"Who are you people," Mayumi asked in a hostile tone. "Leave us alone, there are no valuable belongings on us."
The four strangers didn't respond, they only stared at the two sisters as if they are their mortal enemy. Even if they refuse to reveal their true identity and intentions, their action instigated against Batu clearly insinuated their untrustworthy goal. Mayumi and Satchiko never thought they would encounter bandits on their road to Qiong Cheng, but now there is no time for that. They need to either defeat these four brigands or escape them. The latter was not an option, since they knew taking Batu with them would only slow them down.
This leaves them to stand their ground, and hopefully fought these people off. In the past, Mayumi and Satchiko themselves have demonstrated the capability in handling numerous pirates during tourist seasons. Even when outnumbering the Kyoshi warriors in almost every raid, the pirates still cannot inflict even the slightest casualty. This is mostly due to the clever training and tactics employed by every Kyoshi warriors to used a foe's strength against them. No matter how heavily armed a person can be, a Kyoshi warrior would always find some ways to outwit them. However, the recent encounter with fire bending pirates may soon change that.
"I didn't do anything this time!" Satchiko quickly said to Mayumi. She feared that her older sister might assume these four are here because of another trouble Satchiko got herself in.
"I know!" Mayumi blurt back.
Mayumi surveyed the four bandits, they appeared to have little to no armor on them. Tu, who is the bulkiest and possibly heavies among them, only wears a small shoulder pad made of metal. The others are in regular clothes, which is definitely lighter than the Kyoshi warrior armor. Perhaps the biggest red flag noticed by Mayumi would be the lack of regular weapons. None of them is wielding a weapon that can counter Mayumi and Satchiko's sword and fans. This can only lead to one possible deduction.
"Benders," Mayumi silently whispered into Satchiko's ears. There can be no doubt about it, what kind of bandits would rob people without any weapons? Even the most lowly robber with a poor foot stance would have at least provide himself with a knife, even if he can be easily knocked over.
Upon hearing the word 'bender', Satchiko's body tensed even more. This certainly reminded her of the ferocious fire benders from the last pirate attack. While the burnt section of her hair has fully regrown, the same cannot be said about her own confidence in fighting such opponents. The four muggers in front of them may also be a teenagers around the same age like Satchiko, but unlike her, they might be competent. Her own Earth bending only permitted her to bend pebbles, pitiful indeed.
"We are not here for anything valuable," the black hair girl named Huo stated directly. "If you comply with us and listen to our orders, no one would be hurt!"
The two sisters isn't sure how to respond, only maintaining their defensive stance like stone statues.
"Our mission is to bring you back to our benevolent master, and I can assure you, this is for your own good." Huo said without waiting for both Kyoshi warriors to respond.
Satchiko felt this girl in red clothes is spewing absolute nonsense, how can they expect her to understand anything? The sentences were vague and without context, it's as if they are not professional bandits at all.
"What if we refuse?" Mayumi asked, she is trying to stall more time. Even a few seconds are ample enough in allowing her to devise a strategy.
"You cannot," Shui responded abruptly in Huo's place. "The will of our master must not be challenged, and we will fulfill his every command without hesitation. Even if we have to force you." The way she talked hinted a slight annoyance, suggesting her displeasure in waiting for the two sisters to surrender themselves.
"Why would you want to bring us to your so called master." Mayumi questioned further. "We don't even know who he is and what he wants, why don't you introduce yourselves to me who you all are first."
"I am sorry, but we are forbidden to reveal our identity." Tu was the one who responded. His tone was a bit more affable then Shui's dogmatic expressions and Huo's authoritative commands. "We very do not wish to harm you, only bringing you back as hostages."
The other three looked at him with contemptible facial expressions, the last word clearly give away some details about their background. Realizing his foolish mistake, Tu immediately slapped his own face to express his guilt.
"I suppose you are all somewhat related to those pirate that came to our island a month ago." Mayumi pointed it out, her words immediately spurred the four of them to look her way with surprise. This reaction obviously confirmed Mayumi's suspicion, that these people are at least somewhat associated with those pirates. "I'm sure you wanted to know what happened to them, after all they might be your friends."
Mayumi taunted very directly at the four, unbeknownst to Satchiko and the four bandits, she was actually buying more time to prepare her hidden kunai inside her Kimono. Her plan would involve distracting the bandits, while also helping Batu...
"What did you do to them!" Shui demanded in a suddenly energetic tone. Out of the four of them, she appeared to be the most devoted to their fellow 'colleagues'. This sudden rise in tension even surprised Mayumi herself, who did not expect such an escalation from a well composed person. Huo managed to restrain the enraged girl back, preventing her from possibly ruining their mission due to emotions.
"Oh nothing too lavish," Mayumi improvised in an almost casual tone, it's as if she is taking this situation very lighthearted. "For the crimes of attacking innocent people and the destruction of property, we gave all of them minor punishments by throwing them into the ocean with the Unagi. Although I'm sure it's stomach can't handle that much pirates at once."
"Ha Ha," Batu chuckled cheerfully behind Mayumi, who in turn smiled in response. Despite still restrained in the net, the boy is clearly taking a moment to enjoy Shui's deranged behavior. Satchiko meanwhile observed as Tu and Feng assisted Huo in keeping Shui in control, the girl in blue clothes appeared extremely distraught at the supposed fate of those pirates.
It's strange for Satchiko to see how these bandits reacted to the well-being of one of their own, they never demonstrated this when their compatriots raided the island. Every time those pirates showed up, it's the same gruesome business of defeating and repelling them. Why should anyone show any sympathy to these lowly cutthroats when they themselves did not think twice before committing unthinkable acts against her own people?
"You monsters!" Shui cried out. "You will never get away with this!" Her body wrestled with Huo as she tries to water bend.
"Said that to the Unagi," Mayumi said. The use of that bandit's name is aimed to further spur Shui's irrationality. Despite her believable bluffs, Mayumi knew full well those pirates were never fed to the great eel. In fact, the last record of a person being fed to a Unagi was long lost to time. According to the books, the closest moment when the Kyoshi warriors fed people to it was during Avatar Aang's first visit to the island, where her great grandmother Suki mistaken him to be a fire nation spy. Three people including the Avatar were almost thrown into the ocean, but luckily that didn't happen. Today, any pirates captured during raids were simply locked up, or more preferably sent to the prisons in other parts of the Earth Kingdom. Mostly to Chin village. While the people there don't throw prisoners to Unagi, they have other ways to punish wrongdoers. Sentences can be community service...or boiled in oil.
Shui's body became even more enraged and worked up after hearing Mayumi's aberrational words. She wanted to avenge the 'fallen' pirates, by killing these two Kyoshi warriors.
"Shui! We need them alive!" Huo implored to her friend rationally. "Their capture is an integral plan to the final plan!" Her tone wasn't as commanding when she addresses Shui, since the four has known each other for a long time.
"That's right, if the mecha tanks does not have those oil, half of them will not function." Tu said bluntly.
"Shut your mouth already!" Feng instantly reprimanded Tu. "They are right there, do you want the whole world to know what our boss is planning?"
"Oh...um sorry," Tu apologized immediately. This interaction between Tu and Feng caused Satchiko to believe that Tu might be their team's heavy, but is the least intelligent. It's a shame that such a genuine individual is associated with the very people who wish to cause Kyoshi island harm.
Satchiko's thought process rapidly shattered as she realized that a huge portion of the lake is slowly rising behind the four bandits.
Huo, also aware of this development, she soon retracted along with Tu and Feng to a safer position.
"Why use the water in the bottle when there's a whole lake to drown you in!" Shui said in a new sadistic tone.
"Stop it!" Huo appealed. "This is not part of our plan!"
"I will not sat idle when they have committed such acts to our friends!" Shui's impending actions caused Mayumi to consider casting the first stone. She only thought about buying more time, but she did not anticipate Shui would be so volatile.
"Your friends? then what about ours?" Satchiko delivered an immediate rebuttal, she spoke while being wary of that large body of floating lake water. "Those pirates hurt the the villagers, and today you have even hurt our new friend!"
Batu did smiled a little when he heard Satchiko referring him as a friend but he soon dropped it. For a moment, both sides stood still. Batu held his breathe as the large body of water suspense above Shui. Satchiko also dare not to move an inch, in fear that a slight movement is all it takes to cause the water bender to initiate the strike.
Without drawing much attention, Mayumi's slowly draw out the kunai with her hand, she only had one chance to make the plan work. After preparing herself, a small piece of leaf was blown towards her. It gently guided itself towards the sharp blade of her Katana. When the leaf contacted the still and cold edge, it split flawlessly into two halves.
"Take this!" Shui exclaimed as she bent the lake's water towards the two sisters. Mayumi and Satchiko both split off in order to avoid being hit. Batu was lucky, the direction of the water managed to follow the two sisters instead of hitting his position. While he exhaled air in relief, he is suddenly very concerned in what is happening next. Satchiko and Mayumi both respectively tried to avoid the trail of water in different directions. Somehow Shui's water bending allowed the water to continuously follow them.
"Huo, what do we do?" Tu asked in a worried tone, the plan has definitely gone south quick. They were supposed to use the net gun to capture their targets unsuspected, but Mayumi's reflexes has easily foiled their plan.
Huo gritted her teeth as she grasp the situation, they must adapt, they must succeed. Failure is not an option, and it never was, never will be.
The body of water chasing Satchiko almost reached its mark, just inches away from hitting her. Before it does, Satchiko turned around and immediately dropped to the sides, causing the water to hit the tree behind her. The water lost it momentum, and stayed on the ground motionlessly as if the owner is out of range to control it.
This is obviously infuriating to Shui, whose mastery of water bending proves to not be as up to her own expectations. But she is not done yet, she can still harm Mayumi.
Shui's eyes turned to the older Kyoshi warrior. Instead of looking at the running figure of her prey, a dark metal object flew towards her first. Shui failed to respond, the pointy object is thrown straight to her face.
Just as Mayumi thought the kunai would hit its mark, a traveling earth coin managed to hit it away. At the last moment, Tu was able to bend one of his earth coin to save the life of his teammate.
"Are you ok?" Tu asked in a diligent and attentive manner. His eyes are still focused on Mayumi in case more projectiles were thrown.
"Shui, look out!" Huo yelled besides her.
Another projectile was thrown towards Shui, this time a throwing knife.
Realizing this immediate threat, Shui did not froze like previously. She put up a smirk, and casually bend her head to the left. The knife flew harmlessly past her, and landed behind the four bandits.
Because Mayumi have moved from her originally location, Batu now lies directly behind the bandits. The knife stabbed into the ground between his legs, frightening him. The two Kyoshi warriors went to different directions, both going deeper into the woods.
"You miss!" Shui laughed at the Kyoshi warrior. Now that she has regained her rationality, she can be more focused on the team itself.
"Tu and Shui, you two go and capture the older one." Huo commanded in authoritative manner. "Feng, you are with me! Follow the original plan and we will not fail!"
"Oh, we won't." Shui said as she eyed Mayumi's direction with vengefulness. She will definitely enjoy this mission.
The team split up, Tu and Shui headed for Mayumi, while Huo and Feng focused on Satchiko. Their original backup plan was to separate the two sisters and capture them individually. This ensures that the weakness of the two sisters are exploited to their fullest, with the team's bending being the core of this method. Batu was left behind, as the four bandits have clearly shown zero interest towards him. He was never accounted in the plan, therefore he is the lowest priority in Huo's strategy.
Batu waited for the four to chase the two sisters. When all of them went a little further, he soon reached for the knife with his fingers and begin cutting the hardened net.
...
Satchiko hid herself among the bushes. While her green Kimono can act as camouflage within the greenery, her face paint and black armor can just as easily give away her location.
When Huo and Feng arrived in the forest clearing next to her, they both stopped to survey their surroundings. They knew Satchiko is here somewhere.
"You cannot hide forever, daughter of Akahana!" Huo said assertively. "We will be capture you!"
Feng didn't said anything, he only scratched his head as Huo talked with a concealed person. He doesn't appear very interested and invested into what they are doing, and he looked very laid back.
"Surrender yourself at once!" Huo demanded loudly. Her patience is waning, and Satchiko still does not respond.
Right before the fire bender decided to burn the whole area down to find her, Satchiko finally responded, breaking the silence of this forest.
"No," the Kyoshi warrior said from an unknown location. "Do you very think I would listen to thieves like you?"
Huo was taken back at Satchiko's words. Even if she cannot see Satchiko directly, the ominous feeling displayed here did made her a little nervous. The voice is hard to pinpoint considering the countless trees and bushes around them, but Huo can feel they are being watched.
"Bandits like you are no different from those pirates, both only sought to bring suffering to the innocent people." Satchiko continued on with her rhetoric. She wanted to show Huo that people like them have no right in applying pressure on a Kyoshi warrior "While Kyoshi island has been relatively safer recently, your people's past action against my home is inexcusable. My own mother already have a lot on her plate and you people dare act so high and mighty when trying to kidnap us! You are all shameless!"
Huo is slightly able to pinpoint the source of the Satchiko's voice, and the small rustling in one of the bushes suggested she is in there. Being berated by Kyoshi warrior certainly brings back some painful memories, but there is no time for that now.
Trying to ignore all those insults, Huo signaled Feng with her hand. The teenager in yellow clothing seemed to understand and decided to conjure up a ball of air. He threw it towards the location Huo was pointing at, which is in one of the bushes. Sounds of struggle was heard as Febg believed he has successfully captured his target.
The aim here is for them to knock Satchiko unconscious. A large ball of air is able to create a vacuum near the opponent's position, which greatly limits the air being inhaled. A very similarly technique was employed by Zaheer when he assassinated Earth Queen Hou-ting, but Huo and Feng have no intention to kill Satchiko.
After about a minute, Huo commanded Feng to stop his air bending. Judging by the time, Satchiko should be unconscious by now.
"Not so tough now, are you?" Feng chuckled. There are no longer movements within the bushes, which presumes Satchiko is no longer awake. "Even Kyoshi warriors like you cannot out smart us!"
"Enough wasting time, we still need to capture the other one," Huo lectured her friend. She is however grateful that despite Feng's earlier mishaps, he is still able to redeem himself by capturing Satchiko.
"I got the rope Feng, we will will tie her up first, then we will go back and help Shui and Tu." Huo said. She prepared the rope that was hanging on the sides of her waist. She signaled Feng to follow her into the thick bushes, where Satchiko must be lying.
"What's the rush, they are probably doing the same thing as we are." Feng said. His carefree attitude is still there, and placed his two hands on the back of his head. "Besides, do you actually believe that Tu and Shui would lose to a non-bender?"
"Well of course not, I will never doubt my friends, but we still need to be urgent just in case." Huo said in a prudent tone. "We must not underestimate our enemy just because they are weaker than us. If we do, we are giving our foe a chance to surprise us in their own way.
"Your mother told you that didn't she?" Feng suddenly said, his tone became more empathetic and softer in volume. Which is peculiar from his normal attitude. "It's shame she is no longer with us."
"It's ok," Huo responded without changing her very formal face. "My mother lost her life for what she believes in, even if she was killed by the very people she is trying to save."
"The very people she tried to save huh," Feng quietly said. His tone sounded a little skeptical to Huo's weird belief, but Huo paid no heed to it. She knew Feng was the least devoted to their master's teachings. Despite the four of them experienced difficult circumstances, it was their own master who sheltered them and gave them foods. He presented them a sense of purpose, and that is to reshape the Earth Kingdom, no, the entire world to fit his own grandeur image.
"We will discuss this in the future, now we need to secure the younger sister first." Huo reminded the airbender, who seemed to be in deep thought.
Both of them slowly approached the bush, and Huo instantly recognized a piece of black armor slightly visible. She walked forward faster, outpacing Feng in order to examine it in more detail.
The motionless armor of a Kyoshi warrior brought a sense of accomplishment to Huo, she commentated Feng's excellent use of airbeding to subdue their target.
She proceeded to unravel the surrounding vegetations and readied the rope to restrain Satchiko, but her body froze as she noticed something is seriously wrong here. Her eyes immediately constricted, sensing danger all around her.
The black armor was empty.
Huo's instincts immediately heightened her defense. She turned to face Feng, who was behind her. But she knew it must have been too late to alert him that Satchiko is planning something.
Feng is now the one lying flat on the ground, his eyes are still open. Their were no signs of bleeding, but somehow he couldn't talk to Huo.
Standing right besides him, she is only wearing her green kimono and her back is facing Huo. The Kyoshi warrior slowly turned around to confront the fire bender, who in turn demonstrated a small hint of fear.
"A Kyoshi warrior is also a master of stealth, seems like you people are not aware of that." Satchiko said in an expressionless manner. Her hair was a mess, most likely caused by Feng's Air bending. "If I can move around quickly in that suit of armor, wouldn't I be even more quiet if I don't wear it?"
This realization smashed Huo's original plan into pieces, it was such a good method. She thought they can capture the Kyoshi warriors without resorting to too much force, but it appears she has been proven wrong.
Huo shifted her body into a bending stance that fits one of a fire bender, she needs to turn this thing around. If Satchiko can somehow immobilize Feng, then Huo herself is also not safe from the same fate as him. She doesn't know how Satchiko did it, but Huo knew she must not underestimate her capabilities.
"You are wearing red, you are a fire bender aren't you? One of the workers on the steam ship also have the same pose before he heat up the furnace " Satchiko asked suddenly, which did caught Huo off guard a little. "Last time, my hair was burnt by one of your fellow firebending pirates, but this time-" She paused a little to recapture some air. "This time, I will show you what's Chi blocking can very do to someone who relies on their bending so much."
Feng's face is now more distressed than ever, his face is one that is trying to convey subtly to Huo. He wanted her to save herself. Huo obviously understood his meaning, but she refused to back down. While their intel received from the spy did inform them that Satchiko is an Earth bender, there was nothing about their target knowing the skillls of Chi blocking.
The plan is clearly falling apart bit by bit, if the younger sister knows such dangerous technique, then it would only be natural the older one would be even more proficient in it. She is now very concerned about Tu and Shui, who is somewhere else in this forest.
Huo didn't want to use force to subjugate their target, but now she needs to use firebending. Since fire is so lethal, it would be very difficult to capture Satchiko without causing excessive harm.
Huo slowly started a flame in her right hand, it burned brighter and hotter. The flame's size also increased its proportion, and Satchiko can already feel its heat.
Both of them are about 15 meters apart. Satchiko mentally readied herself in order to receive Huo's flame. She cannot make the same careless mistakes a month ago.
When Huo was satisfied with the flame's size, she punched it towards Satchiko's direction and followed it up with continuous streams of supplement fire. The path of where the fire burned also destroyed all the vegetation on its way, and Huo's point of view is obscured by its immense power.
The huge fire engulfed the entire area on which Satchiko was standing on. As the thick smoke was slowly blown away by the wind, it reveals a ground that was scorched. None of the original thick bushes and trees nearby have any greenery left on them. The grasses are gone and the barks on the trees turned grey.
Huo felt she that might have overdone it, her Fire bending was very uncontrollable, and in the past she has destroyed even entire buildings in one strike. She surveyed the area, and Satchiko was no where to be found. Feng was luckily not scarred by her fire, he is on the ground and remain there as still as possible. He tilted his head to look at Huo direction, moving his mouth a little, to warn Huo of an imminent danger.
"She's behind you Huo!"
The fire bending girl instantly turned around, she shot out another streak of fire without much hesitation. The adrenaline would cause anyone to act quickly under danger circumstances.
Huo's right hand, which was used to fire bend, was snatched by Satchiko. The fire was directed away from the Kyoshi warrior, much to Huo's major disappointment. They are both in very close proximity, and Huo knew what is probably about to happen next.
Satchiko wouldn't let go of Huo's hand, and proceeded to jab the fire bender's wrist. Huo could not respond effectively to this, and her opponent forcefully throw Huo's right arm away. It all occurred very fast, a few seconds was all it took for the Kyoshi warrior to do the same thing to Huo's other wrist.
Satchiko finally let go of Huo, who in turned desperately tried to fire bend at the Kyoshi warrior. No fire ever came out of her two hands, and Huo's face became very distressed at this change.
"It's no use, I have already disabled your pressure points." Satchiko said. She knew it would be a while for Huo to be able to bend again.
Satchiko slowly walked past Huo, who is still trying to bend fire. For someone who uses fire almost exclusively in combat, it would be very hard to get used to when bending was taken away from her.
After putting on her armor again, Satchiko looked at Huo with pity. The young bandit girl could have lived a normal life, yet she and the other three have to resort to banditry.
"Don't worry, it will wear off soon." Satchiko assured but maintain her intimidating expression. Though she isn't sure why she is wasting her kindness on Huo. "But you friend will have to be like this a little longer, I did punched more pressure points on him than you."
"I don't need your sympathy!" Huo angrily responded. Satchiko was surprised by this outburst, for she has expected a more negotiating response. "I did not plan to fail, and I will capture you! Aargh!" Huo raised her fist, she forcefully ran forward to punch Satchiko's face. The Kyoshi warrior didn't react much, only leveled her war fans so that it would pinch Huo's shoulder.
Huo retracted her arm in pain, but used her leg in an attempt to kick Satchiko. Before she can even successfully do that, she felt an immediate pain in her stomach. The Kyoshi warrior's fist was thrust deep into her clothes, and the impact hurts tremendously.
Huo placed her hands on her stomach as she fell to the ground. She looked to Satchiko with contempt. The Kyoshi warrior even have the leisure to use one of her war fan to fan herself, creating small comfortable wind which gently bounced off her paint.
"You will never get away with this!" Huo said under her gritted teeth. "My mother lost her life to bring a better future for the people of your island!"
"Wha-" The Kyoshi warrior raised her brow. "I don't even know who your mother is.
Satchiko ignored Huo, she proceeded to return to Batu, and hopefully regroup with Mayumi as well.
"Get back here! I am not done yet!" Huo yelled at Satchiko. She struggles to get up as the pain has still not subsided. "I will not lose to you!"
Satchiko stopped in her tracts, she spoke to Huo without facing her. "Like you, I am also still young and naive about this world, but even I can feel that you are being used by this master of yours." Satchiko then walked on, and soon she is no longer visible after going into the wilderness.
Huo was left behind with Feng, and the airbender is still immobilized.
"What's next Huo? Should we return to boss and get more help?" asked Feng.
Huo was on her knees, she is still focused on trying to get up and walk. When she finally stand up, she took little steps towards the direction Satchiko disappeared into. "I will go after her, I have no intention to fail our master."
"You can't fight like this, we can just regroup with Tu and Shui." Feng suggested earnestly. "We don't need to complete what that boss asked us to do, us four can leave him and find somewhere else and-"
"Never!"
Huo's voice was more fierce than previously, she expressed her strong disapproval with a very stern face. It was like an arrow piercing into Feng, so suddenly and unexpected.
"I will not turn my back towards him!" Huo said as she continues to leap forward. "Not when he has done so much for us."
Those were the only things she said, until she abandoned Feng and slowly dragged herself to towards Satchiko's location. Feng only watched as she left his perimeter.
That girl might be calm and composed, but sometimes she can be just as indoctrinated as that fanatic Shui. The air bender thought that to himself. He was never receptive with the idea of abandoning his three long time friends, but there are times where he felt those three are simply too stubborn when it comes to thinking for themselves. Yes, Tu included as well, he is just like Shui and Huo, only less confronting and more friendlier in appearance.
Feng will have to wait until the rest of his body can move before he can go and help them, although he can feel that something bad would happen first. He does not like where all of this is heading.
Author's notes: The air vacuum was used by Zaheer in the legend of Korra when he killed the Earth Queen. The victim would die by not having enough oxygen inhaled into the body, which would most likely be followed up with inadequate blood perfusion and the cessation of brain and organ functions. In real life, people do become unconscious when the atmosphere does not contain enough oxygen for them to breathe, this is very likely to happen when a person is trapped inside a building on fire. Not all cases result in a person dying, most people can survive the lack of oxygen if they are exposed to air once more, but they will be unconscious for a while. Do feel free to point out anything wrong here, as I am not an expert in this field.
