Ch.12 Reprisal

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Zuko

I keep my focus on the man who threatens her, but I am impressed that Song is bravely staring at the sky rather than quivering at the blade that could pierce her at with any sudden movements.

He begins to wave his free arm theatrically. "Put down your weapon." He says with an inflection on the o in weapon.

I snort hopefully undetectably and I silently lay my swords down by my feet, deliberately catching a sunray, and reflecting it towards my right.

I temporarily blind Mai, but catch Ty Lee's attention discretely. A wide smile immediately adorns her face and she smothers a quick squeal of excitement.

Before anyone can react, Ty Lee makes a quick cartwheel, flips expertly onto the pedestal, and uses her trained hands to make the man's arms go limp.

"Traitor!" the man bellows vainly trying to stab Song.

She smiles eccentrically at him "Why thank you. I've quite longed to be called that." She stuns his wrist. My uncle's dagger crashes to the ground while Ty Lee continues to make the overdramatic man immobile.

I step on both blades until they flip into my hands, I stow them away, and I see Song slump towards the ground visibly relieved.

--

Song

I feel arms go around my body and I lower my head on a clothed muscular chest.

"Are you hurt?" a familiar deep voice asks gently. It's spoken so softly that I'm not sure I'm my hearing correctly.

"Just dizzy…" I trail off shyly. My thoughts in my head are in frenzy from this hasty revelation. Zuko? Why is he disguised?

I feel as he slices through the ropes, and my full weight falls onto him. I pick up fatigued arms and fasten them quickly around his neck.

--

Zuko

I put away my retrieved weapon and then sweep Song up until she's fully in my arms. She relaxes against me and my Adam's apple bobs frantically. I do not have time to do this. I quickly regain my senses and take off toward the rendezvous point.

I look over my shoulder to see our second attack commencing with the setting sun, lead by General Toph and Admiral Sokka. Before I force myself to focus on my task, I see Azula and two well dressed beginning pursuit. I knew Azula would not deter from wanting to finish one task even when her army is at stake.

I face forwards and fume as my stiff boots push off the earth. Her heels should slow them down.

I kick up dirt with each step hoping to annoy further my well-dressed sister.

I glance over my shoulder again once I get to the base of Witch's hill.

Men are trickling out of Azula's two other tanks and Azula is moving quite fast.

The sun then disappears and my eyes are forced to adjust to the darkness.

I face forwards and absently brush a few of Song's dark hairs from my line of sight. Though it doesn't quite matter now it's dark.

As the hill gets steeper, my body sings with each exertion of muscle. Only halfway up. I get eager and pick up the pace only to stumble and slam my weakened knee into a boulder. Damn it. I maintain my grip on Song while digging my gloved hands into the dirt.

Apparently too tight a hold. She begins to gasp for air. I quickly roll onto my and loosen my constrictive grip while she breaths easily though most of her body weight is now making breathing difficult.

She squirms slightly after the shock of our fall recedes which only gives tolerable pain, and then raises her head to peer through the holes where my eyes are clamped shut.

"Are you hurt?" she asks echoing my previous statement.

I shake my head, but my throbbing knee argues furiously. I pull out the bison whistle out of my turtleneck and gesture to the device knowing that Azula could possibly detect the faintest whisper; she is not too far away. Besides, I cannot take off the mask.

She doesn't fail to grasp my meaning. She nods, takes the whistle while slightly brushing my fingertips with her own, puffs out her pink cheeks, and blows. Not a sound.

Of course, I can't explain this to Song at the present time, so she tries again looking desperately at the approaching Azula, but then without hesitation, she unsheathes one of the swords I had been uncomfortably lying on.

She stands up pointing the blade at one of the most powerful benders I've ever known who is unsettling her opulent robe frantically.

"No!" I protest louder than I intended and sit up.

Song's hazel eyes are wide and looking at me intently. I force my useless body to stand, Song grasps my right arm still gripping my sword and brings me to my feet, and Azula cackles.

"Zuzu what a graceful trip! Need you wear that comical mask to hide your failure?" Her eyebrows tip up and her nose points farther into the air with each remark.

I motion for Song to step back.

Then I peel off my sweat-filled gloves and my hands immediately burst into flames.

--

Song

Though I'm sure Zuko's eyes are completely focused on Azula, mine are unmovable from the flames protruding from his hands. They are as blue as his mask.

He hurtles them like darts at Azula's two companions, Shang and Lithe. They back up, but their eyes narrow impatiently at Azula. They're probably waiting for orders.

Azula's grin fades momentarily, but it quickly is restored and she blows a kiss at me.

"I will have the pleasure of killing you." Not one to be outdone for long, she moves her hand in the air just as Shang did when he ambushed us at camp.

Zuko snarls and burns her hand just as it moves toward the skies.

She curses and examines an apparently broken nail ignoring her scalded skin.

Her narrow eyes focus on him revealing immense hate for the loss of such an 'important' body part.

"No need to be jealous brother. I was merely saving you for later." She has a tone of impatience though her dimple flashes as if she wants to encourage his rage.

Zuko's shoulders tense and his flames lighten considerably.

His anger will keep him from attacking as effectively. No wonder Azula likes to disorient her enemies in this fashion.

I rest a shaking hand onto his broad shoulder. He gives a little jump and glances back at me as if he is startled

"She's trying to weaken you." I say gently. Though his mask doesn't reveal if he agrees, his shoulders relax.

Then suddenly his flames disappear. This is not what I meant at all.

He takes my hand, lifts it off his shoulder, and gently lets it slip out of his callused hand allowing me to bring it to my body

He waves his right arm backwards slightly to indicate that I need to step further backwards.

I walk up the hill backwards my hand still tingling

He moves his hands decisively through the air in a circular pattern.

--

Zuko

My mind is blank. I shelve my distaste for Azula's craziness temporarily.

"You can't do it brother. You simply weren't born with the gift." She chides.

She cannot get to me. For once, I will be impenetrable.

I feel power cursing through my veins and I fluidly move my left arm to the front of my face. Her angry face comes into my line of sight and I know I have the ability to strike her.

I tilt my palm so my thumb is perfectly aligned with my nose. I will be able to strike soon.

Her eyes expand, but her mouth stubbornly remains shut.

"My Lady allow me…" Shang starts, but she throws him a look.

"Don't move!" An expected voice from above us calls. "You must surrender if you don't want to be harmed." Aang lands on the uneven earth behind Azula and her men changing his glider back into a staff. "Sorry it was hard to find you in the dark." He apologizes. "Luckily you guys are firebenders." He jokes only to be greeted by silence.

I feel a quick breeze above me, but I watch my sister carefully.

--

Song

"Up here." I hear Katara's voice urge from behind me. I can't help but stare at the huge shadow, but I then make out her head.

"We can't leave." I tell her as I climb hurriedly.

"We have to." She says offering me her brown hand. I grasp it and she brings me fully on. She climbs back to the beast's neck

"Just give up Azula!" the Avatar urges contending with the two separated officers further down the hill.

"Zu-The 'Spirit' is injured." I continue

"Well I promised Aang…" she looks into my beseeching eyes. She purses her lower lip contemplating and then stares behind me. "He seems to be doing fine." She points over my shoulder. "Look."
I rotate to see Zuko unleash lightening purposefully at the ground near his sister. Azula doesn't even flinch. She stares wordlessly at him as the momentary light fades.

"You're still weak." she spits on the ground, but throws up her hands.

Her companions angrily parallel her actions, but then Azula releases a red fireball from each of her outstretched hands. Aang leaps towards the heavens and Zuko parts his with his bare hands. Aang lands using his feet to bring Lithe's and Shang's heads together before they also begin retaliating. After a sickening sound, I hear them crash to the ground.

"I suppose it doesn't matter if we stay after all." Katara says her mouth twitching with relief.

Zuko and Aang pace around their last enemy. Zuko unsheathes his other sword while Aang grips his staff.

"At least I know how to conquer it." Zuko finally speaks. His tone sounds hollow on the brink of uncontrollable fury.

"Like Uncle Iroh?" she inquire innocently as a last ditch attempt to hurt him.

"His slaughter will come to haunt you at a trial similar to what you've given Song." He says slowly breathing shallowly all the while.

She then attempts to kick his sword swiftly, but her robe restrains her and Zuko grabs her leg and is able to flip her over. She grunts as she collapses onto her stomach while Zuko's booted foot pins her down.

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Author's Note

Ouch, that was a hard chapter to brainstorm! Talk about writer's block!

I had so many ideas for this one, but they weren't coming together.

I just threw up my hands, ignored the scrawl in my notebook (I need to work on my handwriting), and began typing what ever came to mind. Luckily, it wasn't as bad I thought it would be (I hope—twiddles thumbs nervously). My primary goal in this chap. is met- Song is safe!

Onto the little things: Sorry about the ton of fluff! I wanted to make up for their long separation (blame my muse!)

I know Appa probably would not be mistaken for a star (thought it would be funny at the time to mess with Song).

Now onto my Star Wars moment of the day, (It's Ty Lee flipping onto the pedestal- but where is her light saber I wonder?)

Also I've learned recently that only women who are married in Korea can wear a bun, so I'm going back to touch up my other chapters (though I must confess I liked the idea of Song wearing a bun- she'll have to wait). I might as well attack the technology issue while I'm at it (grudgingly goes to work and sets aside thoughts for next chapter)

Finally, I've gotten 54 reviews! Flexes my amazing writing muscles. Sadly, though I must tell you my well-hidden secret the last chapter is on the horizon. Indeed the next chap. shall be the last.

However, before I conclude this fic the way I plan to I would like to see how my reviewers would like it to end. (Could help with my annoying writer's block) Also if there is anything else I need to touch up just say the word or rather write it (sorry about that nonsense)

Ps.

sugarland31: I wanna paternity test

Jean Warren: save your dancing and cactus juice for the next chapter ;)