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Chapter 15

Defeated

Aang's legs were beginning to feel the familiar burning sensation accompanied with his long distance sprinting. He was tearing down the streets and alleys of Serpent's Pass as swiftly as his strides could carry him. The smoke that billowed in the sky above was undoubtedly rising up from the Fallen Angel's neighborhood. Yang Chen had been right.

"What do you mean 'all of them'? What kind of trouble?"

"There is no time to explain, young monk. Just know that the Fire Lord is beginning to move. He is striking all of those who would oppose his ambition, including anyone tied to his son. The Fallen Angels need your help."

"I have to help Toph and the others first!"

"They are in good hands. This I promise you. The Angels need you now!"

By the time the derelict recreation center was within view, Aang could already see the fire that was threatening to engulf the Fallen Angel's home. He doubled his pace as the burning moved upward from his legs into his chest. The fire was growing more out of control by the second and would soon spread to neighboring buildings if left unchecked.

As Aang ran to aid his friends he was met with people running both to and from the fire, and the closer he came the more fighting he found. Angels fought openly in the street with members of other gangs, attempting to protect the area that might not survive the flames. As much as he wanted to stop and help, Aang knew that it would only slow his efforts too much to stop and help everyone he saw.

"Aang!"

The voice calling out to him was owned by the fiery redheaded girl that he and Toph had met at the Christmas party the year before. Lynn was her name if he was remembering right.

"What's going on?" Aang asked between breaths. "Where's Angel?"

"I don't know!" she replied hysterically, tears staining her cheeks. "They just showed up all of a sudden and started torching the place and beating on people!"

It was then that Aang noticed the blue haired boy lying on the side of the street where Lynn had come from.

"Lynn, is that-?"

"They killed him," she continued to cry. "They killed Dax. And Andy's still in there! Aang, don't let them take Andy from me too!"

Aang was already running towards the building by the time Lynn had finished. He was not going to let any of this continue if he could help it. The doors to the building were completely destroyed, but the flames tried to bar his path. Tossing his shirt aside for fear of it catching fire, Aang dove through the fire and into the inferno.

The surrounding heat was more than Aang had expected. It hit him so fast hat it caused a staggering dizziness that almost toppled him. Between the heat, smoke, and the run he had just taken, Aang was going to have to be careful or he might very well black out in this blaze. The roar of the fire drowned out virtually all other sounds as well, save the impacts of debris falling from the ceiling and walls.

"Andy!" Aang called out. "Andy, where are you? Can you hear me?"

Aang began working his way over, around, and between the fiery obstructions of the rec center. Every few seconds he would glance back at the doors to ensure that the path stayed open, but each passing moment was making the return trip appear more difficult.

Through the wall of flames before him, Aang was able to make out a large silhouette rising and falling slowly. There was no mistaking it, that had to be Andy. Aang made a mad dash towards the man and called out to him, but was stopped short by an extended arm and a shout.

"Stay back!"

"Andy, it's Aang!" Aang replied. "I'm getting you outta here!"

"Just stay there!" Andy ordered when Aang tried to approach. "Lemme come to you."

Aang was prepared to argue over the issue until he saw a dark shadowing behind Andy. As the man stood Aang caught a glimpse of another silhouette on the ground where Andy had been. He could not quite make out what had happened or what the looming shadow on the wall behind the Fallen Angel was. Considering Andy had been fighting someone in that deadly blaze and Aang had neither seen nor heard any other people, he was fairly certain that he did not want to know. The giant's form came ever closer, slow but steady. It was not until just steps before the fire line that Aang was able to notice the painful hesitance in each step. When Andy finally passed through the flames, he knew why.

"Oh, geez-"

Metal spikes. Small metal spikes, at least a dozen of them, were embedded in Andy's body. His left breast, abdomen, arms, and thighs were bleeding lightly through the deep punctures and Aang quickly took some of Andy's burden by supporting the much larger man as best as he could.

"Do I even want to know if you have a plan on how to get outta here?" Andy asked.

"Just stay with me, big guy," Aang said. "We can get out the same way I came in. I hope."

The two began their slow escape as more of the ceiling caved around them. The path Aang had taken was still semi clear. Hopefully there would not be any obstacles that prevented the gargantuan figure at Aang's side from passing through.

"Tell me you know a way out," Andy said weakly.

"Of course I do," Aang replied.

The sound of caving roof bore its way into Aang's ear almost just as he had answered. A large pile of debris now sat between them and the way he had come in. It was barely passable as a means of escape with such a large companion in tow, but now it would be impossible to get Andy through.

"I'd like to make an amendment to my last statement," Aang said.

"Where's the street?" Andy asked. "Which way?"

"We're staring at it," Aang answered with a disheartened voice.

"So that means the alley's over this way, right?" Andy asked turning his head to their left.

"I think so."

"I need you to do me a favor, Aang. I need you to give me a push that way."

"What're you planning to do?" Aang asked. "I'm not leaving you."

"Ain't no way no how I'm stayin' here," Andy replied. "I'm not leaving her behind. Just stay right behind me and we'll get outta here."

Aang was not entirely sure what was going through Andy's mind, but they were out of options and time. The fire was steadily growing around them and the only thing they had a semi clear path to was the wall of the building. Giving Andy a not-so-full-of-confidence push, Aang followed behind as closely as he could as the giant started to run.

Step for step Andy crashed through what debris laid beneath his feet. His body was beginning to numb which was as advantageous as it was dangerous at this point. Since there were no large obstacles to go around and only burning rubble to either step on or over, it was fair to bet he would be able to pick up enough speed.

Ten more steps.

Eight.

Five.

Two.

"Now!"

Andy threw his body with all that he had left through the air, crashing back first into the weakened wall. His heavy form tore through what was left of the wall almost as though it were paper. He tumbled painfully across the ground before his body came to a rest on his side where Aang was now trying to help him up.

"That was insane!" Aang yelled at him. "Effective, but insane!"

The two men stumbled their way out of the back alley out towards the street. The sounds of sirens were just audible in the distance which told both of them that the fighting would be over soon if it was not done already. Few people stood out in front of the burning recreation center when they finally emerged from the smoke. The first to see them was Lynn and she was on Andy in seconds. Giving no regard to the pieces of metal sticking out of his body or the blood that was running down it, Lynn wrapped her arms around him and refused to let go as she began to cry hysterically.

Aang left the two of them to stand alone in front of what had just a few minutes ago been probably the only home either of them had known. One police car sat out in front of the building with many of Aang's friends standing around it. The only people he noticed were missing were Zuko, Azula, and Dwight. Even Mai was present, though she was standing off to the side of the group.

"Are you alright, Aang?" Katara asked as she ran over. "We have to get you two to a hospital!"

"No!" Andy's voice roared. "No hospital!"

"Be reasonable," Katara replied softly. "You need-"

"You!"

Everyone's heads turned as Andy's finger pointed passed them. Angel stood in the middle of the street frozen where she was. He face was pale white and her eyes wide as silent tears rolled down her face. She stared into the fire even as Andy stormed his way over to her and picked her up by her arms.

"This is your fault!" he yelled, voice breaking. "Where were you? We needed you! You promised! You promised me I'd never have to . ." Andy's cracked as he let out a hurt moan originating from somewhere much more painful than the wounds to his body. "You said I'd never have to . . . Where were you?"

Andy threw Angel to the ground as he growled out the last question. She fell in at the feet of a young man who bent down and began to help her up. Angel's eyes had not left the fire from the moment Andy pointed her out. Everyone was now staring at the kid beside her. Andy's face contorted into one of confusion. As though what he was seeing should not have been possible.

"What're you . . ? Why are you here?"

"I knew," Angel's voice said weakly.

"You couldn't have known," the boy told her as she began to cry harder.

"I knew," Angel repeated. "I knew and I still left. He made me choose."

Whatever anger was on Andy's face began to melt away into pain and loss. He understood now. He knew how they knew Angel would not be there. They threatened Alex. As angry as he might have been, Andy could not say that he would have done differently in Angel's place. They had lost everything in the span a minutes.

The ability to fight back.

Their home.

Dax.

"We've lost," Angel said. "It's over."

"No."

Everyone's attention shifted to Aang. He stood with his back to the fire as he returned their gazes with one of resolve.

"It's not over. The Fire Lord may have won today, but he hasn't won everything. It's true that good people were lost today and it's true that your home was lost too. That doesn't mean it's over. It's only over if we decide that he's won. If we stop fighting and let him have his way. Well I'm not going to let this madman have his way. I'm not going to let him keep hurting people. He's attacked me, he's attacked my friends, and he's attacked your home. I'm not going to just stand by and let him have his way. I'm going to keep fighting. I'm going to put an end to this."

"Right behind you, Aang!" Toph agreed. "If he thinks I'm gonna lie down after sending his goons after me, then he don't know who he's dealing with!"

"Count us in too," Sokka said. "That guy owes me a lab!"

"I'm not just gonna roll over and die," Andy said. "I've never backed down from a fight in my life, and now this one's personal."

"What about you, Angel?" Lynn asked. "Are you really ready to just give up?"

Angel looked at the faces of those around her. Some were old friends, some new, and others still she was seeing for the first time. They one thing that they all had in common was the renewed spirit shining in their eyes. Pain could wait. Self-hatred and pity could wait. For now, she would fight.

"Spread everyone out and hide," she ordered Andy and Lynn. "Get yourselves taken care of. We need to make a plan."

"Any ideas?" Sokka asked.

"I'm not sure," Angel admitted. "But when Zuko and I were rescuing Alex we got help from an old guy who said we should meet at the Jasmine Dragon tea shop uptown in a few days. Showed me this weird flower tattoo and said he was Zuko's boss."

"Was it a white lotus flower?" Aang asked, remembering Yang Chen's tattoo.

"I don't know, but he acted like it meant something."

"We'll find out in a few days, won't we?" Toph said.

A short way up the street by a narrow alley, Mai stood listening as the others prepared to continue their fight. Half of them had lost their homes, friends, and still they were going to fight. What made these people think they could win after seeing the kind of things the Fire Lord was willing to do?

"What do you have to report?" a voice asked from the alley beside her.

"They're not gonna surrender if that's what you're asking," Mai replied.

"So they are going to continue to fight?"

"Yes," Mai answered. "We are."

"Excuse me?"

Mai trained her eyes on the figure in the alley with her cold, emotionless stare.

"You go back to your boss and tell him that I don't care if he leaks every dirty secret he knows about my family to national news. I don't care if my father loses his position with the city. I don't care if my family ends up living on the streets. He's not getting any more help from me."

"Is that all?" the figure asked, the hint of a threat in his voice.

"No."

A blade slipped from the loose sleeve of her coat and embedded itself in the ground beside the man's foot. He could feel the cold steel touching the side of his foot where it had shaved off his shoe and sock.

"Tell him that if he comes near me, my family, or my friends that he's not going to get the same warning that you just did."

A/N: So I've been horrible with updates lately and I know it. Please forgive me. At least with this chapter something good happened at the end, right?