Chapter 43

I slam an earth wall at a Dai Li agent, making him fly toward Toph, who instantly began her attack.

My eyes however were on the smirking Princess, who Aang was chasing.

I instantly popped small earth balls from the floor and shot them at the girl. Even without firebending, Azula was nimble and fast. She dodged each attack, each rock and each blow of air.

I rush to Sokka, who is battling a Dai Li agents. I instantly pull up an earth wall and push the man away. Sokka gives me a small nod but suddenly, the Princess is over our heads, a cruel smile on her face.

I shove another Dai Li agent away and Toph, Aang, Sokka and I follow the girl.

" I can't pin her down! She's too quick!" Aang yells as we follow Azula into a tunnel.

I shoot a rock at Azula, but she dodges it. I raise my hand to attack again, but Sokka stops us "Wait! Aang! Toph! Mika! Stop attacking! Don't you see what she's doing? She's just playing with us. She's not even trying to win this fight!"

"Not true. I'm giving it my all." Azula replied calmly.

"You're trying to keep us here and waste all our time!" Toph growled angrily. "Um, right, I think your friend just said that, genius. And since you can't see, I should tell you I'm rolling my eyes." Azula sighed in disgust as she rolled her eyes.

"Oh no you didn't!" I hissed, anger seething through me.

"I'll roll your whole head!" Toph growled taking a step forward but Sokka stopped her. "She's just baiting you again."

"Okay, so what do we do, just ignore her?" Aang asks in confusion.

"We don't have a choice. We just have to get out of here and find the Fire Lord on our own somehow." Sokka spoke before turning and started to walk. "It's a trap. Don't say I didn't warn you." Azula calls out coolly, making Toph and Aang pause.

Sokka raises his hand into the air "Ignore!".

Suddenly, Azula grips me by my bad arm, making me hiss out in pain. Sokka instantly turns around at the noise, his eyes wide with fear and worry, but anger slowly overcame these emotions.

"So, Sokka's your name, right?" Azula asked, her nails digging into my scar. "My, my. My favorite prisoner would be quite jealous you've moved on." she laughed. "But they both have something in common. You didn't rescue them" she spoke hard before looking at my scar. "But it seems this peasant got it a little worse."

Sokka's eyes watered before rage overtook him. "Come and get it" she purrs as Sokka runs forward. I wince again as her nails jab into my skin. But her nails can't be that sharp, can they?

Suddenly, I see the tip of a dagger. She planned to hurt Sokka!

"No!" I growled before ripping my hand and the dagger from Azula's hand. Before she could even move, I grabbed her hand and shoved it to the wall, where I had the earth hold it.

By this time, Sokka pushed the rest of the Princess to the wall, his eyes filled with many emotions. "Where. Is. Suki?" he growled. But the princess stayed quiet. Sokka pressed again "Why do you wish to torment us? You almost killed Mika!".

"Please" Azula spat. "Almost is an understatement, she was out for the count, I almost would've fnished her off too if it wasn't for the Avatar" Azula growled before looking at Aang.

I looked down, I've heard of Suki but who was she. Was she a lover? A girlfriend? A first kiss? Or just a girl and a friend like Saki?

Right as I finished my thoughts, I heard  large crackle, making Azula smirk. "Oh, sounds like the firebending's back on." she smiled before shooting a blast at us. She barely misses Sokka and I before taking off.

As she runs, she calls out with "Dad's all the way at the end of the hall then down a secret stairway on the left. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to see you now." 

"I fell for it! I used up all our time." Sokka groaned before taking my burned hand "You're bleeding." "I'm fine Sokka" I told him before yanking my hand away.

Even though we were losing, jealously ripped through me. I didn't want to think of another girl with Sokka. 

"It's not your fault, Sokka. Azula was ready for us. She had every move planned out." Toph spoke.

"And now it's too late." Sokka sighed, making me put my good hand onto his shoulder.

"Maybe it's not too late. The eclipse is over. But I can face the Fire Lord anyway." Aang spoke, wondering.

"No, you wouldn't stand a chance" I spoke harshly. "I came here with a job to do and everyone's counting on me." Aang spoke, his eyes still filled with hope.

"The Fire Lord knew we were coming this time. We thought we had surprise on our side but we didn't. It just wasn't our day. What we need to do now is go and help our friends." Toph spoke before looking down.

"I guess you guys are right" Aang sighed, the hope leaving his eyes.

"You'll have another chance. I know you will." Sokka spoke before putting a hand on Aang's shoulder.

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As we land back on the battlefield, I hold a piece of fabric onto my hand.

"It was all a trap! Azula knew we were coming and she's plotted out every move! We've just got to get to the beach as fast as we can. If we can make it to the submarines, maybe we can get away safely." Sokka spoke as we all got off Appa.

"They've got air power, but so do I! I'm gonna do what I can to slow them down." Aang states while opening his glider before flying off. "Appa, you and I can help too." Katara says before hoping onto Appa and taking off.

"Everyone, let's get back to the subs!" Sokka yells before we all begin running. 

I hold my hand as we run, all the vibrations from the people around me shaking through my body. Suddenly, Sokka stops us, his hand moving to my shoulder. "Try and find cover! I think we're about to see some bombs! " Aang and Katara quickly join us along with Fire Nation Airships.

Anger still lacing in me from 'Suki' I pull away and help Toph create some cover. The bombs raid down on us, causing cracks to form in the earth. I instantly shoot my hands up, causing a pillar of support to rise.

As soon as the bombs began, they ended. Looking up, I watched as the airships continued on. "Why aren't they turning around to attack us again?" I asked in confusion.

"They're heading for the beach ..." Aang spoke happy before realizing. "They're going to bomb the submarines!" he yelled in alarm.

"How are we all going to escape?" Sokka asked hopeless.

Another Water Tribe member helped Sokka's father approach "We're not" he sighed. "Then our only choice is to stand and fight. We have the Avatar, we could still win." Sokka spoke looking at Aang.

"Yes, with the Avatar we could still win. On another day. You kids have to leave. You have to escape on Appa together." Hakoda spoke looking at us.

Katara stepped forward, grabbing her father "What? We can't leave you behind! We won't leave anyone behind!" Hakoda looked at Katara sadly before voicing out with "You're our only chance in the long run. You and Sokka have to go with Aang somewhere safe. It's the only way to keep hope alive."

"The youngest of our group should go with you. The adults will stay behind and surrender. We'll be prisoners, but we'll all survive this battle." A Water Tribe member spoke looking at the group.

"I've got some experience with the Fire Nation prisons. It's not going to be easy, but we'll get by." A Earth Kingdom man spoke looking somberly.

"They're at the beach already!" Sokka called, making our heads turns.

I couldn't look, so I moved forward and placed my head onto Sokka's shoulder. Even though I was mad at him, I couldn't watch it. I cringed when I heard the sound of bombs and the noise of the future imprisonment of many of the men around us.

Sokka closed his eyes and put a hand onto the back of my head in resent.

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"Goodbye Kong" I whispered as I hugged the old man.

"We will see each other soon Mika, now you need to go" Kong spoke pulling away from me.

Turning and wiping my eyes, I mounted Appa, where Sokka waited with a tear covered face.

I sat next to him and leaned my head onto his shoulder. Tears flowed freely from my eyes as Aang stood up. "Thank you all for being so brave and so strong. I'm gonna make this up to you." he spoke before taking off.