A/N: Hello again. Thank you guys so much for the reviews and support so far, I can't tell you how much they mean to me and help me keep things going. But, to the point.
A brief interlude here marks a substantial turning point in the lives of our heroes and plays an important part in the shaping of coming events.
Enjoy!
Interlude
In the dead of night, two teenagers silently made their way through the streets of Ba Sing Se, the taller one carrying the broken form of a third. A faint trail of tears on the dirt street below them was the only evidence of their escape.
Rounding the corner, their gaze caught four figures astride a giant flying bison gliding away from them. Relief flooding their veins, they began to sprint after the creature, flailing their arms but remaining silent. They could not afford to be caught now.
Thankfully, the bison made another pass and there was a loud exclamation from one of the people on it and the beast responded, changing course. Flying low and close to the ground, it made a soft landing in front of them before letting loose a low, mournful groan.
And the bison wasn't the only one to perceive the dark and solemn aura surrounding the benders.
Questions and accusations flew: some scathing, some tearful, and some in utter disbelief. All were silenced by the broken waterbender's quiet pleas to leave. Her face was hard and distant but her tears were all the convincing the group needed.
The firebender was carefully relieved of the former Avatar and helped, reluctantly, atop the mount. He turned back and offered his hand to his companion and she took it, her teary eyes meeting his briefly, before she collapsed into his arms and began to weep as they flew off into the night.
And because of the tears, the grief and shock resounding through the teens atop the massive animal, they were unaware of the hand that desperately clenched the bison's fur in agony before falling, lifeless, to death.
There was no joy amongst the group when they met up with the resistance.
Despite finally seeing their father again, the Water Tribe children could only meet his gaze with defeated, scared eyes. And, once explained, the gravity of the situation seemed to age the man before their very eyes.
Mistrust and scorn greeted the Fire Nation Prince. He only avoided shackles and a cell because of the water bender's appeal on his behalf, threatening any who dared try and harm him.
Two days passed with agonizing defeat hanging thick in the air.
On the third day they placed the Avatar in a metal box, which was all that could be found aboard the Fire Nation ship, and laid him to rest in the vast, swirling ocean.
Tears fell freely from all; some for the boy who had been so close to their hearts, others for the darkness that now seemed inevitable, and still others for the injustice that seemed to plague the world in which they lived.
And once the box vanished beneath the waves, all hope went with it.
The Avatar was dead.
And the world turned to fire.
A/N: So there you have it. As always I hope you enjoyed this little bit and that it prepares you for future chapters. I'd love feedback to be able to see what you guys thought and, as we all know, reviews are love!
Until next time!
-HakushoRurouni