Yin & Yang

Chapter 22.

Toph climbed the final step to the palace. Her foot tapping the rock lightly and her expression darkened. "That cart.." She walked up to it and she frowned. "Something isn't right." She looked deep into the ground. Inviting herself into the palace as there was no one standing at the doors, Toph followed the hallways. The earth mapped out the palace to her. It wasn't long before her ears heard the ringing of metal on metal. "Definitely out of place." Her hand trailed the hallway walls until her sight brought her to the courtyard garden where Zuko and Jet fought. Jet's anguished scream pierced her ears. "So that's who you are." Toph stalked foreword, pushing guards out of her way. She stopped when everything in the room stilled. Something made Zuko stop and his heart race. Hearing Smellerbee's voice and the proposal, Toph frowned. Pushing the last few people aside, her foot slammed onto the ground and she rose her arms in the air.

The ground rumbled a moment. Zuko shot straight up into the air as it rose from beneath him. He leaned down and pulled the dagger from his boot and threw it at the surprised Longshot. He yelped out as it sank into his shoulder, the hand releasing the arrow on an off course. Air rushed past Zuko as he flew up and then came back down. Toph stomped the ground again, curled her hands into tight fists and threw them to Jet. He tried to scramble out of the way as stones flew at him, scurrying to his feet and dancing as the ground moved in waves and stones flying in every which direction to him.

Landing on the ground, Zuko fired balls of light to Jet as well. His damaged shoulder bleeding out more of his life as he moved. His breathing became shallow and slow. Stumbling and struggling to see, his relentless attack became fruitless as he paused to catch his breath and clasp his hand onto his wound. A flash of light blinded him as Jet's hooked sword came flying at Zuko's chest. Rising his feet up to kick it out of the way, his foot slipped and he fell to the ground. Katara's muffled cry of his name brought his gaze up to the balcony above. Smellerbee shoved Katara down off the perch as a splash of blood and Zuko's cry of pain filled her eyes and ears.

Toph stopped her attack as guards poured into the garden to seize Jet up. Katara's body landed on the ground with a sickening crack as she struggled with her bonds. She let out a muffled cry of pain as a guard cut the ropes binding her neck. This loosened the other strands against her arms and she wriggled about, her hands twisting against the tight knots. The moment the ropes on her hands were free, she reached down and freed her feet in a hurry. Pushing through the crowd now gathered around Zuko, Katara removed the tight gag around her head and she let out a sob as her eyes fell upon him, his body falling to the ground. She eyed the dagger that had plunged into his stomach, the vial on top of it slowly emptying the green liquid down a shaft on the short blade embedded into Zuko's body.