Post by Teяa253 on Apr 8, 2009 6:04:13 GMT 1
the 97th chapter. this is it--the climactic moment.
and remember how Zakura once said that The Order had something that would force an avatar into the avatar state? well, even if you don't, apparently Xin Shing does, and it's a tactic of sorts.
either way, Zakura gets forced into the avatar state against her will, so make of it what you may, and enjoy the chapter.
CHAPTER 97: THE WARLORD AND THE AVATAR
Zakura proceeded to get to the roof of the tower, where Xin Shing was waiting for her, a malicious smirk on his face. Moreover, like with Zhin and Tu-Sung, Zakura’s group feared that their malice was not over yet, despite their seeming conversions.
Needless to say, Zakura’s Elite were all a little on edge, considering who this man was. However, this just made him smile.
“There is no need to worry,” he said, smirking, “the one I want is in front of you. Once I have her, you all are free to go.”
“So,” said Koara, “even if you do defeat her, you have no intention of killing any of us, even though we’ve done everything in our power to oppose you?”
“Of course not, Xin Shing replied, “you must give me at least SOME credit. I am not some maniac who wants the avatar dead for no reason; no, my family has been part of The Order of the Avatar Slayer since its founding over 700 years ago. Zuroc Takeo made herself our mortal enemy. I am simply holding up that tradition. In her anger she declared us her mortal enemies as well. Here, I am going to settle an old score.”
“Oh,” Zakura exclaimed, “and how is that?”
“It is obvious, is it not?” Xin Shing remarked, “It is why you are here. You and I are going to fight to the death. I have no minions of my own to come to my aid should I falter, and I expect that you hold the same sense of honor to do the same.”
“Aye,” Zakura replied, “I do not want help in defeating you. Defeat will come to the one of lesser skill. We fight to the death.”
“I would not have it any other way,” Xin Shing remarked, smiling, and taking an unusual stance, “at your ready, Avatar Zakura.”
Xin Shing might have only been an airbender, but he kept Zakura running.
“You know,” said Zakura, using airbending of her own to avoid his attacks for the time, “killing me will only give birth to the next avatar in the Fire Nation.”
“Ah,” Xin Shing laughed, blasting Zakura with a large gust of wind that she barely dodged, “that is where my toy comes in.”
He stopped and made a few intricate movements with her fingers, and suddenly, Zakura’s eyes glowed. He had done something that forced Zakura into the Avatar State, and the shocked expression on Zakura’s face indicated that it had not been her doing.
“Enjoy it,” he smirked, as using the raw force of his wind, he shattered the balls of ice, water, fire, rock, earth, and more with his energy, “for trying to exit it will just result in me forcing you into it again. You might as well just enjoy the ride and fight me.”
“I will do that then,” Zakura replied, removing her hat and setting it behind her back. She took a stance, gritted her teeth and was ready for the battle to continue.
“So why not use some power,” Xin Shing asked as he used enough force to blast many of Zakura’s attacks into dust, “why not end it now?”
“Because,” Zakura replied, “that is my own business. I want less talk and more fighting, personally.”
“Very well then,” Xin Shing replied, and the real fighting began.
Xin Shing linked three powerful air spheres together, each one hitting Zakura into the next. When they exploded, they formed mini tornadoes that disoriented Zakura a little, but in her avatar state she seemed less fazed. She retaliated with a dashing fire attack and began launching various types of volleys at Xin Shing.
Some of them made their mark, but most of the missed, as it was difficult for either one of them to hit the other. Zakura’s walls of earth were smashed by Xin Shing’s fierce winds that were enough to rip her limbs off should they come in contact with her. Luckily, even though he was blocking her attacks with general ease, she was doing the same. Ultimately, words failed to describe the incredibility of the fight, and how long it seemed to go on for.
“You’re not going to be able to finish me,” Zakura replied as she resorted to her native earthbending to block Xin Shing’s powerful moves “for I can tell you are not trying.”
“Of course I am not trying,” Xin Shing laughed, “why would I be trying when my opponent refuses to do the same?”
“Elaborate if you would,” Zakura suggested,
“Zakura,” Xin Shing laughed, “you’re in the avatar state. Nothing more needs to be said, especially if the legends about you are true.”
“In that case,” said Zakura, smirking, “prepare to feel the wrath of the most powerful avatar to ever walk the earth.”
Zakura suddenly spun around and shot upwards in a huge column of water, earth, fire, and air. Even Xin Shing stood there in awe, following Zakura’s blazing trail upwards as she flew towards the heavens. What her intentions were, were unknown at this point.
Zakura flew through the orange and red clouds, her head tilted back and her body just firing itself upwards without end. She eventually stopped in the air, and summoned forth a rain of fire.
This “rain of fire” soon became a mix of the four elements, and Zakura entered a freefall as she plummeted back down towards the roof of the tower. As she fell, she manipulated the falling masses of elements, targeting Xin Shing.
Xin Shing though, was not about to just let the attacks hit him, and so mustering up all his strength, he began deflecting them in every direction, mostly just trying to survive.
Zakura suddenly came crashing down, and Xin Shing was knocked into one of the corners of the tower’s rooftop, the pinnacle of the tower in that corner being what stopped him. Zakura used airbending to slow her fall, and she landed peacefully. She was able to exit the avatar state without having to worry that he would force her back into it again. She stood over him, looking down at him.
“All this trouble,” she said, “over the mere existence of one woman who honestly could have cared less at first. Why did you do it?”
“I already said why I did it,” he replied weakly, and he attempted to get up, but it seemed that Zakura’s full-force attacks had done him in. “I have no excuse; no defense for why I did it. I told you why, and that should be a good enough answer for you.”
“Very well then,” Zakura replied, holding out her hand, “that was a magnificent fight. Do you wish to continue it?”
“No, no I do not,” Xin Shing replied, “that wound was mortal, avatar. I have failed my mission. You have succeeded.”
Zakura paused, crossing her arms.
“Very well, Xin Shing,” she replied, “I suppose you are going to make a sudden change of heart and repent before you die then?”
“Not at all,” Xin Shing replied, “I have no regrets—none at all. My destiny was to fight the avatar, and I did. No, my only other request is that you tell Yang that I love her. The size of my injury is too great for me to move. I am going to die here.”
“Very well then,” Zakura replied, chuckling slightly, “if she doesn’t try to kill me, I’ll tell her.”
“Then you better get moving,” he laughed, “because this tower is going to come down soon. That is what I am saving my energy for to do before I die. This was a monument to my deeds. With me gone, they no longer need to be remembered. Farewell, Avatar Zakura.”
“Run,” Zakura warned, and they began their descent down the tower, the stronger, less injured figures carrying the weakened ones. Zakura herself was actually rather hurt. Xin Shing’s damage had been delayed if anything, as she was bleeding rather severely, and trying to disregard it. However, they did not have time to worry about it, as their first priority was to get out of the tower before it collapsed.
“He could have been lying, you know,” Zinjamyn advised, as he was carrying an exhausted Alzar on his back. Aiku had Shinon, and he was behind Zinjamyn.
“I don’t want to take that chance,” Zakura replied, “besides, look who it is up ahead of us.”
Yang was standing there, looking frustrated.
“Xin Shing said he loved you,” Zakura replied bluntly, “and my presence obviously indicated the outcome of the fight.”
“Don’t say anything else,” Yang remarked somberly and she turned herself in. “just... just takes me. Don’t talk to me.”
“That is a reasonable demand,” Zakura replied, and no one said anything to Yang the rest of the way down.
Zhin and Tu-Sung had vanished, as had all of the Zuroc Sensei. They were found near the bottom floor, with only a few of them left alive. However, they had saved Zakura’s Elite from any further battling, as they had taken care of most of it themselves.
Eventually, they got out of the tower, and everyone was accounted for. Everyone seemed relieved except for Mulan, who seemed depressed.
“What’s wrong, kid,” Zakura asked, using the old nickname on her that she had when they first met,
“He was in that rabble,” she replied gravely, “Ju Long is no more. Regardless of what he has done, he was still my husband.”
“I’m sorry,” Zakura replied, “but no longer will you have to suffer the pains of this war. It is over. It was brought to a timely ending in the fight between The Warlord and The Avatar.”
~Azula~
and remember how Zakura once said that The Order had something that would force an avatar into the avatar state? well, even if you don't, apparently Xin Shing does, and it's a tactic of sorts.
either way, Zakura gets forced into the avatar state against her will, so make of it what you may, and enjoy the chapter.
CHAPTER 97: THE WARLORD AND THE AVATAR
Zakura proceeded to get to the roof of the tower, where Xin Shing was waiting for her, a malicious smirk on his face. Moreover, like with Zhin and Tu-Sung, Zakura’s group feared that their malice was not over yet, despite their seeming conversions.
Needless to say, Zakura’s Elite were all a little on edge, considering who this man was. However, this just made him smile.
“There is no need to worry,” he said, smirking, “the one I want is in front of you. Once I have her, you all are free to go.”
“So,” said Koara, “even if you do defeat her, you have no intention of killing any of us, even though we’ve done everything in our power to oppose you?”
“Of course not, Xin Shing replied, “you must give me at least SOME credit. I am not some maniac who wants the avatar dead for no reason; no, my family has been part of The Order of the Avatar Slayer since its founding over 700 years ago. Zuroc Takeo made herself our mortal enemy. I am simply holding up that tradition. In her anger she declared us her mortal enemies as well. Here, I am going to settle an old score.”
“Oh,” Zakura exclaimed, “and how is that?”
“It is obvious, is it not?” Xin Shing remarked, “It is why you are here. You and I are going to fight to the death. I have no minions of my own to come to my aid should I falter, and I expect that you hold the same sense of honor to do the same.”
“Aye,” Zakura replied, “I do not want help in defeating you. Defeat will come to the one of lesser skill. We fight to the death.”
“I would not have it any other way,” Xin Shing remarked, smiling, and taking an unusual stance, “at your ready, Avatar Zakura.”
Xin Shing might have only been an airbender, but he kept Zakura running.
“You know,” said Zakura, using airbending of her own to avoid his attacks for the time, “killing me will only give birth to the next avatar in the Fire Nation.”
“Ah,” Xin Shing laughed, blasting Zakura with a large gust of wind that she barely dodged, “that is where my toy comes in.”
He stopped and made a few intricate movements with her fingers, and suddenly, Zakura’s eyes glowed. He had done something that forced Zakura into the Avatar State, and the shocked expression on Zakura’s face indicated that it had not been her doing.
“Enjoy it,” he smirked, as using the raw force of his wind, he shattered the balls of ice, water, fire, rock, earth, and more with his energy, “for trying to exit it will just result in me forcing you into it again. You might as well just enjoy the ride and fight me.”
“I will do that then,” Zakura replied, removing her hat and setting it behind her back. She took a stance, gritted her teeth and was ready for the battle to continue.
“So why not use some power,” Xin Shing asked as he used enough force to blast many of Zakura’s attacks into dust, “why not end it now?”
“Because,” Zakura replied, “that is my own business. I want less talk and more fighting, personally.”
“Very well then,” Xin Shing replied, and the real fighting began.
Xin Shing linked three powerful air spheres together, each one hitting Zakura into the next. When they exploded, they formed mini tornadoes that disoriented Zakura a little, but in her avatar state she seemed less fazed. She retaliated with a dashing fire attack and began launching various types of volleys at Xin Shing.
Some of them made their mark, but most of the missed, as it was difficult for either one of them to hit the other. Zakura’s walls of earth were smashed by Xin Shing’s fierce winds that were enough to rip her limbs off should they come in contact with her. Luckily, even though he was blocking her attacks with general ease, she was doing the same. Ultimately, words failed to describe the incredibility of the fight, and how long it seemed to go on for.
“You’re not going to be able to finish me,” Zakura replied as she resorted to her native earthbending to block Xin Shing’s powerful moves “for I can tell you are not trying.”
“Of course I am not trying,” Xin Shing laughed, “why would I be trying when my opponent refuses to do the same?”
“Elaborate if you would,” Zakura suggested,
“Zakura,” Xin Shing laughed, “you’re in the avatar state. Nothing more needs to be said, especially if the legends about you are true.”
“In that case,” said Zakura, smirking, “prepare to feel the wrath of the most powerful avatar to ever walk the earth.”
Zakura suddenly spun around and shot upwards in a huge column of water, earth, fire, and air. Even Xin Shing stood there in awe, following Zakura’s blazing trail upwards as she flew towards the heavens. What her intentions were, were unknown at this point.
Zakura flew through the orange and red clouds, her head tilted back and her body just firing itself upwards without end. She eventually stopped in the air, and summoned forth a rain of fire.
This “rain of fire” soon became a mix of the four elements, and Zakura entered a freefall as she plummeted back down towards the roof of the tower. As she fell, she manipulated the falling masses of elements, targeting Xin Shing.
Xin Shing though, was not about to just let the attacks hit him, and so mustering up all his strength, he began deflecting them in every direction, mostly just trying to survive.
Zakura suddenly came crashing down, and Xin Shing was knocked into one of the corners of the tower’s rooftop, the pinnacle of the tower in that corner being what stopped him. Zakura used airbending to slow her fall, and she landed peacefully. She was able to exit the avatar state without having to worry that he would force her back into it again. She stood over him, looking down at him.
“All this trouble,” she said, “over the mere existence of one woman who honestly could have cared less at first. Why did you do it?”
“I already said why I did it,” he replied weakly, and he attempted to get up, but it seemed that Zakura’s full-force attacks had done him in. “I have no excuse; no defense for why I did it. I told you why, and that should be a good enough answer for you.”
“Very well then,” Zakura replied, holding out her hand, “that was a magnificent fight. Do you wish to continue it?”
“No, no I do not,” Xin Shing replied, “that wound was mortal, avatar. I have failed my mission. You have succeeded.”
Zakura paused, crossing her arms.
“Very well, Xin Shing,” she replied, “I suppose you are going to make a sudden change of heart and repent before you die then?”
“Not at all,” Xin Shing replied, “I have no regrets—none at all. My destiny was to fight the avatar, and I did. No, my only other request is that you tell Yang that I love her. The size of my injury is too great for me to move. I am going to die here.”
“Very well then,” Zakura replied, chuckling slightly, “if she doesn’t try to kill me, I’ll tell her.”
“Then you better get moving,” he laughed, “because this tower is going to come down soon. That is what I am saving my energy for to do before I die. This was a monument to my deeds. With me gone, they no longer need to be remembered. Farewell, Avatar Zakura.”
“Run,” Zakura warned, and they began their descent down the tower, the stronger, less injured figures carrying the weakened ones. Zakura herself was actually rather hurt. Xin Shing’s damage had been delayed if anything, as she was bleeding rather severely, and trying to disregard it. However, they did not have time to worry about it, as their first priority was to get out of the tower before it collapsed.
“He could have been lying, you know,” Zinjamyn advised, as he was carrying an exhausted Alzar on his back. Aiku had Shinon, and he was behind Zinjamyn.
“I don’t want to take that chance,” Zakura replied, “besides, look who it is up ahead of us.”
Yang was standing there, looking frustrated.
“Xin Shing said he loved you,” Zakura replied bluntly, “and my presence obviously indicated the outcome of the fight.”
“Don’t say anything else,” Yang remarked somberly and she turned herself in. “just... just takes me. Don’t talk to me.”
“That is a reasonable demand,” Zakura replied, and no one said anything to Yang the rest of the way down.
Zhin and Tu-Sung had vanished, as had all of the Zuroc Sensei. They were found near the bottom floor, with only a few of them left alive. However, they had saved Zakura’s Elite from any further battling, as they had taken care of most of it themselves.
Eventually, they got out of the tower, and everyone was accounted for. Everyone seemed relieved except for Mulan, who seemed depressed.
“What’s wrong, kid,” Zakura asked, using the old nickname on her that she had when they first met,
“He was in that rabble,” she replied gravely, “Ju Long is no more. Regardless of what he has done, he was still my husband.”
“I’m sorry,” Zakura replied, “but no longer will you have to suffer the pains of this war. It is over. It was brought to a timely ending in the fight between The Warlord and The Avatar.”
~Azula~
