The Search Within the Force and Flame

VI

Logan tumbled through the clouds, the air rushing past him with a deafening roar.
Don't panic, don't panic, he thought to himself. Remember your training.

Aang yanked on Appa's reins, trying desperately to catch up to the two falling figures. Then, without warning, the distant storm was no longer distant. Raging winds howled, thunder roared, and cracks of lightning split the sky. Cabbage-ball-sized raindrops pelted the group.

"THIS STORM IS TOO INTENSE! I GOTTA GO LOW!" Aang yelled.

"BUT MY SISTER—" Zuko shouted.

"AND LOGAN!" Katara interjected.

"I HAVE TO SET US DOWN! THIS STORM IS GOING TO KILL US!" Aang cried.

Logan frantically looked around as he plummeted.

"PANIC! PANIC!" he yelled, forcing himself to reorient. Now on his stomach, arms and legs outstretched, he scanned the sky. To his right, a small figure was speeding toward him like a bullet, trailing blue fire.

"Uh-oh," Logan muttered.

The pelting rain and arcs of lightning did nothing to slow the rage-fueled Fire Princess. Her golden eyes burned with fury, locked onto her target. Logan glanced down—the forest floor was rapidly coming into view. A small lake sat nestled in an outcropping.

Taking a Hail Mary gamble, he flipped forward.

Logan crossed his arms over his chest, stiffened his body, and pointed his feet downward. This is gonna suck, he thought. Closing his eyes, he reached out with the Force, trying to slow his descent.

The wind and rain zipped past him. His heart pounded.

Then—

SPLASH!

Logan opened his eyes to a dark, blurry expanse of water. Adrenaline surged through him as he kicked and clawed his way to the surface. Gasping for air, he swam to the shore, dragging himself onto the damp sand. He barely had time to breathe before—

WHOOSH!

Logan rolled just as Azula landed, flipping forward with her right foot leading, blue flames propelling her descent. The ground where she landed was now a smoldering crater. Azula stood in the center, scanning the area. Logan scrambled to his feet.

"YOU!" Azula hissed.

She darted toward him, pushing off with her back heel. Her leg arched high before coming down in a brutal axe kick. Logan caught her leg mid-air and spun, slamming her into the ground with a thud.

Azula looked up at him, eyes blazing.

"I don't want to fight you, Princess," Logan said, taking a defensive stance.

A flash of lightning illuminated her face, twisted in fury. She gritted her teeth and swept at his legs. Logan jumped back as she leaped to her feet, unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks. He sidestepped and blocked each one.

Between the blows, they exchanged words.

"What did she tell you?" Azula demanded.

"I don't know who she is!" Logan dodged a fistful of blue fire.

"You're lying!" she snapped. "I bet she sent you to throw me off! To keep her secrets!"

Azula swung again. Logan caught her left fist. She threw her other, and he caught that too. Lifting his arms, he outstretched both, then dropped his hands onto her shoulders, pulling her close.

"Listen to me!" Logan yelled. "I wasn't sent by anyone! I came on this trip of my own volition. You may not believe me because of your experiences, but look into my eyes—I. AM. TELLING. YOU. THE. TRUTH!"