I'm back assuming you guys can show appreciation for the hours it takes to dream up and write down this stuff. I haven't gotten any reviews on this story yet, that why I haven't been writing it (thank you to those who finally did review). If you guys can at least act interested I might find the time to write, so please review, it really does help.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN Avatar: the Last Airbender
Chapter 2: The Sea and Sky Aflame
Aang didn't wait to be given an invitation to act, he just acted. He flung his foot up and forced his will into the round kick to generate a whirlwind of air that grew as it soared skyward until it came into contact with the three bombs in a line. The tornado caught them each in turn and spun them about until two collided inside of it. This detonated them and the shrapnel now contained in the twister set the third bomb off. However Aang was not about to get comfortable, however he was not so foolish as to move to attack the airships without letting them make another move, perhaps one he could counter instead of simply block. Katara below shouted orders at the other water benders, trying to calm the storm churned seas down to protect the fleet. Sokka was busy moving several soldiers into place as he prepared to repel borders, and Hakota ran to the bridge to take the helm.
Another volley sounded with low thuds from the lower cannons of the approaching airships, and Aang was prepared. He took careful aim and kicked forward, blasting one of the bombs into the cannon which had fired it. He brought his palm about and sent another into the side of a nearby airship which he hoped would cripple it. Finally he used a burst of flame to detonate the third. He wanted to deal with Ozai personally. Katara and the others below where busy bending the waves away. The storm was without rain, but the waves had grown to monstrous proportions and had reached heights of 80 feet at times. The Airships seemed to have moved into reverse and where now staying slightly in front of the fleet as it tried to navigate the treacherous waters. This was not a usual storm, and Aang was not able to bend it away. One of the Airships, the one that had been struck in its starboard side by a bomb return was losing altitude and falling out to the right of the formation. Its bridge exploded in a burst of flame from within as it fell.
"One down two to go, Toph, three o'clock high!" Sokka shouted only to receive a look of 'you're an idiot…' by Toph. He sighed and walked over to move her hand in perfect aim at the left side ship. She nodded and slammed her foot into the stone deck of the earth kingdom ship, summoning up a large ring of rock (and leaving a big hole in the deck) which she thrust into the air. It was very well aimed and struck the port engine system which burst into flame and sent the ship on a collision course with the larger flagship in the middle of the formation.
"Ha Ha! This is just too easy ain't it!" Sokka exclaimed in delight as he watched the now giant missile head to destroy the largest obstacle in the formation. Even Aang wasn't sure if Ozai was present now, after all he hadn't shown himself and this opponent was child's play…
Knoxium, Arbiter Private Quarters
"Milord, the man you requested has arrived." The chief guard announced after bowing respectfully. He left after the Arbiter nodded in the shadows only to return a moment later with a rather small and pudgy man following him. The guard left and the door closed.
"Aw, you must be the infamous Arbiter." The man said.
"And you the ingenious Master Poi Tri, the greatest mind of the Firenation."
"In the flesh. Firelord Azula said you had need of my services." The man was smiling until this point, when a frown graced his old face. "Interesting occurrence, here I was merely trying to present her with a gift to commemorate her coronation and the next thing I know your men have me bound and shipped off to this place," the man calmed himself, "Care to tell me what you want so I can get back to my life, Arbiter?"
"Your straight to the point aren't you." the Arbiter said before producing some rough design sketches, "I want you to lead a very important project, the creation of this. You will have the all the items you will need and any amount of laborers you require."
Poi Tri frowned, "And why should I do this for you?"
At that moment the Arbiter clenched his fist and the old man fell to the floor as the air was pulled from his lungs. The Arbiter had been practicing some Airbending on the prisoners, and head learned how the take their breath way, literally. After a brief moment to let it sink in the Arbiter released him from his grip and let the man recover. "Point taken, I'll get to work immediately." He wheezed out in pain as the Arbiter smiled.
"Send the next one in as you exit please…" the Arbiter said to the man as he left. A few minutes later another man entered. "Ah, Gruh Hinay, I hear you're rather efficient at recovering los technology from ruins. Is that right?"
"Yes, as the lead instructor from Ba Sing Se University on Ancient technologies I know very well the delicate art of retrieval. However I specialize in water salvage, I don't know how much use I can be for your desert team." The man bragged in clear enjoyment of flaunting his title and knowledge.
"Desert? Who leaked that to you I wonder?" The Arbiter asked politely but with dark and evil glaring eyes peering at the man.
Gruh gulped as he caught the glare but moved forward; "I cannot say, I assumed that would be your target, after some old texts or something…" he lied through his teeth; he did not like the fact that this boy was staring him down.
The Arbiter softened his gaze, he knew he was lying but that was of little consequence at the moment. "You misunderstand professor, I need you to head north, not into the desert." He gestured to a point on the map before him. "And your water experience is exactly what I need… tell me, what do you know of the Air Nomads?"
Eastern Ocean, the Avatar's Fleet
The black shapes grew ever nearer to their collision. Despite the differences in size between the two vessels, if they collided the battle would be over before it truly began. This would seem cruel fate to the men aboard, their own guns and one shot would destroy their entire force, poetic justice for the attack on the other refugee fleet. But how could this be the ships that attack them, it was clear that those ships had been led by Ozai, and were that the case now they would surely not be so close to disaster. "Where are you Ozai?" Aang growled under his breath. He was glad this attack was a complete failure, however he couldn't lie to himself (without locking his chakras) that he was hoping to find Ozai, and make him pay for the massacre he committed. However, as the two vessels closed in one another everything changed.
A red light formed at the tip of the largest craftiest. The whole surround forming into a dusk like scene. Before Aang or the others could react a straight beam pierced the clouded sky and sliced downward and cut the colliding smaller craft in two. The fire that ensued engulfed the separated halves as they plummeted straight down, almost landing on one of the foremost refugee ships. Sokka reacted first by signaling one of the few cannons they had to fire; the shot knocked the flaming ship to the side of the fleet with a slight push from one of the Waterbenders waves. Sokka was knocked over by a fist in the side from Toph, "You JINXED us you Moron!" Toph shouted as the rest rushed to prepare to evacuate the ships. If they were hit by that attack there was nothing to be done.
Aang didn't intend to let Ozai get that chance; he flew toward the origin of the shot and struck out with a burst of air infused with fire at the bow of the vessel. He continued toward the not smoldering area of his strike to check what he had shot, he was so focused on attacking he didn't think as to why he hadn't noticed Ozai there at the start of the battle or as to why he hadn't seen him prepare to attack sooner. His mind was on the anger he felt when he had seen the other felt that was brutally destroyed, and that distraction had clouded his mind. He wouldn't let it happen again. He crouched and turned about, the circular motion indicative of airbending building the power beneath him as he aimed up at the point he last saw Ozai at. He jumped and focused on using the air currents that were pushing him to make it up to the ship. His new robe had several places at which the air pooled and pushed him higher, though he still wasn't used to the new and elaborate robe. Regardless of what his personal feelings were, this was going too far. Ozai had to be stopped, and since he couldn't be restrained Aang knew he might have to finish it. "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." He thought out loud as he landed on the bow platform and took his stance to fight. He scanned the area for his target, yet all he saw was himself.
Icaria, Firenation Fleet Flagship in route to the Northern Water Tribe
Zuko breathed deeply the familiar cold air that had nearly killed him last he was here; he still remembered that the first true act of mercy from his new friends was to save him from that harsh chill. He mused to himself about something his Uncle had once said, on the boat to Ba Sing Se; he was a conqueror and then a tourist. "If only it were a touring stop, and not the end of peace and balance." He muttered.
"Are you talking to yourself gain?" Mai asked in an irritated tone, she had just entered the bridge and was fully dressed in thick robes. Mai hated the cold and, not being a firebender, she couldn't use her chi to warm herself.
"Uh… no I was just… -sigh- yes, I suppose I was." He stumbled but coughed and regained his composure, now turning to Nakito and thinking for a moment. "WE won't be the only fleet coming up here for refuge, the earth kingdom fell long before this and the people there began fleeing immediately. My Uncle was trying to push the refugees north, and I have no doubt he succeeded."
"You know more than I do milord, but what does all that mean?" Nakito responded with a slight flush of annoyance.
"It means that the Northern Water tribe should be expecting refugees and that we should be able to find it without too much trouble." Zuko explained with frustration, he had caught the Commanders annoyed expression. "The Northern Watertribe is normally hidden behind whole glaciers and a maze of ice. It's all but impossible to reach without harm, but with them expecting refugees they should have cleared the way and be guiding ships outside the city."
"Now I see. Lieutenant, post men out on the deck and have them look for any sign of the Water Tribe. Helmsmen, watch you heading. This place is covered in dangerous icebergs and we aren't equipped for them."
Zuko was pleased the Commander was so understanding but still wasn't about to let all the orders come from him, "Have the other ships form three columns and follow our course as closely as possible. Get the War Balloons into the air and have them start looking about for any sign of the city!" he barked at the young officer manning the communication center.
Eastern Ocean, the Avatar's Fleet
Aang stared at his reflection, but still saw something else. The mirror was curved out and on a pivot system, and at the top o the mirror he saw an upside down reflection of Ozai, grinning at him. He looked for the source, and looking up found another mirror hung off the bow with a tunnel leading into the ship. He also saw Ozai raise his hand, a red orb forming in it as he prepared to strike. Aang however thought fast, and brought his foot up to send a blade of air through the beam that held the smaller mirror. It plummeted, and without its reflection point there, the beam fired harmlessly out the tunnel and into the sky, the clouds parting in its path as the night shown red. "You monster!" Aang roared at the mirror before him.
Aang pressed on by punching hard at the reflective surface before him. He used air to push the glass away, and with what little Metalbending he could manage to crack the steel behind and show him what lay behind. There, sitting on a large number of cushions was Ozai, looking triumphant. "OZAI!" he roared, his anger coming to a head at the thought of how he sat there, smiling while he had just recently killed his own men. His tattoos flashed and he kicked hard. The Air he unleashed made the whole ship tremble as the bow was ripped apart. Ozai stood and took his stance, he was well aware that the Avatar was beyond him. But he also knew the boy was not a stone cold judge. He was not willing to fight to all he could. It would be his demise. "I can never forgive you for this Ozai. You've gone too far!" Aang shouted with emphasis on the last word as he struck out at Ozai with a burst of flame. He was trying to mix up his style so as to throw the man off.
"Then kill me Avatar!" Ozai replied as he dodged Aang's first strike. Ozai tried to retaliate with a burst of fire from his palm but found it futile. Aang had used his speed to close the distance. As Ozai struck Aang knocked the flame to the edge of his body with a well placed burst of air. He then slid his foot and turned it, pressing with his heel. Another burst of air blew the cushions away and wit the turn of his foot the metal floor buckled and encased Ozai's foot. Aang didn't hesitate to press his advantage and then pressed his hands forward, water flowing from several hidden compartments around his body and forming into ice over the stunned Ozai, who was spread eagle in shock. Aang then acted on knowledge from his past; subconsciously the other avatars were pressing him onward.
"You're too dangerous to be left alive!" Aang spoke harshly, and with a slight echo as if he was in the avatar state. His tattoos did not glow outright, but rather glimmered slightly. Aang brought his arms around in a full circle, energy flowing from each and brought them together. Ozai was shocked and a sheer look of horror crossed his face as Aang brought the right hand up and took aim, Had he read the boy wrong, Ozai wondered if that would be his last mistake. Aang grunted, "No." he choked out, all too late, and jumped forward at Ozai, who breathed sharply.
Icaria; In route to the Northern Water Tribe
"Watch for under-sea ice. A ship this large has little time to react." Zuko advised.
"You seem rather knowledgeable of this kind of think my lord. Where did you learn all of this?" Nakito asked as he nodded for the helmsmen to comply. The helmsmen then started talking into a tube near him to those on deck.
"My Uncle and I traveled the world, searching for years to find the Avatar. When we first ran into him, it was in the South Pole. After that we ran in to him numerous other times, including once here at the Northern water tribe."
"You're an amazing person my lord. I see why Mai is so- ugh!" he grunted as the ship suddenly listed hard to one side. Zuko however reacted quicker than the commander had, and was already out of the bridge and looking down to see what the trouble was. He found it to be several small Watertribe boats, and a huge wall of ice creeping up the edge of the ship. Zuko wanted to shout a plea for peace first, but knew the ship might not be able to take the force. He instead slid down the sharp grade the ship had taken to the ice. Here he started trailing fire to melt it. As he slid down the ship righted its self and the boats scattered, save the one the Waterbenders were on and thus the one the ice led to.
"Don't attack us, we are friendly!" Zuko shouted, realizing he was sliding toward them with fire behind him but still he had to try. However the benders reacted as was expected. Unable to see their faces one of the (there were five total) struck. A pillar of ice formed to block Zuko's path. Zuko just breathed fire to burn through it. He then landed on the boat, and ducking one strike had to sweep two of them to the ground. As another burst of water rose to his face he reacted instinctively by burning through it and continuing with another punch breathed in flame. Before he could stop himself he feared he would hit the man. However another fist of flame grabbed his and put his fire out. He was then pulled forward. This Zuko tried to fight but was pulled onward, not in to a grapple, instead into a hug.
"Zuko! I was so worried!" a familiar and welcome voice choked out from beneath the mask and coat.
"Uncle?"
That the end of chapter two, I'm finding some time to write but I won't waste my time if no one reads. Review if you liked, if you didn't, or if you'd like to become an editor for the story, lord knows I need one.
Next Chapter 3: To Bear the World is a Heavy Burden
