Standard disclaimer... as always I own nothing. Other then the thought that OC's might have to appear to reinforce the villains in the near future.
Terran Royalty
The group started, flinching slightly as the boulder flew straight through where Appa had, until a few seconds ago, been.
"What was that?!" Toph cried, her voice carrying over the wind whizzing around them, a trail of dirt and small stones showering them as another boulder flew over their heads.
"Surface to air rocks!" Sokka replied, Appa banking off to the side, causing another projectile to go wide. The group looked down, seeing more and more troops bearing the Earth King's livery moving up to launch more cylindrical projectiles at them. "More incoming!" Sokka cried as more and more pucks were being launched rapid fire. Appa swung too and through, before performing an impressive amount of aerial acrobatics as he dodged through the earth, the troops and their projectiles clearly failing now that they were in the domain of the sky bison. Aang for his part focussed his eyes on the ground, navigating Appa through a few more projectiles before calmly smashing it to the side. Appa burst out of the resounding cloud of dust and earth. More pucks went flying towards the sky bison, Aang nimbly moving between them, but starting to falter as smaller clouds of rocks burst up, flying around the airborne target.
Aang readied himself before he felt a rush of wind and suddenly Neji was in front of him.
"Revolving Heaven!" was cried before chakra enhanced wind burst out from Neji, surrounding Appa and blasting all the rock, rope like structures out of the air, causing them to shower down on the troops below, forcing them to take cover. As Neji's rotation died down Rock Lee leapt out, grabbing Neji out of the air and landing on a nearby stone slab. The two ninja jumped from stone to stone, getting closer to the ground, knocking them out of the air as the stone's momentum was robbed.
Aang directed Appa into a dive, following after the two team mates using the projectiles as stepping stones. He flicked his staff down, cutting a disc in two as he moved to Appa's horns. A commander on an ostrich horse motioned and a unit of archers moved forward. Nocking arrows and loosing quickly, but a quick blast of air from Aang sent the shafts plummeting out of the sky. A blast of smoke appeared from Appa's back, proceeding a barrage of kunai which hurtled towards the archers, forcing them back and taking out a few in the process. Tenten hopped off Appa, sending projectile weapons at unsuspecting benders before landing into a roll. Rock Lee ad Neji landed moments after and moved towards the gathering royal guards. The commander tried to signal, but was cut off when Aang slammed into the ground in front of him, earth rising up around him and rippling out, sending the commander and the nearby benders airborne. The commander's mount managed to land, shakily on its feet, but the soldiers where not so lucky, hitting the ground unconscious. The ostrich horse, clearly unnerved chucked the commander from its back and bolted off, leaving the commander to be promptly knocked out by Appa landing in front of him and roaring him back several feet.
The others were now dismounted and joining the fray, as earth benders rushed them from both sides. Jumping up and slamming down to draw up the stone slabs of the causeway, punching forwards to launch the spinning floor tiles at them. Aang swept his staff around him and jumped up knocking half out of the air as Toph raised her hands, earthen shields rising out of the ground to intercept the projectiles. Aang continued his forward charge, his staff a blur around him, stone slabs moving like water in front of it as the projectiles sent his was smashed into the shields. Katara spun and water whipped out, knocking out the guards trying to get round the flanks of Aang and Toph as they rushed forward. She cried out apologies as she ensured that the guards that were trying to get back up after the maelstrom of earth bending stayed on the floor.
The group continued forwards, dodgeing and countering the attacks sent their way as Toph flipped up the giant stone slabs on the causeway, making them fall like dominoes and trapped another unit of benders underneath the stone. The progress was brought to a half as the causeway just in front of them suddenly shot to the side. A unit of earth bending elites straining against Toph and Aang as the tried to bend their path back. A stale mate was soon established, though with two against many the stones under the GAang's feet were crumbling away. Rock Lee and Neji leapt over the gap, Neji's hands a blur as he knocked the rocks sent his way out of the air, spinning and ducking, his hair whipping around and the soldiers could barely see him as he swiftly danced between them, his hands finding weak points in armour, sending half the unit into blissful unconsciousness. Rock Lee on the other hand landed on one of the elite benders, kicking down to jump off the now unconscious soldier. Landing in the middle of the rest of the scattering troops, swiftly kicking round and sweeping them off their feet, knocking them down.
With the elite unit gone the causeway quickly slammed back into place, Toph and Aang surfing over the earth as they glided past the ninja, taking on the next unit. As they neared the stairs leading up the palace a couple more commanders appeared, riding forwards and quickly motioning as a row of earth kingdom spearmen rushed forwards. They lowered their weapons, the heavy wooden shafts jutting out of the heavily armoured unit. They moved forwards slowly, a phalanx of wood and metal glinting in the sun. Katara lashed out with some water as Aang and Toph send air and earth blasts out respectively. They dispatched a few of the heavily armoured soldiers, but soon their projectiles were impacting on stone shields as a unit of earth benders moved up to assist. Hard earthen shields rising up from the ground to shield their companions, allowing the spearmen to focus on attack. Before the units could force them back however Tenten rushed forwards, flipping up and into the air, two scrolls unfurling around her, almost obscuring the earth kingdom soldiers from the rest of the GAang. Rocks were sent her way as she prepared her attack, but water whips intercepted them, scything through the air to cut through and knock out the attacks.
"Ninja art! Phoenix dance!" Tenten cried as smoke obscured the causeway.
Onlookers gazed up at the Earth kingdoms palace. It was usually an impressive structure to the members of the upper ring to see, but they were taken aback as they shouted and stared as a smoke cloud spontaneously generated near the stair case. More and more onlookers gathered, pointing to their fellows, and muttering nervously as a bright gleam emerged from the smoke. Flying forwards, light glinting off whatever it was, looking like a colossal bird soaring into some sort of earthen barricade. The creatures existed only for a moment before disappearing, moments later a thunderous explosion rang out. A giant flaming bird emerged from the causeway, earth falling down, showering around as the bird lingered, flaming trails coming from its wings before a blast of air rocketed through the middle of it. The bird dispelling in an instant and a mass of bodies flying back screaming.
As the causeway went quiet they were all left with only one thought. "What the badger-mole was going on"
The GAang rushed on. Aang shouting out his thanks to Appa as they ran past the prone bodies of the unconscious guards, Katara shouting out more apologies for anyone still able to listen.
The commanders charged on foot, the ostrich horses long gone from the battle on the causeway, retreating up the stairs. Aang flipped over one, sending a blast of air into his back to send him sprawling to the floor. The other was brought down as a boomerang hit the side of his head, the helmet ringing as he fell to the ground.
Sokka deftly caught his boomerang again as the rest of the party advanced on the stairs, faltering slightly as they came across a moat at the base. Before they could focus on crossing it three more battalions of earth benders advanced, one from the front and the other two on the flanks. As one they struck, the two towering badged mole statues on the sides of the causeway rose up, hovering in the air before flying forwards, hurtling towards the young avatar's group. Aang and Toph moved forwards, their arms flying up as earth rose around them, forming a domed shield in front of them, buckling then crumbling as the statues brought it down as they bounced off. Katara and Tenten didn't let the earth benders have a pause however, rushing forwards and vaulting the moat, Katara twirling in the air, a pillar of water rushing up and around her. As she landed the water lashed out smashing one of the bender battalions into the moat. Aang landed, sending out a freezing tempest to solidify the water trapping the soldiers now in the moat in ice as Tenten danced out of the way of the second flanking battalion, a variety of melee weapons appearing around her as she darted between them, one second a naginata striking out, knocking out guards left and right, the next two short swords swiftly sent guards back, chakra strings holding the spare weapons around her as she quickly knocked out the second group.
Neji, Rock Lee and Sokka quickly took the final battalion out of the fight as Top advanced to the base of the stairs. Rocks pelted down as more and more guards poured out of the building at the top of the stairs, rushing down to meet the intruders. Toph raised her hands, the stairs turning, becoming a flat surface, causing the guards to all slip and start to slide down the passage. Whilst they struggled Toph used her bending to generate a platform, the rest of the group joining her as Aang moved to help propel the makeshift lift up the slide. Soldiers bounced past them on the way down, scrambling comically at the smooth stone.
"Seriously, we're actually on your guys' side." Sokka said, conversationally as men fell past them. "Sorry" he finished as one glared up at him, sliding down on his front. The lift reached the top and the remaining guards sprang into action. Two groups of benders rushed forwards from both flanks. Toph and Aang merely countered them by generating two walls of stone and sending them pushing forwards, knocking the troops back as the rest of the group rushed into the palace at Sokka's command.
They moved quickly through the palace, not having the luxury of time to take in the breath taking sights of the palace. The high ceilings, the stained glass windows, the intricate pillars and carvings on the walls, all were promptly ignored as yet more guards streamed in through side doors, being sent skyway by Toph, gleefully bending earthen columns up to knock them out of the way.
"Toph, which way to the Earth King?" Sokka asked as they dashed down the main corridor.
"How should I know? I'm still voting that we leave Ba Sing Se!" Toph replied, slamming her feet down to send out a ripple of stone, sending two approaching guards flying back. Sokka started investigating doors as the others drove back the approaching guards, Neji activating his Byakugan and shouting out a warning to Sokka, who either didn't hear it or chose to ignore it as he opened a door to a woman changing.
"Burglar!" she screamed before turning to run and promptly face planting onto the ground.
"Sorry, wrong door!" Sokka shouted back running back to the group, already heading under Neji's direction towards a giant and intricate pair of doors. As they approached the rubble and chaos continued to build up in the corridor, stopping the constant flow of earth kingdom reinforcements.
"That's the door we want" Neji announced, pointing to the gold embellished door.
"Alright, let's see what's behind door number…" whatever door Sokka had gotten too was drowned out by a cry of pain as his flying kick bounced off the door. Seemingly hanging in the air before collapsing on the floor and beating at the door to no avail. Toph and Aang moved up but Lee beat them too it, launching himself past and through the door, Sokka's hair flowing in the air left behind Rock Lee's
"DYNAMIC ENTRY!" The doors crumpled behind him, earthen dust billowing out into the intricately decorated room. Rock Lee skidded forwards before looking up, the Earth King himself met his gaze as the rest of the group rushed in.
"A little warning next time!" announced the male teen in blue, rubbing at the back of his head.
Kuei looked down at the group of kids and teenagers rushing into his throne room. He sensed rather then looked at the lines of Dai Li agents taking up position on the flanks of his throne. He looked at Long Feng, his trusted advisor moving between his throne and the group.
The bald headed one was the first to speak, breaking the silence of the stand-off.
"We need to talk to you!" he announced as Kuei turned his head to look at Long Feng.
"They're here to overthrow you" he said warningly.
The girl in blue was the next to speak, a sense of desperation in her voice. "You have to trust us." He paused his mind racing. They just broke in… to his palace. They must have taken many of his guards out on the way and the loud noise from earlier had him spooked. Last of all his wonderfully fancy door. He rose, announcing his thoughts and awaited their response. The small girl in green spoke next, talking more to the rest of their group then him he figured.
"He has a good point." She muttered to the rest of the group, the final girl of the group nodding as the long haired male looked like he wanted to rest his face in his hands.
"If you're on my side then drop your weapons and stand down." Kuei was surprised to find his voice as commanding as it was when he spoke. He watched as one by one their weapons found their way onto the floor and they dropped out of their combat stances.
"See, we're friends your Earthiness." The bald headed one announced, bringing his hands up with a disarming grin.
He wasn't buying it, to come this far they had to have some motive driving them. He motioned and his trusted advisor gave the signal. Stone gauntlets shot out, clasping around all of the intruders hands.
"Detain the assailants" Long Feng commanded, his men moving forward and positioning themselves behind the intruders.
"But we dropped our weapons!" the blue clothed teen cried out, sounding like someone who very much believed themselves the world's punching bag.
"Make sure these intruders never see the light of day again." Long Feng announced.
The men moved to transfer the teens before the twin bunned girl spoke up. "Well if you don't want to meet the avatar then I guess that can't be helped."
The avatar? In his palace. This changed things slightly.
"The avatar? Here? Which one of you is it? Is it you?" he asked pointing the blue clothed teen.
"Um… no" he stuttered out before Kuei's attention was grabbed by the smiling bald kid again.
"Over here" he announced, waving as he calmly took himself out of captivity and back in again.
"What does it matter your majesty?" Long Feng spoke up. "They're enemies of the state, they've broken into your palace."
That was true, Kuei was conflicted for a moment. "Perhaps you're right" he mentioned thinking, meeting the avatar was certainly an honour, but he had broken in. Whilst he was thinking he looked up, seeing his beloved pet Bosco move in, padding up to the avatar. He sniffed for a while before licking at his face, the avatar giggling in return. That settled his mind, if Bosco liked him he must be a good person.
He smiled at his pet. "Though Bosco seems to like him!" hiss joyous attitude disappeared as he remembered what was happening and went back to business. "I'll hear what they have to say."
"Long Feng was right, this is a waste of time" He spoke his annoyance showing. The bite mark on Long Feng's leg had been convincing and he'd have to have a long think about what to do as his advisor did seem to have been up to something regarding these teens. Everything else however was looking like a lie. "If you'll excuse me I'm going back to the palace" He turned to leave, suddenly glad for the contingent of royal guard and not Dai Li accompanying him.
He heard pleas from behind him about the wall, but he was annoyed now. "No Earth King has ever been to the outer wall. I don't have anymore time for this nonsense" he brushed past the avatar his guards closing in behind him. He heard a faint, rushed conversation behind him between the three quieter teens and the blue clothed teen he'd come to know as Sokka. He heard a few comments along the lines of. "Jealous of Appa, must be a way to convince him and flying would solve the time issue when he heard Sokka speak up again
"If you come with us, this time you can ride on Appa."
He turned, the sky bison lowering itself down behind the group.
The next few minutes were a blur and before he knew it he could feel the twisting of his stomach in both fear and exhilaration. His hands woven into the sky bisons coarse fur, gripping on for dear life even as he swung back screaming in both panic and joy. The wind rushed through his hair and for a while he was worried his glasses would come flying off. His hat was long gone, picked up by the royal guard desperately trying to keep up with the aerial mount.
"First time flying?" he heard shouted over the wind rushing past.
"It's both thrilling and terrifying!" he cried back having the time of his life.
"Yeah I hate it too." The kid, Toph he corrected himself replied.
"I have to admit to be honest with you part of me really hopes that what you're telling me, about this war isn't true." He announced, trying to sound solemn, but the kid like glee of flying combined with the breathlessness made it difficult.
"We wish it wasn't true as well sir" Aang replied, the only one used to flying like this.
He turned his attention back to the view, seeing his city, his kingdom spread out below him. A sight he was sure no other Earth King had ever seen. He was both disappointed and glad when Appa started diving down towards the wall. The people on the ground starting to look like ants now, not just dots.
He slid down the side of the bison, his legs threatening to give out as he landed on the firm stone of the wall. He just managed to calm his shaking legs when he heard the avatar let out a shout.
"It's still there!"
He rushed over, looking down at the long metal structure, boulders littered around it.
"What is that?" he asked before he even realised he was speaking.
"It's a giant drill. A giant drill made by the Fire Nation, to break through your walls." Sokka replied.
He felt a chill rush through him at that moment. Feeling sick to his stomach and this time there was no exhilaration buzz to counter it. He moved back away from the wall "I can't believe, I never knew" he stuttered out, before turning to see his… advisor arrive at the top of the wall.
He barely heard him try to explain away the drill as a construction project, the blue clothed girl, Katara replied sarcastically. Fire Nation symbol… the Fire Nation… part way through the wall. He shook his head. Turning his gave to his 'advisor' and to the avatar's group. There was no way this was an imported structure, and this along with the bite made him question the loyal comment Long Feng made.
"Dai Li, arrest Long Feng. I wat him to stand trial for crimes against the Earth Kingdom."
Neji groaned as he remembered Sokka's pun at Long Feng's defeat. Lee had enjoyed the 'long gone' comment far too much. He paid attention along with his team mates as the avatar's original group explained what had been going on to the Earth King. They'd left out the whole, world moving aspect of him and his team to keep things simple. Which was why he was surprised when the general, who introduced himself as General How, announced that they also had something in the Dai Li's secret files. Tenten and Rock Lee joined in the excited conversation with the other teammates as Neji turned over the parchment in his hands. Noting the deer symbol on the wax seal.
He was dragged into the conversation again by Tenten as it was announced that they were going to have to split up. They spent most of the night back in their house, drinking tea and eating and talking until the candles were gone.
The following morning came far too quickly and before they knew it the good byes were being finished up.
"Ahhh! Great we all love each other very much." Sokka announced over the rest of them. "But that's enough we need to go!" and with that Neji, Tenten and Rock Lee waved good bye to Aang and Sokka as they flew off.
The ninja said their goodbyes to Toph and then to Katara as they made their way to their destination. Walking through the crowded streets, sticking to the shade as the sun beat down harshly on the stone streets of the upper ring. The guards saluting as they moved into the middle ring. Making their way past the emerald green parks as they neared the university. Moving off towards a towering building, layered with dark green roofs as they barely paused at the dark green, wooden doors. They were looking forward to researching a way home in the grand library of Ba Sing Se, but first they had a meeting with someone.
"Finding you guys was so troublesome" they heard, the shadows dancing around the bookcases in the far corner as they neared. The cool air of the library disturbed by the lazy, sounding comment.
"Hello to you too Shikamaru" Neji announced, their spiky haired friend emerging from the shadows. The two grasped each other's hands before Rock Lee grabbed the lazy strategist.
"It is good to see you again my youthful friend!" he cried, the librarian suddenly rounding the corner to glare at them. Tenten smacking Lee on the back of the head and they sheepishly made their way to one of the table. Shikamaru turning down an offer to play Pai Sho with an aging university professor.
They spent the rest of the day talking to each other, Shikiamaru catching up with what was happening whilst filling them in with how he'd gotten there. Apparently he'd been sent with Ino and Choji to investigate when team Guy hadn't returned. Finding the scroll there Shikamaru had been the one to investigate it, making sure Ino and Choji were at a reasonable distance to back him up. The chakra in the scroll and lessened and he'd memorised some of the writing on it before it activated, sending just him this time.
He'd wound up in Ba Sing Se and had somehow managed to gain entry to the university before hearing about the exploits of team Guy and the avatar. He'd prepared a letter and sent it to the Earth King, knowing that the Dai Li would intercept it, but being just as sure that team avatar would still get it.
The next few days disappeared in a rush of activity. They had to stop searching for a way home however, when Katara stopped coming back to the house. The Earth King had mentioned that she was staying with the Kyoshi warriors, but there was no sign of them either. They were in their house, ignoring the construction work going on to repair the wall broken by Toph when the door slammed open. They looked up to see Aang, Sokka and Top rush in. Momo chattering happily, flying off from playing with Shikamaru's hair, much to his annoyance, but it was too troublesome to remove him from his head, to greet Aang.
"Where's Katara?" Toph asked as Aang greeted Momo. "And who's this?" she asked pointing at Shikamaru. "You guys have multiplied since I last saw you."
Aang looked at the group as Sokka glanced around the room.
"This is Shikamaru, he's another of our friends from home." Neji spoke. "As for Katara she's gone missing, along with the Kyoshi warriers.
"Oh no." Sokka muttered, sinking to his knees.
"Wait someone's at the door" She pointed back at the door, the knock coming slightly afterwards. "Actually I know who it is. It's an old friend of mine." She walked to the door, swinging it open. "Glad to see you're ok!" she announced happily.
Aang and Sokka pointed comically at the man standing in the door as Toph, Tenten, Neji and Rock Lee gave him a friendly wave. Shikamaru gave him a lazy wave as well as Iroh spoke to the silent room.
"I need your help."
As they neared the walls, Shikamaru and Sokka muttering to each other before announcing their plan. "We should split into two strike teams." Shikamaru announced, before letting Sokka take over with the instructions.
"Aang, you go with Iroh, Neji and Tenten to look for Katara and the angry jerk… no offence" Sokka sent Iroh a look with the last statement.
"None taken"
"I'll go with Shikamaru, Toph and Rock Lee to warn the Earth King of the coup"
They nodded in response as they reached the wall, Toph pausing. "Well there really is a hidden city here" with a quick burst of impressive earth bending a crater opened up with the corresponding team disappearing down it.
The second team climbed the steep stone steps of the palace, nearing the top Sokka noticed General How moving towards the door.
"And he's in trouble" Toph mentioned, pointing up to the Dai Li agents clinging to the columns."
"The coup's happening now!" Shikamaru whispered to the group. "The other generals will already be lost, but we can save this one, Lee with me you two go to help the king" The two ninja moved forward rushing towards the general who turned surprised at the flurry of movement. He was even more surprised as Rock Lee jumped, launching himself up the stairs to deliver a crushing kick to the abdomen of one of the Dai Li agents who had just tried to drop down on him. The winded agent flew off into the side of the palace as a blinding flash occurred from behind the remaining group, two Dai Li agents dropping like flies to the ground, robbed of their movement and unable to continue holding on to the earthen pillars. They stayed down as Shikamaru moved up, his shadow twitching as it moved back to him. Sokka caught it out of the corner of his eye, making a note to question him on it later as he and Toph rushed past the surprised general.
"What's happening?" How cried out.
"Coup, Earth King's in danger!" Sokka cried out as more Dai Li agents sprung out from the doorway, trying to block it off. Rock Lee send them packing with a series of powerful kicks as Shikamaru moved up to the general. "We'll explain later, you're not safe here." He formed a few hand signs and suddenly his shadow rose and split up.
"Shadow sewing Jutsu" he muttered, the dark tendrils spearing through several earth gauntlets sent flying their way from approaching Dai Li agents.
"What on earth?!" General How announced as the shadows speared through the earth attacks before descending on the handful of agents. The unknown attack sent them fleeing, unsure on how to deal with something that wasn't one of the four elements.
"They do not recognise your technique!" Rock Lee announced, appearing next to Shikamaru as he the pineapple haired ninja sighed.
"I'm going to get in trouble for using my techniques here." More agents appear, and glancing around the three see the prone forms of royal guards. "We're going to get swarmed and we can't afford to get caught up here" Shikamaru muttered looking around. "Lee, General, we're going to catch up with the others!" he cried out, making sure the Dai Li heard his plans as the three turned to the building running to the door, Rock Lee jumping up and spinning round to send two air borne Dai Li agents flying away, one crashing through a nearby pillar. As the agents moved to follow they suddenly encountered a multitude of wires, the unit stopping, but slightly too late as a cacophony of explosive tags ignited behind them, the doors and door frame long gone from the palace now.
They ran through the corridors in the palace, hearing the cries of royal guards being taken down as Dai Li swarmed through the building. Just before they reached the fancy doors of the Earth King's palace they quickly darted into a nearby room as two more units of Dai Li rushed forward, lining the corridor. Shikamaru looked out whilst Lee made sure the general was hidden from sight.
He watched on as the doors opened and more Dai Li poured out, holding Sokka, Toph, the Earth King and surprisingly Long Feng captive. They waited for the parade of Dai Li to pass before the general moved to go out. Shikamaru caught him with his shadow and quickly silenced him just before the a fake Kyoshi warrior moved out. Her robes and make up being discarded as she swapped back into her normal attire.
"That was close" Shikamaru muttered as the doors closed as the parade moved on. "They're be going to reinforce the people holding Katara." He looked around as they emerged from the corridor.
"We must save the Earth King!" the general spoke up. "We can't let them keep him or his bear." He paused before pointing at Shikamaru. "And what on earth was that? What, what are you?" he cried out. Their cries caused the heavy doors to the throne room to be reopened and they stood face to face with a couple of other fake Kyoshi warriors, with a small body guard of Dai Li agents.
"Well this is interesting, hello again!" The pigtailed girl announced up beat. "oooh you're new!" she cried, moving suddenly to inspect Shikamaru from far too into his personal space.
"Another troublesome woman has appeared" he muttered in return as earth gauntlets sprung out towards the general. Rock Lee smashed them out of the air with a flurry of punches.
"Joy this guy again" the black haired girl spoke up, sending several throwing weapons towards Lee who promptly sprung out of the way.
Shikamaru dodged back, his hands in his pockets as his female opponent tried to land one of her blocking attacks on him. He pulled his head back sharply as her fingers grazed the black fabric of his top.
"So you're a blocker are you, that's even more troublesome." He muttered jumping back to create some distance.
"Aww that's no fun, you figured me out" she announced, pouting slightly.
"Of course" Shikamaru replied. "Your stance, your movements, the way you're attacking with your fingers, it's not conventional and I've seen Neji and Hinata fight too much to know what that means." He ducked as she continued to attack, being forced to move all over to avoid the incoming barrage of attacks. He saw Rock Lee crash into the Dai Li agents behind the throwing weapon girl as General How fought off a few earth gauntlets and the incoming throwing knives.
"This is too troublesome" he announced, swinging a few kunai up around his fingers and then launching them at his opponent. As she disengaged to dodge slightly he quickly made the needed hand seals and,
"Shadow possession jutsu". She froze stock still for a moment before she was forced to move towards the kunai embedded in the ground, noticing too later the attachments which quickly disorientated her as a bright flash engulfed the room. When the glare cleared the braided girl was on the floor, wire bound around her keeping her struggling, but unable to move. Rock Lee stood in the middle of collapsed Dai Li agents. The black haired girl was the only remaining combatant, but before anything else could happen they heard a growl coming from the corner of the room. A brown bear bounded over to Shikamaru, licking him happily.
"Just take the stupid bear" the black haired girl muttered, surrendering as Lee laughed. "Guess Bosco likes you!" General How relaxed as he used earth bending to restrain the remaining girl without a fight. If Bosco liked him, this shadow wielder couldn't be too bad.
"See any Dai Li agents nearby?" Toph asked as Sokka glanced through the bars of the window.
"Nope. All Clear." Came the reply. Kuei was about to ask what they were planning before the metal door was assaulted by the small blind girl. The door bounced several times off the walls of the prison as it careened off into the darkness. Sokka grabbed his hand and pulled him along as they sprinted to the door.
"Let's go!" Sokka cried, but Kuei couldn't leave just yet.
"I'm not leaving without Bosco!" he announced running after them. They froze when they saw a Dai Li agent turn the corner. They starred though as he managed out a "m…ercy" before he suddenly collapsed. Kuei watched as Sokka approached warily, but Toph smiled. "I don't think getting Bosco will be a problem!"
They rounded the corner to see Rock Lee, Shikamaru and General How standing in the middle of a wiped out battalion of Dai Li agents.
"I see we needn't have bothered" Shikamaru said, but Kuei barely heard him as he ran forwards, meeting Bosco halfway and engulfing him in a hug.
"As nice as the invitation was, I think we had best leave" Sokka muttered as the group turned and moved to run out of the prison.
"Incoming!" Neji announced, his bloodline limit active. Aang jumped and spun around, rocks and earth rising up at his command to form a barrier, which promptly had a barrage of blue fireballs slam into it. The wall gave a good effort, but could not resist the barrage and shattered into pieces sending Aang flying back. Katara didn't waste any time in retaliating, rushing forward the water in the nearby channel rising up before crashing down at her command. The giant wave was met with a large torrent of blue flames, the licking fire fighting the crashing wave, holding until Katara spun, gathering up all the water and sending it crashing down again. A towering wall of fire met Katara's wave again, kicking up steam as the attacks cancelled each other out.
Aang and Katara glanced around the steam covered room, looking for Azula's next attack. Her cover would have worked to if not for Neji and Tenten taking over. Neji sent two blasts of air towards the ceiling, blasting out the forming fireballs before Azula could launch them and she was forced to jump as senbon soon lined the ledges she had been using. She smiled at the two ninja.
"As much as I'd love to play with you two again I have bigger plans." She motioned and Tenten and Neji were forced into the air as the crystals near them sprouted towards them. Sharp barbs crashing into each other as their targets left the area. Earthen gauntlets flew towards Neji, forcing him to spin in the air, his kaiten deflecting them away as he fell. Tenten found herself the target of five Dai Li agents, taking it in turns to launch themselves into the air, pressuring her in aerial combat. Smoke obscured their vision and earth gauntlets and armour met finely forged steel as she twirled a naginata around her defensively.
After knocking one of the guards out of the air she turned and quickly sent out kunai with ninja wire attached, pulling her out of the way of three crystalline missiles sent flying towards her. Out of the corner of their eyes they could see Azula engage Aang and Katara. Water shields met with fireballs before a flurry of movement distracted them again. The Dai Li were out in force and as quickly as one was taken down more took their place.
Being forced into a battle of attrition is never a good idea of you're the one outnumbered and Tenten and Neji were forced to conserve energy as they dispatched their foes, managing to stop them from helping the Fire Nation princess, but not able to help them themselves. The cavern went quiet as an explosion of red and orange fire took over the darkness. Zuko appearing, dropping into a combat stance and engaging Aang as Katara was forced to contend with Azula. Tenten went to throw several flash bombs at the avatar's foe, but they were intercepted by an earthen wall blasting out of the ground. Neji jumped, hand landing on the top of the wall as he went to swing himself over, but found several Dai Li agents leaping up to meet him in mid air.
A giant shurikan arced round, taken out a few and kunai intercepted the others. Neji launched an empty palm air blast at Zuko as he cleared the agents, who was forced to jump out of the way, letting Aang press the advantage. Tenten felt the ground her change and suddenly earth hands shot up, grabbing for her legs, causing her to strike down with her naginata, trying to dislodge them. The other agents offered no respite, closing in, earthen walls emerging around her and charging towards her. Neji flipped into the air, sending an empty palm blast to free her, letting her jump away, obscured by the smoke and dust kicked up by the attacks.
The Dai Li however only seemed to grow in numbers, Neji shielded himself as rocks assailed him, agents jumping between them, engaging him with martial arts. Neji managed to swing a one to the ground before grabbing another's arm, spinning around and launching him towards another of his fellows. Several agents however crashed down on a giant crystal, hitting Neji and sending him flying towards the ground where another agent was waiting for him. Tenten appeared suddenly in front of him, kicking him back as she jumped off him, grabbing Neji and landed nearer to the avatar. They watched him disappear into a crystal tent. They panted, glancing over at Katara, enjoying the break in the skirmish as the agents and Zuko stood back, unnerved by the bright light coming from the avatar.
Suddenly the crystals shattered and Aang remerged, flying up as he bathed the cavern in cosmic light. Hope swelled in their chests before Neji shouted out. The next scene happened in slow motion. No one saw Neji move, but suddenly Aang was thrown down, Katara catching him as Tenten screamed. A lightning bolt impacting on Neji's back, causing him to cry out before he fell, his white robes singed and combusting away as he fell, his headband sliding and falling off his head. Enraged Aang and Katara launched a crashing tsunami in return, sending the Dai Li and Zuko washing away as Tenten jumped to catch Neji. Azula blasted up, trails of fire in her wake as she crashed into Tenten, sending her flying away, tens of hundreds of small fireballs following after her, like fireflies buzzing around her as they closed in. Tenten gritted her teeth and looked on as Azula's smirk lessened as a pillar of red fire burst forth again. Everyone turning to see Iroh emerging, Neji on his back, still breathing. He slid off and formed an empty palm stance, wobbling slightly on his feet as Iroh sent him a worried look.
"You are lucky it is only your clothes that got singed" he mentioned, almost conversationally.
"Well it certainly was lucky that I had crystals there to intercept the attack." He smiled at the Dai Li. "I'm not sure how badly I'd have been hurt if at the last minute the remnants of your attack hadn't gotten in the way.
Tenten let out a breath she hadn't been aware she had been holding, a last minute substitution jutsu. Though giving Neji's condition it looked like he had been a bit late and chakra fatigue was starting to kick in. The others moved to Iroh, who promptly sent the other assailants reeling as they recovered from the scene in front of them.
"You've got to get out of here! I'll hold them off as long as I can!" Iroh announced, a nearby group of Dai Li getting roasted as he sent a breath of fire towards them.
They turned to leave, starting to run when they heard chirping from behind them. They jumped out of the way, Aang turning as he did, knowing he was the target, Azula not giving up on him, knowing he was worth more than taking out a weakened Neji with so many reinforcements around. Aang sent a blast of wind arcing through the air towards her, along with an earth blast rocketing along the ground. She was forced to spin to the side, her bangs suffering a second close encounter as she dodged.
The group was suddenly distracted when a suddenly bright flash sent everything into slow motion again, Aang was suddenly flying towards the ground, crashing down in front of Neji, his back horribly burnt. They turned. Zuko was standing at the entrance, his fingers outstretched and his clothes singed. It took but a moment to figure out what had happened as Iroh cried out at his nephew, having caught Azula's lightning and redirected it back towards Aang, not expecting an attack from that angle.
Neji quickly picked up Aang and passed him to Katara.
"Tenten, get them out of here that's an order!" he shouted, sending chakra to his feet, rushing at Zuko and driving him desperately out of the way as Tenten and Katara carrying Aang charged past them and out of the cavern. Tenten looked back, Neji engaged in a fierce battle with Zuko, Iroh facing down Azula before the Dai Li appeared and suddenly the cavern snapped shut in a blast of earth and rubble.
Appa flew away quickly, three ninja, three team avatar with unconscious avatar and one Earth King, one of his generals and his bear on Appa's back. The conscious members looking glumly back at the city.
"The Earth Kingdom… has fallen" Kuei muttered solemnly as Fire Nation banners unfurled all around the city.
"Neji" Tenten muttered, Lee putting a hand on her back as Appa cleared the final wall and flew on, into the stormy sky.