Chapter 5: Zuko has Come


"How long until we get there?" Zuko asked the helmsman impatiently.

"Just a few minutes, Prince Zuko" the helmsman replied. Zuko went off to prepare for the battle. Iroh sat at the bow drinking tea and playing a game with small wooden pieces engraved with the four known elements symbols.

Zuko went to the tip of the boat, leaning so far over the railing that he could've fallen in if he wasn't holding on tight enough to bend the bars. He could just never seem to get to his destination when he wanted too, which was always a few minutes ahead.


Li had grabbed a bowl that had been left outside somebody's house and a stick, and was beating it vigorously to wake everybody up. The villagers knew this sound, because it was what Li's group always used to signal each other for an attack. The quickly woke up and grabbed whatever weapon they had. Women and young children fled for the base, it being a secret place under ground, and therefore safe.

Sokka had gone back through the trapdoor to wake the others, finding them already awake and preparing quickly. They were setting up slingshots and filling their pockets and back packs with ammo. They each took a sword, making sure to keep it in its sheath until it was truly needed. Sokka took a sword, since he never really was good with a slingshot. Katara made sure that the women and children all got into the base, and the trap door was covered with grass to keep them from being found.

Li stood at the beach, awaiting the enemy. She watched as the ship was inches away from the shoreline, coming to a halt. The giant door began to come down. She held her ground without fear. She had a score to settle. She held her slingshot in front of her face, preparing to shoot the first fire bender she saw in the head.

The door hit the ground. Nobody was waiting to come out. She didn't know that she was being watched from the shadows of the entrance. She loaded her slingshot, waiting. A fire bender stepped out. She released her slingshot, the rock flying for his head. In a swift movement, the rock was in his hand.

Li stood there in disbelief until a large blast of fire was shooting towards her. She didn't have time to jump away. She held her arms in front of her, trying to shield the fire away. Something pushed her out of the way, throwing her to the ground. Whatever it was had gotten up and was running at the fire bender who had stepped off the ship.

Li sat up, spitting sand out of her mouth. She looked to see who had saved her from the fire. She only saw his back, but she knew who it was. It was Sokka.

More fire benders started to spill out of the ship and were heading toward the village. The very last one to step off the ship was Zuko, who had a smirk on his face. Sokka finished off the fire bender who had attacked Li and was now heading for the village to help protect it. Li got on her air board and went to join him.

Katara and Aang were in the fight, trying to keep the fire benders from getting into the village, but they were spilling in from all directions. The villagers were putting up a good fight, using their swords to defend their beloved home. Kai, Mistia, Kanan, and Chao were on the roofs, shooting the fire benders from each direction, leading them to confusion.

Li jumped off the board on Prayer Hill, defending it from the fire benders. Her air bending knocked them off their feet, for they didn't expect another air bender to exist.

The fire benders lay scattered and fleeing on the ground around Prayer Hill. Li had a bad burn on her left arm, but other than that, nothing serious. The fight was ending in the village as the fire benders were being pushed back to their ship. Li watched from the hill, not noticing somebody creeping up behind her.

That's when it hit her… A burning feeling surged across her back, making her scream in pain. Her clothes were charred, and her back was severely burned. She fell to the ground, head first. She weakly rolled over to see her attacker, wincing at the pain in her back. Zuko stood above her, an evil smirk across his face. Li stared at him with tears in her eyes from the pain.

Li put her hand to her chest weakly, still staring at him. Her hand began to glow white. Her weak body began to regain its strength; she was healing herself with light bending. Noticing this, Zuko kicked her hand off and grabbed her by her neck, lifting her up. She grabbed at his hand, trying to pull him off, but it was futile.

Aang, Katara, Sokka, and the rest rushed to Prayer Hill, but stopped when they saw Li in Zuko's grip. They knew he could burn her to a crisp if they did anything to help her. "Give me the avatar, or she'll fry"

"Li, you're stronger than this! You can get out of his grip!" Sokka said, trying to get her confidence.

She opened her eyes, but only halfway. She made a sad attempt at making a smile. "You're right. I can get out of his grip… And into his mind." She said placing one of her hands onto his forehead. Her hand glowed and he instantly dropped her. She stood on the ground, her hand still on his head. A pulse of black came from her hand and went across his body. He fell to the ground, and Li lifted her hand off of him. She turned to face the others. When suddenly…


Xlo: Mwahahahaha! Cliffhanger! And I have safely locked Li in a closest so she can't comment here! I don't know why I didn't think of that in the first place!