Forward In Time

Chapter Thirty-Seven

All the airbenders are rounded up in the courtyard by Ming-Hua, Ghazan, and Zaheer. Katara and Kya were among them as well.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet a true airbending master." Zaheer says to Tenzin.

"What is it you want from us?" Tenzin asks

"Nothing at all. In fact, if everyone cooperates, you will all walk out of this situation unharmed."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"I want Aang, and I'm tired of chasing him."

"You're using us as leverage."

"Yes."

Katara stands up with a determined look on her face, "I'm not letting you get to Aang."

Bumi, Kya and Tenzin stands as well, "Neither are we." Tenzin says.

"Unfortunately, you don't have a choice." Zaheer replies.

"Yes, we do."

Tenzin pushes the three criminals away with airbending, "Jinora! Get everyone out of here. Bumi, Kya, help us hold them off!" P'Li shoots near Tenzin, but he uses his airbending to protect the group, "And stay out of her line of sight! Go, go!"

The airbenders all run away. P'Li fires a beam at the exit, though everyone has evacuated. The criminals approach Katara and the three siblings. Katara and Kya bends water from a fountain and both forms a ring around themselves. The Red Lotus ready themselves and Zaheer throws a gust of wind at them.

Katara creates a wall of water in front of them to block the attack.

Meanwhile, the escaping airbenders reaches the end of the sheltered route. They look at the stable and Kai gestures for them to move out, though they are forced to retreat when bombarded with combustion beams.

"It's too dangerous." Pema says, "We'll never make it to the stables with her up there."

"We have to try!" Jinora says.

The airbenders dodged P'Li's attacks as they ran to the bison stable. They made it to safety and hid there for a long time as P'Li bombarded the area with combustion beams.

Kai started to become impatient the longer they hid there. Eventually, he grabbed his staff and said, "I can't wait any longer."

"Wait, what are you doing?" Jinira asked.

"Whatever I can." He runs out, "Get to the bison! Get out of here!"

P'Li fires a combustion beam at Kai, who narrowly misses the attack. The next combustion beam threw Kai off the cliff, though he is able to open his glider and take flight, avoiding multiple combustion beams. As he flies past P'Li, she turns her attention to the fleeing airbenders.

Kai flies back to the airship, sending an air swipe to P'Li, causing her to misfire and blast the cliff above. P'Li turns her attention to him and fires a combustion beam. Kai protects himself with an air ball, but is knocked out.

Jinora turns back and sees Kai falling from the sky. Tears fall down on her face, "Kai! No."

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Zaheer somersaults to avoid Tenzin's air blast. He constantly avoids Tenzin's attacks by jumping to new heights. Before reaching the roof, Tenzin manages to land a hit on Zaheer, but he is still able to run off, avoiding the master's attack.

Zaheer makes it to the houses attached to the wall, which Tenzin follows, attacking him with a close-range blast which was blocked. Zaheer rises and lands onto the protective wall. Tenzin follows and attacks him from behind, knocking him off balance.