"Alright, traitor, enjoy your lunch," shouted the Fire Nation soldier. "Such a waste. Its not like anyone would care if you starved down here." He was tired of this useless guard detail, the endless, tedious hours spent guarding this one prisoner, who's own cells prevented his escape.
"What, not gonna talk today, huh?" the guard asked angrily. The prisoner usually had a quip or snappy retort when it came mealtime, it was unusual for him to be this quiet. "You awake in there, you rock-slinging savage?" The guard peered through the slot in the door, and his eyes grew wide.
He was then slammed against the far wall as the door blew off its hinges.
Long Feng stepped out of his cell, glaring at the body of the crushed guard. "Yes, in fact Ive been waiting for you all day, fool."
In the light, Long Feng looked the worse for wear after his long stint in the cells. His hair had gotten longer, bugs had obviously been crawling through it from its appearance. He had become gaunt, his body losing its tone and his skin losing most of its color due to the dark and cramped nature of the cell. But he still held himself the same way he had a month ago, when he was the true ruler of this city. His body moved with obvious grace as he quickly bended a ramp into the wall, leading him up to a service hallway at the back of the palace from which he could make his escape, sealing the wall back up as he went.
Lets see, Ill have about 10 minutes before the body is found, by then I should be away from here and into my hiding spot. I just need to stick to these service hallways and I shouldn't be missed.
As he ran, he despised his decision to remake the prison in such a fashion to hold prisoners who could bend.
If it wasn't for that 6 inch sheet of metal buried a few feet under the ground, I could make my escape with ease. I know I have limited control over most metal, but I wouldn't hinge my plan on being lucky enough to push through such a large quantity of it at once.
He knew his refuge had to be secure, allowing him access to the city when it was required but hidden enough that the enemy could not easily seek him out. A few places had flashed quickly into his mind, but one among them seemed the safest.
Although the Dai Li are aware of it, most of them have left the city with Azula as her personal guard, the slime. I just hope the brat didn't bother to mention it to her pet general, otherwise I could be in trouble. Well, even if she did, he doesn't have any earthbenders under his direct control, and any he might be able to sway or force I should be able to counter with ease. The less experienced Dai Li were the ones left behind, and most of them were recruited after the fall of the city, so they probably won't know of it.
He pushed these thoughts aside, focusing on where he was and how much longer he had. They'll find the body any minute now, and I'm about halfway there right now, I'll need to pick up the pace.
He began to dash quickly through the narrow halls, his eyes more alert now to compensate for his abandoning of cautious movement.
"Where is my dinner?" General Suian screamed, startling the servants gathered around the throne room. "It should have been here after I got back from touring the Wall!"
"Sir," one of his aides said nervously, obviously afraid he'd face the full force of his commander's wrath for reporting the bad news. "One of the major cooks is out sick today, and it will take some time to get the food finished without him."
"Dammit!" the man on the throne screamed, shooting a gout of flame, sending it flying to dig a deep gash into one of the pillars placed throughout the room. "MY food should have been done already! To hell with these barbarians and their pathetic city!" The man, furious now beyond reason, quickly got p and stomped from the room, headed in the direction of the cells. "If anyone needs me, I'll be in the cells having my fun with the barbarian traitor."
"WHAT?!?!" Suian screamed at the group of guards surrounding the prison doors. "What do you mean the savage has escaped! He was in the most tightly guarded cell in the entire palace with no way out but this door and nothing but a chessboard at his disposal! YOU FOOLS!" With this, he sent a fire whip into the guards, knocking them out of the way and into the wall. "GUARDS!! The prisoner has escaped! Sound the alarms!" He boomed, charging down the hall to rally his men, leaving behind him the smell of burnt leather and sizzling flesh.
Dammit. Long Feng thought, hearing the alarms sound as he darted down another hallway.
"There he goes men! After him!" a sergeant screamed, pointing at him as a group of soldiers rounded the corner in front of him.
Dammit. Long Feng thought quickly, easily maneuvering down a side passageway. This way will lead to a bunch of supply rooms, perfect spot to lose these simpletons. As he kept moving, he heard the soldiers giving chase behind him. "Quickly, quickly! Suian will have our heads if we let him get away!"
Long Feng quickly turnedinto a dead end hallway, sprinting through a doorway and collapsing in the back corner of one of the storage rooms, gasping heavily.
"I saw him head this way!" he heard one of the soldiers shout behind him, leading the rest of his squad into the hallway and into the doorway of the room.
The soldiers quickly spread out, moving through the aisles of foodstuffs and equipment.
Long Feng swiftly encased the feet of one of the troops, causing him to crash into the shelving next to him. This, of course, drew the squads attention to the falling supplies, causing them to make quite a bit of noise and turmoil amongst themselves while Long Fang stealthily slid down the other side of the room, making it through the door just as the Fire Nation sergeant caught a glimpse of him.
"There he goes!" the man screamed as Long Feng quickly turned around and sealed the doorway with a slab of rock, never breaking stride.
They know I'm loose at this point, so there's no reason to keep to these service hallways, where they'll expect me to be. Long Feng mulled as he darted from one hall way to the next, the quick pace beginning to wear on the middle-aged man. The quickest way from here is through the main hallway, and I bet that most of the guards will have gone searching for me elsewhere, allowing me to pass through unseen.
He quickly turned down a side corridor, avoiding the wandering eyes of a patrol at the intersection ahead of him. With his knowledge of the palace's winding passages and rooms, he quickly mapped out and went along an alternate route to the main hall. As he made his way, a thought nagged at the back of his head. Ive only seen about a dozen squads of troops so far, including the larger one I trapped before. I would think I'd be seeing more of them if they're really as concerned with my capture as they should be.
He pushed the though aside, continuing to move subtly through the hallways on his way to freedom.
"Sir, we've turned the service areas upside-down searching for him, so far the only sighting was by Sergeant Ming's squad who was trapped in one of the storerooms here. We got them out, and they said that he looked as if he was headed towards the rear servant's entrance." The captain reported to Suian, sitting across from him and pointing to a map of the palace spread across the table, pointing to a number of small openings at the back and sides of the palace. "So far, we've sealed of these exits, we've placed two platoons at each, while keeping the bulk of our soldiers focused in these service corridors, with patrols at every major intersection and guarding key staircases and entrances into the main rooms of the palace. If he tries to get to any of the nobles residing in the palace, be they Fire Nation royalty he tries to take as hostages, or," he chuckled softly, "any of our Earth Kingdom 'hosts', attempting to work out a sort of deal or alliance, we'll know."
"Agni damn this crafty savage!" Suian said , slamming his fist on the table, spilling his goblet over the side. "The princess should have listened to my advice and had him clamped in irons in his cell." It was strange, he thought. She normally listens to my advice. She even called me her most treasured instrument before she left, proclaiming me governor of Sozin's Jewel, the new symbol of Fire Nation supremacy in the Earth Kingdom. Well, enough of that, there is more pressing business to attend to, it was probably just more of Azula's flirting and flattering anyway, I know how she feels about me, despite her clever sttempts at hiding it.
But when I even suggested tighter safety measures on this man, she simply said "No, I think we'll let the weight of his own guilt keep him in his cell for now. Besides, its no fun to keep prisoners in constant pain, otherwise they can't brood on their actions and hate themselves for it." I still don't understand, how can there be any better way of torturing than to keep your prey writhing in agony as you watch, smiling as they squirm?
"Wait a minute, what about this spot here?" the general said, snapping his mind back into the here and now, pointing at a small area connecting the serviceways into the main hall.
"That? Oh. That was sealed up ages ago, as far as we can tell it was planned in the original construction, but got sealed shut by one of the Barbarian Kings decades, maybe even centuries, ago. There's nothing there but solid wall, its of no concern, my general."
"No, that's it." Suian murmured, a slight tinge of irritation in his speech."I want a company of soldiers and a squad of our best firebenders to surround that spot in Semi-circle formation. He'll be coming through there and get behind us, overwhelm the guards at the main door and escape." He looked at the captain, who now had a questioning look on his face. "What are you waiting for? Go!" he shouted. "Gather the men I asked for, I'll meet them there." He smirked and began to don his armor as the captain saluted sharply and quickly marched from the room to assemble the men.
My instincts have never failed me before. We'll get him. Suian thought, then a smile spread across his young face. In fact, I may just have some fun before we capture him.
Long Feng dodged the gout of flame as it flew past his head, feeling the heat wash over his face.
Damn these firebenders! I'm almost there, and they spot me making my way across that last intersection, simply walking along like a damn stupid bird!
Long Feng's thoughts were turned back toward the present as he turned around and shot an earth wave at his pursuers, causing them to fall over as he rounded the final corner. Here he stopped and felt along the wall.
It should be around here somewhere, I remember using it now and again to gain quick access to the main parts of the palace. With his hand, he reached into the wall with his earthbending, feeling for the inconsistencies in the wall. Ah, there we are! His mind focused into this one hand, preparing to open the way.
"Quick, get him!" Long Feng turned to see the firebenders who were chasing him round the corner.
Acting quickly, Long Feng caused a section of the wall to slide down, quickly turning and sending one last shockwave at the benders then moving backwards through the opening, closing it swiftly so they couldn't follow behind. Then he let out a long breath he didn't even realize he was still holding in. "Finally, I'm free."
"Not quite, savage."
Long Feng turned quickly, to see himself surrounded by nearly 300 men, about 20 of them in firebending stances, ready to fry him if he moved.
The middle group parted, and a broad shouldered, tall man looking to be in his late teens or early twenties walked out to face him, mirth showing behind his golden eyes.
"I must say Long Feng, you gave my men quite a chase. But sadly, the hunt ends here. Its a pity, really. You're good, but I'm just naturally better.
"At ease, men. Firebenders, stay ready to fire on my mark. 5,
4,
3,
2,"
Long Feng rolled his eyes. "Oh please."
"1!"
Long Feng jumped, dodging the flames as his feet slammed down on the floor, sending out a huge wave, the earth quickly knocking the soldiers over.
"Farewell, Suian, and thank you for your hospitality. I only hope to return the favor soon."
Long Feng then moved his hands above his head, making a small jump, bringing his feet together, and landing again, his body slowly passing through the floor of the palace, leaving no sign of his mysterious departure as Suian stood up, his rage evident as he tilted his head back and roared, a huge cloud of fire and smoke pouring from his mouth.