DISCLAIMER: don't own AVATAR.
Yes, my readers! The hiatus is over! Z2 is back in action!
Chapter 10: The Festival Part 2
Zuko, eager for a chance to see his father again, followed the crowd to the makeshift Agni Kai arena at the docks.
Flame knelt down, wearing the traditional Agni Kai pants, the light cloth on her shoulders, the two arm bands, and a thin strip of cloth wrapped around her chest, since she was a girl.
Zuko shoved his way to the front of the crowd, but the work was slow and tedious. By the time Zuko was halfway to the front, the gong sounded.
Flame stood there, glaring at her opponent. He had a triumphant smirk on his face. Oh, how that made her angry. Gritting her teeth, Flame sent a fiery punch at the stranger. He dodged easily, and sent a fire punch right back at her.
What goes around, comes around.
Go away! I need to be fo- CRAP!
The stranger sent a swift kick at Flame's stomach. She was knocked off her feet, and hit the ground hard. But that's not all. Before Flame stopped, the force of the kick made her do a few backward somersaults.
Why is everyone so determined to make me hit the ground on my back!
Flame forced herself up on her elbows, and grinned at her opponent.
"Is that the best you can do?" Flame whispered with a grin. The stranger returned Flame's grin with one of his own.
"Nope." With that, the stranger sent three giant waves of fire at Flame. Her green eyes stared at the roaring fiery onslaught, and her eyes quickly flashed at the water resting out beyond the dock…
With one powerful movement of her arm, Flame brought up a giant shield of water, protecting her from the fire, but producing much steam. The crowd gasped.
"Is it possible…?"
"I thought she was dead…?"
"Do you mean to say he lied to us?"
"Impossible! He is far too loyal to his Nation to lie to his people!"
"But, she bends two Elements! Surely she is-"
"Hush! Do not speak his name! He is disgraced!"
And other such things could be heard as they were murmured in the crowd. Zuko looked around, wondering what they were talking about.
The stranger stood on the other side of the fog, staring in disbelief.
"You cheated!" He screeched. Flame laughed and shook her head.
"You said all bendings allowed, so, I'm not cheating!" The stranger growled, and sent a fireball through the mist. Flame saw the orange glow in the haze, and quickly bent backwards. Flame watched as the fireball just barely grazed past her.
"Flame?" She turned around on impulse at the sound of her name.
"Zuko?"
"Prince Zuko?" Flame turned back around. The mist had cleared, and Flame could see her opponent again. She looked first at the stranger, then to Zuko. Zuko, stranger, Zuko, stranger. She saw a resemblance.
"I'm dueling with the Fire Lord?" Flame squeaked. Fire Lord Ozai laughed at her.
"You didn't realize that?" He jeered. Flame growled and resumed her fighting stance, a fierce, determined fire burning bright in her eyes.
"I don't serve you." She hissed.
"I serve no Nation, for I am a Daughter of two." Ozai laughed cruelly.
"Ah, yes, you must be General Kiroh's daughter." Flame's eyes widened, and her pupils shrank. With the scream of a banchee, Flame shot a long ice dagger and a large blast of fire at the Fire Lord.
"Don't. Ever. Speak. My father's name. Again…" She hissed in a dangerously low tone between gasps. Ozai sneered at her.
"What's the matter?" He mock cooed.
"My father chose not to serve you. Drop his titles, drop his disgrace. He is not a disgrace to the Water Tribes." Flame snapped. Ozai laughed at her.
"He was a disgrace even to them. You were obviously oblivious to the people of that tribe." Flame's eyes narrowed in a dark glare.
"Liar." She growled. Ozai shook his head with a smirk.
"I speak the truth." He replied acidly.
"You have never spoken the truth in your life. My father has said you say you care about your Nation, your Empire, and yet, you begin to ship young boys and old men off to fight. You are be ridding the Nation of all men, just so your army can expand, and you can win this stupid war. You said, long ago, that you loved your son, and yet, here he is. An abominable scar on his face delivered by your hand. You have permanently banished him on a wild goose chase to capture the most powerful being on earth. Those are not the gestures of a loving father. They are the actions of a ruthless tyrant who is ordering a permanent onslaught not only of opposing countries, but of his own."
"You speak the words of your father." Ozai sneered. Flame nodded.
"For that is how I was raised." Flame suddenly sat down.
"What are you doing?" Ozai yelled. Flame stared at him through half closed eyes.
"Well, since you just want to talk all day, I might as well meditate, so I don't have to listen to you." Ozai growled, and threw a fireball at Flame.
And it went on like this for about 2 hours, Ozai and Flame fighting each other with powerful firebending, something extraordinary, considering Flame was so young, and was holding her own very well. It made Zuko very jealous.
He stood at the front of the crowd, an envious glint in his eyes, remembering someone else who was just as skilled at firebending.
And was also younger than him, and a girl.
"Ha! I beat you again, brother!" Zula jeered cruelly at her five-year-old brother. Zuko whimpered, not only in fright of getting hurt, but in embarrassment. He was five she was four! He was older! He should be better than her!
"Zula, do not hurt your brother. He is the heir for the throne." Ozai stated calmly, although his disappointment in Zuko was very evident.
Zuko smirked at Zula. He might not be the better fighter, but being first in line for the throne was something he held over Zula's head with pride.
And it would only get worse as they got older.
For their age, Zuko and his sister had both been very smart. Or, they at least understood that Zuko would become Fire Lord and Zula would be there if he died before she did, and he had no heir.
Flame and Ozai panted, this fight couldn't go on much longer. They both began to make fireballs, in one last-ditch attempt to win the Agni Kai.
When the fireballs met, there was a huge explosion, when the smoke cleared, they saw just as Flame fell to the ground in pure exhaustion, and defeat.
"NO!"
HAHAHA! This is my second cliffie, I'm on fire!
INSANITY AT ITS FINEST
LONG LIVE THE HIPPIES!
Zukoscute2
