Responses to Reviews:
Zigzagdoublezee: I think she does. She's going through a lot in a very short time. And I had never thought of the Pride of Lions comparison for the Fire Nation Royal Family before, but it makes a lot of sense.
RonaldM40196867: I don't see why not. I'm not into card games so I probably wouldn't partake but if others wanted to then sure. There might be a lot of controversy about stats though.
TORONTOSUN: I like Yue too, and I agree Aang would be proud of her.
As Always, Please Review!
Zuko, alarmed at the sudden escalation, stepped towards his sister instinctively, only for her to point at him accusingly.
"Don't take a step!" She warned. "This is for your own good, you know. I don't want father to think- for you to become a-"
She was blown off her feet by a gust of wind, and slammed into a nearby building.
For the second time in short order, Yue looked around for her saviour. The same air nomad who had spoken to her before the feast was rushing over, having been given enough time to intervene by Zuko's accidental distraction.
"Avatar!" He called. "We need to get you out of here!"
"What about my father?" Yue demanded.
"I don't know," the Nomad replied. "I don't know where he is, nobody has seen him. But if there are enemies inside the Palace..." He trailed off. Yue felt her heart lurch at the implication. Finally, the nomad carried on.
"But we need to get you out of here, the North is not safe!"
Katara rounded on Zuko.
"And whose fault is that?" She demanded. Zuko recoiled from the anger on her face.
"Hey, I didn't know any of this would happen!" He protested.
"A likely story," Katara sneered. "You're the Prince of the Fire Nation, how could you not know?"
This caused Zuko to scowl.
"I just helped you!" He protested. Then he shook his head.
"Fine. If you're not going to believe me, just go."
Yue shot him an apologetic look, but the others were already moving away and Sokka was clearly waiting for her.
"Thank you for helping me," she whispered under her breath to him. Zuko nodded, and then she was away, rushing after the rest of them.
"The bison pens are this way!" The nomad was telling them.
"Where are we going?" Sokka demanded.
"Away!" The nomad declared. "That's good enough for now!"
"Who even are you?" Hakoda asked. "I appreciate you're trying to help us but we don't even know your name."
"Champo!" The nomad called over his shoulder. "Pleased to meet you too. Now come on!"
There were shouts from behind them, and Yue glanced over her shoulder. Men in red were charging after them, fire in their fists. They were still a long way behind them for the moment, but as Yue and her friends got tired they could change that.
Sokka saw them as well.
"We have company!" He warned. From his belt he drew his boomerang, and as he skidded to a halt he turned, closed one eye and stuck his tongue out slightly in anticipation.
"Don't stop!" Yue called but Sokka had already released the boomerang. It went spiralling away into the darkness, and then a moment later came back into view as it slammed into the head of one of the soldiers. The man crumpled as the boomerang continued its journey, arcing around until Sokka caught it again. Then he turned and ran after them.
"I got one!" He called. Yue was impressed, but she also had much larger concerns. By now the royal palace was very obviously on fire, the men were still after them, and she could hear screams coming from the direction they had come. A strange pressure began to build in her head, as the reality of her situation began to set in, but she squeezed her eyes shut and forced it down again.
They skidded to a halt in front of a door, and pounded on it. Fortunately, it opened immediately to reveal another air nomad holding a bucket filled with water.
"Brother," the nomad bowed.
"Brother," Champo returned the gesture. "We need to get out of here! The Fire Nation-"
But the other nomad just gestured into the courtyard, where a sky-bison already sat fully saddled up in the centre ready to go.
"Safe travels," he said. "I'll see you at the temple."
Champo bowed again, but at that moment the Fire Nation soldiers arrived. Yue barely had time to acknowledge it before she felt strong hands bundling her through the door, and it was slammed.
"Go!" Hakoda was shouting. "Go with the Avatar!"
It took a second for her to realise that Hakoda was on the wrong side of the door.
"Dad!" Katara and Sokka realised it too and began banging on the wood.
"I'll be fine!" Hakoda told them, and Yue could almost see him hefting his club as he said it. "I'll find you! Just go!"
Champo just looked at them sadly.
"I would do as he says," he said gravely. "Please."
Katara reluctantly stepped away from the door.
"Where are we going?" She asked miserably.
"The nearest safe place," Champo replied. "The Northern Air Temple. My people can take care of you for now."
Yue took a look around her. The reality that this might be the last moments she spent in her homeland was beginning to set in.
A few hours ago she had been a bored princess in a world at peace. Now, she didn't know what she was. She didn't know what the world was. Everything had gone mad, and it seemed like it was going to be her responsibility to fix it. The whole thing made her feel suddenly very small. Smiling and curtsying at foreign dignitaries and all the small tasks that came with her Royal duties were one thing; this was quite another.
She felt a hand on her shoulder.
"I understand it's hard leaving," Champo told her reassuringly. "But we must. For your sake."
Yue nodded. She hated it but he was right. And even if they hadn't been attacked, she told herself, she would have had to leave anyway to do her training. Water, then earth, then fire, then air.
She steeled herself, and then clambered onto the bison. Katara followed a moment later, and then Sokka after Champo had almost had to drag him away from the door. Yue could hear the sounds of battle from the other side as Hakoda stood his ground. Finally, Champo airbent himself up into the saddle and grasped the reins.
"Have any of you flown before?" He asked. All three of them shook their heads.
"Hold on tight then. Yip yip!"
The bison spread its legs slightly, tensed, and pushed upwards, launching itself into the cool night air. The courtyard receded from underneath them as Yue felt mildly ill. She fought not to be sick as they continued to climb. Below them, the city was ablaze, and she could see the distant dots of civilians scurrying through the streets pursued by red-clad soldiers. She could not see any sign of resistance from Northern soldiers.
The sight, and the adrenaline wearing off now that she was not in immediate danger, pushed Yue over the edge. She sat down, pulled her knees up to her face, buried her head in her hands and began to sob. The North had fallen.
