9 Capture

It was the next day, as Azula and Ash traversed the bustling streets of the Northern Water Tribe, they observed the layout and the movements of its high-ranking members.

"This place is more magnificent than I anticipated." Azula honestly remarked, her eyes scanning the impressive architecture and the people going about their daily lives.

Ash nodded in agreement, his gaze focused on their surroundings. "Indeed, it's a testament to the Water Tribe's resilience and adaptability."

Azula glanced at him with a calculating look. "We need to find out more about their defenses and the whereabouts of the Avatar."

As Azula and Ash continued their reconnaissance, navigating through the bustling streets of the Northern Water Tribe, Ash suddenly felt a bump from behind.

Turning around, he noticed a bald kid with an apologetic smile.

'Speak of the devil.' Ash muttered inwardly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

The kid's smile widened as he apologized, "Sorry about that, sir."

Azula's expression remained composed as she observed the interaction, her eyes assessing the newcomer. "By chance, are you the Avatar?" She asked, her voice calm yet curious.

The kid's eyes widened with surprise before he nodded eagerly. "Yup! That's me! Nice to meet you."

Azula returned the nod with a slight incline of her head. "Likewise, Avatar. Perhaps we can speak more later."

The Avatar waved cheerfully as he disappeared into the crowd, leaving Azula and Ash to exchange a knowing glance.

"Well wasn't that a coincidence." He coyly remarked.

Azula just shrugged, "Come on let's finish up."

As they walked through the streets of the Northern Water Tribe, Ash couldn't help but notice Azula's attire. The Water Tribe clothing looked surprisingly fitting on her, a fact he couldn't resist commenting on.

"You know, Azula, I never would have guessed you'd look so good in Water Tribe clothes." He remarked casually.

Azula glanced at him, a smirk playing on her lips. "Are you saying I don't look good in everything?" She retorted with an accusatory brow.

Ash chuckled. "Oh, of course not. But there's something about the fur lining that really brings out your... Gentleness."

Azula's eyes widened in bewilderedness, before a genuine smile appeared at his comment, "Gentleness, huh? I don't think anyone's ever called me that." She replied, her tone laced with amusement.

Ash nodded, a playful glint in his eyes. "As you should. After all, it takes a certain level of strength from someone such as me, to bring out your gentle side."

She just rolled her eyes, "You keep telling yourself that."

But suddenly, Ash stopped speaking and moving.

He opened his eyes, despite pretending to be blind, and gazed up at the sky with his usual dead eyes, which slightly narrowed.

Azula glanced behind her, her curiosity piqued. "What is it?"

Ash muttered quietly, "Black smoke particles."

Azula raised a skeptical eyebrow. "How much can you see?" She asked sarcastically, not even surprised at this point.

But judging by his words, if fire particles were near, that meant the Fire Nation's fleet were very close.

"Admiral Zhao said he would take a few more days, but it seems he's arrived earlier than expected," Azula said, her tone becoming more serious. "If that's the case, capturing the Avatar now is the best method."

Ash nodded in agreement as he took note of the direction Aang was walking.

Without wasting any time, he sprinted forward, with Azula close behind. As they turned a corner, they spotted the Avatar innocently rolling in circles on the snow, with his pet winged lemur, Momo beside him.

Both Ash and Azula glanced at each other, having a silent understanding before separating, as Ash dashed forward, with his fist crashing down at the Avatar's unsuspecting head.

"Woah!"

But as if Aang had eyes at the back of his head, he rolled to the side, before standing up, warily looking at Ash.

"Who are you? And why are you attacking me?"

Ash unconsciously smiled, "Your reflexes as an Airbender are phenomenal, to think you dodged without even seeing me."

Aang's expression was serious as he yelled, "I asked, who are you!?"

"Name's Asher," He replied calmly, his demeanor unfazed. "But I doubt that helps your situation."

At his remark, Azula's figure emerged from behind Aang.

Causing Aang's eyes to widen, as he ducked, a stream of blue fire passing over him, "Blue fire!? Firebenders here!? What in the world is going on!?"

Before Aang could react further, in a split second, a fist enveloped his vision. 

Bam!

"Agh!"

And this time, Ash didn't miss, as his fist made contact with Aang's temple, effectively knocking him out, as his body went limp and fell onto the damp snow.

Azula raised a brow, "Well that was easy."

Ash shrugged, "Well even though he's been trained by the Air Nomads, he still lacks experience, and he was never trained for combat, so he has some way to go before he's able to cause us trouble. Now let's be careful with him, if we attempt to harm his life, the Avatar State will bite us in the ass."

Azula just nodded, as they picked up his body, before tying up his limbs and putting him over Ash's shoulder as they head toward their previous entrance.

Of course they had the choice to instantly kill the avatar while he's unconscious, but Ash would rather avoid needless bloodshed of a child.

Not to mention he previously reasoned with Azula that capturing the avatar was the best method to impress her father, and even if they did kill him, another Avatar would just pop up, so it's better to simply hold him captive, allowing the Fire Nation's reign to be longer without disturbances.

As they reached their route of escape, they noticed a figure standing in front of it.

Azula seemed amused as she stepped forward, "Well if it isn't Zuzu, why might you be here?"

Zuko's scarred face, had a scowl as he replied, "I told you to stop calling me that... As for why I'm here, it's for him." He pointed toward the unconscious boy on Ash's shoulder.

Azula seemed stunned for a few seconds, before bursting into laughter, "Hahaha!" Wiping away her tears comically, "Your pitiful Zuzu, you didn't even capture the Avatar, yet you dare try to take the credit for it."

Zuko's scowl deepened as he said, "I need the Avatar to regain my honor, if I can defeat you two, then that just shows you shouldn't even have the avatar anyways." He remarked confidently, as he glared.

Azula scoffed, "You can't even beat me, yet you want to fight the both of us." She sighed, "Your still as dumb as ever."

"Enough talk!" Zuko exclaimed, "Let's see how you guys fare against me!"

****

In the heart of the busy Northern Water Tribe, a commanding figure stood at the forefront of the gathered crowd.

"Where is the Avatar?" He bellowed, his tone cutting through the murmurs and whispers of the crowd.

Katara and Sokka exchanged worried glances, they were also unaware of where he was.

While amidst the murmurs, doubts about Aang's commitment to the tribe surfaced. "Maybe he's abandoned us." One voice suggested tentatively.

Another chimed in, "He wouldn't just run off like that, would he?"

Despite the uncertainty lingering in the air, Katara and Sokka's expression turned determined, as they stood up.

"We'll find him." Sokka responded confidently, as he exchanged a nod with Katara.

Together, they set out to search for Aang, combing through the bustling streets of the tribe.

Their efforts were rewarded when they received a tip from a passing bystander, who mentioned seeing someone carrying a limp body in a certain direction. With gratitude, Sokka and Katara thanked the informant before hurrying off in the direction indicated.

As they approached the outskirts of the tribe's walls, they encountered a tense standoff between three figures. Among them stood Ash, his gaze meeting the two siblings for a fleeting moment before Azula broke the silence with a smirk.

"Bye, husband! Hold back the rest for me!" She called out, her voice laced with a hint of amusement as she swiftly snatched Aang from Ash's shoulder and darted through a small hole in the ice wall.

Ash's brow twitched in annoyance, before positioning himself in front of the hole, blocking any attempts at pursuit with a calm demeanor.

"No, stop!" Zuko's voice reverberated through the air, his desperation palpable as he unleashed a burst of fire toward her unguarded back.

But Ash remained unfazed, his bare fist meeting the flames with a resounding punch, dispersing them effortlessly.

Azula's figure continued to disappear into the dark ice tunnel, as she glanced back at Ash, a knowing smile gracing her lips, acknowledging his role in creating the diversion.

Meanwhile at the stand off.

"Where are you taking Aang!?" Katara's voice rang out, her eyes wide with fear 

Sokka's shout joined hers, "Give him back!"

Zuko's seemed silent, as he gazed at Ash with a frown.

Nevertheless, upon noticing Azula's disappearance into the tunnel, the three adversaries exchanged a silent glance, a tacit agreement passing between them as they turned their attention to Ash.

Taking note that his presence seemed to be the strongest, not to mention he was their common enemy.

Ash raised a brow in confusion as they slowly encircled him, "Don't tell me you guys plan to fight me in a 3 verse 1?"

He shook his head helplessly, "Only this much?... Well I guess it can't be helped, it seems some of you need a beating." 

Ash had a ominous smile, as he burst forward at inhumane speeds.

"And I'll gladly give them!"

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