Okay, people. Apologies are in order. First off, that typo in my last chapter "Sokka and Sokka", was meant to be "Sokka and Aang". Sorry for the confusion I'll take steps to ensure it doesn't happen again. Also, I'm sorry it took so long to update. I really am, but the fact is my responsibilities to school and work have to come before my writing. Business before pleasure right? Anyway I hope it's worth the wait and I'll try to update again as soon as possible. Shout out to Akriloth Warrior, Aya-Shoru, Luiz4200 (for my 1st constructive criticism on FF ever! Thank you!), wtfbrunteesoftball, charizardag, MastaDrumma22 (2nd construt. critic! Thnks!), ehsurewhatever, RueBroadway, and KASLiNN. Just one more reminder...
GOD: GET ON WITH IT!
Okay sorry!
The Search for Shang-wēifēng
Chapter Four:
Escape From the Western Air Temple
The quiet that once reigned throughout the halls of the Western Air Temple, had been replaced by the clamor of booted feet and soldiers shouting orders and affirmations to one another. The sky bison had been subdued and tethered from head to tail upon the stone platform, growling balefully at its captors as it struggled futilely against its restraints. The Fire Princess, flanked by two crimson armored soldiers, strode towards the beast, smirking smugly as it snarled at her in recognition.
"So you remember me, do you?" she asked softly. The bison only snorted in reply. "No doubt your master will come running to rescue his precious pet," she went on lazily. "So get comfortable, because you won't be leaving until... well, actually you won't be leaving at all."
Appa gnashed his great teeth and lunged at the Fire Princess, causing her guards to leap back in fright, but Azula didn't even flinch, as the bison, snapped at the air just in front of her face. The ropes and tethers strained against the great animal's bulk, cutting into its flesh as it struggled to get free and bite the firebender's head off.
Azula raised her hand and blue fire appeared in her upturned palm. The bison cringed with a startled bellow and backed away from the hated flame, still growling warily at the Fire Princess.
Azula's smile broadened, "So you can behave yourself after all." Then she raised her voice so that she could be heard throughout the ruined courtyard, "Fan out! Search everywhere! They won't have gotten far without their bison!"
Crouched on a catwalk, peering at the scene below, Aang felt rage boil up inside him at Azula's treatment of Appa. He could only imagine what the cruel princess had in store for his friend. He turned back toward his companions. Katara, gazed at him, concern filling her blue eyes. Sokka, watched the soldiers milling about below with a calculating look on his face, while his hand drifted toward his sword as if to reassure himself that it was there. Toph, was crouched on the stone floor, touching it with her hand, to better feel the vibrations rippling through the Temple. Teo, along with the Duke, riffled through the inventor's son's bag, preparing some of the explosives he had left over from the Day of Black Sun invasion. Momo batted at the devices curiously with his paw before the Duke shooed him away. Haru gazed down at the firebenders below with growing apprehension. Zuko, for his part, only looked at Azula.
"So," asked Aang, turning towards Sokka. "Any ideas?"
"Well," the Water Tribe warrior mused, cupping his chin in his hand in his usual planning pose. "We're grossly outnumbered, so we may just want to beat a retreat and come back for Appa at nightfall."
"I'm not leaving Appa!" said the Avatar firmly.
"I'm not saying we leave him," explained Sokka. "I'm just saying we regroup and come back for him later."
"That won't work," said Zuko. "They'll have the Temple completely fortified by then. We'll never get back in, let alone anywhere near the bison."
"Zuko, you know Azula better than anyone here," said Aang. "Is there anything you could tell us that might help us? Anything we could do that she might not expect?"
"You've fought her often enough to know that Azula plans all of her battles down to the last detail with efficient, calculating judgement," answered Zuko. "She's cold, manipulative, and, above all, duplicitous."
"I know all about that," said Toph sourly from her place on the floor.
"Must be a family trait," Katara muttered, just loud enough for Zuko to hear.
"It's obvious that she's using the bison for bait," continued the Fire Prince, ignoring the comment. "The question is, do we take the bait and risk a frontal assault, or do we keep creeping around like rat-roaches?"
"We'd better move on," whispered Toph, rising to her feet. "I feel some soldiers coming...ten or twelve of them I think..."
"Let's get moving," said Sokka, drawing his sword.
"There's someone else too," continued the tiny earthbender. "Someone with lighter footsteps, who isn't wearing armor. I think it's a girl."
"Ty Lee," Katara spat the name like a curse.
"Or Mai," whispered Zuko to himself.
"Okay," said Sokka, immediately taking charge. "We'll need to split up. A group this large will move too slow and attract too much attention. Make your way toward the tunnel Haru and Toph made earlier. Stay low and keep quiet."
"Neat plan cutie," came a high flirtatious giggle from above. "Hope it works!"
Everyone jerked their heads upward to find Ty Lee with a delighted cheshire grin on her face, hanging upside down by her legs from the stone ceiling rafters.
"Scatter!" cried Sokka as the nobleman's daughter turned circus performer dropped from her perch, twirled through the air and lightly landed on her feet. She immediately whirled around to bring her face inches from Sokka's.
"Hiya dream," she said huskily.
After a few moments of staring bug-eyed at the girl, Sokka leaped backwards and assumed a battle pose he had learned from his training with Master Piandao.
"Back off Ty Lee!" he said with as much authority as he could muster, brandishing his black meteorite blade.
"You remembered my name!" she gushed happily, unperturbed by the weapon and jumping up and down excitedly. She paused and looked him over appraisingly. "You've certainly filled out since the last time I saw you," she smiled, gazing at him through lidded eyes and resuming her husky tone. "Been working out?"
The Water Tribe warrior relaxed his pose, smiling at the compliment, and touched the muscles of his sword arm. "Well, you know, been training with a sword master, doing chin ups on a tree branch..."
Suddenly, with a startled cry, Ty Lee leapt into the air, just in time to avoid a stalagmite that suddenly sprouted from the floor where she stood.
"Sokka!" shouted Toph irritably stomping the floor, growing more and more sharp stalagmites wherever the acrobat landed. "Focus!"
"Uh, right!" he said hastily. "Run!"
In the narrow hallway there were really only two ways to go. Zuko, dao swords drawn and ready, raced in one direction with, Aang, Teo, and Toph with Momo following close behind; while Sokka covered the retreat of Katara, Haru, and the Duke.
As Ty Lee pursued her "dreamy Water Boy" she cried at the lop of her lungs, "I found them Azula! Up here! Up here!"
Zuko dashed through the passageway, scanning for enemies amongst the numerous pillars and airbender statues - why did they have to build so many? - until Toph cried, "Wait! Not this way!"
He paused, just in time to avoid a black stiletto that embedded itself into the stone floor inches from his feet. The Fire Prince, Avatar, and earthbender all sank into battle stances to face their latest antagonist, while Momo crouched upon Teo's shoulder, raised his hackles and hissed.
Zuko's eyes widened when his gaze met the expressionless face of Mai, at the head of twelve firebenders, arm extended, stiletto knocked, and ready to fire.
"Hello Zuko," she said coldly. "I hope you're not expecting a kiss."
Ty Lee closed in on Sokka, and attempted a quick jab at the pressure point in his arm, but the warrior skillfully ducked and kicked at her ankles, knocking her off balance. She righted herself by balancing on her hands and kicked at Sokka's head, sending him reeling backwards.
Haru, stomped the ground, levitating a large stone, then with a jab of his fist sent it flying at the acrobat who cartwheeled out of the way. As the earthbender threw more and more stones at Ty Lee; who nimbly dodged, ducked and twisted out of each one's path working her way closer and closer to the Earth Kingdom boy with her deadly fingers; Katara bent the water from the skin she carried, and it snaked into the tumbler, pinned her to the wall and hardened into ice.
"Let's go!" Katara cried, scooping the Duke up into her arms as Haru grabbed her disoriented brother's arm and pulled him after, leaving the struggling acrobat behind.
"I can't believe you flexed for her!" Katara scolded Sokka as they ran.
"Hey," protested the Water Tribe boy, still rubbing his forehead. "When you got it, flaunt it!"
"Mai," whispered Zuko, as the icy young woman let fly another dart. At once a wall of stone appeared in front of him just in time to block the projectile.
"Wake up Sunshine! What is with all the boys today?" demanded an exasperated Toph, as she stomped her foot and split the floor beneath the firebenders' feet. Two fell through but the others, including Mai, leapt away just in time and charged at the small group.
Coming back to himself, Zuko parried with one of the soldiers while the Avatar and his earthbending teacher shot rocks at the firebenders, while providing shielding from Mai's shurikenjutsu. Although he could no longer bend, he had other skills. He slashed at the soldier's stomach, forcing him back and then lunged and delivered a kick to his head. The soldier went down and Zuko turned to fend off another who had started to attack the Avatar.
The boy parried blows with his staff, blowing his opponents back with airbending or knocking them down with earthbending.
Zuko was amazed that the blind girl was able to fight like she did, sometimes two or three men at a time. He had a newfound appreciation for her gifts, and her fighting prowess.
"Everyone!" cried Teo, removing something from his bag. "Retreat and cover your ears!" The company fell back and the inventor's son lobbed a small egg-shaped object at the advancing enemy, who looked at it curiously before...
BOOM!
The already sagging stone floor gave way entirely and the rest of the firebenders fell through to the lower level of the Temple.
"Come on!" called Aang to Zuko.
The Fire Prince squinted into the clouds of dust trying to make out Mai. Following the harsh sounds of her coughing, he found her silhouette, poised for another assault. He then turned and swiftly followed after the Avatar and the others.
A soldier rushed toward Azula, who was busying herself tormenting the bison with her flames. He stopped short and saluted.
"My Lady," he spoke reverently.
"Have you captured the Avatar and my brother, corporal?" she asked curtly, never taking her eyes from the frightened animal.
"Well," replied the soldier cautiously. "No my Lady."
The Fire Princess' eyes narrowed.
"But-but w-w-we did find s-something st-strange," he added hastily.
She allowed her flame to dissipate as she turned to look at the corporal square in the eye. The poor man felt that he would wet himself.
"Go on," she prompted.
"We found a chamber that looked like a giant Pai Sho board," said the soldier quickly. "They arranged the pieces into a Lotus Pattern and a small slot in the center of the chamber was left open."
"And this is important because...?" Azula inquired arching an eyebrow.
"W-w-w-well," stuttered the soldier. "We're n-n-n-not s-s-sure. But we know that the Avatar and his cohorts were in that room not too long ago and they thought that whatever was in there was important enough to take.
Azula closed her eyes in thought. When she was young, her uncle had taught her to play Pai Sho and she discovered she had a knack for it. In fact, it was the only activity she ever engaged that fuddy-duddy old fool in. She adored the intricate strategies involved, the clever traps she could lay for her opponents, and especially, she loved winning. In all the times she had played Pai Sho with Iroh, one of the most brilliant tacticians in Fire Nation history, she had only lost twice.
She opened her eyes.
"You say the pieces were arranged in a Lotus Pattern?" she asked the soldier.
"Affirmative, my Lady."
Didn't uncle always lead with the White Lotus tile?
"Thank you corporal," smiled Azula, turning back to the bison. "That will be all."
Aang ducked back behind the corner as three more Fire Nation troops hustled past. Teo, was counting off his remaining grenades, Toph was once again kneeling on the floor reading the vibrations, and Zuko leaned against the wall lost in thought.
Mai...
"How are Katara and the others doing?" the Avatar asked the blind girl.
"Hard to say," answered the tiny earthbender. "Their footsteps are kind of hard to pick out from so many, but I think they're making their way towards Appa."
"They might be able to escape if they can get Appa free," said Teo, wheeling himself closer to Aang.
"That doesn't help our situation much," said Aang glumly. "How much further to your tunnel."
"Not much further," said Toph. "But all the soldiers might be a problem."
"How so?" asked Teo.
"Well," said the blind earthbender, straightening to her feet. "That tunnel wasn't built to last so I'll have to do some digging again, and I can't earthbend to dig and earthbend to fight at the same time. Plus, making that tunnel was a two-person job - one digs, the other maintains the integrity of the structure. So I'm gonna need you Twinkletoes. You been neglecting your earthbending practice anyway."
"That means two of us won't be able to fight," concluded Aang.
"Exactly," confirmed Toph. "Teo's running out of those noisemakers and besides he just might shake down the whole Temple with us in it. As for Zuko...well..."
"Before you try to relate my loss of bending to sexual inadequacy yet again," interrupted the Fire Prince dryly as he took the explosives from Teo. "I have a suggestion."
"What is it Zuko?" prompted the Avatar.
"A diversion. I could use the grenades as distractions and cover your escape with my swords."
Toph gasped, "But that would mean you..."
"No one can get out of here without sacrifice," said Zuko gravely.
"No," declared the Avatar firmly. "I won't leave anyone behind, and that includes you."
"Without my firebending I'm no good to you," countered the Fire Prince. "There's no time to argue. You are the Avatar, the world needs you to stay free and stay alive." He then reached into his pocket and produced the Earth Kingdom knife his uncle had given him.
"Here," he said as he handed it to the airbender. "Take this to my Uncle. He'll be with the White Lotus and can teach you firebending better than I could. If anyone can help you find this airbender valley, he can. Tell him I'm sorry. For everything. And, if you can, try to find my mother."
"Your mother?" gasped the Avatar.
"My father told me she was alive," explained Zuko. "If you can find her tell her, her son finally knows who he is."
"Zuko..." the boy began.
"Go Avatar," the Prince cut in harshly, as he drew his swords.
"Aang."
Zuko raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"You always call me 'Avatar' but my name is Aang," repeated the monk, extending his hand. "We're friends now, aren't we?"
The prince stared at him dumbfounded, but finally accepted the hand and answered, "Yes."
"We'll come back for you Zuko," said the boy. "I promise."
"Thanks," answered Zuko. "Now go!"
And they parted, Aang and the others toward the tunnel and Zuko toward the soldiers, howling at the top of his lungs like a mad animal. That got their attention, and the exploding grenade guaranteed their focus upon him for the next few moments. The Prince was well trained in the sword arts, and was able to engage several opponents at a time, occasionally detonating another bomb to scatter his antagonists. He had to hope that the Avatar - Aang - had escaped with his friends. That Katara and the others had freed the bison and flew away.
Soon he had run out of grenades and he was surrounded. He raised his swords, ready to surrender.
"Well, well, well," came the cold voice he knew all to well. The soldiers parted to admit his sister, striding with all the fatal grace of a leopard-tiger. She fixed Zuko with a triumphant smirk.
"I suppose now you're going to torture me to death for telling father what really happened in Ba Sing Se?" inquired the Fire Prince. He was not shaking. He would not show Azula any fear or weakness.
"Actually," said the Princess with a dismissive drawl. "I thought that was very impressive. I planned for that invasion during the eclipse you know. I plotted out every move, predicted the enemy's every maneuver. I even planned for the Avatar's survival and his eventual attack on the bunker. The one thing I didn't count on however, was my spineless brother not only confessing that he didn't kill the Avatar - the very supposed fact which won you back into dad's good graces mind you - but also telling dad - to his face - that he was going off to orchestrate his downfall."
She chuckled, a low, cold, mirthless laugh. "That was very gutsy of you Zuzu," she said approvingly. "Stupid," she added. "But gutsy."
Quick as the lightning she commanded, Azula lunged at Zuko and kneed him in the stomach. The dao swords clattered to the floor and their owner soon slumped after, propped against his sister's shoulder.
"Congratulations, brother," came Azula's mocking whisper as Zuko faded into unconsciousness. "You're finally behaving like a prince of the Fire Nation. Maybe I could convince dad to allow you to die like one too."
"I don't like it," said Sokka, peering out into the courtyard where Appa was held.
"Neither do I," seconded Haru.
"I already lost the Freedom Fighters and Pipsqueak," said the Duke. "I don't wanna lose you too."
"It's the best way," said Katara.
They had made their way to the courtyard after their encounter with Ty Lee. Fortunately they had managed to avoid any skirmishes with Fire Nation troops. Now that seemed unavoidable.
Katara had suggested that she create cover from the fountain while the others freed Appa, which resulted in the discussion they were currently engaged in.
"At least let Haru help you," pleaded Sokka.
"You need him to cover your back," protested Katara. "I'll be fine. Once I get to that fountain, I'll be unstoppable. You've seen me fight off dozens of soldiers at a time."
"I still don't like it," grumbled Sokka stubbornly.
"You just don't like it because you didn't think of it," sniffed the waterbender.
"Alright," sight the Water Tribe warrior. "We'll try it your way."
"Thanks, Sokka," smiled Katara. Suddenly, unexpectedly, he hugged her.
"Just don't do anything crazy," he whispered. "Okay sis?"
"You mean crazier than anything else we've done this year?" she asked wryly.
"Point taken," smiled Sokka.
"Ka-Katara," stammered Haru, his face flushing. "I-I-I...G-good luck."
"Uh, thanks Haru," answered the Water Tribe girl with a confused smile. Now what was that about?
"Kick butt Katara," grinned the Duke.
"You too kid," smiled the waterbender gently.
"Okay," said Sokka, drawing his sword. "On the count of three...THREE!"
At once they all dashed into the courtyard, immediately raising shouts of alarm from the guards. Haru and Sokka easily dispatched those who were set to guard the bison and immediately set to work untying him with the Duke.
Meanwhile Katara made her way to the fountain, leapt into the ankle-deep water and flew into the Octopus Formation. Deadly whip like tendrils of water lashed out at the firebenders, smothering their flames and sending them careening through the air like rag dolls.
"Almost there," Sokka reassured Appa as he cut away the rope with his sword. Once the last bond was severed, the bison shook off the tethers and licked his rescuers head to foot.
"Okay, okay," said the Water Tribe warrior, shaking the saliva off himself. "We love you too, now how about you give us a ride out of here?"
Appa, lowered himself so that Sokka could climb atop his neck while Haru gave the Duke a boost to the saddle.
"Come on!" the Earth Kingdom called to Katara as he raised a platform and stepped easily aboard the great animal.
The waterbender lowered the tendrils to follow when a black blur swooped past her and she cried out as a sharp pain stabbed her shoulder.
"Katara!" cried the boys from Appa's back.
The fountain water was misted red with the blood from the cut on her shoulder, and nearby floated the black stiletto that grazed her.
"Wow!" congratulated the too-cheery voice of Ty Lee. "Nice shot Mai!"
"What are you talking about?" sighed the gloomy girl, disinterestedly knocking another dart in place. "I missed."
"Get out of here!" called Katara, once again making the water tendrils rise dangerously as firebenders closed in from all around, a task made difficult by her injured arm. "Go!"
"I'm not leaving you behind!" declared Haru. The earthbender looked ready to leap from Appa's back to Katara's aid and her ready to follow.
She bent the water toward the bison's backside and cracked it like a whip. With a bellow of surprise and pain, Appa leapt into the air and began flying away.
"We've gotta go back!" cried Haru, as Sokka pulled on the reins to turn the bison around, but the war balloons were already floating to bar them from the temple. The firebenders aboard the balloons and those harnessed to the catwalks of the airship fired a volley at the bison. Immediately Sokka veered him left and the animal flew toward the cliff edge.
"What are you doing?" Haru demanded angrily.
"There's nothing we can do," said Sokka solemnly. Appa bellowed mournfully as he flew through the air.
Below Katara continued to fight, teeth beared like a cornered arctic wolf, as the tentacles whipped this way and that. Another shuriken penetrated her defense and cut her arm. She lowered the tentacles just enough for Ty Lee to leap through and, with a few quick jabs rendered her unable to move.
"Gotcha!" giggled the acrobat as Katara regarded her captor with fear and rage.
"Captain," came the despicable voice of Azula. "Report."
"We've captured one of them my Lady," answered the toadyish man the Princess had addressed. "But I'm afraid the rest of them escaped."
"Yes the Avatar had managed to elude me as well," sighed Azula. Joy and triumph welled up in Katara. You'll never get your claws on Aang, you witch!
"No matter," drawled the Fire Princess lazily. "We have a most fortuitous consolation prize."
Ty Lee hoisted Katara's limp form over her shoulder and turned toward the airship, the waterbender's eye caught that of the bound and gagged Fire Prince being led after her. As if that wasn't shocking enough Azula absently added, "There are many traps I could lay in this game of Pai Sho. I simply need the proper bait."
Katara felt her blood run cold.
From a distance Mai watched as their prisoners were loaded aboard the vessel. Her eyes never left Zuko. Even as a captive he maintained an air of elegance, pride, and strength, like a caged dragon. She loved these things about Zuko, but they weren't the reason she loved him. She remembered when she first saw him years ago. A shy and unassuming little boy with a gentle continence, not at all like the boorish and swaggering noblemen's sons who bragged about how many Earth Kingdom soldiers they'd slaughter once they were old enough to join the army. The type of boys that she was usually forced to associate with by her parents. He was different, and that always appealed to her.
She could say with all honesty the past weeks she had spent with Zuko - even the misunderstanding and fight they had at Ember Island - were the happiest she ever had, even though she didn't know how to express it to her Prince.
I'm so cold-hearted, she thought dismally. I drove him away.
She bowed her head and made her way up the gangplank that lead to the airship bridge, praying that no one could see the tears streaking her pale cheeks.
Uh oh! How're they gonna get outta this one? Stay tuned cuz we got Cleavland, and Quagmire, and Joe, and Mort, and all your cartoon paaaaaals! As always, R&R, and don't be afraid to give me some criticisms, I'm always looking to improve. Shibui out!