dying!" she bawled. "He was hurt already and his heart is all wrong!"
Zhau-Li swallowed as he was still holding Zuko in his arms.
And Katara didn't hesitate as she pulled out her viral with spirit water and moved to Zuko. In her mind she couldn't help but be thankful. How clever and wise Zuko had been to have refused it before. Though Katara sincerely doubted he knew that it was his life she was going to safe.
She pulled off Zukos shirt to reveal a fresh burn wound, stinging and smelling. And then she pulled out the spirit water with her hand and allowed it to do its work. Immediately the water sunk into Zukos flesh and Katara could feel how it mingled with his chi and healed him.
Toph gasped. "It's working." she said. "Katara! It's working."
Katara didn't reply but just did her best to work as well as she could. Soon Zukos heart rhythm settled and he fell into a more natural sleep as Katara sat back. Gasping for breath.
Zhau-Li inhaled a sharp breath. "Thank Agni. That really scared me."
"You said it." Toph swallowed, drying her tears with the back of her hand.
"He'll be okay now. Right?" Aang asked nervously.
Katara nodded. "Yeah… yeah I think he will."
"Heh." Aang smiled a hollow smile. "He saved my life… Again." he said.
"You know something Aang." Sokka said. "Saving Zuko at the north pole is probably the best most wise thing you ever did. I'll never doubt you again."
"Thanks… I guess." Aang swallowed. Though he looked very nervously at Zuko whom hadn't woken up. "Where do we go now?" he asked.
"To the bay where my dad is." Sokka said. "We'll meet up with the warriors of the southern water tribe. It should be safe there, we can rest and heal. That's what we need now."
"Sounds like a plan." Aang said and Toph swallowed as she crawled over Zuko. Gently laying her own head on Zukos chest.
"Toph. You need to be careful." Katara said. "I brought him out of life danger but I havn't healed all of him. I don't even know how much damage he got from before we found him."
"Sorry… I just. I can hear his heart. I want to make sure it'll keep being steady." Toph whispered.
Katara halted then nodded. "Okay." she said. "Tell me if anything happens."
"Yeah." Toph replied closing her eyes as she rested on Zukos warm chest. "Will do."
Azula was fuming as Mai had finally woken up and steadied herself. She felt the thick substance of blood somewhere at her neck. Didn't matter… Zuko was gone. As could clearly be seen from how there was clear view to the sky from down here now.
"Why… Why?!" Azula seethed. "Every body. Every body is just ready to come and defend little Zuzu!" she hissed. "Why do they always come to his rescue huh?"
Astounded Mai looked at Azula who seemed to be out of it.
"Uncle… Mother… Those brats." Azula seethed and she turned to Mai. "Tell me! Why?" she asked.
"Do you seriously want to know?" Mai asked.
"If you know. Tell me now!" Azula demanded.
Mai looked at Azula. "People fear you Azula." she said. "But they love Zuko."
"Why?" Azula asked as she moved towards Mai. "What does precious little Zuzu got that I don't huh?" she asked grabbing the front of Mais dress. "I'm better! I'm stronger! I get things done! Do they feel sorry for him is that it? Is that what all this love is about?"
Mai gaped as suddenly everything clicked into place. When they were small children, after lady Ursa vanished and even now. "You… You're jealous of him." she realized.
"What?" Azula asked.
"Everyone loves Zuko. And you can't stand it. That's why you want him gone." Mai gasped. "What do you think that will accomplish though? You think because Zuko is gone people will love you instead?"
"Shut your mouth!" Azula shouted as she let go of Mai, only to slap her instead. So harsh that Mai fell to the ground.
That though, more than anything proved to Mai. She had hit the nail on the head.
Azula was jealous of Zuko… She had always been jealous of him. The endless teasing and tormenting, the attempts on his life, this anger fit.
It was all because of a little girl whom couldn't have the one thing she really wanted. And she was blaming her brother for it when really… The only person Azula had to thank if you came down to it. Was herself.
Slowly Mai stood up again and then bowed her head. "Forgive me." she asked. "I'm sorry."
"You better be." Azula said. "You were tasked with taking care of Zuko. His escape is on your shoulders. That's what I will tell father."
Mai frowned deeply. Azula was trying to take the blame off herself… She was scared of Ozais punishment too.
Mai glanced at Azula again but couldn't get this new image out of her head now when she finally realized what this was.
Azula had always been so scary. Larger than life even, but here she was.
A spoiled and jealous girl, afraid of her fathers punishment and afraid of loosing control.
And when Mai had faced Zuko in these last few days it had been clear. He wasn't a boy any more. He had far outgrown his sister.
Did he know? Mai looked up towards the clear sky where she knew the sky bison had escaped.
It would be okay. Things would be okay. As long as Zuko was safe, there was hope.