Avatar: Lightning Strikes (IC)

[Eazy]

"Now there's a sight you don't see everyday..." Ryota pointed out in a moment of clear astonishment as he watched from a distance while Toph charged into battle, his feet not being able to match the speed of the more experienced combatants whom clearly beat them on the way.

While Longshot didn't say anything as he remained several feet ahead of the Waterbender, one look into his eyes would show a hint of amazement over the Earth Queen's bending; which clearly surpassed a majority of those proud warriors which could be found within their home nation. Still, intrigued as he was by Toph's abilities as she faded from their immediate view, his primary focus was on the flames which ignited into the already sweltering heat which constantly brushed past their faces as the wind carried it across the land.

As the silent marksman neared the edge of the battle, he did give pause to allow for the younger man to catch up; though his hands were already removing an arrow and putting properly placing it upon his bow.

"Now, this? Sadly, this is a sight I'm slightly more familiar with." The young Water Tribe native expressed in a rather solemn tone as he caught up and watched the scene of Firebenders at war, his chest rising and falling hard as he worked the oxygen throughout his lungs, trying to compensate for the vigorous strain he'd put himself through since leaving the airship.

It'd been years since the Fire Nation's near victorious siege against the Northern Water Tribe, yet Ryota could vividly remember it in his head as if it were a more recent event. To this day, it'd been the subject of the occasional nightmare, particularly where it related to the lose of his own respective loved ones during the chaos. It was a day full of regrets and questions of how events may have played out differently had this or that person done anything differently. Swallowing hard, he could only pray this would end with fewer questions of this nature, though he knew already of how others already had their share of them which would need to be addressed afterward.

Longshot glanced toward the comparatively inexperienced fighter, offering a firm but reassuring look at he placed a hand on his shoulder. Compared to the main five which had been responsible for ending the war, they were generally outclassed when it came to natural and not so natural abilities. All the same, it didn't mean they couldn't do their own part in ending this and making it out alive to tell their hypothetical grandchildren about the tale.

"Yeah, I know, and you're right. And at least it'll allow me a chance for working off some lingering aggression toward Firebenders in the process." Ryota stated with a hint of hesitation, though these lingering doubts did little for hindering his preparation or bending abilities as he drew more water from the container on his back, causing the swirling waves of seemingly living liquid grow larger in proportions, "Ready when you are."

The Freedom Fighter simply stared at the younger man for a moment, then turned his attention toward the battle, drawing back the arrow which he'd already put into place, then releasing as he spotted an opening. Whizzing through the battleground, the arrow paid no mind toward the flames which filled the air beside it, as the pointed tip found itself embracing its desired target. The escaped prisoner whose neck the metal end impaled itself into was practically on the other side of where they currently stood, making it a dangerous target with the number of allies in the thick of things, if Longshot hadn't made certain to carefully pick one who stood with such an opening which lessened those chances.

Blinking his eyes as he watched the Firebender claw desperately at his blood-soaked neck and crumble to the floor, Ryota gave a half-smile as he glanced toward the other male, stating in as dry a way as he could muster, "I'll take that as an affirmative."

That having been said, they both focused their respective but joined efforts toward dealing with the madness ridden Firebenders which threatened the nation. While Longshot was capable of close hand combat, he generally kept his distance of any potential fire bursts by firing arrows off as fast as his hands and eyes could load up before spotting any and all openings. One could only hope he carried enough for the remainder of this confrontation, as it seemed that for every one arrow which he successfully retrieved off a wounded or occasionally dead bender, at least one other would land far enough away so as to make them a lost cause.

Meanwhile, Ryota couldn't keep as much of a safe distance as he'd prefer, the young Waterbender had started favoring the water whip and occasional ice shield techniques; constantly blocking any blasts before knocking an enemy unconscious with a whip lashing blow to their head. His own skills and experience weren't near Katara's level, but his style was proving about as effective as one could hope of a young bender with such little actual experience against a Firebender, let alone dealing with one after another. And while he had killed a Fire Nation soldier in the past, it wasn't something he felt particularly proud about, which had thus far caused the young warrior to hinder himself from doing any of the deadlier attacks which he was capable of performing.

Although the two tried to avoid straying too far from one-another, the chaotic nature of the ensuing battle made it rather difficult, with one or the other not noticing how much distance they were putting between them. This was the case as Ryota started wandering away from Longshot as used his bending to fight back a particularly frustrating Firebender. It left the young Freedom Fighter with a blind spot for which he wasn't prepared remain alert about. A blind spot which he became painfully aware of as he took aim for another of Azula's people, pulling back upon the bow, when a bright burst of fire came toward his direction from the right.

Swiftly, Longshot spun most of his body out of the way, but wasn't able to keep the back of his hand from getting burned in the attack, which caused his feet to trip up and send him to the floor. Letting out an uncharacteristic grunt of pain, he quickly pulled at the now scorched glove which remained on his hand, yanking it off before the flame could cause any greater damage to his skin or nerves. The young man clutched at his hand, gritting his teeth, before glancing up toward the offending Firebender. The older man hadn't said anything, and one would think him simply quiet were it not for the crazed look in his eyes which hinted at the figure having grown so lost in the bloodlust that he temporarily lost any ability for cognitive thought outside of basic destruction.

The young man was understandably worried, especially since his bow was currently on the floor beside his opponent, but kept a clear head as the bender raised his hand and Longshot looked for an opening to strike. It would have been a tricky feat, since the movements of one driven toward insanity were harder to read then a more focused enemy. The question on if he would have successfully made it out alive, from his crouching position on the courtyard floor, would go unanswered as an icy shard flew through the air and pierced through the open palm of the Freedom Fighters would be killer.

The larger figure let out a near inhumanly sound as he grasped at his hand, the noise emitting from his throat perhaps being more due to anger over being interrupted from his fun then the actual pain itself, before he was quickly silenced by a water whip which cracked forcefully enough against his face to leave the escape inmate with a bloody nose.

"That's one way to shut them up." Ryota commented as his eyes lingered toward the Fire Nation inmate, making certain he was out cold before returning his attention toward Longshot, the young man's eyes narrowing with signs of regret as he let out a sigh, "This is entirely my fault. I got too caught up in the moment and left you wide open. Do you think you'll be able to continue?"

Gazing toward the Water Bender while pulling himself up to his feet, Longshot examined his hand, finding it didn't appear so bad as it hurt. Gingerly working his fingers, finding a slight twinge of pain from the skin and muscles being pulled at with every movement, he soon made his hand into a fist. It hurt, but there didn't appear to be any serious or permanent damage done, nor would he seemingly prove incapable of finishing this fight.

"Here, let me try to help." The Water Tribe native offered as he placed a hand over Longshot's, letting the water slowly wrap itself around the burned skin, "I'm not a healer, but it's better then nothing. Least until you can have it looked at or find some proper creams for the burns."

Letting out a slight wince from the initial contact, the young man then relaxed as he felt the swirling water soothe his injury. This continued for several seconds, until Longshot nodded for Ryota to stop, letting the bender draw back his bending water before moving his hand in and out of a fist again. They were extremely fortunate that the majority of escaped inmates had found their attention focused toward the Fire Nation guards, but enough time was spent with recouping from the injury.

Walking over and crouching down to grab at his previously discarded bow, Longshot then walked several more feet in order to retrieve an arrow from the chest of another rogue Firebender. Placing the bloody projectile into its rightful place with his bow, the marksman glanced once more toward his young friend, receiving a nod from Ryota before resuming their respective efforts in thinning out the enemies numbers.

 

[ChasNicollette]

Xia- "'Leaves fall where no green earth remains'"

And just as suddenly as it had happened, that walk on the wild side, that impossible miraculous landing, it was over, and they were dealing with more pertinent things. Perhaps she hadn't seen what happened, not really, and with a kind of secret warmth, Xia was glad of this.

Or perhaps this was a conversational topic that would be revisited later.

Either way, Xia was just as happy to not deal with this right at the moment.

"'Smellerbee,'" Xia murmured as, adjusting her grip still again on her blades, attempting to mimic Smellerbee's grip on her own khurkas' hilts. "Thank you."

Just from the way Smellerbee enunciated her name, the sort of pride in it with which she imbued every syllable, Xia somehow ascertained that this was not a given name. This was earned. This was chosen.

Not like "Xia" at all, really. Neither earned nor chosen.

Xia decided, right then, she wanted a name like that.

Not that she had any idea, of course, how to come by such a name. But perhaps charging headlong into foolhardy battle was a good way to start?

As they ran, as they charged headlong, Smellerbee would periodically glance back at her. Was she making sure she hadn't possum-chickened out again? That was fair enough, Xia supposed. Or perhaps Smellerbee was attempting to make sure that Xia was fleet enough of foot to keep pace with her not-inconsiderable running speed.

Xia could run. Xia had always been good at running.

She'd always wanted to be good at standing and fighting, but apparently this was not her wu-wei.

Fucking wu-wei.

They sprinted into the thick of it and not a second had gone by before Smellerbee had already scored her first blood, silking around a thuggish woman's axe-blow easier than boarding a monorail and killing her twice as easily.

This is it here it comes it's all over I'm dead now so much for my 'future.'

'I will be mindful and reverential with all life,
I will not be violent nor will I kill.'

Panic spiked through Xia's heart her brain her Spirit and she gritted her teeth and

Battle claimed her.

Clashing steel and thunder.

A chubby bastard swung a metal rod two-handed down towards her face and reflexively she brought up her right-hand weapon, overhand, blocking it, but the force of it drove her down to one knee with a strangled cry.

The right hand didn't know what the left hand was doing and the left hand, underhand, blazed her second weapon across this chubby bastard's girthsome stomach and with a wheeze he blinked and his guts were spilling. Scrunching her eyes, Xia bashed his weapon aside with the flat of her right blade and the left blade took out the front of his throat on its return swipe.

He fell away.

She wanted to vomit. Not even like the vomiting she'd done after getting past the guards into The Upper Ring, an actual visceral vomit. This was blood this was lifeblood she'd just spilled it Holy Hell.

No time. No time to think about it. A beautifully feminine boy with two knives came in at her and he was slashing he was slashing and she was parrying she was parrying and

her blades scissored

his hand came off

his beautiful face contorted.

She stabbed him through the lungs and gagged and flinched as he soundlessly died and she kept on going.

She tripped over a body and she fell and she rolled and she came up on her feet -- a palm strike hit her in the chin and she staggered and her eyes were watering from the impact, the ringing in her head was everywhere -- and the next hit was a foot that bisected her stomach. She staggered back, tripped over the same body, dropped her swords, landed on her hind end.

Xia blinked and her eyes cleared and the masked slender figure was looming over her, she couldn't tell if this was a boy or girl she couldn't find her swords.

The slender figure's foot rose like an axe ready to split an ancient stump in twain and Xia, horrified, watched this in slow motion until she glanced to her side.

There was an arrow sticking out of the body over which she'd twice tripped.

(Familiar arrow where have I seen that befo-- never mind.)

The axe kick fell in slow slow motion and Xia ripped the arrow out of the corpse's back and, twirling it over her fingers, gritting her teeth, all brute force and ignorance, she threw it--

--there was none of the Spiritual unremembered grace with which she'd rescued Smellerbee this was pure animal survival passion Bending--

--the arrow flew like a dart and punched so hard into the masked figure's chin and up through the top of their head that the impetus knocked them ass over masked teakettle and the figure was dead before they landed on their face.

Shuddering, Xia grabbed up her swords like she'd never dropped them and bounded to her feet, surging forward to rejoin Smellerbee as though she'd never fallen behind.

Ripping and twirling, her arguably pretty face tangled with the ugliness of fury and fear, she hissed to the wilder, tighter-honed warrioress: "I can't believe I didn't want to come along for this. Good times. 'Hungry ghosts and naked demons.' Can we go again?"

 

[UnseenMaiden]

Poor Ty Lee.. I make her so useless

The world swirled in the periphery of her vision, curiously leaving her be for the few moments she stood, fighting the urge to pay more attention to the wear and tear of her own body, as her attention stayed focus on the fallen princess. She had the horrible sense that something was wrong with her, but couldn't afford to find out what it was. Azula's name was taken by several of the enemy around her, including one very large man. She knew in a way that went beyond conscious reasoning that this man was her brother. That he too cared for Azula more than the symbol of rebellion and fierce rage that she had become. As she watched him scoop the woman into his arms, words fell from her mouth, hushed whispers of betrayal.

"Yes. Run. Save her."

She'd never been able to do what Azula had so obviously excelled at, holding her anger at others close to her heart and letting it seethe and poison her system until she could see nothing else, but retribution. Ty Lee had always sought to fool others and herself with the jubilant nature she slipped into so easily. It seemed so much better to her to spread laughter instead of pain. Guilt washed through every fiber as she realized what she was hoping for. Mai was dead. Her best friend was dead by the hands of the very one she was urging to live even now. How could she honestly let such a thing be? If Azula lived, she would only come after others, Zuko especially. Ty Lee knew that she couldn't, wouldn't, let that happen. Why did hope always spring eternal, even when it was empty?

Perhaps it was because she was paying such unwavering attention that she caught the words that Azula spoke to the man. Even though far too much space separated them, full of bodies exerting themselves as they fought, crying out in anger, sorrow, and the ever present need for survival. Still she could see the sounds forming on her lips, whispering in her own ear in the remembered tones she had once known as intimately as her own voice. For the first time in so many moments her attention wavered from Azula and towards those that had so recently cause the giant of a man to waver in his footsteps and scream.

Someone cried softly in pain, a whimper, and it took her far too long to realize that the sound belonged to her. Gritting her teeth, she didn't look down at where she knew the agony was rising from. The curious numbness that had pervaded her was fading now, leaving something she'd never come close to feeling before in its' place. Her awareness faltered for a moment, everything around her becoming hazy around the edges, and her heart slammed in fear, bringing her back from the edge of unconsciousness.

Things were happening, things she was supposed to be paying attention too. It was a miracle that she had been left undisturbed her in the middle of chaos as long as she had. She had a duty to fulfill. Even if she wanted Azula to live, she couldn't let Zuko die. The Avatar was there beside him, she could see that now, but she should be protecting him. Mai wasn't here to be strong, she had to do it, had to.. couldn't die. No.

No.

She was on the ground, shuddering, before she realized she had even begun to fall. Haggard coughs racked her body, red, brillant and beautiful to her scattered gaze, colored the stone close to her face.Cool to her hands. So cool, not like her body, it burned. Everything burned. Darkness gathered at the edges of her sight once again, bringing silence in its' wake.

No.

It couldn't. She wouldn't. Zuko. where was Zuko?! She couldn't see him. He had to be safe. Safe from the hate she hadn't been able to stop. Safe.. Safe.

The stone was cold, but it couldn't stop the burning.

 

[Ahren1]

Aang and Zuko could only watch in silence as the strange lumbering giant rushed to Azula's aid and cradled her like a child. This was her inevitable end, and as satisfying as that was to her enraged sibling, Zuko couldn't help but feel, in some depths of his soul, sorry for his sister at this moment. She had always been strong, motivated, intelligent. Her heart had just been in the wrong places. Over the years he had hoped so very much that she would be able to change. Eventually she even made that hope seem like reality, but after this night, learning that it was all a facade. Perhaps Zuko was hurt by more than just Mai's death, but also that his sister hated him so much that she'd go so far as to murder his wife and start this pointless battle all to cause him more pain, even if it meant her death.

The Avatar shifted back into a ready stance as he observed Ji Fen dashing toward them, however he wouldn't get a chance to strike as the wave of stone created by Toph stopped him in his tracks. Despite this, he continued to clutch the crippled Azula, trying desperately to discover just who or what had intercepted him.

Zuko's quick scan of the battlefield allowed him to see Toph, which was quite a relief, however it also made him notice the slumped over body of Ty Lee, causing a rush of fear and concern to overcome him. Quickly, he dashed over to her, nearly tripping numerous times in the process due to his own injuries. As he arrived, he scooped up his childhood friend in his arms. "Ty Lee.." He whispered, noticing her wounds and her quick blood loss. She was on the edge of unconsciousness, and possibly death as well. The mere thought of it sent Zuko into another fit of rage. He couldn't take any more death today. All of his friends were here for his sake, and now they too were coming to harm. Why couldn't have Azula just come for him alone. He would have accepted her challenge of an Agni Kai as long as no one else got hurt... but this.. this was unforgivable. The scarred Fire Lord did his best to dress Ty Lee's major wound and keep pressure upon it, however if the battle didn't end soon so she could get some attention from a healer, it would not look good.

"It shouldn't have come to this..." He continued, not sure if she could hear him right now, however he continued to speak to himself even so. "Everyone has the capacity to be good. I believe it.. Even Azula.. She could have been saved.. This didn't have to happen..."

It was then that he could see in the distance that Ji Fen was not out yet, and he was already beginning to charge Toph. Zuko's teeth clenched in anger at even the possibility of another one of his friends being hurt. For a moment, he looked back to Ty Lee as he gently placed her back down onto the ground. "Hang on, for just a bit longer..."

These people. These lunatics so eager to follow Azula. They were responsible for this, too. For the death of his wife, for hurting Ty Lee, for giving Azula more power than she deserved. They had to be extinguished. Zuko rose to his feet, his tightened fists loosening slightly as he extended two fingers on each hand. With a sweeping motion, he extended his arms out, then downward. A brilliant blue energy soon began to surge around his hands, then extended through his body. The crackling of electricity echoing across the battlefield which almost seemed to darken, brightening Zuko as the focus now. He followed through with quick motions of his arms, generating more power, causing the lightning to arc long and far away from his body in an impressive spectacle.

At this moment, Aang was ready to stop Ji Fen on his own, not that he doubted Toph's abilities, however to stand there and do nothing wouldn't have been much like him. Nonetheless, before he was able to make a single hand movement, he was bypassed by a cascading bolt of lightning which sailed through the air, striking Ji Fen directly in the back and surging through his entire body within a second. Immediately the giant dropped his precious Azula, minimizing her exposure to the electricity. Ji Fen was less than fortunate, emitting perhaps the most agonizing scream heard yet on the field. Then silence as his eyes blanked out and his body smoldered before slumping to his knees and finally to his back like a stone.

Aang glanced backward to see Zuko's extended hand and the remaining blue energy crackling around his body, soon fading completely. Once again, the Fire Lord grasped his blade, journeying across the field to come onto the mostly unmoving body of Azula. He could see her glare up at him, however there was an odd smirk about her as usual. Perhaps this was what she wanted all along. To make Zuko himself do the deed. He gazed down at his wicked sister, all the reason in the world to strike her down right there, gripping the blade in his hand tighter than he ever had in the past... Yet as he glanced back to Ty Lee for a brief moment... He knew he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"You've been nothing but a thorn my whole life.. The only times you played nice or acted pleasant were when you would benefit from it. Now you're in a world where Father's ideals were shattered and your beliefs are meaningless. You were given the chance to turn yourself around and instead you took one fleeting chance and crushed it. You killed Mai. My wife, your friend... You began a pointless battle that you knew would end in your defeat, only to cause us pain. Everything in my body is telling me that the only thing left to do is end it now. To strike you down like you deserve...

But that would make me too much like you. Something I want to avoid at all costs. That's why I'm going to have Aang take your bending, as he did with Father. Then you can join him in the adjacent cell where you belong. Where you should have been from the start. I think that's a punishment that you fear more than death... but you've left me with no choice. Maybe.. someday.. You'll change. Maybe if you beg me forgiveness sometime down the road, I'll consider it... until then, rot away. I have no father, and now, I have no sister either."

With that, Zuko tossed away his sword and turned to walk back to Aang. As he passed by the Avatar, he simply nodded, which Aang understood. Zuko returned to Ty Lee, but his gaze watched as Aang approached Azula, raising a hand to Earthbend a sort of stone seat that would bind her and keep her appropriate still for the coming ritual.

He took a long look at the woman before him, wondering how one person could truly become so evil. Taking a deep breath, The Avatar placed his hand upon her head, thumb directly upon her forehead, while his other pressed against her chest. Looking to the sky, the bodies of both of the benders soon began to glow with radiant energy, a brilliant blue and red appropriately. However, the stronger one began to slowly overcome the weaker. Aang's blue chi began to seep its way into Azula's body, which would soon consume her and eradicate her powers...

 

[ChasNicollette]

"The timing was perfect to change The World."

Not far from Sokka and Katara lay a nameless scarred mad mad man, dead by Sokka's blade.

It lay there, as its Spirit had departed, the tortured soul that had dwelt within summarily dispatched. But against all clear thinking, against all the Science and the reasoning one might muster in argument, that corpse's eyes flickered open. There were no pupils, no irises, no whites. Just black black black as deep as the eye could see. Molten blackness.

Katara did not notice this, because ice-shaped blade in hand, ice-shaped shield clamped in place, she was running for the fallen Ty Lee. She hadn't seen the poor dear at first, hadn't see her fall, but the mad horde had been thinned out enough now that she saw Zuko returning to the young woman's side.

Zuko exchanged a nod with Aang.

Katara's spine thrilled at this. She knew that Aang would do what had to be done. Just as he had done before. And just as he would do what had to be done, Katara's priority had to be doing what she needed to do.

Aang was an unstoppable power for peace. And for all her shortcomings, Katara was her own force for peace. She was a healer.

Black of eye and dead of body, the scarred mad mad man smiled a languid smile. For a corpse, he had all the time in The World.

Red and blue light pulsed out into the night as Aang began to Energybend Azula.

Katara knelt by Ty Lee's side and, returning her frozen bracer to liquid form, she cast the resulting Water over Ty Lee's battered and bloodied form and this took on a light of its own. Moonpale light filtered amongst the pulses of Aang's blue crystalline energies and Azula's searing scarlet thunders.

Ty Lee began to heal.

Azula gradually gave way.

Halfway across the field of battle, Iroh had picked himself up and was wading towards the locus of actual fighting. Occasionally, a Firebender would rise up against him...

One gout of flame rushed to envelop him, but Iroh simply twisted, beckoned, flowed, diverting the heat away from himself, Bending the Fire around him, and responded with a swift burst. The figure fell away.

Another swept towards him, but with eyes cool and unwavering, Iroh grasped the fool by the wrist, bent not the Fire but the Firebender, spinning him away: a deceptively casual gesture spat blue Fire and sent his enemy tumbling.

A third enemy came at him with swords, and Iroh's foot found the man's jaw in less than an eyeblink.

Fingers steepled in front of himself with an air of serenity, Iroh came to gaze upon the tableau of victory.

Katara's white light healed. Aang's blue light rectified. Azula's red light paled and began to peter out.

Iroh allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief. Zuko truly had come very far indeed.

Truly, this was a greater punishment for Azula even than death, that she should live in defeat and without her precious Firebending, and yet Zuko would be free of the stain of family blood, his honour would not suffer at Azula's defeat.

And then the whisper came upon his ear, more from within his being than outside himself: "This is something you know quite well, is it not, Dragon of The West? The 'stain of family blood?'"

Iroh stiffened, any victorious relief he'd felt gone away in a heartbeat, frittered and flittered away, and he wheeled about, casting his gaze in a desperate attempt to seek the creature who spoke with such a voice.

But even as he wheeled, he could not see the lingering entity. He could not see the lips moving on a dead man a hundred yards away.

"This one knows me as I know him," the voice chuckled delightedly, chuckled and cackled with a voice that oozed and coagulated, that chilled and scalded, "the killer of his own kind."

"You are wrong on both counts, Spirit," Iroh growled, his eyes never stopping, never pausing, his grey brows bunching tightly, vigilant consternation etching his every feature, his every muscle, "I know you not, and you know me not at all."

"Is that so, then?" the voice whispered, all around him, everywhere and yet nowhere, intangible and invisible and yet cold and clammy upon Iroh's skin. "I know that you are insufficient to the title of 'Dragon,' and not simply because you failed to kill your Fire-breathing prey: Dragons can fly, General. Dragons can fly, and when once you fell, you have never since stopped falling. I know you, Seeker. You were the death of your son, and you will never again taste of grace or peace."

Iroh's hands closed so viciously into fists that his knuckles popped like Firebent explosions and his teeth grated upon teeth. Lightning sang around the edges of his fingernails and up his bones and down his nerves and he seethed with the cold cold power of it: "SHOW YOURSELF, that I might exorcise you."

The voice only laughed, only laughed upon the sudden changing of the wind.

"Only one being in The World can stand against a Spirit, General," it mocked, shadows lengthening despite the three sources of light. "And besides which, I am not here for you. Rest you assured, I shall see you very soon, and then we will make an end of your whining, insipid waste of an existence. But at present, I have much more entertaining prey. Much more entertaining, and much more efficacious."

And then the black black light in the madmadman's dead eyes winked out, leaving staring mortal eyeballs. His smile went slack, giving way to the mask that had settled naturally upon the Firebender's features at the time of his death rattle.

And there amongst the triune glow of that place, a darkness without end rose up and up and up, grew like a pillar, though out of the pairs of eyes there gathered, only two would be able to see this for what it was.

Breath died in Iroh's throat. "No. No. No."

He broke into a run, but he was so far, so far away.

...the shadow peeled away from where it grew, and it dove down down down to where Aang stood with a hand clamped upon Azula's forehead, and to his ears now, it whisssspered and chittered and hissssssed even as its darkness shrouded around him.

"You are the greatest force for Balance this World has ever known," it breathed to him, not untruthfully. "But just as you strive for Balance, there are those who thrive upon Imbalance, and just as you attempt to remove my greatest agent from the gameboard, so also do I neutralise that which makes you yourself so potent. No action without consequence, 'Unbendable' Avatar. No war without collateral damage... Watch me now, Avatar: watch and see what your goodness has wrought."

...it whisked away from him, slashing across the intervening space, rushing faster than a loosed arrow, winking from one end of the battlefield to the other at a speed that defied a blinking eye to catch it...

Ty Lee's injuries were great, and Katara was still working to heal her. She had made plenty of progress, but there was a ways to go.

"C'mon," she smiled softly, encouragingly, "almost home. Almost home."

Iroh ran, hands waving, desperate to catch the Waterbender's attention, trying to get her to see what only he and Aang could possibly see...

And then to Katara's eyes, the Water that rippled in the air above Ty Lee's fallen form darkened. It darkened, the light fading and... and the liquid itself growing darker.

Dark dark red.

Katara's blue blue eyes went horrified wide and she recoiled in terror as the Water with which she was trying to heal Ty Lee transmuted from Water into blood.

Blood. She was Bending blood.

"That's not," she shuddered, "that's not poss--"

...and then the blood turned from blood into shadow, liquid night, and it seeped into Katara's chakra as might have healing Water into a victim's injuries. It seeped into her.

She felt it crawling along the ley-lines of her body and she felt herself stagger to her feet, stumble away... her limbs and her mind and her Bending were now no longer under her control. Just like Hama. Just like Hama.

Though the Moon in the sky was nowhere near full.

Surging like swallowing ink around the woman called Katara, The Spirit cackled at the top of its voice... echoing laughter that only Aang and Iroh could hear.

"I was there whispering in Sozin's ear when he left Roku for dead, Avatar," The Spirit gloated, "I was there when he exterminated your placid, flaccid people. Azulon knew me, and Ozai, and Azula. And I am still here, Avatar. You have not stopped The War of Fire. It is only now beginning."

And then a great tearing occurred within Katara, and she crumpled to the courtyard's cobblestones with a tiny little trembling little sound. Breathing still, but bereft.

"NOOOOOO!" Iroh fell to his knees, holding his side, his heart breaking in his chest even as his lungs tried and failed to drag in air.

"Don't let him--" Katara stammered, her voice all but inaudible. "Don't let him--"

She fell silent, though her eyes were still open horrified wide.

"Lightning strikes twice, Avatar," The Spirit pointed out, as casually as describing the weather. "Lightning strikes twice."

And then it was gone.

 

[UnseenMaiden]

Ty Lee... cause she just came like a flood

(music)

She couldn't hear them, but she could feel each breath issuing from her lips, stirring the dust and grit on the smooth paved stone. Her whole world was nothing more than each shallow, painful breath making its' way from her lungs into the air and back again. The pain was there, lingering, fierce as a lava flow and just as hidden beneath the haze of near oblivion.

Touch. Hands. Movement. Enough to draw a weak moan of protest from her. She didn't want this, didn't want to be lifted away from the cool flat surface. Her hands moved, fingers flexing, vainly trying to reclaim what comfort was lost to her. Then her name, whispered, so mournful, so angry, it hurt. This wasn't right. She tried to open her eyes, to see the face she knew was there, to no avail.

More words. Unfamiliar, distant. What was happening?

Zuko

How silly of her. She should have known his voice anywhere, she had heard it for so long. Even his touch was something close, if far less frequent, stolen from him by her unwanted affections. How silly. Silly.

He was gone. The world was cold again. Not comforting now. It seemed to only serve to remind her of the agony inside of her own skin. Just a dream. Silly of her.

Drowning.

She was drowning.

It was warm and so completely different from what she had ever expected of the event.

Perhaps she was only sleeping, safe in bed.

No. Her eyed fluttered open and there she could see the sun, distant and pale. Bubbles of air floated above her head, gently breaking upon the surface. She should have been depressed and yet, somehow she was peaceful. It was nice here, calm. She'd never been so calm. Everything had always been so vibrant, but now it was as soothing as the waters that flowed over her head.

Fingers laced in her own and she noticed, too late, that she was being pulled to the surface. It was not the tragedy she felt it would be. Her sense of peace still remained, clouding her mind enough that it seemed she recognized everything far too slowly. A landscape that was both familiar and not. Water rippling and rushing over her feet, too shallow for her to have laid underneath it as she had. Pale flesh that almost never saw the sun covered by a curtain of hair that she only just recognized as her own, so accustomed to keeping the long tresses bound.

Then there was Mai. She did not at all seem happy to see her. Yet, the annoyance was a familiar and welcome sight and Ty Lee hugged the girl close without knowing why she was so relieved to see her again.

Her body stiffened. Everything was so sharp and real. Her eyes refused to open themselves to the brightness that was waiting. Then something else crept in, pushing away the pain bit by bit. Muscles that had so suddenly tensed, relaxed and a sigh escaped her as she slipped away once again.

Eyes widening, she stepped away from her friend, head tilting down just as a hand fell to her side, searching for the wound and finding nothing but her own unmarred flesh. Looking at Mai again, she shook her head, tears falling unheeded. The raven-haired woman she had known almost her entire life did not try and call her back or calm her down. Instead, she incited her further, closing the distance that Ty Lee had made between them, her eyes fierce and angry. Then Mai pushed her and Ty Lee fell, back into the waters below.

A strangled gasp came from her as her body jerked up, sucking in as much air as she could, only to let it loose in a scream before her eyes had even opened to the scene before her. Terror filled her in a way it never had and she could not bring herself to stop the forceful sound that ripped its' way through her throat. Her body was filled with pain, but it was bearable preferable to what she saw. For the entire courtyard was coated in a darkness that was unnatural and radiating nothing but hate. And somehow she found a way to fall silent again and her eyes moved from the auras that she had never seen as sharply before this day. There next to her was Katara, crumbled and alive. Somehow alive, but she could see it, feel it in her chi. Katara was broken.

 

[Mephistophelily]

"Is he seriously trying to attack me?!," Toph scoffed, hearing the rumbling stumble of the man she had sent a wave of rosk upon moments ago, only to hunker down once again before calling out to her appointed firebending guard. "Am I clear? Bigfoot's just too damn- well, big!"

"Ye- WAIT! No! Don't, Lady Toph!," the man's voice was urgent, quickly moving to her side and grabbing her hands. "Firelord Zuko has just-"

The rumble in the ground was enough to let Toph know what had happened, straightening back up and yanking her hands free of the guard's grip. "You could have just said something. Didn't have to grab, mister paranoid." Still, she continued to keep her attention focused on the field before them, a solemn frown to her face. "He's not attacking anymore. Neither of them, Zuko or that oaf.... he must be down and out, but for Zuko to have stopped fighting-" She shook her head. "She's right there. She's there and he can't do it...."

"She?"

"Duh. Who do you think?"

---------------

Azula fell. She fell hard against the dirt, a fury building inside her that she wanted so badly to release... She wanted to scream out to all these fools on both sides, those who claimed to be on her side, those that adamantly knew they were against her...

And now the only one true ally that she possibly would have admitted to being a friend had fallen, the dull-witted giant that believed every last word she had uttered to him. Her brother took him away from her... That fact alone made her rage subside slightly, instead bringing forth a light laugh. It wouldn't cause her the same pain she had brought upon him; in fact, she had even debated finishing off the brute herself due to his absolute loyalty. Something about that made him seem so... easy a target. She could have done whatever she pleased to that fool and he would have accepted it with open arms.

Even now he sacrificed himself for her; the one who planned to kill him anyway.

She stared up at Zuko as he approached her, panting with her anger and lack of current strength to stand and fight him. Her eyes widened a bit as his sword raised, a laugh lingering in her throat. "Come on then, brother. Do it...," She whispered in a taunting hiss, raising her head to offer up the perfect strike, only to laugh again as he refused, claiming it would make him the same as her. "Our blood is the same, Zuko. No matter how much you try to deny that, there is somewhere inside you that wants the same thing I do...Trying to convince yourself you're one of the good guys is only putting off the inevitable...."

She paused as he gestured towards Aang, explaining further his intentions. She glared at him furiously with that, starting to raise up from her sprawl in the dirt. "I won't- I won' tlet you! I'll not be some disgusting shell, locked away like some animal! Zuko! You bastard! ZUKO!! Get back here and face me yourself, you fucking coward! Zuko!!" She continued to shriek obscenities after her sibling, even as the Avatar prepared to claim her abilities.

She screamed out louder still as Aang's hand rested against her head, snarling in anger as he looked down at her. "I'll kill them all, bending or none," She hissed, only to shriek once again as he began to bend her powers.

 

[Eazy]

How long had it been? Minutes? Hours? The latter didn't seem right, though Ryota could scarcely remember a mission or high level exercise which tired his body so and didn't stretch for the better part of an hour. Keeping his feet rooted against the floor, the benders body seemed to be in constant movement as every gesture of his figure triggered a Waterbending attack; rarely wasting the energy on any movements which weren't defensive or offensive in nature. The adrenaline which raced throughout the water tribesman did help him forget about the lingering pain and exhaustion in his body, but beads of sweat which ran down his forehead from the humidity of the battlefield served as a constant reminder of the strain he was putting himself through.

Fortunately, though the level of danger remained high, they had seen a steady decline in the number of the enemy forces as the battle raged forward. On the other hand, while his bending water could be reused multiple times, it didn't mean he wasn't losing his own share of bendable material as the day dragged out. The large number of fire blasts had evaporated much of what it came into contact with, as he constantly repelled these attacks with water and ice shields, leaving the skilled yet inexperienced warrior to question how long his healthy supply would remain as such.

Longshot wasn't fairing much better, as he switched up between using his diminishing supply of arrows and going the more dangerous route of combating the rogue Firebenders with a set of discarded blades in close range combat. While clearly not his preferred method of combat, he picked up more then enough from Jet and others who favored them during his many years within the Freedom Fighters. Similar to how pinpoint accurate he was with his arrows, most of his cuts were clean, precise and debilitating to those which fell victim to his offense.

All the while he moved through this deadly dance, however, he showed little change in his expression of grim determination for doing what was needed; in spite of how he may feel toward taking so many lives in a relatively short range of time. There was neither joy nor regret toward his methods, so much as there was resentment toward the continued need for such actions. In fact, this expression upon his face only showed signs of changing when he took notice of two figures in the distance. One which he could barely recognize from his sparse encounters thus far, and another he would always spot out of a crowd, regardless of numbers or distance.

As the sharpened portion of his temporary blade finished sliding across the exposed throat of another unlucky Firebender, the silent marksman then turned his attention toward Ryota. While he said nothing, the water bender could almost feel the other combatants eyes lingering his way while he dispatched with a foe of his own. Turning around, he followed Longshot's gaze as he directed them toward Smellerbee and Xia. Neither of which were exactly at the top of Ryota's favorites list, but he found the familiar faces a welcomed sight.

"You want us to get closer toward their location? Think I can help you with that one." The young bender explained as he closed his eyes while focusing his chi, drawing out more of his bending water; a lot more then he'd yet to draw out so far into the battle.

As every remaining drop of the liquid steadily flowed from its container and emptied into a swirling motion around Ryota's body, the Northern Water Tribe native finally opened his eyes once more and glanced toward Longshot, giving a nod before returning his attention toward their intended destination as he warned, "Follow my lead and stay close to me."

Nodding his head in understanding, Longshot followed as Ryota took the lead of things for once; pushing onward and toward the direction of the two Earth Kingdom natives. It wasn't long until their charging movements to attract the attention of a couple enemy Firebenders. Nor was it long before the Waterbender started directing his arms to and fro, as he uncoiled and lashed out water tendrils from different sections of his body in a whipping motion. Some were sent reeling back from the impact, while others were merely injured long enough to keep them at bay until the pair were far enough away to no longer register as a primary concern.

In a matter of minutes, they steadily found themselves within the immediate vicinity of the two Earth Kingdom women. Once they were close enough, Longshot's own attention immediately shot toward Smellerbee, as he gave her a cursory glance for any signs of obvious injury to her person. Failing to find anything which triggered any further concern, he turned his attention toward Xia, whom he'd noticed hints of a change in from the distance, but only now could fully recognize it for the desperate act of self preservation that it had been. Shooting another glance toward Smellerbee, he would imagined she also recognized it, since they often came across similar reactions from survivors during the war.

The young water bender, while not having anywhere near the experience or exposure of the two Freedom Fighter veterans, felt a sense of familiarity toward the way Xia carried herself. The fear and desperation as she literally fought for her life, but evidently lasting longer then a spur of the moment lashing out against one whom would otherwise snuff out your life. Which actually made sense, given the considerably larger number of Firebenders directly assaulting her in comparison of his own past situation. And the frightening truth of the matter is, despite how much success he showed in refraining from using deadly force since joining the battle, Ryota did feel the occasional urge for letting lose whenever he felt anywhere near overwhelmed by the odds against his survival.

Ironically, it was these thoughts, as he stayed focused upon Xia for a few seconds too long, which nearly cost Ryota his life. The sound of metal clashing could be heard at his side, as he spun around to find Longshot blocking a blade which had been aimed toward the reflecting Water Bender's head. The younger man could do little more then watch in surprise as the more experienced of them quickly dispatched the madman with a deep slash across the chest and neck.

Watching until the Firebender dropped lifelessly onto the floor, Longshot turned toward Ryota while putting away his burrowed blades for now, giving a glare which silently scolded the tribesman for his near fatal mistake as he warned, "Stay focused."

Failing to find the words which could properly articulate the mixture of gratefulness, fear and embarrassment he felt, Ryota settled on simply nodding his head before they both refocused their efforts toward trying to finish the battle at hand. Ironically, it didn't take long afterward for another spectacle to capture their attention, albeit one of a more unusual source and only able to be noticed in the distance due to the seemingly unnatural nature behind it. As the light shun brightly enough to capture the attention of most whom were within range enough to see it, a good number of the warriors on both sides of the civil conflict found their attention drawn toward its undisclosed source; including a certain young Water Bender.

"Ouch!" Ryota let out as a wooden object came into contact with the back of his head, causing him to glance toward the side and notice stern Longshot staring his way, having apparently switched back to his bow as he held the wooden weapon in his hands, "Yeah, I know, stay focused. Sorry."

As Ryota returned a fair portion of his bending water to the confines of his container and directed his attention toward dealing with those few whom, either due to a lack of common sense or a mind clouded by bloodlust, were unfazed by the energy bending taking place, Longshot himself took a parting glance in the direction of the beautifully disturbing scene. Something bigger then they expected was taking place, and he couldn't blame the Waterbender for becoming wrapped up in its eerie beauty.

Still, it was taking place too far away for them to do much about it then gawk from a distance, and it left the enemy distracted enough for an opening which they could press for whatever it was worth. Though his mind continued questioning just what new predicament was happening around them, Longshot directed his actual attention toward using the unexpected distraction to his advantage.

 

[Ahren1]

Zuko's eyes focused intently on the merging lights in between Zuko and Azula's bodies. He had never witnessed anything like this before, and it was miraculous in more ways than one. Aang was once again his savior. The Fire Lord was being saved to have to stain his blades with his own sister's blood. As wretched as she had become, it was something no one should have to do. This was the right path. Perhaps this is the path that would finally save Azula's life. A path without the anger of fire, and the corruption of power. Maybe.. Just maybe.. She could finally live.

Still, the scarred man couldn't help but look to Ty Lee as well. Her pain proving just how real Azula's assault had been. More people he cared about being hurt for pointless reasons.. But Katara was here, his other savior. The woman who managed to overcome Azula in the first place. The woman who's compassion and kindness was only rivaled by her will and determination to do what was right. Zuko had known how conflicting the voices in one's head could be when faced with seemingly impossible odds, but Katara was always confident. It had taken a lot to earn her trust, but when he finally did, he had felt it was perhaps the most important one of all. The trust that meant he had finally found the right road to redemption and a real life. Such had proven itself true, and despite the heartbreak of the whole event, he couldn't dismiss how lucky he was to have such friends.

But through the fire and the flames walked perhaps the most vital person in all of Zuko's life. Iroh, despite his age, was still on the battlefield, and still besting the young, prime warriors. Though, his fighting prowess were not what Zuko appreciated. His wisdom far exceeded that. His proverbs may have been indecipherable at times, but down the road they would always be there in the back of the golden eyed Fire Lord's mind, proving their significance at the most unexpected times. Iroh was the man who had stood beside him at all times, who had provided him with the care and guidance that normally was reserved for a father. Zuko had been wrong when he told Azula he had no father. In almost every sense of the term, Iroh was his father. He could say that proudly.

Everything was finally ending. Soon it would be over. Without Mai.. things wouldn't be the same, but she would want him to move on. She would want him to continue to excel at his position as Fire Lord for the sake of their friends, as well as the world. He wouldn't give Azula the satisfaction of staying broken. The pain would never go away, but it would soften eventually. It seemed now as if Ty Lee's pain was finally fading as well, but as Zuko looked upon his uncle with a somewhat sad smile momentarily to signify that finally they could rest, it faded quickly. The look on the old Dragon's face was not that of relief anymore, but extreme anger.

"Uncle...?" Zuko said in a somewhat soft tone, glancing around to see if he could discern just what had Iroh in such a state.

"You are wrong on both counts, Spirit..." Iroh seethed, causing Zuko's eyes to narrow. A spirit.. here? Now..? Clearly by such a reaction from his uncle, this was not a pleasant visit either... He couldn't see anything, yet he could see Iroh take off into a dash, incredibly alarmed at perhaps the spirit's intent.

He was rushing toward... Aang.

"No..." Zuko whispered, taking off toward the Avatar as well. He didn't know what was going to happen, but a horrible, dark feeling sank into his chest that Aang was in danger.

Aang's mind was a cascade of energy, deafening him to almost all of the outside world's events as he focused on sealing away the Firebending inside Azula for good. It was almost done. Everything would soon be over. Then, the harrowing voice reverberated in his mind, as if it existed there and nowhere else. It spoke to him, and he could hear every word. He had no choice but to remain still and listen. He couldn't break the energy bend. Somehow, when it told him to watch, Aang could see the battlefield once again, as if it was allowing him to view what it was about to do...

"Katara..." Aang spoke out, his voice echoing a thousand times over, and even stranger sound than Avatar State speech. Zuko took this time to stop in his dash to turn and observe Katara. He was too far now to do anything but watch as the waterbender unexpectedly slumped to the ground. Zuko didn't know what to do. Who to run to. How to help. He felt powerless. Somehow he knew he had to help Aang, so he continued in that direction, praying that his friend wouldn't lose focus...

But it was already too late. The energy in Aang's mind began to rupture and expel throughout his body in brilliant streams of light. Just as Zuko was about to reach the Avatar, a ring of fire erupted from between the two locked in their energy bending state. With a quick raise of his hands, Zuko created his own wall to deflect the growing ring, quickly surrounding it and directing it upward in order to protect anyone nearby. As the pillar of flame rushed into the sky, it was followed by the sudden congealing of water from seemingly nothing at all. Shards of hail began to rain onto the courtyard. Some of the larger formations were shattered by quick strikes of fire from Zuko's palms, though many made their way to the ground, hitting with enough force to crack the stone below.

The Earth began to move next, with jagged spikes of stone rushing up from the ground at random points. Zuko was nearly impaled time and time again, however his reflexes allowed him to dodge expertly, continuing his gain on Azula and Aang. Inside the Avatar's mind, his memories of the past ran through almost instantaneously. The past incarnations of the Avatar slowly began to fade from his mind. Next followed flashes of Monk Gyatso, his friends.. and finally Katara. The one and only thing he could focus on now. She was in danger, and he couldn't do anything to save her.

Finally, a sonic boom erupted from the epicenter of the dancing lights and molding earth, followed by a rush of air so strong it was almost visible. Zuko screamed out for Aang with all his might but it was drowned out by the incoming blast. As it hit him, Zuko felt as if ten sledgehammers had been taken to his chest, sending him flying back with impressive force and speed. The only thing to stop his movement were the steps that ascended upward to the palace, and he would meet them with quite a shock, enough to knock him out cold the second he connected with them. The last thing he would see is Katara's body, slumped over and not being able to reach her despite all his might trying.

The light surrounding Aang and Azula soon flashed as bright as the sun, illuminating the whole area for only a few seconds before completely fading, the darkness returning once again. Aang's blue glow had not only rescinded from Azula's body, but his own, and the glow in his eyes now faded, leaving nothing but emptiness. Both Aang and Azula remained still for a few moments, only to slump to the ground, joining the others in their unconsciousness.

What had happened.. What would be done now.. That would be anyone's guess...

 

[Mephistophelily]

Toph grabbed hold of the guard placed as her watchman by Iroh, jutting a finger off into the battlefield. "What's going on?," She demanded, aware now of the sudden change in drection taken by the majority of the battle. Something- something big. Something that had caused a vast majority of the fight that she had been so eager to join in on... What exactly was taking place?

"The Avatar.... Princess Azula is being- I don't understand... What is he doing?"

Toph gave a quick smile, shoving him aside. "It's alright. She won't be hurt... Aang's making it easier. Twinkletoes doesn't do killing. Hopefully this'll make all the loonies calm down too. Without the Queen Bee, they all wander around. Easier to squish that way." As she spoke, she stomped down her left foot, causing a few boulders to leap upwards- and crash into a number of Azula's cronies approaching.

"I understand that, Lady Toph- but why is General Iroh attacking the Avatar?"

"WHAT?! That's impossible! There's no way he'd-"

"The Waterbender! She's.. something's wrong! She's fallen!"

Toph felt that. Even with all the other movement around her, she could feel Katara's meeting with the earth, a sinking feeling filling Toph's chest. Something was definitely wrong, something completely out of Aang's control. She heard Zuko now, his own horrified tone as he screamed out to the Avatar... "Get away from here. Now," she commanded to her appointed guard, her feet already in motion across the ground for her fallen friend. Her heart was racing now... Katara...




Azula couldn't move. As much as she wanted to fight back, the Avatar had contained her so strongly beneath his barracades of rock that the most she could do was simply continue to scream rants and curses- only for that as well to cease as he took hold of her, forcing his way inside her and hunting for the source of her bending. Nothingcould be done to prevent him from violating into her most beloved power... The one thing she cherished so much- and now he was trying to take it away from her, just as he had done to her father...

But something was wrong. He had found it, had started to take it away from her, to make her just as sad and pathetic as these fools she hated so much... Only for him to abruptly halt in the midst of his task. Her breathing continued to force out in heavy laboring puffs, staring up at him as though viewing the world from an outside source, watching the confused horror of his eyes. Something was effecting him, distracting him...

She would need to thank it.

A light chuckle built in her throat, catching sight of the fallen little bitch that had defeated her once before. It was somewhat satisfying to view, though also dissapointing- That was a task she had so hoped to do for herself... The girl's name left his lips then, a pounding echo of his voice as his fingers seemed to tighten then hesitate against her flesh. Her laughter abruptly ended then, realizing that this problem effecting him was also effecting the punishment he was attempting to inflict upon her. "No-!," Azula started to shriek, trying to pull away only to be lost in the sudden overwhelming flash of curious sensations and blinding light, then-

Then nothing.




Aang's powers were going insane, the young man's abilities taking a mind of their own with the failed bending of Azula's power. Toph could feel the fire developing from the two, immediately thrusting her palm up and over her head as she dropped down to Katara's side, creating a makeshift stone shield over them as she tried to catch her breath. "K-Katara?," he panted, placing her hand against the ground beside her friend's chest, hoping to feel her heartbeat and breathing through the ground.

It was there. Faintly, but there...

Her attention turned back to the blockade once more as the sudden overwhelming rumble hit against both it and the ground beneath her, Toph, digging her toes into the earth as she shot up her other hand, forcing a secondary blockade to cover over the first. She whinced as she felt the air pass through the cracks in the earthen shield, even that being enough to whip the tendrils of hair that hung over her face against her skin sharply.

Another hard slamming noise behind her caught her attention, feeling the shake against the dirt beneath her feet as whatever it was connected with the ground.

Lowering her stone blockade, she listened a moment for any of their friends, her foot still extended with her sole against the dirt, her hands ready to provide any attacks or barriers needed to keep Katara safe. What worried her now, though, was that she heard nothing from the rest of the group.

 

[Mister J]

Sokka had finally made it to the courtyard when everything went to hell. As he turned the corner, the first thing to catch his eye was Aang energybending Azula. Then he saw Katara falling to the ground. His eyes widened as his body seemed to move on it's own, rushing towards his sister. For a moment or two it seemed like time was moving in slow motion. His heartbeat sounded off loudly in his ears.

He looked up as he heard the painfully loud noise coming from the direction of Aang and Azula. Something hit him next, like an invisible shockwave, launching him back into the wall a few feet behind him. It knocked the air out of his lungs. His knees hit the ground as he gasped for air, clutching his chest.

He fell.

His vision blurred as he reached out towards Katara only to see Toph come to her aid. The pain was almost too much. It felt like he had been hit with a boulder. His insides were screaming. But even so he forced himself on. His fingers stretched out and clawed at the stone as he pulled himself towards his sister and Toph.

When he was close enough he reached out and grabbed Toph's pant leg.

"Toph!...Is she...Is she?!"

Tears started to build up from his feeling of helplessness. There wasn't a damn thing he could do.

"Is she okay?!"

 

[UnseenMaiden]

To say this was familiar to her would be an understatement. Even when she had first joined the Freedom Fighters, Jet had commented on her ruthlessness in battle. The now familiar rhythm of survival, matching your strength to your enemy’s, had felt good to her even then. An acute rebellion against how she had been before in her past life. For that was how she saw herself. Bai had lived helpless in a world of cruelty and pain. Then Smellerbee had arisen from the flames with the strength of a tempered blade. Two lives. Two separate people. Little Bai had been a frail girl. Smellerbee was a weapon.

So was it any wonder that she was grinning even as blood and sweat stained her skin and clothes, or that she laughed even as a blade nearly found its mark and nicked her skin just below her collarbone before she rounded upon him and his eyes dimmed with the lose of life. All of her weariness, her doubts, her worries, they all fell away under the adrenaline that pumped through her body. Each breath tasted crisp and clear as her body moved with instinct as its guide. Only her gaze stayed on the lookout for those she had silently sworn to protect. Xia close to her and holding her own well enough and then, an arrow standing proud and straight from the back of a fallen man, one that she would know anywhere, one that meant that Longshot still drew breath. It was this knowledge of their relative safety that only made her grin grow ever wider as she cheerfully deployed her blades to rid the world of her enemy.

Yet how easily that safety is lost. A clatter of swords on stone drew her attention to the sight of Xia tripping over the same corpse she herself had spotted only moments ago. Smellerbee’s eyes widened as she realized the full danger the girl was in from a masked figure that loomed threateningly over her. Fingers flew over her clothing, pulling a recent acquisition from their folds. Throwing knives, nothing but blades really with a bit more metal at the ends to make it easier for gripping. She only had some talent with them, helped by the various archery lessons she had taken from Longshot over the past decade. Different technique of course but the principle was the same and she knew that her aim would be true enough as she pulled her hand back to let them fly. But, something amazing happened before she had the chance to go through with her plans. Longshot’s arrow was now far gone, sent ripping through the skull of the masked assailant, and Xia’s pale hand had been the method in which it had been sent upon its’ course.

It was enough to leave Smellerbee in a mild state of shock for the second time that day. If she had any doubt of the girl’s abilities before this moment, they were completely erased in evidence of such powerful airbending. Xia was an airbender, an impossibility in this day and age. It was enough to pull the glory and rush of battle from her.

"I can't believe I didn't want to come along for this. Good times. 'Hungry ghosts and naked demons.' Can we go again?"

So perhaps that was why she noticed what she had been so blind to before. Survival had morphed into something again to bloodlust, madness, and while it was not uncommon among the many she had fought beside, it did not mean her dislike of it was any less. Somehow she felt guilty for this one, a loss of innocence that she knew could have been prevented if only she had stayed within in the Earth Kingdom, if only Xia had stayed within the fortified walls of Ba Sing Se.

Water swirled around the edge of her vision, bringing focus when she needed it most, just in time to keep from being shish-kabobed by a very nasty looking halberd. With that taken care of, her eyes caught Longshot’s as two came closer and she flashed him a smile before the fray took her attention once again. The next moment she had to spare it seemed that Longshot had very much noticed Xia’s transformation and Smellerbee’s eyes grew dark with worry even as her lips curved into a small frown and she shook her head. It was the same as others and it was not, she only hoped that like others Xia would also calm down after the fighting was over.

The throwing knives she had continued to hold idly within her hand were finally allowed to arc through the air and embed themselves within a firebender’s chest. It seemed those fighting with more mundane weapons had already fallen and all that were left were those with the ability to scorch and burn. Her mouth set in a grim determined line as she took stock of the battlefield around her, wishing sorely for the familiarity of the forest. Then many things happened at once. A light began to grow from one side of the courtyard and with it a curious silence as she too forgot to pay attention to the world around her. Then a sound that Smellerbee could swear was a scream before fire bloomed bright and hot enough that she could feel its’ warmth from as far away as she was as it built and pillared up into the sky. As always her mouth spoke before she bothered to think her words over.

“What in the Spirit World is that?!”

It was too late for an answer. Their own world seemed to be falling apart at the seams. Hail, small and hard, streaked from the sky, finding their mark on friend and foe alike, bruising flesh. That was when the crowds of people began to run. Whatever was happening, no one had predicted and could not think of how to escape it. When the earth lurched under her feet, Smellerbee went with it, colliding with stone that rose up sharply to meet her. It was enough to earn her temper, to make her snap and curse at anything and anyone that even looked like they were going to cause her some sort of menace. Fire, Water, Earth. All of them seemed to be going completely crazy! All that was left was Air.

“Oh, shit! Get down!”

Blades were dropped, and hands grasped at those closest to her, pulling her friends down behind the rock that had assaulted her just moments before. Her jaw was sore, but she didn’t regret it when her instincts won out with a rush of air that knocked quite a few soldiers around them off of their feet. Then light, brighter than before, brighter than the sun it seemed, made the courtyard glow before it was extinguished. Smellerbee’s laughter echoed across the decimated landscape and even she didn’t know why she was laughing, because amusement was the farthest thing from what she was feeling now. She’d never been terribly intuitive despite her gender, but even she had this dread that something truly terrible had just happened to them all.

 

[ChasNicollette]

"Rock You Like a Hurricane"

It is written:
'It is difficult for a fool's habits to change to selflessness. ... Because we do most things relying only on our own sagacity we become self-interested, turn our backs on reason, and things do not turn out well.'
-Yamamoto Tsunetomo, The Hakagure.​

Years ago...
...before the fortune-teller...

Xia's fist cracked into the man's jaw and he stumbled back out of the little run-down potter's shop...

He fell down the front steps, regaining purchase before righting himself. He had twisted his ankle a little bit in the mud, but he was still standing.

He grimaced at her, this bull that had threatened the earthenware shop, and shook his head in incredulity.

Xia stood in the doorway, fists up in a hopelessly makeshift brawling stance, her eyes blazing and the knuckles of her right hand bleeding.

"Now don't come back," she snarled, her nostrils flaring with the force of her breath.

"Girly," the bull chortled, "come back? I ain't even gone."

"Oh-ho," Xia growled, flexing that right hand, "is that how it's gonna be?"

She bounded out after him, and he slithered to the side, and she landed crouching in the muddy road where he'd been standing, and he swept a burly leg in an astonishingly quick side-kick for her face...

Xia blocked this kick with both forearms and a grunt and she scampered back and again resumed her stance.

He stood gazing at her, highly dubious. "Seriously? You? I mean, I may be the newest protection racket in The Lower Ring, but potter-lady couldn't find anything better than a spindly little girl to stave me off?"

"Find me?" Xia scowled. "I work here. It's fucking hard enough to scratch together enough coin to survive without brigands like you leeching off profits. I'm not gonna let you fucking ruin this for me."

"Heh," The Bull grunted. "Fair enough, I guess. Still. Gonna hafta make an example of ya."

And he lumbered towards Xia, and Xia planted her back foot in the mud and fired off her own kick for his jaw...

...he knocked her kick aside with one arm and his other came up, a crushing elbow, slamming into the side of her head and knocking her ass over teakettle.

She landed, hard, wheezing, managed to recover, forced herself back up--

--he came after her again--

Xia jumped.

She jumped clear up over his head, rising like the sun, and landed behind him and the heel of her hand pounded into his kidney.

In a mixture of agony and astonishment, The Bull fell to one knee.

Her foot blurred in and cracked him in the side of the head, again from behind, but even as it rebounded off of his skull he had the presence of snarling mind to reach up and back and grab that ankle and grab that thigh and pitch her before him.

She yelped, she hurtled, but she landed better this time, landed like a feather, and she came back up came after him.

A palm strike like an avalanche hit her in the stomach and she went down into the mud yet again.

He raised his fists to crush her, no longer playing around, ready to end this, and even from a heap on the ground Xia jumped again...

She jumped not over him not this time she jumped that her feet were level with his face and she kicked him with both of those feet... she planted both of her feet upon his face and she jumped with the same power she used to launch herself so far so fast...

He blundered backwards, literally heels over head, rolling a good long way, and she flew straight back and barely rolled in the air in time to hit a building's wall with her feet and her hands and cushion the impact.

She landed safely.

She dusted herself off.

Yards away, he sat up, face covered with mud from her feet and blood from his nose, and The Bull was snarling.

He placed his fingers in his lips and he whistled...

...and all of a sudden he was no longer alone.

A gang of them. None of them as big as The Bull. These were his humble cronies.

And they were angry, and some of them were armed, and bitterly Xia found herself surrounded.

There were six more of them.

The Bull limped over. "You think I'd start something without having a little power in my corner? You think I'd be that much of an idiot? Guess you never learned that lesson... that lesson 'bout biting off more than you can chew? Never woulda started demanding money from folk if it were just my muscles involved."

He cracked his knuckles. "You bit off too much. And now you're gonna get chewed."

Xia grimaced. She raised her fists.

She wanted to run. Run far. Run fast. Spindly little girl could run.

She didn't run. She stood her ground.

"You gonna talk," she demanded, "or are y'all gonna come get your mouthful?"

The Bull roared: "Rip 'er into kindling."

At his bidding, the gang lunged...

...but then, almost as suddenly, seven identical globules of mud popped upwards, lurched out of the ground and stopped, hovering, globules of mud hovering in front of each of the gangmember's faces.

The gangmembers blinked in surprise, The Bull included, and in that moment, in that moment in which they blinked the mud globules each shaped themselves into perfect globes, perfect spheres, utterly flawless, utterly smooth.

And then they hardened. They hardened from mud into rock.

Solid, solid rock.

They were only as big as pebbles, and for an eyeblink more, they hovered.

And then, as one, they blasted outward, exploded out, each in a separate direction, seven rocks moving in seven directions, and with surprised little yelps the gangmembers and The Bull tumbled unconscious to the ground.

Xia stood alone. She closed her eyes and lowered her fists. "Ah. Shit."

A barefooted young man stood there, his trousers raggedy around his ankles, his jacket loose and faded, and a wafting forelock of black hair before his sequoia eyes. He smiled a delighted little smile, endlessly pleased with himself. He'd done something good and he knew it.

Xia gave him a withering glare the moment her eyes opened. "Zhuang."

"Did you do something to make those guys so angry?" he wondered, curiously. "I mean--"

She stomped up to him and shoved a finger in his chest and she snarled. "I. Could. Have. Handled. It."

Her brother blinked and he stepped back a bit, his eyes going wide, as if it hadn't occurred to him at all not even at all that this would be a misstep, that he would have done wrong by doing this good thing. "Well. Yes. But-- I thought--"

Xia shoved him, and as he was already stepping back another step, he fell and landed on his ass in the mud of the road.

"Thank you for saving my life," Xia snarled. "Don't ever do it again."

And she wheeled off and she left her brother there, running off faster than he could follow.

He sat there for a long time, there in the mud, utterly dumbfounded, but he was gone before the gangmembers awakened.

...now.

Light seared and people screamed, the night was on Fire, and it was Light that burned that was not Fire...

...Fire spiked upward, real literal Fire, and shuddering bitter Xia stared upwards in wonder, stopping...

...Hail pelted down, and Xia didn't realise what was happening at first, until two Firebenders screamed and clutched injuries beside her as that hail punched clean through them, and then one of the hailstones knocked her sword out of her left hand and she bellowed with dismay...

...Earth stabbed upwards, and she bounded aside from one, and rebounded off of the side of another, but then still another knocked her other sword from her other hand and she yelped in startlement...

Sonic boom.

...she froze.

She stared.

She could feel it...

...she could feel it coming towards her...

...this impossible crushing wake of Bent Air...

She held out a palm, with fingers trembling. Her eyes were wide.

It was beautiful.

But then Smellerbee grabbed her, dragged her down, and Xia screamed in surprise and fury and then the Airblast was thundering by, and Xia fell silent as reality set in. That might have killed her.

Airbender or not, she was no Avatar.

She was barely even an Airbender, really.

She opened her mouth to berate Smellerbee for saving her...

...but then closed her mouth again.

She wasn't the same girl she'd been. Back then, she hadn't given two shits if she'd lived or died, but now? Now, she just wanted to live.

"Thank you," she mumbled, amazing herself with her sincerity, "for saving my life."

 

[Eazy]

The unusual phenomena which was taking place in the distance, while certainly a source of interest, hadn't quite alarmed Longshot to the point to it drawing immediate concern. Not when there remained so many insane Firebenders just outside of arms reach which could return their full attention toward himself and others within the blink of an eye. This took a drastic turn, however, as the pillar of fire shot up from the source of the near blinding light; emitting a heat which could be felt even from their current location. Finally lowering his weapon, Longshot used a free hand to tilt his hat in a vein hope of providing a semblance of shade from that very flame which filled the sky.

Ryota had caught onto the inexplicable change only seconds later then most, and the shock over what he was glimpsing at was nearly enough to break the concentration which held those swirling waves of water around his body. Fortunate for himself that he hadn't lost this control, as the burst of flame found itself outdone by a more direct assault. Hail rained down upon everyone gathered, and possibly for a number of miles beyond their immediate proximity, putting each combatant on both side into the offensive. Being a Water Bender put the young tribesman at a greater advantage then most, as he used his bending water as a shield against the onslaught, before adding that which fell around where he stood into his arsenal.

Longshot had been less then blessed in this area, though the shape of his headgear made for an effective means of blocking against that which may have otherwise come into contact with his head. For the rest, he needed to make use of his sharp eyes and reflexes for dodging any larger balls of hail, though it proved impossible to avoid the majority of which came hurling at his trim frame. Though many of them stung upon contact, it was nothing when compared to a number of injuries he'd faced in the past. As the hail started to let up, however, he felt the arrival of a third element which caused the young Freedom Fighter the most alarm thus far.

Feeling the ground shaking underneath his very feet, Ryota glanced down as the earth around him started to crack, causing his eyes to widen while exclaiming in disbelief toward nobody in particular, "I'm already feeling nostalgic for when it was hailing..."

Soon as those words escaped his lips, the very ground beneath him betrayed his footing, shooting up and causing him to stumble backwards. Longshot grabbed the young benders hand, offering his aid in keeping Ryota from falling, though the continuing disruption of the earth which they stood upon wasn't finished. Others were fairing worst in the commotion, leaving Longshot wishing he could offer more assistance, but finding himself incapable of doing more then keeping himself and those within his immediate proximity safe. For his part, Ryota used one of the more advanced forms of Water Bending, the water blade, to slice horizontally against a sudden formation which jutted upward and toward his body.

Unfortunately, while able to detach the pointed section of the formation from its base, the momentum at which it was moving caused the corner of said formation to fly upward; smacking against the side of Ryotas head. Though it hadn't been enough to knock him unconscious, it did noticeably disorient the young warrior as he staggered and let out a pained groan. So much had it disrupted his barring and concentration, that the water which he'd held around himself would suddenly lose its form and flow lifelessly onto the courtyard floor.

The Freedom Fighter had caught wind of this, and was prepared to check upon the other male when he heard Smellerbee calling out only several feet away from his current position. Though unaware of what was happening, Longshot knew enough to trust Bee's instincts by grabbing Ryota and almost literally dragging him along as he led the bender toward the formation his friend and Xia were moving toward. Only seconds before the incredible gust of wind hit, had Longshot successfully shoved the tribesman along with them. Not exactly the most graceful of ways to lead another out of danger, but as the wind in question struck the young man before he could join them, Longshot knew in a split second that it was the better of the two options presented during those scarce few moments.

Ryota let out a grunt as the events in question played out around his blissfully unaware mind, until the dizzy spell slowly started to fade, allowing him a sense of coherence once again. Glancing around, the first thing he noticed was the number of Firebenders, both 'friend' and foe, which had been scattered about after the burst of wind that he'd only vaguely been aware of earlier. Inclining his head into the direction of a female voice which gave thanks, he saw the familiar figures of both Smellerbee and Xia. Not exactly his most desired of company, but he was nonetheless grateful to see the two of them in one piece.

Slowly moving his head, his eyes scanned around for another figure, his voice cracking as he called out the name of the missing member of their foursome, "L-Longshot?"

The Water Bender needn't wait long for the Freedom Fighter to come into his line of vision, though the sight of the young man was slightly less then he'd hope to greet him. Combined with his bad footing and already being in motion, that incredible display of elemental Airbending had sent Longshot several feet away, until another formation of rocks had forcibly stopped him upon contact. Presently, aside from the rising and falling of his stomach, showing an intake of air and sign of life, there remained little sign of movement from the silent marksman.

"Longshot?" Ryota called out a little louder this time, the world refusing to stay perfectly still for the tribesman at this point, thus preventing him from taking any immediate action as he continued staring at the person who may have saved his life.

So it came as a slight relief when Longshot crooked his head to the side, glancing in their general direction with a half-smile spread across his face, as he moved a hand up to his side while giving a shaky thumbs up.

 

[UnseenMaiden]

Personally, I blame Eazy for this.

Ty Lee

“She’s alive.”

Of course she was alive. After all her pulse was beating steady and strong under her fingers as she finally gathered the courage to place them on the waterbender’s wrist. Ty Lee had already known she was alive before that and yet Sokka needed to be told. He needed the words and she gave them without thinking as her eyes traced patterns over Katara’s prone form. There was so much, so very much that was wrong that she had little idea how to begin or what she wished to accomplish exactly. She just knew she had to try.

Her movements weren’t as sure as when she was fighting. Fingers skimmed lightly over paths that almost seemed to glow in this new vision of the world the persisted on staying with her. She’d never used her knowledge to help before, not directly, and not outside of the lessons she’d had as a girl. A small smile came unconsciously to her lips. Azula had always thought it foolish of her. Why bother learning how to undo something that would eventually wear off on its own anyways? Yet, Ty Lee had persisted, her first rebellious act in light of Azula’s controlling nature.

Slowly, her breath deepened until it matched Katara’s, as she blocked out the world around her. The pain that still burned and pricked at her like red-hot needles, the frightening landscape filled with the dead and dying and more that even Ty Lee had the sense to know she shouldn’t be able to see, and the plaintive cries of worried friends and family, all of it pushed as far away as she could maintain so she could fully concentrate. Her lips moved soundlessly as she worked, pressing on points, hoping to remove a block, any of the blocks, that kept her chakras disconnected from the others. They were black, pulsing there, black as shadows, black as night, and black as the sight that had greeted her when she awakened. Shivering from her thoughts, Ty Lee prayed to those in the Spirit World, begging for their help, and hoping that her ministrations would come to fruition.

Perhaps someone heard her and found away. For their breathing stumbled out of sync and blue eyes opened to meet her own. Ty Lee smiled as they focused and awareness shown in their depths, even though she had the haunting suspicion that Katara wouldn’t appreciate awakening to the present state of the world.

Smellerbee

"Thank you for saving my life."

She tried to speak, she really did, but couldn’t seem to stop shaking even after the giddy laughter had subsided to silence. So she just shook her head, shrugging off the thanks, and lifted her hands up to feel her jaw as it began to throb with beginnings of something she knew was going to hurt something fierce soon enough. Not that this would be the worse injury in her life. It was a little comfort she tended to give herself. No matter how badly she’d been hurt, she’d always had worse and she’d always healed fairly quick anyways.

"L-Longshot?"

That had her attention. Eyes that had been contented to stay shut as she assessed her own personal damage now flashed open as she heard the waterbender call out for her friend. Panic welling in her as she realized her mistake in thinking everyone was safe. Her mouth opened to call his name, but all that came out was a gurgling noise tainted with copper and crimson that she quickly spit out as best she could, but was beaten to the punch by Ryota again, spotting the archer just as his name was called out to make certain of his relative safety.

Smellerbee wasn’t conscious of deciding to move. It was only enough that she did, feet not moving fast enough, even as she spotted his half-hearted smile revealing that he was not only alive but conscious as well. Crashing to the ground beside him, her first instinct was to scream, berate him for daring to get himself hurt so stupidly, but her once numbed jaw was fully telling her that even thinking of speaking wouldn’t be worth it right now. He was alive after all. But she quickly grew frustrated at not being able to make her worries known and so perhaps her hands were rougher than she meant them to be as they pulled at him, getting him away from the offending rocks, and checking for serious injuries, never really caring for personal space.

 

[Eazy]

And I blame Unseen for this...just unsure what 'this' is.

As the Water Bender slowly pulled himself into a kneeling position, he barely took notice of Smellerbee moving past his position as the world spun for a few seconds more until finally settling itself into place. Only then did he realize the leader of the Freedom Fighters had moved to the aide of her fallen companion, which gave Ryota reason enough for take an extra minute or two for collecting himself rather then risk tumbling over by getting up too early. Not that he could offer much more assistance at the moment, as he was neither a healer, nor within reach of the majority of his now scattered bending water.

Turning his attention toward the ally which remained nearest, Ryota let out a couple of coughs to clear away the loosened soil which had blown onto him during the attack of the elements, before addressing the novice Airbender in his best attempt at levity, "We just had to decide on tagging along for the meeting of the nations, didn't we?"

The Water Tribe native coughed a few more times, right before noticing the dull throbbing at one side of his head which was caused by the same rock responsible for his slow reaction time only minutes ago. Raising a hand to his head, he let out a silent curse at finding a wet patch around the tender area. Pulling his hand away, Ryota felt a ping of dread over the blood which now stained those very fingers. The young warrior doubted it was anything serious, but knew such injuries could impede ones ability to defend themselves should the battle resume anytime soon. And without much bending material within his immediate proximity, this only made the young man even more vulnerable.

Trying to push these concerns aside, he glanced over in Xia's direction once more, ignoring his previous annoyance at her for now as he spoke, "How...how are you holding up, anyway?"

Evidently better then himself, least when comparing how the two were doing on a purely physical level. At the same time, he remembered how she was behaving when Longshot and himself neared her and Smellerbee earlier; which left Ryota with a lingering concern on the girls ability to cope with everything happening around her.

Several feet away, Longshot had vaguely become aware of another persons approach as his tear ducts slowly washed away the dirt which blew into his eyes during the short lived but powerful wind storm. Still, even without having seen who it was, he somehow knew the identity of this person the moment their hands came into contact with his body. While her efforts at pulling her friend away from danger and checking for injuries were well intended, Smellerbee never did have what most would consider the greatest of bedside manners. And where most young men would welcome any chance for a woman to check under their top, his fellow Freedom Fighters attempts at finding any signs of injury were actually making Longshot wince as his eyes plied themselves open.

Gazing up at his friend, Longshot could vaguely recognize the expression etched upon her face. That look where she inwardly questioned if she should yell at the injured party first or find out how badly they were hurt. He'd seen it several times in the years which followed the passing of Jet and her reformation of the Freedom Fighters. This was the first detail he noticed, with the second being how she had seemingly been denied the former option due to an injury suffered recently. Ignoring the protests of his sore muscles, Longshot reached a hand upward, being careful of not startling Smellerbee when he let the tips of his fingers gently trace long the side of her injured jaw.

Concern lining his features, the Freedom Fighter knew she wasn't likely to care for his worrying over they both knew to be an ultimately insignificant injury on her part. Because of this and a concern of causing her any discomfort, both due to the pain which she likely felt, not to mention her discomfort about those scars which were only a few inches above where he touched; Longshot lowered his hand to her shoulder. Squeezing it out of appreciation for her help, the young man silently asked for her assistance as he carefully pulled himself into a sitting position.

Patting his friends shoulder before removing his hand from her person, the marksman started to straighten out the clothing which was rustled by both the wind and Smellerbee's desperate search for injuries. Thankfully, nothing seemed as if it was broken, though he'd likely feel these injures for the following day or two. A revelation which he silently conveyed to the young woman which was at his side. Of course, he knew this meant she'd have less reason for holding back, were it not for those injuries preventing her from fully expressing how frustrated she'd likely been upon seeing his body.

"Don't worry, Smellerbee." Longshot assured his friend as he gazed into her eyes, letting a slight smirk frame his features as he added with a mixture of promise and light teasing, "If you're still feeling up to it, I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunities for berating me later."

 

[ChasNicollette]

It's so easy to blame Eazy... :: singin' ::

Xia stood, and in quiet horror, regarded the fallen archer.

Oh. So that's where I'd seen those arrows before.

Smellerbee had selflessly dragged Xia to safety, and it seemed that Longshot had done the same for Ryota, and both of them had suffered for their efforts. Longshot had taken a pretty bad hit, though he still seemed functional, and Smellerbee...

Smellerbee had a heart in her chest after all, if there had remained any doubt, and the clearest evidence of this was the way with which she silently, desperately clamoured over her downed comrade. Of course, the war-painted Freedom Fighter could always brush it off later as being mere post-traumatic foolishness or concern for a subordinate, but there was something very plaintive about the way Smellerbee strived to assess the damage to the boy who'd pecked her cheek.

There was just something heartbreaking about Longshot being the talkative one for a change, and Smellerbee being the one without words. Something heartbreaking indeed.

(She hadn't known them for very long, but maybe it was her outsider perspective that caused her to see the juxtaposition of this.)

Xia, for all her vaunted attempts to memorise philosophy, to entrench understanding in her mind, knew surprisingly few prayers. But she said one now, for Smellerbee and Longshot.

"Please let them be okay," she mumbled. "Please."

Turning his attention toward the ally which remained nearest, Ryota let out a couple of coughs to clear away the loosened soil which had blown onto him during the attack of the elements, before addressing the novice Airbender in his best attempt at levity, "We just had to decide on tagging along for the meeting of the nations, didn't we?"

Xia glanced at the Tribesman as he coughed, and she smiled faintly, tightly, her eyes dark and full of worry, as he made his little joke. With a bit of mordant tingeing her own chuckle, she couldn't help but agree: "It is written: 'Yesterday's clarity is today's stupidity.'"

"How...how are you holding up, anyway?"

She looked at him, then. Really looked at him.

She was dinged up, this was for sure. Splashes of blood darkened on her as they dried. Both hands were stinging where she'd been disarmed by rampant elements. She had bruises and scrapes a-plenty, but neither was she dizzily concussed...

...she'd done nothing but annoy and snark at him and still he was looking after her rather than himself.

That ache in her eyes transmuted from worry to guilt as, she saw the poor bastard caked with dirt and shaken, and herself without a relative scratch.

She sank to her knees beside him, biting her lip, shaking her head at herself.

"I'm holding up," she muttered, "I'll probably go completely mad later. 'Post-traumatic foolishness' and all that. Lots of cackling and screaming, maybe clawing at the walls? ...I don't really want to. Process this. You know?"

Her fingers hovered near the bloody patch on his head, the injury mussing up his otherwise still-perky wolf-tail. Just as there was dirt encrusting his face, there had gotten some good quantity of the stuff in that head wound. Xia, to her chagrin, was no healer. She had patched herself up well enough from time to time... but this was a little beyond her.

Still. She could do something, at least.

"Hold still," she winced. "This might. This will probably sting a lot."

She narrowed her eyes and she focused as tightly as she could...

And she blew on his wound -- cool air rushed out from her in a gust -- and puffs of dirt and globules of blood burst away from his injury in a cloud and wafted to the ground some distance away.

Xia smiled at him weakly, helplessly, that guilt fathoms deep in her eyes.

"It's a start, right?" she chuckled faintly, as she was beside him on her knees. "Should probably wash that with water or alcohol. Can't do anything for the inside. But it's a start?"

She closed her eyes and chuckled faintly. "It is written: 'The Man of Virtue is not left to stand alone.'"

 

[Mephistophelily]

Azula could see it, the glorious flames that had been passed down to her from her father's veins, the same that flowed in her grandfather before her; the fires that fueled the glory of the Fire Nation. It danced about her, encouraging her, beckoning her enticing her to join it in its dance of victory. Her hands reached towards it, anxiously waiting for the burning beauty to take over once more...

But it died away, as if taunting her now. She growled furiously, getting up from the laying position she found herself in upon this barren rocky plain. Rising to her feet, she paused for merely a moment, realizing that neither this area or even the meager clothing wrapped about her were familiar. Her feet were bare, the light red fabric wound about her chest and waist reminding her more of the first time she had spent in that asylum than the robes of the Fire Lord her mind usually placed her in during one of her dreams. That had to be what this was- merely a dream.

But the fire... even if this merely were in her dreams, the flames should not be disobeying her. Not her- Not the true Fire Lord. She moved towards it, her fingers aching to reach for it, fury burning through her as she attempted to bend it. It refused to respond, ignoring her demands.

The Avatar.

She screamed in frustration, dropping to her knees and slamming her fists hard against the earth. This was his doing, taking away what she loved, what she needed, the thing that drove her existence. He had violated into her, destroyed her... He left her living; at least he claimed that he would- but perhaps that was what this was. Perhaps this was her own limbo, the place she was trapped until death came to her.

She slowly returned to her feet, dragging across the rocky area and finding a small stream, flowing beyond the firey borders outside of her reach. She licked her lips, finding that she was rather thirsty... She stepped closer still, frustrated as the flames continued to dance away from her with each movement, refusing to let her near them... but moving past the watr and allowing her room to squat down, scooping some into her palm and sipping from it.

Another thought came to her. These surroundings-
Earth.
Fire.
Water.

But where was Air?

"AANG!," she shrieked, spilling the remainder back into the stream as she got to her feet. "I know what this is... Where are you?!"

 

[ChasNicollette]

The ocean is deep.

The ocean is so very very deep.

And the oft-lauded light of Sun and Moon only goes down very short a distance. Swim downwards very long at all, and you will be surrounded by darkness on every side, and you will no longer know which way is up.

You will be beneath the surface of all that you know, of all that is known by man, and you will border on the uncharted. The unlit.

The place where Serpents pass undetected, and Unagi holds sway.

Darkness. Swallowing darkness.

And it was in a place like this, full of monsters slithering past just out of reach just out of sight, that Katara slowly drowned. Slowly sank. Down and down.

The Moon was not full this night, but the thus-far nameless dark Spirit had sought to sever Katara's life-giving link to The Moon Spirit forever. And it would have succeeded...

...had it not been for a young woman's turning her touch of nervelessness and binding to consciousness and freedom.

...had it not been for Ty Lee.

Katara sank down into the darkness.

But then she felt tickling, the faintest tickling off of her skin, and she would have panicked had not pale white light emerged beside her.

She twisted as she sank, and she blinked in surprise as she saw a faintly glowing shape. Beautiful. Instantly recognised.

"Yue?" she mumbled.

Yue was there beside her, though her moonglow was barely visible through the gloom, and when The Moon Spirit reached for Katara, her fingers passed touchlessly through the Waterbender's cheek.

"Go on," She murmured. "Go on, go on."

Katara frowned, bewildered, disoriented, the weight of the blackness around her drowning her thoughts, her own Spirit... "'Go on?' But I'm. Sinking? You want me to 'go on' sinking?"

Yue smiled softly, and seemed to grow just a little more tangible, as Katara again felt the scampering sensation over her skin.

"You were," She explained, nodding Her head. "You were sinking. You were almost gone. I'd almost lost you. But up from down is a funny thing in the depths, and sinking sinking down is often confused with floating, floating up. Turn yourself around, and look. And go on."

Katara's frown deepened, and slowly she twisted, and looked behind her.

She saw, with a start, that Yue's pale glow was reflecting off of a surface only yards away. A liquid looking-glass, an infinite rippling plane, up and down and left and right it extended. And it was growing closer.

"Go on," Yue nodded, and Her voice was as clear as a bell. "Go on. The ebb and flow of the tide is true in Life as it is upon the shore -- you healed this woman, and now in turn she prays for you-- prays to me, whether she knows it or not --and with tender, learned touches, coaxes you back. Go on, Katara. And tell your brother... tell your brother I still miss him. Very much."

Breathless, Katara reached out towards that surface, reached out, tentative and wondering...

...she could hear the sound of breathing...

...a slender arm clad in Kyoshi robes shot down from that surface, burst downwards, and grabbed Katara's outstretched arm by the wrist. It was tender enough, but it wasn't taking "no" for an answer, and it dragged Katara upwards hard...

Katara yelped and slammed shut her eyes, fearful of impacting with that shimmering surface.

But nothing happened. And nothing happened. She could still hear the sound of breathing, but there came the sound of cries as well, cries of the wounded and despairing.

She opened her eyes.

Ty Lee.

Ocean and Moon, it was good to see her.

Reality dawned upon her, even in the darkness, consciousness returned to her, and she saw Ty Lee smile, and wearily, wearily, she smiled back.

Then panic gripped her chest, the panic of a drowning woman and she whipped her head to one side and with hacking, shuddering, wracking coughs she expulsed from her throat and from her lungs an oozing blackness. She coughed it up, these lungfuls of oily black depths, as might a rescued drowner cough up lungfuls of The Sea.

She managed, through sheer instinct and reflex, to not get any of this on Ty Lee.

It sizzled when it hit the ground. It sizzled and bubbled and fizzled... it evapourated and wafted away.

Tears were in Katara's eyes... she clutched at Ty Lee's wrist and, amnesiac, she struggled to remember how she'd come to be there.

She saw Toph standing vigil, and she knew that... there had been battle... if there had been battle, then it must be over, as Toph would never stand idle if there was evil to be fought.

She saw her brother crying, her wounded downed brother and she knew she knew she was supposed to say something to him, and in her panting post-panic she glanced back and forth between Ty Lee and Toph and Sokka and desperately she tried to find the words.

Tried to tell Ty Lee thank you.

Tried to offer Toph her utmost respect.

Tried to tell Sokka he was loved.

But she could not find the words, she could not find the breath, her brain was pins and needles and her chi was awakening as though from wintry hibernation... things were coming back to her, but slowly, oh so slowly...

She looked around again.

And saw Aang.

Aang was down. Aang was... he was crumpled upon the ground like so much origami... Azula down beside him.

Her heart clutched in her chest. Her blood turned to ice.

Her hand 'round Ty Lee's wrist turned into a deathgrip.

"Aang," she croaked, her blue blue eyes somewhere between the hissing boil of a geothermal geyser and the chilling antarctic touch of a Southern floe. "Aang. What's happened to him? She did this to him..."

Aang had needed her. And she'd been too busy drowning.

Her eyes turned into a blue blue blaze as she locked her gaze onto Ty Lee's face. "WHAT. DID. THAT. BITCH. DO?"

...Iroh stood.

Only yards from where Azula and Aang had fallen, he stood.

His face was very sombre, very serious, very sad.

But he was a man of action. And he knew... somehow... he knew... there was nothing here he could do.

He was singed 'round the edges. One shoulder was dislocated from a hailstone's passing. He was encrusted with dirt. And he bled from the ears, as he had been practically at Ground Zero when the sonic boom had gone off.

But still he stood. All but motionless.

Even the fall of his beloved nephew, the boy he had called "son," this could not drag his eyes away from what had befallen The World.

He took one step. He took two.

He lowered himself, wheezing, to one knee, and reached out with his good hand towards Azula's face.

With thumb and fingertips, he eased her eye open...

...and from within that eye came a searing white white light, brighter even than The Moon, colder and hotter and brighter all at once...

From Azula's eye came the glow of The Avatar State. But Azula herself was not at home.

Iroh let Azula's eye flick closed, and with a grunt, he rose to his feet.

"Something has gone terribly wrong," he murmured, though he knew this was understatement, and that it was a waste of energy to state the obvious.

He closed his eyes. "It is all my fault."

To him, this was also understatement, and this was also obvious, and yet he said it anyway.

"It is all my fault."

 

[Mephistophelily]

"Katara...," Toph breathed out, relief washing over her at hearing her friend stir, the coughing and wheezing that followed only affirming that she was well. Whatever had happened- She was unsure of exactly what it had been, but to make Iroh cry out in such a manner, to have her fall for no reason... Something terrible. There had been so much fear in the air around them, so much concern on what was happening in each direction... Toph was simply lost, even more blind to the events around her than ever before in her life. Simply too many things at once for her to attempt to focus in on.

But she could hear it all now, the reactions of those around her that she could make out. She did a quick attendance run as she heard the voices, tacking down in her head those well enough to move or simply speak out. Iroh was tending to Azula and Aang, Toph catching his chanted blames of guilt upon himself. Her fists tightened slightly with that, shifting her feet against the dirt as she spoke towards Ty Lee. "Please... Make sure she's okay...," She asked softly, though her attention was more focused towards the Dragon.

Her steps were far more gentle than usual as she started towards him, concerned about her friend and the blame he continued to place upon himself. She paused a moment, barely making it more than a few feet from where she left Katara and the others as she recalled the painful thunk she had heard and felt during the overwhelming confusion of backfired bendings. Her heart jumped into her throat, the tally she had done moments ago recalling a missing member of that roster. "Zuko...?"

She dropped her foot hard against the dirt, using the vibration to view the area around her and finding the fallen form still residing against the ground. Pivoting about quickly on her heel, she was quickly at his side, testing in the same manner she had used for Katara and laying her hand on the ground beside him. "Ty Lee- Might be needing your help over here! I think he got hit pretty hard, I actually felt him connect with this wall earlier..." She continued to feel about the ground, her fingers finally finding the rhythm of his heart through the earth beneath him. Another gentle sigh of relief left her with that, shaking her head as she plunked down onto the ground beside him and laying her head onto the bottom step of the stone stairs.

So much confusion, so much insanity...

 

[Ahren1]

Zuko laid in darkness, his gaze upward at the nothingness that lingered over him. What was happening? Was he dead? Was it wrong that the possibility almost brought him relief? As much as he told himself he'd need to be strong, the idea of living without Mai was still too much to comprehend. The subsequent actions of Azula simply took priority only since they were a danger to his friends and she deserved a terrible fate for what she had done.

Perhaps it was all over now. Perhaps everything had gone through, despite the horrible feeling he had after his Uncle's strange comments toward an invisible spirit. Maybe that had all been in his mind as well. He could hope.

"It isn't over yet..." A soft, familiar voice echoed out from beside him. As his eyes slid over, he saw Mai leaning beside him in the darkness, her slight smile bringing a calm over him, even though her words were not reassuring. Her silken robe wavered slightly as her delicate hand reached out to one of his own. "You really knew how to fall asleep at the worst times..."

Her voice began to fade now, as well as her form. Despite everything in his body and soul screaming out for her to stay, he couldn't move or speak until finally his hand turned to grasp hers, gripping it tightly. "Mai..." He finally managed to whisper. Suddenly his whole body began to ache, and his ears rung intensely. Consciousness had been found once again. As the Fire Lord's eyes slowly cracked open, he was now greeted by the night sky above rather than the total darkness of his subconscious. The last few seconds were coming back to him now. Aang.. Something made him lose control and bend the elements so violently... He had never seen a shockwave of air quite like that.

Finally, he managed to sit up, bringing him some relief that his impact hadn't left him paralyzed. It was then that he noticed his hand was still gripping onto someone else.. Turning slightly, he could see Toph and her hand grasped in his own. Quickly, he withdrew his hand out of fear of making her uncomfortable. "Toph... Sorr-" He began, only to cough heavily in the middle of his words. His hand reached over to clutch his chest as he felt the stinging pain every time his lungs expanded too quickly. After it subsided, he moved over to the Earthbender's side and helped her back up, looking her over to make sure she had not been seriously injured. "Are you all right..?" Though her state spoke for itself. Toph was especially strong, and she was one of the least damaged of the crew. The thought suddenly reminded Zuko of the last thing he saw before blacking out, and his breath caught in his chest despite the sharp pain that would result from it.

"Katara..." He whispered again, finally managing to make it to his feet, despite the ache of his entire body. Thankfully it was just now that she was regaining consciousness while beside her knelt Ty Lee, and Sokka. Iroh, on the other hand, had progressed further into the decimated courtyard. Almost nothing of it was recognizable by now. The shocking elemental outburst made sure of that. Zuko began to urge his body forward, slowly but surely approaching his Uncle, making it there in enough time to overhear his self-blaming comments.

"Don't say that.. How could this possibly be your fault..?" Zuko whispered as he placed a hand on the old man's shoulder, looking down at Azula and Aang with great concern. He had been right about one thing, though.. Something had definitely gone very wrong during the energy bend. Kneeling down, the Fire Lord was able to determine the Avatar was still alive and breathing, but insistence for him to awaken were not responded to at all. "I need to know what happened, Uncle.. What you saw.. but first.. we have to get Aang out of here. Some of Azula's men are still about. We can't risk them taking this opportunity to hurt him..."

(Aang post will come a bit later)

 

[Eazy]

The young Tribesman gazed at the Earth Kingdom native as she spoke about clarity and stupidity, with the words needing a few seconds to register, but bringing about an amused smile once they did. At this point, he could only hope this day would make for the type of grand story he'd wish to tell others years from now. Was a little difficult to decipher which side had the edge at the moment, since the majority of both forces troop were barely moving, let alone ready for further conflict. Taking another glance into the direction of the Freedom Fighters, however, brought about some seemingly good news as he watched Longshot moving into a sitting position under his own will power and strength.

Ryota's immediate attention once again turned toward Xia after he sensed her shifting downward and into a kneeling position beside him. This apparent interest in his well being had taken the Water Bender a little by surprise, but he certainly wasn't in any condition to complain. And now that the battle had grounded to a halt, with words coming out of her mouth which weren't frustrating his already stressed mind, he was reminded of how physically attractive the young woman had been. Just a shame about her previous attitude problems obscuring much of his current opinion about the girl, even if his own stressful reactions upon the airship were partly to blame for much of it.

"I can relate to how you're feeling. Now that there's a lull in the fighting and the adrenaline's stopped pumping, I'm trying to prevent what little I can make of this reality from making me curl up into a ball on the floor." The young warrior conveyed as he idly attempted to dust off the dirt on his uniform, taking into consideration the number of escaped mental patients who were likely to be slain or escaped after this day, "On the bright side? After all of this, it looks as if there's plenty of room for both of us in the local Fire Nation facilities."

Offering up a halfhearted smirk, his body nearly recoiled as she unexpectedly stretched a hand toward his injury. Ryota could do little more then imagine how it looked, and he didn't even wish to dwell upon that mental image for very long. His eyes gazed at Xia questionably as she studied his wound, as if trying to read from her expression how bad it may appear on the outside. Heavens know he could feel how bad it was on the inside. And despite any of his misgivings toward the girl, when she instructed him to hold still, he surprisingly did not hesitate to nod his head in understanding before doing as Xia asked of him.

When the wind hit, he was taken by a mixture of pain and surprise. Then mostly pain as he winced at the light force which steadily aided in cleaning both his wound and everything else which surrounded it. Gritting his teeth as he fought against the instinctive urge to pull away, he gutted it out until Xia finished up with her startling display of Airbending (that, or she had incredibly strong lungs). The fact that she could apparently bend air at all had left him with a few questions. Ones which he assumed would be better suited for the Avatar or the retired Fire Nation General who brought her into the meeting to answer. For now, he was just grateful for the showing of kindness.

"It's a great start. Certainly a far cry better then how I was earlier. Thank you." The young man stated as his fingers carefully ran along his features, finding nary a trace of dirt or moistness from his blood left upon his face or the skin near his wound, "Name's Ryota, by the way. Don't believe we've had a formal introduction. Outside of hearing each others names through conversing with everyone else, anyway."

The Water Bender couldn't keep from feeling a twinge of guilt within his gut over many of the original preconceptions he held about the girl. Especially after how his own nervous comments about death and second guessing being part of this conflict while on the way here probably did little in calming the fear she was likely feeling. Least for now they appeared to have found a common ground where both could behave relatively civil toward each other.

"And I really need to find out where all of this stuff is written. You generally don't find many chances to read while living the life of a water tribe warrior." The young warrior commented with a chuckle as he took a sense of comfort in the girls words, before referring back to the topic of his injury, "Also, don't worry about my head. I'll ask Katara to take a look at it when she has a chance."

Almost instantly after finishing this thought, a look of realization filled Ryota's eyes as he considered the earlier phenomenon and how silent it'd been in the aftermath. Much as he'd tried avoiding such disheartening thoughts, he needed to take into consideration the very real possibility of casualties during the melee. After all, who's to say whether or not Katara, Sokka and the others were so 'lucky' as those within his immediate proximity. Thus, after nodding his head at Xia to silently relay he was fine, Ryota finally willed himself into standing up and onto his feet again. Though throbbing, it seemed the worst of his injury had subsided. Least enough for him to resume moving around the presently calmed battlefield. Unfortunately, most of his original bending material was lost, but the bender also figuring he could pick up any remaining traces of hail along the way.

"We should check on Smellerbee and Longshot, then try to find out how everyone else is doing." Ryota suggested as he gazed down at the Earth Kingdom girl, stretching out a hand in an offer to help her back up as his lips curled into a slight smile, "And, again? Thanks."

 

[Mister J]

Upon hearing that his sister would be fine, he rolled over on his back and let out a sigh of relief. The fighting had subsided and it looked like they were on the winning side. Hopefully the others would do the clean up while he rested a bit. His eyes felt so very heavy...so very very heavy. But she was okay, and that's all that mattered. He could rest now. His insides felt like oatmeal but the pain was nothing to what he would have felt like if Katara had been hurt..or worse.

"That's...that's good..."

He finally closed his eyes and drifted off into as peaceful a sleep as he once had before all of this craziness started. Back in his small village, back before he met Aang, before everything. He felt warm, almost numb. As everyone moved around him, as everything happened, as the fires burned, as the soldiers ran...Sokka just slept. No one, not even he, seemed to notice the small blood stain growing in size over his stomach.

The spear tip had struck him when the shockwave hit, carried by the gust of wind. It hit him hard, but he didn't notice it as he was forced backwards into the wall. The thrust forced the sharp object deep into his gut and now he was bleeding out, the loss of blood causing him to pass out. Normally he would have fallen unconscious much earlier but knowing his sister was in danger kept him going, kept him awake.

In the peaceful darkness there was a faint light, a dim white hue. As it came closer, he could make out the flowing white robes of his first love, Yue. She seemed to be calling out to him. He stretched out his arms, smiling up to her...but she shook her head and moved away from him. He tried to move closer but every time he attempted to do so, she backed away further. She was speaking, but he couldn't hear her voice. She just kept shaking her head as if to tell him "No." He couldn't understand...he missed her so much. He wanted to hold her again, to feel her warmth...why did she deny him?

"It's not your time yet."

Her words finally got through, and as he remembered, they were sweet to his ears. The whole of her message struck him though and he shook his head. "I don't care!" he tried to yell out, running now. She was crying, shaking her head as she disappeared and left him in darkness.

"Wake up Sokka........wake up........wake up..."

His eyes slowly fluttered open as he realized he had been reaching out the whole time. His arms dropped as he stared up at the sky, the dried tears on his cheeks washed over with new ones.

"Not yet I guess."

He smiled a bit and groaned, his hand falling to his stomach to feel the warm blood coming from the wound. It had soaked his left side and started to form a pool below him.

"I...I think I need some help."

 

[Mephistophelily]

"Katara, calm down! You're not exactly in the best shape to be threating people right now, so-" Toph paused, her hand suddenly being grabbed tightly in Zuko's grasp. A light yelp left her lips, not expecting the motion from the suspected unconscious Fire Lord. Shifting to her knees, she clasped her own fingers against his, her heart jumping as he began to stir; whispers leaving his lips that she could barely understand... But at least he was moving, a good sign.

A smile split her lips as he spoke to her, only to drop slightly as he coughed in the end. "Don't worry about it. You gave me a big scare, though. I thought someone threw a boulder, not a person. You hit hard." Taking his help in standing, she shook her head at his question on her well being. "I'm fine. Just a few scrapes and windburn. Better than... better than most."

She stayed still as he surveyed the rest of the group, lowering her head slightly as she listened to him, the concern in his voice revealing to her just how much devastation had taken place around them. It made her grateful to be blind then; she didn't want to see the pain her friends were in. To hear it was bad enough... The fear in Sokka's voice over his siter, the fury in Katara over the state of Aang, the concern in Zuko and Ty Lee. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she tried to keep control of her own emotions.

"Everybody's hurt in some way or another," she pointed out flatly. "Katara isn't going to be able to handle all this, not with the state she's in now." She shot a finger in the Waterbender's direction before she could speak, a stern expression on her own face. "And don't you argue with me on that, either. Worry about your brother right now. Aang will-"

-Will what?

She hadn't heard a word from the Avatar in some time, only the worried shouts and words of those around her. Iroh chanting his own believed cause behind the events, Zuko now attempting to console him and bringing up the fact Aang was left unguarded in his current state. "I'll handle Aang," she called out firmly. "I'll be able to notice anyone attempting to sneak up on us while he recovers. Even the quietest feet can't make it past me."

 

[UnseenMaiden]

Smellerbee

Fourteen Years Ago

The chains made merry little sounds to her ears as they jingled against each other as her feet found their way through the packed earth streets. It was the sound of escape, of freedom, and she grinned each time she heard them because of that. They’d tried, oh how they had tried, to keep her locked up, thinking that would tame her enough to put on the slave market. Bastards. She should have known better than to trust them the moment they so kindly offered her a place to stay. It was only weeks later that they announced her ready to meet her new fate. All that time was just to get her healthy. No one wanted a kid that would die before they’d paid off their price. She didn’t bother wiping the hurt tears that gathered in her eyes, choosing instead to ignore their existence altogether. What mattered now was that she was free and five steps more she was in the forest and losing sight of that accursed village forever.

If she wasn’t so used to not knowing where she was by now, being lost in an unfamiliar forest would probably have worried her. It had been days since she’d seen another person. At first, she’d been glad of that fact, but now she was fairly sure it only meant that she was getting farther and farther from civilization. She could survive a little bit by foraging; she knew that from many other times she’d done just that this past year, but she’d prefer people or at least the food they had so she could steal it from them at night. Angrily, her stomach growled it, causing her to grit her teeth in frustration with herself. She’d be alright like this. It wasn’t like she hadn’t gone hungry before and for longer periods of time. So she had no room to complain. It was some what of a familiar mantra by now. Even at her young age, she could see the grimness of that certain fact.

The berries stained her fingers a violent pink, but she was really beyond caring as she searched them over for bugs before popping each tart morsel into her mouth. They weren’t very ripe yet, but she was pretty sure they weren’t poisonous either. If they were, well she’d find out soon enough. Suddenly, the prickling sensation of being watched fell over her and the few remaining berries she had were forgotten as she scrambled for the reclaimed dagger she’d haphazardly strapped to her side. When she looked up at her ambusher, to her distinct surprise, all she saw was a boy. One that was probably only a bit older than her self. In less than a moment, she assessed him and straightened up from her defensive position to hold out a hand.

“You got food. I’m hungry. Gimme.”

So she wasn’t exactly pleasant about it all, but it wasn’t like he couldn’t afford to lose one meal. He may have been dressed pretty shabby and had a world weary look about him that plainly showed he had fallen on some rough times, but he looked healthy; which was a lot better than she felt at the moment. He was quiet, but she still had no problem reading the obstinacy in his eyes.

“I don’t care if you picked ‘em yourself. I want ‘em.”

Putting her hands on her hips, she glared at him. He was taller than her by at least a head, but she’d faced down people bigger than him, and lots meaner too, these past months. She was hungry and that’s all there was to it. Still he insisted on dwelling on the most inconsequential things. So he picked the nuts himself. So she could clearly tell what he was saying. So what? Whoop de doo. It wasn’t like it was the hardest thing in the world to do.

“A course I can understand you.”

Still, the look of shock stayed about him and she threw up her arms in distinct irritation. Moving closer, she jabbed a finger at him, standing up on her toes for full effect.

An’ I understand that you aren’t givin’ me your leechi nuts. An’ I’m hungry so you gotta share!”

Perhaps it was the scowl that finally snapped him out of it, but more than likely it was the loud growl of her stomach that made him reach into his pockets and pull out the bag. A bag that she grabbed immediately, shoving a handful of the contents in her mouth before she fully realized what she was eating. It was beautiful, all spice and nutty sustenance. Her muffled thanks could be heard through her chewing, but she almost immediately slowed down and stopped. She’d learned long ago that stuffing your face after not eating properly could make a body sick in a hurry. Urging herself to slow down, she carefully picked up one of the leechi nuts and placed it in her mouth, chewing thoughtfully as she looked over at the boy next to her.

“So… what’s your name?”
He seemed confused at first, no.. pondering. He was trying to figure out how much to tell her or even what to tell her. She could understand that. Trust wasn’t something she happened to give away and didn’t really expect it from others either. Then his gaze finally turned back to her and she froze. Then, slowly but surely, she started to shake until her form subsided into loud giggles. It even took her a bit to sober up, but eventually she did and grinned at him.

“Longshot is a silly name.”

When he grinned back, she laughed again. This time it was short as it was more out of surprise than anything. Somehow, she’d known without a doubt at that moment that they were going to be friends. It was a nice knowing but completely unexpected and she didn’t really trust her own feelings anymore because of it. Suddenly a third voice joined them, shouting for her companion she assumed but still coming closer every moment.

“Longshot, where you at?! ..Oh, who’s this?”

She recognized the appraising look in his eyes and did her best to appear strong and formidable. At least there was no lechery in his gaze or malice. That was a nice change. He too was older than her and probably even older than Longshot, but he was still technically a kid. In a world full of betraying adults, she almost felt safe in their company, almost. Realizing that the encroaching silence was because they were expecting an answer from her, she shrugged and gave them whatever kind of name she thought of first. This past year alone she’d been Fu Leng, Yuen, Qi, Ahmon, and Yuki. Any name was better than one given her at birth.

“I’m.. Smellerbee.”

Finding nothing to worry herself too much about, she mentally breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t know what she would have done if he’d been gravely injured. More or less satisfied with her appraisal, she slipped her hands from him. Then she felt fingers touching her jaw and she stiffened her eyes darting over to his gaze. She knew that he only did so out of worry for her own injuries, that he didn’t mean any harm by it, despite the pain that followed his touch, making her eyes tighten in response. It was because of her trust in him alone that she didn’t follow her instincts and pull away from the gentle gesture. It was a matter that was soon laid to rest anyways. His hand no longer lingered on her face, but her shoulder, something with which she was thankfully far more familiar. Reading the want for help in his eyes, she quickly assisted in pulling him from the unforgiving rocks and into the more comfortable position of sitting.

"Don't worry, Smellerbee. If you're still feeling up to it, I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunities for berating me later."

She watched him fidget with his clothes for a bit as she thought things over. His words had brought the reality of he silence back to crash around her ears. The muscles in her jaw pulsed painfully and her hand drifted back up to make sure again that she was only bruised and not broken. Not even five minutes being mute and she already couldn't stand it. Opening her mouth slowly, she almost got it wide enough to talk, but snapped it shut quickly to muffle the whimper of pain that she uttered. Anger flashed in her eyes as she mentally chided herself for her own weakness. Looking at Longshot now, she couldn't understand how he could force himself to be quiet like he did. Of course, he at least had the talent of speaking with his eyes. Even though she'd always understood him from the get go, she couldn't say with any confidence that she shared his ability. Shaking away the creeping beginnings of self-pity, she settled for shoving her friend's head lightly to get across her point of her not entirely appreciating the fact that he could joke about her circumstances.

(A/N: The flashback is my pirated version of this)