Duke

They were off to Republic City. They didn't stop for anything except when they got hungry or tired. After a while they ran out of food. They stopped at a nearby town. They bought food with the money Katara gave them.

"Wow this town has all the good stuff," Chang said looking at the market food. They were walking towards Ringo when Ruz noticed something out in the open on Duke's neck.

"Boss, shouldn't you hide your necklace? We don't know who could be watching us."

"They wanna fight me then I'll fight them. I'm tired of hiding my necklace. I'm tired of hiding who I am," Duke replied. Ruz just nodded and they kept on walking with food in their hands. Everything seemed to go fine until they noticed these men staring at them.

"Duke those people keep looking at us," Chang said worriedly. "What should we do?"

"Let's just keep walking," Duke replied with a cautious tone in his voice. "It'll be okay." But it wasn't okay the men followed them. After trying to get rid of them. The boys decided to face them. So they stopped.

"Maybe their friendly," Chang said nervously as the men in red and gold came closer.

"Who are you? What do you want from us?" Duke commanded. They didn't say anything at first, but then one of them grabbed Duke by the necklace.

"Where did you get this!" The man yelled.

"It's mine! Let go of it! I didn't steal anything," Duke screamed in confusion.

"It is not yours someone must have gave it to you," the other man said.

"Yeah my father." The men looked at each other in confusion. This couldn't be him. Could it?

"Come on Boss let's go," Ruz said taking Duke's arm. Quickly the boys ran away while the men were still confused.

"Hey! there getting away," one of the men noticed.

"Come on," the other man said as they ran to there camel-moose. The men started chasing the boys.

"Run faster," Duke said noticing the men. The boys ran as fast as they could. Duke earthbent the ground to stall them, but the men just broke through. Chang and Ruz bent and again the men blocked it easily. They got to Ringo and quickly fled off. The men were gaining on the boys.

"Were gonna die," Chang cried out when he saw a knife thrown at them.

"No not today," Duke said noticing a cliff. "If we get past that cliff then we'll lose them."

"Are you mad Boss! We'll just fall off the cliff."

"I'll eathbend us to the other side," Duke yelled. "You got to trust me." Chang and Ruz looked at each other a bit worried on Duke's actions. But they did trust him so they nodded in agreement. Duke made Ringo go faster.

"What are they doing?" One of the men asked noticing they were heading towards the cliff.

"There bluffing," the other man told him. They weren't bluffing. The men continued to chase them getting more hesitant as they got closer to the cliff.

"Okay on the count of three," Duke yelled out. The boys held each other tightly.

"One" The men's camel-moose started to panic.

"Two"

"Are you sure about this-"

"Three" Duke screamed. Just as they were about to fall off the cliff Duke earthbent the ground below them and lifted them up in the air. The men retreated and fell to the ground as there camel-moose's retreated. The boys landed safely on the other side and continued running.

"Haha! You lose we win," Chang yelled out behind him.

"Warn Oji Spence," one of the men commanded.

"What should I tell him?"

"Tell him... Duke ain't dead," the man answered.

The boys didn't stop. They had to make sure they weren't being followed. After a few hours of running they stopped to rest.

"Who were those guys," Ruz asked getting off Ringo.

"I have no idea," Chang replied. "Lets set camp here. It seems safe." He said looking at the sight in front of him.

"It's because of me. It's my fault. I put you all in danger because of my stupid mistake of wanting to show my necklace in public." Duke said sadly.

"No Duke! It's not your fault," Ruz told Duke.

"It is my fault," Duke explained. "That's why tomorrow I'm going to go head off to Republic City, alone."

"Duke we're in this together," Chang said. "We're not gonna let you fight alone." Duke was hesitant at first, but then looked at his friends faces and knew he wasn't alone. He was never alone.

"Okay," Duke agreed. "We set out for Republic City tomorrow." They camped out for the night. The next morning they were off. It was a long journey and everything seemed to go fine until they got closer to Republic City. The boys were traveling when they spotted men dressed like their attackers. They were dressed in red and gold. There were tons of them.

"They must have warned others we were heading this direction," Ruz whispered as they hid behind the bushes.

"What do we do?" Chang asked.

"We split up," Duke answered. "They only want me. You guys head to Republic Cit-"

"No Duke!" Ruz interrupted. "YOU need to go to Republic City not US."

"But they know who I am. I think sacrificing my life is just something I have to-"

"Stop it Duke! Don't talk like that," Ruz said. "You and Chang head out to Republic City while I distract them." Ruz said taking Duke's necklace off of him and putting it on him.

"Ruz I can't let you do this!" Duke said to his friend.

"I have to do this. It's my destiny. Get to Republic City and stop the Spence's," Ruz said heading out in another direction. "Goodbye you guys."

"Ruz no," Duke cried out, but it was too late. He was already gone. Duke and Chang got on Ringo and headed for Republic City.

"He'll be okay, Boss." Chang said noticing Duke upset.

"I hope so," Duke said as they rode towards Republic City. They traveled long and far, but finally they had made it to Republic City.

A man was walking down a long dark hallway and was approaching a guard. The guard looked stunned and held out his weapon.

"Who are you? Visiting hours are over. Come back la-" the guard started to say, but was stabbed in the stomach with a knife. The stranger took the guards keys and unlocked the prison cell. He opened the door and knelt to the ground.

"Master Oji I have good news," he said holding out a necklace. "Duke has finally been... eliminated."

"Good," Oji said taking the necklace. "Now before we go on with our plans there's a place I'd like to visit... Are you aware of that village near the Earth Kingdom?"

"Yes sir," the man said getting up off the floor.

"I need to visit an old friend of mine."