Chapter 3 Assassin

Zuko was settling well into his new role as Fire Lord. In the weeks following his coronation; Toph, Iroh and Lenetta helped him out in figuring who to keep in the government and who to take out. Azula even helped out some using her intelligence and skills in people reading to bring people out from the shadows in the government. Toph would take them to a room filled with metal so she could read them well.

Most of the dissenters were just displeased that the war was over because that was how they made their money and meant no ill will toward the Fire Lord. Those people were taken out of the main council but given different jobs within the government structure. However there were people who meant the Fire Lord harm.

This person was not yet discovered by Azula or Toph and they hired an assassin to take out Zuko. The assassin was a young female who was a bounty hunter, even during the Hundred Year War. She was sought out for her ruthless efficiency. If you want the target alive, she will bring them alive. If you want the target dead, she will bring them dead.

She was known as The Dark Phoenix. She dropped her real name so the authorities wouldn't be able to find her. One of the Fire Lord's councilman sought her out to take out the new Fire Lord. She didn't ask questions she just went out to do her duty.

Zuko and Lenetta were asleep in the Fire Lord's private chambers, not knowing the danger that was about to come. The Dark Phoenix crawled through the ceiling; she had memorized the layout of the Fire Palace before this.

She found the Fire Lord chambers and started to break through the ceiling. She used her knife to cut a hole through the ceiling.

Lenetta was awoken by the sounds of the cutting. She shook her boyfriend's shoulder. "Zuko…Zuko wake up." Zuko woke up and saw his girlfriend's worried expression. "Lenetta, wha-?" Zuko's sentence broke off as the Dark Phoenix flipped into the room.

She took out her dual katana and started swinging her swords toward the young couple. Lenetta shot out of bed and shot fire blasts at the assailant. She swiped them away with her katana and Zuko shot forward with his own blades.

Guards came rushing in at the sounds and they rushed forward to grab her. She swung at them but they dodged with their spears and shot fire at her. She cried out as the fire burned her. She took out her other knife and threw it at Zuko. Nobody was able to stop it as it hit the Fire Lord's leg. Zuko screamed in agony as he fell to the floor. Lenetta screamed his name as she rushed over to him.

The guards finally had her restrained after someone hit her in the back of the head and knocked her unconscious. Lenetta held her boyfriend close as she looked at the wound. She glanced at the weapon and saw to her horror there was a capsule that had poison. Zuko was pale and sweaty as he grit his teeth at the pain.

Luckily for them Katara and Aang were still in the Fire Nation and they rushed to the Fire Palace as quickly as they could.

Zuko was in the infirmary, the knife had already been removed and the bleeding controlled. Medications were being pumped into him to ease his symptoms from the poison. Zuko was still in a great deal of pain. He tossed and turned as he moaned in pain. Lenetta was by his side and holding his hand. She tried to hold her tears back but it was very difficult.

Katara and Aang then came rushing in and rushed to Zuko's side. Katara already had her water out and ready to use. She placed it on the wound and felt the poison in his blood. She felt the route it was taking. Katara gasped as she felt it had reached his vital organs. "What is it?" Lenetta asked worriedly. "The poison has already reached his vital organs in his digestive tract…it won't be long before it reaches his heart and lungs." Katara told her. Aang gasped in fear for his friend. Lenetta sobbed as she rubbed Zuko's hand.

"Can you get it out, can you heal him." Lenetta asked her. Katara looked down and sighed sadly. "I can, but I'll have to bloodbend and it'll be very painful. You'll both have to hold him down." Katara told them. Aang and Lenetta nodded. "Do it…please." Lenetta asked her. Katara nodded.

Aang took Zuko's shoulders and Lenetta took Zuko's legs. Katara took a stance and started moving her arms. Zuko groaned as his back arched. His body was trying to fight Katara's bending but Katara fought harder. Luckily for them all it was a full moon. The assassin had amazing timing.

She moved the poison through his body and back into his leg and out the wound. Zuko screamed as the poison burned as it exited his body. Aang and Lenetta held him down tightly as Katara worked. Once all the poison was out she ceased her bloodbending and worked to heal him. Lenetta gently rubbed his bangs away from his sweaty forehead. She kissed his forehead. Aang held his other hand as Katara worked to heal the damage done to his body.

Zuko relaxed as the pain eased. Once Katara was done she sighed in relief. "He's going to be ok." Lenetta laughed in relief and hugged Zuko close as she cried. She had been so scared she was going to lose him and that Katara wouldn't get there in time or that her efforts would be in vain.

Lenetta got up and hugged Katara and Aang. "Thank you both so much." Lenetta whispered. "Your both our friends, as soon as we heard what had happened we got here as fast as we could." Aang told her. Lenetta nodded and released them both. "I'm sure your both exhausted, go on and get some rest." Lenetta told them. "What about you?" Aang asked her. "I'm staying here with Zuko, I'm not tired anyway." Lenetta told them.

Aang and Katara walked off to their room. Lenetta reclaimed her spot next to Zuko and held his hand. His face was relaxed and color had returned. His breathing was deep and even. Lenetta felt his pulse and it was strong and even. Lenetta felt her shoulders relax as she released a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Lenetta kissed his knuckles as she smiled in relief.

Zuko woke up a few hours later. He opened his eyes and noticed he was not in his and Lenetta's room. He looked over and found Lenetta holding his hand but fast asleep with her head on top of her arm. Zuko smiled softly as he reached up and rubbed his eyes. He found an IV line stuck in his arm. He felt no pain now but he remembered immense pain in his leg. Then later pain in his stomach which made him feel like he could throw up. Then her felt like his blood was being manipulated and he struggled to fight it but the grip on his blood remained strong. He felt immense pain in his leg as he poison was drained out of his leg. After all the poison was drained out he still felt sore but then he felt the cooling and soothing feeling of water healing. He felt himself relax as the pain eased and then he fell asleep.

Now he's awake and watching Lenetta with a soft smile. She must have been here the whole time. He frowned worriedly as he hoped she was ok. He knew that she would probably need a hug after seeing him in such a state.

Lenetta's eyes opened and she stretched and yawned. She looked at him and gasped. "Zuko your awake! Are you feeling ok? Do you need anything? Do you want some water?" Zuko stopped her anxious rambling by grabbing her hand and kissing it. "I'm feeling ok. No I don't need anything. Yes I would like some water." Zuko answered her questions in order. Lenetta leapt up and got the pitcher of water and brought it over to fill up the glass on his bedside table. She handed it him and he drank it all down in one drink. "Do you want more?" Zuko shook his head and she sat down beside him on the bed instead of in the chair.

Lenetta held his hand and rubbed it gently. She was staring off into space which caused him frown. "Are you ok?" Zuko asked her. She jumped slightly but once she registered his question she got confused. "Of course I'm ok. You're the one who got poisoned you shouldn't be worrying about me." Lenetta smiled at him. Zuko smiled back but he still looked concerned. "You were really worried weren't you?" Lenetta looked confused. "Of course I was you were hurt pretty badly by that assassin. You would have died if Katara and Aang hadn't come when they did." Zuko squeezed her hand. "I didn't die, I'm ok. Katara saved me. You saved me by getting me here in time. Everything is alright now." A tear rolled down Lenetta's cheek and he reached up and rubbed it away. He held his arms offering a hug. Lenetta went into his hug and held him tightly as she sobbed. "I was so scared, I thought I was going to lose you Zuko!" Lenetta sobbed. Zuko rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head. Lenetta's ear was against his chest and the sound of his strong and steady heartbeat calmed her.

Lenetta released him and she rubbed her tears off. "Are you ok now?" Zuko asked her. Lenetta nodded her head. "Yeah, I'm ok now." They smiled at each other.

Katara, Aang, Sokka, Toph, Suki, and Iroh all walked in. Iroh reached out and hugged his nephew/son tightly which Zuko reciprocated. The scent of tea that was always on him was comforting to Zuko. "Are you ok Zuko?" Iroh asked him. "Yeah I'm alright now Dad." Iroh smiled softly at him and ruffled his hair. Making it even more of a shaggy mess than it was before.

Katara went over to him with her healing water and felt all over his body to search for abnormalities. She asked how he was feeling and if he had any pain. Once Katara was satisfied that he was indeed fine she stepped back.

Toph explained what she found about the assassin. The scumbag was removed from the government and thrown into jail and sentenced to life in prison. The councilman was angry at Zuko for ending the war and for everything that has happened since then. Zuko was saddened by this news but his friends and father figure comforted him. The assassin was also sentenced to life in prison.

Lenetta held Zuko's hand. So relieved everything was alright now.