Book Two: Earth
Chapter Nine: The Chase
Aang handed Sokka a bed roll from the saddle while Xena jumped to the ground with her own. She wrinkled her nose and lifted her booted feet in disgust.
"Hey! You guys picked a great campsite," Toph complimented with a smile as she wiggled her toes in the thick mat of fur covering the ground around Appa. "The grass is so soft."
"It's not grass," Xena said, leaving the circle of fur to go put her bedroll down.
"Appa's shedding," Sokka explained to the blind girl
"Oh, gross!" Katara said in displeasure.
"It's not gross, it's just part of spring" Aang replied cheerfully. "You know, rebirth, flowers blooming and Appa gets a new coat."
"it's still gross," Xena mumbled under her breath.
"Ah, the beauty of spring," Katara drawled sarcastically.
Xena shakes her head with a sigh and quickly scales a trees to get a better view of the area surrounding their campsites. Appa sneezes below her and she looks down as Katara starts yelling at the bison.
"Stop!" Katara yelped, covered in fur as she waved her arms frantically at the bison as he shook himself. "Appa, stop! Ugh!"
"It's not that bad, Katara," Sokka commented. "It makes a great wig!"
Xena shakes her head and continues to climb. She looks around briefly, looking for anything that could cause a potential problem come nightfall. Seeing nothing she drops back to the ground.
"I'm just glad we finally have another girl in the group," Katara said, watching Aang and Sokka in disgust as the play with Appa's fur. "Because you two are disgusting."
Toph suddenly walked up from behind Aang and Sokka, a cheeky grin on her face.
"Excuse me, does anyone have a razor?" She asked as she placed her hands on the back of her head, revealing that she had stuffed fur in her sleeves to make it look like armpit hair. "'Cause I've got some hairy pits!"
Aang and Sokka stared at Toph in shock then began to laugh wildly. Aang suddenly sneezed, blowing the hair off of all of them as he flew backwards and slammed into Appa's side then he fell face first into the mat of bison fur. Sokka, Toph, and Aang continued to howl with laughter.
"We're outnumbered," Xena says and then shakes her head before returning to her sleeping bag. Suddenly she slips in the mess of fur and with a surprised shriek flails wildly to regain her balance only to land on her back instead. She stares blankly at the sky for a moment before suddenly realizing the humor in this situation and giggles. Katara began to giggle as well a moment later, placing her hand over her mouth to stifle her own laughter.
"You should have seen your face," She gasps out between laughs.
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Aang and Xena worked together to set up the tent while Sokka threw down a pile of firewood he had collected and Katara used waterbending to stir a pot of water. Toph stood to the side, chewing on a piece of wheat boredly. Katara, suddenly noticing her, stood and walked over.
"Uh oh," Xena said, straightening up.
"So Toph, usually when setting up camp, we try to divide up the work," Katara said as she stopped in front of the blind girl.
"Hey, don't worry about me." Toph stated with a casual shrug. "I'm good to go."
"Well, actually what I'm trying to say is, some of us might fetch water, while someone else might set up the fire pit, or set up the tent," Katara explained as she gestured around just as Momo flew over to her and dropped several berries he had collected into her hands. "Even Momo does his fair share."
"Katara, I'm fine. I can carry my own weight. I don't need a fire," Toph said as she patted her bag. "I've already collected my own food, and look…"
She quickly earthbended a rock tent behind her. "My tent's all set up."
"Well, that's great for you, but we still need to finish-"
"I don't understand what the problem is here!" Toph cut Katara off angrily.
"Never mind," Katara muttered in annoyance.
"Xena, help," Aang said as the tent started to tilt and fall back on him.
"I got this you go help Sokka with Appa's saddle," She says quickly, steadying the tent.
She finishes setting up the tent by herself, watching from the corner of her eye as Aang accidently airbends the saddle on top of Sokka. Shaking her head slightly, she walked over to join them, noticing Katara walking back over to Toph. Instead of eavesdropping like she did last time she turns to Aang.
"I'm worried about how quiet it's been," She says in concern
"Me to," Sokka says in agreement. "Usually we would have run into Zuko by now and then we have those other four girls after us as well."
"I don't know guys," Aang said. "Maybe the reason we haven't seen them is because they're not after us anymore.
"I don't think Zuko would give up so easily," She says before Sokka goes to the tent she'd set up.
A few minutes later Katara joins him in the tent and Xena said goodnight to Aang before going to her sleeping bag where it lays close to the fire. Aang curls up on Appa's leg behind her and Toph lays in her earth tant.
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Toph woke all of them up in alarm, what felt like minutes later. "There's something coming towards us!"
"What is it?" Aang asked, quickly jumping to his feet.
"It feels like an avalanche," Toph stated as she kneeled and pressed her hand to the ground as they joined her. "But also not an avalanche."
"You're powers of perceptions are frightening," Sokka said sarcastically.
Xena slapped the back of his head and he yelped, glaring at her
"Should we leave?" Katara asked.
"Better safe than sorry," Aang replied.
Xena returns to her sleeping bag, putting the fire out with bending before helping the others finish packing up camp and saddling Appa.
"What is that thing?" Katara asked once they were aborne, drawing their attention to a large plume of smoke.
"I don't want to find out," Xena says, frowning slightly.
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Xena rested her chin on her folded arms. Her eyes were closed as she dozed lightly. She woke abruptly as Appa landed and was the first out of the saddle, knees bending to absorb the impact. Toph was close behind her.
"Ah, land, sweet land!" Toph said, sprawling out on the ground briefly before jumping back up. "See you guys in the morning!"
"Actually, can you help us unload?" Katara asked, hopping off Appal.
"Really?" Toph asked sarcastically as she turned to look at Katara. "You need me to help unload Sokka's funky-smelling sleeping bag?"
Xena noticed Sokka smelling his sleeping bag at her comment and shook her head once before taking the tent from Aang when he passed it down.
"Well, yeah," Katara said. "That and everything else. You're a part of a team now, and-"
"Look! I didn't ask you to help unload my stuff!" Toph cut her off. "I'm carrying my own weight."
"That's not the point," Katara retorted angrily then stomped after Toph as she walked away. "Ever since you joined us, you've been nothing but selfish and unhelpful!"
"What?" Toph demanded furiously, spinning around. "Look here, Sugar Queen, I gave up everything I had so that I could teach Aang earthbending. So don't you talk to me about being selfish!" Toph snapped then she sat down on the ground and earthbended a rock tent over her.
"Sugar queen!?" Katara snarled then recoiled when Toph earthbended a door in front of the tent. "D-did you just slam the door in my face? How can you be so infuriating?"
Katara began kicking and hitting at the earth tent viciously.
"Should we do something?" Aang asked Sokka hesitantly.
"Hey, I'm just enjoying the show," Sokka replied in amusement.
Xena sighed before dropping down on the ground to lean against Appa.
"Okay, okay, you both need to calm down," Aang said, approaching Katara
"Both?" Katara screeched as she turned to face Aang, her expression crazed and her eyes bloodshot. "I'm completely calm!"
"Uh…" Aang stuttered, backing up slowly. "I can see that…"
"Never tell a girl to calm down, Aang," Xena told him when he rejoined Sokka and her. "It never ends well."
The three of them finish setting up camp as Katara continues to rage at Toph. She stopped when they had finished and slid into her sleeping bag. The tent had been decided to be to much of a hassle to set up again and had been returned to Appa's saddle. Xena lay on Appa's head, the reins in easy reach if they had to make another get away. She stared at the stars sleepily.
"The stars sure are beautiful tonight." Katara said suddenly. "Too bad you can't see them, Toph!"
Katara was suddenly launched into the air with a scream, waking Aang and Sokka up. Sokka yelped when his sister landed on him.
"Hey, how's a guy supposed to sleep with all this yelling and earthquaking?" Sokka asked, pushing his sister off him.
Toph suddenly reopened her tent. "That thing is back!"
"Well, how far away is it?" Sokka mumbled as he lay back down and pulled the covers of his sleeping bag over his head. "Maybe we can close our eyes for a few minutes."
"I don't think so, Sokka," Aang stated, pointing at a large smoke cloud.
Xena grumbled curses under her breath, tugging at the reins to wake Appa and bring him to his feet.
"Seriously, what is the thing?" Katara asked as they took to the sky again.
"And how does it keep finding us?" Toph asked in annoyance.
"I don't know," Aang replied, taking the reins from Xena. "But this time, I'm going to make sure we lose it."
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Xena was dozing fitfully when Appa crash landed, throwing them from his back.
"Okay, forget about setting up camp," Sokka muttered and began crawling on the ground in his sleeping bag. "I'm finding the softest pile of dirt and going to sleep."
"That's good because Toph wasn't going to help anyway!" Katara growled as she tucked her own sleeping bag under her head like a pillow.
"Oh, I didn't realize the baby still needed someone to tuck her in bed," Toph retorted mockingly as she sprawled out on her bag.
"Enough!" Xena barked, slamming her hands against the ground as she glared at the two girls
"Yeah guys, there's something after us and we don't even know what," Aang said then paused to pull his shawl over his head. "Or who it is."
"It could be Zuko," Katara suggested then rolled over onto her other side. "We haven't seen him since the North Pole."
"Who's Zuko?" Toph asked curiously.
Xena tensed slightly and climbed back onto Appa's head.
"Oh, just some angry freak with a ponytail who tracked us all over the world," Sokka explained nonchalantly.
"What's wrong with ponytails, Ponytail?" Katara quipped mockingly at her brother.
"This is a warrior's wolf tail," Sokka snapped back at his sister as he pointed at his ponytail.
"Well, it certainly tells the other warriors that you're fun and perky," Katara teased.
Xena sighed softly and curled into a ball.
"Anyway, whoever's chasing us couldn't have followed us here, so, now would everyone just 'Shh'?"
Momo suddenly hopped onto Sokka's sleeping back and began to chitter excitedly, his large ears twitching back-and-forth. Xena sat up, tilting her head hearing the soft metallic clank that had caught Momo's attention.
"No, Momo, 'Shh'," Sokka chided. "Sleepy time."
Momo chittered again then hopped off Sokka and over to the ledge of the rock.
"Crap," Xena said, standing up.
"Oh, don't tell me…" Sokka groaned in dismay.
"That's impossible," Aang said, standing up as well. "There's no way they could have tracked us."
"I can feel it with my own two feet!" Toph stated.
Aang joined Momo and Xena on the edge of the cliff.
"Let's get out of here," Katara suggested nervously, as they joined them as well.
"Maybe we should face them," Aang said calmly,"Find out who they are. Who knows, maybe they're friendly."
"Always the optimist," Sokka muttered hopelessly.
"What is that?" Xena asked, staring at the metal tank like contraption as it stops.
The last compartment of the tank opened, releasing a burst of steam. When the steam cleared they could see the four girls from Omashu on mongoose lizards
"It's those girls from Omashu!" Katara said in alarm.
"We can take 'em," Toph said determinedly. "Four on four."
"Actually, Toph, there's five of us," Sokka corrected her.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't count you," Toph replied sheepishly and shrugged her shoulders slightly. "You know, no bending and all."
Sokka turned towards the younger girl. "I can still fight!"
"Okay, four on four plus Sokka," Toph said smugly.
Toph quickly earthbended columns of rock in front of the approaching girls, but the mongoose-lizards merely crawled right over them and continued up the path towards the five friends.
"Well, we wanted to find out who they were and we found out," Sokka stated. "Now let's get out of here."
Everyone but Toph ran to get on Appa and Toph joined them soon after, landing in the saddle after launching herself with earthbending.
"Appa, yip-yip!" Aang exclaimed and Appa leapt in the air just in time to avoid a stream of blue fire.
Xena narrowed her eyes and met the golden glare of the firebender over the edge of the saddle.
"I can't believe those girls followed us all the way from Omashu," Katara said in surprise.
"I still think we could have taken them," Toph grumbled.
"Are you kidding me?" Katara demanded in exasperation as she gestured around with her hand. "The crazy blue firebending and the flying daggers are bad enough, but the last time we saw them, one of those girls did something that took my bending away. That's scary."
"Chi blocking," Xena said, turning around and slumping against the side of the saddle. She nods her head towards Toph. "Tamsin Bei Fong discovered it. I was her first student to learn it as well, but I prefer not to use it."
"Oh no, the sun is rising," Sokka whined from the front of the saddle as the sun began to rise."We've been up all night."
"Sokka, we'll be okay," Aang assured the older boy.
"Are you sure? I've never not slept before! What if I fall asleep now and something happens?" Sokka all but wailed as he held his hands up to his head in distress. "And something always happens!"
Katara sighed. "Every time we land, those girls are there. So we'll just have to keep flying."
"We can't fly forever," Xena stated and then tapped the hilt of one of her swords. "But unlike you four I'm used to not getting sleep.
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Zuko stared down at the ground as he tracked the Fire Nation contraption. He lifted his head and stared at the billowing smoke for a second before nudging his ostrich-horse forward.
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"So what's our plan?" Aang asked after yawning sleepily.
"Don't know…" Toph mumbled tiredly. "Too tired to think."
"I'm sure we'll come up with something after a short nap," Katara said sleepily.
"Yes…" Sokka sighed in agreement. "Sleep…"
"It might be a good idea to sleep while w-"
Appa suddenly began to lose altitude and they were lifted out of the saddle. Xena grabbed the side of the saddle to hold herself in as they continued to freefall.
"What's going on?!" Toph shouted frantically, clinging onto the other side of the saddle.
"Appa fell asleep!" Aang yelled back in reply.
"Wake him up, then," Xena shouts back.
"Wake up, buddy!" Aang shouted at the bison, his voice cracking with panic.
Appa groaned and suddenly stopped his free fall. Xena groaned as she landed back in the saddle with a thump. Appa groaned again as he flew between two trees, colliding with and snapping several branches. He hit the ground a moment later and skidded across the grass, leaving a deep trench in the ground before he came to a stop several feet away from a river, fast asleep once again. Sighing in relief, she dropped to the ground.
"Appa's exhausted," Aang stated tiredly.
"Okay, we've put a lot of distance between us and them," Sokka added as he trudged across the grass with his sleeping bag clutched to his chest. "The plan right now is to follow Appa's lead and get some sleep."
"Of course, we could've gotten some sleep earlier, if Toph didn't have such issues," Katara snarked in irritation.
"What?!" Toph shrieked furiously
"Alright, alright, everyone's exhausted!" Aang exclaimed as he walked forward. "Let's just get some rest."
"No, I want to hear what Katara has to say," Toph snapped."You think I have issues?"
"I'm just saying, maybe if you had helped out earlier, we could have set up our camp faster and gotten some sleep." Katara shouted in irritation. "And then maybe we wouldn't be in this situation!"
"You're blaming me for this?" Toph demanded in outrage as she stomped threateningly towards Katara, who threw her sleeping bag to the side and gestured challengingly for Toph to come closer.
"No!" Aang denied hurriedly as he jumped between the two girls and held up his hands. "No, she's not blaming you."
"No, I'm blaming her!" Katara snapped angrily.
"Hey, I never asked for your diddly-doo-dah," Toph growled, shoving Aang to the side. "I carry my own weight. Besides, if there's anyone to blame, it's Sheddy over here!"
"What?" Aang asked in shock. "You're blaming Appa?"
"Yeah, you want to know how they keep finding us?" Toph asked with a sneer then she grabbed a handful of Appa's fur and let them blow away with the wind. "He's leaving a trail everywhere we go!"
How did I not notice that before? Groaning, Xena pinched the bridge of her nose as Aang jumped to Appa's defense.
"How dare you blame Appa! He saved your life three times today! If there's anyone to blame, it's you! You're always talking about how you carry your own weight, but you're not! He is! Appa's carrying your weight. He never had a problem flying when it just-"
"ENOUGH!" She shouts, throwing her arms down. The river explodes upwards soaking everyone of them. Everyone turns to face her in surprise and she's suddenly aware of the wild energy of the Avatar State coursing through her body.
"Whether you like it or not we are a team and it's time you all started acting like it. Katara, stop trying to mother everyone it's not your job and it's getting old. And as for you Aang, you know very well that Toph is not the reason Appa was having problems flying. Toph, I understand that you've been alone for most of your life and don't understand the concept of teamwork but when we asked you for help we did because we needed it."
"I'm outta here," Toph growled in response as she launched her bag into her arms and stomped off.
"Wait!" Sokka exclaimed as he moved in front of Toph with his arms outstretched in an attempt to stop her.
Toph kicked her foot to the left and earthbended Sokka out of her way.
"What did I just do?!" Aang wailed. "I can't believe I yelled at my earthbending teacher. Now she's gone."
"I know. We're all just trying to get used to each other" Katara said regretfully. "And I was so mean to her."
"Yeah," Sokka commented drily. "You two were pretty much jerks."
"Thanks, Sokka," Katara muttered sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.
"No problem."
Katara ignored him and spoke to Aang, "We need to find Toph and apologize."
"We need to deal with the people chasing us first," Xena says, setting a hand on the older girls shoulder shoulder.
"I have a plan," Aang said, standing up and letting a handful of fur blow away before telling us his plan.
"Alright you guys do that, but I'm going after Toph," Xena said resolutely before turning to the forest in the direction the younger girl had gone.
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Finding Toph's trail wasn't difficult at all. She had left a destructive swath of broken branches and bushes until she had reached a hiking trail. Xena jumped from tree branch to tree branch alongside the trail so that the girl couldn't feel her coming. She saw her familiar green tunic and sped up only to jump down right in front of her.
"Leave me alone," She grumbled swerving around her.
"Not gonna happen," Xena declared, trailing after her. "I'm not gonna make you go back Toph but I'm not going to leave you alone in the woods either."
"I'm blind, not helpless," She spat angrily.
"Never said you were, but I owe it to Tami to see her granddaughter to safety."
She snorted once and they continued walking in silence.
"Do you sense that?" She asked suddenly.
"Yep," She said, smiling softly as she recognize the heat signature. Toph earthbended before she could warn her not to.
"Ow…" Iroh yelped in surprise as he was knocked onto the path. "That really hurt my tailbone."
"Umm... Sorry," Toph said sheepishly.
"Oh it's quite alright dear," He said straightening up only to freeze in surprise. "Xena?"
"Iroh," She answers dryly, crossing her arms over her chest. Suddenly she freezes and twists her head, sensing something behind them.
"It's one of those girls," Toph says, turning to look as well.
The white haired girl stops her mongoose lizard in front of us. "I've been wanting another rematch," The girl states, jumping down.
"Mist," Iroh says behind her in surprise.
"Suits yourself, but it won't be my fault if you get burned," Xena replies, pulling her swords free.
To prove her point about the burn she bends her fire down the blades. Mist's eyes flash in surprise at the flames but otherwise shows no real emotion at the strange color. Xena digs her feet into the ground and charges forward. Mist pulls her swords out as one weapon to block both of Xena's.
With a huff she shoves her back and quickly pulls her swords apart in a flashy flurry of sparks. Both of their steps are sure against the ground as they fence back and forth, silver and blue flames reflecting off both sets of swords. Suddenly Mist twists and kicks her in the stomach sending her stumbling backwards next to her mount. Xena gasps for breath and drops down to one knee. Smirking she charges at her. She waits until she's close enough and then rolls between her legs. She turns to face Xena with a snarl. She smiles and points down at the girls feet to where her mounts reins were tied around her ankle. She then slashed the fire off of her swords straight past her and onto the mongoose dragons flank. She blinks once and then yelps as she's yanked off her feet.
"Bye now," Xena taunts as she's dragged away.
"Mist is a good fighter," Iroh comments behind her. "But she either underestimates her opponents or overestimates them."
"Nice," Toph says smiling.
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"Here is your tea," Iroh said, holding out a cup of tea to Toph, who merely continued to stare blankly at the ground. "You seem a little young to be traveling alone…" Iroh commented idly, which Xena frowned at because she obviously wasn't alone.
"You seem a little too old," Toph retorted without missing a beat as she finally took the tin cup from him.
"Perhaps I am," Iroh agreed with a laugh.
"I know what you're thinking…" Toph said casually as she held her teacup. "I look like I can't handle being by myself."
"I wasn't thinking that," Iroh replied slightly confused.
"You wouldn't even let me pour my own cup of tea!"
"I poured you tea because I wanted to and for no other reason."
"People see me and think I'm weak," Toph explained. "They want to take care of me, but I can take care of myself, by myself."
"You sound like my nephew," Iroh observed sadly and Xena winces slightly at the comparison. "Always thinking you need to do things on your own, without anyone's support. There is nothing wrong with letting people who love you help you. Not that I love you, I just met you."
"So where is your nephew?" Toph asked curiously.
"I've been tracking him actually," Iroh responded, glancing at the older girl. "Just as Miss Xena tracked you."
"Is he lost?" Toph asked then took a sip of her tea.
"Yes, a little bit. His life has recently changed and he's going through very difficult times. He's trying to figure out who he is and he went away."
"So now you're following him." Toph stated matter-of-factly.
"I know he doesn't want me around him right now," Iroh explained. "But if he needs me, I'll be there. Much like, I think, you're friends."
"You're nephew is very lucky, even if he doesn't know it," Toph stated then rose to her feet. "Thank you."
"My pleasure," Iroh replied sincerely. "Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life's true delights, along with meeting up with old friends."
"No, thank you for what you said," Toph clarified happily. "It helped me."
"I'm glad."
Toph turned to leave then turned back around again. "Oh, and about your nephew, maybe you should tell him that you need him too."
"Thank you, Iroh," Xena said, standing up to follow Toph.
"Xena, wait a moment," He said catching her wrist. "When did your fire change?"
"When we tracked Zuko in the North Pole, why?"
"Just curiosity," He said, letting her go.
"Oh, well bye," She says, turning to leave again.
"My nephew still has your bracelet," Iroh said before she could take a step.
She froze for a moment, but quickly ducks her head and runs to catch up with Toph. Her cheeks burn with a blush.
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"Do you really want to fight me?" Azula was asking the Avatar in amusement.
Zuko rode out of the alley and leapt of his ostrich-horse.
"Yes, I really do," Zuko growled as he threw his straw hat off to the side.
"Zuko!" The Avatar gasped in alarm behind him.
"I was wondering when you'd show up, Zuzu," The girl commented calmly as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Zuzu?" Aang muttered behind him in amusement.
"Back off, Azula!" Zuko barked as he shifted into a bending stance that would allow him to attack both his sister and Aang. "He's mine!"
Azula's assumed her own fighting stance. "I'm not going anywhere."
The three benders watched each other warily for several seconds. Azula was the first to move, launching a blue fireball at Zuko that knocked him onto a nearby porch. He lay on his back for a moment before jumping back to his feet and moving back onto the road. The bald monk landing between him and Azula. He launched a fireball at Aang and the airbender side stepped and dodged the two that Azula launched as well. He twisted past Azula and ducked another of her fire blasts before launching a blade of air at her. Azula countered and launched another fireball which he dodged. Zuko punched a fire ball at his sister.
The two began attacking each other and the Avatar at the same time. Zuko growled as he leapt over Azula, fire shooting from his feet as he landed in a crouch, but Azula threw up a fire shield to deflect his attack. She then twisted around and fired a blast at Zuko, who ducked and kicked a wave of fire at her feet. Azula avoid his attack and fired a stream of fire at him, causing the scarred prince to jump backwards to avoid it. Zuko saw Azula chase the Avatar into a building and quickly followed them to the second floor only to realize too late that there was no floor and that his sister was standing on a tiny ledge to the side while the monk hovered in the air on a scooter. He crashed back onto the first floor, sending up a cloud of dust. Azula landed in a crouch next to him moments later and she sent him through a wall with a strong blast of fire knocking him unconscious.
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Zuko groaned quietly as he regained consciousness.
"Uncle…" He muttered in confusion as he stared at his uncle's blurry form.
"Get up!" Iroh ordered then helped him to his feet.
The two looked over to where Azula was surrounded by the Avatar and the two Water Tribe pheasants. Zuko frowned slightly realizing Xena was nowhere in sight. Aang ran straight towards Azula then jumped up and out of the way as she fired a blast at him. Azula blocked Katara's water whip with firebending and then launched a blast at Sokka. The Water Tribe boy moved out of the way quickly. Azula quickly swung her arm, sending a stream of fire at the two siblings. They dodged the blast just as Aang came up behind Azula only to jump back when she turned swiftly to attack. Azula swung her arm and sent an arched fire blast at them as they slowly began pushing her back towards an alley, cornering her. The princess stood poised for an attack, a confident smirk on her face that quickly disappeared when the ground beneath her shifted, causing her to stumble to the side before she tripped over her own feet and fell. Toph and Xena appeared from the alley behind Azula, the earthbender having shifted the ground beneath Azula's feet
"Thought you guys could use a little help," Toph said with a smirk as she and Xena both shifted into bending stances.
"Thanks," Katara said gratefully.
Azula snarled and pushed herself to her feet then began backing away, shooting fire blasts at them to keep them back. She spotted another alley and she quickly ran down it, leaping over the crates at the end. Azula's escape was halted when Iroh suddenly appeared and used his large belly to knock her of her feet while she was too busy looking behind her. Zuko quickly ran up beside him and all of them worked together to trap her in a corner
"Well, look at this. Enemies and traitors, all working together. I'm done," Azula stated coolly as her back hit the stone wall and she raised her arms. "I know when I'm beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honor."
Xena noticed when Azula's eyes fixed on Toph and the way they shifted towards Iroh before back to the blind girl. Azula launched two fireballs at her uncle, but Xena quickly stepped forward and the blue flame rippled slightly as white and silver mixed in with the first right before it dissolved inches away from Iroh. She was too slow to stop the second and it hit Iroh in the shoulder.
"Uncle," Zuko shouted before turning angrily to face Azula.
The five benders each bended their respective elements, Xena using fire, while Sokka threw his boomerang. The impact of the elements created a small explosion that send up a thick cloud of smoke everywhere. Aang cleared the smoke away, but Azula was gone, the only attack to hit being Xena's.
Zuko kneeled beside his uncle, his head bowed. Xena stepped closer her eyes fixed on Iroh.
"Get away from us!" Zuko barked furiously as he twisted around.
"Zuko, I can help!" Katara said, stepping past Xena.
Zuko swung his arm around, blasting an arc of fire over their heads. "Leave!"
Xena was the last one to leave, shooting glances back at Zuko and Iroh in regret. Her duty was to Aang and as much as she wanted to stay behind and help she couldn't.
likethewordish suggested Xenko or Zuna for a ship name. I like both of them so I decided to ask you my readers which one you like best; I hope you like this chapter. Next one is Bitter Work.