Author's Note: Alright, loyal fans, here is what you have all been waiting for. The confrontation between Momo and Talon! Oh, and Omighta Anima comes forth, blah blah blah, and all that other good stuff. I think this is the second to last chapter, but I can't be sure.
Chapter 12: Rise and Come Forth
Momo folded his wing-like arms, willing himself to fall faster. Twenty-five feet. Twenty-four. Twenty-three. Not fast enough! The sword was closing the distance between it and Appa's neck. No hope, no chance, he wouldn't get there in time. Too fast for Appa to react, too slow for Momo to bear. Why had time chosen this moment to slow down? He watched the cold steel draw closer and closer.
Just as the blade was clipping off several hairs on the bison's hide, a flash of green rocketed into the sword's wielder, sending the man stumbling backwards.
"That one's for the mole-people!" cried Talon, circling around for a second pass at the human's head.
Appa, seeing that all the men in the clearing were distracted, chose that moment to escape. He swung his head viciously to the side, scattering people like flies. Samson caught on, too, and began assaulting his captors. Pandemonium erupted in the clearing, as everyone tried to avoid being speared by the bison's flailing horns.
"Aang, what do we do?" Katara asked shrilly. The three were standing at the edge of the clearing, looking down into the chaos.
Sokka was the one with the answer.
"We fight," he said, "we go down there and rescue Appa."
"Uh, Sokka," said Aang, "Appa looks like he's doing fine on his own."
It was the truth. The bison had managed to knock several people unconscious without even getting a scratch.
"Yeah, well, I really want to get in on the action. Let's go down there anyway," he said. Before Katara or Aang could stop him, Sokka burst into the clearing, screaming a bloodthirsty battle-cry. His friends sighed, then reluctantly followed.
The feeling, the crave, and a shallow grave, it's all the same to me, sang Talon to some made up tune. He was perched on the body of a knocked-out man. Momo fluttered up next to him. The lemur looked his rival up and down, and than said grudgingly, "Talon…what you did back there…was real heroic." Talon cocked hid head to the side in curiosity. "I guess I owe you an apology. And, thanks," Momo said.
Talon gave a small whistle, and then took off into the air. Momo flew after him.
From up above, the clearing looked like an anthill that had been kicked. Flurries of motion, panicked cries, flashes of steel, all floated up to Momo as he drifted above. He caught a glimpse of Sokka and some pirates, warding off a mob of Leizuy's men. Katara was pulling water out of the ground and slinging it at anyone in range. Aang was, of course, busy letting all the animals out of their cages. Where he got the keys Momo had no idea, but he sure was a lot better at using them than the lemur had been.
Aang took a second to admire his handy-work. Not one cage was left unopened, and all the occupants were running free. Turning to look for any other creatures in need, he spotted the featherless bird draped in chains. Several men were gathered around it, spears raised. The bird was fighting back, but it couldn't hope to defend itself while bound in chains. Aang sprang to its aid, knocking back the men with a blast of air. Warily, he approached the bird. It was covered from head to toe with a thick, gel-like fluid. Aang reached out and brushed some off. His fingers came back sticky.
Taking a deep breath, Aang raised his hands above his head. The liquid covering the beast quivered, and raised itself upward, too. With one quick movement of his hands, Aang sent the gel flying to the side, leaving the bird dry.
The avian beast shook itself once, to make sure it was completely devoid of the fluid. It raised its head up high, and spontaneously burst into flames.
Fire raged down its body, wrapping it in a curtain of sparks and heat. The chains binding it melted away. Stretching its wings (now coated in feather-like flames) it screamed its triumph to the world.
"Free at last!" it trilled. Sparks flew as it gave its wings a flap, testing their strength. Finding them suitable, it took to the air.
Aang could only watch open-mouthed. The thing had seemed so bare and defenseless before it was covered in fire. Now, it was a breath-taking sight, all red and orange.
"Aang, what the heck did you do to that bird?" asked Sokka. The only answer Aang gave was a huge smile.
By now the clearing was almost empty. All the men had run off into the woods, not wanting to stick around and be pummeled by an irate two-ton bison. Only the trio of kids, a few scattered animals, and the Four Beasts remained.
Appa blinked his eyes in a daze. Everything had happened so fast. Luckily he hadn't been wounded, but he was still tired. All he wanted to do was take a nice, long nap.
"Whoo, glad that's over," said Samson, trundling up to him. The Ground Cleaver had several cuts in his thick hide, but nothing too serious.
"Yes, the whole experience is not something I'd enjoy repeating," said the Bird of Flame, landing on the ground beside them. Its voice was alight and musical, obviously feminine. "So, who might you gentlemen be?"
Introductions were made. The bird's name was Inferno, but she said she much preferred Fern. She had been held captive in the zoo for years, unable to break free due to the dousing jelly that had covered her entire sinuous form.
"So, what should we do with him?" Appa asked, jerking his shaggy head towards Grae Jumsho. The Water Lung was coiled snake-like not too distant, his head tucked under his stomach. Violent shivers racked his body.
"Is he hurt?" Samson asked.
"Oh, no, knowing Levi he's probably just scared," said Fern.
"Wait, did you just call him Levi?" questioned Appa.
"Well, yeah. That is his name," explained Fern, "His full name's Leviathan, but he likes Levi."
"You mean you know that monster?" Momo asked, fluttering out of the sky and onto one of Appa's horns.
"He's not a monster, he's just misunderstood," said Fern, "And yes, I know him. He was in the cage next to mine. Not much of a talker, that one. Keeps to himself." She waddled over to Levi, stopping a short distance away. The Water Lung raised his head and hissed, yellow eyes narrowing in rage. The Bird of Flame whispered soothingly to him, and he calmed down.
"See," she called, "he's harmless, as long as you're on his good side."
Appa was about to go over and see for himself when someone called out his name. The bison froze, not daring to move. The voice was so familiar, but he didn't think it was possible. How could possibly have gotten here that fast? Appa inched his head around and peered over his bulky shoulder.
Aang smashed into him, laughing with joy.
"It's good to have you back, boy," he said to Appa's fur. Their reunion was short-lived. Out of the trees came Leizuy, looking beaten up and rather pissed.
Drawing his lips back into a sneer, he growled, "You may have dismantled my army, but I can still finish you off." Fast as lightning he pulled a sword from his cloak and hurled it at Aang.
Appa stepped in front of Aang, and the sword lodged itself into his shoulder with a sickening thunk. The injury would have been enough to kill a man, but Appa was a lot bigger than that. The bison pulled the weapon out with his teeth, grimacing at the pain. Blood spilled from the wound.
"Give it up, Leizuy," Aang commanded, "You lost."
"On the contrary, Avatar," he hissed, watching the red stream leak through the bison's fur to the ground, "I think I won."
A single crimson drop fell to the earth, where it mingled with the blood of three other beasts.
The ground began to shake.
"What's happening?" screamed Katara.
"Appa's blood touched the earth. It's like the prophecy said: The blood shall redeem him," Aang had to shout to be heard over the roar of the quaking soil. Cracks spread across the clearing like a spider web.
"You've got to be joking," moaned Sokka, "We better get out of here!"
Before anyone could move, the ground split in two, and Omighta Anima emerged.
Author's Note: Alright, now we're getting to the good parts. The next one will be up be Christmas at least, probably sooner it I get a chance to write over Turkey Day. Well, see you all then!