Ch. 8 Head on Collision

Zuko

After Song leaves, we assemble the troops we have available. Azula still hasn't given the orders to attack yet. It's either because she knows how to irritate me or she wants to make sure that everyone will be wiped out in one rapid blow. I think it's most likely the firs, so I ignore her and formulate a plan for a swift defensive maneuver.

As I plot, I learn that my boys are near. Just as they are be seen in the distance, Azula yawns and sends her troops forward.

I immediately lunge into battle. I trip the man coming at me. I break the next man's arms mercilessly as he attempts to swing a sword near my head. My head swims with adrenaline and then I signal for the other to join the fight. The move is extremely effective. We descend upon them as if a huge wave. I take down a few more men easily ignoring my leg. It feels much better when I'm fighting.

I head for Azula. She casually glances at the moon. She's taking a risk to fight at night. She forms an 'L' with her fingers as a tall man knocks me to the ground.

I fall on my leg. Damn. I really overexert that word. I crumple to the ground.

Strenuously, I hit the man with as much force as I can muster in the ankle.

I look up and see Azula raising an eyebrow and learning towards Shang. I suddenly figure out the attraction between them. Both love power, both are talented, and both are seriously deranged. Two evil maniacs, you can't get much better than that. I strike a woman down with my sword. Shang moves forwards, but Azula lowers his arm with her perfectly manicured claw hands. I notice her formal attire: an elegant robe, chopsticks in hair, and perhaps high heels. Apparently she thinks it will be sufficient. She glides toward me parting her men with the touch of her palm. From the corner of my eye I see Aang head towards Shang.

I look into my power-driven sister's eyes and feel hatred pulse through my body. As she beckons me to come nearer my loathing multiplies. I slash someone and make my way towards her with sweat sliding down my face.

Azula smiles wider and continues to motion me forward. Suddenly she looks so much like mother. Except for her eyes. They are the same eyes that father wore when he killed my mother. Their eyes hold implanted maliciousness that grew by being petted and praised, germinated when their ambitions were achieved, and sapped the life out of all their competition when they became royalty.

Her sneer makes her look ugly though. As if she can read my thoughts, her forehead creases tensely.

"Impatient sister?" I ask casually knocking over a man coming towards me. Her mouth relaxes and smiles once more.

"Impatiently being patient." She throws back regally. I drop the acting and snort.

"Why are you getting married?" I say dodging a spear. She raises a perfectly plucked eyebrow and laughs. "Do you want to attend my wedding brother?"

Besides do you think I'll allow my throne to fall to you?" She points out.

"You won't make a good mother." I insult thinking of nothing better to say. She shrugs her shoulders

"Lame attack Zuzu."

With a huge blue flame, she strikes down a soldier who was running towards her. I want to attack her, but I act as if my childhood nickname means nothing. I shrug and knock down a nearby fire nation soldier. Azula's eyes twitch only slightly and then widen. I know that look. Shit she's got an idea. She puts a hand to her chin and stares at my face.

"I believe you are weaker. Shang did say that you weren't traveling alone. Is she the source of your weakness?" Before I can stop them, my eyebrows escalate. I punch a man in the face and knock him out with the blunt of my sword.

"That's a stupid Azula."

I say seriously wondering why she would bring up Song. I hear an odd sound and I clutch my arm after an arrow grazed it. I turn back to Azula. Lightening shines in her eyes. Before she steps forward to release the energy, I decide where to jump because I know it will be too big of an attack to redirect. She shakes her head as I barely miss being electrocuted.

"What would she think of you now?"

I throw a flame at her. She parts it with her two hands and creates aquamarine fire and throws it between her hands like a large ball.

"Let's talk Zuzu." She fashions the ball into a humanoid form. "Let's pretend this is this Song girl." She plays around with the human like fire shape "Consider this Zuko. You took away my father, so what's keeping me from taking away what's closest to you?" She uses her other hand to extinguish the flame.

"Wasn't killing Uncle enough?" I ask immediately. Azula glides backwards

"We'll have to finish this conversation later I suppose. I have a previous engagement." Before I can stop her, an arrow zips near me once again. I dodge it this time. I look at the owner of the arrow. She used to have a crush on me, but my incompetence soon bored her. She must not have any interest in men anymore. I dodge a few more arrows and then set the tips of her hair on fire. Her face transforms and she quickly extinguishes it. She throws me a hateful look and rushes to engage elsewhere.

My leg is about to give. I hobble away and feel lightheaded. I see images of Azula engaging Aang in the distance. Aang's having a rough time with hand in a sling, but Katara is giving him full support as usual. I should join them. I force myself forward, but hesitate when Katara falls to the ground electrocuted. Aang immediately begins to glow and I swear loudly.

"Aang bends all the elements at once towards Azula. I don't pity her she deserves whatever she gets, but Azula keeps smiling and rubs her hands together gleefully.

She gathers lightening in her hands and prepares to strike him in the heart, but Aang earth bends so that power won't impact him. Azula frowns and aims again. Sokka takes his sister away from the fight. I push myself onward though I should stop Aang. I practically faint with relief as Aang regains control and knocks Azula back towards her machine. I shout with mirth as she signals retreat. Suddenly she turns back to me and flips me off. A chuckle rises to my throat and my chest heaves and I let out a loud, boisterous laugh one that has taken years to make. "Is that all you can do?" I shout at her tank's retreating ass after my laughter dies. I compose myself again, but my spirit is considerably less depressed. I haven't laughed in years. I flex my leg and then put more weight on it and hobble back to the command center.

--

Song

"Will she be okay?" I'm asked as I turn to face Sokka. He's carrying Katara whose eyes are moving behind her eyelids and she is sweating profusely. I put a damp cloth on her face and it immediately begins to glow. Startled, I jump, but then check for any major wounds. Her eyes shoot open as I put a stethoscope to her chest. She relaxes and watches as I listen to her quick heart beat. She puts a hand over her stomach and closes her eyes.

"How's Aang?"

"He's still out there." Sokka answers. Katara opens her eyes.

"I need to be out there with him." Her eyes unfocus and she begins to gag. Impressively, her brother shoves a bucket underneath her in time. Trauma probably or because we just ate.

"I'm going back." Sokka says to Katara and then to Artemis who is rubbing her eyes to see her father.

"You were just hit with lightening be grateful you're alive." He warns his sister and heads out. I go over to another ailing patient and begin cleaning her fresh wounds. Katara begins heaving again till tears spurt out of her eyes. Artemis leaves the room afraid and I come over to Katara concerned and pat her on the back. When she finishes I hand her water which she hastily gulps down.

"I thought it was just sea sickness." She mumbles.

"Hummm?" I ask partially distracted as I go for a fresh bucket. At least her vomit doesn't stink yet.

"I was sick last week." She explains wearily.

"And the week before and the week before." She fiddles with her face towel. I uneasily ask her what her if she has any other symptoms.

"Nothing else. I'm pregnant." She says the last part nervously.

"Are you sure?" She shakes her head no and we do a quick test. After a few moments it turns up positive. She begins to softly cry.

I don't want to pry, so I grab a blanket and tell her she shouldn't overexert herself and we should do an ultrasound after I set up the equipment to see if the baby is okay."

Before I go, she grabs my wrist.

"Swear you won't tell anyone." A single tear runs down her cheek, but her eyes are deadly determined. "Our marriage was to be kept secret."

"I swear." I respond immediately. Who could she be married to?

"Thank you." She closes her eyes just as Artemis peeps over the doorway. She runs to her Aunt and lays next her. I smile and decide to check up on my other patients when Zuko hobbles in.

He meets my eye and lowers himself in a chair. He begins to reach for bandages and sterilizer. I offer to help him, but he assures me he 'knows how to do it.' I hear a soft snore behind me.Instinctively, I tuck Artemis in her aunt's blanket.

"She's not really Sokka's kid." Zuko comments out of the blue. I look up startled and finish wrapping the child in the blanket.

"But he said…" he shakes his head, "He used to be in love with her mother. One day she gave him the kid. I don't really know all the details, but apparently her father is immortal."

"No wonder Ty Lee seemed so interested in him." I say before covering my mouth. I didn't mean to voice my thoughts like that. He continues to wind his bandage around his arm and rolls his eyes.

"She's been trying to turn his head for years." I laugh before remembering I shouldn't be conversing when people need tending. I'm about to excuse myself when he mumbles quickly, "Sorry about earlier." I immediately drop my jaw. I don't have to ask to know he is speaking of his curt remark earlier.

"It's okay." I say chest throbbing with anticipation. He nods and looks away. I feel the urge to laugh because he looks as if this is extremely agonizing.

So he does have a soul. I hide a smile as he shifts uncomfortable in his chair. I decide to leave him alone.

"Thank you." I say quietly as I walk away. He looks up into my face and his expression softens and his shoulders relax. It's been a long day. In this brief glance I see the true Zuko under his pretenses and callousness. I clean up a few more injuries and after a few moments I hear more deep breathing coming from the corner. A few minutes pass and I look over and see his chest rising and falling. Slowly and against my better judgement, I find myself surrendering my heart to the man sleeping in a wooden chair.

---

Author's Note:

Here we go again! I've been having a tough time getting to an empty computer, but I've managed it so far. I hope this clears up the Artemis mystery, but if you still have any questions don't worry about it. I'm considering writing a one shot concerning the event where Sokka was given the child.

Now onto the review… Wow 6 reviews for the last chapter thanks GoddessOfCsilla, felicia19, sugarland31, storm-of-insanity, Ireth Kalt, and Firework. I really appreciate the imput.

The next chapter may take some time so I ask you to "patiently be impatient"