Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Doppelganger ❯ Despicable Acts ( Chapter 15 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor do I make money from this fic.

 

Doppelganger

 

Chapter Fifteen

 

. . .

 

“So… what do you know about the other vampires under Victoria?” Katara asked during a moment of silence. Cal stood across from her in a waterbending stance, ready to attack. She giggled and waved her arms up in the air.

”Holy crap, I was wondering when someone would ask me about them. I figured Onii-chan would, at least, but he never was one for learning about an opponent's weakness.” She stepped forward and frosted the grass underneath her and Katara to ice. The defending waterbender sidestepped and spun on her heel, sending a jet of water towards the vampire, who dodged.

 

“Maybe he just didn't want to bring it up.” Katara pointed out. Cal shrugged and swung her arm around. A thin sheet of water rushed towards Katara, only to be gathered into an orb in front of her. “Anyway, I want to know. How many there are… what they do, and how they fight.”

 

Cal nodded approvingly and signaled for the fight to end. Katara lowered the sphere of water to the ground and approached the vampire.

 

“Well… alright then.” Cal started and crouched to the ground, picked up a stick, and drew lines in the ground. “First up is the youngest to date, Gael.” The line started and joined a think like at its bottom. “When I was sent on my mission, he had just returned from training. Since I barely knew him, I don't know what gift he possesses or how he fights.” She smiled guiltily. “Gomene.” She skewed another line from the main. “The next youngest is Murkle.” She giggled. “Yea… crappy name, I know.” Katara smiled and nodded. “I've seen his gift lots of times, as he is very proud of it. He can dissolve his body to a vapor, or mist.” Katara blinked.

 

“A… a mist?” Cal nodded.

 

“Yea, a mist that cannot be bended. Mist can usually be bended, but Murkle in his mist form cannot be bended.” She laughed again. “I've always called him `Murky'.” Katara laughed with the little vampire. “He uses that to his advantage and concentrates on single strikes when you don't expect it to do as mush damage as possible.” Cal drew another line with a smiley face above it. “The next in line is ME!” She clapped her hands together. “You don't have to worry about me. And I'm sure you know enough about me anyway.” Another line was drawn from the main line. “The next is Arc. Kyle met him once, on the night when Senea was killed.” Katara blinked and remembered.

 

As Kyle was escaping, a vampire jumped out at him and tried to stop him.

 

“That was when he was still in basic training with Victoria. Since then, he has trained almost insanely on weapon combat. I don't know why; something must have happened to make him obsess that much. After a while, he picked up the name, `Master of a Thousand Blades'.” Katara stared at the line Cal had drawn. There was a certain difference in the line than the rest. It was deeper and seemed to be carved into the ground more forcibly. “His ability suits his fighting style perfectly. He can create… well… holes in the air around him… I guess you could say. These holes connect to another place and he can reach through his end to the other.” She demonstrated what it looked like. “So let's say, he has a weapon on the other side,” She pulled her hand back to her. “Arc can pick that weapon and use it where he is.” Katara swallowed. “Now you see why he is called… `Master of a Thousand Blades'.”

 

Cal drew another line in the sand and traced a large heart above the line. “Next is Onii-chan! Onii-chan, Onii-chan!” She giggled and traced more hearts around the line. “We both know all about Onii-chan, so next is Vincent.” She traced another line. “Vincent… is scary. That's all there is to it.” She shuddered. “He can read minds.” Katara nodded; she remembered Kyle say something about that. “But that's not all. Vincent's abilities are somewhat similar to Onii-chan's. Where Onii-chan handles the memories of someone's mind, Vincent deals with the here and now.” She grimaced and gestured with her hands. “What I mean is, he can put things in your head that aren't there… Illusions.”

 

Katara tried to picture what Cal was saying in her mind. “I…see. Vincent can put illusions into your head and make you see and think things that aren't true.” Cal nodded. “Scary.”

 

“Yea…” Cal muttered. “I've never seen him fight, though. He doesn't think he needs to, with his gift.” The little vampire circled the tip of the main line. “Last is Victoria.” Katara stiffened. “As far as I know, she can't bend, she doesn't personally fight, and she doesn't have any gifts that I've seen.” She held up a hand. “Mind you, I haven't seen her fight or bend. The only thing I do know is that she is extremely knowledgeable about vampires…” Cal's lips slipped into a dreamy smile. “And she knows how to fuck.” Katara coughed and slapped her chest with her fist.

 

“Didn't need to know that.”

 

Cal giggled and shrugged. “Alright, alright. Anything else you need to know?”

 

Katara thought for a minute. “Yea… what about bending? What elements does everybody know?”

 

“Ah… well, every vampire, after coming back from training, inherits firebending. No matter what. Anything else after that depends on your fighting style. Murky learned waterbending to fit with his ability. I learned waterbending. Arc learned earthbending and waterbending, although he doesn't use them. Vincent stays as secretive as Victoria, but I've smelt ash and fire around him.”

 

“And Kyle learned all four.”

 

Cal nodded. “Yup. Fire from Senea. Earth from Ellen. Water and air from Avatar Jala.” The little Vampire slapped her hand to her mouth at once, her eyes widened.

 

Katara shot to her feet. “What?” She cried. “Avatar Jala?” Cal groaned and put her finger to her lips.

 

“Fine, fine. But be quiet about it!” Katara sat down loudly and stared, stunned, at the lines drawn into the sand. “Avatar Jala was the waterbending Avatar a couple of hundred years ago. Onii-chan stayed with her for a number of years and obtained the remaining elements. She didn't last too much longer, because she was in her forties or fifties, so she died about ten years later. Avatar Kioshi was then born, then Avatar Roku.” Katara felt her legs go numb. Kyle was with… Aang's past life? Cal breathed a hollow laugh. “Yea, I know. That's probably why he didn't want to mention that around Aang. That would probably scar him for life.” The little vampire smiled. “So she taught him waterbending… but died before she could teach him airbending. He could airbend… but he didn't know how.”

 

“So… who taught him?” Katara wondered.

 

“He taught himself airbending.”

 

Katara held up her finger. “Ahh… I get it now… the sword from Senea… the knives from Ellen… and that coat from Avatar Jala.” Call nodded. “I certainly didn't expect that.” The waterbender scratched her cheek. “But… I heard from him that when you take blood from another person after a while...you inherit their traits… in the case of benders, you inherit their bending. Right?”

 

“That's right.”

 

“So that means… that he must have inherited some Avatar trait… maybe?” Cal shrugged.

 

“I dunno. If he had, he never let me know, whether by memories or word of mouth. It may not be something he would want to tell people. He-“ Cal's head snapped up and she focused her eyes past the trees. “Damnit, I thought we had more time.” Katara looked in the direction Cal was staring.

 

“Is it her?”

 

“Yes. It didn't take her as long as I thought for her to locate us.” She stood up and sniffed the air.

 

“How far away are they?”

 

Cal snarled in anger. “Not far. They are coming from downwind so I couldn't smell them until now. I'd say…” She sniffed again. “Shit… ten or twenty minutes.” Katara nodded and the two girls dashed towards camp.

 

. . .

 

Aang, Sokka, Cal, and Katara stood facing an oncoming plume of black smoke past the trees in their camp. They stood sullenly but still ready for anything.

 

“We aren't going to run?” Aang asked. Cal shook her head fiercely.

 

“Not a chance. If we team up, we should be able to beat Azula and her bodyguards.”

 

Sokka groaned doubtfully. “I don't know… Kyle was beaten by her.”

 

“That's because he only used firebending against her. It was a fire duel. He still has his honor, so he didn't betray that.” She smirked, showing her small fangs. “I on the other hand, will gladly use any means to defeat an opponent.” At once the trees in front of them crashed to the ground by the front of a giant iron tank, which stopped and hissed loudly. A few seconds passed with silence, then a door opened on the side of the tank. Out of the door stepped Azula herself, donned in her armor, flanked by her two bodyguards. Katara could feel Cal stiffen beside her when Azula stopped her advance a few meters away.

 

“Long time no see.” She chided. “Tell me, where is the other one?” When no answer was given, her brittle smile faded. “I grow tired of asking. Where is the other spawn of Victoria? The one who ran away last time?”

 

Cal stepped forward. “I dunno. He left a couple of days ago.” Azula stared at Cal for a few seconds then shrugged.

 

“Fine. I was hoping to have a rematch, but I can see that's not going to happen. I will just have to take the Avatar.” Katara, Sokka, and Cal stepped in the way between Aang and Azula. The princess stopped and folded her arms over her chest. “No? Then I'd be more than happy to take him by force.” She snapped her fingers and her two bodyguards stood at attention. “Mai.” The taller girl stepped forward. “Ty Lee.” The shorter girl stepped forward. “Attack.”

 

. . .

 

Cal looked from side to side. Katara, Sokka, and Aang were all bound and gagged on the ground in a pile. Other than a few cuts and bruises, they were relatively unharmed. She looked over her own body; enough lacerations to kill a normal human, her right arm dislocated at the shoulder, a concussion, internal bleeding… Cal smirked. Nothing serious. Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee stood across from her, at the ready to attack. The little vampire growled menacingly and popped her arm back into place.

 

“It will take more than that to bring me down.” Cal hissed at Azula, who laughed.

 

“I would imagine. And I would hope it would, too.” She clicked her tongue and looked over the girl. “It's amazing…someone so young… can be so old at the same time. It's a shame to dispose of such a pretty girl like this, but…” She pulled her face into a sneer. “Too bad.” Azula cracked her shoulder joint and circled her arms around in front of her. Ty Lee and Mai back away to safety behind her. Cal's eyes widened. This was the move that Kyle barely avoided. The lightning. Bright light began to appear around Azula's cat-like nails and grew in length.

 

Shit. Cal grimaced. How did Onii-chan do it? She had seen him take the attack in his arm, spin around, and the lightning came out of the other arm back at Azula. What did he do? Suddenly, Azula thrust her hand forward, and a bright bolt of lightning roared from her fingertips toward Cal. The vampire felt her stomach rise to her throat and she held her hands out in front of her in an attempt to ward the attack away.

 

Kyle!

 

The lightning struck the dirt Cal stood a spilt second before. Dashing to the side, the vampire dodged the attack and charged towards Azula. Ly Lee and Mai rushed to the princess' aid and met Cal head on.

 

“You think you can take on all three of us?” Azula laughed. Cal answered her with a blank face and a kick to the midsection. The princess staggered back a few steps, grunting in pain. Mai and Ty Lee surrounded Cal, attempting to catch her off guard, attacking with quick stabs with weapons and fingers.

 

Katara rolled on her side to watch the three on one fight. It was easy to see who would win, but Cal mounted an effective defense. From how she looked, Cal pushed with everything she had in doing as much damage as possible. The little vampire shifted her legs and bended her torso perfectly with every attack thrown at her. It was almost beautiful, her movements. Even the azure flames Azula shot from her fingertips were effortlessly evaded. This… is the real Cal. Katara thought, seeing her blank green eyes flash in the waterbender's direction. The two hundred year old vampire going all out. Katara struggled with her binds, but they were expertly tied; she was trapped. It was all up to Cal.

 

No matter how impressive her maneuverable defense was; Cal was being constantly pushed back by the assault of Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai. She wouldn't last too much longer. The vampire gritted her teeth and exhaled roughly. The ends of her arms ignited into orange flames. Mai and Ty Lee jumped back for Azula to advance. The princess smirked and covered her own arms in blue fire.

 

“Taking a leave out of the other one's book, huh? Fine, I'll beat you just as easily.” When no remark was given, Azula looked carefully over her opponent. Cut and tattered clothes, bleeding everywhere, and the girl had an eerie blank look on her. Something about this girl gave Azula a feeling of uneasiness. Shrugging it off, she crouched into a fighting stance. “Anytime.”

 

Cal blinked slowly and curled her lips into a feral grin. “If you think you can beat me easily, human… you have another thing coming.” The flames on one of her arms died out. Still smiling widely, Cal formed a cone with her fingers and a line of water floated from the river nearby, the end of it slipping into her fingers. Azula's eyes widened in shock. The girls could bend two elements? The spawns of Victoria can bend more that one? She regained most of her composure.

 

“How did-“ Azula was cut off with a sharp crack across her face. Cal had whipped the column of water across her cheek, drawing a thin line of blood down her face.

 

“Shut up and kill me.” She widened her smile almost manically. “If you can.”

 

Azula put out the flames on one of her hands and felt her cheek. After rubbing the wound, she stared at the blood covering her hand. Azula felt her eye twitch. She couldn't remember the last time she saw her own blood because of a wound.

 

“Oh… I will…” Azula growled and flung her hand towards the ground, a soft splatter sounded as the blood hit the dirt. “Slowly.”

 

Cal clamped her jaws together so tightly blood dripped down her chin. “I am not… going to lose… to you.” She bit off and charged toward Azula. “Kyle would never forgive me if I lost to the likes of you!” Cal thrust her hand forward, sending a pillar of fire at Azula. The princess dodged to the side and was tripped by the whip of water Cal had attacked with immediately after. Before hitting the ground, Azula pushed off with her hands and flipped back onto her feet. Standing again, the she faced an oncoming attack of fire from the enraged vampire. The princess smirked and intercepted the orange fire with an azure wall of her own. Now back on a solid defense, Azula intercepted every attack Cal sent with a strong burst of blue fire. The vampire hissed and increased the speed of her attacks, spending less time to back up the attacks with power.

 

Soon all Azula had to do was dodge the attack and go on the offensive against the open dual-bender. Unfortunately, Cal blocked every fire attack with a cooperative defense of fire and water, making it hard for her powerful flames to penetrate. Azula growled and swept her leg, trying to trip the vampire. Cal flipped out of the way and countered with a needle of ice at Azula's face. The princess evaded and jumped away from the melee. Cal ceased her attack as well and the two benders stared at each other. Everybody watched in silent awe at the expert demonstration of bending done by the two girls. It was almost frightening.

 

“I didn't know the spawn of Victoria could bend more than one element.” Azula pointed out.

 

“There are many things you do not know.” Cal whispered.

 

“That may be true, but it must end here. I'm sorry to end the fight early, but time is running out.” Azula started her lightning attack, unsmiling and devoid of any emotion.

 

“You think that will work? You missed last time, you will miss again.”

 

Azula laughed and spaced her legs apart. “Believe that if you will, but we'll see.” The blinding lights trailing from her fingers connected and Azula thrust her arm out toward Cal. The vampire dodged the thundering attack and stopped in shock at another attack of lightning coming at her in a jagged arc.

 

Two bolts!

 

The second attack hit Cal in her chest and the vampire was sent screaming into a tree behind her. Katara cried out from behind her gag at the sickening thud of Cal collapsing to the ground, twitching madly. Cal! The vampire soon stopped convulsing and craned her head back towards Katara.

 

“I'll make sure she's dead. Detain the others.” Azula muttered from out of view and footsteps were heard. Cal and Katara stared at each other form the ground. The vampire bled from everywhere, she seemed like a broken doll. Tears stung Katara's eyes as the fire nation princess stopped above Cal. No… stop it… Katara whimpered. She's just a little girl… Cal whimpered softly as Azula picked her up by the hair and held her to her knees. “I can't remember the last time I saw my own blood. I will make sure you see nothing but your own, spawn of Victoria.” Cal sobbed quietly as Azula drew a small knife from her belt.

 

“Matte.” Cal whispered. Wait. “That time.” Azula blinked and held the knife to the vampire's throat. “You were right. You did tag me. I was out.” She laughed quietly as Azula drug the blade across her throat, spilling out blood over the ground. Katara clamped her eyes shut as she was picked up and pushed towards the tank.

 

Cal.

 

. . .

 

“Cal!” Kyle yelled and ran up to the bound girl. Zuko tailed behind slowly and stayed behind Kyle, holding his hand over his mouth. “Cal, are you alright? Wait what the fuck am I asking?” He berated himself and drew a knife. After cutting Cal down, Kyle gently set her on the ground and checked her wounds. More cuts and he could count, her arms were broken and burnt, covered in blood, and her throat was slashed. “Damn.” Kyle cursed and brushed Cal's blood-covered hair out of her face. “Cal… can you hear me?” He whispered. Slowly, the girl opened her eyes. “There we go.” Cal widened her blood-clotted eyes and smiled.

 

“Oni… Onii-cha…Onii-chan… I'm so glad.” Her voice was garbled and sounded drowned. “You came…” Kyle held a finger to her mouth.

 

“Shh… I know. Did she take everyone?” Cal nodded and winced painfully.

 

“I tried to stop her…” She coughed and cried in pain. “But… she's so powerful. So… strong. Senea is… so strong.” Kyle brushed his hand across Cal's cheek.

 

“Don't worry. I'll get everyone back.” The little vampire smiled and shut her eyes.

 

“Did… did Cal make you proud? Was she a good girl?” Her voice was faltering and was barely audible.

 

Kyle leaned down and kissed Cal's forehead. “You did well, Cal. I'm very proud of you.”

 

Cal took another low, raspy breath and fell silent. Zuko watch from above Kyle silently. How could she do this? He clenched his fist. Azula… You must be stopped. The older vampire crossed Cal's arms over her chest and stood up.

 

“Stand back.” He directed to Zuko. With that, he thrust his arm at Cal, and a plume of blue fire ignited the girl and slowly ate away at her flesh. Kyle was careful not to let the flames rise high enough to burn the trees. Zuko watched the fire burn away the girl's body with a mix of a sick feeling and regret. Regret that his own flesh and blood was responsible for this cowardly act. The azure flames slowly lost its heat and reverted to a bright orange hue. This vampire could create blue fire. Could he teach me?

 

After the body completely burnt away, Kyle turned around and walked back to the camp. Zuko stared at the charred ground where the girl had died, then walked after the vampire.

 

“Could you have saved her? I mean, with blood or anything?” Zuko asked Kyle when he caught up to him. Kyle stopped gathering anything that was left and sighed.

 

“No.” He looked at Zuko with sad eyes. “She was too far gone. There was no way to save her.” Zuko swallowed and nodded.

 

“I'm sorry.”

 

Kyle clenched his fist. “So am I. She never should have been turned.” His eyes sharpened into a glare. “She must be stopped.” He whispered coldly. He was referring to Azula. Zuko nodded solemnly.

 

“Yes. Even I cannot allow this… inhumane act.” He sneered at the thought.

 

Kyle looked around the area and walked over to the dead campfire. “Bingo.” He said and picked up a piece of paper. Zuko walked over so he could read the letter.

 

Spawn of Victoria,

 

By the time you read this, the girl should be dead. She was an interesting fight, I must say… I'm sure my father would love to know that your kind could bend more than fire.

 

I have taken the Avatar and his companions. They are still alive, for your information. And I have a proposition. I want a rematch. You ran last time so we didn't get to finish it. On the attached page is a map where we will be for two days. Come before then or the Avatar's companions will die and I will turn in the Avatar to my father.

 

That is all.

 

Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation.

 

Kyle burnt the letter in a flash of azure heat. “Fuck.” He turned to Zuko. “I would think Victoria and your sister would get along famously.” Zuko blinked confusingly. “They are both girls, they are sadistic, and they both got on my bad side.” The vampire eyed the ground carefully. “There are tank marks, going west.” He pointed to the trees. “Ready?” Zuko nodded and the two set off in the direction of the tank.

 

. . .

 

About Avatar Jala… I extremely doubt that the last waterbending avatar was named Jala. But I got the name because Bumi is Hindu for `earth', and Jala is Hindu for `water'. So go figure. I also may have gotten the time periods a little altered with the avatars. But if you watch the placements of the Avatars is episode 3, the earthbending avatar shown in the line before Roku was not Kioshi, like was said; it was a different earthbender. I'm not sure if it was on purpose, but I used that confusion to my advantage and created the waterbender Avatar two reincarnations before Roku, Jala. If anybody has a huge problem with it, lemme know.

 

R & R!