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Entrapment – Chapter Thirty-One
The Gaang stood with their backs to one another while they continued to watch in alarm to see that they were surrounded on all sides.
"What do we going to do?" Katara asked from where she stood beside Zuko while he held out his hands in a signature bending stance.
"Stick together." Zuko answered with a snarl while Katara gazed at his back before nodding as she turned away.
"Hey Zuko! I found one of your swords!" Sokka called out with a small grin while the other man turned to gaze at him with surprised golden eyes.
"My sword! One of my swords anyhow." Zuko exclaimed with a relieved countenance while he accepted it from the Water Tribe warrior.
"I found it in the rocks over there. I am not sure where the other one is. But I figured one was better than none." Sokka commented in a more serious voice than before while the other man nodded gravely.
"Right. Thank you." Zuko replied before slipping the blade over his back while he gazed up at the airship with narrowed eyes.
Just what…was Azula planning?
There was more to this chasm…than meets the eye.
He watched closely while his sister walked forward with her fists on her hips as she smirked down at him with smugness that he knew all too well.
Only to be shocked for the second time today when she called for a sword.
"Bring me my short sword." Azula commanded with a cruel smile growing on her lips while Zuko gazed up at her in disbelief.
'Since when does Azula use a sword!' Zuko thought with his teeth grinding together in anger while a soldier rushed forward with a blade in hand.
"Here it is Princess!" A soldier shouted before rushing to a stop before the smirking princess.
Mai too was staring at Azula with alarm in her eyes all the while swallowing the baited breath in her throat.
It's just as she gathered in the arena display.
Azula…was much more dangerous than before.
Elle stood with Ty Lee standing protectively over her shoulder while they watched the proceedings with reservations that they did not dare speak
The princess reached down to grasp ahold of the blade only to turn spin around with dangerously narrowed eyes when a swift hand dared intercept her grab.
Only to find herself staring in puzzlement into her captain's eyes.
"What are you doing Zoi?" Azula demanded in a callous voice only to furrow her brows when Zoi waved her hand in a placating motion.
"Holdup. You don't want that sword Princess." Zoi scoffed with her trademark wit while Azula glared back at her in annoyance.
"Really? And why is that?" Azula snapped with a hand on her hip while her soldier turned to meet her gaze.
"We both know that it will only last for a few swings of that new technique of yours." Zoi declared slyly with a small smirk while the princess's amber golden eyes now pierced through her skull.
"How do you know about my new technique?" Azula hissed in an utterly rigid voice while the Gaang listened warily down below.
"Never mind that. I have a much better sword for you." Zoi spoke with a confident smile before behind her when one of her men approached with a wooden box in hand.
The princess stared on with ruthless amber golden eyes while she watched in bewilderment when her favored soldier opened the casing to show her its contents.
Azula's anger then gave way to surprise when she found herself gazing down at a sword of simply impeccable quality.
And it was housed inside a magnificent sheath that was in the shape of a dragon that was trimmed with gold.
"This is the rarest and strongest metal in the world…long thought to have faded away with the dragons of old. But Mother managed to get ahold of a sample. She had the material melted down and forged into two twin swords by the great Piandao himself. One for me…and one for you." Zoi informed with a proud countenance while her princess gazed back at her in astonishment.
"You spied on me…to craft me this for me?" Azula inquired with less anger than before reaching down to grasp the blade by its sheath.
"I did. I wanted to give you…something more durable as proof of the Song clan's loyalty." Zoi stated with a prideful nod while Azula held the blade before her in approval.
"Hm. Lucky for you I am pleased so I will overlook your spying." Azula purred with a returning smile before partially unsheathing her new blade.
"You won't find a sturdier blade. I can personally attest that it pierces through flesh like butter…and you should have no problems with it breaking on you." Zoi explained with her hand on the hilt of her own blade while Mai glared at her back.
"Damn you…Zoi." Zuko snarled with his eyes narrowing in his anger over how the woman went out of her way to sure that his sister had the most lethal sword in the world.
"How reassuring to know." Azula spoke with a cold smirk before sliding the blade back into it sheathe.
"And as an added bonus it is believed to be the purest metal known to man. There are little to no unpurified materials remaining within. In other words, it is completely impervious to metalbending." Zoi concluded with her lips curling into a smirk while Azula stared back at her with approving amber golden eyes.
The statement was a truly unnerving one.
Yet even so Toph just snorted while she rubbed at her ear.
"I really doubt that." Toph scoffed with a mischievous smile while her friends stared at her back in disapproval of her relaxed behavior.
"Marvelous Zoi. I approve of this gift. But I can't help but notice that you received yours before me." Azula declared with a knowing gleam in her callous eyes before hooking her new sword to her belt while Zoi stepped up beside her.
Ty Lee couldn't help but sigh in exasperation.
That was just like Azula to notice that she received hers second.
"Only so I could test it out in battle to ensure that it was worthy of being a gift for my Crown Princess." Zoi insisted while they strode forward only for her princess to roll her eyes arrogant eyes at her.
"Of course." Azula snorted with a sophisticated aura about her while her captain stood gazing down at their entrapped enemies below.
"Now then my princess. Shall we?" Zoi asked with a battle thirsty gleam in her eyes while she turned to meet Azula's cruelly smiling gaze.
"Yes. Let's." Azula spoke in a beyond menacing voice while Aang stared up at her with his lips forming an angered frown.
Pakku stood with soldiers flanking him on all sides while he gazed down at the scene with worried blue eyes while soldiers continued to surround his allies.
The Gaang stood together while they watched in alarm when the surrounding soldiers began to bombard them with blasts of orange flame.
The Avatar skillfully grasped his staff before spinning it just as he whirled around to deflect the flames with expertly aimed bursts of airbending.
"I will defeat you Azula! And then the Fire Lord himself afterward!" Aang yelled out with passion in his voice while he met Azula's sadistic gaze.
"No Avatar. You are going to die." Azula boasted with a sanguine sneer while the Avatar glared up at her in defiance.
"Not before I bring balance to our world!" Aang insisted with a growl while he spun around with Momo perched upon his shoulder.
That was when Aang's gray eyes flickered over the strange young girl with golden hair standing beside Ty Lee.
His gaze continued to dance about while he swung his staff sending powerful currents of air that dispersed the flames.
Before he turned around to stare up at Elle in with a confused look in his eyes.
The girl returned his gaze with her amber eyes expressing a mutual bafflement while they silently stared back at one another.
This was the first time that he had stopped to gaze at her.
She seemed like a harmless young girl.
And yet…
Why was it that this girl that made him feel unease?
Elle stared back down at him with her amber eyes reflecting an unknown emotion while her hands began to tightly grip at the straps of her backpack.
"Elle? Are you okay?" Ty Lee questioned with sisterly frown while she stared down at Elle's suddenly sweating face in worry.
Ty Lee's words earned a glance from Mai and even a brief stare from Azula.
Elle reached up to hold a hand to her cheek while she continued to stare down at Aang with her lips curling into an uncharacteristic frown.
"I…don't know. There's…something about that man that bothers me." Elle answered in a perturbed voice while her statement took her friends by surprise.
Team Avatar could only stare up at the girl in mutual puzzlement.
"Hey! Zuko's a bit of an asshole but even I think that's uncalled for!" Sokka called out while Zuko turned to cast him a halfhearted glare.
"Thanks, Sokka." Zuko sighed before turning away while Toph snickered in amusement.
"No, I think that she was talking about you Snoozles." Toph taunted with a grin while she listened to her comrade deflate behind her.
"Which man? Zuko?" Ty Lee repeated in bafflement while the princess smirked at her brother's expense.
"No. Not Zuko. The one with the markings." Elle spoke before pointing down at Aang while everyone listening gazed at her in increased astonishment.
Even Sokka and Toph were stunned to hear that the girl was talking about Aang.
"The Avatar…bothers you?" Mai inquired in a confused voice while she approached the two from behind.
"Yes. There's something about the Avatar that troubles me. I don't know what it is but I find it concerning." Elle explained in a thoughtful voice while the two noblewomen stared down at her in puzzlement.
Azula stood gazing over her shoulder at Elle with her calculating amber golden eyes conveying her bewilderment.
Elle was troubled by the Avatar?
There was something curious about the girl's declaration.
And it didn't sound like the girl was referring to the Avatar's physical appearance.
How strange she mused with a contemplative twitch of her regal lips.
"Oh. Well, you don't have to worry Elle. You're safe up here with us." Ty Lee informed warmly with her hand on the girl's shoulder while Elle smiled in appreciation up at her.
Aang glanced up at Elle once more with a flicker of bewilderment in his eyes while Katara placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"There's nothing troubling about Aang! Just ignore her Aang. Considering the company that she keeps her opinion means nothing." Katara growled with a defensive countenance while Aang numbly nodded his head.
Yet still just what was it about that young girl that made him feel unnerved?
Zuko too turned to gaze at Aang over his shoulder with confusion flashing in his eyes.
He has met many people that hated the Avatar but this was the first time that he has ever heard of anyone being this offput by Aang's presence.
"Her words don't concern me." Aang replied while still staring up at the strange young girl with a frown on his lips.
For some reason he was finding it difficult to look away.
There was something…off about her.
And it wasn't just the unusual color of her hair.
'Why? Did do I feel like every one of my past lives are recoiling in alarm when I stare at this girl?' Aang thought with his eyes staring at the girl in an almost trance-like state.
So much so that he didn't even realizing that he was zoning out on the battlefield.
"Aang? Aang? Are you okay Aang?" Zuko questioned in concern before shaking the younger man's shoulder while he gazed at his new comrade in rising concern.
Suddenly and without any warning whatsoever an explosion echoed across the soon to be battlefield.
The chasm shook with a tremor while Toph suddenly spun around with her glazed sea form green eyes agape in alarm.
"What was that! Where did that come from!" Katara shouted in confusion while dust rained down on them from above.
"Aang!" Sokka called out while roughly shaking the motionless man's shoulder.
"Azula, what is going on down there?" Mai demanded while she turned to gaze at the princess and the captain observing the scene from above.
"I trust your preparations are completed?" Azula queried with curiosity lacing her voice while the two noblewomen listened warily.
"Yes. My plan has officially begun!" Zoi exclaimed before shooting her grappling hook through the smoke.
The vicious soldier stood with a smile growing on her lip while the princess observed her with impressed amber golden eyes.
"Answer my question Azula!" Mai snapped while she stopped up behind her leader only for Azula to turn around to glare at her.
"I don't think I care for your tone." Azula hissed with a huff while Mai narrowed her tawny eyes back at her.
"Too bad. Answer it!" Mai barked with anger in her eyes while Ty Lee shivered when the princess's glacial eyes passed over her.
"It's quite simple Mai. If you wish to live. You will remain on the airship." Azula responded vaguely while her childhood friends just gazed at her in increased alarm.
Mai narrowed her eyes before spinning around when another explosion randomly pierced the air.
Then her eyes flickered to Zoi in surprise to see the woman reeling in the Avatar with her hook wrapped tightly around the man's wrist.
All the while Toph gazed down at the ground with a horrible realization in her eyes.
They are in a minefield!
"Aang!" Katara cried out just as she took off running to her love interest's aid only for Toph to grasp ahold of her wrist.
"Don't move we're in a minefield! They…transported landmines underground!" Toph announced with a deadly serious countenance while Katara turned to gaze over her shoulder in horror.
The declaration took all of them by surprise while they suddenly found themselves standing in a paralyzed fright.
"Minefield?" Zuko repeated with his eyes gazing up at his sister's remorseless face in great anger.
"Yes! A minefield!" Toph snapped before she crouched with her hand on the dirt trying her hardest to focus.
The sudden statement prompted Mai to turn to stare at Azula's back in returning rage while Ty Lee turned to gaze down at the battlefield in horror.
"You…entrapped your own brother in a minefield?" Mai spoke with great disgust in her voice while Ty Lee too gazed at Azula's back in anger.
"Those that stand by the enemy…receive the same. If Zuko wishes to live…he will accept my offer of surrender." Azula remarked callously with her arms folded over her chest while her subordinates stared at her in disbelief.
"You…how dare you." Mai hissed with rage in her voice that took the princess by slight surprise.
"It isn't wise to zone out on the battlefield Avatar!" Zoi shouted with a ruthless smirk before pulling her arms up while dragging Aang across the smoke ridden battlefield.
Aang snarled while he skidded through the dirt with Zoi staring down at him with violent golden eyes.
"I will bring you to justice for your crimes against the White Lotus!" Aang shouted before pulling back on the rope while the captain gazed back in defiance.
"There is only one person on this battlefield that might be capable of defeating me…and her name is Princess Azula. But…seeing that the princess isn't my opponent…" Zoi trailed off with her fists tightening over the rope.
It went without saying that it was clear that Azula approved of the praise.
Judging by the great smirk on the princess's lips.
Snap!
Aang just barely wrenched his arm free of the rope with a burst of air while Momo clung fearfully to his neck.
The sound of an explosion pierced the air once more when a land mine exploded beneath the stunned monk's feet.
The Avatar dropped down through the smoke with blood dripping from his arm once more while his friends turned to gaze at him in rapidly growing alarm.
"What…are we going to do?" Sokka asked with his fists clenched while he turned to stare down at Toph attempting to sift through the land mines.
Zoi stood holding her clenched fist to her side while she stared triumphantly down at her fearful enemies.
"Say your farewells to one another. That's about all you can do." Zoi declared in a savage voice with flames beginning to burn on her fingertips.
The jarring statement hit every member of the Gaang hard in their chests while Aang continued to glare up at Zoi with an unusual rage growing in his once peaceful eyes.
"A-Azula you aren't really going to kill Zuko are you?" Ty Lee stammered with worry in her eyes while Azula gazed down with callous amber golden eyes.
"I already gave you my answer Ty Lee." Azula stated in a cold voice that sent shivers down Ty Lee's spine.
"Momo I need you to stay with Appa alright?" Aang spoke gently before setting the chirping lemur down on the large sky bison.
Momo continued to shake in fright while a shield of earth arose around the two animals.
"Lookout Aang!" Zuko yelled while moving to his friends aid when Zoi's hook slipped around Aang once more.
The Avatar choked while he began to slide in the dirt while his friends were ruthlessly bombarded by the soldiers from above.
"I am going to kill you Avatar!" Zoi bellowed with a proud snarl while the princess observed her work with approval in her eyes.
'I was right to bring Zoi along.' Azula thought with a satisfied smile while the warrior continued to fight to reel the gasping young man in.
"You bitch let him go!" Katara roared just after slicing the rope free of her boyfriend's neck while Aang stood nursing his reddened throat.
The rope quickly recoiling back into the warrior's grappling gun.
Only for the captain to swiftly replace the broken tip with a spare spiked hook from her belt.
"I have a question for you Katara." Zoi commented with a casualness about her that angered her entrapped enemies.
"I have nothing to say to you other than that I am going to get Master Pakku back!" Katara barked while gazing up at her captured teacher with loyal blue eyes.
Pakku could only hang his head low with unbridled worry in his eyes.
All the while frantically wondering if there was anything he could do.
'These cuffs prevent me from bending! If only I could get them off!' Pakku thought with his eyes agape in anger.
"If I cut off the Avatar's head. Do you think that you'll be able to bring him back with spirit water?" Zoi inquired in a terrifying voice while even her fellow noblewomen stared at her back in shock.
The question hit the kind hearted Katara hard in the chest while she stood gazing up at Zoi with fury in her emotional blue eyes.
"Shut up Zoi!" Zuko yelled with great anger in his voice while Zoi chuckled darkly above them.
"I'll take that…as a no." Zoi stated just as she fired her grappling hook into the wall of the chasm before she launched herself into the air.
Both Team Azula and Team Avatar watched closely while the skilled soldier nimbly propelled herself off the walls of the enormous cliff.
'It's obvious why Azula chose her…she's lethal. Just like Azula!' Zuko thought while he spun around with his eyes following Zoi's movements closely.
Only to watch with narrowed eyes when a cluster of soldiers launched similar hooks into the air before swinging after their captain.
The soldiers soared alongside their captain while they encircled their enemy below.
"I've…never seen Fire Nation soldiers like this before." Katara muttered alongside Zuko while the man shook his head grimly.
"You wouldn't! They are Zoi's soldiers. She trains her men different than the rest." Zuko snarled while he watched the small squadron continue to propel themselves off the cliff walls.
"We're ready for your orders Captain!" Saro exclaimed from behind his leader while Zoi launched herself ahead.
"Discard your helmets. They are weighing you down!" Zoi shouted from the front while her men stared back at her in understanding.
"But we are required to wear our helmets at all times in the presence of the princess!" A soldier protested while the others flinched alongside him.
The soldier anchored herself in the cliff side wall before spinning around to cast her now terrified men a merciless death glare.
All the while her words echoed off the walls of the chasm.
"Did we wear our helmets in our missions prior to this?" Zoi demanded with an emotionless countenance while her soldiers hung from the cliff side.
"N-no but the princess wasn't with us-" The same man answered only to shudder when his armor was roughly grasped by his leader.
"I am quite certain that the princess is willing to trade tradition for efficiency! Now remove your helmet or I will do it for you!" Zoi shouted venomously before slamming the man back into the cliff side wall.
The princess stared down from the catwalk of her royal airship while she watched in puzzlement when the soldiers gazed up at her before nervously following suit.
And just like that countless metal helms were sent plummeting to the rocks below.
The unmasked soldiers all hung from the cliff while they gazed at their captain for further guidance.
"This is the first time that I've seen the Imperial Firebenders fight without their helmets in your presence Azula." Ty Lee stated from behind her friend while lazily shrugged her shoulders.
"Zoi is an unusual commander…but she achieves results. So, I will let her do as she pleases." Azula answered while she began striding forward until she reached the edge of the royal airship.
"That's much better. Now let us begin!" Zoi called out before firing her gun once more while she took off swinging to an overpass while her loyal men took off after her.
The small platoon bounded off the cliff wall before finally dropping down one after another on a small overlook.
The Gaang stood back-to-back while the princess began to sink into a combat stance that only her closest subordinates recognized.
Azula held out her right hand before her while sliding one boot forward.
"Just like in the arena." Mai muttered alongside Elle and Ty Lee.
"It's one of Azula's new techniques…" Ty Lee trailed off while Elle stood observed Azula in captivation.
That was when the princess took off like living lightning over the edge of the airship.
Her team watched in awe while Azula descended above her cornered enemy.
Zuko just barely spun around in time to react to his sister's sudden onslaught only to stare up in shock when her sword abruptly caught fire.
"I-impossible!" Zuko protested with disbelief in his voice for his smirking sister to dive straight past him.
And then before he knew it a scream of pain rang out into the air.
The four turned around in shock to see Azula's sword savagely piercing Katara's left shoulder.
"Katara!" Sokka screamed with horror in his eyes.
Azula plunged through the dirt with her fist savagely pulling on Katara's hair while the wounded woman collapsed on her shoulder.
Even Mai and Ty Lee were stricken speechless by Azula's new brutal attack.
"Katara!" Aang cried out while he watched with his eyes widening in rage while Azula sent his girlfriend barreling across the landscape.
"No! No!" Pakku protested with great sadness in his anguished voice while he stared down with horrified eyes.
"How's that filthy peasant? This is payback for Ba Sing Se." Azula purred dangerously in Katara's ear before delivering a merciless kick to the screaming woman's belly.
And then everyone observed in horror when the waterbender was savagely thrown off the now blood speckled sword.
And sent hurtling to the ground at the princess's pointed boots.
Katara lay on her stomach with sweat and blood in her hair with her eyes agape in unimaginable pain.
Only to shriek in terror when Azula's boot ruthlessly stomped down on her head.
The waterbender's screams sent chills down the spines of many while the princess wickedly squashed her face first into the dirt.
And Elle glanced off to the side with an unsettled expression in her eyes over watching such violence.
When she came along with her princess.
She knew that she would eventually witness violence.
After all, war was violent by nature.
But it didn't make her any more comfortable watching it.
"Get off of her!" Sokka yelled out emotionally while he ran to his sister's aid with the monk running alongside him.
All the while Zuko observed the scene with a mix of shock and rage in his golden eyes.
'When did Azula learn how to do this! Was it a year ago? Two years ago? All of this time I've been sitting around brooding while Azula has been improving!' Zuko thought with his fists clenching at his sides before darting off to assist his new comrades.
While Zoi and her squad gazed down at their princess with gazes of unrivaled respect in their eyes.
"What an ingenious technique…" Zoi spoke with reverence in her voice while the princess turned to face her charging enemies.
"Now you are down your healer." Azula commented in a compassionless voice before stomping her boot down again onto her wailing opponent's head.
And just like that Katara slumped unconscious in the dirt while her friends rushed to her aid.
"Azula!" Zuko called out in his rage before drawing his sword while his sister smirked in the way that he has always loathed.
"What do you think Zuzu? I call it the Soaring Blaze. My little royal servant coined the name herself. Rather fitting…isn't it?" Azula taunted with a beyond smug smile while her brother glared at her hatefully.
That was when Toph launched a dome of earth the princess's way.
Only for Azula to stand undaunted while her Dai Li dispersed the attack from the sidelines.
The Gaang watched with enraged eyes while the princess turned to greet them with an arrogant smirk.
"The Soaring Blaze." Mai repeated with poorly hidden fear in her voice that was shared by Ty Lee.
She couldn't help but muse that it truly was an appropriate name.
And she doubted very much that their young friend realized just how cruel the name would be when the technique was put into practice.
"I won't let you get away with this! You'll…you'll pay!" Aang shouted with his fist gripping his staff so hard that he nearly crushed it.
"You can scream that until your voice ruptures and it still won't change a thing Avatar!" Azula bellowed before lowering her blade before her to strike once more.
The four stood in mounting fright while the Avatar sprinted forward with Sokka and Zuko following after him.
All the while Toph slammed her palms into the ground while she gazed down into the shifting earth with a worried expression.
Just how many mines did they transport underground?
Just when Aang nearly reached Azula the ruthless woman took them by surprise once again.
The charging trio watched in rage when the princess brutally kicked their injured comrade into the air.
The wounded woman released an agonized cry of pain while she soared unceremoniously into the air before tumbling to the ground with a sickening thud.
"Katara! Katara!" Sokka cried out in shock while he stumbled over to his sister's side.
Zuko could only gape at Azula with shock in his eyes while his sister smiled victoriously at the enraged Avatar.
It was clear that the princess's tactic had the desired effect on her opponent.
All far and wide heard the kind hearted Avatar howl in rage while he propelled himself towards the princess with a burst of air current.
Ty Lee watched with her brown-gray eyes agape in rising terror when the Avatar and her leader bypassed one another.
The princess's blade lit up with a burning blue flame while the Avatar cloaked his fist in an earthen fist.
And then the two benders made a swipe at one another in passing.
The vengeful monk swung at the princess's jaw only for her to gracefully dodge his blow.
Only to swing her sword down with terrifying speed.
The audience watched in suspenseful awe when Aang stood sweating while he just barely held back Azula's burning blade.
"You will regret hurting my friends!" Aang shouted with great anger lacing his voice while the cruel princess smirked down at him.
Only for Azula to take them by surprise yet again.
Azula's lips curved into a violent smile while she watched in satisfaction when the Avatar's earthen gauntlet began to crack ever so slightly.
It was barely noticeable.
Insignificant even!
But it was more than enough for her purposes.
"Show her no mercy Aang! Make her pay!" Sokka called out with his fist clenched while he knelt over his moaning sister.
"It looks like the Avatar's got a slight edge over Azula." Mai stated with her arms folded over her breasts.
"No. Now Azula-sama is going to use her second sword technique." Elle remarked with a gulp to their bafflement while she calmly watched her mistress's battle.
Before either Mai or Ty Lee had a chance to ask their young friend what she meant they watched in complete astonishment when Azula's burning sword transitioned into something even more terrifying.
Everyone's jaws dropped in disbelief to see the princess's blade now crackling with lightning generation.
Even the stoic Dai Li were staring down at their leader in utter amazement.
Zuko's heart dropped into his stomach while a bead of sweat dripped down his brow.
And then Azula observed in great satisfaction when Aang recoiled in agony before jumping backwards with another burst of airbending.
"Even if you avoid the flames…I can instantaneously transition to lightning generation with my second technique, which I call Stabbing Lightning and that too was named by my loyal royal servant." Azula remarked with her palm gripping her new blade while her enemies gazed back at her in alarm.
The two noblewomen stared down at their young friend's innocent face while they shivered simultaneously.
Judging by Elle's expression of unwavering loyalty they were both certain that the girl had not given much or any thought to how cruel it would be when the techniques were put into practice.
They knew all too well that the girl was likely just excited that she had a part to play in the development of Azula's new abilities.
The injured Avatar landed on shaky feet while gazed at his stunned arm with pained eyes while his former enemy rushed up behind him.
"Aang! Are you okay!" Zuko exclaimed with worry in his voice while the monk numbly nodded.
"I'll…be fine Zuko." Aang assured before turning his angered gaze back to Azula who now stood opposite of them.
"Toph! Have you removed all of the land mines yet!" Sokka yelled after spinning around to gaze back at his friend.
"Are you kidding me Snoozles! There are hundreds of them! If I even attempt to move them it will set off a chain reaction that will surely kill as all!" Toph announced to the horror of her comrade's while she gazed up with an uncharacteristically grim countenance.
The statement hit the Aang and Mai like a jolt from Azula's lightning.
"What are we supposed to do then!" Sokka screamed with his sister in his arms while she continued to cry out in pain.
"Allow me to explain the gravity of your situation to you. The only ground that is safe is the ground that I am standing on. You can take off running and be blown to pieces in the minefield…or you can remain on the safe ground with me." Azula declared with a merciless smile on her regal lips while she gazed at their terror-stricken faces.
'What sort of choice is that?' Zuko thought with his hands falling to his sides while he knelt beside his comrades staring at his sister in disgust.
Even he had never thought that his sister could be this cruel.
How naïve he was! There was no limit to Azula's cruelty!
Zoi stood staring down at the scene below with her lips curving into a delighted grin.
Azula was more than she could have ever hoped for.
She truly was a leader worth following!
"What did you do to Katara! S-she won't stop screaming!" Sokka roared with brotherly rage in his voice while Aang stood trembling in fury beside him.
"This technique really is a lovely thing. It heats the surface of the sword to boiling temperatures…which makes the target feel as if their limb is on fire when in reality it isn't. Yet at the same time one feels the piercing pain that only comes from a sword severing the tendons in your arm." Azula explained with a hand waving lazily before her callous face while the four stared at her in a speechless silence.
Pakku sat on his knees while he stared down with anguished eyes.
How could anyone be this cruel!
"In simple terms…the dirty snow peasant will be screaming in agony for hours to come." Azula concluded in an egotistical voice before taking a confident step forward.
"How can you do this Azula! How can even you be this heartless!" Zuko hissed while his sister gazed impassively back at him.
"How can you betray your own nation!" Azula snapped with a trace of anger in her voice while she glared back at her brother's scowling face.
"I haven't betrayed the Fire Nation! I have only betrayed the likes of you and Father! I am taking a stand for the defenseless people that the Fire Nation is butchering Azula!" Zuko retorted with a finger pointing back at his sneering sister.
"I always took you for a fool Zuko. But never a traitor. If you refuse surrender…then a traitor's fate will be what you receive." Azula stated icily with her pitiless amber golden eyes glaring at her brother while her subordinates listened in growing trepidation.
"You don't care about me. You never have! I have had it with Father! And I have had it with you! As far as I'm concerned you and Father can go to purgatory!" Zuko snapped in a glacial voice with his former enemies listening to his outburst in astonishment.
Zuko's venomous rebuttal took even Azula by surprise.
Azula stared back at her brother with narrowing amber golden eyes all the while griping her blade with a furious fist.
And somewhere deep in her cold, cruel heart, the princess felt a shred of sadness to hear that her brother hated her so.
She was under no delusions that their relationship was a good one.
And she was well aware that she has played a great many cruel games at her brother's expense.
But she still cared for Zuko.
And she thought that he cared for her too.
"Have it your way brother. Death it is then." Azula spoke in a chilling voice after raising her eyes upward while Ty Lee gazed down with horrified eyes.
And Mai stood with her hand trembling with a blade tucked underneath her sleeve while she continued to watch the scene from above.
"But before we get to that. I have something that I want to ask you Zuko." Azula commented with her cold eyes flickering between her brother's furious face and the injured Avatar's enraged eyes.
Zuko just glared at Azula in silence while she took another step forward.
"What is the one thing that our tea loving Uncle and Father have in common?" Azula questioned with a returning smile while her brother gazed back in puzzlement.
"They are both firebenders and royalty." Zuko replied with a scoff while his sister gazed at him now rolling her eyes.
"Close but no. The answer…dear brother is that neither of them were born as prodigies." Azula purred with a strange pride in her voice while her enemies listened in bewilderment.
"What do you mean?" Zuko asked with confusion in his eyes while Azula waved a hand before her face.
"Father and Uncle are not among the world's greatest firebenders because their firebending technique is revolutionary. They are powerful because they have spent their entire lives perfecting it. They have tremendous experience, but they were not born with the prodigy talent that I was born with." Azula answered in a beyond conceited voice with a cold smile adorning her lips.
The stunned foursome observed the powerful princess sink into a bending stance once more.
All the while the prince stood staring at his sister with his eyes agape in disbelief that she was so arrogant as to claim herself vastly superior to both their father and uncle.
"Around six years ago after I returned home from Ba Sing Se, I began to realize something. I realized that I rivaled both Father and Uncle at only fourteen years old. And I began to ponder…just what can I do to get stronger?" Azula explained with a sophisticated twitch of her lips while her enemies listened in growing unease.
Instead of waiting for a reply…she continued.
"It was only when I reflected on this…that I finally realized that I had…one or two flaws in deep need of repair." Azula admitted with a sigh while some rolled their eyes at her.
"You have more than one or two flaws Azula." Zuko snorted while his sister stood undaunted.
"I had a crucial weakness, and that weakness was in the former of waterbenders and skilled nonbenders such as Mai." Azula revealed with a hardened countenance while her brother gazed at her in rising bafflement.
Mai stared down at the princess with her eyes widening in understanding while she clenched her teeth in frustration.
It was damn apparent what Azula was saying!
"Water is the opposing element to fire, and if my flames were doused…how would I protect myself from assassination? The solution was clear. I needed a weapon that couldn't be doused!" Azula declared with a cunning smile on her regal lips.
"I am really getting sick of listening to her talk!" Toph complained with a scoff while her friends ignored her ill-timed humor.
"And so, I trained myself in swordsmanship and mastered my lightning generation to the highest possible peak. In doing so, I have eliminated my weakness in regards to waterbenders and skilled marksman!" Azula called out with ever flowing pride in her voice while her handmaid peered down at her in awe.
"Azula-sama is incredible! She really is the strongest!" Elle cried out with innocent admiration in her voice while her big sisters stared down at her princess in amazement.
"Yet even still I had one more weakness to be disposed of. Firebending is an offensive element and its weakness is that it leaves the user open to attack. What if an assassin were to chi block me in the back?" Azula spoke with her callous eyes peering about before briefly sweeping over her three subordinates.
Ty Lee gazed down at Azula with a flash of hurt in her eyes before swallowing the lump in her throat.
Did Azula really think that she would do such a thing?
"Somewhere along the line I received word of a waterbender prisoner that discovered the hidden art of bloodbending. And that was when I began to ponder. Just what is the next level of firebending?" Azula narrated before sheathing her sword while her brother gazed at her with rising fear in his eyes.
"The next level of firebending?" Aang asked with his mouth dropping open in disbelief while Azula stood with her palms falling to her hips.
Everyone, far and wide from the Gaang to Zoi and her soldiers to Team Azula was staring back at the princess in increasing astonishment.
"I don't like the sound of this." Toph muttered only to raise her head in disbelief when she sensed a striking change in the princess's chi.
"And as it would turn out…there is indeed a higher level of firebending. And only those with a prodigy flame can utilize it!" Azula remarked with her boots sliding into the dirt while Zuko gazed on with widening eyes.
"You're bluffing Azula! There is no higher level of firebending!" Zuko protested with his fists tightening at his sides while his sister's lips curled into a truly terrifying smile.
That was when he watched closely when blue fire began to materialize from his sister's pointed boots.
And then he gazed on with disbelieving eyes while he watched the flames begin to take shape around his sister's entire body!
"What…what is she doing?" Aang pondered while gazing on in awe while a cloak of flames began to consume the princess from head to toe.
Mai was so shocked that her signature deadpan expression gave way to fear while she gazed down at the wall of fire with horrified tawny eyes.
"Azula…created a cloak of flames." Ty Lee whispered with sweat dripping down her brow while Azula's lips curled into a prideful smirk.
The two noblewomen were so stunned that they barely even noticed their young friend take hold of the small watch around her neck.
"T-this is it! It has to be! Ten minutes!" Elle cried out before setting the timer to ten minutes while the two women peered down at her in confusion.
The landscape was now lit with an ominous blue hue while azure flames continued to burn around the princess at all sides.
Zoi glanced down at Azula with her golden eyes agape in awe while her soldiers marveled at the sight alongside her.
"She…created a defense." Zoi mumbled under her breathe while she silently studied the azure inferno.
"How are you maintaining that wall of fire Azula!" Zuko demanded with evident fear in his voice while his sister stood smugly behind her veil of flames.
"My control over my firebending is so flawless that I've created an absolute defense that I call my Burning Shield! Do you still think I'm bluffing Zuzu?" Azula boasted in a sophisticated voice with a fist clenched before her while her enemies gazed back in terror.
"A defense Azula has created a defense." Ty Lee spoke with amazement in her eyes while she watched her terrifying leader sprint forward.
"Stay behind me and protect the others! I will handle her!" Aang advised with determination in his eyes before releasing a powerful blast of air that impacted with his foe.
The stunned group watched while the princess was momentarily sent sliding backwards with the flames wavering just barely.
Only to gaze on in horror when the flames began to rapidly repair themselves with a simple exhale of Azula's breathe.
'There has to be a weakness to such a powerful technique!' Zuko thought with his eyes carefully studying his sister's blazing dome of flames!
That was when another explosion shook the air with a cry of pain following soon after.
The Avatar stumbled backwards with his eyes widening in fright to discover that he nearly lost his leg.
"Aang!" Sokka yelled out with fright in his voice while his wounded friend floated a few inches off the ground.
"Damn you Azula…and you too Zoi." Zuko hissed while they backed up until their backs were pressing against one another.
"Every time we move the Dai Li transport the mines closer to us!" Toph bellowed while her friends turned to her with growing panic in their eyes.
Before the foursome even had a chance to create a counter attack they heard the captain's voice ringing out over the battlefield.
"Our princess has demonstrated her strength and commitment to our nation! Now let us show her ours! Are you going to let some pacifistic bastard boy decide the fate of our nation!" Zoi roared before thrusting a fist above her head while Azula turned to gaze up at her with beyond approving amber golden eyes.
"No Captain!" The soldiers answered in a cacophony while the monk's listened with hurt flashing in his eyes.
"Are you going to let that little shit tell you what to do!" Zoi demanded with anger in her eyes while stepping towards the edge of the overlook.
"No Captain!" The men shouted in reply once more while they gazed down with battle hardened eyes.
"Are we going to let that traitor prince and his cowardly uncle destroy our nation!" Zoi bellowed with unrivaled passion while holding her sword high above her head.
Azula turned to gaze back at Zuko's crestfallen face with smug amber golden eyes when the soldiers shouted out in anger towards her brother.
"If Zuko has his way the Fire Nation will be prostituted like a filthy whore before the whole of the world! And for what! So, he can cater to the whims of some fucking spirit that fancies himself the Agni damned keeper of the whole fucking world! Just because your prince is a prideless whore does that make you one!" Zoi ranted with her hair swaying in the breeze while she glared hard down at the speechless prince.
The princess stood chuckling at her brother's humiliation while he glared back at her with reddened cheeks.
"No ma'am! We are not prideless whores!" The soldiers cried out while their leader still glared down at their entrapped enemy.
"Please listen to me! I am not here to destroy the Fire Nation! I am simply here to defeat the Fire Lord and restore balance to the world!" Aang pleaded with desperation in his voice.
"You're wasting your breath Twinkle Toes." Toph sighed while gazing down at the wounded waterbender with unusual worry in her eyes.
"It won't just be the Fire Lord and the Crown Princess that fall but this entire country!" Zoi shouted with her fist tightly gripping her blade.
Team Avatar watched in unease when the soldiers on the overlook began to roar at a truly thunderous volume.
And then soon enough Mai and Ty Lee glanced behind them in amazement when every soldier on the airship began to cry out in agreement.
"This is your nation that they mean to destroy! That is your land that the Avatar means to invade! If Zuko has his way every name associated with Fire Lord Ozai will be stripped from power! It will be your families that will suffer! Your pay that he will steal! Your names that he will drag through the mud! All of your efforts, blood, sweat and tears will amount to less than hippo cow shit!" Zoi announced in a stunningly inspirational voice amidst the chorus of yelling soldiers.
"That isn't true Zoi!" Zuko protested with rage in his voice all the while Zoi pointed her blade down at him.
"The soldiers…they really like her." Ty Lee stated while gazing around with astonished eyes.
Somehow this woman was able to rally and inspire the soldiers to battle in ways that even Azula was incapable of!
"Are we going to roll over and take it like a whore!?" Zoi screamed in a madly energetic voice while she glared down at Zuko's humiliated face.
"No Captain! We will not take it like a whore!" The soldiers called out while the princess managed another chuckle of amusement.
"Wow. She's a great public speaker." Toph snickered only for her friend friends to spin around and glare at her.
"Shut up Toph!" The three exclaimed in unison while Sokka continued to hold Katara close to his chest.
"The Avatar sure is an arrogant bastard if he thinks that our great nation will fall so easily! Let's go butcher him!" Zoi howled before thrusting both fists above her head while her men threw their fists up in agreement.
The corned foursome gazed around with newfound terror in their eyes.
All the while Aang listened to the shouts for his head with a rapidly deflating spirit.
"This isn't good!" Zuko cried out while slowly backing up in a growing sense of alarm.
They don't stand a chance in this death trap!
But they can't leave escape without Appa!
"What was that you were saying about me being unfit for Fire lord?" Azula snorted with a supremely prideful smile on her lips while her brother stared hateful back at her.
"These are your orders! Show the Avatar no mercy! Hit him in the organs! Hit him in the eyes! Hit him in the genitals! Hit him anywhere that bleeds! If anyone gets in your way cut through them! If he runs away then we will continue tomorrow! And each and every day onward until he lies broken at our feet!" Zoi declared with dedication seeping from her voice while Aang began to take a nervous step backward.
"Well done, Zoi." Azula purred with a violent grin adorning her lips while she turned to delight in the Avatar's growing fear.
"And when we're done! We're going to set sail straight for the Earth Kingdom and haul the Dragon of the West back screaming in chains! And then we're going to fuck that fat bastard up the ass and drag him and all of the Order of the White Lotus back for execution! How's that for a plan!" Zoi roared with an excited battle cry that echoed throughout the entire mountainous cliff range.
There wasn't a single person present that wasn't stunned by Zoi's profane laced boast.
Zuko glared up at Zoi with his teeth smashed together in great fury for her public shaming of his uncle.
"I-is she serious?" Sokka stammered with terror in his voice while they stood in a fearful circle.
A simultaneous shiver was felt by both Ty Lee and Mai while they gazed down at the chaos with growing concern for Zuko's safety.
"Yes, I do think that sounds like a lovely plan." Azula chuckled with sadistic entertainment in her voice while she paid her brother's enraged glare little mind.
The soldiers screamed out in agreement once more just when Zoi fired off her grappling hook into the wall of the looming chasm.
"May we forever be Fire Nation strong! Onward to gloriam!" Zoi shouted before swinging into the air with her loyal soldiers springing into the air after her.
"We need to think of something fast or we're all going to die!" Toph barked with unnatural worry in her voice while her back pressed against Zuko's.
And just like that the soldiers scattered individually before swinging into position on all sides of the chasm.
"What are you having them do Azula!" Zuko demanded with wary golden eyes while he turned to meet his sister's ruthless gaze.
"I ordered Zoi to wait to give you time to surrender dear brother. But seeing as you've spurned my generosity…we are now going to proceed forward as planned with no further regard for your safety." Azula announced with a casual wave of her hand while tilting her head to meet her brother's now fearful gaze.
Azula's merciless statement hit both of her childhood friends hard in the chest.
But none more so than Mai.
The once calm noblewoman stood staring down with rising emotion in her widened eyes while she watched the Dai Li also slide into formation.
Single members of the Dai Li were being paired with individual soldiers of Zoi's Fire Army squadron.
It was the same on all sides.
And then Zoi nimbly dropped down alongside her princess while Azula turned to glance down at her through the corner of her imposing eye.
All while her cloak continued to burn without interruption while the soldier briefly studied it with astounded golden eyes.
"Begin Zoi." Azula commanded in a glacial voice while she stood before the other woman now arising to her feet.
"Earthbend on my mark!" Zoi shouted before sweeping a hand above her head while she narrowed her eyes in the direction of Aang's outraged face.
The Gaang watched in alarm while the Dai Li shifted the earth on all sides.
"Firebenders take aim! Fire!" Zoi hollered over the battlefield with her fist clenched above her head while fire began to rain down from above.
"What are they…shit this is bad! Very bad!" Toph exclaimed with her comrades gazing at her in a questioning manner only to widen their eyes when the sound of thunderous explosions pierced the air.
In that instance the flames struck the land mines which resulted in simultaneous detonations that sent flames spewing in all directions.
Zuko stood with his arms covering his face while he spun around watching in horror to see that they detonating the entire battlefield!
"I have to do something to get Katara, Appa and Momo out of here!" Aang cried out only for Toph to pat his shoulder.
"Just keep your eyes on the bitch duo Twinkle Toes. I've got it covered!" Toph assured before slamming a palm into the earth.
The earth suddenly opened up beneath the motionless Appa before swiftly pulling the sky bison underground.
And then Sokka watched with worried blue eyes while the ground opened up beneath his unconscious sister.
"Wait Toph! I'll go with Katara and the others so I can watch over them!" Sokka exclaimed before taking hold of his sister while his longtime friend nodded in agreement.
"Got it, we'll catch you on the flip side Snoozles." Toph spoke with an unusually serious countenance before pulling her two friends underground.
Both Aang and Zuko breathed a sigh of relief when it seemed as if they were safely pulled far underground.
Only for their hopes to be crushed by the captain once more.
"It would seem that you still don't understand the situation here…" Zoi trailed off with her lips curling into a slight grin while flames began to exude from her fingertips.
And then she stomped her two boots while fire began to burn at her feet.
Azula stood with a cruel smirk on her regal lips while she turned to watch while her soldier's flames began to spread in a thin line across the entire battlefield.
"What is she doing now?" Zuko snarled with his eyes narrowing in the direction of the two lethal women.
"My princess is undoubtedly my superior in regards to her mastery of lightning generation. But there are a few areas where I exceed her." Zoi remarked with a playful smile on her lips while she turned to her smugly smirking leader.
"Is that so? And just what might those areas be?" Azula scoffed with her arms folded over her bust before she turned to watch the flames begin to seep underground.
"My firebending…is a little unorthodox." Zoi answered in a vague voice with a prideful gleam in her eyes.
Before anyone could so much as ask for clarification the ground began to rumble beneath their feet.
And then the Avatar stumbled backwards with an expression of unbridled rage in his eyes when a tremendous explosion detonated beneath his feet.
The ground rocked with a mighty tremor while the prince gazed down with alarmed eyes while he listened to the sound of land mines firing off in a terrifying chain reaction.
"Katara! Sokka! Appa! Momo!" Aang wailed in a deeply emotional voice while his two friends stared on in shock when chunks of earth began to randomly plummet underground.
Elle watched from above with a great dislike for war in her eyes yet remaining ever loyal to her princess.
She continued to stare down at Azula's beautiful face with her palms still tightly gripping the straps of her backpack.
'You can win Azula-sama! I believe in you!' Elle thought with an innocent smile on her youthful lips.
"Good work Zoi." Azula informed with her elbow shielding the debris from her eyes while Zoi began to laugh loudly alongside her.
"You'll pay for that bitch!" Toph hissed with anger in her voice while she turned to 'face' the cackling woman.
"Now you begin to understand who I am Avatar! This chasm is your tomb!" Zoi shouted with her hands ablaze while she glared through the burning flames at the monk's furious face.
It was readily apparent that the pressure of the grueling situation was finally beginning to get to Aang.
And at any moment now he was bound to turn into the Avatar State.
Within mere moments the detonating mines had created a blazing inferno that was spreading in all directions.
And to top it all off there were no significant sources of water nearby for Aang to use to put out the enormous fire.
"No! No, it won't!" Aang protested before soaring forward with a burst of airbending only to be met with the captain's bloodied sword.
Zoi sprung forward with her sword slicing into Aang's staff while she glared into his angered eyes.
They slid across the landscape while Azula observed with impressed amber golden eyes.
"It will! And soon I am going to take your head!" Zoi roared before cutting straight through Aang's staff only for a pillar of earth to slam into her gut.
She was sent hurtling backwards into the dirt before she nimbly caught herself on all fours.
That was when a large blast of flames courtesy of Zuko almost struck her in the back.
Only to gaze up with surprised golden eyes to see a blast of azure fire had effortlessly deflected her brother's flames.
"Damn it Azula! Get out of the way!" Zuko snarled while his sister turned to gaze down at her shocked subordinate.
"Leave the Avatar to me. You can take care of Zuko and the earthbender." Azula ordered in a tone of absolute authority while Zoi stared up at her in appreciation.
"May I ask if I will be punished if I use lethal force on your brother?" Zoi pondered in a curious voice before she pushed herself to her feet.
The question had Mai staring down at her with murderous tawny eyes while Azula turned to cast a glance at her defiant brother.
"If Zuko comes to his senses and surrenders, you will be put to death if you bring him fatal harm." Azula declared in a callous voice while Zuko gazed back at her with a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
And for the briefest of moments, he even wondered if there was hope for him and Azula.
If there was the slightest chance to repair their long-fractured relations.
"However, if Zuko continues to remain complicit with the enemy…rest assured that you will face no punishment for acting in defense of the Fire Nation." Azula concluded in a cold voice with her words causing her childhood friends to stare down in horror.
'Zuko! Why do you insist on being such a fool!' Mai thought with great sadness and anger in her eyes while Ty Lee placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
"Understood Princess. I will not let you down." Zoi responded with a respectful nod as she removed her shield from her back while she held her sword in her other hand.
Before she sprinted forward towards the prince while Zuko sunk into a bending stance.
The enraged Avatar stared after Zoi with his eyes already beginning to glow before attempting to take off after her once more.
Only for a bolt of lightning to nearly singe his side while he staggered backwards to find himself gazing into Azula's sadistic amber golden eyes.
"I am your opponent Avatar! I suggest you remember that!" Azula bellowed with her fingers crackling in electricity while she glared out of her burning blue cloak.
The Avatar's markings began to glow ominously before taking off into a full run towards the cruel princess.
"Very well. You first!" Aang howled in a distorted voice while Azula's lips curved into a confident smirk before taking off sprinting towards him.
The princess and the Avatar charged towards one another before colliding with terrifying sparks of blue flames raining down from above.
Zoi met Zuko's sword with her eyes flashing in determination while the prince glared back at her in defiance.
"I may not be as strong as Azula but I won't fall so easily!" Zuko shouted before he pushed back against the captain's sword while they both glared into each other's eyes.
"But fall you will all the same!" Zoi snapped just before she shoved the man back with her shield while her opponent's feet slid back in the dirt.
A dome of earth nearly slammed into Zoi's side only for the Dai Li to negate it from the sidelines.
Toph scowled before shielding herself beneath a dome of earth when fire began to rain down above her head.
"This is really starting to piss me off!" Toph growled before she sent a flurry of earthen projectiles up at a soldier.
The man cried out when he was sent soaring while she spun about before firing at yet another soldier.
Azula nimbly slid back on her boots with her wall of fire continuing to burn without interruption.
All the while watching while her enemy released a scream of anger while powerful winds began to whip through the air.
And then finally, at long last he instinctively transformed into the powerful Avatar State.
Everyone turned to watch when the winds became turbulent while Aang floated in a dome of spiraling air while he glared out at his cruel opponent.
"The Avatar State…" Zuko muttered with his eyes never leaving Zoi's sanguine face while she glared down at him.
"The princess will win and you will die." Zoi hissed before she savagely rammed Zuko with her shield which knocked the man off his equilibrium.
Zuko quickly caught himself just before dodging a swipe of Zoi's blade which nearly tore into his jugular.
While Azula stood with lightning crackling at her fingertips and her sword in her free hand while Aang's glowing eyes drilled into her skull.
And then the mighty Avatar charged towards the powerful princess with the ground tearing up in his wake.
"I have been waiting to test out these abilities for some time now." Azula purred with a refine smile just before Aang barreled into her.
The princess's subordinates gasped when the Avatar began to force his way through the flames just before aiming a brutal punch to their leader's cheek.
Only for Azula to catch it with a smirk just before delivering a savage jolt of electricity that produced a loud cry of pain from Aang.
"Aang!" Toph yelled out in alarm while Aang briefly staggered backwards.
Before catching himself with his teeth gritted together while he glared furiously back at the princess's smiling face.
And then Aang released a roaring battle cry before sending Azula soaring through the air.
Azula unceremoniously flew into the cliff side wall while smoke continued to rise into the air.
She landed on her backside with her back against the wall while her cloak of burning blue fire began to finally recede.
"Is Azula going to be alright?" Ty Lee asked herself with a trace of worry for her friend in her voice while Azula slowly pushed herself up from the crater.
"Take her down Aang!" Zuko bellowed while the captain sprinted after him with fire burning over her clenched fists.
For the briefest of moments, the princess hung her head before wiping an unseen fluid from her lip.
Her cold amber golden eyes peered down at her bodily fluids on her fist before raising her eyes upward.
Aang screamed in a warped voice while he flew towards the princess with his glowing eyes conveying his unbridled fury.
The peaceful monk's roars filled the cavernous chasm while the princess watched his charge with composed amber golden eyes.
Aang swung his earthen coated fist at Azula's face once more while her subordinates watched in rapidly rising concern.
And just when it seemed as if the princess was about to receive a broken jaw they were taken by surprise when her cloak of fire flared to life once more.
Zuko could only stare on in disbelief while he gaped at the sight that lay before his own eyes.
He could no longer find it within himself to doubt Azula's boast about being stronger than their father!
The princess stood undaunted while she gazed out of her defensive veil of flames while the Avatar stared down with widened eyes when his gauntlet began to crumble due to the intense heat.
The two noblewomen watched with their jaws ajar in amazement just when they heard an innocent voice cry out beside them.
"Go Azula-sama! You show him!" Elle cheered with a fist pumped above her head while her big sisters stared down at her in amusement.
The joyful cheering took the princess's enemies aback.
And to the humor of Ty Lee, it seemed obvious that the princess was pleased by the girl's praise.
Azula stood with her lips curving into a pompous smirk while her possessive eyes briefly swept over her girlfriend's grudgingly adorable face.
And then she quickly turned her attention back to the enraged Avatar floating above her with pure rage flashing in his glowing eyes.
Zuko cast the young girl an annoyed glare while Elle continued to hop up and down cheering for his sister's victory.
For the life of him he couldn't even begin to understand why anyone would cheer for Azula in the first place!
That was when Aang flew towards Azula once more while the prodigy's amber golden eyes continued to follow his every movement.
Her boots sunk into the dirt while she glared up at the descending Avatar just before they impacted with one another.
An explosion of blue and airbending lit the war-torn battlefield while those watching covered their eyes in awe.
Both the Dai Li and the Imperial Firebenders gazed down with boundless respect in their eyes when the princess was revealed to be standing safely in her veil of flames.
And the furious Avatar roared once more before releasing a truly powerful blast of airbending that finally managed to tear straight through the wall of fire.
Aang then jumped at Azula with his eyes still flashing in the power of the Avatar State before he slammed right into Azula's side.
The princess's back hit the chasm once more while the Avatar flew towards her.
Only for the monk to release a piercing screaming of pain when the thick wall of fire erupted to life before Azula's cruelly smirking face.
Everyone watched in disbelief when Aang recoiled with his arm left arm horrifically charred like a piece of half-cooked meat.
"I…I don't believe it…how did Azula get this strong?" Zuko questioned with his mouth ajar in shock while Zoi clashed with his blade once more.
"Something wrong Avatar?" Azula taunted with her right hand clutching her katana while her flames continued to take shape around her entire body.
And through it all.
The temperature of the flames continued to continuously become even hotter at a frightening rate at the core of her blue inferno.
As the peaceful monk was finally beginning to crack under the stress while his glowing eyes briefly flickered in frustration.
"He can't touch her! You go Azula-sama! You show him what for!" Elle chirped in mid hop while Ty Lee listened in humor alongside her.
"Well, I would hate to disappoint my number one fan. So, I suppose I'll just have to switch things up a bit." Azula purred in a malicious voice with lightning crackling on two fingertips while she sped towards her opponent.
"I won't let you get away with hurting my friends!" Aang shouted in a warped voice before flying towards his charging foe.
Aang's emotional cry of rage was sharply contrasted by Azula's callous battle shout while she slammed into his spiraling dome.
That was when the princess released a bolt of lightning in the man's now screaming face while his allies watched in mounting despair when he released a piercing scream of pain.
On the other side of the burning battlefield Zuko staggered backwards with blood now dripping from his shoulder.
He gazed back at Zoi with widened golden eyes while the warrior stood holding her blade before her face and her shield in her other hand.
And behind her lay his sword entrenched into the dirt.
"I won't bother lying to you Zuko. I am not going to have any regrets after I kill you." Zoi stated with a piercing gaze in her golden eyes while she watched Zuko cradle his crippled arm.
The prince took another step backwards while the warrior took off sprinting after him once more.
All the while Mai watched the scene from above with a hand over her mouth while Zoi bombarded her wounded fiancé with explosive blasts of yellow fire.
"Zuko!" Toph called out while the Dai Li dropped down around her on all sides.
And flanking them was the captain's loyal soldiers.
She cursed in frustration just before she caught one soldier's sword while she bent the metal beneath her fingertips.
One moment later the soldier released a cry of pain when she brutally knocked him unconscious.
Toph panted while she listened to the sound of the soldiers continue to encircle around her.
The prince released a cry of pain when he was sent hurtling to the sunken ground while the warrior now stood staring down at him with a merciless countenance.
"It's over. You're no match for me. I have spent many years fighting on the front lines. You can't even begin to compare to me!" Zoi boasted with boundless pride in her eyes while the wounded man glared up at her.
"Maybe not but at least I have honor Zoi!" Zuko retorted with his hand clutching his bleeding arm while Zoi stared down at him unmoved by his words.
Her strict golden eyes briefly swept over her wrist before shouting over her shoulder up to the airship.
"It's been over ten minutes! Kill the prisoner!" Zoi commanded in a stony voice while Zuko stared up at her with disgusted golden eyes.
As soon as those words rang out into the air Ty Lee turned away with her brown-gray eyes expressing her obvious reservations.
The old man stood with resignation in his eyes while the soldiers pulled him forward to the edge of the airship.
And then Pakku was coldly thrown onto his knees while he listened to the sound of a sword unsheathing behind him.
And when Elle heard those words, her cheering promptly died in her throat.
The young girl stood staring at the scene with misty amber eyes only to find a hand slipping over her wet eyes.
"This isn't something for you to watch little sister." Ty Lee spoke softly before gently turning Elle away with her hands on the petite girl's shoulders.
Elle's head pressed into Ty Lee's breasts while the older girl continued to hold her close.
Mai shook with anger towards Zoi while she gazed at the scene through the corner of her eye before turning her attention back to her lovers' plight.
Then her gaze flickered to the princess's battle.
The Avatar finally began to pant while he knelt gazing back at the princess standing opposite of him.
A drop of spit dripped to the dirt below while Azula held her sword with a tightened fist before once more wiping her lip of something unseen.
'This is my chance…' Mai thought with her hand gripping her blade when her eyes darted to the ruthless captain once more.
And then she wordlessly leaped off the rail of the airship while Ty Lee watched her through the corner of her eye.
'Mai…be careful.' Ty Lee thought with fear flashing in her eyes while she stared down at the burning shield of blue fire.
Azula was scary before. But now she was ten times more frightening than before!
She was only snapped out of her fear of Azula when she watched in puzzlement when the princess abruptly panted with a hand over her face.
Ty Lee's eyes grew wide in worry when she caught the signs of extreme exhaustion on the princess's face.
For the briefest of moments Azula stared through her fingers over her face with a frustrated expression before regaining her composure.
And then the princess took off running towards the now cornered Avatar with destructive blue fire burning at her fingertips.
'Just what is this new power doing to you Azula?' Ty Lee wondered with her eyes now agape in worry for her friend's health.
Azula may be cold, and she may be cruel.
But she genuinely thought of the princess as her friend.
"It's time to die Avatar!" Azula barked before releasing another destructive bolt of lightning that had the man leaping back in fright.
"No! It's time that you face justice!" Aang roared before soaring towards the princess with another burst of air.
Azula's amber golden eyes burned with the blaze of war while Aang's were alight with a great determination to bring peace to the world.
Moments an earthen pillar erupted from the ground that sent the princess's sword flying before it embedded into the dirt behind her.
Azula released a bellowing snarl before spinning around to meet the charging Avatar head on.
One hand was crackling with lightning and the other was burning in bright blue fire.
All the while her veil of flames burned luminously around her while the injured monk flew towards her.
Azula's booming battle cry resonated throughout the entire battlefield.
And intermingling with it was Aang's distorted Avatar State battle cry.
There was another explosion of bright light.
Followed closely by yet another explosion in the distance.
And the arrival of a commandeered airship.
AN:
Alright, a lot of stuff happened this chapter. But as usual, before we get to that I will take a moment to respond to the reviews.
Yes, Elle is the only one to love Azula for who she is. But Elle has helped Azula to keep Ty Lee and to a lesser extent Mai's friendship. If not for Elle inspiring Ty Lee to have that talk with Azula back in chapter eight. Ty Lee would be just as close to betraying Azula as she was in canon. Because of the warmth that Elle's brings to Team Azula and because Azula apologized for setting Ty Lee's circus net on fire.
Ty Lee is willing to give Azula another chance and she is now unlikely to betray Azula.
Thank you very much Agent Banana for saying that this is your favorite fic of all time! I really appreciate that!
Now regarding an evolution in Azula's flames. All I will say is this. Right now her fire is blue, but we might see an evolution in her fire in book two. I thought it would have more meaning if she had to work her way up to it.
Are you asking why I think Azula has azure flames? In my mind, which means in this story. There are people that have the ability to take their bending 'beyond' normal limits. In this story Azula is one of those people. Her blue fire represents that her chi capacity, is both stronger and in greater volume than other firebenders.
Basically, Azula is so talented that she has expanded her pool of chi over the already high reservoir that she was born with. As a result, she can use high stamina draining attacks that would cripple other firebenders if they even tried.
Take Ozai for example, he is very strong and he has decades of experience under his belt. But he cannot perform any of the techniques that Azula can. In part because Ozai never had the drive to expand his power set. He was already strong and in a sense, it limited him.
Another good example is the deceased Earth King Jaran. I will touch on him as the story goes on, but he was like Azula in a way. He went beyond what was 'normal' of earthbenders. And even though he is dead, Toph looks up to him as an idol.
Now! On to the chapter.
First off, I think it is safe to assume that we are all Azula fans here. But that said. I wasn't bashing Katara in this chapter.
There is no water in the bottom of that ravine other than what's in her canteen and the sweat on her body. It was a poor environment for a waterbender. On top of that, I feel that as long as it isn't a full moon, that Azula is stronger than Katara.
By Smoke and Shadow I cannot see Katara ever getting the drop on Azula again.
Azula is much faster than Katara, and so much more ruthless. The Gaang was distracted by the chaos around them, and Azula capitalized on it. Azula designed the Koto Moeru and the Sasu Raitoningu to combat both waterbenders and strong nonbenders such as Mai.
The goal is to have a weapon that cannot be doused, if a waterbender puts out her flames. She can overwhelm them with sword strikes until she is no longer in range of their water.
I won't say what happened to Katara after Zoe detonated the landmines. I will only say that Katara received a permanent injury that will delight Azula when she receives word of it.
Now as for Zoe's minefield. Earthbenders sense the vibrations in the ground, so it stands to reason that exploding landmines would hinder their focus and ability. This is a new technology that the Fire Nation has developed. Zoe and other commanders have overseen the use of it on earthbenders in the far east.
The standard protocol is for the mines to be dropped over earthbenders. But Zoe took it a step further. The Dai Li set the mines up in a calculated order and then the Imperial Guard detonated them with firebending.
It is a devious tactic, the only safe ground is where Azula is standing. If Azula moves the Dai Li move the mines out of her pathway. So the Gaang must choose. Azula or the landmines?
The landmines successfully kept Toph at bay and left Aang open to Azula and Zoe's combined attacks.
And yes Azula has learned to conduct both fire and lightening through her sword.
But her greatest ability is by far her new defensive power. I wanted Azula to develop something never before seen, something forbidden. And this is the idea I came up with.
Firebending is supposed to be an aggressive ability, and the users are usually lacking in defense. I think a woman of Azula's brilliance is more than capable of producing such an innovative power. After all her fire is blue and there is no firebender quite like her. As of Smoke and Shadows she is easily the strongest firebender that we have ever seen.
Anyhow, this is a very telling chapter.
Because it shows that Azula can challenge the Avatar State.
I have always disliked the Avatar State. It is such a cheap ability, anytime the Avatar is losing, Aang can go into the Avatar State and defeat anyone with ease. I do not like it. It raises the question if the Avatar is a good thing. Yeah the Avatar does good, but in a strange way the Avatar is almost the ruler of their planet.
Everyone is so dependent on the Avatar. And I want to show strong benders like Azula that have the initiative to expand their bending and progress towards a new day without relying on the Avatar.
If the show had left Aang's powers at just being able to use the four elements I wouldn't complain. I just feel like the Avatar State takes all of the excitement out of Ozai versus Aang.
In my story there will be ways that higher level benders can challenge the Avatar State by 'ascending' and pushing themselves beyond their limits. These rare benders are going to be called ascendants. As we go on, we'll raise the question if the Avatar is really a good thing for humanity. The Avatar makes the rest of the world complacent, and there will be people in my story that feel the world will be better off over time if the Avatar vanishes for good.
I will just leave it at this.
Azula in her semi-evolved state was able to hold her own against an unrealized Avatar in the Avatar State. This means that both Azula and Aang can and will get stronger. As for who will come out in top...
I have a big, big surprise in store for next chapter!
Stay tuned to find out!