Avatar: Aftertime

by Johnwel Starking

Two thousand years after Harmonic Convergence, the Air Nation waged a war on the rest of the world below their sky cities. In time of need, the Avatar is nowhere to be found. But heroes of different origins rise above ranks and discover their intertwined destinies in restoring balance to the world.

2. Gathering Strength

Gathering Strength

If a person stood at the edge of the outer wall, he would see perhaps the largest gathering of troops in recent history. Camps and banners with the red Fire Nation insignia spread all over the land, with rocket artilleries guarding the base. At the center, a force shield projector stood half the height of the giant wall of metal, towering the soldiers and camps and construction machines. They shared the technology with the walled city, as they needed defense from aerial attacks more than what their steel walls are supposed to defend them from. Inside the camps housed soldiers from a land across the oceans. They left their families to help the Earth Kingdom defeat the Air Nation, even though the Earth King repeatedly rejected their aid.

Such is the struggle of General Zendal. He was sent to lead the negotiations with the Earth King Jiao-Long and his Prime Minister. At a young age, he earned the rank for his talents and heroic feats during the war. But the presses and gossipers keep on bringing up the fact that he is engaged with the Fire Lord's daughter, Princess Kiega, arguing that Zendal merely seized his title by getting close to the royal family. He was adopted by the royal family after he was found as an infant placed before the gate of the castle. The Fire Lord took the baby as a sign from the spirits that they are still watching over the Fire Nation, and raised him as his own, though he would not inherit any titles.

But his brothers-in-arms had seen him in battle. They told stories about him using his skills to defend the Fire Nation. The most prominent one was when he singlehandedly defeated a fleet of Air Nation war balloons using his legendary weapon- the Fire Blaster. He brought down a dozen shielded balloons in one standing.

His latest mission makes for not much of a story to tell around campfires, unless there are people who would enjoy hearing about Zendal coming in and out of the walled city to spend dinner with the Earth King every day to convince him to take their help and join forces against the Air Nation army. But Jiao-Long grows more stubborn every time, and Zendal, impatient. Still, he couldn't abandon his mission. It was given to him directly by the Fire Lord himself. So he went back to the palace to try and try.

"Open the gate! General Zendal is here!" Cried an Earth Kingdom soldier, as Zendal sat next to Haezor, his friend and this time, his driver, in a military vehicle. The wall of steel that reflected the sun's light felt hot to the eyes. It was hot to the touch, even. Zendal tried it once, and he swore to a burn on his finger that he wouldn't do that again. Steel walls under the scorching dessert sun- Zendal found it unwise and inconvenient. It provided thrice as stronger defense for the city, but it also caused discomfort amongst anyone near it. That means the soldiers who are there to protect their home.

The gate opened. A square hole bore through the steel a hundredth the height of the wall. The soldiers saw a faint light through the darkness, leading to the other side. Relatively small, but a fire nation tank like the ones on their base can still fit in. Haezor drove the vehicle inside the tunnel. Surprisingly, the temperature shifted. It was cool inside. Zendal savored every second inside, because the first thing that await him going out the tunnel was a wave of extreme heat from the afternoon sun.

Haezor sneezed at one point.

"You okay?" Zendal asked him.

"Yeah," Haezor wiped his nose with a white handkerchief he took from his coat pocket. "Not used to going to the cold after whole days in the hot dessert, especially when our camps are next to an oversized baking stove turned inside out."

Zendal looked at the side mirror next to him and saw the tunnel close in behind them. Though the earthbenders can see them in the dark, he was still anxious that somehow, they miss and crush them with the steel bars. Maybe it was the cold, but he shuddered at the thought that the Earth King had taken sides with the Air King and are planning to lure the Fire Nation into a trap. Zendal was scared that the walls would close in for them. The Earth King was said to be scared of many soldiers that aren't at his command, so Zendal was only ever allowed to bring one escort, and being his most trusted, it was Haezor he brought with him.

And that's one of the reasons he admired the new walls. Before, it was only made of sandstone; but today, the mighty wall of steel roars hope and protection in the hearts of the citizens of the walled city.

Haezor looked at his friend the general. A look of worry and fatigue was painted on his face. He leaned over and tapped his shoulder. "Hey, you'll be fine. The Earth King will fold one of these days. And then, we can go home for your wedding."

Zendal smiled for a second. "Marriage," he breathed. "Another war."

They both laughed.

And then a thought occurred to him. "But I don't think home is near in the waiting. If the Earth King does give in and finally accept our help, then it's off to war with the sky."

Haezor scoffed. "I know we can beat them; with or without the Earth Kingdom's help. Placing their cities in the sky just made them more vulnerable. The higher they are, the harder they'll fall."

"That's not a bad tactic." Zendal remarked. "But it's been thought of before. And the Air Nation has dealt with that by using hostages to ensure that we don't hit the flying cities with our own on board."

"Hey, all I know is that the Earth King is a coward and the Fire Lord shouldn't need their help to fight back. We alone are powerful enough to defeat them."

"That's what you know," Zendal stared at the light at the end of the tunnel. "But you haven't seen what they have in store for us. None of us have. We're all driving through a dark tunnel, and the light is the only thing we have to follow. Only they know what they're up to. Fighting songbirds is hard enough. I'm sure they have more in store for us."

"Damn songbirds. I hear 'ya." Haezor kept the speed of the vehicle constant, until the picture of songbirds flashed in his head. He sped up a bit, as the end of the tunnel was near. "I mean, how the firecrack do you bend sound?"

"I'm not surprised," Zendal said. "A long time ago, benders can only bend the four elements. But now, we have all sorts of sub-elements. The airbenders just discovered theirs now because they hardly ever used it for combat in the past. There was no need to evolve back then."

"And now, they wage a war on the land-dwellers. They think they're so special, with their flying cities and flying suits."

"Don't you have a flying suit?" Zendal crossed his arms. "What's your excuse?"

"When I fly, I leave an awesome streak of fire." Haezor boasted.

Zendal looked back at the road. "Just keep driving."

When they made it through the dark tunnel, the light was almost blinding. And it was hot; way hotter because they just came from a cold place. Haezor felt even sicker for that. He stopped the vehicle a couple meters from the wall before it closed; where nearly a dozen Earth Kingdom soldiers awaited to escort them to the palace. Some of them didn't look happy with Zendal. They were older than him, and he has a rank that they knew that they could never achieve.

Zendal shrugged his shoulders to get some air in his coat. He combed his dark brown hair with his fingers to get it into shape, after the wind from the car's open roof ruined his look. "That, I can't get used to," he told Haezor, whose hair cream did his well, as he was just as when they were at the other side of the wall.

The leader of the squad came to the general and saluted by pushing his fist against his chest as he bowed down. "General," he greeted. "The Earth King awaits."

Zendal sighed. He and Haezor jumped out of the car. "Very well. Let's get this over with."

The squad punched through the ground and formed a circle surrounding them and their guests. It sunk into the ground as they stood on a flat surface, like an elevator. A circular frame showed the heavens above. But everyone knew that the sky was no paradise. For the enemies are hiding behind the clouds. Once the fantasy ended, the squad leader closed the window. Zendal opened a flame to light the descent. Soon, they reached an underground world, lit with crystals and artificial light, with a wide system of caves reaching everywhere throughout Ba Sing Se. The walls were clad in steel and other objects to keep the place intact.

"Let's go," the squad leader said.

At a post near them, a train awaited. It was a single-carriage ride sitting on a railroad. This railroad unites the city, and was designed by earthbenders and architects as an escape route when an invader occupies the walled city; that was the plan, anyway. Word got out and it was forced to be published. Now, it's New Ba Sing Se, or more commonly known as the Undercity, full of stores and rental homes and business centers. The Undercity is Ba Sing Se's alter identity. On the outsde, it's hot, and dirty, and reeks of poverty; underground, it's a busy city that doesn't go to sleep, even though it's always dark. This place is exclusive to earthbenders, as earthbending is the only key to the city.

The train was guarded by the Dai Li, who are the protectors of the culture in Ba Sing Se. They had a bad history for being tied to conspiracies, forcing them to work out of the public place. But their work still remained, handing over information throughout the world as a secret organization. They have agents all over the planet except the Air Nation, unfortunately.

"Good work, Squad Alpha." A Dai Li agent said, blocking the train door. "We'll take it from here."

The squad leader did not stand aside. "I wasn't notified that you are to relieve us."

The agent smirked. "You had just been notified now."

Zendal and Haezor looked at each other. Their expressions showed contrast in what they feel about what could happen. Haezor seemed excited about a brawl, as he always is. Zendal was hoping otherwise, but he can't be so sure.

As the Dai Li and the squad have an intimidating standoff, just as the men get their weapons out, a wall of fire divided them. They all saw the Fire Nation general who glared at them with a straight face and burning eyes. He jumped in the middle of the men. "I don't like where that was going. If you want to fight, do it on your own time." He turned to the Dai Li agent. "Don't waste ours. There's work to be done." Then to the squad leader. "The Earth King awaits."

Without another word from everyone, Zendal went inside the car. The startled Dai Li gave him way.

"Damn..." Haezor murmured as he followed his friend into the train. "Did you eat crackers for breakfast? I thought you were gonna hurt them there."

"Almost." Zendal said. "Aren't you mad, too? Here we are, at war with the Air Nation, and the Dai Li and the Earth Kingdom soldiers are having spats under the Earth King's nose. Their army is not stable; how can they defend their country from enemies?"

"They can't." Haezor gripped his best friend's shoulder. "That's why you're here- to give them help from our Nation."

Zendal wore a faint smile. "I'm only here because the Fire Lord ordered me to. I'd rather be with Kiega than here."

"I know."

The squad leader joined them. "I'm sorry for what happened back there, Sir."

"It's fine," Zendal told him. "Just don't let it happen again. Fight in front of me, and you'll end up needing to team up to beat the two of us."

"Yes… yes, sir." The squad leader's legs were trembling. Zendal's voice does intimidate when he's not happy. The earthbender called out to his men outside. "Let's go!"

The train began to move. The other squad members went inside the car as well. Trains in the surface world are moved by electricity, which is harvested by catching sunlight and converting solar energy. But in the Undercity, where earthbenders roam, trains work the old-fashioned way. By pushing the stone or metal cars with bending, they save energy while putting their skills to use- that is one of the primary reasons the Undercity was built. Only an earthbender can enter and leave here. Zendal and Haezor were still troubled even after a month of their visits, especially the general that a fight might break out and they have to fight their way through a community of earthbenders in their home, surrounded by metals and earth.

The trip was short. The palace was soon right above them. But the Earth King tends to meet foreign guests while showing off the best of his Kingdom, and that is at his favorite restaurant in the Undercity- Keikou's. Unlike Haezor, who is the king of feasts, as he calls himself, Zendal has a stomach for Fire Nation dishes. He found Keikou's food good, but to him, the chili cakes that Kiega makes for him will always be his favorite, and remembering that makes him yearn for home more.

The train left as soon as they landed. The restaurant was a tall building, extending to the ceiling of the twenty-meter high cavern. Zendal and Haezor approached the man they recognize amidst the crowd of customers and guards.

"Well, good evening, General Zendal, Sir Haezor." The adviser Li Kan greeted.

"Forgive me, but are we late?" Zendal asked, embarrassed. "Since His Highness is already here-"

"Oh, no! No! Of course not," the thin and gray-haired adviser said. "His Highness was just worried that the restaurant will be out of roasted lamb… again. So we went here early so we can ask Keikou to have three reserved for His Highness and his guests. General, I know that you have Fire Nation taste, so I asked them to double the chili sauce on it."

Raezor's mouth watered. His stomach was grumbling for dinner. He held Zendal's arm like he was about to collapse. "Oh, man. We shouldn't keep the lamb waiting!"

"Sir Raezor, act your rank." Zendal whispered to him before he pushed him away and turned back to the old adviser. "Pardon me for my friend, again."

The old man laughed. "His Highness would prefer his guests take this dinner as a friendly affair instead of a formal one."

"I'm your man, then." Raezor said, and went inside the building.

Zendal sighed.

The adviser chuckled to see the general get peeved by his friend. "I figure you're used to Sir Raezor's behavior?"

"You have no idea." Zendal said. And then they followed Raezor into the restaurant.

Keikou's is an establishment like no other Zendal's ever seen in the Fire Nation. Back at home, the Burning House had doors where dragons can fit without making any scratches. The last time Zendal ate there was at Princess Kiega's coming-of-age party. Back then, she was still his girlfriend. He planned to ask her to marry him in the same place, but the Fire Lord already saw that they made a good match and arranged it.

The old adviser, Liro, while having a hard time walking, was a powerful earthbender in his youth. Some of his skills remain in him. Liro raised his hand and took the floor up the building. Zendal and Haezor marveled at the place like it was their first time in there. Maybe they weren't just used to it, but the hanging floors around the cube-spaced building was just far too bizarre for people who normally eat on a wooden table in the middle of a room. Here, at Keikou's, all the floors hung from the walls, attached with earthbending. Some tables were way up high to jump on, and there were no stairs or ladders. It truly was a place designed for earthbenders.

The Earth King was seated in a corner floor, to ensure that it will carry his weight. His Highness sat on a large table, but not enough to hide the King's global belly. He was already munching on a lamb's leg, dipped in honey and garlic sauce. The Earth King's robe was stained with purple wine and golden sauce. When he saw his guests, a huge smile stretched his lips, showing his teeth yellowy with the food he's been eating. He called them over with his brutish, loud voice.

"Har! Spirits bless me! For Jiao-long is visited by mighty dragons from the West! Come! "

Zendal and Haezor stepped down from the platform and bowed. "Your Highness, we are pleased to see you again."

"Liro!" He pounded his fist on the stone table, making the floor shake, since he was also an earthbender. The bottles of wine almost tumbled down. He shouted, though his adviser was only a couple meters away. "Have the other lambs served! Our guests must be famished! Har-ha!"

Liro bowed in affirmation and went back down. Zendal sat at the right side of the behemoth king, and Haezor was forced to sit at the other side. The King's plump, jiggly arms wrapped around them. Zendal felt dizzy and nauseous of the smell. Haezor did all his best to hold his breath, but the King's wrap made it harder to resist.

"So!" The Earth King said. "What business do you have for me, dragons? What other protections would you like to offer my beloved city?"

Zendal shook his head and focused. He prepared to speak as he was prepared to be turned down again. "You Highness, I have contacted the Fire Lord on the best ways of helping the Earth Kingdom. He has graciously authorized to send our best bioengineers and other specialists to improve your army. Should you agree to fight with us against the Air Nation, your army will be armed with the latest Fire Nation military tech, like the one I and Haezor are wielding."

The Earth King silenced. He rubbed his wobbly chin. "Interesting."

"You've seen us use it in combat. If a firebender can fly, or shoot lasers that can reach the clouds, what if an earthbender was given this power? What earthbending abilities might this technology reveal?"

The Earth King did not respond or move for a few seconds. He filled his mug with wine and drank it empty. He placed the mug back on the table without making a sound, save for a small clang. "Dragon boy, you place a tempting offer…"

Finally, Zendal thought. It's been too hard for him to get the Earth King's attention. "It is one where victory is assured. Joining our forces would defeat the Air King without doubt."

The Earth King's eyes narrowed. "Without doubt, eh?" He murmured.

Zendal's spirits heightened. He was eager to push the king further. I have his attention. It was time to take him down. Zendal had prepared for this moment. For the weeks that they stayed in the city, he had grown tired of hearing "no" from the Earth King. But something just seemed to go adrift the line; like something was holding the Earth King back from taking action in this critical situation.

"My, my, Dragon boy…" the Earth King laughed. "It seems that the tides do change after all." He landed his fist with the lamb's leg on the stone table. Three stone cups emerged from the surface. It was the first time he did that in front of the Fire Nation soldiers. "But I was planning to say yes today, anyway."

Zendal watched in bewilderment as the king poured wine into their cups. The Earth King didn't look as happy as Haezor was for Zendal. "Um, Your Highness, as I'm grateful that you accept this deal, I'm curious-"

The stout king roared as he banged the table with his gnarly fists. "Liro! Where are those lambs?!" Zendal took his cup of wine up while Haezor picked up the other two to keep them from the shaking table.

Soon, Liro came with two servers who carried each of the other lambs on a steel tray on their hands. They pushed the trays and sent them to the table, two meters away with earthbending. The Earth King laughed with the landing of their food. "Come now, dragons! Have yourselves a feast! Let's celebrate the glory of our nations!"

Haezor grabbed the lamb by a leg. He tore it off the roast and set it aflame with a fire on his palm. The Earth King was amused by Haezor's carefree attitude. "Now, this man knows how to have fun!" His Highness remarked.

"I don't know how to have fun, Your Highness," Haezor said. "I'm just a guy who's trying to be himself!"

"Hahar! Well, I like the real you, dragon boy!" He noticed Zendal merely eyeing his food. "General! You don't eat with your eyes!"

The Earth King and Haezor shared their mirth across the restaurant. Their laughs combined can be heard from outside. Liro was worried that the other customers would be annoyed by them, even though they seemed happy to see their King eating food from the same cooking fire that did theirs. He tried to open up a conversation to reduce the noise. It was a good for him that a topic is already on the light box- for a known criminal is on the news once again. "Oh, Your Highness!" He cried. "The Ghost is at it again!"

Zendal first heard of the Ghost of Ba Sing Se when he was on his way to the Earth Kingdom. All the way, his men would tell stories about the vigilante bent on revenge against the Air Nation. He vows to kill Earth Kingdom magistrates and other members of the royal ensemble until the Earth King declares to fight back and join the war.

The Earth King grinned, and stared at the blurry image of the Ghost. He stared at it, his fist crackling with each grip on itself. His eyes were flashing fire. He was angry at him. "I want him out of my city, Liro!" He bellowed. "He has murdered so much people."

"Our best men are doing what they can to hunt this outlaw down, Your Highness."

"Then they're not good enough." The Earth King said. "I don't see the Ghost inside our prison, or on the block."

"Should you need our help, Your Highness, we'd be glad to rid your city of this Ghost."

The king scoffed. "Oh, there you go again, offering me help, and-"

The Earth King snorted. His laughter was as loud as his guests were startled and confused. "Ha-ha! You!" The whole time he was har-haring, he pointed at Zendal and then the image of the Ghost.

"What is it, Your Highness?" Liro asked him.

It took a few more seconds until he mummed. When the Earth King was ready to talk clearly; "Great spirits! I've been sitting beside the Ghost all this time! Har!"

The three turned their heads. Haezor raised his stone cup and smelled it to find out if the Earth King had something in his drink and whether he had in in his.

Zendal leaned forward. "Your Highness, I believe we're all confused by your statement. What did you mean by what you said?"

"Think about it!" He roared. "Dragon-boy here has a lot like our vigilante here… You both wield these powerful weapons- you, the laser blaster; and him with his spirit blade. And you do what you do to get me to fight the Air Nation! Don't you see?"

The adviser frantically gestured apology to the Fire Nation general. Part of his job is to keep the Earth King likeable to his subjects, to keep their trust with protecting the country with him. In the Air Nation conundrum, the king cannot waste all of his opportunities to gather allies, to help them resist the Air Nation attacks. He can't afford to lose the Fire Nation because of some silly comment about the envoys who come to form an alliance with him.

Liro wiped the sweat off his forehead with his wrist. "Um… Your Highness?"

"What?" the Earth King Jiao-Long said. "I was just makin' japes about this stroke of fate!"

"Still, You Highness, General Zendal is here to speak business."

Zendal was about to say that he wasn't offended, but the Earth King didn't give him the chance to speak.

"Business! Business has been done, Liro! Now is the time to celebrate!"

The old adviser felt undermined once again. He and the Earth King were childhood friends, but Jiao-Long kept himself above him, as he was royalty. Liro was his caretaker. He was there to keep him on the ground. He felt nothing new when he found out that the person he's supposed to give advice made a critical decision without his guidance or consult. He thought it was for the best, though. It was the better choice for Liro as well.

And celebrate they did. They stayed at the restaurant all night. While Zendal was feeling like his work was done and is wanting to leave, Haezor didn't want to stop eating and drinking with his new buddy the Earth King. Zendal only had one leg of the spicy lamb Jiao-Long had made for him; and three cups of wine, while his friend indulged himself into inebriation as the Earth King kept filling his mug full and there were still food to wash down.

After that, they went their separate ways. Liro brought home a sleeping giant, while Zendal his friend.

Zendal took Haezor to their camp. They were escorted by much more respectful Dai Li agents. They took the train and then went up to the surface. It might just probably be the last time Zendal had been to New Ba Sing Se.

The young general carried Haezor to the fire knight's tent, then went to his. But just as he was about to enter, he heard a voice.

"You're a good friend."

Zendal looked to where the voice came from. He thought it was Haezor, but it couldn't have been, for he was drunk. But the person before him was supposed to be asleep on a bed, as well.

"Y- Your Highness!"

"Shhhh!" The stout king Jiao-Long hushed the startled general. "You'll wake up the guards."

"Guards?" Zendal was confused. "What are you doing here?"

"I had some tea in the palace." He pulled a tumbler and a pair of cups from his large pocket. "I brought some for us and your fun friend."

The Earth King laid the cups on his wide palm, held still by his fingers. He poured the tea in them and gave one to Zendal.

"Though the wine is still in my head, I can control my body as I'm almost sober…" Jiao-Long said. "Earlier, you were about to ask me something when I roared for lamb."

Zendal remembered. He was wondering why the Earth King, after all those nights keeping a stubborn attitude, all of a sudden give in and agree to the deal. "You came here for that?"

The Earth King laughed. "I've run out of things to do! I get really easily bored!"

"Well, since you're here," Zendal said, and then drank tea from the cup. "Why did you?"

The Earth King grunted, clearing his throat. "Let's just say this: the world, as you've found out as a man of war, is not a happy story. There are men who would do things that no other person would in a long time. People, I bet even you must often think of me as someone soft, and weak."

"Your Highness, I-"

"It's fine. I understand. You're a warrior, and the enemies sought to meet the world with their fancy weapons and flying machines; your natural impulse is to answer in the same way. Just like your father, the Fire Lord."

Zendal looked down in lament. "He's not my real father."

The portly king chuckled and pat the dragon-boy's back. "General Zendal, you're a great warrior. You can even beat me in a duel- wait, that's not true." He laughed. "You may be high in the ranks, but you are still young. Not all kin is bound by blood."

He pressed Zendal's chest, at his heart with his finger. Zendal saw that it was as big as a child's fist. "This," he said, then pointed at the firebender's forehead. "And this. These are what matters."

"Heart and brain?" Zendal asked.

"Spirit." The Earth King sipped on his tea. "We are all connected by these tiny strings that run across the lands and waters 'round the globe. You and the Fire Lord. You and I. You and Haezor. You and your betrothed… You and the Ghost. It doesn't matter that you weren't born into the Fire Lord's family. I see him in you, perhaps even better. He raised you as his own, and," he winked at him with a devious smile. "In the near future, you'll be obliged to call him father."

Zendal's face reddened.

"I'm not weak, Zendal. Peace is not weakness. I imagine that it is easy for you to take an enemy's life. No one has ever perished by my fist or bending. It takes great strength to fight that impulse, and that is what you must master, if you aim to be stronger."

The Earth King raised his head. "It's time for my midnight snack." He stood up and looked at the outer wall.

Zendal stood up as well and bowed before the King. "Your Highness."

The king nodded. "What I said earlier… You do have an analogous string with the Ghost of Ba Sing Se. Take this not as coincidental. Your destinies are intertwined- which means you will meet him… You might have met him before, even; maybe when you were other lives."

"I'll be ready for him," Zendal said.

"You should be; and what a match that'll be." He laughed. "Well then, I shouldn't keep here. Liro must be looking for me."

Zendal turned his head. "Oh yeah, where is he, You Highness?"

"At the palace," the Earth King said. "He doesn't really know that I left. He always scolds me when I try for a snack in the palace, so I visit some diners and eat there." He crouched with his fists touching the ground. "Farewell, dragon-boy." He bid, then launched himself with an earthbending spring and hit half the steel wall, then he used his giant hands to crawl on the surface by burrowing his fingers in. He was fast for his size.

Zendal took one last gaze at the great steel wall, and the night sky full of clouds. He felt a sense of hope from seeing the city ruled by a great and strong person. He was honored to have met him, and to change the way he thought of him.

Zendal let out a sigh of relief, and went inside his tent.

He went back to a more familiar setting: the fire nation emblem on every crate and other military equipment. He placed the tumbler of tea on a large box next to the bag where he keeps his laser blaster. This and the other objects only reminded him of the battles that were fought and the battles to come, save for a ray of light- his bed. It's been a tiresome day, and it was time to rest. But he can't help but feel that something's still missing.

And then, his text alarm beeped. It was from the person he'd been longing for since the day he left home. "Autocomm," it said. This put a smile on the young general's face. There was one more thing to do before he'd sleep that night. A berry on top of a bowl of sweet snow.

He sat before his automachine and turned it on. A screen opened up on the light box, which, and a flat input device full of keys is connected to a central data storage and processing unit. Zendal has great respect for the minds who invented it, though some are on the enemy's side, designing weapons to kill them.

At the top of the light box, stood an elongated hexahedron, with a flexible middle portion, making it able to bend into any angle. At its front was a circular lens made of glass. It was connected to the central unit as well. Zendal turned it so it would point towards him.

Zendal pressed a combination of keys into the machine. He entered the code for autocomm, so he can connect to theU-World, an intangible network that spans the entire globe, that allows people from different places share information and communicate. This was a useful tool in Zendal's long-distance relationship with Kiega.

A young woman appeared on the screen. She was beautiful; with lips red as ember-berry blossoms, and cheeks lightly blushing with pink, and these without any paint- as beautiful as what Zendal had imprinted on his mind. Her looks as good as her spirit. She wore a white sleeping tunic with a crimson lotus pattern. Her hair was black, with a golden pin holding it to the back of her head, but her long hair was still dangling on her shoulders.

"Good evening, General Zendal." She said, nodding, with her lips straight and serious. "Good to see you in one piece."

Zendal puffed his chest. "My Princess," he replied. "You look ravishing as always- a redeeming sight for a soldier facing death every day."

"I heard from Sir Raezor that you have some news? He didn't sound like himself, so I had to confirm with you."

"Indeed, My Princess. The Fire Lord will be glad. The Earth King has taken our offer to aid them in exchange for their alliance with the Fire Nation in striking back against the Air King."

The princess' eyes narrowed. "Quite foolish of you, telling me this before your liege, my father, the Fire Lord."

Zendal crossed his arms across his chest. "You sit at his right hand in council meetings. You are one of his most trusted, and as you've pointed out, you're his daughter… and he scares the firecrack out of me."

He missed Kiega's laughter. The young general gazed at what he had longed to see in what seemed a very long time. He sat, frozen, like the time spirit somehow stopped the world, for Zendal and Kiega.

Kiega asked him, "What?"

And then, the clock struck a new second.

Zendal smiled, like all he needed to get through such a tiresome day, to gather strength was see this girl he grew up and fell in love with.

"I miss you."

"I miss you, too." Kiega said.

Zendal heard a shrill cry from Kiega's reception. The princess rolled the wheels of her chair back a little, giving space to someone whom Zendal have also been missing. It had a long, red tail and a round leathery belly. Its claws haven't honed or grown long yet, but the small, slightly burn-stained teeth on the jaws were just enough to bite very tender meat. A maid came on the screen holding a baby dragon. It was squirming and flapping its wings trying to free herself until the maid gave her to Kiega. The dragonling squeaked when Kiega held her in her arms. Kiega spoke like she was talking to a human baby. "And Ember misses you, too!"

Zendal could not contain his mirth; he was about to stand but he calmed down and waved at their pet dragon. "Is that Ember? She's so big!"

"She got bigger, yes." Kiega said. "She's been eating a lot."

"I want to go home," the general said. "To you. To Ember. To everyone."

"No one wanted you to leave." She held Ember on her arms across her chest and swayed her like a cradle to make her feel drowsy. "You wanted to serve our nation, and we all supported you. You're always welcome to return. If you want, I can tell my father, since you have done your mission."

"He'll want me to fight when the battles come."

"He'll want you to stay at home. You're his to take care of, too, Zendal. He's scared that something will happen to you, as I am."

"Well, here's hoping." Zendal said. He saw the time. "It's very late," he said. "I shouldn't keep you up."

"I can't wait to see you." She said. "I love you, Zendal."

"I love you, Kiega."

The dragon's yawn sounded like a growl. She dug herself further in Kiega's bosom.

"And you too, Ember."

That night, Zendal slept like he hadn't in weeks. It was the first time he had a shut-eye with an answer from the Earth King. But still, he couldn't help but wonder why the Earth King, of all nights said yes this time. What did he mean when he said that there are men who would do things that no other person would in a long time? But it was a question he did not need to know. It was merely trivial. If anything, the answer lies within tomorrow.