A/N. Seriously, my chapters are getting longer and longer lol!
I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender
"I had a hunch you survived… Pity."
Aang could have slapped himself. Of course, Ozai was not going to make this easy. Before facing the Fire Lord… They would have to face Azula.
A shiver ran down from his neck to the base of his spine. Not out of fear. But the scar on his back began to prick softly, as if it knew… As if it knew that its creator was sitting in front of them, on a chair that could be a throne…
They were in the throne room. It was a small replica of the one above them, in the Palace… Without the fire that was. But still, it looked cavernous and intimidating. Just like the woman in front of them. Azula had one of her legs draped over the arm of the throne, as if she was sitting on something comfortable. That could only be an act… Right? No one would sit like that. At least, not at a moment like this…
"Of course, it doesn't matter. How is your little invasion going?" The princess looked up to the ceiling, as if she could see the battle unfurling there.
Aang didn't answer, and neither did his friends. The airbender felt how Sokka trembled beside him, with his sword in hand. Trying to calm himself, he knew he would have to stop the water tribe boy if needed. No more killing.
"Oh, yes, I did know about it. Or at least, suspected it. Really, bravo! Pulling of the first invasion of the Fire Nation in living memory." Azula smiled with hose blood red lips… Clapping, still sitting on the throne.
"Where is your father?" Aang stepped forward, holding his staff in his hands. He needed to stop her speaking. Katara had told him about the time she had been imprisoned by the princess… If there was one thing she was good at, it was getting inside people's heads.
"Oh… I'm not good enough a price? You hurt my feelings." Azula stood up. Aang couldn't help but crouch slightly, but seeing her ember eyes flicker to him, he realized he had made a mistake. She wasn't able to firebend… But still, he had got into a defensive position. She knew he was afraid.
Not of her. But of what she could do.
"Oh come on bitch! Stop wasting our time and give us the information!" Sokka yelled, and Aang couldn't help but turn his head slightly, raising an eyebrow. He had never heard his friend talk like that…
"Tss… tss… That is no way of speaking to a princess." Azula waggled her finger towards Sokka, as if the reprimand him.
"You killed my friend. You tried to kill my sister. I can talk to you any way I like." The water tribe boy growled back. And Aang understood… Sokka was angry. He had caught glimpses of Sokka's anger towards Azula these last two months… But never had it been clearer.
"Killed your friend? He is standing right there…" The princess shook her head gesturing at him.
"Enough. Just tell us. And don't lie, it won't do anything to you. I'll be able to tell if you do." Toph interjected, and Aang was grateful for her interruption. Sokka was clearly the most unstable of them here, so he needed to be kept away from Azula…
"Really?" The princess sounded… interested? As if the idea of a person able to tell if someone was lying was intriguing, "I'm a four-hundred-foot-tall purple platypus with wings and silver horns." Azula kept her ember eyes in the blind girl… And Aang saw the confusion.
"Mph… I'll admit, you are good. But I advise you to talk." With that, Toph stomped her foot down, and Azula almost immediately got incased in rock hard earth.
"Oh no… What in Agni's name will I do…" Azula sounded… amused? Oh dear Spirits, why did she sound amused?
The rocks around the princess cracked, before crumbling into dust. On his right, Aang felt Sokka take a step backwards, and even Toph on his left inhaled sharply. How… How had she done that? It was impossible! She didn't have her firebending! Or… did the eclipse not rob them of their bending? If that was the case, they needed to run! Get the others and run!
"Ba Sing Se is a lovely city." Azula spoke up, dusting some dirt of the shoulder pat of her armour, "The street… Quite lovely, if they aren't filled with peasants. The Crystal Catacombs! Oh, what memories." With that, she flashed him a smile.
"I just had to bring some souvenirs home!"
With that, two shadows dropped off the ceiling. Oh.. Monkeyfeather… joy.
Dai Li.
He needed to stop this. They needed to stop the two earthbenders as fast as possible. The eclipse wouldn't last all that long… And he still needed to find Ozai! Before his friends could react, he quickly bend a large arc of air current towards the Dai Li agents. It wouldn't kill them… But he hoped to at least knock them out with it.
The two men quickly raised a wall as high as twice his own length… Spirits… How was he supposed to get past them!
"Aang. I'll punch a hole, you get through it. Sokka, stay here and kill anyone who tried to help them." Toph quickly spoke, and with that, she stomped her foot down, and the wall just… split into two. The tear it created was just enough for him to pass through, and he quickly ran towards, jumping through it. Pushing himself over the two Dai Li with some earhtbending, he knew Toph would be just behind him to fight them. And knowing her… Well, those two men were as good as dead.
He hated he was beginning to think like that…
Landing in front of the throne were Azula stood, Aang moved his staff, creating a sort of air fist. Smashing it towards her, he hoped to at least keep her on the back foot. She was probably not used to fight like this, so he had the advantage.
But she just… turned, and with surprising ease, got out of the way of his attack. The air fist smashed against the throne, making it fly into pieces around the dais.
"Please, at least make it a challenge!" The princess voice called out from his left. Again, gesturing his staff, he made an air scythe. Aang hated that attack ever since her had… killed that wasp vulture. But he needed to stop Azula. Even if he had to hurt her in doing so…
She just… jumped over it. As if it was nothing! Aang groaned in frustration. Alright, he needed to change the attacks. Apparently, she had learned how to dodge and twist like he did… Had she just observed how he fought, and adapted her own fighting style? Spirits…
Stomping a foot and a fist against the ground, Aang sent a whole column of rock towards her, and the dust it made obscured her from his sight. But his airbending made him feel the air currents above his head shift, and, looking up, he noticed a dark shadow fly over him, heading to the hole in the wall.
"Toph!" He shouted, turning. Behind him, the dust wasn't that thick, and he saw how the blind girl smashed a rock against the helmeted head of one of the Dai Li agents. A noticeable crack could be heard, and the man dropped to his knees, before falling face down against the ground.
"What?" Toph yelled back.
"She is getting away!" He answered, jumping through the crack. Sokka stood there, huffing. His sword was red, but Aang didn't see a victim, so assumed his friend had just wounded his opponent.
"Azula?"
"No, the Dai Li! I cut his arm, hopefully he won't be able the earhtb-" The rest of the sentence was drowned by the crashing sound of rock against rock, and Aang saw the door crumble under boulders. Shit.
"Come on." With that, he concentrated and pushed the rocks away with his own bending. Toph, however, didn't bother, and just… crashed through the wall beside the ruined door. Running towards the corridor, Aang saw a dark-robed man running, before the blind girl was upon him. She tackled the Dai li agent, and before he could see what happened, he heard the unmistakable sound of scrapping metal, and a bloodcurdling scream.
When he joined up with Toph, he saw how the agent had been pushed against a metal pillar, and how the blind girl had just… bent it to fold around the man. And crush him. Blood was pooling on the ground, and his stomach clenched. Not now. Later. Later he could throw up. Not now!
"Here I am!" Azula's voice sounded mockingly through the corridor.
"Don't!" Sokka joined them, and put a hand on his shoulder, "She wants you to follow. Ozai is somewhere here and she wants us to waste our window of opportunity!"
"No, Father is just this way! Or… was it the other way?" Azula stopped a few yards in front of them, at an interjection of two corridors.
"Toph, try and find a man somewhere here. That has to be Ozai!" Sokka turned his back to the princess, and Aang saw her pout slightly, before an evil gleam appeared in those ember eyes…
"You are Sokka, right? My favourite… prisoner… used to mention you all the time. Sokka will come! He won't abandon us! He and the Avatar and all the others… They will come and save us." Azula smirked, and Aang knew she had hit a nerve with the water tribe boy, because his friend turned and just looked at the princess.
What worried Aang was the look in those ice blue eyes. Pure, cold-blooded anger.
"Sokka, no!" He grabbed the water tribe boy's arm and pulled him towards himself. He was big enough, and probably strong enough, to hold Sokka back if needed.
"She was convinced you would come and rescue her… Of course, you never came, and she gave up on you."
Aang held Sokka, as the water tribe boy tried to escape his grip.
"Let me go." The airbender heard his friend growl, but he didn't release him. Aang couldn't let Sokka do that. Not now.
"She is trying to bait you. Suki is alright!" Aang whispered back, but Azula apparently heard him.
"Oh yes, quite, she is just in the worst prison I could find. You know… murderers, war criminals… All sort of unsavoury folk." The princess sneered once more, and Aang felt Sokka tremble of pure anger.
"Of course, what I did to her… Will be nothing compared what I have prepared for the water peasant." Azula spoke softly, and Aang felt his heart skip a beat. Water peasant. He knew perfectly well who she meant by that.
"Ignore her!" Toph stepped forward, grabbing his arm. The misty green eyes fixed his face, and Aang knew what she meant. Ignore whatever she is going to say, they needed to get going. But he didn't dare release Sokka.
"I ordered the soldiers to keep her alive, don't worry… I want to savour this victory. I have to admit, of all the people in your little group… She seems like the one who keeps you all together. It will be fun to see how you all break, one by one, when you see what will be done to her."
Ignore her, ignore her...
"I guess the first one to break will be the brother." Azula nodded to Sokka, with a thin smile, "Then the Earth filth…" Aang doubted that very much. The first to break if something happened to Katara would be him.
"And then… Well, I know what I need to do to break you, Avatar. How much do you think she will be able to earn?" Azula smiled, and Aang felt his grip on Sokka's arm falter, just a moment.
He knew what she meant.
"Ignore her, come on guys!" Toph pulled his arm, but for once, the blind girl's strength didn't bother him. No, he stood, nailed to the ground.
"I mean, everyone will want a piece of the Avatar's… Bitch? Wife? What is it now?"
Why did she mention wife?
"Agni, she will be able to fund the next campaign against her own people, just by opening her legs."
Aang couldn't listen to another word. He yanked his arm free of Toph's fingers and released Sokka. Stepping towards the princess, for the first time since finding those sandbenders, Aang felt that dark cloud descend on his mind.
Kill her. Kill her for even suggesting doing that to Katara. Rip her apart.
"This is exactly what she wants!" Toph shouted, but he didn't listen. Taking another step, he was nearly pushed aside by Sokka, who extended a hand to Azula throat.
Yes, strangle her. He could help by extracting the air out of her lungs.
A rock flew past his head. At first, he thought Toph had bent it to stop them, but he saw how Azula's hand was pinned to the wall behind her, a small knife between her fingers.
"Where is she? Where is Suki?" Sokka growled, slamming the princess against the wall. Aang himself couldn't get anywhere near Azula, with his friend's arm waving around. But he wanted to. Oh Spirits, he wanted to.
"Which prison!? Answer me!" The water tribe boy yelled, and the airbender saw tears flow over his friend's cheeks.
"If you talk about her like that again, I'll rip your throat out." Aang muttered darkly, and just for a second, he saw Sokka glance at him, astonished. Sure, this was probably the first time his friends had heard him like this. But he didn't care.
"Guys, she is restrained, the Dai Li can't save her! Just leave her, we need to find Ozai!" Toph nearly screamed.
But Aang didn't care about that. No, he would help Sokka beat the information about Suki out of the princess.
A gong sounded through the bunker, a loud piercing sound.
Oh fuck.
"Oh, listen to that… It sounds like the firebending is back on!" Azula smiled happily and pushed a foot up. The fireball that appeared forced them back, and in the meantime, Azula got free of her earth cuffs.
"My father is at the end of the right corridor, down the left. Take the small staircase and you will find him! I am sure he will be more than happy to receive you!" With that, a small metal door opened on the princess right, and she disappeared.
It sounded… eerily quiet in the tunnel.
"I… I used all our time… We could have… we could have ended it…" Sokka muttered behind him.
"No… We both used it… We should have listened to you Toph." Aang sighed. Shit, shit, shit.
"Azula knew we were coming, she had planned every move… She just knew your weaknesses. And used them." Toph spoke softly, and Aang thought he heard a small crack in the earthbender's voice.
Your weaknesses.
Azula thought that the only way to get to him… Was by threatening Katara.
And… was she wrong? The Fire Nation would now know he was alive… And that meant that they would go and hunt him down. And they would try and use the one person they knew he would try to protect.
Katara.
They would go after her… And do… And do all those things Azula had described. Just to make him break. And the moment he would do that… They would have him in their power. And he wouldn't resist. Of that, he was sure. No… He would suffer a fate worse than death if it meant Katara would not suffer that fate. No doubt about that.
Spirits… he had even made it worst this morning… If… if the Fire Nation learned what he had asked her… Spirits, that would put her in even more danger! If… If they could convince the world he didn't feel a thing for Katara, maybe she would be safe! Maybe! She hadn't worn it last time he had seen her. Knowing that in the Water Tribe… A woman was meant to say yes or no, the moment she saw the necklace, he assumed she hadn't yet opened the pouch. Meaning… There was still hope. If he managed to get it out of her possession…
He needed to undo the damage. In whatever way necessary. Anything to keep her safe.
"It's too late now…" Sokka sighed.
No. He needed to defeat the Fire Lord! That… That was the only way!
"I can still fight him! I have three of the four elements! I can beat him." Aang growled. He needed to control his emotions…
"No, don't you dare! I promised Katara I would keep you safe!" Sokka answered, and his ice blue eyes widened.
So, Katara had asked her brother the same as he had done… Keep the other safe. Spirits… They really were in trouble.
"Everyone up there in counting on me!" Aang gestured to the ceiling, towards… The battle. The battle that was by now probably in full swing again, with the soldiers getting their bending back.
Oh spirits, Katara.
Of course she was able to defend herself! But… Oh Great Spirits, he knew she would try and protect their friends… Her family. And if… if the Fire Nation would be able to capture her when she did that… He looked through the corridor, and then, glanced at the ceiling of the tunnel.
Choices…
He needed to make a choice…
"Aang, the Fire Lord knew we were coming. This just isn't our day…" Toph muttered, looking at him with a rather soft look in her eyes, which surprised him. She knew… She knew that he was hurt. As was Sokka… Azula had broken them in mere seconds… Just by threatening the people they loved.
"What we need to do now is go help our friends. They need us."
"Aang, we'll have another shot at this, I know it. Just… Not today." Sokka put a hand on his shoulder, and the airbender knew that his friend had put his worries about Suki aside for the moment… Because there were so many other things to worry about.
"Yeah… yes. You are right. Let's go. Toph… would you make an exit?" He didn't feel like he would be able to earthbend. Steadfast and head on. No… His mind was not in the right setting to do earthbending.
The blind girl punched a wall, and a long tunnel appeared, going up at a soft angle.
"This will lead directly to Appa." She whispered, quietly, as if they could be heard… And if they stayed here… They would probably have some company very soon. As they entered, Toph made sur to close the entrance, and darkness enveloped them. As Aang walked, he felt his heart beating erratically.
Spirits… They needed to get six hundred and thirty-two warriors out of the Fire Nation Capital… And Azula had known… She had known they were coming. So now, they would probably need to run. As fast as they could. Get back to the ships, and sail away as fast as possible. They would regroup, they would try something else!
At the end of the tunnel, light appeared. As they emerged onto the side of the volcano, Aang saw how Appa ran towards them. From inside the crater, a roaring sound could be heard. Looking at Sokka, he saw the worry in the ice blue eyes… Oh spirits, what was this?
Jumping on his bison's head, he made sure the others were in the saddle before pulling the reins and making Appa go into the air. The roaring was still deafening, and for some reason… it sounded familiar.
They passed the edge of the crater, and Aang finally saw what was making such noise. There were those air balloons Sokka and the Machinist had worked on in the Northern Air Temple… But also… six other machines. A balloon, hundreds of feet long, and at least a hundred feet high, with a cabin attached to them, as big as any of the Fire Nation's war ships…
And there were six. Six of those Airships.
The Fire Nation had airpower. For some reason, that made him angry. They had already taken so much… And now, they took the last thing that was purely Air Nomad.
Aang spotted the warriors. They had surrounded the Royal Palace… They had been so close. So close. If only… if only they had ignored Azula. They could have taken Ozai prisoner. And then, this war would have been over.
Making the bison land next to the warriors, on the Royal Plaza, he saw a streak of blue and brown run towards them.
Katara.
At least, she was safe. For now!
"And?" She shouted as she approached them, but Aang just looked at her, not able to say a word.
"It was all a trap! Azula was there, and pinned us down. She knew everything!" Sokka answered as he jumped down the saddle, and Aang still didn't say a word. How could he? They had failed. And this war was not over. Even though he had promised…
"Azula?" Aang heard how Katara muttered the name darkly.
Oh no!
"No Sis! Not now! We need to get away! If we can get to the beach, there is a chance! Dad, can you do it?" Hakoda had also come towards them. His walking seemed hesitant, and he looked a bit pale… but otherwise, it wasn't that bad.
"Yes!" The chief looked at his daughter, and Aang also glanced at her. Katara… oh spirits.
She looked as if she would be able to rip apart anyone standing in her way. She wanted to get to Azula.
An episode.
Oh no, not now.
"Tara! Please, don't. We need to get our friends away from here!" He also jumped down, grabbing her hand. The big blue eyes fixed him, and he saw the anger disappear… just a bit. Not much, but she looked much saner.
"Aang… She killed you!" Katara muttered.
"But I'm alive. Katara, we need to go. Please, get our friends to safety. They have airpower, but so do I! I'll slow them down, and please, run! Run for your life!" He pleaded. He needed to keep her as far away from any soldier as possible!
Releasing her hand, he popped his glider open and jump into the air. If he could manage to stop an airship or two… At least that would create confusion. The common soldier had probably not been told to expect him, so they would be focused on attacking the people on the ground. And not to defend themselves from attacks from the air.
Behind him, he heard Appa bellow, and, looking around, saw Katara was following him. No… Well… Actually, she would be much safer on Appa. If they needed to flee… At least she would not have to be on the ground. And he knew Appa. He would do anything to keep her safe…
As he got closer to one of the smaller airships, he saw a flash of the face of the firebender inside it. A woman, she looked up and saw him. For a moment, there was utter confusion… And then… Fear.
He didn't stop. He couldn't! If they didn't force these airships to halt, or at least, go another way… Their escape route would be cut off. He folded the wings of the glider, and just… Flew through the fabric of the balloon. It was the thing that kept the airship in the air… And even if it made him feel guilty about the soldiers inside… he hoped they would have a way to make it safely down.
He heard Appa growl, but didn't look back. No, those little balloons were not the biggest problem.. Those six airships were. Maybe, if he could get close enough, he could cut a tear through the balloon?
But there were just so many people on board… If they crashed, no way everybody survived that… Aang flew past one side of the airship on the right, and then he saw it. Rows… and rows of firebenders. And they were not looking down. No… They were looking at him. And attacked.
Aang managed to dodge the fireballs, but on the other side of the ship, over the roaring sound of the motors… He heard Appa groan. Shit.
As he emerged on the end of the airship, so did his bison and Katara.
"There are too many! I'm afraid another run will be fatal for any of us!" The waterbender shouted, and Aang saw the scorch marks over the right flank of Appa's armour. The bison didn't seem hurt… But he didn't want to try something that would prove the contrary.
"Yeah! Let's go back to the others!" There was no other choice… If they could reach the ships… At least they would get out of this alive. He could get Katara out of here… Out of danger. Yes, that would be great. As far away from Azula as possible!
They flew over the edge of the crater, and he saw how the warriors were running towards the Lower City, with the tanks handing back in case foot soldiers would try and follow them. Good… At least there was hope.
Aang snapped his glider shut and dropped to back line of warriors, knowing he would find his friends there. There was no way Sokka or Hakoda or Toph would be at the front, running, leaving the others to their fates. No… They were too brave for that.
"Did you give them the drawing of the bombs?" He heard Sokka shout at the machinist.
"Y-yes!"
Oh shit.
"Take cover! Eartbenders! Protect your comrades!" Tyro had heard the answer, and was now directing his warriors to create protective shields of rock over their heads. Katar and Appa landed, and Toph pulled a roof over their head. Not a moment too late, because Aang felt heavy object fly through the air. The few hairs in his neck stood right up at that sensation, of heavy projectiles screaming towards them… Spirits, they felt dangerous.
The rock roof above their head shook, and Aang, without thinking, ran towards Katara.
"Are you alright?" He shouted over the sounds of explosions above them.
"Yeah! You?" He heard her voice yell back.
He nodded. What else could he do? Of course Aang wasn't alright! This whole day… Spirits, he had such high hopes of it. But now, hiding under a rocky outcrop from explosions… He saw his whole plan for the future explode in front of him. He had hoped to end this war today… To have his own life from now on. Life a quiet, tranquil life with her… And now, he had nothing. The Fire Nation had won.
The explosions stopped, and Aang saw the shadows of the airships… Go towards the tower.
"Have you left warriors there?" He heard Sokka shout at Hakoda, who looked sick… So… No need to answer that.
The bombs dropped, and Aang heard the screams. Oh please spirits let it stop. Let the killing stop…
"They are going for the ships!" Sokka slapped a fist against his hip, in pure frustration. "How are we going to escape?"
Aang looked at Hakoda, and he saw that the chief also glanced at him. A sad smile appeared on the man's face.
"We are not."
"Then we fight! We have Aang! The freaking Avatar!" Sokka objected, but Aang knew the look on Hakoda's face. Resignation.
"With the Avatar, we could win… Another day. We will win this war Sokka… just not today. You… Katara… Toph and Aang… And anyone that Appa can carry… Need to escape. Please." Hakoda pleaded. The airbender swallowed thickly. Yes… the only way…
"Dad! No! We can't leave you behind!" Katara ran forward, but Hakoda stopped her, grabbing her shoulders.
"No! You… All of you. You are our only chance. You and Sokka have to go with Aang. Somewhere safe! Please!" The chief sighed, and Aang saw the small tears appearing in the man's eyes.
Aang sighed… Yes, it was the only way. They needed to flee… but Spirits, this was hard. How was he supposed to accept this? He turned away, with his back to the warriors… They needed to say goodbye to those who were leaving with them… Without having to look the reason for their failure in the eyes.
He heard murmurs behind him, as he watched the airships drop the bombs on their ships. Yet more screams… Spirits, he couldn't believe this day had gone the way it had. This had been their moment. The moment everyone had worked towards. And now, they had lost. The Comet would come in… What, five weeks? Five weeks to defeat the Fire Lord… Without all the warriors…
"Aang. They are loading the people on your bison." It was Hakoda. He stood next to him, putting hand on his shoulder.
"It isn't fair." He muttered.
"No, it isn't… But this is life." Hakoda sighed.
"Hakoda… Whatever they ask, don't lie. I'm alive. Don't get yourself killed trying to protect that secret. They know. I couldn't look her in the eyes, knowing you died because of me." Aang looked the man in the eyes, and saw the small nod.
Indeed… he couldn't live with that knowledge… he had already more than enough blood on his hands… All the warriors that had died today… All the people these last years… Kya… He couldn't add Hakoda to that list.
Turning around, he saw Toph, Teo, The Duke and Haru already on the bison. Sokka was whispering with Bato, and Katara stood next to Appa, clearly waiting for him. Aang walked towards her, and as soon as he got close, she took his hand, gently pressing his fingers in her own.
"It's alright…" She whispered. But he still felt the tears in his eyes.
No, it was not alright.
Turning back to the warriors, he saw them looking at him… With hope. Hope that he would still be able to turn this around…
"Thank you!' Aang managed to speak, loudly, "Thank you for being so brave… And so, so strong. I promise… I promise I'll make this up to you!" That was all he could manage…
Katara climbed into the saddle, and he bent himself on Appa's head. The bison didn't need any direction, just slapped his tail and jumped into the air. No need… No need to drag the farewells out.
Because they would meet again! Of that, Aang would make sure!
"So… now what?" Sokka spoke up from behind him.
And Aang sighed once more. He knew where they would be safe. At least, for a while.
"The Western Air Temple. I… Spirits, I don't want to go there… Not know… not after this…" How many skeletons were waiting for him there?
Answers :
CoyoteLemon : Ah the Kataang… Sorry about that…
Alyssa : I think Guru Pathik isn't and Air Nomad, but rather a kind of blend of different Nations, for some reason! And about him getting to the air temple, he had a century to climb that mountain, and the Eastern one seems like the most accessible actually if you look at pictures of it! I mean to finish this book in like one or two months, and then I have a surprised planned! And thank you for enjoying the story!