The White Assassin

Ch. 17 - Face to Face

The wind swept past our ears. We ran so quickly that not even the sun could keep up with our pace. I was leading the group. Not just because I was the fastest but because I was the most eager to get back home. We continued through the forest and made our way past lakes, animals and even other travelers. We never stopped to rest, or at least I didn't want to. Katara complained about her feet hurting but I ignored her and continued to run. Nothing was going to stop me from finding my way back to the palace. I smelt something burning and immediately got a bad feeling in my stomach. When I looked towards where we were heading, a line of smoke was flying off into the air. This only made me run faster, now I knew that not only were we too late, but my kingdom was in danger; my family was in danger.

We found ourselves at the destroyed front gates of the Earth Kingdom. Guards were laying all over the ground, either dead or exhausted from battle. Women from the intensive care unit were walking to the men and giving them water. Some even needed medication to continue their fighting. The looks of pain on their faces gave me a feeling of dishonor and guilt. I couldn't save them, they were feeling this way because of me. I looked around for my parents and saw that they were no where in sight. "You two help the nurses with the soldiers." I told Aang and Katara.

"What about you?" Katara asked. I had my back towards them and I turned my head to the side. My eyes were fierce and I gazed at them

"I'm going to save my parents." I stated. Before they could stop me I ran through the garden towards the main hall. I heard shouts and gasps from the fallen soldiers of my return. Some said 'welcome' others told me to 'stay back'. I ignored their cries and made my way to the throne room. I grabbed the handle but winced from a sudden pain. The handle was molten hot, there was no way that I could open the door with my bare hands. I used my air bending to slam the doors open. Once I did, the room was illuminated and I saw my parents tied up with Ozai and Zuko standing next to them. They looked beaten and bruised but I saw the glimmer in their eyes saying they haven't lost hope. "You know, it's quite rude for one to attack unarmed patrons. However, when have you two ever had proper manners." I said. They looked at me and had looks of pure shock.

"You're alive?" Ozai gasped. I crossed my arms and smirked.

"Your fine soldiers are quite kind. Not only were they nice enough to feed me and supply me with my necessities, they were also kind enough to give me alone time so I could plot my escape." I smiled evilly at the two fire nation men and they glared at me. "Let them go, Ozai."

"I don't think so. You see, your parents promised me that you would marry my son." He stated back. Now it was my turn to glare back at the fire nation lord and prince. "When they told me that they had lost their daughter, well, I couldn't find a suitable counterpart. Your parents owe me. You owe me." He finished and started to walk towards me. "If I don't get what I want, people do not become happy. When people do not become happy, sadness erupts throughout my kingdom. That is the last thing I need. I will protect my nation, especially against some 16 year-old twat who was too insecure about marriage to deal with it like a grown up!" Ozai screamed at me. My face never faltered. My glares stayed strong and I never even flinched at his words. Without even moving, I felt the wind pick up behind me and I chuckled.

"You see, there's something you don't know about me Ozai." I said to him. The wind began to pick up even more fierce then before. "I never run away from something I can't handle." I attacked him with a wind attack and he was blown off of his feet. His back went straight into a pillar and dust flew everywhere.

"Father!" Zuko exclaimed. "How dare you?" He shouted at me. "You have no right to treat the mightiest lord like this!" His face contorted into a look of anger. His fists grew in balls of flames and he ran towards me. His punches grazing past my cheeks and burning pieces of my hair. The heat coming from his palms was almost unbearable but I got used to it pretty quickly. I continued to dodge his attacks and jumped back. I landed about 5 feet away from him and he went to advance towards me yet again. However, when he tried, he was splashed in the face with water. I turned to see Pete, Haron, Katara and Aang all there with water pales. Well except for Katara, I'm sure she wouldn't need one herself. I smiled at them and they smiled back.

"There's no way you're fighting this alone, Hale." Pete said. I nodded and they all lined up next to me. We all had determination written on our faces and Zuko was starting to get up. He realized he was outmatched and widened his eyes.

"5 against 1? This hardly seems fair." He stated. Before we could attack, a wall of fire was sprouted, splitting the group in half. Aang and I were on one side while Pete, Haron and Katara were on the other. Soldiers came flooding in on their side and they all got into a fighting stance. Aang and I had Zuko and Ozai on our side of the fire wall. This was going to be two matches, Pete, Haron and Katara vs. the army, and the air benders vs. fire nation royalty. Boy was this going to be fun.