𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 ᵃᵗˡᵃ

Chapter Five: The Bad Guys Betray Us; Did NOT See That Coming

   I have a bad feeling about this. I shifted, jittery and nervous. Aang, Sokka, Katara, and I stood on a big wooden scaffold, waiting for the trade party. Sokka had Tom-Tom. I fiddled with my bow; Yung had given me the bow and a quiver of arrows, since I didn't have any bending to defend myself. The giant Ozai statue to my left made me shudder.

Three girls appeared: Mai, a girl in pink, and a girl in royal looking clothes. Azula. Man, I hated her character so much. Then I heard a, "Hello! It's me, Bumi!" A metal cage attached to a crane chain lowered to the ground, behind the Fire Nation party. King Bumi cackled, his face uncovered.

"Do you have him?" Mai asked. Aang nodded, and Sokka stepped forward. Azula held up a hand.

"Wait a minute. Mai, can I say something?" Mai nodded. "You really want to trade a powerful king for a two-year-old? That just doesn't seem fair." Mai looked at Tom-Tom, who yawned and rested his head on Sokka's shoulder.

She raised her hand. "Deal's off." Bumi's cage was pulled up. The king laughed and yelled, "Whee!"

"NO!" Aang sprinted forward, using his airbending to run faster. Azula sent a stream of blue fire at him, but he leaped over her. He lightly landed on the side of the statue's scaffolding, then jumped off and opened his glider. However, as he flew, his turban came off, and his blue arrows were out in the open.

Azula smiled and ran toward a pulley in the scaffolding, but before she could, my arrow whizzed by her. "I don't think so!" I yelled, another arrow pointed at her. Of course, I wouldn't really try to hit her. I didn't have it in me. But she didn't have to know that.

Azula growled and threw a fireball at me. "Oh, no." I dove out of the way, the fireball missing me by a hair. Note to self: Don't anger the crazy fire princess! By the time I was on my feet again, she had already broken the pulley and shot up to Aang and Bumi. "Great. I have one job, and I'm already failing miserably." I turned and ran back to Katara and Sokka, readying my bow.

"Keep the baby safe!" Katara yelled. Sokka blew on Aang's bison whistle before Tom-Tom grabbed it and began playing with it. We ran to the edge of the platform. Then, a fist popped out of the wood and struck Sokka's foot, causing him to fall. He slid to the edge.

"SOKKA!" I was about to run to him, but he stopped sliding just in time and gave us a weak thumbs-up. I let out the breath that I didn't know I was holding.

The girl in pink jumped up out of the floor and ran towards Sokka. Katara was busy blocking Mai's knives. I growled and sprinted towards the pink girl. What's her name? Ty Lee. And her talent ... Oh, right! She's a Chi Blocker! I leaped forward and tackled her. "That wasn't very nice," she pouted.

I rolled my eyes. "Well, I'm just protecting my friends." Ty Lee kicked me away, and I rolled onto my feet. She leaped up, using the scaffolding as a springboard, and flew over my head. She landed right behind me and, before I could react, jabbed me in the back, legs, and arms. I crumpled to the ground, paralyzed. Darn pressure points!

Ty Lee waved and bounced away. "That was fun, let's do it again sometime!" she called. I grumbled as I tried to move. I watched as Ty Lee blocked Katara's bending. I hope she'll be okay ...

"Beth!" I looked up to see Sokka riding Appa, his hand outstretched. He grabbed my limp arm and yanked me onto Appa's head. Tom-Tom giggled when he saw me.

"Thanks," I grunted. At Sokka's questioning look, I answered, "The pink-clad girl. Expert on pressure points." My fingers twitched as I tried to move them. "This might take a few minutes ..."

We circled back to where Katara fought the two teenagers without her bending. Sokka landed Appa in front of Katara. Appa slammed his tail on the scaffold, sending Mai and Ty Lee flying. Sokka motioned to his sister. "Get on."