Left Behind

Chapter 6: Scars and Masks

As the black ship grew steadily closer, her chest grew heavier and heavier with remorse. Her breathing quickened, like she was trying to finish every last breath she had left. Rynn was going to end it all. Now.

No regrets. She couldn't have any regrets at all.

And she didn't.

It was close now. So close she could smell the poisonous fume wafting off it, the slick oily smell painted over the metal. Small shouts reached her ears as the crew began landing to ship.

The ship slowed. Rynn closed her eyes, forcing to breathing to become regular. It was time.

She had no regrets. No regrets at all.

Rynn lost her balance for a few precious seconds as the ship bounced over the ice, cracking it through the middle. Now it took up most of her vision as she waited for it to slow and eventually stop.

It look almost several minutes for the crew to regain control of the ship. All the while, Rynn stood ready.

Finally, it slid to a complete halt. The smoke floating out of the top ceased. And the front of the ship folded out, revealing five marching soilders, preceding down the steps.

Four soilders surrounded one man in the middle; they were all dressed in similar armor, nothing special. Crimson cloth underneath red plates, along with strange black spikes on their helmets with a white mask, snarling down at her. However the boy in the middle – he couldn't have been much older than sixteen – didn't wear a mask. And she could clearly see the raw red skin that disfigured his face, covering his eye. He frowned as he saw where her eyes were trained.

They stepped onto the snow. Rynn's heart began to beat faster and faster. These were the first real soilders from the Navy she had ever encountered.

And it would also be the last.

“Leave!” she willed her voice to boom, to frighten the invaders. But her voice was barely a squeak.

“Who are you?” the boy asked.

“Leave!” Rynn repeated, a little louder this time.

“I don't think you know who you're dealing with.” He approached her, calmly. His voice was filled with some sort of strange poison. But it wasn't hate. It was strangely compelling. “Do you know who I am?”

“Fire Nation. That's all I need to know.”

“I am Zuko... the Crown Prince.”

“I don't see why that's important.”

Zuko laughed. But I know he didn't find it funny. “Those will be the last words you'll ever say!”

“Leave the South!” Rynn cried.

“You really must not know who I am.” Zuko commented. “I'm not here to hurt anyone. I'm looking for someone. And you know who that is, and I know who that is. There's no need to –” he conjoured a flame in his head and held it near her face, illuminating her frightened features. “– hurt anyone. Unless they stand in my way. And unfortunately, that's where you happen to be.”

“You won't be taking anyone. I won't let you.”

“How are you going to do that, little girl?”

No more words were spoken. They didn't need to be. Rynn spun around, pulling water from the ice and slapped the proud Prince across the face with the whip.

He replied instantly, sending a jet of flames toward her. Rynn's instincts kicked in and she bended up a diagonal wall to block the fire.

It melted. Instantly.

He sent another fireball her way. She leaped aside, and remembering the stances she had Katara had so rigorously practiced, she pulled the water up and slung it across her shoulders. She ducked, and she moved, dodging every attack – and then she striked!

She hosed Zuko in the face, sending him reeling backwards. She pulled more water up to form a continuous stream that continued to send him away. Rynn grined, moving forward, constantly adding more power to her attack.

She was on the offensive. She felt so powerful – in her hands, an almost lost art! And Rynn was using it for some good.

Maybe the War could end. For good.

But she had forgotten one crucial thing. The Crown Prince's guards. As she defeated Zuko, they moved in.

Only one attacked. But that was all they needed.

Pain. Blindness. She was on fire. Or was she? She lost sight of everything. Her shoulder burned.

Rynn collapsed onto the snow, screaming. Blackness settled in, along with silence, blanketing her ears.

But she had to keep it out. Becuase she realised that she did have regrets. There were things she still had to say.

But now it was too late.