Murder, battle and other things I did on my weekend - By Seifer Almasy 19 years and 1/4

[noblerworld]

With Cassie missing, Zuko was setting off to face his sister, the Avatar was setting off to fight the Fire Lord and Seifer, who wasn't going with either of them, felt rather like he'd been invited to the worlds biggest birthday party and then told he couldn't have any cake

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Rescuing Cassie

[irisewiththesun]

Azula has Cassie, and it's all Zuko's fault.

Sure, Cassie's the one who went off on her own, but Zuko should have known better than to just let her. She's a great fighter; he ought to know, seeing as how he's her teacher, but she's no match for Zuko's sister. Not many are. Now he needs to go and get his friend back from her.

He manages to get his hands on an eel hound, and with the rest of the group (aside from Aang, who's off to face Zuko's father) clearing the way, he makes it to the capital city - home - in no time. Then, it's just a matter of getting in.

Stealth and infiltration are two of the things Zuko does best, and he knows all the secret passages and byways of his childhood home. Silently, he makes his way in, pausing at the edge of one of the courtyards to look around. Sozin's Comet is here now, passing over them, and Zuko can feel the added power coursing through him, the comet enhancing his bending an untold amount.

[irisewiththesun]

It isn't hard to guess where Azula might have gone. After a brief pause, Zuko heads straight there, making his way quickly and silently to Ozai's bunker.

He wants to burst in, wants to take out everything in his path with a sweep of his hand and a blaze of fire, but he doesn't know if his sister's got Cassie with him. So he goes for the quiet approach, not making a sound until he's got Azula in his sights.

"Where is she?" he grinds out, unable to keep his voice from shaking with anger.

[irisewiththesun]

He immediately wants to lash out, to attack her where she sits, but instead he inhales slowly, blowing it out in a cloud of steam. Zuko knows that's what his sister wants, what she's trying to get him to do, and he refuses to give her the satisfaction.

"No one is replacing Mai," he says, his tone still full of controlled rage. "Where. Is. She?"

[irisewiththesun]

"I know Mai is in prison!" Zuko snaps, and this time he can't control how his voice raises to a yell. His fists clench, his hands glowing red though he manages to keep in any actual flame. He takes another breath, evening out his tone. "I'm talking about Cassie and you know that. Stop playing games, Azula."

[irisewiththesun]

She's baiting him on purpose. Zuko knows this, and yet he can't stop the fire daggers from shooting out of his fists. "You know who. The girl you kidnapped from my group. Let her go."

[irisewiththesun]

"If that's what it takes, yes," he spits out, the daggers lengthening, and he's itching to yell get on with it already! but he manages to reign it in.

[irisewiththesun]

"Fine." He's getting more and more impatient, wanting to move, to do something. "I challenge you to an Agni Kai. But I want to see her first, make sure she's okay."

[thethirdwonder]

Cassie was slumped on the floor, tied at her ankles and her hands behind her back. There were minor burns along one side of her body, as well as various cuts and bruises. She was slowly inching her way up from unconsciousness, her head rolling to the side with a groan.

[irisewiththesun]

"Cassie!" Zuko yells, his eyes widening as he sees the state she's in. If he isn't able to save her, he'll never forgive Azula...or himself.

He turns his furious gaze on his sister. "What did you do to her?"