Chapter 4 Kidnapping
It has been two weeks now since the assassination attempt against Zuko's life. Aang and Katara had left the Fire Nation a week after for Avatar related business in Ba Sing Se and Toph had gone with them to help out. Sokka, Suki and Ty Lee were on Kyoshi Island and Azula had gone with Mai and her family to Ember Island. Lenetta had attempted to encourage Zuko to take a little vacation himself. He was working so hard at his duties that he wasn't getting much sleep.
This eventually turned into an argument and things escalated to the point of yelling. After a few minutes of yelling at each other over Agni knew what they stormed away from each other. Zuko back to his office and Lenetta to her private chambers. Zuko had offered to her but she had rejected them since she preferred sleeping with Zuko in his chambers.
Tonight however, she chose to sleep in her chambers. That proved to be a terrible mistake. The councilman and the Dark Phoenix had broken out of prison a week before. During that week they had gathered a group of followers who desired revenge against Zuko for the end of the war and taking the place of Fire Lord Ozai.
Later that night the Dark Phoenix and another woman snuck into Lenetta's quarters through a secret passageway in the wall. They walked up to her bed the Dark Phoenix stuck a needle into her neck, they managed to take Shirshu venom from someone who was selling it. Now that Lenetta was unconscious the Dark Phoenix and her partner each grabbed her arms and legs and hauled her out and brought her to their hideout.
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Zuko woke up that morning with instant guilt over their fight. They had both said things they shouldn't have and he intended to go to her and apologize. He really needed a hug from her at that moment. He had been under a lot of stress and he took it out on her.
He walked into her quarters and was surprised to see her room empty and her bed unmade. He searched the whole entire space including the bathroom. He walked out and asked the servants and guards if they had seen her, they all said no. Zuko ran his hand through his shaggy hair as his anxiety grew. He ran to his Uncle's quarters. If anyone would have seen her it's him, she likely would have gone to the man to vent about their argument.
He burst into his quarters. "Dad!" Zuko exclaimed. His voice was filled with stress. "Zuko?" Iroh peeked his head out of his bathroom with a towel around his head. Luckily for Zuko he was already dressed he just has to dry his hair. "What's wrong Zuko?" Iroh asked him. He put his on Zuko's shoulders and pushed him into a seat. Zuko ran his hand through his hair again in agitation and he looked sick. He felt sick to his stomach with worry. What if something has happed to Lenetta. What if she's been kidnapped. What if she's somewhere in the Caldera bleeding out. "Dad I can't find Lenetta anywhere and no one else has seen her anywhere. Have you seen her?" Iroh's eye's widened in concern and knelt in front of his nephew/son. "I haven't did you check in the gardens?" Zuko nodded his head. "We will go look in the Caldera." Iroh said calmly. Iroh patted Zuko's shoulder.
They sent out guards to search the Caldera as well. They asked around if anyone had seen her. All the citizens said no until one. "I did see two people carrying a girl over to the gate that separates us from the otherside of the gate. I just assumed the girl was drunk and they were carrying her home. I'm assuming this isn't the case?" The man tells them. Zuko thanks the man and takes off running as fast as he can. Iroh yells his name and takes off after him. "Zuko wait!" Zuko stops. "What are you doing Dad we have to find her!" Zuko's breathing is fast both from running and from fear. What could they be doing to my girlfriend right now."We will but we'll need help first." Iroh tells him. Zuko nods and they rush back to the Fire Palace and prepare to send some letters to Team Avatar and brief the guards on what they'll do.
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Lenetta's mind is foggy as she slowly comes to. As awareness returns she finds she doesn't recognize this place. It appears to be a cave with some lanterns lighting up the place. The Shirshu venom had paralyzed her upon waking but as she wakes up feeling returns to her. If she was nauseous before she nearly throws up as she realizes she's tied up. She tries to burn the ropes off of herself but realizes the ropes are made to restrain to firebenders. She tries to move her mouth but finds she's been gagged to prevent fire breathing. She groans in her head at the current predicament she's in. She can't do anything to set herself free and the captors have her right where they want her.
She curses herself for her stupidity in being alone last night and also feels overwhelming guilt over hers and Zuko's fight and is sad that the last time she sees him could be filled with anger. The thought of death and what might lead to it makes her heart race with fear and tears come to her eyes. She fights them though she won't let them see her cry and she won't tell them anything.
Lenetta jumps as two men come in and point spears at her that she notices has something dripping off the tips, no doubt the same venom they used to try to take out Zuko. She shudders at the memories it brings up. The leader then walks in and he has a malicious grin on his face. He shoves the gag off of her face. Lenetta glares up at the man but doesn't try anything with the poisoned weapons pointed at her.
The man snaps his fingers and gestures for the men to leave. They walk out as Lenetta looks up at the man surprised, however before she could try to summon any flame he shows her a knife that is laced with poison. She understands the unspoken threat and meets his eyes.
"Lenetta, future Fire Lady, daughter of Rohan and Wing of the Earth Kingdom." Lenetta's eyes widen. How does he know who my parents are, only my close friends know who they are. "You're wondering how I know who your parents are." Lenetta's defiant stare wavers. "Because my dear, they told me." Lenetta's eyes widen in shock as her parents walk in. Anger overwhelms her as the pain of betrayal and the rush of adrenaline makes her thrash in her restraints and flames come out of her mouth as she screams at them. "Why are you doing this!? Why did you help them capture me!? Do you know what they're going to do to me!?" Tears pour down her cheeks as rage courses through her.
Wing walks up to her and caresses her cheek as she leans forward to whisper in her ear. "Because we wanted to see you for one last time." Lenetta's eyes widen shock before darkness claims her. Wing had injected more Shirshu venom into her neck. She nods to the guards and they take her to a different room. Wing takes Rohan's hand in hers as they look at the gang leader. "What exactly are you going to do with her?" Rohan asks him. The man smirks. "Don't worry we'll take good care of her." The man smiles. Rohan and Wing looked at each other, a silent conversation going on between them.
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Team Avatar arrive the next day after non stop flying. They all run into the palace where they are met by Zuko and Iroh. They each hug the young Fire Lord as he's briefly overcome with emotion. They all go into a conference to discuss a rescue plan whenever they find her. Zuko had sent a letter to June. Whenever she got there she looked at the young man sympathetically. "So this is really about your girlfriend?" June asked him. Zuko nodded and looked down. "Help me find her and anything you want is yours." June gently brought his head up so he would look her in the eyes. "Chin up kid, we'll find your girlfriend. Don't worry about payment you're a special case." Zuko smirked and nodded as he brought into the conference room.
Once a rescue plan was discussed they brought Lenetta's pillow over to Nyla for her to sniff. Once Nyla got the scent they were off.
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This time whenever Lenetta woke up she felt worse. She was very nauseous and she would've turned over and thrown up if she weren't tied to a table. She had a horrible suspicion that she was about to be tortured for information. Her head was pounding and bile rose up into her throat and she started choking until her restraints were loosened and she rolled over and threw up everything in her stomach. She groaned in pain as her head pounded and her stomach ached. She was tied back down.
"We can't have you choking to death before I can get what I want now can we?" The man asked her. She glared at him and she had a thought that she's rather have been allowed to choke than live for what this man was going to do to her. She glared up at this man but she suspected it wasn't very effective considering how bad she felt and the fact he laughed at her attempts at seeming intimidating.
"Nice try baby doll but your attempts at intimidating are ineffective." He tells her with a malicious grin. She clenches her eyes shut as her head pounds. "Who are you, why are you doing this?" Lenetta whispers, words slightly slurred but he can understand them fine. "I am former councilman Raozi and I have captured you to lure your boyfriend here to kill him for ending the war and putting me in prison." He tells her. "And after I have killed him, I will take you for my own. You will do whatever I say and whatever I want." Lenetta's stomach turns at the implications and she glares at the older man. "Over my cold dead body. You won't be able to kill Zuko and I will never comply." Lenetta spits at him. Raozi growls at her and pulls out the knife and presses it to her throat. "You will if you know what's good for you." Lenetta stares up at him defiantly even though her heart's racing with fear as she feels the cold knife pressing to her pulse point.
Raozi walks out and slams the door leaving her alone in the dark room. Lenetta starts to cry as she prays to every god and goddess she knows of for Zuko's safety and for herself to get away from the evil man.
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Rohan and Wing stand outside the door listening to what Raozi tells Lenetta. Ever since they encountered each other in their home village they had been thinking about everything they ever did to their daughter. How horribly they'd treated her and horribly they'd allowed the village to treat her. They started feeling guilty and decided to join this group with the intentions of seeing their daughter again. They had heard that Lenetta was the boyfriend of the new Fire Lord and that she had helped end the war.
They were proud of her and hoped the best for they're daughter. Whenever they heard about this plan accidentally to capture Lenetta they joined under the pretense they were Raozi's allies, but really they were going to help her and Zuko.
They heard Raozi come up to the door and headed back to their room and prepared themselves. They were going to get Lenetta out tonight.
oOoOo
Nyla led them to a cave between Harbor City and the Royal Plaza. Team Avatar leapt off of Appa and June wished the luck before she was off. Team Avatar rushed in making sure to be stealthy. As they ran they silently took out guards and members as they went.
Suddenly they encountered two people only Zuko recognized. "You! Your Lenetta's parents. What are you doing here?" Rohan and Wing looked up to see Zuko plus Team Avatar. Zuko looked angry and rightfully so they admit.
"Were here to rescue Lenetta. We had to act like we were with them for the plan to work but please understand we are here to help. You take out everyone else and we'll get Lenetta out." Rohan told them. Wing walked over and laid a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Take care of our daughter." Zuko nodded and they rushed off.
oOoOo
Rohan and Wing rushed in and Lenetta flinched. "What are you doing in here!?" Lenetta exclaimed. Rohan put a hand over her mouth. "Were getting you out of here." Rohan told her quietly. "Why the sudden change of heart after the years of mistreatment?" Lenetta asked but still accusatorily. Wing spoke from where she was undoing the waist strap. "Because your words from many months ago had a profound impact on us darling. We realized we were wrong to treat you that way. You are our daughter and we are so proud of you. You have done so well. You helped end the war and you're the Fire Lord's girlfriend and friend of the Avatar and his companions. You've turned out so well despite our cruel ways. You are kind, brave, selfless, and compassionate. I am proud to call you my daughter." Wing wiped away a tear from her daughter's cheek. Lenetta sobbed and threw herself into her mother's arms.
Wing gently rubbed her knotted hair and gently took out knots as she went. "Lenetta." Lenetta looked to her father. "You have every right to hate us forever and to never want to speak to us after this. But I just want you to know that I'm so proud of you, and that I'm so sorry for every single thing I did. I love you my darling." Lenetta hugged her father as he cried silently. "I'm sorry too my love. Sorry will never take away the mistakes but it is a start for a bright future." Lenetta let go of her father and squeezed her mother's hand tightly.
Suddenly fighting sounds went on outside the room. The parents gently got her off the table and she had to be helped out as circulation continued to return to her legs and she also hasn't used her legs at all over the past few days.
Team Avatar were fighting the gang members and Rohan and Wing went over and joined in the fighting. Her firebending was weaker since her body was weaker but she did her best. She managed to keep them away from her but she didn't sense her opponent approaching from behind.
"Lenetta duck!" She did so and heard a swoosh of firebending overhead. She heard the man go down behind her and she looked up to see Zuko. He rushed toward and hugged her tightly as tears streamed down his face. She buried her face in his shoulder and cried so happy to see him again. "Zuko I'm so sorry for everything I said to you the other night during our fight. The whole time I was here I was afraid I would never get to apologize." Zuko held her shoulders. "It is I who should apologize to you, you were only trying to help and I was wrong to snap at you like that." Zuko told her firmly. Lenetta kissed his lips and whispered, "Apology accepted".
They soon had to rejoin the fight as more and more people kept coming. Some he recognized as former members of his government and others that must have been convinced somehow to join. After a few more minutes of fighting all the enemies were taken down.
Until Raozi and the Dark Phoenix but everyone was too busy celebrating to notice. Suddenly they both flung their knives at Zuko and Lenetta. Rohan and Wing were the only one's to notice and they leapt forward each taking a knife to the chest. Lenetta screamed as her parents dropped and a pool of blood accumulated around them. She dropped to her knees and clenched their tunics in her fists as she cried.
Raozi cackled evilly at the scene before him but soon had to duck as a rock was flung at his head by Toph. He growled and charged forward. Zuko, Toph, Katara, and Aang all flung their respective elements at Raozi and struck him in the chest, killing him instantly. Sokka and Suki charged the Dark Phoenix and Sokka stabbed the assassin in the stomach and Suki's war fan slashed her chest. She also died instantly.
They each looked over at Lenetta who was trembling. She cried over her parent's dead bodies. She had rolled them onto their backs and held their hands as they died. She wanted her hands to be the last thing they felt.
Zuko kneeled next to her wrapped an arm around her shoulder. She turned her head and cried into the crook of his neck. He rubbed her shoulder as each member of Team Avatar joined in until they were all piled into a bug cuddle pile. Relief overwhelmed them as well as sadness for Lenetta. They each knew her past but they still felt for her as she grieved. They just let themselves feel. The danger was finally over they can rest now.