I'll Follow You Home – A Zutara Story.
Meeoko
Summary : Sequel to 'Eventualities Are Inevitable'. After being captured by a group of Fire Nation radicals and uncovering a secret plot to destroy the Avatar Cycle, Zuko and Katara must work together to find a way to stop the Sila Vatra before Sozin's Comet arrives.
Spoilers : Puppet Master, Day Of Black Sun part 1 and 2, Western Air Temple, Fire Bending Masters and Boiling Rock part 1 and 2.
Author's Note : Hey peeps! Sorry about the wait for this chapter. My Jack Russel (called Jack lol) was kind enough to chew through the cable for my laptop's Power Pack and unfortunately, I couldn't charge my laptop on until I got a new one!
Normally, that wouldn't have been too bad, but I'm in a massive budget crisis and couldn't afford a new Power Pack (they're about £30 a pop).
Lucky for you guys, I have a part-time job. I used up my wages so that you guys could read what happens next. Ain't I nice?
So, this wasn't actually just me being lazy (for once). I had a legitimate reason lol.
Bloody Jack..
To make it up to you guys (and because I really loved writing this one), I made this chapter extra long for you all. My chapters are usually about 6000 words, but this one is almost 10,000. So hopefully, that's a big enough extention.
"Ah, Zuzu. Late as usual, I see."
Zuko stared wide-eyed at his sister. He had expected her to arrive, but actually seeing her standing besides The Warden was still a shock. His eyes narrowed and he glared momentarily at his sister before a sharp stab of pain shot through his scar. He hissed through his teeth, clutching at it.
Damn Comet!
"Azula..." he scowled.
Katara tensed beside him and the others stared blankly over at her, as the maniacal smile spread across her lips. Toph's fists were clenched.
"Crazy's here, what a surprise!"
Chit Sang stood beside her with his head down, but his eyes glaring hatefully at The Warden, who smirked at the burly convict. Zuko could see him trembling with rage.
"The Warden..." Chit Sang hissed between his teeth. "He's mine."
Azula placed a hand on her hip and looked at each of them in turn mockingly, her gaze finally settling on Zuko. He immediately felt his blood turning to ice. His inner fire seemed to grow to twice its size as he stared hatefully at his sister. T
he pain in his scar prevented him from snarling at her, as he intended, but that still didn't stop him.
"I was beginning to wonder when you'd get here." Azula droned, waving a hand in the air nonchalantly. "Honestly, if you'd left it any longer, Sozin's Comet would have already arrived."
Her lip curled upwards into a snarl.
"And then I wouldn't have had any fun at all, would I?"
The Fire Princess raised her sharp, pointed fingers and snapped. Zuko immediately took up a bending position, knowing full well what was to come. True to his thoughts, a pair of earthen manacles came flying through the air, straight towards them.
Not this time, Azula!
In one stride, Zuko stepped swiftly in front of Katara, extending his arms forward. A wall of fire shot up in front of them and dissipated the earth manacles almost instantly.
"Don't give them the chance." he hissed to the others, who had also shot into bending and attack positions.
"Not this time." Katara replied, her voice determined and strong.
They watched as the forms of the Dai Lee began to emerge from the shadows. Zuko scanned the area. Many of the agents were standing on platforms jutting out from the inner walls of the volcano – too far away to attack directly.
Several more shot up from underneath the pathway that led to the dais in the centre, gripping into the underside of the rock with their rock-coated hands.
Zuko's eyes darted around, taking everything into memory in the space of less than a second. Ten Dai Lee agents. Six ahead of them, four sitting astride platforms on either side. His eyes shot towards his sister.
I won't let you win this time, Azula. Not again.
"I thought you said the Sila Vatra weren't big enough for you." he hissed at his sister.
"They've grown on me, I must say." she replied as if it were an average conversation. "I was wrong about them. This plan really is quite good. It's almost as if I had thought it up myself!"
Gods, I hate you...
"I had a feeling that you'd survived." Azula continued, sounding disappointed. "Father was most displeased with you, Zuko. He burnt half of the palace down himself, looking for you after you escaped, before he could finish you off. Especially when he learned that it was that fat, lazy, wretched excuse for an Uncle who set you free!"
Zuko felt his fists clenching and another sharp stab of pain shot through his face as he scowled at his sister.
"Don't you talk about him that way!" he raged. "Uncle Iroh is a greater Fire Bender than both you and Ozai! He's the one who should be sitting on the throne!"
Unexpectedly, The Warden began to laugh. It was a long and cruel laugh that shook his broad shoulders and contracted his ugly face into a mass of disturbing glee.
"Iroh is a fool and a coward!" he boomed, after he had finished laughing. "He was weak and pathetic! We could see right through his disguise as soon as we saw him! A spineless, feeble old man and nothing more!" he spat on the floor, to signify his distaste. "The man isn't even fit to call himself Fire Nation!"
What. Did. You. Say?
Zuko grit his teeth together until the sidesplitting pain in his scar began to blur his vision. His clenched fists began to shake with rage.
"Hey! Don't you bring Pops into this!" Toph scowled, pointing a finger towards the dais where both Azua and Chun Sau stood. "He's a great man, even if he is old!"
Chun Sau simply smirked and raised an eyebrow.
"How endearing. The weak and treacherous Fire Nation Prince, come to claim his glory with an army of children, a blind girl and a stinking, worthless prisoner."
Chit Sang bared his teeth. The Warden shook his head and smiled.
"It is a fitting army for such a weak and pathetic opponent."
I'll show you weak!
"This ends now!" Zuko snarled, his eyebrow twitching in anger. His eyes watered from the burning pain in his face. "Get out of here right now, Azula, and I might just let you live."
The Fire Princess sighed and waved a hand in the air nonchalantly.
"Oh, Zuzu, please. Spare me your dramatics. You and I both know that I'll only be leaving this place once I've found what I needed. And I'm afraid, dear brother," her eyes narrowed into slits. "that once I am done, I shall be bringing you back with me to the palace whether you like it or not. Father does so miss you."
Katara tensed beside Zuko and pointed a finger at Azula, her hand shaking with both fear and rage.
"You won't get that far! What's wrong with you people? Don't you have any idea what you're doing? You're both sick!"
Rolling her eyes, Azula sighed and crossed her arms.
"I tire of this. I think it's time that somebody put you in your place, you filthy peasant!"
"Bring it, Crazy. I've been wantin' a rematch!" Toph snarled, stomping a foot on the ground.
Azula smirked from her place on the dais. The Warden stood smugly, with legs apart and broad arms crossed. He smirked at Zuko, his reptilian face spreading out into an ugly grin.
"It has been a pleasure, my Traitor Prince."
Yeah. It's been a real walk in the flowers!
"Dai Lee!" Azula commanded, waving a definitive arm. "Take them down!"
A semi-circle of boulders flew through the air straight at them, their momentum driven on by the Dai Lee clinging to the walls of the volcano. Stamping her foot roughly on the ground, Toph cast out her own boulder at the Dai Lee in front of them before the earth sank down underneath them into a small pit and the boulders soared over their heads, shattering against the wall behind.
"It's time to finish this!" Suki shouted confidently through her teeth.
Toph nodded.
In the millisecond it took for Toph to stamp her foot once more and bring them back up to surface level, Zuko shot one last look at Katara. She looked back at him with the same determined face he had seen throughout the entire time he had known her. Her lips were a tight, thin line and he could see her clenching her jaw, but he still thought that she looked beautiful.
I'm sorry Katara. Sorry that you ever had to be brought into all of this. I love you.
Each stiffening into a bending stance as they jutted back up to face Azula's Dai Lee agents, they immediately went on the offensive.
Zuko lashed out, thrusting his palms forward and sending a wave of fire at one of the Earth Bender's perched on the side of the volcano. The man easily avoided it, encasing himself in a skin of earth and letting the fire dissipate harmlessly against it.
Was that...was that bigger than usual?
Ducking to avoid being hit in the face by a hurtling rock, Zuko kicked out another fireball, sending a Dai Lee agents off balance as he ran towards Suki.
The pain shooting through his scar was almost unbearable, but he let the emotions filter out of him. He forced himself to let go of physical pain, feelings and attachments. Though it dulled it only slightly, Zuko could feel the eerie calm of the Warrior's Will begin to take over.
"Hey pretty boy!"
Darting his head around to look at Chit Sang, Zuko immediately began running over to him, already sensing the cogs turning in the mans mind. He had something planned.
Weaving in and out of boulders and clumps of earth moving beneath his feet, Zuko leapt up in the air, propelled by the force of a shaft of earth moving underneath him and landed next to Chit Sang. Katara stood next to him, each guarding the others side. She nodded to him and he immediately took his place on Chit Sang's right, each forming a tight circle against the shadowy figures of the Dai Lee that were beginning to come at them.
"Zuko, you remember the Blood Mist?" Katara hissed to his left, the glistening shaft of water passing between her hands.
All too well...
"Yeah, why?" he asked quickly, pelting away another earth manacle with a swift sidekick.
Katara sent out a series of sharpened icicles at one of the Dai Lee, standing on the platform bent into the volcano wall. They travelled through the air quickly, but before the Dai Lee could counter-act them, Katara immediately turned them back into slivers of water, confusing the man and throwing him off balance.
Guiding the orbs of water around the mans hands and feet, she swiftly froze them back over, pinning the aggravated man to the wall.
"Think we can do the same thing with lava?" she breathed, turning her head around quickly to face them. There was a smirk on her face.
Aang stood tall and proud as he looked down at the Fire Nation capital. He could see hundreds of Fire Bender's, gathered in the streets, each filed into still and waiting ranks.
Appa let out a bellowing cry as they looked down from their place in the sky. It was as red as blood.
"You ready for this?"
Sokka placed a steady hand on the young Avatar's shoulder as they both looked down at the ranks of Fire Bender's from Appa's saddle.
Aang took in a long and even breath, letting it out again through his nose as he frowned.
"No. But right now I have to be."
In the city centre, there was a large dais, though to Aang, it looked more like a throne. In the centre, stood the Fire Lord, draped in an intricate and intimidating weave of dark red spiked armour. The soldiers stood alert and ready in front of it, screaming and cheering as the bellowing voice of Fire Lord Ozai gave them strength.
The shouts and warcries reached them loud and long, even in the sky.
"Is everyone in position?" Aang asked seriously, not once taking his eyes away from the small shape of the Fire Lord.
Sokka nodded, repositioning his Water Tribe wolf helmet.
"Teo's dad and the others have plastered the new burning jelly onto all the weak spots of the palace and some on the docks, so the Fire Lord can't escape. When you give the word, they'll set them off."
He pointed behind him at Teo, who was busy making last-minute adjustments to the glider built into his wheelchair.
"Teo's loaded with more burning jelly and he's going to try and destroy some of the Fire Navy ships in the dock. The Earth Benders are underneath the tunnels. They're going to take out most of the soldiers by bringing them underground. My dad and the rest are all in key locations and are taking control of the guard towers right now."
He looked over at Aang, his face grave but ready.
"As soon as the Earth Benders make their move, they're going to advance on the generals and admirals, so the way is clear. The Fire Lord's all up to you, buddy."
Aang swallowed a lump in his throat. His heart thumped wildly in his chest and his bones shook with nerves. But he pushed it aside. He was going to do this. He had to.
"Sokka?"
"Yeah, Aang?"
The Avatar opened his mouth to say something. To say goodbye. To ask Sokka to take care of the others if he didn't make it back. To make him promise to protect Toph.
But he stopped short. He couldn't do it. Sokka needed to believe in him now, and so did everyone else.
"You're...you're a really great warrior, Sokka."
Sokka smiled a small smile filled with both gratitude, pride and sadness. The sky began to grow a little darker as the comet drew nearer.
"You know, I'm really glad we pulled you outta that iceberg."
Aang also smiled, thinking back to that fateful day. The day the whole world began to tilt back into balance. The day he had been reborn.
"So am I, Sokka. So am I."
The sound of crashing echoed through the volcano.
"Blood Mist? You wanna fill me in on this one, Princess?" Chit Sang grunted as he sent a flurry of kicks and punches of fire at the Dai Lee agents on the pathway in front of them. They were slowly making headway!
Great! Pretty Boy and Princess. I knew those names would stick!
"No time!" Zuko shot back, glancing at the convict quickly before a series of small and sharp pellets of earth shot at him. Flipping onto his back, the darts flew harmlessly overhead and Zuko quickly righted himself again. "Just do what I do!"
Chit Sang nodded. One of the earth shards was lodged into his arm, the crimson blood soaking through the brown of his Earth Kingdom clothes. But the burly convict didn't even seem to notice!
Sending forth a wave of fire, Zuko tried to clear the Dai Lee away from in front of them. Many of them shot backwards, encasing themselves in protective rock. He had to get to the point where the pathway and the opening of the tunnel joined places.
Chit Sang stood beside him and the two Fire Benders lunged forwards, slowly driving the Dai Lee back up the path with fiery punches. They moved in perfect formation and Zuko felt glad that he had chosen Chit Sang to replace him as Aang's Fire Bending teacher when they had gone undercover into the capital. He was precise, forceful and accurate. Almost like a military man!
Well, he did have a lot of free time in the Boiling Rock. Plenty of time to practice!
They reached the edge, where the pathway joined up into the tunnel. Each moving to separate sides in front of the path, Zuko looked over at his large companion and nodded.
Just do as I do!
Trying to unclench his jaw, Zuko took in a slow breath in. For a moment, Chit Sang looked confused at the simple task, but quickly began to imitate him. Placing two fists in front of himself, by his stomach, Zuko continued to breath slowly in and out. Chita Sang did much the same.
"What are you doing?" Katara called from behind them, as she bat away a series of rocks with protective arms of water.
"This will work!" Zuko called back, trying not to break his concentration. "Trust me, Katara!"
At least, I hope so...
Holding himself steady and sure, Zuko continued to breathe in and out, slowing down the blood inside his body as quickly as he could. The lava below seemed to stir for a moment and he let out a long breath, willing the lava to be controlled.
Zuko could remember his Uncle's words.
"Studying the Water Bender's has taught me many things, Zuko. You'd be surprised what you can learn from each of the different nations. They each harbour great wisdom and courage. Perhaps one day you shall learn for yourself."
And he had.
Continuing to slowly inhale and exhale with the help of Chit Sang, Zuko began to see the molten lava beneath him change. I
t was still as fiery and fierce as his own element, but there was something about its movements. The way it began to slowly pulse and ripple, surging up and down, as if it were a wave. As if it were water.
Don't screw this up. It's still fire. You just have to move it like water. Just combine the bending elements, like Uncle did.
Zuko had been watching Katara bend whenever possible. The idea had struck him several weeks ago and at first, he had though of it as impossible. But he had learnt a Water Bending form himself. It had saved him from his father's lightning! Surely it could be done a different way!
Zuko repeated the comforting mantra over and over again in his head.
It's still Fire Bending. You know what you're doing. It's still Fire Bending. You know what you're doing.
Rocks and slivers of earth shards that flew towards them were quickly shattered by Suki, who darted in and around each of them, slicing the oncoming boulders in half with her lethal fan. She unsheathed a kris blade, hidden beneath her Kyoshi robes and threw it swiftly at an oncoming Dai Lee agent.
It flew through the air, spinning rapidly and lodged itself into the mans rice hat, the momentum of the spinning blade forcing him back and pinning him to a wall. He struggled ridiculously as he tried to untie the clasp around his throat that kept the hat in place.
Of course, it wouldn't hold him for more than a few seconds, but it bought them valuable time.
Knife Bending! Ha! Who'd have thought?
If it had been in any other situation, Zuko might have laughed at the man struggling comically with the tie of his rice hat. He might have blushed and felt like an idiot as he wondered how many more hidden weapons Suki had concealed on herself. He hoped that Sokka knew about it.
Or he might have even taken the time to enjoy the memory of he and Katara in the woods, when he had tried to teach her how to throw knives. When she had almost decapitated him and he had felt her smooth skin underneath his hands as he guided her through each movement.
But he didn't have time for any of these things. He didn't have much time at all.
He tried to keep his concentration, as the lava beneath him began to yield more easily to the synchronised breathing of both himself and Chit Sang.
Fire Bending comes from the breath. Water Bending comes from the form.
"Zuko! Whatever it is you're doing, hurry up!" Katara's voice sounded strained as the sound of a Water Whip cracking sounded behind him.
Bringing one foot behind himself, Zuko arched his arms outwards and then back into himself again.
He willed himself to ignore Katara's calls, the noise of the battle and the intense, fiery pain in his scar. The quiet sanctuary of his Warrior's Will was beginning to fade without the inward distractions and the pain had returned to his face tenfold.
Concentrate. Just move.
He continued to lunge forward and arch back, pulling and pushing his fists in the same direction, but less forcefully than he would as a Fire Bender. It was as if he was pulling the lava, or beckoning it to him.
Though Chit Sang shot him the same cautious glance, he too followed Zuko's steps and took up the same form, pushing and pulling, backwards and forwards.
Slowly, the ripples of lava beneath them began to grow bigger and vaster. They lunged up and down, lashing against the walls of the volcano. It was slow and thick like oil, but it still moved like water. He could control it!
Zuko felt like an idiot and a fool, but it was working!
Thank Agni!
"Ugh! I've had it with these guys!" Toph yelled, furiously as yet another boulder came hurtling towards her from the many Dai Lee agents lining the walls. "I can't get a clear shot!"
Thrusting both hands upwards, Toph covered herself with a wall of earth. For a moment, she stood there with eyes closed, breathing, much like Zuko and Chit Sang. She looked as if she had given up or was tired of Azula's game of cat and mouse.
But Zuko knew her better than that.
Come on, Toph! Don't disappoint me with this one!
Snapping her blank eyes open, Toph immediately straightened. A small smirk lifted the corner of her mouth. Bringing a fist into her open palm, she shot into a bending sequence Zuko hadn't seen before. She thrust her arms outwards at her sides, slowly bringing them above her head. A small tremor seemed to pass through the earth, but Zuko might have imagined it.
Letting a triumphant laugh escape her lips, Toph brought down her fists to smack into the earth underneath her with all the force she could muster.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Toph knelt with her fists still indented in the earth below and the rocks continued to pelt at her shield.
But then a mighty rumble began to sound through the basin of the volcano. The walls seemed to vibrate and small chips of rubble fell down from the upper circle. Suddenly, the platforms of each Dai Lee gave way, sinking back into the volcano and sending the bewildered Earth Bender's plummeting towards the scorching lava below.
"Toph!" Katara called out, as she watched the terrified men hurtling to their deaths. "Stop them!"
Still caring, even when it's the enemy...
Shooting back up from her position on the ground with palms in the air, Toph jabbed two fingers in the direction of each falling man. Large clusters of rocks shot out from the walls of the volcano and instantly moulded around the agents as they fell, drawing them back into the walls in a vice-like grip and rending them unable to bend.
"What?" Toph called back with a smirk on her face and shrugging. "I wasn't actually gonna let them fall, Princess!"
Katara pouted as she took her place between Chit Sang and Zuko, directly in the centre of the path. She didn't look too certain that Toph was being entirely truthful.
"Ready?" she asked them both certainly, as the last wave of Dai Lee rushed towards them on boards of earth.
"Ready!" they both called in unison, still pushing and pulling the lava. The waves were getting larger and more forceful, lapping higher and higher up the volcano walls. Small scolding sparks flew up into the air like a shower of crimson stars.
Dear Agni, please let this work!
Forcing a large quantity of glistening water from one of her skins, Katara left the orb floating in the air. Her fingers trembled, though only slightly as they held the large blob of water in place.
The Dai Lee rushed towards them on their platforms of earth, though Suki and Toph darted between them, fending off the inevitable attack for as long as possible.
Zuko and Chit Sang continued to push and pull the swell of lava that was growing in force by the minute, cascading up the side of the volcano in torrents, perilously close to spilling over the edge and onto them.
Zuko sent a silent prayer to Agni. He looked over at Chit Sang, who was sweating profusely, with a look of hard concentration on his face.
"One more time! We need to make it bigger!"
Sensing the urgency in Zuko's voice, Suki and Toph turned back around from the onslaught of Dai Lee and ran back down the path. Suki seemed to have a limp and there was a nasty scrape across Toph's arm.
Pushing the wave of steaming lava back out as Suki and Toph took cover behind them, Zuko called out to Katara.
I hope Uncle was right!
"Now Katara!"
Throwing all of his weight backwards with one mighty heave, Zuko and Chit Sang pulled up two huge, scorching waves of lava up over the sides of the pathway. They flew high into the air, falling back down again towards Katara.
Please let this work!
Snapping her fingers open, Katara sent her orb of water directly into both sides of the towering walls of lava, falling towards her.
Iroh looked out over the plains of the Earth Kingdom. In the distance, there stood the great walls of the city of Ba Sing Se. The surrounding earth was as red as blood.
"Think we can take 'em?" King Bumi asked beside him, flicking a White Lotus tile back and forth over his knuckles.
"The Fates smile upon us today." Master Jeong Jeong replied, looking out at the great white city. "Wu has read the bones and the chances are good. I believe that today, Ba Sing Se shall be its own once again."
Master Piando rolled his eyes as he polished his sword, ready for the battle that was sure to soon come.
"Don't tell me you believe in all that jargon, Jeong Jeong? Though Wu may be a brilliant tactician in the field of battle, her...fortune telling skills are somewhat questionable."
"He doesn't." the crazy Earth King replied, before Jeong Jeong had the chance. "But I know for a fact that he's taken quite a liking to her since we all got here, if you catch my drift."
He elbowed Master Pakku in the arm.
"Eh? Eh? You know what I'm talking about."
Sighing and rubbing a weary hand over his eyes, Master Pakku fought the urge to freeze King Bumi over until the attack. Though he was a powerful bender and a worthy allience, the jittery Earth King had a rather irritating habit of continually talking. Considering most members of the White Lotus Society were reserved, quiet men who liked to keep to themselves, Bumi stuck out like a sore thumb.
They all found his constant chattering and boundless energy a little trying at times. This was one of them.
"Yes, Bumi." Master Piando sighed. "But do you really think that this is suitable conversation when we're about to head into battle?"
The crazy Earth King pouted and crossed his arms.
"Well, aren't we just a bunch of grumpy old men?"
"For Agni's sake, Bumi! Can you take nothing seriously?" Master Jeong Jeong snapped, his catfish whiskers ruffling as he blew out irritably. Their campfire suddenly flew up to a height that wouldn't have been considered safe.
Bumi put a hand on his hips and puffed out his chest defensively.
"Well, perhaps I would be just as grumpy and sour as you if I was the one too afraid to just ask a nice lady out for dinner-"
"Gentleman."
The masters fell silent as Iroh's calm voice broke through the hubbub. He did not face them, but still looked out onto the plains. He could just about see the Fire Nation insignia hanging from its walls, swaying in the wind. A ripple of warmth blew through the air and Iroh happily breathed it in. He could smell it. The calm before the storm. The arrival of Sozin's Comet.
"I believe that we have much to do in very little time. We must not bicker amongst ourselves if we are to defeat the enemy."
Iroh knew that he should have felt a little odd referring to his countrymen as 'the enemy', but he didn't.
"There are many dangers that we must face today, my friends, though I fear that many of them are not within the walls of Ba Sing Se, but within ourselves."
The masters remained silent. Piando frowned at Bumi in confusion and the Earth King shrugged, clueless as to what General Iroh was referring to, though not willing to ask him.
Iroh closed his eyes and thought of his nephew. He had received Zuko's letter that morning and had read it over and over again with tears in his eyes. He knew exactly what Zuko had been referring to in his letter and it saddened him. Of course, his young nephew was fully aware of the dangers of the Spirit World, but the prospect he had put forward scared Iroh. He couldn't stand to lose Zuko too.
'But I know, that if she was ever put in that kind of danger, I would do anything I could to save her. And that is why I don't think that I'll live to see the Avatar bring about peace. I love her, Uncle.
You said to me once that destiny was a funny thing. I didn't believe you then, as I should have, but I do now.'
Iroh wondered if Zuko ever had told Katara the truth. Did she know what he was willing to do to save her if they both ended up in the Spirit World? Did she realise what would happen if they entered?
Iroh felt tears pricking behind his eyes as he thought of his son, Lu Ten. His only son, his pride and joy, had also paid the price of the Spirit World.
"If two go in only one must come out." he whispered to himself, reciting the old legends. "When he world collide, torn apart with an edge to shatter the very air, the Face Stealer must claim his payment."
"What?"
Hearing Master Pakku's voice and snapping back to reality, Iroh turned back around to face the masters, each dressed in the white uniforms of the White Lotus Society. Forcing himself to push all thoughts of the Spirit World away, Iroh sent a small wave of good chi out to his nephew, wherever he was. It was up to him now. And Iroh knew that he could do it. He could help to save the world.
A small but proud smile danced across Iroh's face. He was feeling lucky!
"Master Jeong Jeong," he said, the smile spreading into a cheeky grin. "I would listen to King Bumi. Wu is certainly a magnificent woman. I think that you would do well to ask her to join you for a cup of tea once all of this is over."
Master Jeong Jeong smacked himself in the forehead and groaned.
There was an almighty hissing noise and a rush of heat hit them all in the face.
Zuko coughed and stumbled backwards, momentarily stunned by the scorching heat. Hauling himself back up from the floor, he took in a deep breath to regain the air that was knocked out of him. A sharp burning sensation hit the back of his throat and he coughed harshly.
He quickly covered his mouth with his sleeve and tried to call through the darkness.
"Katara, where are you?"
He couldn't see a single thing! The entire volcano was filled to the brim with hot, damp steam, created by the combination of the walls of lava and water. He could hear shoutingand stunned voices. Apparently, the Dai Lee and his sister were just as lost as they were!
Just like the Blood Mist.
Zuko felt a tug on his arm and nearly jumped.
"Sparky?" Toph coughed harshly as the gases hit her "That you?"
Letting out a quick breath, Zuko clasped onto Toph's wrist. He didn't want to lose anybody!
"Cover your mouth!" he mumbled through his sleeve. The Earth Bender followed suit although she continued to cough.
"Katara!" he called again, wincing as both the terrible smell of the gas and the pain in his scar hit him. It was slowly getting worse. Even his Warrior's Will could not withstand it. The Comet was getting closer! "Katara!"
"Zuko?"
Thank Agni!
"Katara, we're over here! Follow my voice!"
The sound of footsteps echoed through the volcano basin over the startled cries of the Dai Lee. Zuko felt slick with sweat as the moisture in the air settled on his skin and the heat of the lava below made even him uncomfortably hot. His damp hair kept falling into his eyes and it irritated him to no end.
Zuko could hear more muffled coughing and his grip on Toph's wrist tightened. He couldn't see a thing through the steam, though it was slowly beginning to rise up through the funnel of the volcano. They didn't have much time before their cover was blown.
Isn't this gas...flammable? If anyone Fire Bends, it could be the end for all of us!
"Zuko!"
Squinting into the steam and ignoring the pain building behind his eyes, Zuko searched for Katara. A dark shape slowly began to take form through the blur of white, followed by others. Zuko tensed, fearing it was the Dai Lee. Had they found them?
"Zuko, come on!"
He tried not to take in a relieved breath when Katara's form finally emerged through the endless steam. She was clasping onto Chit Sang's hand and he onto Suki's, all following her lead. She had a strip of blue cloth pressed to her mouth and nose, freshly torn from her dress and she was glistening with sweat. The heat of both the volcano and the steam was proving just a little too much.
"We need to get to Azula and The Warden before the steam clears." she mumbled behind the cloth. Her eyes were red as the deadly chemicals in the air circled around them. "We don't have a lot of time!"
She coughed into the cloth, much like everyone else. Zuko's stomach seemed to fall out from under him. Who knew if the gas was fatal or not? How much longer would they be able to stand it?
If only Aang was here. He could use his Air Bending to get rid of it! Why didn't I think about this before? Stupid, stupid, stupid!
"This stuff stinks!" Toph whined beside him as Zuko took Suki's hand and they began to follow Katara through the mist.
"I can't Fire Bend in here!" Zuko called to the front of the line, where Katara led them. "I think the gas is flammable. If anyone in here even makes a spark, it's the end!"
"You'll just...have to use your swords." Suki replied, her voice strained and croaky from inhaling too much of the gas. "It's blowing up...through the volcano, so we...won't have to wait much longer."
Suki was right. Slowly but surely, the steam shield in front of them was beginning to thin out. It would soon float harmlessly out of the top of the volcano. But still, Zuko didn't want to risk using his Fire Bending.
I only hope that Azula's figured it out too...
Though Katara bent away the moisture in the air to clear their path, there was nothing that she could do to prevent them from breathing in the gas.
Slowly but surely, Katara cleared the way ahead of them, giving them a window through the thick steam to find their way towards the path.
Zuko tried not to breathe. Both of his hands were latched onto someone else's, so he couldn't cover his mouth. Suki and Chit Sang seemed to have the same problem and would cough and splutter frequently.
They made their way up the lengthy pathway at a jog, towards Azula and The Warden. The pathway was slender and they all had to take great care not to misjudge their steps through the steam. If they did, then all of them would go hurtling down into the lava below.
Several Dai Lee agents were borne into the pathway, sealed down with rock. Toph had already taken care of them.
Zuko hoped that they could still breathe.
What about Azula? And Chun Sau?
The steam shielding them thinned as they made their way over the bridge. It was rapidly filtering up into the sky. Zuko could even begin to make out the dais through it as they ran.
He felt dizzy.
His Warrior's Will could hold out no longer against the force of Sozin's Comet and the almighty pain splitting down the side of his face hit him hard. He stumbled, but quicky regained his balance again.
Don't fall, for Agni's sake! Don't fall!
Perhaps it was the toxic gases filling his lungs, the pain behind his eyes brought on by the comet. Maybe it was the lack of sleep he'd had the night before due to his nightmares, or the fact that he wouldn't allow himself to breathe for very long, but whatever it was - Zuko was beginning to feel himself slip.
They neared the dais.
This is it!
Breaking the chain and spreading out onto the dais, they each took up an attack position. Zuko wavered slightly, but willed himself to stay alert. The steam was almost completely gone and breathing was slowly becoming easier, though his eyes stung terribly.
"Azula!" he called forcefully, challenging his sister.
The steam parted as it filtered away. He looked around as the very last tendrils of it cleared and blew away.
What the-!
There was nobody there!
Neither The Warden or his sister was in sight! Apart from a single alter in the centre of the dais, there was nothing!
"Where are they?" Suki asked, her strained voice sounding panic-stricken.
Twitching her head, Toph's eye immediately flew wide. Raising a fist in the air, she went to bring it down to meet the rock.
"They're undergro-!"
Toph was cut off as a cluster of rock shot up from underneath the ground and encased her fist, bringing it down into the earth. A second flew up and grabbed her other hand, sending her face down into the dirt.
"Toph!"
Katara flexed a Water Whip towards the earth bindings. But the water fell uselessly to the floor as her own hand was suddenly encased in rock, and then the other.
Earth shot up from the ground at all of them before they could react. Rocks moulded around Zuko's feet, keeping him in place. He reached for the Black Ice Blade at his side, but more lumps of earth wrapped around his hands and brought him down onto his knees, sending the blade clattering to the floor. He couldn't move!
No! NO!
"Toph, do something!"
The small Earth Bender was completely encased in rock now, with only her head visible. She spat the dirt away from her mouth as she struggled to free herself.
"Does it look like I can do something, Sparky? I told you they were underground!"
Even Chit Sang and Suki were unable to free themselves.
Suki had jumped up in the air to try to avoid the rock shackles, but it had caught her ankle, bringing her right back down into the dirt.
"Well someone do something!" Zuko called desperately as he tugged and struggled against the rocks that held him. "Azula's going to-"
A large cracking noise echoed through the volcano and a shudder shook the dirt beneath their feet. Up from the earth rose Azula, with The Warden and two of the Dai Lee. She was smirking. They had used the exact same trick that Toph has only minutes before!
"Going to what, brother?" she toyed, her sharp mouth curving into a victorious smile. "To kill you? Because it certainly is tempting."
No, no, no!! Not when we were so close!
"It was a valiant effort, Prince Zuko." The Warden smiled gleefully, wiping the dirt from his hands. "But I'm afraid that, as usual, you simply weren't good enough."
Bending down in front of him, The Warden sent a hard fist into Zuko's face. Pain exploded in his temple and he gasped, wincing not only from the blow, but from the searing pain bursting through his scar. Red spots danced in front of his eyes and the corners of his vision momentarily grew dark.
Gods! I'm going to kill him! Promise or not – I'm going to kill him!
"Zuko!"
Katara's voice sounded pained and scared as she fought against her own bonds. Toph's eyes flew wide at the sound and she struggled even more against her cocoon of rock.
"Fry him, Sparky! Go all Dragon Breath on his butt!"
The Fire Princess stood over Toph, crossing her arms and looking down on her with an amused look.
"Yes, that would be a wonderful idea. Let loose a breath of fire when there is still flammable gas in the air." she tutted. "My, my, such simpletons. Aren't you supposed to be the daughter of a nobleman?"
Toph said nothing, but continued to glare. She couldn't look up at Azula with one side of her face pressed into the dirt, even if it would be with blind eyes. Looking back up at the rest of them, Azula continued to gloat, her icy voice ringing in Zuko's ears.
"You know, Zuzu, you really should have stayed in the palace." Azula cooed, placing a hand on her chin as she walked between each of them, inspecting her prey. "I'm sure that whatever father was torturing you with was far more quick and painless that what I'm going to do to you."
Zuko's breath was ragged. The pain inside his head was almost unbearable and his head was swimming. He could barely hear what his sister was saying. He looked down at the floor and blinked continually, trying to clear his vision and rid himself of the pain. He called out in his head, praying to the spirits for some release. But the scorching pain wouldn't release its hold.
Make it stop. Make it stop. Please make it stop!
"I knew you was a coward, Warden," Chit Sang spat, lunging forwards, though his bonds held him back. "but hittin' a man when he's down! You that much of'a weakling you gotta do it when he can't fight back?"
"Silence!" The Warden hissed, glaring at the stranded con. "You'll hold your tongue, Chit Sang, or lose it!"
The two remaining Dai Lee stood motionless behind them, guarding over the alter placed in the centre. Their faces were hidden in treacherous shadow, as they always were. The other Dai Lee agents were nowhere to be seen. They were probably still encased in rock.
Zuko shuddered as the throbbing pain inside his head began to overtake his body. It seemed to circulate throughout him like a bolt of Azula's lightning. His vision was beginning to blur and his head lolled forward as he stared at the ground in an attempt to rid himself of the pain caused by the sunlight above. He was in too much pain to notice that the sky was dyed a crimson red.
Agni, help me! I can't take this much longer!
"Now," Azula turned to face Chun Sau "I believe it's time that we finished this. Judging by my brothers reactions, Sozin's Comet should be upon us any minute."
The Warden bowed his head to the Fire Princess, though it was obvious that he loathed her ability to make him obey her every command. It was his plan, but he didn't want to be branded a traitor for disobeying her orders.
"Yes, Princess."
Zuko heard Katara gasp when Chun Sau reached inside his tunic and pulled out the darkened, shining stone. Her great-grandmother, Nori's necklace.
"Don't you touch it!" she called, glaring at his ugly, sagging face as if it would kill him. "That belongs to me! You have no right to even hold it!"
The Warden smirked, holding the tiny stone between his thumb and forefinger. Katara seemed to freeze when he looked over at her.
"I believe not, my little Water Bender. This is staying with me." he licked his lips. "And once this is all over, I should very much like to take you with me as well."
Zuko tried to look up at Katara with blurry eyes. Her figure split into two and span, but he could still see the look of utter terror on her face.
"Don't you...don't you...touch her." he gasped, unable to either raise his voice or form a complete sentence. His words cost him dearly as a fresh wave of raw pain coursed through him and he swayed, trying to fix his gaze on The Warden.
"You ain't gettin' away with this, Warden!" Chit Sang shouted gruffly as he strained feebly against his bonds.
"I'm afraid that's where you are both wrong." The Warden replied, his menacing voice low and threatening. He leant down beside Chit Sang and said quietly in his ear, smiling. "Oh, and Chit Sang...when you left my prison, there was no one left to protect your friend Ty. If I recall, he was the only one of your party left, wasn't he? Pity. I'm afraid he didn't quite make it."
Chit Sang froze, looking directly ahead with his mouth open. His arms trembled and when The Warden pulled away, he remained that way, looking ahead with empty, glassy eyes.
I'll kill him...I'll kill him...
"Chun Sau!" Azula clicked her fingers irritably, pursing her lips. "I believe I gave you an order. Now stop wasting my time and lets get this over with!"
The Warden's smile momentarily faded at the affront to his ego, but he bowed his head and headed towards the dais. Nori's necklace twirled between his fingers as he flicked it over his knuckles.
"Don't do this!" Suki called, tugging against the earth holding her ankles. "You're going to destroy thousands of people for nothing but glory!"
"I swear, Crazy, if you don't let me outta here right now and stop being such a spoilt brat, I'm gonna break outta this thing and kick your butt back to the Fire Nation!"
"Please! You don't have to do this! What's wrong with you people?"
But neither Azula nor Chun Sau replied, or even turned their heads. They walked towards the alter, Azula leading the way. The Dai Lee stepped aside from their places at its side and bowed as the two crazed Fire Nation radicals stood before it. Zuko could feel his mind beginning to slow down. It was slipping away from him.
No...no...
Zuko watched as The Warden placed the small, shining stone into the centre of the alter. His head swam as the pain shot through his brain like flickering waves of electricity.
"Don't...don't..."
"I believe it is time." Azula took in a deep breath and smiled maniacally. "I can already smell the arrival of Sozin's Comet! In a few minutes, every Fire Bender on earth with be bestowed with the power of a thousand burning suns."
"Yes, my Princess." he replied, a sickly smile spreading across his face. "Let us show the Avatar the full power of the Fire Nation."
A glimmer of light caught Zuko's eye and he forced his head up slowly, biting back a curse. In The Warden's hand, a shining metal blade with a hilt of green and a message carved into its side flickered in the slowly darkening volcano. Zuko squinted, feeling his eyelids beginning to close.
"Never...give up...without...without a fight."
My...my dagger...
Chun Sau raised the Earth Kingdom dagger up above his head, raising his voice in triumph, lost in the euphoria of his victory.
"With the blood of a thousand men, I command you – open!"
With a grunt of power, he lurched forward, bringing the dagger down with all the force he could muster. Katara let out a sob and Zuko took in a shallow breath.
The sharpened point of the dagger fell through the air, directly above Nori's betrothal necklace, the metal shimmering in the air as the tip slammed down into the heart of the Black Ice.
The Warden cried out. Not in victory, but in pain.
Zuko's dagger shattered into a thousand pieces, splintering out into Chun Sau's hand and onto the earth. A flicker of light spread across Nori's necklace and the black stone shimmered. But it was still whole. The dagger hadn't even made a dent in it!
Thank Agni...
"Idiot!" Azula barked, her voice raised in anger. "What is this foolishness? You told me that that the stone would bleed! I do not expect anything otherwise!"
Katara gasped and let out a breath. It might have been relieved laughter.
Suki was smiling slightly as she watched The Warden hiss in pain as he grabbed at his bleeding hand. Chun Sau still had not moved, or taken his eyes away from the same spot on the floor. The man looked lost.
"F-forgive me, Princess." The Warden breathed haggardly, hissing between his teeth as he picked out shards of the broken dagger from his trembling palm. "I-I can't understand why it hasn't worked. The-the stone should bleed!"
Azula's mouth twitched in irritation.
The air began to grow hotter, despite the flowing lava beneath them. The sky grew another shade darker, thrusting them all into shadow as the blood red sky blocked out the sun. Another burst of pain tore through Zuko's head and he cried out, shaking his head back and forth. Another fresh burst of heat filled the air and he panted. He couldn't breathe. It was all too much! He couldn't help anyone like this!
Make it stop! Make it stop! Please! MAKE IT STOP!
Extending a hand quicker than a Viper-rat, Azula gripped The Warden's bleeding palm and squeezed it tightly in her grasp, making him wince and cry out in pain. She dug her nails into the back of his palm as the burly, towering man crumbled under her grip.
"Fool! Sozin's Comet is here! We are running out of time! Why you are left to organise this operation, I don't know! You're just as incompetent as your niece!"
Releasing her hold on Chun Sau's hand, she pointed a bloodied finger – right at Zuko!
"No matter. If blood is what we need, then we shall have it regardless. Dai Lee, bring me my brother! I think we have found use for him yet."
A scalding heat filled the air. The sky grew the darkest of reds. Blood red.
The fiery comet tore through the air, down from the heavens, leaving an angry red trail behind it. It burnt at Aang's skin, though it was still miles away. He could see it in the distance and the fierce, scorching light was reflected in his blue eyes.
"Aang, it's time!" Sokka called, tugging on the Avatar's shoulder. "We've got to make a move now!"
The Avatar stood there for a moment, among the bleeding clouds. The cheers and cries of the Fire Nation rang below him and a loud, long bellow reached his ears. The victorious cry of Fire Lord Ozai.
Hundreds upon hundreds of Fire Benders, charged with the power of a thousand suns...
"Aang!" Sokka called, tugging again at the young boys shoulder. "Earth to Avatar! We've got a real problem here!"
Blinking against the almighty red orb, slowly making its way to them in the distance, the Avatar brought himself back to reality with a thump. He shook his head and looked down at the Fire Nation palace from Appa's saddle. They each cheered and stamped their feet, and gigantic blasts of fire shot up into the air like the eruption of a raging volcano. But Fire Lord Ozai's was the largest, by far.
"Sokka." Aang mumbled, without taking his eyes away from the scene below him. "I think you better give the signal now."
Sokka looked both terrified and brave as he nodded to his young friend. His tone was serious as he looked at both Aang and Teo, who sat ready and waiting in his chair.
"Let's do this."
Picking up the long, slanted blue horn beside him, Sokka looked at them both for a second before taking a deep breath and blowing into the horn. The echoes resounded out into the red sky like the despairing cry of a million people.
Author's Note : Ugh! Done! Dear God, that one almost killed me! I'm really really sorry about yet another cliffhanger, but you should know me by now guys – that's just how I roll. :D
Ooh! How are they going to get out of this one? What's going to happen to Zuko? And what's wrong with the Blood Stone? Did they get it all completely wrong? I think they did...but you'll find out about all that next chapter.
Hopefully, this chapter won't turn out as bad as I think it will. I am absolutely shite at writing battle scenes and there was so much to fit in, I worry I might have missed something out. Hopefully not.
Poor Chit Sang. Now he hasn't got anybody left.
Anyway, hope that you enjoyed the extra long chapter. It is now 5am and I have to go to college in two hours, so I'm going to crawl into bed and pass out now...