A/N: Warning! This chapter is a bit gruesome, because swords are sharp and fire is hot.
Chapter 4:
Sokka of the Water Tribe:
The tanned hide of my leather chestplate feels warm and soft as I pull it over my head. I calmly breathe outwards as I tighten the perforated straps underneath my armpits and around my back, solidly fastening it to my thin frame. Silently and determinedly, I force my gauntlets over my forearms, and strap my shin-guards over my boots. My eyes catch my reflection in the water as the woflshead helmet lowers over my skull: a Water Tribe warrior, the furry white moon symbol standing out ostentatiously from the deep blue armor. The moon inspires and drives me. A pang of nostalgia goes out to my homeland, as I sheath my cobalt-blue boomerang.
Lastly, my sword. The steel sings as I pull it from its bland wooden sheath, arcing it back and forth through the air. Thoughts of battle flash across my memory: lives extinguished, people hurt. I will not be among them. I exhale before flowing into a form, licking the point of the sword into the early morning sky, reaching impossible lengths by centering my balance.
"Are you done showing off?" Toph asks.
I stop, and smile. She looks very out-of-place in her Earth Kingdom armor: heavy green helmet, studded leather gloves and a childish, sneering face.
"Never," I answer, sliding my sword back into its sheath, "Are you ready to go?"
Her smirk widens, making her look wolfish and wild. "Always. I can't wait to take it to these Firebenders!"
"Ugh, Toph, I swear, sometimes you sound more meatheaded then Sokka does," Katara sighs, tying the last of her waterskins to her body.
I walk over to the pair of them, slinging the blade over my back.. Katara's blue eyes shine with affection, and Toph's smile has lost its arrogance. We all understand what's about to happen, and we all understand the danger it entails. But that doesn't mean that we won't step up. We're going to win today, I know it.
"So, Katara, refresh us on your meeting with Suki last night," I say. The last bit of preparation before moving out.
"Everything's going according to plan," she responds, "She said that Jianguo wanted to meet with her and another Lieutenant later that night, but she was sure that he suspects nothing. All we have to do is free the Earthbenders from their cells, and meet up with the other prisoners in the agriculture level."
"Right, good," I acknowledge, "When we meet them, Toph will send out the signal, and the army will hit the main entrance. It looks like the plan is running smoothly."
"Well, yeah, but you know what they say about plans," Toph adds pessimistically, fidgeting in her helmet.
"Yeah, they work right up until the battle starts," I answer, "But there's nothing we can do about it."
"Exactly. Let's just be careful," she says resolutely, "I don't want to have to save everybody today. Like always."
Another smile worms its way onto my face as I pull the pair in for a final hug. It's practically tradition, now. I've long since gotten over the embarrassment.
"I know a lot of surprises have greeted us these last couple of days," I start, the scent of my sister's hair invading my nostrils, "But this is how we start fixing it. If we win today, things start making sense again."
I am ready.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aang, the Avatar:
My hands clasp together; the riveted skin of my fingers firmly packing them together. I stare at the inside of my eyelids, focusing, thinking.
There is me and there is nothing. No surroundings, no futures, no pasts, all has become one in becoming nothing. Zero, the infinite blankness pervades my consciousness, leaving me floating in this endless void; only my thoughts remain.
Katara, Sokka, Toph, all my friends, are on the other side of the mountain, waiting for me. I am capable, I am powerful, and I am ready to face this challenge. These truths ring out across the void, giving it dimension and depth.
"Avatar Aang!" Heung's voice pulls me out of my meditation, snapping me back into reality.
"Yes?" I ask, annoyed, rising to my feet. Appa groans behind me and snorts, blowing wet, sticky chunks of snot and saliva across my back.
"The time has come. Miss Bei Fong's signal should occur soon," he announces, bowing obsequiously, "What shall we do until the signal occurs?"
I rub my arrow viciously, picking my glider up and off of the ground. "Umm...Sokka said to pull the troops into standard attack formation outside of the main entrance. We wait for the signal, and if it hasn't come by late afternoon, we attack regardless. You're supposed to march between all your units and talk with them," I answer, pulling Sokka's words from my head. His face, stern, taciturn, and determined comes to me. He's counting on us, and we won't let him, Katara, or Toph down.
Heung bows again, before disappearing to bark orders at his hapless underlings. I readjust my monk's robes and stretch before following him.
I am capable, I am powerful.
I am ready.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jianguo, Captain of the Fire Nation Imperial Army:
The chains creak and groan noisily as the machine hoists Suki in her metal container up and off of the ground. A victorious smile creeps to my face as I pry my armor off, pulling the chest piece over my paper white hair and casting it to the ground.
"Sir, you're sure that you want to be the only person here with her?" Lieutenant Wei inquires, sheathing his daggers and tightening his gloves.
"Absolutely," I respond, tucking my arm behind my back and facing him, "I have all the tools here I need. I want you to guide our troops up there when the attack begins. Some of the enemy will inevitably head this way. Allow it, because they are the prisoners we need to take. When I have them, I will sound the alarm in this room. That is when you need to make your final push, forcing the army back through the main entrance. I will appear shortly with the prisoners in hand. Then, knowing the Avatar, he will order the cessation of the attack, and the siege will begin. It is absolutely vital, however, that you hold your position until I emerge with the prisoners. Is that understood?"
"Sir, yes sir!" he answers formally, snapping to attention. He's a thin man, and he's always looked slightly out of place in full armor, but his attentive salute and taciturn demeanor more than make up for this.
"Captain!" a voice cries. I turn, to see a Sergeant sprinting through the entrance, before snapping to attention, "The enemy is mobilizing outside of our front gate!"
"Good," I respond, placing my hand firmly on Lieutenant Wei's shoulder, "Won't they be disappointed when the way isn't paved for them by our little double-agent here? Get up there and prepare for the attack!"
Wei mimics my smile, and nods darkly. Oh, this will be a splendid day. The surge of adrenaline fills me with untold amounts of energy. The battle is at hand! My moment to extract revenge for the glorious Fire Nation and defeat the Avatar! I viciously pop my knuckles, reveling in the disgusting, organic pops that omit from the bones.
I am ready.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sokka of the Water Tribe:
"Toph, after you bust us into the cell room, block off the door and the alarm. Then, start freeing prisoners as quickly as you can. Katara and I will hold off the guards until there's enough of us to overwhelm them," I whisper into the pitch blackness, prepping myself for the imminent action, "There should be about thirty prisoners here, and fifteen to twenty guards. Ok?"
"Ok," Katara and Toph answer instantaneously.
"Remember, we want to stay unnoticed by the complex for as long as we can, so shutting off that alarm is imperative. Suki should begin the revolt up in the agriculture room any minute," I finish, rubbing my hands together nervously, and palming the hilt of my sword.
"Right, we get it," Toph says, apparently bored and irritated, "Now can we go?"
I nod. "Do it."
An explosion of light greets us as the Earth falls away, revealing the rows of uniform, metallic cells. Toph immediately springs into action, jumping into the air and slamming her fists into the living earth.
"What the hell?" a guard cries nervously, as massive earthen pillars form and grow to block the exit and alarm resting at the end of the room. I catch Katara sprinting away in my periphery as I push myself as hard as I can down the hallway.
I get one last glance of a stream of water flowing from one of Katara's skins before I'm too far ahead of her. A Firebender up ahead, attempting to pry the rock from the door catches sight of me, and whips around. My teeth clench and my sword flies out of its sheath of its own accord, as I close the distance.
I twist around the bolt of fire that rockets past me, jumping past the would-be killer and putting all of my weight into a swing of my sword. I don't see him fall, but a choking gurgle tells me all I need to know.
"Take him!" a soldier snaps. I follow the voice to three Spearmen sprinting towards me, the dull steel of their weapons leading the charge. I rush to meet them, rolling underneath the first thrust and grabbing the second. The point of my blade licks out like a dancer, splitting the weapon of the first man and nearly disemboweling the third. He falls backwards, clattering noisily against the ground, as I jab the blunt end of the spear I'm clutching into the face of its owner. His head snaps backwards, and I pry the spear from his hands, quickly plunging it into the stomach of the man who is pulling a dagger from his belt. A wet, sloppy cough emanates from underneath the helmet as the ruined man collapses in a heap on the ground. Blood streams sickly from the stunned man's nose as he rips his helmet off. My foot rings painfully as I jam it into his chest.
A weak, forced grunt comes from him as he hits the ground, and the blade of my sword whips around to point murderously at his throat. I can almost feel the cold grip of fear take control of him as he slowly but carefully raises his hands above his head and surrenders; his eyes widen like an animal's, his breath bubbles through the trickling crimson blood. A gasp manifests in my throat as a hand firmly clutches my shoulder; I round on the attacker, but sigh, relieved as I see the smirking face of Toph. She is followed by a squad of worn, tired, but excited Earthbenders, clad in the featureless clothes of the Fire Nation prisons.
I nod, wiping the blood from my sword and sheathing it. "Good. Round up all the surviving Fire Nation soldiers and put them in a cell, and we'll move on."
"Sure thing, Snoozles," Toph acknowledges playfully, walking to the terrified Spearman behind me and forcing him to his feet. "Get moving, into the cell, now!" He scurries to comply.
The helmet comes off and rings noisily against the ground as I take a seat on a bench by the door. My breath comes out ragged and heavy, as I stare at the cold gray ground, kicking some loose pebbles away.
I hate this. I don't have the luxury of wielding these awesome bending powers that can stun as easily as kill. For me, its either give or receive death, but this does nothing to alleviate the pressing guilt on my soul or the nausea in my belly when I think of the lives I've just ended.
My eyes wander to the corpse of the dead Firebender, his sightless dark eyes staring at me. Blaming me. Saying, "You've done this."
"You've done a good job, son," a deep, baritone voice booms. I look up into the view of a massive Earthbender. His huge, ridiculous white beard firmly takes hold of my attention. "I am General Dai. You've rescued us all from this hell hole, and we are all in your debt. Suki has told us all about you." This statement accompanies a heavy, dirty paw on my shoulder and a look of appreciation that seems oddly barbaric.
"Right. Thanks," I mutter ungratefully, rising to my feet. I let one more sigh escape from my worn, guilt-ridden lungs as I see Toph and Katara rush towards me.
"They're all taken care of," Toph says, "Are we ready to go?"
"Yeah," I answer, "We need to get to the Agriculture level as quickly as possible. Suki and all the other prisoners are waiting for us there. Is everybody ready?"
A sea of nods answer, and we set off.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The heavy clattering of our feet pounding the rocky ground as we fly to the agriculture level is deafening. Deserted hallways greet us, as per the plan; the vast majority of the troops must be waiting by the front entrance for the attack. No one speaks, each person is left to meditate over their own grim thoughts as we charge in for the upcoming fight.
I run like a madman, oblivious to the pain my body must be feeling. It always seems immediately before the battle like you're going in with a full bladder, not nearly enough rest, and not nearly enough food, but the physical discomforts disappear with the birth of action. Today is no exception; I don't feel the stitch in my side or my burning lungs, only the weight of regret and fear pushing down upon me. It's incredibly heavy.
"It's coming up ahead, we should come out onto the overhead walkway right after this bend," Toph announces. Grimly, I pull my jian from its sheath, and reposition my boomerang.
Sure enough, the gritty stone walls disappear as we round the corner, giving way to a large metal walkway that trails down into the massive, well-lit cavern. The thunder of our footsteps turns into a metallic clanging as we crest the precipice.
Everyone stops simultaneously, as the horror sets in.
"No. No, no no!" Katara shrieks. It gives voice to the rest of us.
We've stumbled upon a complete and total slaughter. The remaining prisoners are still chained together, unable to coordinate or escape the onslaught of fire and sharpened steel, as the relentless Fire Nation soldiers put down the uprising. Smoke rises from charred crops and blackened human beings, circulating the air with the disgustingly sweet smell of cooked meat.
"What the hell happened to Suki?" I hiss.
A sudden call grabs our attention; we've been spotted by a Major Sergeant, who is directing Firebenders in our direction. I choke down the vomit and despair that threatens to overwhelm me. Now is not the time.
"Ok, Earthbenders, give the remaining prisoners some cover and engage the Loyalists! Katara, you set about healing the survivors. Toph, you and I are going to go and free them from their chains. We've got to do all we can before we call in the troops," I bark, pointing my sword at the soldiers advancing up the metal walkways, "Charge!"
Gravity aids our descent as we fly downwards, smashing into the too few Loyalists and scattering them. Terrified screams fill the air as several are cast over the railings, to shatter on the ground below. The point of my sword forces its way into the helmet of the man running at me, his face disappearing in a sea of blood and grue as he collapses like a rag doll. I catch a glance of shocked, fearful eyes as another dies by a stroke of my sword. These people slaughtered the defenseless. They don't deserve my sympathy.
We hit the ground moving: Toph catches up to me quickly as we sprint through the ranks to get at the prisoners. Earth forms up behind us, covering us, as we near our target, but the ranks in front turn around and send flaming death in our direction. Fear grips me as I see no possible escape, but Toph is already moving to rescue us. The burning plumes splutter harmlessly on a slab of rock that fires out of the ground, crackling and grinding violently at their uselessness.
A small smile breaks her face as she slams her foot on the ground and drives the obelisk forward to slam into the soldiers, flattening and scattering them, and then chaos erupts. I push past the enemies swarming for me, running through the fray of bodies as Toph sends projectiles in every direction. Screaming mixed with the crunch of packed earth as soldiers fly all around.
"Thanks, Toph," I shout gratefully over the din. She doesn't respond.
My foot arcs into the kneecap of a man who tries to run past me, shrieking some battle cry as he goes after the little Earthbender. As he comes down I follow through with the point of my blade, sliding through his armor and into his soft flesh. He dies soundlessly.
Suddenly, another man begins to charge at me, escaping the battle. Grimly, I pull at my sword, only to find it firmly prized in between the corpse's ribs. A flood of panic threatens to drown me as I jerk and jerk at the obstinate weapon, imminent death approaching by the second. I close my eyes and give one final pull, putting the strength of desperation and fear into my arms, until the blade finally leaves the body in a bloody spray, coating me like paint. I only have time to fall backwards and let my near-killer commit suicide as he runs into it. I wipe the speckled crimson from my face and keep moving.
Then, the noise and danger seems to die, as we push through to the chained up prisoners. All of the ranks have turned to face the much more dangerous threat of the newly freed Earthbenders, who are tearing into them like rabid animals. I see the deep white beard of General Dai as he flips a Firebender into the air.
"Ok, Toph, you start at the left, and I'll start at the right. Let's meet in the middle," I order, as we split to free them. Hopeful eyes glimmer thankfully as my sword bites into the chains binding the survivors together, releasing them and giving them a chance. From the looks of things, about half of the prisoners have already been killed or wounded. This is disgusting, inhumane, and vile, and I can't suppress the rage that builds in my stomach. Thankfully, I don't have to.
My black meteorite sword makes quick work of the metal links; prisoners scramble to their feet to grab hoes, shovels, and any other piece of gardening equipment that could be used as a weapon, with hardened resolute faces. I could only hope that after being so beaten down and tortured that I could respond like they do. This is why I'm doing this, this is why we're fighting here. What heroes these people are!
"Sokka, we need to hurry! The Earthbenders are being overwhelmed!" Toph's voice cuts across the cavern: a quick look reveals that she is right. They have begun to fall back, heading back towards the steel walkway, struggling to defend themselves against the massive wads of flame and death that surround them. Ok, fine! We know what to do!
"Ok, Toph, give the signal now! Everyone else who can still fight, we've got to attack! Help is on the way! Charge!" I scream for the second time, and the reinvigorated prisoners charge headlong into the mass of bodies and killing.
I see Toph breathe calmly, settling into one of her open stances. Her hands are open, facing outwards, her legs bent and smooth, almost kissing the earth underneath them. It's like one clarifying moment of peace and harmony amidst chaos and fear. Then, quickly and dramatically, she throws her hands downward, her peace and serenity erupting into a volcano of passion and action. The earth responds in kind, as a huge pillar of it cannons little Toph high into the air, like a human cannonball. She rights herself as she falls, bringing her hands down as she approaches her terminal velocity and plows fist-first into the hard, compacted stone of the ground.
Despite my readiness for the impact, I'm tossed from my feet as the cavern rocks and shakes violently from the massive explosion. Daylight floods the scenery, exposing the grandiose and gigantic entrance Toph has just bit into the expanse.
Despite the situation, a big grin of pride and impression casts across my face at Toph's incredible Earthbending. We knew our strategy here was good. The big whole of the Loyalist defense force would be situated at the main entrance, but the advantage of having a ridiculously powerful Earthbender like Toph is that any slightly exposed area can be a pathway in no time at all.
A roar comes from the outside as the cavalry arrives in full-force, accompanying the light. Heavily armored Earth Kingdom soldiers fly into the newly exposed area, led by the familiar face of Aang atop Appa. He looks like an angel gliding in, fierce determination kindling his face as Water, Earth, Air, and Fire decorate the ranks of the Loyalists, scattering them and simultaneously rescuing the prisoners and us. A spray of the leftover Waterbending drenches my face, as though cleansing me.
One prisoner falls to his knees, tears of joy and relief flooding down his cheeks as he thanks the Spirits for the Avatar. The fortress is ours now. It's just a matter of time.
"Great job, Toph," I acknowledge, my relief quaking into my voice as I wipe my sword clean and sheath it, "Now let's just find Suki and get out of here."
"Sure," she says blandly. Just like Toph to be emotionless in a situation like this.
"Can you sense her anywhere?" I ask, as we pull back to the safety of the walkway, re-entering strategy mode.
"No, I can't sense anybody except for the soldiers at the main entrance, the people here, and the people we locked up in the prison cells," she answers, pulling her metal helmet from her head and sitting beside me.
Oh no. What if they found her? What if something happened? Just as the tints of despair begin to tunnel my vision, I see the form of Katara sprinting to meet us. Dirt and sweat coat her pretty face, but she seems otherwise unscathed. I can only imagine how many lives she must have saved today.
"Sokka, I think I know where Suki is!" she shouts as she approaches, "One of the soldiers I healed mentioned a captive locked up in a metal box in the Captain's private training room. Its got to be Suki!" I guess she's just saved one more.
I take a sip of the cocktail of relief and hope she's just offered me. It feels damn good. "Should we wait for Aang?" I ask, not wanting to.
"No, Aang needs to help finish the battle. Let's just go and get Suki now," Katara responds, "We don't want anyone using her as a hostage later on."
"Right," I answer. Toph is silent, but nods and we are on our way.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As we see the outline of the open iron doors ahead, I can't help but wonder about the situation. Why would Suki be imprisoned in a different area? Why the Captain's personal training room? A lot of this doesn't add up.
She had to have been captured after she met with Katara. The night before the troops were readied for battle. What does that mean?
I've accidentally slowed down as the thoughts race through my head. Toph is flying on a wave of earth towards the open door, prepped and ready for any imminent attack.
Imminent attack...
Realization hits me like a heart attack, as I scream, "Wait, stop!", but it's too late. Toph shoots through the entrance and promptly disappears in a brown blur. My eyes widen in horror as she vanishes, and I pump as much energy into my despondent legs as possible to catch up with Katara. What the hell just happened? A trillion nasty scenarios play in my head.
Katara slides in and immediately leaps after someone I can't see. I round through the blackened iron door just in time to catch the sight of a heavily muscled, white-haired man blowing through Katara's water-whip defenses. It almost looks as though the man's heavy kick flash-evaporates her water, the way steam rises from his foot. It's an odd color of white.
White fire...
This is Jianguo! My understanding accompanies the realization that he is indeed turning her whips into harmless steam, rendering her defenseless. Panic, irrepressible and irrational reappears and attacks me as I see the man's fist catch my unprotected sister in the face and stomach, stunning her. He deftly catches the falling Katara and hefts her limp body into a metal cage, laughing. It's like the wheezing laugh of a demented hyena, approaching its next meal.
"Katara!" I scream, causing the man to turn. He's easily one of the most intimidating sights I've ever seen: tall, powerful, and grinning malevolently. Can I beat him?
"Sokka, run! Get out of here, get some help, we'll be fine!" a familiar voice shouts from above. Suki's frantically jerking at the bars of her tiny metal prison, looking absolutely terrified. Toph is next to her, netted in a bundle of rope and dangling from a pole. The scum must have netted her and tossed her like a rag doll. That explains the brown blur. Oh, Yue, can I beat him? Toph is calm and untroubled. Her stony face stares blankly ahead, telling me what I need to do. A calmness settles over me, drowning out Suki's fearful screams, blocking out Katara's unconscious form awkwardly splayed on the floor of her cage, and killing the beast of panic within me. My hand slips behind my back as the massive bastard laughs cruelly.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suki, the Kyoshi Warrior:
"Sokka, run! Get out of here, get some help, we'll be fine!" I scream as loud as my beaten lungs will allow, gripping the cold railing of my narrow metal prison and shaking it as hard as I can. He can't do this, Jianguo is too powerful. I can't let him do this. Not after everything, he can't die for me!
"Sokka, please, run!" I shout again. He glances up at me, before facing the Captain of the White Fire and readying himself. Oh, his bravery is going to get him killed! And it's all my fault. No, not Sokka, please.
"Sokka, I'm begging you! Please..."
"Shut up!" a small, girlish voice hisses, just loud enough for me to hear. Toph's hanging directly next to me, staring blankly ahead, looking almost relaxed as she pokes her feet through the holes of her net. Doesn't she care? What kind of friend is she?
"What's wrong with you!" I fire back at her, the frustration of the situation seeping into my voice, "He's going to die, and you..."
"Shut your damn mouth!" she repeats through clenched teeth. I see her knuckles begin to whiten against the ropes binding her. "If he turns his back and runs, he's a dead man! All you're doing is sapping the confidence he needs to win, so shut your stupid ignorant mouth and just have a little faith in him!" The last words are spit like watermelon seeds, stopping me in my tracks.
Weakly, I fall back against the wall of my cell, realizing how right she is. I may have just killed him after all. My hands resume their task of squeezing the iron bars as hard as they can, and I begin to pray. Oh please, let him be ok. Please. Anything, just let him be ok.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jianguo, Captain of the Fire Nation Imperial Army:
Oh, I've tasted his fear and his pain, and found it just delicious. He wasn't expecting me to be a move ahead. I knew that he would be the one coming after her. Him and his little blind Earthbender friend.
I caught that foolish girl completely by surprise, sliding off my seat suspended from the roof and netting her like a fish. I could almost feel her tense shock as I swung her around like a ridiculous flail and hung her from the ceiling.
But as fun as that was, it paled in comparison to the fear and confusion that decorated the face of the Waterbender when my flames instantaneously evaporated her pathetic water and left her defenseless. Oh, her nose caved in very satisfyingly when my fist pulped it; another to the gut made her pupils dilate and her knees give, just drowning me in the satisfaction of victory! She now lies bleeding and unconscious on the ground of my spare cell. If she is who I think she is, the Avatar will fall apart like a house of cards when he hears that I have her. The day is not theirs yet!
Now all that's left is to dispatch this foolish non-bender standing obstinately before me, as though he presents a threat! Sokka, I believe his name is. No matter. With the Avatar's fiancé tightly secured, this one's life is expendable. Maybe I'll drag it out a bit, let him writhe in his mistakes before his life is snuffed out. It's what this little brat has earned, daring to defy the greatness of the Fire Nation!
A guttural laugh begins from my throat, rife with optimism and national pride. This is my day, and more importantly, a victory for my great Country!
"Well, boy, you're about to die," I sneer, flawlessly floating into my primary attack stance. A ball of white flame instinctively manifests in my back hand; he's twenty feet away
from me and defenseless against a ranged attack.
He doesn't reply, merely glares and readies himself. The fear has disappeared from his face. Oh well. It's not as though he stands a chance. I am Jianguo, the Captain of the White Fire!
I release my tensed fist like an attacking dragon, propelling the white fire in his direction and shifting me into the second form. A blue glint leaves the boy's hand as he shifts away from the flame and runs, nearly distracting me from hearing the sudden whistling noise that alerts me to the spinning boomerang. Surprised, I leap to my right, dodging the projectile, but the boy's suddenly right next to me. Black steel glints dully as his sword lances out towards my chest.
I counter with a flaming backfist, but encounter nothing but air. The combination flows from me, a jab, the sidekick, the hook, but he skirts them all and ripostes elegantly and flawlessly.
It appears that I've underestimated the skills of this boy. A challenge! How delightful!
My weight shifts behind a perfectly executed roundhouse, but he darts underneath it and shoots upwards. A quick step backwards allows me to avoid the sword plunging into my ribs. I catch the scent of his sweat as he narrowly misses. Neither of us has any delusions: this is a one hit game. Any blow that connects will be fatal and irrevocable, but I am winning.
When his blade misses me, nothing happens, but the fire enveloping my relentless attack carries with it the extreme heat of the white flame. The perspiration dribbling down his forehead is beginning to steam and pop. He's slowly burning to death. Quite a painful way to go.
I move past another lunge for my throat and whip my knuckles around towards his exposed kidneys. He's not there, but the fire catches his blue armor and briefly kindles it. A reckless, last ditch attack is going to come in a minute, and when it fails, he will be exposed for my final strike. I smile in anticipation of the kill; nothing is more sating to my hunger than the death of a worthy opponent.
Here it comes! Oh, and it is good! He plants his foot into the ground after another missed lunge and cannons with unbelievable speed back towards my chest. I can feel the point of the sword slide against my armor as I throw myself backwards on pure instinct, but his final attack has carried him too far away to catch me again. A victorious grin brightens my face as I place both hands together and form a grandiose fireball to destroy him with!
He rolls onto the ground and comes up on one knee, staring intently at the charging bolt I carry in my outstretched hands. All determination. Where is the fear? Unsure, I glance around, and then it dawns on me.
Directly behind him is the cage where his sister is now awake, attentive, and aware. How very clever! He would have dodged the blast, and I would have unintentionally freed the Waterbender!
"Not happening!" I shout over the din of my contained explosion. I bring it over my head, but instead of casting it forwards, I cast it downwards, into the ground he is standing on. His face clenches in pain as the impact shatters the world underneath him and throws him into the air. Somehow, his sword stays in his hands as he unceremoniously smashes into the ground, echoing a dull, meaty thud. Dust rises and clouds his fallen form, but I can see him struggling to his feet.
"No, Sokka!" Suki shrieks above me. Quite salubrious.
He groggily and shakily makes himself stand, wiping the blood pumping out of a split lip from his chin, but something is amiss. The dust begins to clear, and I hear it.
Laughter?
Sure enough, an arrogant smirk has flowered on his face. The sword drops to the ground, and he hurls something with all his strength, simultaneously screaming something.
What is it?
It isn't until I hear the captured Earthbender grunt as the fist-sized rock smacks her in the gut that realization truly dawns on me. 'Toph' was the word. The rope is split and she is on the ground in a flash. My giant firebolt loosened the earth underneath him, enough for him to get to her. Conniving bastard! And I completely fell for it!
She coolly strides over to him, shifting her weight and taking an uncouth Earthbending stance, and for the first time, I feel a tinge of fear and doubt cross me. A quick, angry shake of the head dismisses it.
"Ha, so you freed the Earthbender!" I mock, scowling darkly, "She's blind and you can't bend! Together, you almost make a whole opponent!"
He scoops his sword from the ground and arcs it expertly through the air. "Toph, are you ready to educate this guy?" he asks snidely, grinning like a fool.
"Oh am I ever," she replies, "His voice annoys me."
She's taken on a primitive and wild look. Like a wolf cub. I have to work harder to suppress the fear this time.
Without warning, the ground suddenly becomes chaos around me: pillars shoot through my floor, boulders fly around me, and I have to jump to avoid being flattened. I hear his footsteps before he reaches me, and spit flame from my body as I twirl to my feet. He backs away and pounces again, but this time, as I gain my feet, the world slides out from underneath me, nearly forcing me onto his sword. I barely dodge, kicking off into the air and avoidingthe black blade. So this is their game! Toph attacks from a distance, giving Sokka the defense and opening he needs! A very potent strategy, but I see the flaw.
I duck underneath another swipe, but instead of following with the attack, I lunge forward and begin my trek towards the nearly defenseless Earthbender. Obstacles form in my path, but my athletic and battle-hardened body instinctually flows past them, as though they were not even there. The Water Tribesman has no chance of catching up to me, not with my speed and agility!
She fires one last wall up to block me, but this is a mistake. I plant my feet on the stone and use it's momentum to cast me into the air. I open my palms up and douse them in my near-perfect flame, ready for the final strike to the surprised Earthbender, but her expression lets me know a fraction too late of my miscalculation.
Something icy-cold glides through my shoulder, destroying my collarbone and sliding through my upper pectoral. Just as the raw, stinging pain engulfs my shoulder, and my arm numbs entirely, I feel the warrior's kneecap connect with the small of my back. The Earthbender has stepped away, and the air whooshes from my lungs as I land chest first in the dirt. The weight of the boy causes me to choke and splutter as we connect; I can only attempt to scream as the boy rips his sword from my ruined shoulder and kicks me over.
Rock suddenly forms around my forearms and legs, mummifying and entombing me as despair sets in. I'm frantically trying to force oxygen back into my system as the bastard's grinning face leers over me. Behind him is the wave of Earth he rode into me, dangling from my vision like a terrible pedestal.
"Oh, don't worry, I could never kill in cold blood," he assures me, as I try to collect my senses, "But that doesn't mean I'm not going to enjoy doing this!"
He raises the butt of his sword up behind his head, and jabs it downward towards my unprotected skull. The world blurs and fades.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toph Bei Fong:
I can feel the blood rushing more quickly in his system, trying desperately to repair his burnt flesh and I know he's in pain, but that doesn't stop him from grinning like an idiot and rushing over to me.
"Did we kick his ass or what?" he shrieks jubilantly, letting out a loud whoop that's a little too tenor to be manly. I can't stop the giggles that bubble from me in agreement as his hand affectionately smacks mine.
"You almost make a whole opponent!" I mock, making my small voice as deep as I can manage, "I'm a super-tough unstoppable Firebending machine!"
He guffaws noisily and stupidly, exuberantly slapping his knees and jumping up and down. "He thought he was so powerful, but look at him now! Knocked the hell out!" His childlike glee absolutely ruins his tough, macho moment, but its so obnoxiously adorable that I can't help but play along.
"Hey, not to wreck the moment, you two, but could you get us out of here?" Katara inquires nasally, rattling her cage, "My nose is killing me! I need to go bandage it up."
"Yeah, I've got to admit, I'm tired of sitting up here in this little box," Suki adds, annoyed. What a piece of work. Ten minutes ago she was telling Sokka to cut and run, and now she acts like nothing has happened. Unbelievable.
"Ingrates," I mutter, folding my arms and sniffing loudly.
"I know!" Sokka puts in, "We just had this incredible moment of utter bad-assity, and all you guys can do is whine and moan?"
"Just get me out of here, strong guy," Katara says sarcastically, woozily righting herself.
The chains clink noisily and disruptively as Sokka lowers Suki's iron coffin to the ground, despite what's got to be some painful burns. Katara sulks moodily in a corner of the room, tenderly applying a bandage to her nearly-broken, bloody nose.
"Almost got you down," Sokka announces unnecessarily, as the box impacts with the ground. Suki giggles girlishly.
Let me say, one of the worst things about my ability to feel my surroundings is that I can't turn it off. 'Closing my eyes' does absolutely nothing: as long as I'm awake, I can sense everything that's going on in the near vicinity that's touching the ground. Sometimes I hate that. Sometimes I wish I was really blind. Sometimes like now, as Suki breaks free of her cage and wraps the unsuspecting Sokka in a swift and powerful hug. I can't help but watch, even though my back is turned, as she plants her lips onto his firmly and intensely. I can't help but feel Sokka's heartbeat race nervously as he reacts, can't help but feel the heat come from his face as he blushes furiously. I feel like some perverted voyeur, watching them. She kissed him like a long-lost lover. Well, I guess that's what she is, so it probably shouldn't surprise me.
I begin the trek back to join the rest of the soldiers, deciding instantly to go meet up with Aang. I close my eyes in frustration as Katara sprints behind me, to catch up. Her hand caresses my shoulder with a silky smooth finesse; the technique of an experienced helper.
"Toph, I..."
"I'm fine," I interrupt, brushing her hand from my shoulder like a patch of dust, "Go meet up with Aang. I'm sure he needs you."
She retracts and turns away sadly, before obeying and walking off to find the love of her life in the leftovers of the battle. I stop where I am, and lean against the wall, trying to lose myself in the sweet, lively embrace of the earthen walls. It doesn't work.
Suddenly frustrated, I punch the stone as hard as I can, my fist sinking deep into the wall and cratering the smooth enclave. A victory, huh? Where is my victory? All I've done today is lose. I even helped to rescue her. Have I just been fooling myself? So what if we're a team; he's still been devoting his life to freeing her. Would he do that for me? Well, he wouldn't need to, but still!
'Somehow, I'm going to make it up to you.' The phrase springs across my memory, unbidden. Did that not mean anything? I don't know anymore.
"Katara, what happened to your face? Are you hurt? Quick, somebody get a medic!" I can hear Aang worrying over her all the way from over here. It's just a bloody nose but he sounds as panicked as if she'd lost a limb. Ugh.
Oh, no. Of course. I can feel Suki's heartbeat approaching me, tense about something. Sokka's still sitting in the training room, probably deciding what to do with Jianguo's passed out body.
"Hey, Toph?" she begins sheepishly, sidling over to stand beside me. It's tough to keep open annoyance from showing on my face.
"What's up," I acknowledge. It's a statement, not a question. Hopefully, she'll take the hint.
"I just wanted to say, I'm sorry for what I did back there," she apologizes, "You were absolutely right, and I really needed that swift kick in the butt to make me realize it."
"Its no problem," I lie, pulling off my gloves and tossing them on the ground. They impact noisily, caustically, another hint that I don't want to talk to her.
She doesn't take it. "You two were really amazing back there," she continues, "I was really impressed. Sokka's really improved, and you two as a team were incredible. I don't think I've ever seen two fighters that intense together."
"Yeah, well, we've been traveling together for awhile now," comes out, sounding a little too irritated. I don't want to talk to you. You're invading my space. Go away.
She laughs, apparently not reading the undertones. What do I have to do? Earthbend her? Jeez, she's almost as stupid as Sokka is. The silence builds, but now I welcome it like a close friend.
"Well, I just wanted to thank you," she stammers awkwardly, walking back towards Sokka, "And to tell you that you were amazing back there. I'm really looking forward to spending more time with you, Toph."
I say, "Mmm," or something equally intelligent as she walks away. It's just not right.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jianguo, Captain of the Fire Nation Imperial Army:
Consciousness returns like a migraine, slowly, bitterly, and painfully. My head pounds
and screams, distracting me, but I fight through the pain to analyze what's going on. I can't feel my left arm at all, my legs are too far trapped in the rock to move, and my forehead is bleeding.
I slowly open my eyes, to take in my surroundings, but I shut them as soon as the image sharpens. Two Earth Kingdom soldiers stand over me, apparently on guard, and I don't want them to know that I'm conscious. Instead, I listen, and wait.
They speak of nothing particularly important, just banal trivialities of battle-glory and tragedy, apparently bored with their duties. After what seems like hours, my patience pays off.
"Listen, I want to go visit the sick bay, and see how General Dai is doing," one of them says, "He was hurt pretty bad."
"Yeah," the other agrees, "Let's go take a look. This guy isn't going anywhere."
I struggle to keep the smile from my face, waiting to hear their footsteps echo from far away before reopening my eyes. The room is dark: it must be twilight.
Slowly, but surely, I wiggle the fingers of my right hand, struggling against the pressure of rock and dirt. The sensation of pins and needles crawls painfully up and down my arm, but I clench my teeth and fight it down, continuing my struggle. Progress comes obnoxiously slow, but eventually, my fist is free to twist and turn within its rock cage.
Now begins the painful part.
The rock is too hard for me to wiggle any further out of. I only have one solution to free my right hand. The fire I summon to my hand burns and sears; I can almost feel the skin peeling back as I blow the rock from my hand and into the darkness. Breathing deeply, I block the stinging out, and try to focus. My eyes tear and my lungs panic, but I force it all down, because the worst is yet to come.
I stare at my ruined left arm. A disgusting black bruise has spidered over the sword wound; pinkish blood oozes slowly out of it. This is a good sign: no major veins or arteries were damaged, but several of the nerves must have been severed because there is no feeling whatsoever in my left arm below the elbow. I lack the resources to cut the useless limb from me, so there is only one option.
I am Jianguo! All that is great of the Fire Nation! I can do this! I steel myself with these platitudes, not truly believing any of them, but I grit my teeth and prepare. On a whim, I pull a strip of cloth from my waist with my burned hand, and place it in between my teeth to clench firmly down upon. I can't scream. I have to hold this in.
I focus, trying once more to center myself, but even moving my right hand to my left arm in preparation is a contest of will.
I have to do it. I can do it. For Sozin! For the Fire Nation! For the memory of Ozai, and Azula!
My singed hand clenches firmly against my upper forearm, pressing into the dirt that mummifies the rest of the limb. Hyperventilation sets in as I begin.
My muscled right arm jerks violently at my entombed left; I involuntarily gasp sharply in shock as I feel my split collarbone shift and shear within my body. Tendrils of pain lick out through my upper arm and chest, nerves fire electrically all throughout my body, my jaw tightens dangerously against the cloth in my mouth. I fight the blackness that is threatening to swamp me, coming to relieve me of the trauma and shock, combating my efforts every step of the way.
Defying all reason, I pull harder on my arm, forcing myself to stare intently at the cracks forming in the earthen barrier, and not at the grotesque moving bumps that are surely decorating my shoulder. I can feel fresh, hot blood begin to bubble and dribble down my chest, hear the grinding, crunching of earth, the soft pops of broken bones, the heavy sound of my breathing as I pull harder and harder, until finally, the useless thing breaches the ground and flops spastically onto my lap.
I swallow the scream that desperately wants to leave my throat, forcing myself to breathe evenly and stay awake.
After taking a break, and allowing the pain to settle into a dull, throbbing ache, I sit up. With my upper body free to move, my legs leave the dirt easily, and I roll to my feet, clutching my destroyed arm with my burnt one. As I rise, I stumble slightly, but retain control.
My shirt, earlier cast against the ground, forms a rudimentary sling that I tie shut with my mouth. I calmly stroll down the corridor to my office, keeping careful watch for soldiers, or any life at all. Its apparent that we lost the fortress, but there must have been survivors that escaped. They are my best hope. We will regroup and plan our next move.
I swiftly shut and lock the iron door behind me as I enter, careful to make as little noise as possible. Pangs of nausea begin deep in m stomach; not a good sign. I must be careful to stay awake.
The switch pulls easily, and the trap door swings open, giving me my escape route. This tunnel was not in the original plans; there is no way the Earth Kingdom could have known about it, and therefore, they will not be guarding the exit. It is not long before the cool night air greets me, boosting my morale and giving me fresh hope. Now I need to find those that escaped. The failsafe meeting place was always in the glen before the river, safely enshrouded behind large mountain rocks and foothills. The survivors will be there. Our cause is not through yet.
It is a twenty minute walk through the dense brush, but it seems like much, much longer as the deadening ache threatens me with unconsciousness more and more. Suddenly, the wonderfully melodious sound of military voices giving orders graces my ears. I have trained these soldiers so well!
"Captain Jianguo!"
"You survived!"
"What happened?"
I can ignore the lack of discipline in these flippant statements only because of the massive agony I am enduring and of how grateful I am to see them. A Private and a Corporal help me to a seat on a rock, as I begin my inquiries.
"Who is the highest ranking surviving officer? We must plan, if we are to escape the situation safely and regroup. Answer me, Corporal!" my voice is strong and solid, despite my weakness and injury, restoring the proper respect of rank in the surrounding soldiers. There cannot be more then forty of them. We were well and truly outsmarted this time.
"Sir, Lieutenant Wei has survived," the Corporal answers staunchly, "He has put us under orders to regroup until 0300. After that time, we move out to find a better location."
My gratitude increases. Wei survived, and is doing exactly what he should do. A smile comes to my worn and cracked lips; despite our losses, we can still pull together. Such is the spirit of the Fire Nation!
"Someone fetch him and bring him to me, immediately!" I bark, but I see my 1st Lieutenant approach me, followed by a gaggle of Sergeants. He has been having a meeting with the highest ranking officers. Good!
"Lieutenant Wei, I am truly grateful to see that you managed to escape," I say honestly, "We can regroup! We will join the other Imperialists, and find a way to extract revenge upon the injustices we suffered upon us this day!"
"Your injury is severe. It may turn gangrenous," he says, ignoring my blessings. Exactly how he should behave.
"It is true, I need some medical attention. These wounds will require some arduous healing," I acknowledge, pulling the sling aside so he may better look upon the cut.
"Sir, I apologize, but we cannot spare the time or the medical attention," my Lieutenant says apologetically, standing up and looking at the Sergeants. I catch his eyes with mine, see the calculation, the devotion, and I smile, warmly.
"It is difficult, I am sure, for you to make such a decision," I say. I normally have nothing but disgust for emotion of any kind pushing its way into conversation, but these times call for it. "The cause comes first. Very well, you will break camp, and I will strike out on my own. Omashu is very close to here. I will seek attention there, and rejoin you all later."
He pauses, before turning. His dark, beady eyes are cold, dark, calculating. Devotion? It is there, along with ambition, but in the most unfeeling way I have seen. A coldness begins in my stomach.
"Sir, I am deeply regretful, but we cannot allow that either," he says slowly, carefully choosing his words before he says them, "It would be disastrous if you were caught and interrogated by the Earth Kingdom soldiers. You simply must understand. General Xu's orders were quite clear; we were to meet south of Omashu. We cannot be found." General Xu's orders?
"What are you saying? Lieutenant Wei, I order you to answer me!" comes out primally, rife with fear and anger. I begin to rise to my feet, fighting the weakness of my condition, but firm hands grab my good arm and force me back into a sitting position. The Corporal who rescued me now turns his head away.
"Sir, it has been my greatest honor to serve under you," my 1st Lieutenant says genuinely, "and I will remember you fondly." Fear turns to terror, flying up and down my spine. I struggle against the man whose grip now traps me.
Wei's hand flicks nonchalantly. Two Spearmen advance, their weapons readied. Staunch, disciplined, well trained.
"Wait, wait!" I scream. They do not obey.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: And so ends Captain Jianguo! Man, just writing that scene made me feel all evil and dirty... I would never have thought myself capable of that kind of thinking! I kind of ranted Jianguo's descriptions at the beginning on purpose, to try and make him seem a little distracted and disconnected. Let me know if it worked, and if it read well!
One thing some of you have warned me about was shifting between perspectives too much, and I've tried to cut back, but I did it on purpose with this one, because battle is chaos, and moving between the characters will hopefully add a bit of that in the way its read. But hey, if I was wrong, let me know! You guys have been incredibly constructive and helpful so far!
I know, it was a tad graphic at times, but I felt it would be dishonest to Sokka to hide the violence. He said it himself, his sword is a killing weapon and he doesn't have the luxury of being able to stun. Overall, I was really trying to capture several aspects of Sokka's fighting style with this piece. First, I wanted to show that his mind was his greatest weapon, and that his sword and boomerang are just tools and not the end-all be-all of his fighting style. Second, I wanted Sokka to have his moment of being the BAMF (haha I love that stupid acronym), and show that five years of fighting and living on the run had to have made him a pretty awesome fighter. Last, and most importantly, I wanted to show that his greatest strength came from fighting alongside Toph.
One reason I didn't really talk much about that partnership from Toph's or Sokka's perspective was that I wanted it to be implicit; they both know each other so well that there's no need to dwell on how incredibly they fight together or anything like that. I was relying on the moments and I really hoped it worked! Let me know what y'all think!
Sorry again, Tokkans, but I can't make Suki be a total bitch, because she isn't one. I had the chance, I know, but I've got to be honest to the characters, and let them play out for themselves (and yes, this means no convenient deaths, as well)! Oh, and to play up the drama here, Sokka's perspective is not going to be seen for awhile. I don't want to give what he's thinking away, or it ruins the tension! But don't worry, Toph will have her moments of glory before the story is out!
Speaking of the story, don't worry, there's still plenty to come! We've got a long road ahead of us still! I've got to know, did anyone expect this from Wei at the end? When did you know that he was going to kill Jianguo? Hopefully, if I wrote the character right, you as the reader couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for the Captain of the White Fire there at the end. Betrayed by your right-hand man and your own ideologies! Man does that suck! Hah, and I almost let him get away, too (once again, I hope that the violence wasn't too much, especially when he ripped his arm out of the ground. I flinched when I was writing that...)
Alright, I'm done yapping. I really hope y'all enjoyed this one as much as the last! (The last one made Release clear 50 reviews and 1000 hits, thanks so much guys! You are all incredible and have inspired me to work hard and keep my schedule!). Now my obligatory little preview:
Up next: Suki vs. Toph in competing for Sokka's affection, the re-emergence of General Xu, and the promotion of Captain Wei! Hooray! Hehehe