This chapter is late, so I'm guessing you're not really shocked to see that I've posted it tonight.
Anyways, before I begin, I have some exciting news. Kataang-or-Zutara and I are writing our own story for Fiction Press. If you go to my profile, there is a link to my Fiction Press account, and once you click on that, you'll find a link to the story on my Fiction Press profile. The first chapter is a little rough, but I hope you like it.
Okay, then. That's about it. Uh...I have a poll you can vote in on my profile, and...Oh, Happy New Year! I hope you have a great 2009!
Please R&R! -KTBG
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Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar. (Stupid Mike and Bryan. They won't let fans do anything...)
The Island
Stepping into the fading light of twilight, Liz eyed the fuzzy monster she was planning on stealing, or something like that. Trying to hide the sound of tapping feet, she walked quietly and silently. Putting a hand on Appa's side, the bison jumped, surprised by the intruder. "Shh, Appa, shh," Liz whispered, eyes jumping around the room.
Suddenly, a shadow flashed from near a side wall. Liz's pulse began to pound in her ears as her heart rate skyrocketed. While taking deep breaths of shock, no figure emerged from the darkness, and Liz relaxed, stepping up to climb the saddle. "We're going on a trip, buddy," the girl breathed into Appa's fur. Seated on top of Appa's head, Liz reluctantly huffed, "Yip, yip!"
- - -
Flying through the summer air felt nice, calming even. Despite the fresh breeze and the glorious pink and purple sky, Liz felt like she'd just killed the president, guilt eating her alive. "I'm so dead," she said, repeating the statement several times before her tongue dried up. Gazing into the dark blue sky, she took a breath, deciding to let the guilt spill as she exhaled.
She approached the island with caution, circling it multiple times before landing. Seeing that the land mass was deserted, Liz pulled Appa's reigns, plunging her into the black abyss of nightfall. Hitting the ground, sand was tossed into the air, and Liz quietly slid off.
As she fell to the ground, Liz pulled off her sandals, throwing them on Appa's back. "There," she groaned. Sinking her bare toes into the cool sand, Liz took a breath, listening closely to the whooshing of the ocean. Keeping one of her hands on the bison's side, she shifted through the grains to Appa's head. "Okay, boy," she whispered in his fuzzy ear, "come back in about two hours, alright?" No response. "Okay, Appa, just go on back. Yip, yip." Appa's tail slapped the ground with massive force, and the bison was soon air-born. Watching him grow smaller and smaller in the distance, Liz mumbled, "He didn't understand a word I said. Oh well."
When the flying creature was out of sight, Liz's eyes fell to the dark ocean, glistening under the now black sky. Breathing in the salty mist, she sighed, "Might as well get some practice time in. I'm going to be here for a while, I guess." Her feet shuffled trough the tumbling sand, finally finding the cool foam on the edge of the beach. As the waves died, they faded into the beach, kissing Liz's naked toes before their foam ran back into the ocean. Breathing in through her nose, Liz felt her lungs fill, making her chest expand. With the air fresh inside her, she bent her knees, keeping her feet wide apart. Putting her hands out in front of her, she pointed her palms toward the sea. Shifting her weight from left to right, she kept her eyes on the swirling water before her. Suddenly, an orb of salty liquid rose above the surface, then quickly formed a long stream, round at both ends. "Okay, Liz, now freeze it." Taking in another breath, she sent a shock wave down her arms, thrusting her fingers forward. The stream froze, but not completely. White encrusted the outer layer of the water, but it wasn't solid. A breeze broke the water's form, and flakes of snow fell back into the ocean's current.
"Hm. Never done that before, " Liz breathed. "Alright. I've got all night." And, through the late hours, Liz continued her training, trying, failing, and trying again the moves "Master" Katara had taught her.
When the girl finally tired, the crescent moon shone bright in the night sky. Arms weak and limp, Liz decided she needed to sleep. Treading up the beach to where the tide couldn't reach her, Liz collapsed in the sand. Lying peacefully before the warm sea, the crashing and whooshing of the waves soothed her, wiping her guilty conscious clean. Not but two minutes after she hit the sand, her lids slid closed, and sleep found her.
- - -
"Get up," a harsh voice commanded. Liz's eyes fluttered open, temporarily blinded by the tense sunlight of morning. "I said get up!" the shrill voice shouted. Once her eyes adjusted, Liz looked up to see a girl not much older than Katara staring back down at her with golden eyes. Two black strands of hair fell in her face. "Oh, good. You're awake," she said calmly, followed by, "Now get up!" Realizing the girl was serious, Liz scrambled awkwardly to her feet, fumbling around as the sand tried to engulf her hands and feet. Once she was up, Liz got a better look at the strange girl. She wore red body armor, and was surrounded by men, also in red armor, that seemed alert, ready to strike at any moment. "Thank you," the girl with golden eyes thanked. "Now, can you tell me how you got here?"
"Who...Who are you?" Liz asked in a groggy voice, filled with much-needed sleep.
"Oh, that's right," the girl replied in sort of a seductive and sly tone. "I haven't properly introduced myself. I am Princess Azula, daughter of Firelord Ozai, ruler of the Fire Nation." Something sparked in the back of Liz's mind, causing her eyes to grow wide, and a gasp to escape. Zuko's sister! she screamed in her head. The princess's face fell flat. "I can see you realize who I am, then, correct?" Liz nodded, respectfully. "Good. Now-"
"That's her!" a man in armor shouted from behind Azula's back. "That's the girl that was aiding the Avatar. She punched me in the jaw!" Azula spun around, anger radiating off of her.
"How dare you interrupt me!" she hissed. Liz backed up a step, scared of the tension in the princess's tone. Suddenly, sweat beaded her forehead as Liz watched a flicker in Azula's hand. The bright orange flame grew in the girl's palm, and pulling her arm back, Azula flung the ball of fire in the guard's direction. Locking her eyes shut, Liz refused to watch the rest of the episode. Feeling the girl's glare on her again, Liz reluctantly opened her eyes, and staring back were Azula's blazing pupils. "Tell me where he is! Tell me where the Avatar is!" Flames burned in each hand.
She wants Aang? But she's insane! "No," Liz spat. "I won't tell you where Aang is." At the sound of her refusal, hatred glowed in Azula's expression.
"Then you will have to face the consequences!" A red flame in the princess's right hand morphed into a blazing dagger, and sweat trickled down Liz's cheeks. Raising her hand above Liz's head, Azula prepared to strike. Goodbye, Mom, I love you. And Lorelei, I'll miss you, best friend...Liz wrote the will in her head with her eyes shut tight, and she braced for impact. Azula brought her hand down, aiming for Liz's throat. Feeling the heat an inch away, the waterbender sighed in defeat.
"Azula!" someone shouted in the distance. The ring of the familiar voice echoed in Liz's ears. Opening her eyes, she saw a faint flash of crimson.
"Zuko!" she yelled.
"Zuko?" Azula seethed. Twisting her head in the boy's direction, her brow furrowed, and her jaw clenched furiously. Turning to a guard, Azula commanded, "Tie her up!" Throwing Liz into the sand, a guard raced towards her, binding her arms together with a rough rope.
Stepping through the sinking sand, Princess Azula marched towards her brother who waited in his firebending stance. Auzla's face fell into a calm expression, seductive and sly. "Nice to see you again, brother," she announced plainly. "It's been a while, you know."
"Just let her go, Azula," Zuko commanded fiercely.
"I'm afraid I can't do that," his sister replied, stopping ten yards away from her brother. "You see, she has information I need, and, if I let her go, well...I can't get that information. "
"Don't listen to her, Zuko!" Liz shouted, chin dug into the sand. "Run away!" Both royals ignored the outburst.
"Of course," Azula began, bringing up the alternative she desired, "I could always just bring you to Father. I'm sure he'd be simply delighted to see you."
Suddenly, in a fit of rage, Zuko punched the air, sending a blast in Azula's direction. She quickly moved out of its way, shifting her feet to the side in a graceful bound. "Oh, it's a fight you want," she teased. "Alright then!" Bringing her arm back, a flame sprouted and grew in a split second. Sending the fire to her brother, Zuko jumped to the side, avoiding the harsh flames.
As a reflex to his sister's attack, Zuko kicked out, fist resting above his out-stretched leg. Bursts appeared from both limps, headed for Azula's head. Thrusting her arm forward, the princess created a shield of red and orange that exploded as Zuko's blasts hit it spot on. Azula's next move was clever, taking Zuko by surprise. Using the same flame daggers as her threat to Liz, Azula's fists began to glow, and the sharp knives grew bigger and bigger. With a snarl ripping through her lips, Azula lurched forward. Feet dashing across the heavy sand, the girl pulled back her hand, ready and alert. Zuko, taken aback by the flame daggers, punched the air once more, sending a larger flame than before. To block the fire, Azula lost one of her daggers, destroying the deadly blows with her shielding arm.
Liz's eyes grew wide as Azula seemed to grow even more insane with each second of the battle. While the fight continued, Liz watched in terror, lying uselessly on the ground, hands bound together and twitching. Her bottom lip bled because of her teeth digging further and further in with fear. Trying helplessly to break free from her bindings, she glanced at the guard watching over her like a hawk. "Why isn't he helping Azula?" Liz mused as the salty tears from her eyes rushed down her face.
"Enough!" Princess Azula finally shouted after twenty minutes of useless blasts and flames. Evil glare smoldering, she marched towards Zuko who awaited her next attack. Guards that were watching the fight nodded at one another, signaling each other that it was time to join their princess. Liz stared as they encircled Zuko, who tired so hard to prepare himself for the next move. Figuring this would be his last chance, he pulled back his right arm as far as it would go, and, using all of his strength, flung it in his sisters direction. One of the guards, shocked by his effort, hurled a flame at the unsuspecting firebender, hitting his leg and knocking him down to his knees.
Liz's eyes were going blind by the tears gushing from them. Giving it one last go, she thought hard to find a way to free herself. As she witnessed Azula marching towards her injured brother, the idea hit her. Curling her fingers, Liz smiled as they cooled and ice began to form around them. She would have to saw her way out.
"Oh, Zuko," Azula gasped, faking her sympathy. "You look so defenseless. Well, what an advantage for me." Standing over the prince who was grasping his burnt leg, Azula pointed two sharp fingers at the sky. Without warning, cracks of lightning sounded, and the whole island turn blue in the glowing light of a lightning bolt caught in Azula's fingers. As she built up energy inside her body, the girl glared down at Zuko with a mad smile spread across her face. "You're a menace and a pest!" she shouted. "But, soon, you will no loner be a problem."
"No! Stop!" Liz begged, desperately scratching at the rope around her wrists.
The princess's hand began to descend, dragging the lightning down with it. Cackling evilly, she brought right to Zuko's forehead. Knowing this was it, Zuko closed his eyes, waiting for the blue flashes to hit him.
But they never came.
Hearing the rushing of guards and sand hitting his sides, Zuko unwillingly opened his eyes and saw black hair spread out in front him. When his eyes adjusted to the shocking scene, Zuko saw Azula lying face-down in the sand. To the left of her head was a small shard of ice.
Looking up in Liz's direction, Zuko could see the girl standing, fingers encrusted in thin ice and rope lying at her feet. Piecing it all together, he realized what had occurred. Had Liz thrown the pice of ice? Azula was clearly unconscious, and the ice crystal lay there, sparkling in the sunlight.
Liz, forgetting the guards, rushed to Zuko's side and wrapped his arm around her shoulder for support. "Where's Appa?" she asked, gasping for breath. The men in armor turned to them, angry groans escaping their jaws.
"Other side of the island," Zuko replied. Liz nodded, and tried, though she was awfully weak, to heave the boy up to his feet. Finally succeeding, they raced as fast as they could with three legs to the bison waiting for them. Hearing armor clash and moan behind them, they knew the guards weren't far behind.
Suddenly, a voice cried, "You filthy peasant!", and Liz glanced behind to see Azula trailing them.
"Faster," she whispered, encouraging both Zuko and herself. The two of their hearts jumped and throbbed with joy as Appa came into sight. Reaching the beast, Liz commanded, "Climb on. She's gaining." Zuko did as he was told, and, once he was on, pulled Liz on, too.
Fumbling for the reigns, Liz heard Zuko's sister call slyly, "Zuko, are you really going to let this little girl save you?" The prince blushed and began to grind his teeth in fury. "You must have some dignity, correct?" she teased again.
Liz, seeing Zuko begin to inch forward, held out an arm to stop him. "No, Zuko," she hissed. "She's just trying to get you down there." Grabbing Appa's leathery reigns, she shouted, "Yip, yip!" Their bodies heaved and swayed as Appa quickly dipped down and rose into the air. With a sigh of relief, Liz watched the island shrink into the horizon.