CHAPTER 4
Since the first moment Zuko had proposed to her this trip, Azula had made it clear how bad of an idea it was. Everything about this was asking for trouble. First, he thought of how wonderful it would be to have the entire family join in, then, he had insisted that they should travel by sea instead of using one of the airships, and lastly, he had to invite all of his stupid friends over.
The Project of the United Nations wasn't a bad idea however. In fact, she found it intriguing. Having the four nations -three technically- united and working as one was an ambitious project to say the least. But there were so many things to be done. Paths to be defined, agreements and negotiations needed to be made. And she was the most suitable one for the negotiations.
She had refused since the first moment; she didn't want to take a journey all the way to the Earth Kingdom and stay there for a month. She had a lot of work to do back home. Projects, law revisions, reform proposals, and a ton of other things.
Zuko insisted for days for her to join him for the meeting, and she refused every time, but after the last council meeting -and how awful it had gone- she knew she couldn't just abstain from being a part of the negotiations in Ba Sing Se. Azula knew Zuko and his morals, and that he felt so guilty for everything that their Nation had done to the other ones. So, she was also worried that in his attempt to keep the project alive, he would just agree to every condition the other leaders asked him to. Even if it wasn't the best deal for their Nation.
Back then, when she had agreed to come, she never imagined being in this kind of situation; surrounded by one of the best elite teams during her father's leadership while having care for the safety of a nine-year-old girl and deal with an annoying savage from the south, who couldn't seem to shut the hell up.
This trip just keeps getting better and better, she thought ironically.
As soon as Azula stepped out of the carriage, -leaving Sokka and Kiyi inside- without a warning, a man came out from a hole in the floor behind her and struck her a few times in a precise fashion. He punched some focal points on her body, and before she could attack him, he disappeared in another hole, reappearing a second later behind one man she didn't acknowledge.
The Rough Rhinos and… Earth benders? Damn it! she cursed in her mind for being too confident and letting her guard down for a second.
Her body felt slightly numb, she recognized the sensation instantly; chi-blocking. Luckily for her, it wasn't the kind that left her totally paralyzed; she assumed that it had only left her without bending, otherwise she would likely be on the floor by now, completely immobile. She could already feel it was not as effective as Ty Lee's, but still, it had some effect.
Azula composed herself before facing their attackers, trying to look as calm as possible and unsurprised for the current events.
"Colonel Mongke, what a surprise is to find you here." she said with a confident and arrogant smirk, turning to face the leader of the rhinos.
The man smirked and leaned forward, resting his body on his forearms in a relaxed manner, "Princess Azula, it's been so long since we last saw each other."
She glanced around. "Ogodei, Kahchi, Yeh-Lu, Vachir" she greeted his companions, well at least the ones she could recognize.
Sokka raised his eyebrows in the carriage, amazed at the fact that she was greeting them as if they were longtime acquaintances who weren't trying to attack them.
"Princess." all of them uttered with an almost imperceptible nod.
Sokka was amazed once more at the fact that all of them, even though they were no longer part of the Fire Nation, even so, showed respect towards her.
"Indeed," she said, "Last time we saw each other I was nine, I believe. How is mercenary life treating you?" she asked with a hint of mockery, her hands on her hips.
"It pays really well, I must say." the Colonel replied.
"You have recruited more riders from what I can see." she looked at the other three she didn't recognize.
"Junho, Seijir and Utor." the leader of the Rough Rhinos introduced them, pointing with his head.
"Princess." they did as his fellow companions had done before and greeted her with a brief nod.
Sokka could help but feel confused. It was like watching old friends catching up.
"Does she know them?" Kiyi muttered a little intrigued, staring through the window. Sokka shrugged, also confused. "Either way, I still hope she kicks their asses."
"And these three are?" Azula asked, raising an eyebrow, intrigued.
"They are the one's paying," Mongke informed, "The chi-blocking was their idea." he explained, annoyed. He might be a mercenary now, but he had his honor and had always been a man that enjoyed a fair fight.
"Sokka, help her." Kiyi whispered to him inside the carriage. He could notice the concern in her voice. Kiyi understood perfectly what being chi-blocked implied.
"Stay here, okay?" Sokka muttered towards Kiyi. She nodded before he stepped out, sick of waiting, and just in case things took an abrupt turn. He knew that in any moment a fight would break out and Azula -even if she would not acknowledge it- was going to need help now that she was temporarily without her bending.
In other circumstances, she most likely would not need his help like in Lian Yu, where she had been able to deal with a dozen men herself, but this time it was different, there were earthbenders involved and the most skilled mercenaries he knew of.
"You?" Vachir spouted with displeasure.
"Hey, there." said Sokka, remembering the last time they had faced each other. He had beat up Vachir in a hand-to-hand combat, but now looking at the way Vachir was aiming at him with an arrow really worried him.
"I told you to stay in the carriage." Azula muttered between gritted teeth towards Sokka.
"I thought you might need help." he replied. It had been so long since he had got into a battle, and he was maybe a little too eager to kick some asses.
"How thoughtful of you." she said with a hint of mockery.
"Enough with this chit-chat" one of the men Azula didn't recognize said in an authoritarian tone.
The man had tanned skin and dark brown hair; he didn't seem like a Fire Nation citizen, maybe someone from the colonies? He looked like someone authoritarian not only for the way he talked, but for the way he was standing with his hands on his back, his posture and also the way he was looking at her.
The other two men were standing behind him like some type of bodyguards. One of them was the one who had chi-blocked her. They seemed familiar. Azula knew she had seen that kind of glance before but couldn't actually remember where.
"And you are?" she asked, sounding cocky and miffed.
"The one in charge." he answered, irked.
Azula smirked. "Huh, I thought you would be taller."
Sokka had to suppress a little chuckle for her comment. It was not the moment to laugh. "What do you want?" he asked, getting closer to Azula. He could notice how her eyes were quickly scanning the area, and he understood what she was doing. She has been keeping them busy with a little chat, while she elaborated a plan to either fight them or escape. He had been also trying to think of a plan, but there wasn't one that didn't endanger Kiyi inside of the carriage. Still, he kept thinking they could fight them.
"Where is the Fire Lord? I would prefer if we could catch you both at once." the man said stoically, ignoring Sokka's question.
The Princess huffed. "That's for me to know, and for you to dot, dot, dot…" she mocked, before quirking an eyebrow and menacingly glancing in his direction, "Now, answer the question. What do you want? And who the hell are you?" she questioned, raising her chin with authority.
The man narrowed his eyes and stepped forward. "Does the name Dai Li ring any bell to you, Princess Azula?"
Azula raised her eyebrows, and snapped her fingers in a carefree manner, "That's why you guys looked so familiar," she said, "You were part of the Dai Li, wasn't your name Tao Ma?" she inquired.
He nodded, confirming the Princess suspicions. She assumed the other two had been also part of the Dai Li. Now; she started to piece the puzzle together. She had used the Dai Li as bodyguards back then, and they had seen her train with Mai and Ty Lee when they were helping her to get ready for the Day of Black Sun so she could fight to distract the Avatar and the rest of the losers without her bending.
Sokka's eyes widened. They were in big trouble. Now it wasn't just only the Rough Rhinos, but also the Dai Li? This day couldn't get any worse.
"Now I get it…" Azula said, sounding way too calm and confident for Sokka's liking. "But still, there is something I don't understand…" she placed a hand under her chin. "Why are you going after me?" she raised an eyebrow. Passing around. "I mean, I only gave you a job after the Earth King locked away Long Feng and I even brought some of you as bodyguards to the Fire Nation." she made a grin while looking around, finally finding the best escape route. "I might have fired you later, but even so…"
"What are you implying?" he asked, not understanding the Princess' point.
She smirked. "I'm saying that... it is not me who you should be going after. See that guy over there?" she pointed at Sokka. He widened his eyes. "He helped lock up your former boss Long Feng... and I might add, he and his friend suggested to the Earth King to get rid of all of you." her smirk grew bigger, as she was standing at a short distance of Tao Ma.
Sokka gasped, was she throwing him to the wolves?
"What the hell, Azula?" he squealed, dumbstruck.
Tao Ma contemplated what the Princess had told him. The other two benders behind him shared a glance.
"She is right." he muttered, looking menacingly now in Sokka's direction.
"Of course, I'm right." she whispered with arrogance, placing her hands on her hips.
"She is trying to confuse you!" Sokka squealed, "To try and win time, so her bending returns." he rushed to say. Azula glanced furiously towards him, and that's when he realized his mistake. He covered his mouth with both of his hands. He was an idiot.
Tao Ma glanced back at the Princess, more threatening and serious than before. "We will take you both, then." he said.
Azula sighed and shrugged. "Oh well, it was worth the shot. And it would have worked, if not for that genius over there," she grunted toward Sokka, who muttered a sorry. "That's why I told you to stay in the carriage, ass-head." she insulted him, and this time he didn't have a reply.
"Get them." Tao Ma commanded the Rough Rhinos.
She smirked once more, raising a hand. "You know. Stupid of you to think I can't fight without bending." said before spinning in her right leg and using her left one to kick him right in the jaw.
Tao Ma's body flew backward and landed on the floor a few meters back, completely knocked out at impact.
She managed to avoid one of Vachir's arrows, just in time for the other two former Dai Li agents to bend their signature earth-gauntlets and pin her and Sokka onto the side of the carriage.
Sokka didn't even have time to unsheathe his sword.
Both of them groaned in pain at the impact of their bodies against the vehicle.
"Little help? Did you say you wanted to help?" she snarled at Sokka while trying to free herself from the earth around her wrist.
"It seems you are handling this very well." Sokka replied, ironically retorting.
"Thought you were getting bored," she snorted, "Are those muscles just for show, or are you actually going to use them?!" she growled.
Sokka rolled his eyes and the muscles from his arm tensed. A second later, he pulled his wrist free from the earth. Helping to free Azula was easier. By now, she could feel that her bending was back. But even with her bending restituted the chances of walking away from this with no damage, was close to none.
She was always up for a fight and fighting multiple enemies had always been something that excited her way too much. It was like a way to test her abilities, but right now was not the moment to brag. Had she been alone, or only with Sokka she would have been up for a fight, but Kiyi's safety was the priority.
"Now what?" he muttered, his eyes scanning the place around. She might have knocked one out, but they were still surrounded by the Rough Rhinos. "I'm up for a fight if you are." he said, holding the grip of his sword.
"Not right now," Azula muttered, before opening the door of the carriage. "Hold Kiyi," she instructed him.
"Come on little one," said Sokka, and Kiyi, who had been very alert at everything happening outside, did as she was told. Sokka held her in one arm.
"Remember that time back in the abandoned village, after you all attacked me?" Azula asked.
"When you attacked your uncle?" he snapped back, raising an eyebrow. "And chased us for two days? Yeah very clearly, I didn't sleep for two days in row!" he squeaked.
"FOCUS!" she grunted.
"Sorry."
"Well, you are about to find out how I escaped," she said, "Stay close."
Azula stood up in front of him, and when Mongke moved his hands with deadly intent, she prepared herself as well.
When the fire blast came out of his fist in their direction, she repeated what she had done back then, and surrounded them with a protective wall of fire, using it also as a distraction to allow them to escape.
...
Sokka felt an abrupt shaking off his shoulder that forced him to open his eyes.
"Hey moron," said Azula, with her hand on his shoulder. "Come on, we have to go," she said before turning to Kyi. "Are you okay?"
The little girl nodded, while Sokka looked around. There was no sign of their chasers. And they seemed to had successfully escaped.
Azula had managed to get them out of there, but how? He was really intrigued by it.
"How the hell did you get us out?" he inquired promptly as he chased after the Princess and Kiyi once they started to walk, not bothering to wait for him.
"Did you close your eyes?" Azula raising her eyebrows.
"I-I guess I did," he muttered.
"Then you would never know."
"Oh, come on." he whined like a little kid.
"It was awesome!" claimed Kiyi, her eyes sparkling of excitement.
"How did you do it?" he insisted. He really wanted to know. "I'm not going to tell your secret."
"Shut up." she grunted, rolling her eyes.
"Do you know the words please and thank you?" Sokka replied, annoyed.
"Please shut the fuck up, thank you." she said, making a sardonic smile.
He sighed. "I would mark that down as progress," he muttered, "And shouldn't you like watch your language because of…?" he pointed down at Kiyi.
"Oh, I was. You should hear my thoughts," she uttered.
"I have heard worse." Kiyi intervened, grabbing Sokka's hand and swinging it back and forward. "Zuzu tends to curse a lot when he is mad," she explained, grabbing also Azula's hand and doing the same. "By the way Azu, the way you kicked that guy's face was amazing!"
"He had it coming for assuming I was defenseless without my bending." Azula replied, haughtily.
"They must have underestimated you thinking that as a woman and without your bending you would try to have a mediation before a confrontation." said Sokka.
"Men in my life have always underestimated me but I have proved to them that I'm always the first one to attack when they look at me funny." she said, frowning.
"Really? I wouldn't imagine someone underestimating you." he exclaimed.
How can someone underestimate the only known master of blue fire ever, who is also the Princess of the Fire Nation? he wondered. Since the first moment he had seen her blue fire, he had known that she was someone to be careful around.
"You would be surprised."
They weren't too far from Yu Dao, but they still had a long way to go on foot, and they had to hurry because even though they had made it out from the ambush, the Rhinos likely could catch them at any given moment.
"How much left?" Kiyi whined after a while of walking. She was a few steps behind them, with her shoulders down and looking exhausted.
"There's still a while left," said Sokka, turning to glance at her.
"Are you tired?" Azula asked, after seeing the way the little one was walking slower than usual. Kiyi nodded. Her depletion was evident. "Let's rest for a while." she said, taking into consideration that by now, they must have put a considerable distance between them and the Rough Rhinos.
Kiyi dropped herself under the shadow of a big tree near the road, looking totally drained.
Sokka felt slightly uneased at stopping since they weren't that far from Yu Dao. But seeing the little one so tired, he couldn't help but agree.
"I'm going to look around. Just in case," he said, before mixing with the foliage.
Azula and Kiyi stood there for a moment in silence. The older one looking around in alert with her mind working at full speed, formulating a hundred thoughts and questions. Why were the Dai Lee after her and Zuko? Why now? What were they after? What were they trying to accomplish? Revenge? It was likely.
After she banished them from the Fire Nation, she had assumed they had returned to the Earth Kingdom, and in all honesty; she hadn't cared about what had happened to them after that. She hadn't thought of them in them in years, until now.
As for the Rhinos, she knew they had gone rogue after the end of the war and now worked as mercenaries to whoever paid them best.
"He is cute, isn't he?" Kiyi asked her teasingly.
Azula crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrows, "I thought you were exhausted."
Kiyi shrugged. "You also think that, don't you?" she said mockingly while smirking.
"Hush... Tsk." she grunted, "What is taking him so long?" she muttered, drumming her fingers on her arm, getting more and more anxious by every passing moment. Sokka had been gone for a while now. Then she turned to Kiyi, "Stay here."
The Princess headed in the same direction she had seen Sokka head towards. She looked around for a moment, but thanks to the spirits it didn't take her long to spot him a few meters ahead. His back turned to her.
"What the hell are you doing that is taking you so long?" she inquired with a deadpan tone. standing behind him with her arms crossed, jolting him a little bit. She had approached in complete silence.
"H-Hey," he squealed, "D-don't stood behind me! Y-you distracted me!" he stuttered, nervous.
Azula made a grin. "I did what now?" She was not in the mood to hear his nonsense.
"I-I'm a little busy right now." he said, still jittery. She hasn't noticed yet that she had interrupted him in the middle of something. His face heated and blushed for being caught in such a situation.
"Well, finish whatever the hell are you doing and let's go!" she grunted, losing her patience. She stood there waiting for him to start walking.
"T-The thing is… I-I was… I-I am…" he continued to stammer, gulping at the end. He could feel the red deepen more and more in his face. "I-I'm the type that can't even p-pee when someone's behind me." he spouted, making her raise her eyebrows, and widening her mouth.
So, she had 'interrupted' him in an inappropriate moment.
She made a grin of disgust. "Whoa… Too much info, don't you think? We are not even that close," she retorted, before rolling her eyes and sighing with frustration. "Alright. Just be done quickly, would you? We need to go." was the last thing she said before turning around and return from where she had come.
"Did you find him?" Kiyi questioned her as soon as she saw her.
"Yeah," she replied, "He was busy." she didn't want to give away too much detail.
"So, is he coming?"
But before she could answer, Sokka reappeared next to them, "Ready to go?"
"Already?" Kiyi frowned, "Can we rest a little while?"
Azula rolled her eyes and notices that Sokka was holding something. "What is that?"
"These?" he showed her that he was holding a bunch of yellow jasmine flowers. "I found some of these back there. I recall your uncle is a huge fan of jasmine tea." he said with a smile.
She rubbed her forehead with the tip of her fingers, trying to remain calm. "Oaf," she called him, "The white flowers are the one used to make the tea. The yellow ones are poisonous. Deadly." she told him, "Whoever eats them, would be dead in five minutes."
"What?" replied Sokka, aghast.
"Those are poisonous, genius," she said the last work sarcastically. "They would paralyze your internal organs before it can even reach your stomach. Even bees avoid them." she explained, irked.
His eyes and mouth widened. Then rushed to drop the flowers and wiping his hands on his shirt with a grin of disgust. "How do you know all that?" he inquired.
"I had an amazing education," she said, cockily. "In the Fire Nation, we have hundreds of plant species. Unlike you, on that horrible land of yours," she uttered before nodding towards Kiyi. "Let's go."
Kiyi pouted.
Azula sighed. "Fine," she said with resignation. They had to arrive at Yu Dao, before it got dark, so they had to get going, right now. "Hop on in," she said, kneeling before the little one.
But instead of feeling Kiyi climb up, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"What?" she raised an eyebrow in Sokka's direction.
"Come on, Kiyi." he told the little one.
"What are you doing?" the Princess asked him when Kiyi hopped on his back.
"She is almost your size, and half your weight. It's better if I carry her," said Sokka, before striding ahead.
Azula huffed sarcastically before walking behind them.
They walked in silence for a while, just with the sound of their steps and the wind against the trees as they strolled down the road towards Yu Dao. Azula couldn't help to look over her shoulder from time to time, alert in case the Rhinos reappeared at any moment.
"What?" she inquired when she noticed after a while his glance scrutinizing her.
"Nothing," he said, shaking his head. "It's just… back then I thought you were going to put up a fight." he said. He had been sure she was going to do it, but when she didn't, it surprised him.
"I would have," she admitted, "If I had been alone." she said, taking a quick look towards Kiyi in his back, who seemed to be snoozing off.
Kiyi safety was more important than her pride and her desire of wanting to put on a fight. She huffed at the thought. During her teenage years, she would have chosen the entire opposite.
"We could have fought them." stated Sokka firmly while frowning. He thought that her words were because she saw him as a hindrance in her way, a nuisance that she would have needed to protect.
Azula scowled and made a grin. "Seriously? Are you an idiot?" she looked at him, trying to find out if he was being serious. When he showed no sign of the opposite, she sighed, rubbing her temple before explaining. "Our enemies are one of the most skilled squads of assassins that the Fire Nation ever had. Who deserted the army because of the 'lack of action' on the battlefield… And what are we?" he opened his mouth to answer, but she didn't allow him, "A nine-year-old, who is starting to master the basics of fire bending. A wanker who believes he is all-powerful with his goofy sword," Sokka pouted at her words. "And me, someone who doesn't even want to be here in first place." she made a pause, before adding bitterly. "And I'm not going to endanger Kiyi's safety so you can prove your macho side."
So that had been the reason. Getting Kiyi out of danger was her priority. Sokka glanced at her for a couple of seconds before returning his attention ahead of him. Azula cared for Kiyi. The evil wicked Princess he once was scared of… had changed, and she had just proved to him by choosing to assure her safety over fighting.
He smiled for his insides. Also, he realized, she didn't think of him as a hindrance as he had assumed. But still it annoyed him that she had called Space Sword a goofy sword. But he decided to let it slide and instead ask something else.
"So, if you didn't want to come, why did you come?" Sokka inquired, intrigued. Although he was glad that she had joined them on the trip, because it could give him -or hoped at least to get one- the chance to pay her back that favor he owed her for saving his ass back in Lian Yu.
They could already see Yu Dao in the distance. A few more minutes of walking and they would be by the gates of the city, safe and sound.
"One: because Zuko kept insisting on me coming. And two: have you seen him negotiate? He would have been eaten alive. He was not born for politics." said Azula before adding. "While I... I used to be surrounded by it."
"I have to agree with you. Zuko sucks at politics and negotiation," he said nodding, remembering that one time in the Eastern Air Temple, "Did he ever tell you about the time when he asked to join us? When we said no the first time, he offered himself up as a prisoner." he said, chuckling a little at the memory.
The Princess tried to suppress her own snickering with a huff. "Why am I not surprised? He tends to be very overdramatic."
"Yeah... Or that one time after the war when he…" Sokka was about to say when Azula stopped on her tracks and turned around. "What is…?" but he didn't have time to finish his question when he saw an arrow from Vachir flow in his direction.
Blue flames appeared in front of him, and the tip of the arrow fell down in front of him.
The Rough Rhinos had found them.
Damn it! she thought. They were so close to the city. Her mind raced to think of a plan as she saw them getting closer. Vachir tried to shoot another arrow, but like the first one, it also got burned by the wall of her blue fire.
She clenched her teeth, and she shared a concerned look with Sokka.
They noticed that he earthbenders didn't seem to be with them this time. Which seemed to be a good thing. Maybe they had ditched them.
Sokka placed Kiyi on the ground. She was already very awake and alert.
He had a plan; he didn't know if it was going to work, but he had to at least try it. And if it didn't work, well, he was a good improviser. He could always think of a way out.
He reached for Azula's shoulder and made her turn towards him. "Take Kiyi and run till Yu Dao." he said trying to sound as calm as possible. He didn't know if it was a good plan, but it was a plan at least.
"What about you?" she asked him, confused. What was he going to do? Why couldn't he just tell her his plan?
"I will distract them." he said, trying to sound as confident as possible.
He just needed to win a few more minutes for them to reach Yu Dao.
Distract them?
"Why don't you take Kiyi, and I distract them?" she asked him. It was the most logical option, the wisest one. And also, she knew that if she arrived at Yu Dao without him, all hell would break loose and she would be the one to be blamed if something happened to this oaf, while he played hero.
"If I recall correctly, they are after you and Zuko, not me." Sokka reminded her.
"So? I'm still faster than you." she replied, even though he had a fair point. They wanted her and Zuko.
"But I'm stronger." he retorted between gritted teeth. Couldn't she just listen to him?
Azula rolled her eyes, annoyed. "Yeah, sure…"
"Just go…!" he grunted, practically commanding her.
Kiyi held tightly onto the hand of the Princess.
The Rhinos were getting closer and closer.
"They are after you. If you are out of the away, it's one less thing I have to worry about," he said whilst unsheathing sword from the scabbard.
"Now you care about me?" she said with irony and quirking an eyebrow.
Sokka shrugged. Maybe he did, or maybe he was just trying to pay his debt to her. "It's a figure of speech," he said, "Now, go." But Azula hesitated about leaving him behind. Still, deep down, she knew that he was smart enough to deal with them, or at least until she could manage to get back. "Just do it! For spirit's sake!" he squealed, getting a bit agitated.
"Tsk! Fine." she said between teeth, "But as soon as Kiyi is safe in Yu Dao, I'm coming back to help you."
"Wouldn't expect less from you." he said with a pleased smirk.
"So, don't die…" she said with a tone of warning. "If you die, I will kill you."
"Worried about me, Princess?" he teased her, with a hand to his chest. "I'm touched."
"No," Azula replied, "I didn't save your life back then for you to die like this…. Plus, if something happens to you, they will probably blame me."
Sokka rolled his eyes. "Fine. I will not die," he assured her, but for her, it sounded more like a promise, a promise she hoped he would not break. "Now go."
"Don't you dare to die, husband," Kiyi warned him, frowning. "Or I would get really mad."
It was a gesture that reminded him a lot of Azula. Sokka couldn't help to think about the similarities of the two girls before him. He side smiled and nodded. "It's a promise." he assured her.
"Sokka…" Azula muttered.
"What?"
She didn't know what to say. "Nothing."
"I can do it." Sokka reassured her, he could see the doubt in her eyes. He just hoped to sound more confident than what he really was.
"Why are you so sure?" she murmurs.
He smirked. "My instincts tell me that."
"Your inst… Oh my..." she stopped herself before calling him an idiot.
"Go!" he shouted. And without saying another word or caring to look back, they leave him behind and head towards Yu Dao with Kiyi, trusting in him and that he would stay alive.
Kiyi didn't complain when they ran as fast as they could. In fact, she keeps up with her older sister just well enough, just a few steps behind her. She doesn't let go of Azula's hand at any moment, and Azula doesn't let go either.
Her heart is beating in her chest for two reasons, they rushed running and because she can't stop thinking about Sokka fighting the Rhinos by himself. The adrenaline starts to pump through her body as well as the thousands of negative thoughts at the back of her mind.
Maybe she shouldn't have left him, maybe she should have been the one to stay. And how was she going to explain to everyone if he died? Or got hurt? The Avatar and the waterbender would probably be the first ones to not react well. She remembered that time when he waved his stupid toy at her face and she had shocked him with a small bolt, how all of them had reacted. If he died, they would probably throw her into a prison, or worse, the Avatar could just take her bending away, like he had done with her father.
And Zuko, he would probably think the worst of her, like he had ever done. He would assume that it was part of some malicious plan of her and everything she had accomplished in the last year would go down the drain.
She shook her head, expelling all negative thoughts. No, he wasn't going to die. He was smarter than that, or at least she hoped. Back in the war, he had been the one in charge of the plans of his plonker group. He might not be a bender, but he was a warrior and a skilled one. She had acknowledged that, after all he had been the only one smart enough to realize her plan during the Black Sun invasion. If anyone could do it, it was him. Sokka could do it.
Azula stopped her tracks less than 50 meters away from the main gate of Yu Dao, and turned to Kiyi, holding her by the shoulders, making her meet her eyes.
"Run into the city. Find the big building at the end of the main street, and look for Zuko or any of his friends, okay?" she told the little one.
Kiyi nodded quickly. "But you? What about you?" she asked worried.
"I told him that after making sure you were safe, I would go back to help him, remember?" said Azula, "So, I should make sure that your husband lives, shouldn't I?" Kiyi smiled at her. "Go."
Azula makes sure the little one enters the city before rushing back to the point where she had last seen Sokka, hoping that idiot had kept his promise and remained alive.
Her heart was beating against her chest at such a speed that she almost felt like it was to burst out of chest.
Don't you dare die, idiot.
…
Sokka stood there after seeing Azula and Kiyi leave behind the wall of Azula's blue fire that acted as a protecting barrier.
Azula's glance on him before leaving had expressed full concern. Maybe for his survival, or maybe for what would happen if he died.
Eventually, the fire decreased in size, until it extinguished fully. He assumed and hoped that the girls were by now out of reach.
He unsheathed his sword as the Rhinos approached closer and closer, and he kept thinking that out of all his plans this one was the worst. It was eight against one. Things weren't in his favor.
Mongke a firebender. Ogodei an engineer. Yeh-Lu a bombs expert. Vachir was a Yuyan Archer. Kahnchi, Juhno, Utot, and Seijir, Sokka listed them in his mind, remembering the abilities he had seen in them while fighting them in the past.
In one hand he was holding his trusty boomerang, while in the other one his sword.
Vachir shot an arrow at him. Sokka sidestepped out of the way. The arrow landed next to his feet. Vachir placed another arrow in his bow. He needed to get him away from that bloody thing before one arrow pierced one of his lungs.
The Rhinos stopped a few meters away from him. And in a second, he was surrounded by the eight animals and their riders.
"Where is the Princess, boy?" Mongke interrogated him after shooting a blast of fire to his feet. Sokka jumped back.
"Princess? I don't know who you are talking about," he replied, feigning ignorance.
"Don't fuck with me," the leader of the riders said, lighting his hands in flames, "You are outnumbered. There is no way out. So, before I lose my patience with you, tell me, where is she?"
"Aren't you missing the earthbenders?" Sokka asked when he noticed that the Dai Li were nowhere to be seen. For a moment he was afraid that they had taken a detour and were now behind Kiyi and Azula.
"The little smartass broke Tao Ma's jaw and left him unconscious, so they had to flee," Ogodei said, "Still they gave us orders to capture her and the Fire Lord."
"Enough with the chi-chat" Mongke snarled before nodding towards Ogodei.
Ogodei didn't waste a second and threw his chains in his direction. They wrapped around the blade of his sword and in a quick move the weapon slipped from Sokka's hands, leaving him only armed with his boomerang.
His sword landed meters away with the blade digging in the ground.
Okay. This just got ten times more complicated, he thought.
Utor attempted an attack on him with his stick. Good thing Sokka's reflexes didn't fail him, allowing him to dodge successfully.
`Be aware of your surroundings at all times, ´ Piandao had told him once. And his advice had been useful to this day.
Utor was a huge guy, and he knew that if he managed to stake him with his stick, he could break a few bones. But he was also slow, at least slower than Sokka.
He managed to duck another attack and before Utor can swing another one, he hits him in the back of the head with the rear of his club.
Thank the spirits I didn't leave you in Appa's saddle.
Utor stumbled a little bit before falling face-first to the ground, knocked out.
Yeh-Lu activated a few of his bombs and threw them at him. Sokka used his club to return them back at Yeh-Lu. The bombs fell on the legs of the rhino before they exploded.
Sokka was unable to tell if the wails of pain were from the animal or Yeh-Lu.
Two out, six to go, he thought while processing his next move.
He barely saw Juhno's hooks when he threw it at him. He moves out of the way, but not fast enough. The tip of his hook managed to injure him on his left side, at the height of his ribs. It was a slim cut, but it hurt and started bleeding. Still, the plain was nothing close to the injury he had sustained in Lian Yu.
Sokka cursed under his breath as Juhno swung the chain of his hook, ready for another attack. Sokka threw his boomerang in his direction and Juhno smiled cockily when he managed to avoid it by ducking in.
"You missed savage." he sneered at Sokka.
Sokka didn't reply, he only raised an eyebrow and smirked. I didn't.
His favorite and handy weapon returned in an arc, smacking Juhno in the back of the head. He lost balance and fell to the ground obstreperously, startling his rhino. The animal kicked the floor with his legs crazily, and Juhno now has bigger problems, like trying to avoid being crushed by the big, wild animal to death.
But Sokka's smirk vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"Enough of this." Mongke grunted.
He cried in pain when Mongke shot a fireball that grazed his right thigh. His leg gave up due to the pain, and he fell to his knee.
Many, many times he had burned himself while cooking or trying to cook. Yet, they were minor injuries and had never felt quite like this. He tightens his teeth. His pants are scorched to reveal his skin turning a deep red. It was a nasty burn. It was painful, and his skin stung considerably.
Sokka took a deep breath before clenching his fist and using his left leg and his club on the ground as support to stand up. He had endured Azula once melting his skin to stop him from bleeding out, and this pain compared to that one was insignificant. If he had survived that, he could survive this. He could do it.
He took a step further towards Mongke.
"Kid, save yourself further pain" Mongke said with his arms in fists aiming at him, "And tell us, where are they?"
Sokka smirked. "You are dumber than I thought if you really believe that I would tell you where they are."
"Can we just kill him?" Kahnchi asked, "They said to get them both, but I bet they wouldn't mind if we got rid of the savage."
"It's your last chance, kid." Vachir said with an arrow, nocked and ready, aiming at him.
"Screw you." Sokka replied. If he was going to die, then at least he'd die with pride and honour.
Vachir's fingers let go of the nock of the arrow. The arrow flew and lodged itself into Sokka's left shoulder. He let out a groan of pain. He tightened the hand around the grip of his club. Holding to it like life itself. His entire body hurt. His leg, his ribs, his shoulder.
Vachir charged the next arrow between his fingers and tensed the bowstring.
Maybe I'm not going to able to fulfill my promise, Kiyi, he thought.
Kahnchi threw his guandao sword in his direction disarm Sokka of his club. Instead of looking towards him, Sokka glanced at the archer taking aim at him.
He saw the arrow Vachir is aiming at him. Straight to his heart. His pulse increases so hard he can hear it in his ears. There is no way out. This time, his plan had failed, and he was going to die. He could only think about his inevitable demise.
Vachir let go of the bowstring and the arrow flew straight at him.
He closed his eyes.
A wave of heat surrounds him, and when he opens his eyes blue flames are smothered to behold Azula. Her figure stands before him, holding his sword like a vision. A wonderful vision.
"I believe…," she said skimming the edge of his sword with a finger, "That you were looking for me." she raised her chin cavalier with a little smirk.
If he could tell his younger self, that one day he would be thankful and glad to have Azula as an ally, he would probably laugh until death. Yet, in that moment, he was elated and grateful.
"Finally," said Mongke, pleased, leaning forward and resting against his mount. "The main show."
"I couldn't agree more, Colonel." the tone of arrogance in her voice was clear.
You're screwed, Rhinos, he thought.
Ogodei winds his chains once more, and throws it at Sokka's sword again, now in Azula's hands.
But this time his plan backfires. Azula's grip is so steady that when he tries to pull the sword from her, she throws it on the ground and steps on the chain, then she pulls it with such a force that makes him fall. Face to the ground. He doesn't stand up.
Odogei was knocked out.
Seijir didn't lose time and threw his bolo weapon, which tangles around her arms and upper body. He smiles proudly, holding the grip of his mallet. She glanced at him with an irked grin before pressing her lips in a thin line and with a hint of strength and fire, she breaks free from them.
An electric charge comes out of the tip of her fingers and strikes Seijir. He drops his huge mallet to the ground before falling from the rhino and writhing from the shock. He is alive, but knocked out.
Kahnchi rode his rhino towards where his guandao sword landed next to Sokka's club, but Azula is faster. Before he can grab it, she uses a fire blast from her feet and kicks it, breaking the weapon in two.
"Sokka!" Azula called him. She had picked up the club from the floor and tossed it in Sokka's direction. "Catch!"
He managed to catch it in the air with his good arm. Then, he used his club to deflect another of Vachir arrows.
Azula back bent and when her legs kicked over, each one, shot blue fire blasts. Kahnchi's rhino freaked out at the sign of fire. She threw a fireball at Kahnchi. It hits him in the chest and pushes him off the saddle of the rhino which runs off frightened, and escapes between the shrubbery and trees.
Kaanchi tried frantically to extinguish the fire from his clothes and his beard that was also being singed by the flames. Azula kicks him in the head, leaving him instantly out cold.
"Azula!" Sokka called her when he noticed Vachir pointing an arrow at her back.
He winced, trying to stand up. He resisted the idea as his legs didn't cooperate and threw his boomerang at Vachir. His trusty weapon hit the arrow at the tip, managing to divert it a little bit off course. The arrow flew just right next to her and landed a meter away.
He got shivers down his spine, just by seeing the look she is giving to Vachir.
She picked up the arrow and tapped it on the point to check if it was still sharp and after doing so, she throws it at the rhino Vachir is riding.
The animal made a piercing sound of pain. It moves around out of control, twisting from the pain. The blood gushes around as the animal keeps whining. Vachir struggled on the top trying to ease the animal but fails. The rhino steps on his hind legs, and Vachir fell from the saddle.
Colonel Mongke was off his saddle now, and threw a fire blast. Which is not a problem for her to bend and throw back at him with a few improvements. It was stronger and bigger, as well as blue. Mongke attacks were one after another one. It reminded her Zuko's when he was still a douche with a stupid ponytail. His reflections as well as his years of experience in the battlefield were evident. But he was more offense than defense or strategy. However, for the Princess, he was an easy opponent. She was just a meter away from him.
"Watch out!" Sokka warned her. Vachir was aiming an arrow at her again.
She only needs to move slightly to let the arrow fly next to her and pierce Mongke's shoulder.
"Fuck." he yelped in pain, holding his injured shoulder.
Azula took that as an advantage and twisted the arrow deeper into Mongke's shoulder. Some of the blood from his shoulder sprayed her face.
"Bitch!" he spouted in pain, and before he can attack her, she kicks him in the chest with her feet, shooting a fire blast. He crashes against a tree, knocked out momentarily afterwards.
Vachir is the last one standing. However, his rhino kept most of his arrows. And the one closest to him was now in Mongke's body. Vachir freezes as he realizes he is alone and disarmed.
Azula only needed one kick to the temple to leave him stone-cold on the ground. His bow cracks under his weight.
The Rough Rhinos were all knocked out.
She picks up Sokka's sword and boomerang before standing in front of him. "Didn't I tell you to stay safe?" she snarled, her gaze flickering over to Sokka and then away again.
"Aw… It almost sounds like you care about me." Sokka responded, flashing a toothy grin. He was thrilled to see her, and he was even happier that she had shown up just when she had done it. In perfect timing.
Azula rolled her eyes. "I told you; I have spent a considerable amount of time and effort saving your ass before. So, if you die now, my investment is gone." she extended his sword to him.
He huffed a smile. "That sounds more like the Princess I know," he replied placing his sword in his scabbard and his boomerang back in place. "And Kiyi?"
"Safe." she let him know. "I returned after I made sure she crossed the gates into Yu Dao."
"Good." he muttered, relieved to hear Kiyi was safe.
He glanced as his shoulder and wondered if he should take the arrow out. There was blood all the way down to his arm and it was about to start dripping from his fingertips. It wasn't a lot, but it was considerable.
"Don't." Azula stopped him when she saw him trying to remove the arrow from his right shoulder. "Leave it. At least until we can get you treated. Otherwise, you would start to bleed out." she explained, gulping hard at the sign of blood.
"You sure?"
She nodded.
Sokka winced at pain when he tried to stand up. The pain in his right leg was killing him. He took a deep breath to try to lift himself up again.
"Let's go," she said, approaching and sliding her hand under his left arm, surrounding his waist, making sure to not touch where his injury was as she helped him to stand.
The gesture startled Sokka. His lips curled into a small smile. He was thankful for not having to support his weight on his injured leg all the way to Yu Dao. Still, he tried not to lean much on her.
"Just for the record. Your instincts suck." Azula uttered.
Sokka winced when he snickered a little. "Well, I managed to take three down." he uttered proudly, "Three Rough Rhinos. That's super great for a non-bender."
"That's super stupid." she replied bitterly, "You got all injured."
"It's nothing," he said, carefree, even though every step he took hurt like hell. "Katara can heal me in a blink of an eye with her magic powers."
"Whatever," Azula rolled her eyes again. "So, as I saved your life, I want you to do something."
"What?" he looked over to her. "You are not going to ask me to do something super evil, are you? Or say something like 'join me and the dark side'." he teased.
"Trust me. You would never be my first option at anything." she replied, "You are the one less likely to be one of my evil minions. But what I want you to do is… Can you shut up at least until we reach the gates of Yu Dao?" she proposed with a stern face.
"Hey," he pouted, "That's not nice."
"When have I been nice?" she said, quirking an eyebrow.
"It might surprise you." he replied.
"Shut up or I will drop you here." Azula warned him.
…
Mayor Morishita had been kind enough to have a small feast ready for them at his house as soon as they arrived in the city.
After the feast, they had gone with him into his office for a few hours, while his mother and Noren had gone sight-seeing in the town.
The Mayor had shown the annual reports of the city to the Avatar and Fire Lord and they also discussed a few matters regarding the city and the citizens. Both Zuko and Aang had compromised to help with that before the inauguration of Republic City.
Once they finished the meeting in Morishita's office, they returned to the City Hall where they were going to have dinner and spend the night.
They were waiting for Sokka and Azula to arrive before organizing dinner in one of the living rooms when the doors barged open with a loud sound which startled them all.
"Who missed me?!" Toph appeared behind a small cloud of dust, spreading her arms at each side of her head, with a side smile.
"Toph!" they raised from their sits and rushed to welcome the earthbender in a warm hug.
"Hey, twinkle toes," she smiled, "Huh? You got taller."
"Yeah, I did. And so did you!" Aang replied with a smile.
Next, it was Katara's turn. "I missed you, you know?" she said after their hug.
"Same, sugar queen." Toph patted her on the back, "Spirits, I missed calling you that." she teased her, elbowing her in the ribs.
"How are you Toph?" Zuko asked with a smile, "How is everything going?"
Toph shrugged. "Can't complain. Dad's business is doing well, and the metal academy is growing more and more every day. In fact, we just recently had to expand the academy. A lot of weakling earthbenders want to learn from the best." she said, pointing at herself with her thumb.
"I'm glad to hear that it's going so well." said the Fire Lord, "But I thought Suki and the…" he tried to say when a face popped out behind them.
"Did anyone miss us too?" said Suki, walking in with a smile followed by Ty Lee and the rest of the Kyoshi warriors. None of them were wearing either their uniforms or their makeup.
"Suki! Ty Lee!" Katara was the first one to greet them. "It's so good to see you all."
"It's good to see you too, guys," she replied hugging Aang and Zuko. "How have things been in the Palace?" she asked the Fire Lord.
Zuko sighed. "A little boring since you girls left." he acknowledged, but still wanting to keep some things reserved for later. "We have a lot to catch up. It's been a long year."
"Like the fact that you and Mai are having little dates here and there?" Ty Lee teased him, raising her eyebrows playfully.
Zuko blushed. "How do you know?" he asked rubbing the back of his neck embarrassed.
"She told me everything through letters." she replied, "And I'm so happy for you guys. You totally are endgame." her excitement and happiness for her friend was really evident.
Zuko gulped. "D-Did she tell you something else?" he asked, curious to know if Mai had told her friend about Azula being back in the Palace, and joining them on the journey.
Ty Lee tilted her head, confused. "Something else? Like wha..."
"How was your trip girls?" Aang intervened, really lively of being reunited with everyone.
The last time all of them had been reunited, it had been years ago. More precisely, the day that the war was declared over.
"A little hectic, yours?" said Suki, dropping in one of the couches followed by Ty Lee and a few other warriors.
Aang, Katara, and Zuko shared a glance. "Calm." replied the three of them.
"Guys, I missed you all," Aang admitted with a smile, looking around. "Where are the rest of the warriors?" he asked when he only noticed five of them counting Suki and Ty Lee.
"Some of them had to say to supervise the training of the new recruits." explained Suki, "But they all send their regards."
Ty Lee did the same. Her eyes scanned the room, and that's when she noticed. "Where is Sokka?" she asked after noticing that the water tribe warrior was nowhere to be seen.
"Huh?" Toph frowned, realizing she could feel his presence. "Yeah, I can't feel Snoozles. Where is he?"
"He should be here any minute now." Zuko rushed to say.
"Tell us a little more about how the things are going with the chi-blockers and the metal benders?" said Aang sitting in front of Toph who placed her feet on the coffee table.
"Zuko," Katara muttered next to the Fire Lord only for him to hear. "Actually, I'm getting a little worried. They should be here by now." she said, trying to not sound worried about the fact that Sokka was alone with Azula, and she could do to him whatever she pleased. Even killing him if he annoyed her too much. Which, knowing Sokka, was possible.
"Me too." he admitted in a low voice.
"Do you think something happened?" she asked, trying to sound calm.
He was just as worried as the waterbender. "I don't know," he muttered.
He knew that even if Azula found his friends annoying; she wasn't going to do anything to attack them. Well, not if she didn't want to end in jail. Still, he was worried about the same matter that had been worrying him for almost a year now. The reason that had given him the last incentive he had needed to make up his mind and go find her.
Diverse rumors had been going around the Nation that worried him. And he had managed to keep the situation under control until now, but eventually, he knew he would have to fill in his sister, and he also knew that whenever he did, most likely she was going to yell at him for keeping information so important from her.
He looked at the sky through the window. It was already dark outside.
"Zuko?" his mother walked into the room. "Darling, are they here yet?" she asked, giving a quick look to everyone in the room trying to find either of her daughters.
"Lady Ursa." Ty Lee and Suki rushed to greet her with a little bow.
"Ty Lee," Ursa said, wrapping her in a welcoming hug. "Suki." she did the same with her. "It's been so long, girls."
"How is everything going?" Suki asked her politely.
"Wonderful." she replied, warmly.
"Where is Kiyi?" Ty Lee inquired after looking around for the little one.
"Oh, she is with A…"
"Sokka." Zuko intervened. His mother gave him a little odd look. "They should be here any moment now."
...
Kiyi rushed as fast as she could to the big house at the end of the main street, as his sister had told her.
She knocked at the door, out of breath. And a few moments later, a fat lady opened the door.
"Hello little one." the woman said nicely. "Are you lost?" she asked, slightly concerned for the little girl before the door.
Kiyi shook her head, breathing deeply. "Is Zuz… Zuko here?"
"Zuko? the woman repeated, confused. "Do you mean the Fire Lord?" Kiyi nodded. "I believe he was in a meeting in Mayor Morishita's office." she said, "But why would a little girl like you need to talk to him?"
"I'm Kiyi. I need to talk to him. It's urgent." she said, sounding alarmed.
The woman, startled at the little girl's tone agreed to let her in. "Alright. Come on in, then."
Kiyi walked into the house and followed the woman for a few hallways until she stopped in a little open living room.
"I haven't seen them leave." she told Kiyi, "Wait, here. I will get you some water to drink. You look a little shaken."
"Thank you." said Kiyi, sitting on one of the couches.
She played with her hands nervously in her lap as seconds went by, waiting for either the woman to return or for Zuko to appear.
"Here you go, sweety." said the woman giving her a glass of water which she thanked her for with a little nod.
The door of the office opened. Kiyi jumped on her feet.
"Ruka?" said Mayor Morishita, walking out alone. "Who is this?" he asked looking at Kiyi.
"This is Kiyi and…"
"I need to see Zuko. It's urgent." she expressed, urgently.
"T-The Fire Lord?" Kiyi nodded. "He was here a while ago with the Avatar and miss Katara, but they left."
"They left?"
"I'm sorry little one." the woman whose name seemed to be Ruka, apologized. "I didn't see him leave. I thought he was still here."
"Where did they go?" Kiyi rushed to ask.
"To the City Hall." Morishita explained, "I'm sorry, but who are you?" he asked.
"I'm Kiyi, his sister," she said, "Where is the City Hall?"
"But, I thought his only sister was Princess A…"
"Azula, yes, yes. She is also my sister. And he needs to help her." she uttered rapidly, "So, where is the City Hall?" she insisted again.
After receiving some instructions of where the City Hall was, she thanked them and rushed outside.
"Kiyi?" a voice called her.
...
It was dinnertime.
They were all waiting at the table for dinner to be served. Zuko had just sent a messenger hawk to the barge to let the Captain and the crew know that they would be spending the night docked in Yu Dao.
The table was big enough to have them all seated at the same time, and there were still empty seats.
Zuko and Katara had agreed that, if by the time they were done with dinner and there was no sign of neither of their siblings, they were going to look for them.
"How is Yoro?" Katara asked to Suki.
"He is amazing," she replied with a smile. "He has improved so much with the chi-blocking techniques that now when we spar together, I can barely defeat him." she admitted.
"Looks like things between you two are wonderful." said Katara, happy for her friend, but also a little sad that things between Sokka and her, in the end, hadn't worked out.
"Yeah. They are," Suki sighed. "After we return, the girls and I are going to back to Kyoshi Island and I'm taking him. He is really excited."
"I'm excited too," said Ty Lee with a huge smile. "It's my first time going to the Island."
"It's a beautiful place." Aang commented.
"That's what I have heard," Ty Lee agreed, "And after that, I'm going to have some well-deserved vacations." she stretched her hands behind her head. "I can't wait to see Mai and be back in the Fire Nation. I have been away for so long," she said, sounding a little nostalgic. She looked over to Zuko. "By the way, Zuko, have you had any news about Azu…?"
The door of the living room opened with a raucous sound, jolting everyone and making them turn their heads. Some of them jumped from their seats.
It was a mix of different expressions and reactions.
Zuko, Katara, Aang, and Ursa shared an expression of horror. Ty Lee's eyes couldn't believe what she was seeing, and neither Suki nor the rest of the warriors. The only one at calm was Toph.
Sokka appeared in the door. An arrow in his shoulder, blood staining his shirt and the floor and there was a huge hole in the right side of his pants which revealed a prominent burn that was red hot. He couldn't feel his right arm and could barely walk due to the pain in his leg. He was only standing because he was supporting part of his weight on Azula, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Kiyi appeared behind them.
"What the hell happened to you two?" Zuko said in horror, rushing to them along with Katara and Aang.
"It's a long story, Zuzu…" said Azula, visibly tired. "And it's been a crappy day."
A/N:
Thank you so much for all the love this story is getting and I'm really happy that everyone is enjoying how I'm portraying Kiyi. I'm sure she is going to turn into the favorite of many of you as I have great things planned for her.