Gloom and I made our way through the winding prison, our feet pounding the metal catwalk as we rushed to the gondolas. Guards would appear every few feet or so to stop us, but they either received a Smart disc across their body for their troubles, or a knife via one of Gloom's sleeves. She had talent, which was one impressive tidbit.

The other was her unyielding ferocity. We came to an open area. Guards had positioned themselves all around us on catwalks. I readied my plasma caster to blast the catwalks apart, but I had barely gotten the sighing on the first one when Gloom jumped into action. There was a whistle as she spun, knives flying from her sleeves. They cut into the uniforms of the guards, holding them down and preventing them from firebending at us. The only warning they received before getting stuck to where they were by a flurry of Gloom's stilettos was the telltale whistle of the knives cutting air.

She stopped, after just a few seconds, all the guards taken care of, and we continued on our way. I paused for a moment to admire the beauty of the attack before continuing. Scar must have meant an awful lot to her for her to take such…extreme measures. She made an honor pact with me, after all, and, if I understood correctly, I was the equivalent of a monster on this planet.

Fair enough, so long as I admit I think they're all insane.

We emerged into the light of day, observing the scene before us. A duo of guards held a massive saw, cutting one of the gondola lines. Gloom moved before I had a chance to react. In flash, knives had shot form her hands, pinning the two guards to the wall. One of them only gaped at her while the other struggled to get free. "What are you doing!"

Gloom only looked on in cold boredom. "Saving the jerk who dumped me." In a flash she moved as someone sent a blast of fire her way. I leaped from the stairs, deploying my Plasma caster in mid-air. The tri-dot mark landed on the offending guards head.

FWOOSH.

He screamed as super-heated plasma blasted into the side of his cranium, sending him sprawling o the ground. I deployed my claws and cut into the nearest guards, my caster swinging like a turret, locking on to any guards out arms reach and introducing them to a nice round of plasma. I spun, cut, and cast, all with the artistic fluidity of a true hunter.

Gloom kicked away the brakes on the gondola line, and it began to move again. She joined me, and we went back to back. My caster slid back into its holster as she covered my rear, her knives taking out the guards out of range of my claws, and my claws digging into the guards that were to close for comfort. It was a dance of dual predators, and we knew each step well.

With alarm, she tapped me on the shoulder. A second gondola was approaching, with Azula and Pink riding on the roof. "Take cover," she said, "You're about to get your end of the bargain." I nodded and cloaked. As I slipped away, into the shadows and out of sight, I counted myself rather fortunate. Here I was, about to get the head of the most powerful bender on a platter.

I slipped to the roof of the entrance area as the gondola arrived. A pair of guards grabbed Gloom, taking her arms and pinning them behind her back. I went prone, my chest to the metal of the roof, watching the scene unfold with interest.

The mood was tense, so thick you could have cut it with a knife. I waited and listened, eyes moving from Gloom to Azula. Pink stood on the sidelines, hands in a prayer-like position over her mouth, her own eyes matching mine as they went from Azula to Gloom. I supposed she couldn't take the time to see my aura when she was distracted.

Finally, Azula broke the silence. "Leave us alone," she snapped at the guards, her voice cold and ruthless. But there was something else there; it was something that she was trying to hide. Pain, perhaps? "I never expected this from you," Azula spat, and a pregnant pause took place once more. "The thing I don't understand," she said finally, "Is why? Why would you do it? You know the consequences."

"I guess you just don't know people as well as you think you do," Gloom responded, "You miscalculated. I love Zuko more than I fear you."

Ouch. I may have actually winced behind my Biomask when she said that. That's when the cold killer exterior snapped, and the Princess lost control. "No, YOU miscalculated! You should have feared me MORE!" She took a battle stance, and Gloom wound up her arm to dig a knife into the Princess

Time to make my move.

Time seemed to slow down as I jumped from the roof, deploying my claws as a bolt of lighting flew from Azula's fingers towards Gloom. Her eyes followed me in horror as I de-cloaked, landing in front of Gloom. I crossed my claws as the lightning bore down upon me and collided with the metal. Shock ran through my body, but, summoning up the strength, I tore my claws apart, dispersing the lightning.

I roared, a victorious, inhuman bellow that rang off the walls of the crater. Gloom smirked as Azula looked on in horror. "Azula, meet my new friend," She said, placing a slender hand on my shoulder armor, "The Shadowbender."

"Mai," she said, shocked, "What have you done!"

Gloom shrugged. "I made a deal with the devil, Azula. You die," she said, looking rather content, "and Zuko goes free."

"Your betrayal," Azula snarled, waiting for me to make my move, "Won't free him from his own crimes."

"I wasn't talking about his crimes." The reality struck Azula hard. Her eyes widened, and that priceless look of shock came over her.

"He's HUNTING Zuko?"

I could almost feel the venom and sadistic joy in Gloom's voice. "Not anymore."

I vaguely heard the sounds of pounding footsteps. More guards were coming. I took my brother's spear from my back and tossed it to Gloom, then pointed at the gondola. It took a few seconds for the reality to sink in. "If you say so," she said, bored as usual, and I heard her steps as they faded away toward the line, and the metallic click of a lever being thrown.

"Wait for me!" The shout came from Pink, her light shoes racing to catch up to her friend. Azula's face contorted in fury.

"Ty lee!" She yelled, "Get back here!" With mild amusement, I watched Azula's face with a smirk on my own. She was losing her control, I could tell. So long as she didn't go insane, she was still worthy prey. The Princess' slender hands balled into fists, the knuckles turning white. "You're both fools!" She screamed, pupils small in rage, "I'll make you both pay! You hear me!"

She turned to a nearby guard, who pulled himself out of his stupor. They had all been stunned by this turn of events, not even moving an inch. "Stop them, you fools!" A guard ran forward, stupid from fear, charging to get to the lever in time. As the gondola set forth, I jumped forward, beating the guard to the lever, and brought my claw down on it. With my other hand, I threw my SmartDisc, the fanged weapon whirring as it spun through the air. The guard screamed as it buried itself in his chest before cutting through organ and bone, exploding out of his back.

My caster spun around, and I checked the battery. That lighting bolt had re-charged it (Conveniently enough) but I wasn't sure how many shots I could get off before having to get out of here. So, I focused my energy on the charging guards.

The tri-point landed on a small group, opening fire as my SmartDisc returned. I threw the SmartDisc once more, letting it cut freely through the crowd's legs as my blaster took anyone who was still standing apart. Rinse and repeat, I thought, redeploying my disc again as my caster cut another few guards down.

An annoying beeping filled my ears. I only had enough charge for one shot. I looked back momentarily, checking on the status of Gloom and Pink's gondola. They were almost halfway to the exit. I turned, ready to use my last blast to eliminate any remaining resistance-

And only saw lighting.

I dived to the right, but it was in vain. I heard metal snap and circuits sever. I rolled and landed, took a look at my shoulder, and my caster was gone. Lighting had cut it from the base. I purred and stood.

Azula was an image of fury. With each heaving breath, blue fire wafted from her nostrils, and her fingers crackled with residual lighting. Her amber eyes were mad and wild, fixated on my mask.

Slowly, I reached a hand up, and took the caster off of my shoulder, tossing it backwards into the boiling foam. My Smartdisc returned, but I kept it in hand.

It was a showdown in the making. I was finally about to take another powerful benders head. And what did it matter that she was a girl? Being prey is equal opportunity.

Silence continued, and I spare a glance at the gondola. Pink and Gloom had made it across, no doubt joining up with Boomerang's group. I purred in delight. Now, I could focus on the hunt.

I moved quickly, deploying the Smartdisc to the left as I dove, again, to the right, strafing around the princess. Her movements followed mine as we fought, blasts of blue flame shooting from her fists as she chased me. She turned, just in time to see the Smartdisc come around. She ducked, and it cost her one topknot.

I caught the disc as she felt up in horror. "My hair!" She screamed, pure primal rage blinding her, "I'LL KILL YOU ALL FOR THIS!"

…All? Who else is trying to kill you?

I charged, seizing the moment. My claws were ready to dig into flesh, to cleave her skull from that slender neck-

-And a blast of lighting met me in the chest.

I was stunned. I looked down at my stomach. A massive, star-shaped scar burn was now there, the heat from the lighting burning the flesh. It was painful, but it didn't bleed. I looked back up at her, who was shocked as well. Obviously, nothing survives an attack like that.

Well, nothing on her planet, anyhow.

I moved to attack, claws at the ready, but more guards, who had arrived amidst the fighting, tackled me. They pinned me down as I fought for freedom. One of them took a pair of cuffs and latched them onto me. I snared in indignation as they forced me to stand, still fighting to get free.

"What should we do with him, Princess?" One guard said, keeping his distance from both of us.

Azula looked on in morbid shock. The pain of betrayal was still near, but it was buried under curiosity. "Put it on the airship. I'll present it to my father, and then we'll study it." She leaned forward, amber eyes glinting dangerously, "See what use we can make of it and it's toys."

"There, uh, might be a problem with that, Your highness."

Azula turned to the guard. "Problem! What problem! I've WON! What possible issue could there…" Her voice trailed off as a shadow overtook us all, and all eyes went up.

A zeppelin, a massive airship, sailed overhead. On it's bow was an ornate design, like a roaring lion. The Princess looked up in a stupor as the shadow passed overhead, moving off into the distance. "My airship," she murmured.

I laughed. A dark, cruel laugh that would set fear ablaze in the hearts of anyone who heard it. The guards stepped back, unnerved by this sudden outburst. Azula turned, screaming in rage. "Why are you laughing! I won! Stop! STOP IT! STOP LAUGHING! I WON! STOP LAUGHING AT ME!"

I continued laughing, even after the guards had pulled the princess away, still writhing in fury.

I was captured, yes-But my prey was still out there. As long as it was, I would hunt it. Even if that meant playing lab rat for a little while.