~~~~~~~~~~~~~*`~~: Chapter Sixteen: ~~`*~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Aang!" Ally shouted, struggling in her long time rival's arms. "Air-flip, Air-flip!" Her capture brought his hand to her mouth, muffling her call.
"Stop struggling." Commander Lee grunted in effort to hold her still. Ally tried to do the air flip herself but Commander Lee was two steps ahead; he brought his knee into the small of her back and though she struggled against the natural reflex she was inevitably brought down to her knees. It didn't hurt but it was sure as hell uncomfortable.
"Have I told you just how much I hate you?" Ally snarled to her capture.
Ally was a proud Air Bending Master, and being brought down to her knees while watching her best friend been taken away and her new friends becoming prisoners, well you would be pretty pissed off too.
Commander Lee didn't respond; he just tied her up against the column he had recently been hiding behind without even looking her in the eye. Ally glared mutinously as two more figures came out of the shadows; John and his CommanderTy Lin.
Despite the fact that she had only spoken to John for only five minutes and Commander Ty Lin for one, betrayal was clear in her eyes.
Hope bloomed again though as Aang managed to break free from Zuko's hold and as she watched on with relief as he managed to get inside the chamber before the doors locked; and he did it in style.
"He made it!" Katara breathed.
Ally and Katara shared a brief sigh of relief before they were reminded that they were surrounded by fire nation soldiers and benders. Ally glared at Commander Lee, "How are you still alive?" she asked bluntly.
"I could ask you the same question." Commander Lee smirked.
Ally intensified her glare at him, it would have made anyone back down in fear of having their spine ripped out and beaten to death with; but not her long time foe, all no, he had been on the receiving end of her glares ever since she met him and he never flinched once.
His smirk only widened, but this time, strangely, it didn't reach his gold eyes.
Ally wanted nothing more then to push him into striking range of Snow-fire, her flying Ermine-wolf.
"You've changed." Commander Lee commented as they watched Prince Zuko interrogate Shyu.
"Bravo captain obvious." Ally said dryly. "Did you notice the Air Spirit tattoos? Or was it the intense hatred I have for you that gave me away?"
"Your sharp witted tongue never ceases to amaze me." Commander Lee said back just as dryly.
It's amazing how a hundred years doesn't change in some aspects. Ally glanced at John, he's gold eyes were like liquid fire and Ally noticed that he was a foot taller then her, and she saw that his hair was like a dark black mane, last time she saw him he was wearing a helmet, all in all his appearance was rather handsome. Ally felt her cheeks heat up then she raised a challenging eyebrow as he continued to stare at her.
John blushed and looked away; Commander Lee frowned.
Sudden clapping distracted Ally from her glaring at Commander Lee. "What a moving and heartfelt performance. I'm certain the Fire Lord will understand when you explain why you betrayed him." A brownish gray haired man said to Shyu. Ally turned her stormy glare to the other fire nation commander. "And Prince Zuko, it was a noble effort. But your little smoke screen didn't work. Two traitors, in one day, the Fire Lord will be pleased."
Ally was considering hating this man just as much as she hated Commander Lee.
"You're too late, Zhao. The Avatar's inside and the doors are sealed." Zuko said, suddenly bound by one of Commander Zhao's soldiers.
"No matter," Commander Zhao smirked, "Sooner or later, he has to come out."
'Not before I shove you off a cliff.' Ally thought just as Zuko was tied up on the same column. "Spirits are all Commanders right pains in the neck?" she asked him.
He just gave her the, 'are you seriously looking to get killed?' look before nodding curtly with an all too familiar scowl.
"Thought as much." Ally muttered.
John muffled a laugh while the closest Commanders to her; Lee and Ty Lin, looked agitatedly at her. "You were right about her." Ty Lin said to Lee, "She's a right little brat."
Lee laughed quietly, "Amazingly from what you told me she was mostly polite."
Ally stared at both of them, her stormy blue eyes flat. "Only to those who deserve it."
Before either Commander could respond the doors began to open, and with it, white smoke filled the room accompanied by bright glowing light, the light was becoming too much and Ally shielded her eyes by looking away.
When Ally looked back the doors were fully opened and in the dark of the sanctuary, were a pair of glowing white eyes, "Aang, look out!" Ally shouted, struggling against her bonds.
"Fire!" Zhao shouted, and as one seven fire streams headed straight for Aang.
"No!" Ally shouted desperately.
But the fire hadn't entered the Sanctuary; it was being manipulated into a gigantic ball of swirling flames. It slowly began to open and Ally strained her eyes to get a glimpse of the impossible. Aang couldn't fire bend yet could he?
Maybe not Avatar Aang just yet, but Avatar Roku certainly could. Ally's eyes widened in awe at the sight of the previous Avatar bending his natural element, it was pure incredible power he wielded with ease.
And Aang, her best friend, was destined to wield that power.
Suddenly the fire shot across the room, snapping the metal chains and Ally lunched into action; spinning, kicking, twirling, punching, coiling, striking at Commander Lee, who, it seemed, could dodge all that Ally threw at him. Strangely enough he hadn't bended a single flame at her.
"Not bad for an old man." Ally grunted, slipping under Commander Lee's outstretched arm. "But you seriously need to think of retirement. A hundred years as a commander? That cant be good for you, its little wonder you haven't gone entirely gray yet." She did a quick two step to stay behind him as he whipped his foot around.
"Funny." Commander Lee said sardonically. "You know you've got it all wrong," he said blocking another of Ally's attacks, "I'm not on the wrong side any more. I've seen enough of this war to know just how bad I was. I've changed."
He returned her attack with strong round house kick that she was quick to duck. "Ha!" Ally said, "If that's not the biggest lie of the century I don't know what is."
He some how managed to push her away and moved swiftly after John and Ty Lin, toward the exit. "If you don't believe me then here," He threw a Pai Sho tile at her which she snatched out of the air. He smirked at her as the ground crumpled between them, he turned and followed John and Commander Ty Lin through another secret passage way, Zuko was with them.
"Ally! Where are you?" Sokka's voice sounded over the roar of lava and the trembling temple. Ally jumped over a crevasse of lava and found Katara and Sokka hunched behind a column, in front of Avatar Roku.
"Where's Shyu?" Ally asked.
Sokka looked over his shoulder in confusion. "He was here just a second ago."
Suddenly the smoke receded and Ally looked to see Aang standing where Avatar Roku once stood.
Ally, Sokka and Katara raced up to him, helping him stand. Ally saw his staff just a way off and picked it up; her own staff was secure in its holder.
"Guys, is it just me or are we sinking?" Ally asked.
"Does that answer question," Sokka asked in fear as the exit stair way was flooded with lava.
Ally looked around desperately, "There!" She shouted pointing at a huge hole in the wall, created by one of Roku's fire blasts. "Snow-fire! Appa!" Ally shouted in half relief half joy, spotting the animal guides. "Nyx! Neo! Momo!" Ally beamed.
"Jump!" Aang called, they all jumped as one. Ally propelled herself further then the others to reach Snow-fire.
While Aang, Katara and Sokka watched the destroyed temple as they flew away, Ally stared at the round Pai Sho tile that Commander Lee had thrown her. It was the lotus tile; it was insignificant in the game, so how did it prove he had changed?
Ally sighed her eyes closing, her fingers closed around the tile and she tucked it away in her orange shawl, opening her eyes and looking up at Aang, she smiled. He smiled back though it didn't reach his eyes, Ally looked at him in confusion; he was obviously troubled, but of what?
"Sooooo… how was your talk with Roku?" Sokka asked, as he started to relax.
Aang shook his head, "I have to master all the bending disciples before this comet comes, this summer."
Ally's jaw dropped to the floor, her eyes in danger of falling out of her sockets. "That comet is coming back?" she asked in a low whisper.
Flashes of fire and lightning danced across her memory, the sky a rusted red as an island sized comet skidded across the sky, the clouds stained with a blood red…
Aang saw her horrified look and nodded without a word, then – "How am I going to master water, earth then fire in time? This is bad; this is really, really bad!"
"Aang calm down," Ally and Katara said. Ally jumped off Snow-fire and landed next to Aang, Katara on his other side.
"Aang, we'll get through this together." Ally said gently, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder, like she had done so many times before with others who were beginning to lose hope.
"Were already going to the North to learn water bending," Katara said, "Nothing has changed in our plans except we'll just have to speed things up a little."
"We got your back." Sokka said, patting Aang on the back.
Momo chattered, from Aang's shoulder, Aang cracked a small, full hearted grin. Ally wrapped an arm over his shoulders and gave him a one armed hug, Katara joined in, wrapping her arms around Ally and Aang. Sokka joined in moments later. Nyx and Neo, not wanting to be left out, tackled Momo, who had been sitting on Aang's shoulders.
Aang laughed, "Stop it! That tickles!" he squirmed around trying to catch one of them.
Ally laughed as the two lemurs chased Momo, around and around Aang's shoulders, torso, arms then Momo jumped onto an unsuspecting Sokka's head, who was about to eat a grape, which was promptly stolen by a pursuing Nyx. Sokka tripped over in surprise as the lemurs continued to run around."
Aang and Ally high fived each other like they always did after a successful prank, Ally held up her own hand to Katara, who high fived her, laughing hysterically at the sight of Sokka trying desperately to ward off the winged lemurs.
Ally fell asleep right after lying down on Snow-fire's saddle, Snow-fire was drifting lazily beside Appa; the only light was the not quite full yet moon and the thousands of stars above them.
Iroh smiled at Commander Lee, "Ah, Lee, my old friend, it has been a long time. Commander Ty Lin, an honour to meet you." The deck of the ship was quite except the three fire nation men, who were setting up a game of Pai Sho.
"The honour is all mine General Iroh," Ty Lin said warmly before bowing, he lit a candle with a small flame.
"Retired General now," Iroh chuckled, before bowing also.
"Why didn't you tell me you crossed paths with my air bender friend?" Commander Lee asked casually as he placed a tile in front of Iroh's lotus tile.
"I did not know she was the one you spoke of." Iroh commented, "Though I see what you meant when you said she doesn't hold back. I thought Air Benders were a negative Jing type. Though I am curious did she have the mark of the Air Spirit before you first met her?"
"Ah, no she didn't but I think I know when she got them, was when I last saw her, when I got that second chance."
Iroh nodded. "Which spirit was the one that gave you your second chance?"
"The fire Spirit," Commander Lee a small frown appearing, "Agni wasn't that happy with me I can tell you. With good reason of course." He added.
Ty Lin 'hummed' he said with a side ways glance at Lee, "your lads rather taken with Ally since they first met."
Lee nodded, "So I've seen."
Iroh chuckled.
Ally yawned and rolled over, then, fell right back to sleep.
Aang was understandably nervous the next morning. If Ally was told she had to protect the last Air Nomads, not a problem. If Ally was told to fight a group of trained fire nation soldiers, bring it on. If Ally was told to learn the elements by summer's end, well, lets just say she'd crash and burn.
Ally watched with shrewd eyes from her place on Snow-fire as Sokka continued to make Aang on edge, "you've pretty much mastered air bending and that only took you 112 years, I'm sure you can master three more elements by next summer."
Ally glared at Sokka with exasperation, and as she predicted the 'anxious Aang' exploded, "I haven't even started water bending and we're still weeks away from the North Pole! What am I going to do!"
Ally sighed and vowed if one more sarcastic comment left Sokka's mouth she would push him into the nearest river. Ally looked around as Katara helped calm Aang down, offering to teach him what she knew.
"Maybe we can find a puddle for you to splash in." Sokka said.
Ally's eye twitched, oh yeah – she was going to enjoy pushing Sokka into a river – and she knew just the place. "I know a nice that's 'puddle' near by if you want to practice now?" Ally spoke up.
Ally made them land on the left bank at the base of a large waterfall, Ally had to admit, the waterfall looked even more impressive then last time she was here.
"Nice puddle." Sokka said sourly.
Ally grinned widely with a spark of mischief; Aang took a step away from her, he knew that look, he'd seen it all the time before they played a prank that was based off revenge. But Aang wasn't her target.
Sokka looked at her weirdly, before his eyes widened with surprise, Ally pushed him into the river that resulted in a satisfying splash.
"What was that for?" Sokka complained.
Ally smiled sweetly, "That was for mocking Aang." She bowed to Katara and Aang, "The River is all yours." She said playfully with a flourished wave of her hand towards the river. "Oh – and don't forget to use those water scrolls!"
"Oh! That's right." Katara said, pulling out the three scrolls with an excited look.
Ally jumped onto Snow-fire as the Ermine-wolf drifted into the river with Appa. Laughing she dived into the water, which was freezing. Ally shivered but that didn't stop her splashing her animal guide, who in turn splashed her with her wolfish tail.
Ally blocked the wave of water with an air sphere and slapped her hand against the water to splash Snow-fire; the flying Ermine-wolf tossed her head and ducked under the water then lifted Ally out of the water with her head, then tossed her into the air.
Ally let out a shout of laughter as she went up into the air, then gravity started to pull her back and she laughed again, not out of the enjoyment in the air but at the ridiculousness of gravity being able to stop an air bender. She landed into the water lightly, with hardly a splash in her wake.
Ally smiled as she saw Snow-fires legs paddling in the under the water, she swam over and, before Snow-fire knew what was happening, Ally jumped out of the water in front of her. Snow-fire jerked back in surprise before snorting, obviously amused.
Suddenly a shadow came over them; Ally turned around and saw a huge wall of water shooting up into the air, through the wall of water she saw that Aang was creating it… wow, just, wow.
"Aang!" Sokka shouted, who was playing in the water same as Ally.
Seeing the wall of water about to collapse on them Ally pushed down on the water and shot into the air in hopes to jump over it. No such luck, the wave was too tall and Ally skidded down the water fall like it was a gigantic slide, Ally laughed as she got swept up onto the shore line. "Good form Aang!" she laughed, applauding enthusiastically.
Aang beamed at Ally then turned to Katara. "Looks like I got the hang of that move! What else ya' got?"
"That's enough practicing for today." Katara said brusquely, Ally frowned.
"It's barely been five minutes." Ally said.
"Aang just practiced our supplies down the river in five minutes!" Sokka said in exasperation. Ally looked around, sure enough the bags were missing and the wave had left puddles in its wake. Well, at least the saddles were still there and what was tied down was still there.
"Sorry." Aang said rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
"There's a place we can replace all this stuff not to far away from here." Ally said, standing up then connected her knuckles together, wrapping a bubble of air around her, spinning the water off her, splashing an already soaked Sokka.
Sokka groaned and slumped into the water, "It was hard enough when he was just an air bender."
"We still have earth and fire." Ally smirked.
"Oh great spirits save me!"
It was a good thing Ally saved emergency money in a small bag; they only had two copper pieces of luxury money left. Ally had saved a hundred gold pieces and fifty two silver and thirty copper pieces in the emergency money bag. The port village was just like Ally remembered; full of interesting stores but full of shady characters and drunken sailors.
"Way to think ahead Ally." Aang said as Ally handed ten silver pieces to each member of the group, putting the last twelve silver pieces back into the emergency money bag.
Ally gave a half smile, "We have to spend the money wisely guys, money doesn't grow on trees."
Aang rolled his eyes, "You sound like Kuzon's grandma."
Ally laughed. Katara leaned in and whispered into Ally's ear, "Hide the bag well, Sokka has a way of finding things and being ridiculous with them."
Ally nodded then replied, "It's the same with Aang."
A second later Aang proved Ally right by buying a whistle shaped in a bison - that didn't even work. Nyx stood up on her hind legs looking around and Neo chattered in confusion, cocking his head to the side. Momo chirped in Aang's ear.
"Yeah, keep the money away from the boys." Katara said as Sokka walked up to them with a water tribe weapon, a boomerang.
Ally nodded serenely, a little bit of exasperated amusement shinning in her stormy blue eyes.
Ally sighed wishfully, wanting the comfort of her fans on her belt. "I miss my fighting fans." Her eyes widened. "Oh! Common! This place is the best store on the entire port." She pulled them towards the docks where she had bought the scrolls. "This is the place I bought the scrolls." Ally said to Katara and Aang, whose eyes widened and grins broke across their faces. Sokka trailed them curiously.
"Oh hoi, there!" Ally called while grinning at the familiar pirate pursuing costumers. He turned around in confusion and comprehension dawned on his face and he broke into a sly but welcoming grin, showing three gold teeth.
Nyx and Neo hid under her shawl. Ally rolled her eyes at them.
"You back eh'" the pirate laughed, "And you brought friends! Would you like to see our new curios?" he asked slinging an arm around her shoulders.
"Sure." Ally laughed.
"Excellent!" he led her onto the ship, and Ally mentioned her friends to follow. They looked curious but wary.
The room hadn't changed all that much, weapons, jewellery, statues, furnisher, scrolls and other objects were in organized lines along the room. Ally went straight to the fighting fans section and started to browse. She picked up a matching pair, an interesting sound of sliding metal on metal came from them when she opened them, slipping into a fighting stance she started to wield the fans around slowly, they were large and light gold in colour, Ally could tell that they'd be perfect for air bending just by looking at them. She flipped them close and again the sound of an unsheathing sword came from it, she raised an eyebrow at the sound and measured them to the size of her arm; it was roughly the length of her forearm.
Perfect.
Ally looked over at Sokka, he was beginning to look through the boomerang collection, Aang was looking at some strange statue with Katara; it was a monkey statue with rubies encrusted into it. It looked freakishly evil.
Ally haggled with Pirate Barker for the fans, lessening the price by six silver pieces. She grinned happily as she swished her new fans through the air. She wasn't going to lose these ones any time soon. Plus they had an awesome sound effect.
Ally looked back at her friends to see them talking to some one who looked like – "That's the Captain." Pirate Barker said noticing Ally's gaze.
"Ah," Ally nodded watching the reptile bird squawk at Momo. Ally walked up to them just as Sokka found out they were pirates.
"We prefer to think of ourselves as high risk traders." Barker said smiling.
"You knew?" Katara asked Ally.
Ally nodded, then frowned, "Don't give me that look; their not hurting us or anything." She said noticing Katara looking at her with disapproval.
"Can I talk to you in private for a minute?" Katara said pulling Ally away from Aang, Sokka and the pirates with unnecessary force. "Ally where do you think they got all of this from? There pirates!" When Ally yanked her arm away and started massaging her arm to get the blood flowing again.
Ally blinked, "Ah," was the only thing she could say. But just because they were pirates doesn't mean they stole all this, right?
Katara looked back at the pirates with a mistrustful look, she turned to Aang and Sokka, "Common boys, we need to go."
"Aye' we be' cast' in off now." Aang said with a grin.
They walked off the ship and onto the streets. "They aren't that bad, I mean they mightn't have stolen anything." Ally tried to reason with Katara.
Katara 'hummed' then just kept walking.
They arrived back at their camp site, and as predicted Aang began practising water bending again. Katara had declined from teaching Aang pronouncing that she was tired; she had been in a fairly grumpy mood since this morning.
Ally rolled her eyes as Aang began to play with a long stream of water, remembering when she started learning to air bend from Monk Gyasto, Ally laughed at the memory of Aang playing with the air as though he had done it his whole life, - while Ally was struggling to keep up. She smiled as she remembered when Aang tutored her when they weren't learning from Gyatso. Aang was one of the few that helped her become the master air bender she was today, first being Sister Iio, then Monk Gyatso.
Ally sat down and began to meditate; soon the sounds began to fade but her awareness heightened.
Ah, bliss; it had been too long since she had last meditated.
John watched as his fellow soldiers carried things Iroh had bought, Prince Zuko was in his normal foul mood and his uncle was talking too Iroh and Commander Ty Lin.
"Air benders?" A man not to far away from him snorted, John looked at the talking couple. "No offence Jaylee but I think you've spent too much time with those Nomad hippies." John glanced over at Prince Zuko, he was listening too.
"I'm telling you, they had the blue arrow tattoos, one was a boy and the other a girl."
Zuko stood up, "This boy and girl were they travelling with two water tribe people?"
Ally's eyes snapped open; she blinked then frowned. Urgh! She hated the confusion after a vision, and she wasn't even asleep that time! She tried to remember the details; it was about John and Prince Zuko, and two others – yes they were talking about them, maybe? Ally groaned in annoyance and stood up, what was the point of visions when you couldn't remember them? She kicked a stone into the water.
The sun was setting and behind her she could hear Sokka, Katara and Aang packing to move further into the woods.
Ally pushed the vision from her mind and helped the others find a clearing in the forest and set up camp.
Ally laid down on the grass in-between Aang and Sokka, Katara opposite her; they were all positioned around the fire. Ally 'schussed' Nyx as she chattered and wrapped an arm around the white lemur while Neo curled up beside her.
Ally looked up at the night sky as an owl hooted; she wondered how her cousin Sophie was doing, if the other air benders were doing okay. Ally looked at the full moon and wondered what it might have been like if she had allowed the air benders to come with her.
Ally turned her head to see Katara sneaking away from the group, three water bending scrolls in her hand, "Katara?" Ally whispered.
Katara jumped and looked at Ally, "Oh, hi Ally. I didn't realize you were awake." She whispered back.
"Where are you going?" Ally murmured, sitting up.
"Water bending is stronger at night," Katara said, "particularly during the full moon. I just want to do a bit of practising."
Ally nodded, "Do you want me to come with? There's a reason we came into the woods to camp instead of staying by the water."
"I'll be fine." Katara waved off, "I'll be back before morning, go back to sleep."
Frowning, Ally nodded and leaned back down, watching as Katara disappeared beyond the trees. Ally closed her eyes and started to drift off into a dreamland.
"Katara? Katara! Where are you?"
Ally groaned in protest, "what's' a' matter?" Ally mumbled looking at Sokka and Aang.
"Katara's missing."
Ally frowned at the early morning sky, "She should've been back before now." She stood up and looked around to where Katara walked off last night.
Sokka looked at Ally ludicrously, "You know where she is?"
"She went off to practise water bending; water benders are stronger at night."
Sokka groaned after looking through Aang's bag then kicked it in frustration, "After what she did yesterday! I can't believe she'd–"
"What? –" Ally started.
"You were in deep meditation at the time." Sokka said. "She started to help Aang again but went off at him."
Ally frowned, well more like scowled. She'd have to have a word to Katara about this.
"She was just frustrated that's all." Aang said in defence for Katara.
Sokka grumbled picking up his spear, "common, Katara might be in trouble."
Ally passed Snow-fire and picked up her staff, her fans firmly tucked into her belt. Aang sucked his glider too him and together they walked towards the river.
"That's Ally's necklace and fans!" Katara's voice said as they drew nearer, "where'd you get them!" she demanded.
"I found the fans at the fire temple." another's voice came with what sounded like a smirk. "And the necklace I found on a prison ship for earth benders, now, tell me where he is."
Sokka and Aang paused, "Zuko!" they whispered together.
"Go jump in the river!" Katara said in defiance.
Ally smiled, Katara was one of the loyalist people she knew, plus she was glade Katara and Ally had some girl time; Katara knew she was detached from worldly possessions. Ally nodded to Sokka and Aang and flipped up into the canopy deftly and from there looked down at the scene.
Commander Lee drew her eye straight away; he was standing next to Iroh and Commander Ty Lin, a regal look too him. Then she spotted John, with the other soldiers lined up behind the two Commanders. John didn't have his helmet on and his liquid fiery eyes were looking toward the ground.
Then Ally saw Katara, tied up at the base of a small tree.
Then Ally noticed that this was where she first met Commander Ty Lin and John when she helped the injured captain. Ally noticed the amused smile on Ty Lin's face and he leaned in to whisper to Commander Lee, Ally pulled the air lightly toward her so she could listen, she wasn't too good at sound bending, "Can you feel the irony? This was where I first encountered Ally."
Lee raised an eyebrow, a smirk twitching across his face. "She won't be very happy when she finds out about this." He nodded to Katara.
Iroh nodded in agreement.
Ally rolled her eyes, then sent a very small tornado to the back of Katara's hand with a light flick of her wrist, the tornado lightly brushed up against Katara's skin and she stiffened. She knew they were there.
Zuko turned to the soldiers, "Go! Search the woods for the boy and meet back here."
Ally watched as half the soldiers walked into the forest, she spotted Aang and Sokka on branches near by. She put her staff into its hoister that was slung on her back.
Ally whistled a bird call. Aang and Sokka looked at her. Ally held up five fingers and started to indicate a count down. Aang nodded again and mouthed, 'three, two…one!'
Ally pounced forward and landed in front of Katara while spinning a large orb around then kicked out, blasting the soldiers into the river, Aang attacked Zuko. Behind her Ally heard Sokka came and cut the ropes that bound Katara.
Ally leaped towards a rouge soldier who had just exited the forest, he punched a fire whip toward Aang; Ally blocked the whip with an Air Shield and returned the attack, sucking up small stones with the shield then fired them at the soldier with rapid speed, the soldier stumbled under the assault and fell backwards in the river.
Ally ducked as a blade came hurtling where her head once was, then swept the ground with her foot, catching her attacker's ankles then caught him in a whirl wind, spinning him around and around over her head before projecting him high into the air. He landed in the river.
Meanwhile Commander Lee chuckled, watching Ally fight from afar while Iroh watched Zuko. "Would it be considered childish of me to say 'I told you so?' he said to Commander Ty Lin who grudgingly handed him and Iroh a small bag of money each. "She would have beaten you all in a heart beat had one of your soldiers attacked her."
"John?" Commander Ty Lin said, raising an eye brow, indicating to Ally, "Good practise."
"Commander, I don't think that –" John began to protest.
"That's an order." Ty Lin said sternly.
"Ty Lin!" Commander Lee frowned at the way his fellow commander treated his nephew. Iroh shook his head, frowning at the Commander.
"What? I just want to see how well the lad does against her."
Commander Lee lifted his chin up, and watched his nephew begin to approach the master air bender; he idly wondered what happened to the other air benders she use to travel with.
Ally flipped backwards onto her hands, placing her feet onto the sides of an oncoming spear then completed the flip, yanking the spear away then slipped through the soldiers legs to stand up behind him, she brought out her staff and knocked him unconscious. She put her staff back in its holder
Funny, Ally thought pensively, she thought Commander Lee would have attacked her by now, maybe he had changed. Ally dodged a rouge gout of flames and looked around; Aang was still fighting Zuko, Sokka was helping Katara to try and push the fire nation boat off the shore and onto the water.
Good luck with that.
Suddenly bright green fire lashed out at her; Ally kicked it away with ease then looked at her new opponent. It was John, - no, Ally reminded herself forcefully; it was just another fire nation soldier.
John slipped into a fire bending stance and Ally slid into her own.
He shot a few small Fire Disks at her followed by a fire ball; Ally was shocked, the fire was forest green with hints of yellow in it, it was beautiful yet had a lethal grace to it, like a lion cobra.
Ally jumped over the attack and skidded behind him, Ally leaped out of the way of a fiery green kick and ducked another fire punch, and she skipped around John and blocked another punch with a slap of air.
Ally noticed he had an unusual amount of control over his unique fire, Ally was impressed, and it took a lot to impress her, especially when it came to the fire Nation. John turned to face her but she flipped and twirled over him and landed behind him.
"Damn my uncle wasn't joking when he said you were good." John said trying to spin around to face her but unable to.
"Your uncle?" Ally asked, briefly caught off guard, and ducked under his arm and was now back to back with him; she continued to copy his movements. "Listen honey, I'm a hundred and thirteen years old, I doubt your uncle is old enough to know me." Unless…
John blushed at the word 'honey' "You'd be surprised." He shot back.
"Let me guess." Ally said jumping over a sweep kick. Surprisingly they weren't bending any more, just… just plan mock fighting, "Kuzon?" she asked hopefully.
"Strike one." John smirked.
Ty Lin raised a disbelieving eyebrow at the two teenage benders, "Are they mocking each other?"
Commander Lee laughed, he held out his hand and another small bag of money fell into it.
She recognized that smirk anywhere. "Commander Lee."
John nodded once, "She shoots, and she scores."
Ally frowned, so much had changed. "Your banter is good." Ally said, kicking his feet out from under him but he rolled backwards and stood up, "But it needs work."
"You're offering to be my tutor?" John smirked again.
Ally blushed, "In your dreams," she shot back.
"There too," John retorted.
"Great Spirits your so immature, what are you, twelve?" Ally said flipping over his kick.
"Fifteen," John replied, getting a well aimed jab to her stomach, "you?"
"Thirteen." Ally gasped, taking a few steps back to recover. She smirked, "You're good, - for a simple soldier."
"I'm sure you meant that as a complement."
Ally laughed, actually laughed.
Suddenly there was a shout and the other half of the soldiers charged out of the forest and towards Katara and Sokka; Ally flipped away from John, "It's been fun but a bird has to fly away some time."
Ally jumped away and intercepted the soldiers just in time with an air wall then swept the dust into the air, blinding Katara's and Sokka's attackers.
Ally looked at them, "Do you even know how to steer that lump of metal?" Ally asked dryly.
"Look out!" Sokka called.
Ally turned just as a whip of water came from behind her and hit the approaching soldier over the head.
Ally grinned at Katara, "Nice one!"
Katara smiled then turned to Aang, "Aang! Common!"
"Coming!" Aang shouted, ending his duel with an enraged Zuko. He sped past them, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. "Common!"
Ally rolled her eyes and took her friends by the arms, knowing they couldn't run as fast as air benders and dragged them along for the ride. Ally pushed her legs faster and caught up to Aang, who was blowing hard on that bison whistle.
"Have you lost it?" Ally asked him.
Aang just beamed at her and pointed skywards. Ally looked up and noticed Snow-fire and Appa heading their way with the lemurs carrying a scroll each.
Ally pointed in front of them, a large ledge where the water fall is, was approaching them fast.
"Ally!" Sokka and Katara screamed as she jumped off the ledge with Aang. Snow-fire scooped Ally up along with the two extremely pale water tribe members. Appa caught Aang.
"Ally," Sokka said with all seriousness, "Never jump off a cliff again."
Ally chuckled and petted her animal guides head, "Good girl Snow-fire."
"I knew a bison whistle would come in handy." Aang laughed from where Appa was flying.
"Katara," Ally said seriously, yet low so the boys couldn't hear her. "Aang has always excelled in his bending studies back when we were being taught by the Monks. It had always had been second nature to him."
Katara looked down, "I've been meaning to apologies to Aang about that. But – how did you find out?"
"Sokka told me."
Katara gave a small glare at Sokka.
Ally helped Katara onto Appa's saddle while still in the air, leaping the small gap as though it were nothing but Katara closing her eyes as if to expect gravity to take over, Ally rolled her eyes at the thought and laughed. "Have a little faith in me Katara."
Katara was looking down, "Aang," Ally jumped onto Snow-fire, "I owe you an apology. You were just so good at water bending without really trying. I got so competitive that I put us all in danger. I'm sorry." Katara finished.
"It's okay Katara." Aang said.