Chapter 3

Tracking the Avatar is proving to be a more difficult task than I expected. His flying bison gives him an advantage, as he is free to travel anywhere without concern for roads, mountains, lakes, or other obstacles. We followed the Avatar through as much of the Earth Kingdom as we could cover, but soon lost him in the rugged terrain. I knew I needed a vehicle that could handle any environment I encountered. I acquired the finest all-terrain vehicle in the Fire Nation. It was a huge ironclad tank, with three sharp spikes that jutted out from the front. A tall smokestack belched black fumes from its top, and the thick treads of the tires were designed to travel over rock, sand, and water. The vehicle was even capable of climbing straight up the sides of mountains! Powered by fire itself, this tank could go forever without running out of fuel. Also traveling with us were three agile mongoose-dragons. We were more than ready for our pursuit of the Avatar.

We began our hunt and found that luck was on our side. A short distance from Omashu, we discovered several large clumps of thick, white fur leading in a straight line toward the mountains.

I recognize this fur. It is the fur of the Avatar’s bison! Perhaps this is a sign, telling me that it won’t be long before I stand before my father with the Avatar at my side.

Energized by this finding, I poured more fire into the tank’s engine to increase our speed. With the city far behind us, we encountered a long, flat plain that stretched out for miles, leading to the mountains in the distance. There, in a wooded area at the edge of the plain, blue smoke curled into the sky.

I’ve found them!

I pushed the machine even harder, picking up speed. A short while later we reached the remains of a campsite at the edge of the woods. Charred cinders from a campfire that had been doused in water smoked and sizzled. Impressions in the grass showed where tents and bedrolls had been set up.

We are too late! They must have known we were coming and fled. But how? How could they know we were following them?

Then I noticed an odd tent, made from rock, jutting out of the earth. Is the Avatar now an Earthbender too? Or did one of his party do this? Perhaps whoever created this tent could sense the vibrations of our tank rumbling through the ground. I have heard that some Earthbenders can do that. But they cannot run forever, especially not from me.

We followed the trail of fur deeper into the woods. Our tank simply flattened smaller trees, while I steered around the larger ones. As we approached a clearing in the woods, there was a flash of movement. Several people rushed around in a panic, and then I saw them—the Avatar’s bison rising into the sky, with four figures mounted on its back.

They headed deep into the mountains. The Avatar must think he can lose me, but he does not realize that his bison is leaving a convenient trail of fur. And of course, he has no idea what this Fire Nation tank is capable of.

We arrived at the base of a tall mountain, and then began to climb—straight up! We were amazed at how easily the tank did this. When we reached a plateau, there stood the Avatar and three others.

Apparently they were waiting for us—and ready to fight. Well, that’s exactly what we were ready to do as well.

“Prepare the animals for battle!” I ordered. I shut down the tank’s engine, and the tank rolled to a stop. Then Ty Lee, Mai, and I mounted the mongoose-dragons that had traveled with us. “Ready, girls? Now the fun begins!”

I threw open the door of the tank and we charged toward our enemies, riding the lizards hard. When we came to a river the creatures reared back, splashing across the water on their hind legs, their colorful necks flared wide open. Once back on solid ground, they dropped down to all fours and picked up speed.

Suddenly a jagged mound of rock sprang from the earth right in front of me. I tugged my reins hard to the left and skipped around the obstacle, but another quickly appeared before me. Again and again, rocks rose in my path, and in front of Ty Lee and Mai as well. However, mongoose-dragons are very swift and nimble creatures, and they were able to maneuver around each rock.

But who was responsible for creating these obstacles? I looked around as I pulled on the reins of my mongoose-dragon. That’s when I saw a girl who had not been with the Avatar and his two companions at the exchange in Omashu. She stomped her foot on the ground, and a huge wall of rock exploded from the earth in front of me.

So the Avatar has found a skilled Earthbender to help him. Cute of him to think that I could be stopped by someone like her. But this is getting tiresome, and I don’t plan on going around any more of these rocks. The time has come to go THROUGH them.

I fired a powerful Firebending blast that leveled the rock wall currently in front of me. Then the three of us raced forward.

Seeing this, the Avatar and his companions jumped onto his bison and flew off. The cowards didn’t even bother to say good-bye.

We returned to our tank and continued to follow the trail of fur. It led to a clearing next to a river. Once again, we got out of the tank and surveyed the clearing on our mongoose-dragons.

I spotted a saddle and the remains of food supplies, signs that they had been here.

“The trail goes this way, Azula,” Ty Lee announced.

Sure enough, a thick trail of white fur continued into the woods heading east. I looked at the river and noticed huge amounts of fur floating in the water. Then I glanced to the west and saw a wide swath of broken branches, leading in the opposite direction from the path of fur.

Why is there so much fur in the river? Of course! They must have finally realized that the beast is shedding, and that this is how we have been following them. They must have tried to wash off the creature’s excess fur in the river so it would no longer leave an obvious path for us.

So then why is there a trail of fur leading away from the river to the east, when those broken branches show that the beast went the other way? Ah, someone must be using his brain, but he doesn’t know who he’s dealing with.

“The Avatar is trying to give us the slip,” I told the girls.

Obviously, some of his group went in one direction, while others left some fur to give me the impression that they had gone the other way. I see that some of the fur along the eastern path is clinging to high branches. That means it was dropped from the air. If the beast went west, then the only one who could have flown east to drop the fur and mislead us was the Avatar himself—I had seen him fly on his glider back at Omashu.

This called for a change in plans.

“Ty Lee, Mai, you two head west, in the direction of those broken branches, and keep your eye out for the bison,” I said. “I’m certain it went that way. I will follow this trail to the east, where I am sure I will find the Avatar!”

As my girls took off on their mongoose-dragons along the trail heading west, I rode mine heading east. How noble of the Avatar, willing to lead me away from the others to protect his friends, at the cost of his own freedom. And how foolish, too.

After following the trail for most of the day, I came to a deserted town. The sun was low in the sky and cast long shadows onto the abandoned buildings. There, in the center of the empty town, stood the Avatar, alone. I dismounted and walked toward him slowly.

He’s smaller than he first appeared when he ran from me in Omashu. Brave Avatar, we shall soon see what you are made of.

“All right, you’ve caught up with me,” he said boldly. “Now, who are you, and what do you want?” he asked.

I find it amusing that he tries to sound so tough, but he has the voice of a child! He has no idea who I am. I’ll have to give him a little help. “You mean you haven’t guessed? You don’t see the family resemblance? Here’s a hint.”

I covered my left eye with one hand, then spoke in a low, raspy voice. “I must find the Avatar to restore my honor.”

But there was no reaction. Boys can be so pigheaded about trying to maintain a tough exterior. “It’s okay. You can laugh. It’s funny,” I said.

But he didn’t laugh. He was no fun at all. Instead he asked seriously, “So now what?”

Fine. Be that way. I can play the serious warrior better than you. “Now it’s over,” I replied. “You’re tired, and you have no place to go. You can run, but you know I’ll catch you.”

I didn’t think he could look any more serious than he already did, but he narrowed his eyes and stared right at me. “I’m not running,” he declared.

Very well. Let’s just get to the point. “Do you really want to fight me?” I asked.

“Yes, I really do,” replied a low, raspy voice from behind me.

“Zuko!” the Avatar cried, as shocked to see my brother as I was.

Well, well, well. A lovely little family reunion. Nice work, Zu-zu. I truly did not know that you have been following me. And I thought I’d have to track you down once I captured the Avatar. But now you have saved me the trouble. “I was wondering when you’d show up, Zu-zu.”

The Avatar giggled. “Zu-zu?”

Of course this really annoyed my sensitive big brother. Zuko turned to me, his fists clenched, his eyes fierce.

“Back off, Azula,” he said. “The Avatar is mine.”

Oh, brother of mine, haven’t you learned that I don’t take orders from you—and I don’t intend to start? “I’m not going anywhere, Zuko,” I said.

The Avatar began sneaking away as though he thought he could take advantage of the conflict between Zuko and me. He is underestimating us. I immediately turned to face him and assumed a combat stance. Zuko did the same.

I can sense the Avatar’s nervous energy. He’s not sure who will attack him first or whether we will team up against him. Zuko is also fidgety. He’s trying to hide it, but I know too well that he taps his leg nervously when he is worried. He has done this ever since we were kids.

I now have the unexpected opportunity to confront Zuko and the Avatar together. But who shall I deal with first? I have to make a choice.

I fired at Zuko, knocking him down. He returned a fireball as the Avatar tried to fly away. I dodged Zuko’s strike while blasting the Avatar out of the air. He came instantly crashing back to the ground.

For a moment, Zuko and I teamed up against the Avatar, but I took advantage of our temporary alliance to once again attack Zuko. The strategic options presented in a three-way battle are quite intriguing. Still, I must remain alert to the movements of both of my opponents.

Zuko and I both hurled an enormous fire blast at the Avatar, but he flew into a nearby abandoned building, soaring up into the rafters. Zuko and I followed him into the building and discovered him floating on an air sphere. I shot a bolt of lightning at him, and as the sphere dissolved, the Avatar leaped to safety.

I will torch the entire town if I have to, but these two will not escape! I turned my attention back to Zuko for a moment. The force of my fire blast knocked Zuko out into the street. Then I turned back to the Avatar.

He ran into another building. I fired burst after burst of fire, which sliced pieces of the building away bit by bit. I now had the Avatar trapped.

I took a moment to savor the victory. The Avatar is mine. Nothing can change that! I sauntered into what was left of the building, and started a blaze that raced toward the Avatar. The look of terror on his face was priceless!

Seeking to prolong the moment, I drew back my hand slowly, preparing to unleash the final blow. Suddenly a thin stream of water slapped my hand down. Then the same water whip lifted the debris off the Avatar and released him!

Who dares to interfere with me?

“Katara!” the Avatar shouted.

I turned around in time to see a girl running from the building. Ah, she had been at Omashu with the Avatar. Well, this Waterbender will feel my wrath too!

I dashed after the girl, but the tall boy who travels with them also surprised me, attacking me with a boomerang. I stumbled backward.

But even working together, the Airbender, the Waterbender, and the boy with the boomerang posed little problem. I quickly regained my footing, then returned fierce fire of my own. That’s when the ground began to shake violently, knocking me off my feet. This time I landed facedown in the dirt.

“I thought you guys could use a little help,” said a voice from behind me. I scrambled to my feet and spun around.

The Earthbender! She has joined our little party. And she is not the only one. Iroh is here too! I knew that wherever Zu-zu was, Iroh would not be far behind.

“Uncle!” Zuko cried, sprawled on the ground.

“Get up,” Iroh said, helping Zuko to his feet.

Let’s see now, six against one. Over-whelming odds. I almost feel sorry for all of them. I feel as if my senses are heightened

by this challenge. Attacks came from all

directions—Earthbending, Airbending,

Waterbending, and Firebending. I dodged them all, returning fire of my own with raging fury.

Then the group started closing in on me. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw that they were backing me toward a wall. Hmm … this will require just the right move at precisely the right time. But first I must distract them.

“Well, look at this,” I said. “Enemies and traitors all working together. I’m done. I know when I’m beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honor.”

I began to bow slightly, then quickly straightened up and blasted Iroh in the chest with my most powerful lightning strike. Down he went. Then the others reacted precisely as I knew they would.

The Airbender, Waterbender, Earth-bender, my brother the Firebender, and even the boomerang boy all sent attacks flying toward me at the same moment. I easily danced out of the way, but the force of their combined blows sent up a huge explosion, blasting a hole in the wall behind me and filling the area with smoke and dust. It was the perfect cover for my escape!

I quietly slipped back to my mongoose-dragon and rode back toward the river. I wanted to find Ty Lee and Mai to plan our next move … but as it turned out, our next move came and found us.