Ch.16 The Council Strikes Back: Assault on the Jasmine Dragon
It was a slow and difficult trek back to the Jasmine Dragon. Aang had left not long ago, saying he had an extremely pressing matter to attend to. Finally, Iroh's tea shop was in sight. Katara and Sokka supported Suki between them. It was clear that whatever Long Feng had done to her had extremely devastating after-effects. "Hang in there, Suki," Katara encouraged. Sokka himself fought the urge to collapse. It was only sheer willpower and a determination to aid those closest to him that kept him going. He'd heard Aang and Katara talking about Toph, but he couldn't summon the energy to think about it at the moment. Wherever she was, Toph would be on her own for a while at least.
Mai happened to go outside just as the trio came within sight. She immediately recognized the situation was not good. "Zuko!" she yelled. The young Fire Lord was at his wife's side in the blink of an eye. "What is it, Mai?" he asked worriedly. "They need help," she replied. Zuko followed her gaze, and upon seeing the sight before him, rushed to Katara's aid. He took Sokka's place, and together he and Katara rushed Suki into the safety of the tea shop. "What happened?" Iroh asked as they entered. He took particular note of Sokka's battered appearance. "We have no time to waste," Sokka replied, the haste in his voice betraying his body. "Long Feng's behind everything," he continued. Katara had not heard his conversation, arriving late in the fight. "What do you mean?" Zuko demanded.
Long Feng burst into the grand hall, startling the council members, who were discussing various matters with regard to their respective nations. "Long Feng, what is the meaning of this intrusion?" Zhang Chang, the male representative of the Fire Nation demanded. "Forgive me, council members, but it seems there is a rebellion against you." He chose his words carefully. He explained that he was enjoying a midnight stroll, when he was assaulted by Katara and Sokka. "The attack began in front of the Jasmine Dragon," he finished. There were murmers among the council at this revelation. Zhang Chang took his seat, a furious look on his face. "The Jasmine Dragon, you say? And Katara was one of your assailants?" Long Feng nodded, playing the part of both innocent victim and concerned citizen to a tee. "She should be in the Northern Tribe with her husband, Hahn by now." He summoned a messenger. "Send this to Cheif Arnook of the Northern Water Tribe immediately," he ordered. The messenger retrieved pen and parchment, ready to write whatever was required. The message written, he rushed to find a messenger hawk.
"This is a serious situation," Chang said. "The Fire Lord was asked to come before us, but has not graced us with his presence," he continued. With no further thought, he called for the guards. "Yes, council member," the captain replied. A force of thirty strong stood before the council, awaiting their orders. Long Feng knew they would have no chance against their opposition. "Council members, if I may, allow the Dai Li to assist them in apprehending these fugitives." Chang nodded. "When you arrive at the Jasmine Dragon, the following people are to be taken into custody: Fire Lord Zuko, Fire Lady Mai, Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, and Suki of Kyoshi. Make haste," he ordered. The guards wasted no time leaving.
Sokka had finally put Suki to bed. His body was demanding that he get rest as well, but he felt that her needs needed to come first. She hadn't spoken since they'd escaped Long Feng's hideout. "Hang in there," he said in a comforting voice. The pain had to be unbearable, it was etched all over her face. After a brief moment of silence, she squeezed his hand. "Sokka," she said, her voice raspy and weak. "Don't talk," he advised. "I need you to do this for me," she replied. "If I lose control again, if Long Feng-" Sokka knew what she was asking, and didn't let her finish. "I won't," he said. He would not kill Suki. "You need to let go of your feelings for me," she replied, tears streaming down her face.
Sokka found himself choking his own tears back as well. His mind flashed to Yue, his first love. She had said something similar, right before she sacrificed herself to become the new Moon Spirit. "If I lose control, there's no telling what I might do. Who I might kill. We both know it could happen. You have to-" her voice trailed off as she lost consciousness. "But Katara healed you," he said, tears beginning to flow. He felt a hand touch his shoulder. "Not entirely," Katara said softly. Sokka was lost in his feelings. The only thing he knew for sure was that he would not lose Suki. He would kill Long Feng first.
"I did what I could," she said, her voice a slight whisper. "Isn't there more you can do?" Sokka asked, his voice pleading. Katara shook her head. "I don't know. I can try again later, but there's no guarantee it will help. Whatever he did to her was bad." Sokka looked his sister in the eye. "Please," he begged, "promise me you'll do whatever it takes." Katara into her brother's eyes for what felt like an eternity. Finally, she replied, "I promise. If there's anything I can do, I'll do it." She hesitated. She didn't want to think about Suki losing control again, but she'd heard the Kyoshi Warrior's plea, and realized there might not be a choice in the matter. "Sokka," she said, trying to summon the strength to say this. Her brother could be stubborn when he wanted to, and he wasn't going to like this.
"You might have to," she let it drop. She said it as softly and quietly as possible, to no avail. Sokka suddenly whirled to face her. "DON'T!" he yelled, his anger getting the better of him. "Sokka," she tried, but he cut her off. "No!" he shouted. "We are not discussing this," he said pointedly. Katara switched tactics, meeting his aggressiveness head on. "Weather you want to hear it or not, YES WE ARE!" she yelled in return. Sokka fell to his knees, desperate. "You don't understand. I can't lose her... I won't..." the fight seemed to leave his voice. Katara tried to help him up, but he refused her aid. "Look," she said, her voice softening. "Maybe it won't come to that." It was clear she was trying to keep hope alive for both of them.
Sokka said nothing in reply. She realized the reason. His body finally surrendered to the weariness. She eased him into a bed close to Suki, and then left the two lovers to get rest herself. It had been a long night. And it was going to get worse from here. She sensed she would need every bit of strength for the coming battle ahead. Before she went to sleep, she spoke to Zuko. "I need you to look after them," she said. Zuko put a hand on her shoulder. "Of course Katara," he replied. As she fell into a deep sleep, Zuko stood vigil at the door to Suki's room. Anyone who wanted to cause them harm would have to come through him first.
Iroh saw the guards coming. "How may I help you?" he asked jovially, only to be met with the captain holding a sword to his throat. "We are here to apprehend known fugitives. Stand aside, old man!" Iroh realized the council was on to them. How much they knew, he didn't know, but he would not, could not allow this to pass. He knew, as the rest of the group did, that Long Feng was the puppet master in this dangerous bid for power. When the guards tried to force their way, he decided to show them why he was known as "The Dragon of The West."
Iroh let loose, breathing fire in a such a display as to intimidate his attackers. They backed off long enough, and soon the battle was on. Zuko and Mai came running, hearing the noise. As they joined the battle, Dai Li agents came in through the roof. Zuko tried to deal with them, but was having difficulties. "I wish Toph was here," he shouted as his fire blasts were continuously blocked and avoided. The sounds of the battle reached Katara and Sokka, who shook the sleep from their bodies and rushed to aid their friends.
For a moment, Katara and Zuko actually managed to fend off the Dai Li, but the numbers game was too great. The battle turned for the worse when Iroh was struck in the chest by a rock cuff. "UNCLE!" Zuko shouted, allowing himself and Katara to be subdued when they rushed to his aid. Sokka threw his boomerang, only for it to clatter uselessly against a boulder that a Dai Li agent used to block with. Mai found herself cornered, surrounded by ten guards. A Dai Li agent had no trouble immobilizing her hands with a well aimed rock-cuff. Sokka was subdued soon after, the weariness from his previous battle still present. As he faded from consciousness, the last thing he heard was an order from the captain to a few of his guards to retrieve Suki.
Then everything went black.