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Chapter 5: Escape

Sokka, Aang, and Toph stood around Sokka's bed while Katara sat on it. The four were in a heated discussion and very little could distract them.

"Are you serious Katara?! I thought you hated bloodbending!" Sokka shouted at his sister.

"Sokka, I thought about it and I realized that we don't stand a chance without it. I mean look at us! We only have about eleven people and the Fire Nation has a whole army! Don't you think it's hard for me? We need this," Katara stated wiping away a few tears from her eyes.

"Sugar Queen's right. Without bloodbending we'll loose. Even with it we may loose, but we have a way better chance with it. Aren't you the one who is all about the mission and what not? This may be our only chance," Toph said placing a hand on Katara's shoulder.

"But, you. Her. Them. AHHHH! I guess your right, but that doesn't mean I like it. We'll use your plan if we can't think of anything else," Sokka said before marching out of the room. Toph shook her head before following the warrior, leaving Aang and Katara alone.

"Katara are you sure you're okay with this?" Aang said to his friend.

"I'm okay Aang. Don't worry about me. You need to be focusing on you firebending training." Katara followed Sokka and Toph out of the room and with a sigh Aang followed them.

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So, here I am sitting on my bed watching the sun set. My party must have just started because I could hear the faint sound of music below. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I told my family to wait for me on the second floor so that we'd go to the party together. The party would serve as a perfect distraction to get my family out of the palace without Azula finding out.

Exhaling, I stood up. It was now or never. I had dressed all in black from my boots to my gloves. I walked to my door, opened it, and pulled up my hood concealing my face and hair.

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The hallway felt darker and more treacherous then before. It feels like every corner is hiding a guard ready to attack. I constantly check behind my shoulder as I slink through the deserted palace. I ran into very few people whom I easily slid past.

As I descend the stairs the music grew louder and my heart rate increased. The party was on the main floor so I hoped I wouldn't meet anyone on my way. I crept down another corridor and peered around the corner. There were my parents and my sister waiting outside her room. They were all dressed for the party. They wore fancy dresses and robes. I hoped that if it came to it they would be able to run.

I clenched my fists and rounded the corner. They didn't see me until I was right beside them. My mom gasped. They probably mistook me for some sort of thief, but before I could tell them who I was I heard voices. A group of men, by the sound of it, were on their way towards us. I had to think fast. There would be questions if I was found like this and I might miss my chance to get my family out of the palace safely.

As quick as I could, I grabbed my sister who released a small cry. "If you want your daughter to stay alive you will do exactly as I say." I spoke in a deep voice to mask my tone and held a small flame to Sekitsui's neck. I told them to stay where they were and to tell the group that they'd be down to the party later, if they asked.

I took my sister into the room and placed my hand over her mouth because I could tell she was about to scream. I listened through the door as my parents told the group they were waiting for Sekitsui to get ready and they'd be down in a minute. Well this wasn't how I planned to get them out of the castle, but as long as it worked I hoped they'd forgive me.

When I couldn't hear the footsteps of the group of men anymore I took Sekitsui out of the room again.

"Okay, we did what you asked. Now give us back our baby!" My mom pleaded. I felt bad for how I was doing this, but this way I'd save a lot of time explaining so I just continued with my charade.

"Listen you'll get your daughter back, but not just yet. Follow me." Well I always wanted to act. I just never thought I'd be in this situation.

My mom and dad followed my sister and me down the hall and through the servants stairway. Thankfully we didn't meet anyone on the way out of the palace.

Parked by the opened gates was a cargo carriage with the back opened. Our plan was to smuggle my family through the gates in this carriage. The old man who was helping me was in the driver's seat holding the reins of the two ostrich horses pulling the vehicle.

I made my parents enter the carriage ahead of me, but before I got in I looked over my shoulder to make sure nobody had seen us. What I saw made my heart sink. Azula had spotted us and was heading our way followed by about a dozen guards. I pushed my sister in the carriage and closed the door behind her firmly. The carriage took off down the road.

I created steam to hide the carriage's path and took a fighting stance. I would hold them off long enough for my family to get away safely. Azula's entourage stopped about five feet away from me. Red fire shot from the guards fists creating a wall of flame. I used my arms to separate a gap through the flames. With the same motion I threw my own blast. It hit one of the guards who had underestimated its strength and was throne back a few yards.

Fire began flying at me from all sides as guards attempted to surround me. I backed up as I attempted to stop all the blasts from hitting their mark when through the flames a blast of blue came strait at me. I only had enough time to throw my left arm in front of my face before Azula's fire scorched it. I was thrown backwards as my hood revealed my face. Azula and the guards paused as I sat up.

"Kimi?!" Azula gasped. Then she held up her arm to signal a stop as a smile crept on her face. "What are you doing here Kimi? I thought you'd be with your family at the party right now. They must be really upset with you right now. What are you doing Kimi?"

She had no idea that my parents weren't at the party but riding into hiding. She probably thought she could hold their lives over me still. I smiled.

"Sorry Azula," I said, "but my parents are far away from here. They are safe where you will never find them. You have nothing on me anymore." With that I jumped up and enveloped the area in steam. Under the cover of the steam I turned and ran through the gates of the palace.