Chapter 20. Mission: Fox Hound – Blood On Blood
Zuko arrived to the courtyard as the riot went on. The prince could see the prisoners getting into fight on one another. He looked around as he tried to find Jin and Katara in the riot. He rushed to the center of the court as he avoided getting into combat with the prisoners. He soon found the two near the west corner of the courtyard as Jin held Zuko's weapons. He ran towards them as pods started to fell from an airship above the prison. The pods opens as A.S. came out of them. Blood shed quickly ended the riot as Zuko got to Jin and Katara.
"Who are they!?" said Zuko as he placed the gauntlet on his left arm.
Jin gave Zuko his weapons as she said, "They're called Alchemist Soldier, the Fire Nation's secret army."
"By the look of them, they're pretty brutal when to come to battle." Katara held her weapons tightly as she watched the bloody battle in front of her.
When Zuko got done attaching the Shukketsu Omoi to the gauntlet, a pod landed between the three. The door was facing Zuko as it quickly slid open. Suddenly an A.S. popped out as it swung downward with its flaming ax at the prince. Zuko back flipped towards a wall to avoid the attack. When Zuko's feet firmly landed against the wall, he grabbed the handle of the Shukketsu Omoi and pushed himself towards the enemy. Before Zuko pull his blade out of its scabbard, Jin launched herself from the right side of the A.S. as she held the Ketuseki Rain and the same with Katara as she held her Deskisui Tenshi as she came from the left. Their weapon collided at the A.S. and soon went right through the thick armor. Zuko was leaning forward after giving the deadly blow, his katana was pointing back at the enemy as drops of blood dripped down. Jin was now on the left side as she held her scythe and Katara stood on the right as she held the twin blades firmly in her hands. The whole event happened in a flash as the A.S. fell to the floor and the pod shattered into four pieces.
"That took care of that one." said Zuko as he slid the blade back inside the scabbard. He walked up towards Peace Maker and placed the sword on his back.
"If Appa were here, we can fly up to the airship and bring it down." said Katara as she walked up to Zuko.
"Don't worry, why got someone better then Appa." Zuko looked at Jin and said, "Jin, fly towards the airship and bring it down, bring it down hard!"
Jin nodded her head as she jump into the air and spread her gliders like wings on her back. She flew straight towards the enemy airship. "Good luck you two!"
Zuko looked ahead as Katara stood by his side. In front of them were blood taste A.S. enough to take down a small building. The two got into there stance as the A.S. charged right them. The A.S. yelled their battle cry as Zuko and Katara stood their ground. To them, it sounded like a stamped of ragging animals heading towards them.
"I know you still don't trust me, but let's try to work together!" said Zuko as he grabbed the handle of the Peace Maker and gives it a hard twist. Hard enough to make the saw spun and soon burst into black flaming, rotating blades.
"Got it!" said Katara as she glared at the up coming enemies. "So, who will make the first move?"
Zuko removed the Peace Maker from his back and stabbed it against the ground. He held it upside with his left hand as he begun to run towards them. He dragged the sword along his side, leaving a trail of black flame behind. When Zuko got close enough to the enemies, he grabbed the Shukketsu Omoi and pulled it out of scabbard with great speed as fire follow along the blade. He cut across the first few rows of enemies soldiers with Shukketsu Omoi as he begun to spin around with both blades. Zuko was like red and black flaming top as he cut through the enemy's line. He came to a stop by stabbing the Peace Maker into the ground as he placed the Shukketsu Omoi back into its resting place.
Katara quickly used Zuko's back as a stepping stone to launch herself into the air. She twirled one of her blades before tossing into the ground. The blade stabbed against the ground between some of the Alchemist Soldiers. She tugged on the water like rope as she used the other blade to form a web like water ball around herself. Katara came down on her enemies like a meteor striking down the earth ground. When she impacted the ground, the web like water shatter into flying ice shrapnel that pierce through the enemy's armor like it was a piece of paper. Katara retracted the Deskisui Tenshi back to her hands as she then placed both blades on her back.
"That was too easy." said Katara as she walked up towards the young the prince.
"Behind you!?" Zuko spotted a badly wounded A.S. as it ran towards her. Frighten about her life, Zuko quickly run towards Katara.
Katara quickly turned to see a sword coming right at her. As the sword was about to hit the young water bender, another A.S. fell right on top of the wounded soldier. Zuko finally got to her as they both look at the two A.S. laying in front of them.
"Where he came from?" said Zuko.
Katara looked up and pointed at one of their ally. "There!?" she said as Samanosuke fought off the A.S. on the upper wall of the prison.
"It look he need our help." said Zuko.
Katara nodded and said, "Let's go then."
The two ran towards the courtyard doors to aid Samanosuke. Just few yards away from the iron door, a big pod landed in front of them. Surprise what just happened, Zuko and Katara held weapon as they get ready for whatever will come out from the huge pod. The two stared at the pod as loud roar came from inside. The door of the pod slid open as a Bull-gorilla charged at them. Zuko and Katara dodged the charge as they looked at the heavy armor beast. The Bull-gorilla turned around to look at them as it released a loud roar. Steam came out of the beast's nose as the writing on the armor started to lit up bright red.
"Don't tell me, we're going to fight that thing!?" said Katara.
"Well, we don't have a choice!?" said Zuko.
The Bull-gorilla slammed its fist against its chest before it charge at them. The ground started to shake as the heavy armor beast headed Zuko and Katara. The two stood their ground as they waited for the right moment to strike. When the beast got close enough, it raised its huge hand and formed it into a fist. Zuko and Katara looked at the might fist as their eyes widen. Suddenly, an arrow pierced the beast's right eye and then the beast started to yell from the sudden pain. Bull-gorilla took a few steps back away from them as it held its right eye. The two looked at beast as they wonder where the shot did come from. The Bull-gorilla's life finally ended when two more arrows strike the beast's forehead.
"What happen!?" said Katara as she looked at Zuko.
Zuko looked back as he was surprise as well. "I don't know, but just be glad that we don't have to fight it."
"Would you prefer fighting me then, my dear brother?" said Azula as she stood behind them.
The sudden shock from her voice surprised Zuko and Katara. Zuko faced his younger sister as he noticed that she is holding a weapon from the Craftsman. Zuko looked at Azula with her cocky smile and her stare that strike fear towards her enemies as she held a similar lighting blue weapon just like Zuko's. Katara held her weapon as she waited for Azula's first move. Zuko placed his arm in front Katara. Katara looked at him as she noticed the glare on Zuko's eyes. She could see the flare coming from his eyes as she knew to back out of this fight. The young prince put his hand down to let Katara pass by. The young water bender ran towards the door as she passed by Azula. The young princess did not bother to look at Katara as she waited long for this moment to fight her older brother.
"Now it's just the two of us." said Azula as she stared down at her opponent. "What's this? You're carrying two weapons and I just have only one." Teasing the young prince by acting helpless as Azula looked at him. "Let's make this a fair fight. What do you say, Zuzu?"
Knowing Azula, fighting fair is not exactly what she is good at when to come fighting Zuko. However, Zuko decided fight his young sister to test her weapon of the craftsman. Zuko agreed to Azula's term to fight her with one weapon. The young prince reached for the Peace Maker as he then thrust the blade against the ground.
Azula grinned as she walked towards the center of the courtyard. "If you didn't notice, I have the exact same weapon as you, but the color is way off." she said as Zuko followed her. "I bet we both know how this fight will end." She turned around to face her older brother. "This is going to be a very easy win." She continued to grin as she copies Zuko's fighting style with her katana.
Zuko stood his ground as Azula made her first move. Moving in speed of lighting, Azula draw her blade from its scabbard as rushed towards her blood related foe. Her blade was flowing with blue electricity as the sharp object got near the prince. Zuko deflected Azula's blade by using the Shukketsu Omoi's scabbard as a shield. When Zuko deflected Azula's attack, it caused her to lose her balance giving him chance to counter attack. Zuko pushed his sister back as her draw the Shukketsu Omoi from its scabbard. Zuko's blade was red hot as Azula used her own blade to block Zuko's attack. Spark flew into the air as the two blades crash into one another. Zuko placed the Shukketsu Omoi back in its scabbard, but then he slashed it out once again. Azula did not have time to react as the Zuko's red hot blade sliced across her armor. Azula quickly move away from her brother as she could feel the heat from the slice mark on her armor.
"Not bad, Zuzu" Azula slid her blade back in its dark blue scabbard as glare at her brother. "But that was just luck." she said as she remove her damage armor. "Next time, I will make sure it won't happen again.
The young prince placed his blade in its resting place as he twists his neck a bit. "Don't get so cocky." Zuko sound cold-blooded as he glare at his younger sister.
Azula tossed her damage armor at her older brother. Zuko sliced through the armor as Azula rushed at him. Azula slice down at her brother when he was distracted by the armor. Zuko quickly use his gantlet to deflect her attack. Azula recovered as she then bring her blade upward at him. He dodged to side avoid getting hit as he then grabs her and tosses her into the air. As Azula fell down, Zuko's ripped the Shukketsu Omoi which again as he aim the blade at his sister. Azula released her blade to block his attack. The impact of the two blades caused Azula still in mid-air for a bit long as Zuko continued his attack. Azula managed to block each of his attacks as each impact kept her in the air. Zuko slid the Shukketsu Omoi back in the scabbard then he released it again with great speed. Azula blocked it, but end up flying cross the court yard. She slowly got after she roll around on the ground a like a rag doll.
"How boring." said Zuko as he twirl his blade before sliding it back in its resting place. "I bet you don't even know your blade's name."
"What do you mean?" said Azula as she breath heavily. She glared at her older brother as she tightly held her katana. "I weapon doesn't need a name to take a life." She slid her blade back in its dark blue scabbard.
"But these are different." He looked at the Shukketsu Omoi as he remembered saying the blade's name for the first time and feeling the burst of power following through his body. "The weapon is partner and if you don't know its name then your weak, Azula." Zuko turned his back against his sister as he begun to walk towards the Peace Maker
Azula's self-esteem as been reduced by her brother telling her she is weak. Zuko and even twisted the knife by walking away from her. "Don't away walk from me!?" said Azula. Frustration follow through her body as Azula gather enough energy to release a lighting attack. "I'm not weak!? I'm stronger then you and always will be!?"
Azula released her lighting through her fingers like pistol. The blue lighting flew across the courtyard as it head towards Zuko. Before the lighting every hit him, Zuko turned around and absorb the deadly attack. He can feel the energy going through as he guided it towards his right hand. As he transferred the deadly energy through his body, with his left hand he grabbed the Peace Maker swung ii to release a wave of black flame towards his sister. He then grabbed the Shukketsu Omoi and placed the energy on the blade. He ripped the blade out of its resting place as he released a wave of fire mixed with Azula's blue lighting. The red and blue wave followed the wave of black flame as the two head towards Azula.
Azula managed to dodge the attack, but only to be caught in the blast when the Zuko's attack impacted the wall. Dust cloud cover where Azula was standing as piece of rubbles fell down from the wall.
"Hmph…This match was a waste of my time." Zuko headed back inside the prison after he placed his weapons where they belong.
Another chapter down by me XD now I have to start on the next one as I work on other stories ^_^ also plz read my new story "Blood Stained Sheet"