Rebel: Final chapter!
DJ: Sweet!
Zuko: How could you let me get captured like that!
Rebel: Chill, Zuko. You and everyone else will love the last chapter! Enjoy!
Fealty
Zuko lifted his head as Zhao walked into the room. He had been chained directly to the wall, so all he could do was watch as Zhao walked up, face smug.
"It may not be the Avatar, but I'm sure Firelord Ozai will be pleased to unmask the man who aided the Avatar's escape, the Blue Spirit." Zhao said, mockingly emphasizing the last two words. "In fact," Zhao said, coming closer, "I think I'll have a look right now." Zuko was helpless as Zhao reached toward his face, but just as Zhao was about to grab hold of the mask, a messenger walked in.
"Firelord Ozai is waiting outside the main gate to be briefed" He said indifferently.
Zhao stepped back, smiling. "Another time, Blue Spirit." he said, walking out.
"Not if I have anything to say about it." Zuko muttered under his breath.
Outside the compound, guards slowly passed along the walls. As one guard reached a sentry tower and turned around, he thought he saw two shadows pass at the edge of his lantern's light, but they were gone. He shrugged and moved on. The shadows slid unnoticed down the wall and up to a small door at the side of the main building. Katara removed her mask and gloves while Drzym stood lookout. Using a small cask of water at her side, Katara quickly picked the lock, and they snuck in.
As the door opened once more, Zuko didn't bother looking up. He couldn't firebend chained up as he was, and he had no room to move. Zuko couldn't escape, and he didn't think he had it in him to face his father. That's why he wasn't ready when the shackles opened. He fell to the ground, numb, and his mask slipped off, sliding to a halt at Katara's feet.
Katara brought Zuko his mask as he got up. He looked up to thank her, but became tongue-tied as he looked deep into her eyes.
"C'mon, we gotta go." Drzym said. Zuko seemed to wake up, tying his mask back on.
They got to the door just as several soldiers appeared. Drzym tried the door, but someone had locked it again. "Keep them busy." Drzym called behind her as Katara's water whip lashed out and Zuko's blades flashed. Drzym changed into a rhino, and slammed the door, destroying it like a rock through wet paper.
The three burst out into the courtyard to find themselves facing almost every guard in the compound. Zuko looked at Katara. She nodded. She knew what to do. He dropped a smoke bomb which instantly exploded and covered the entire area. Within the sudden smokescreen, several blasts of fire shot into the air, accented by shouts from stunned soldiers. Punches and kicks were dealt out right and left, soldiers striking out to hit their enemies and only making contact with fellow soldiers. At one point, a large green dragon tail swept through the cloud, taking out several men. Snaps and half-drowned screams echoed through the courtyard.
When the smoke cleared, Zuko, Katara, and Drzym were the only ones standing. "You go ahead. I've got some unfinished business to take care of." Zuko said.
"We'll come get you when you're done." Katara said. She and Drzym began walking off when she ran back. "And be careful." She said, kissing him soundly on the lips.
Zuko watched in a daze as Katara and Drzym climbed over the wall with a grappling line. Then he shook his head to clear it, and disappeared.
Firelord Ozai walked through the gates, Zhao following. He never expected to see fifty men scattered and unconscious throughout the courtyard. "What happened here?" he asked Zhao in a soft voice that was more menacing than any lion's roar. As he listened to Zhao stutter, a voice came from the roof.
"Took you long enough, Ozai." came a mocking voice. Ozai looked up into the face of the Blue Spirit who was standing triumphant against the full moon.
"Did you do this?" Ozai said angrily.
"No." The Blue Spirit stated. Smugness came into Ozai's features. He knew it would take at least 100 men to topple this fortress, but that smugness left him as the Blue Spirit remarked, "It was me and two girls."
"Why are you here?" Ozai said, mastering his anger. No teenage rebel was going to make him look like a fool.
"Two reasons." the Blue Spirit said, "Because your monkey-faced flunky didn't give me much choice, and because I have a message for you."
"That would be?" Ozai replied, annoyed.
"That I, the Blue Spirit, and all my allies swear fealty to the Avatar. Watch your back Ozai, because winning this war isn't going to be a walk in the park anymore. Now you have two armies to worry about." The ninja said, his mask's smile seeming to mock Ozai and the rest of the Fire Nation. With that he leapt from the roof, Appa flying up underneath to catch him. Ozai was forced to watch as the avatar sped into the night. Then he turned to Zhao.
"You have a new mission. I want both the Avatar, and his little friends. I need to set an example for the world. No one gets a way with making the Fire Nation look like a fool." With that Ozai left.
Back on Appa, Katara smiled at Zuko. "I'm proud of you." she said.
"Thanks." Zuko said. He was proud of himself, too. He had finally stood up to his father. Now he was truly free.
As they flew off, you could still hear Sokka shouting, "Where'd my jerky go?"
Rebel: so what did you think? I originally gave this story to DJ to post, but she didn't so I did. Let me just say that it was harder than taking a mother bear's cubs from her.
DJ: I'm going to read this story every week!
Rebel: We know… We know.
Zuko: R&R!