Chap. 12

Double-Sided: The Coin Flips

The skies slowly edged into crimson, as the sun rose. The golden orb rose into sky slowly, as it painted the early morning with a veritable plethora of red and gold. As it's light spread over the island, it touched each of the inhabitants on the beach. As the sunlight touched them, most of them shut their eyes tight and turned against, wanting another few moments of sleep. But one of them felt the warmth on his body and awoke instantly.

Smiling under his wrappings, Fuego pulled himself out from his cape and rose to his feet. Spreading his arms wide, Fuego felt the warmth on his body energize him. It had always been said that Firebenders rise with the sun. Fuego had never felt the sun's power the way that they had of course; his strength was not dependant on the moon or sun. Still, he had always awoken upon the first touch of light and felt instantly energized.

Of course, today has it's own special meaning. The red man thought as he lowered his arms and looked out to sea. Today was the day he finally put his plan for Zuko into effect. It had a been a difficult plan to put into effect, mainly because he had been alone in it's construction. The friends that Fuego and the others were waiting for shared the respect that the red man felt towards Zuko, but for them it was only respect. They saw Zuko as a fallen paladin, who was not within their ability to bring to their cause. But Fuego had always saw things differently. He alone saw the potential within the boy, the qualities that had been ignored by his family and everyone else, except for Iroh. Even now, despite everything that he had been instructed to do, Fuego kept his hope for Zuko alive. That was the reason he had left the note. That was why he had lead Zuko to this isle; to bring him over to their side. I have to. He thought, as he looked out onto the ocean. Without him, everything will fall apart. I can't let that happen, not to the Fire Nation or to any of the Nations. Why can't they see that? Is he the only one that sees it besides me?

Fuego would have dwelled on those thoughts a bit longer, but then something caught his attention. The force he'd sensed the previous night was back, and much closer. For a second, he dared a smile, thinking that he would finally be able to put his plan into action. But a second later, the smile vanished. Last night, the force had been too far for him to truly sense. Fuego had known that it was a Fire Nation ship, and he had let that be enough. But now, he could sense something within it that filled him with fear. But then, Fuego felt even more fear, for as he looked out, he saw the ship on the horizon, coming closer with each passing minute.

"Shit." Fuego hissed, as he leapt off his perch. The sand flew around him as he made tracks for the sleeping forms of his companions. "Wake up!" he yelled, as he gave their sleeping bags a few swift kicks. Moaning, they turned over, wondering what was going on.

"Want sleep. No wakey." Sokka muttered, as he tried to turn back into his sleeping bag.

Katara and Aang however, managed to pull themselves up. "What's going on, Fuego?" Katara asked sleepily, as she rubbed her eyes.

Fuego wasted no time in making his point; "There's a Fire Nation ship on the horizon. It'll be here in a few minutes. We've got to get out of here!"

Those were the magic words. Almost instantly, the sleepy eyes vanished, as the companions sprang to their feet and started gathering their supplies.

"Come on, we've got to get Appa loaded and out of here!" Aang cried, as he threw what he had gathered onto Appa's saddle.

But Fuego shook his head. "You're half right. We need to get him loaded but we can't leave the island, not until my friends get here."

"Forget your friends! I'm sure they'll understand!" Sokka yelled.

"It isn't a matter of understanding Sokka. We have to meet."

"And you'd endanger us to do it?"

"No! If you'll just listen, I might have an idea."

At that, the others, quickly turned an ear to the red man. "Listen, this island is huge and covered in jungle. If we can get into it before the Fire Nation arrives, we might be able to lose them and I can lead us to the meeting place. Trust me, with my friends with can beat them back easily. Our only other option is run, and if we get up there, they'll just try to shoot us down."

The others listened as Fuego finished his proposal. Finally, Aang said, "I think Fuego's right. They're too close for us to make a clean getaway and they would try to shoot us down." Turning to Fuego, he said, "Lead the way."

The red man nodded and said, "Is Appa ready to go?"

Sokka and Katara nodded back, as the finished tying the last of the supplies onto Appa's saddle.

"Then let's move!" the red man said, as he practically leapt into the jungle. Appa and the others quickly followed.

And it was a good thing they did, because not ten minutes later, the Fire Nation ship made berth on the island. Once it did, it became quite clear this was not Zuko's ship. This one was at least twice the size of the boy prince's ship, and far more powerful. As the ship's prow cut through the sandy beach, the crewmen threw then anchor out over the side, bringing the ship to a halt within a few minutes. Once it fully stopped, there was a hiss of steam, and the front opened up dropping onto the beach.

Once the pathway was clear, there was a clanking sound from inside the ship, as something large and powerful made it's way through the ship. That something revealed itself a second later, as a twenty-man squadron of rhinos made it's way onto the beach. The men quickly lead their rhinos to sides, in a precise military formation. The group stood at attention as they awaited the presence of their leader. That leader appeared a second later, riding the king rhino.

"At attention!" the captain of the squad commanded, as the leader came down the ramp. "The men are assembled and awaiting orders, sir." He said, as the leader came to rest beside him.

"Very good captain." Admiral Zhao said, as he looked over the rhino squad. As he looked at the jungle, Zhao had to smile at the luck he'd encountered. He had been returning from a routine raid on an Earth Kingdom town, when he had run into a small messenger scout boat. Once he had brought the boat on deck, Zhao had used some expert 'persuasion' to learn that the scout was from Prince Zuko, and had sighted the Avatar landing on an island. Zhao had not only 'persuaded' the man to give him the location of the Avatar, but had also forced him to send a hawk back to Zuko telling him of failure. Zhao had also heard the tale of Fuego and was fullyu prepared to bring the traitor to justice. With that added bonus, Zhao stood on the threshold of capturing the Avatar and finally ridding the Fire Nation of Zuko once and for all. This will be the day they will write of forever. This is the day the great Admiral Zhao destroyed the last threat to the Fire Nation's victory. Zhao thought with sinister glee.

Motioning to his troops, Zhao gave his orders. "Find the Avatar. I don't care what you have to do, but find him and bring him to me. Destroy anyone who gets in your way!" The troops nodded their acceptance and quickly began to move into the jungle, smashing most of the trees on their way. Zhao followed, thoughts of victory fresh in his mind.

"Are you sure this is the right way?" Aang asked, as the group made it's way through the jungle underbrush. They were making swift time through the jungle, mainly because Fuego was using Appa as a battering ram to clear the way.

"Don't worry, Aang. I know exactly what I'm doing." The red man said, as he continued to move through the underbrush.

"I'm glad one of us does." Sokka muttered as he continued to move through the underbrush, while getting hit by every branch and root on the way.

Katara started to say something, but then paused as she turned back for a moment. "Do you guys hear that?" she asked suddenly.

Fuego and the others turned around and within seconds, they heard it; a low but intense rumbling. Aang and Sokka seemed puzzled, but Fuego's eyes widened.

"RHINOS! RUN!" he yelled, as he leapt onto Appa's back motioning for the others to do the same. The group quickly hopped on, and Fuego drove Appa through the underbush hard, destroying everything in their path. But it was then that the group began to see a small clearing up ahead.

"That's it! Hand on!" Fuego said, as he whipped the reins. With a roar, Appa burst through the last of the underbrush and into the clearing. But he did not do so alone. As Appa burst through, about four rhinos popped out as well. The bison instantly came to a halt, as his passengers leapt off, ready to fight. Fuego drew his spear, Aang his staff, Sokka his boomerang, and Katara quickly moved towards a small pond by Appa.

"Come on! Give it your best shot!" Sokka yelled out, egging the four rhinos on. But the second those words were out of his mouth, the other rhinos popped out threw the jungle, instantly surrounding and outnumbering them.

"OK, good shot." Sokka said, as he looked around in desperation. A second later, that desperation equaled, as two rhinos suddenly forced Appa back in the jungle, separating him form his masters.

"Everybody behind me." Fuego said suddenly. "I know what's coming next." The others nodded, and quickly did as Fuego asked, as one more rhino made it's way from the jungle, carrying with the leader of the squadron….

"Admiral Zhao." Fuego said, as the lead rhino came to the front.

"I see you know of me." Zhao said, as he looked down at the small band before him.

"By reputation. I can't truly say I'm impressed." Fuego replied, as he looked back at the admiral.

"What a pity. I don't have the respect of a traitor. I hope you won't give the Fire Lord a bad review of me when I bring you to him." Zhao replied, with more then a trace of venom.

But Fuego only shook his head. "Zhao there is much you do not know. But there is one thing you will come to learn." The red man said, as he drew his spear.

"And what would that be?" Zhao said, already willing his hands alight.

Fuego took a few steps forward, then looked straight up at Zhao and gave his answer; "I'm no traitor."

Suddenly, Fuego whipped around and using the butt-end of his spear, knocked Aang to the ground and knocking his staff to the side. Sokka and Katara gasped in shock, then their eyes narrowed as they refocused into Fuego. But before they could do anything, Fuego whirled his spear over his head like a propeller, and as it began to glow, the red man suddenly sent two fire blasts from it at the ground in front of the siblings. The flames hit the ground and ignited, but then spread out, trapping Sokka and Katara in two rings of fire, that grew upwards until they were at their necks. Fuego then grabbed the slowly rising form of Aang and facing Katara and Sokka, brandished his glowing spear at the boy's neck.

"Try anything, and I give him a new airhole." The red man sneered, especially at Katara, knowing what she could do with her Water-bending. But seeing Aang in danger, Katara lowered her head in defeat. Sokka followed a moment later.

"Good." Fuego muttered, as he turned back to the Admiral, holding the struggling form of Aang. But Fuego's arm snaked up Aang's back, until it reached a specific spot on the boy's neck. Fuego pinched it, and Aang suddenly fell limp.

Shifting his grasp to Aang's collar so that he did not drop the paralyzed boy, the red man turned to Zhao and said, "I am a servant of the ruler of the Fire Nation. I bring you this gift, in his name." Holding Aang up, Fuego suddenly dropped to one knee in front of Zhao, holding the key to the war and the savior of millions right in front of the vicious admiral.