The Warriors of Kyoshi-Winter Solstice, Part 2: Avatar Roku
Zuko's Ship- Night
I sit meditating with four candles lit, waiting for the pre-rehearsed interruption of Uncle. He cracks the door open and peeks through while I open my eyes.
"The only reason you should be interrupting me, is if you have news about the Avatar." I state calmly. "Come in, close the door behind you."
"Well, there is news, Prince Zuko, but you might not like it. Don't get too upset." He states nervously.
"Uncle, you taught me that keeping a level head is a sign of a great leader. Now, whatever you have to say, I'm sure I can take it." I say still calm.
"Okay then." Uncle says, before hesitantly saying. "We have no idea where he is."
"He hasn't been revealed yet, give it time Uncle, he is on Kyoshi Island. It will just take time for the news to spread. Should we go ahead to Kyoshi to drive the Avatar away? It may help later he goes to Omashu next If I remember correctly. Which I have plans to conquer to prove myself capable in wartime environments, which is essential. To have good approval ratings when I finally become Fire Lord, so I can deceive the militants into believing I'm gonna continue the war in secret."
"Then we should go there as soon as possible." Uncle says. "Will you need help with strategy for conquering Omashu?"
"I was just gonna beat King Bumi into submission. He surrendered in the future to embrace neutral jing, waited till the Day of Black Sun. I could do recon and see if they have metal prisons for Earthbenders, they should, I can discreetly takeout the cities forces, and imprison them in their own prisons. Defeat Bumi, and inform the Fire Nation of my actions. They can bring in an occupying force, i'l get credit for a conquest. I'l make sure to send a letter directly to my father so he'll know the truth, he's so desperate for me not to be a huge embarrassing failure he'll make sure I get the credit because it'll make him look good by extension." I state all this verbalizing my thoughts, hoping for input from Uncle.
"I would take the Earthbenders before confronting King Bumi, it'll give you more leverage to force the surrender. There is a base near Omashu with excess soldiers for the purpose of eventual occupation, a well thought out idea, if you can execute it as planned I have no doubt you'll prove yourself. Want me to send Ozai a letter days in advance so he'll be watching for your letter, and watch for attempts to steal the accomplishment?"
"Yes please, Uncle. I'l be doing recon while the Avatars there, in disguise of course. Should we have the helmsman head a course for Kyoshi Island?"
"Yes if we arrive early we can always hide out of sight, moving in when we're ready. I'l inform the helmsman, I only came in here to inform you about the search for the Avatar." He says while rising to leave. "You should rest soon Prince Zuko."
"I will and thank you." Uncle nods in acknowledgement, then exits my quarters.
Time Skip
I and three of my men depart the ship on komodo rhino's with me in the lead.
"I want the Avatar alive." I command in a voice devoid of emotion.
We arrive at the deserted main street of the village, standing at the base of the Kyoshi statue.
"Come out Avatar. You have been a coward for century don't you think its time for a life style change?" I yell.
"Find him, If you do signal me." I quietly order my men.
The Kyoshi Warriors are engaging my men in battle, Suki is running towards me, I send a fire blast at her while preparing a fire whip in the other arm, she dodges the blast to get hit with the whip the force of it is enough to knock her into a house, unconscious. Sokka runs to check on her.
Another warrior tries attacking me from above, I jump up, stabilize myself with gravitybending and kick her back onto the roof she was jumping off, unconscious. I get off my komodo rhino to fight on my feet.
"Well Sokka, will you avenge your girlfriends defeat?" I ask in a mocking voice.
"Yes I will." He says confident, rising and assuming a fighting stance.
"Good, maybe if I kill you the Avatar will quit being such a coward." I say while heating the air, I wanna make this quick and easy to break his pride further.
He charges, I deflect his punch before quickly punching the air out his lungs, before rapidly getting behind him and hitting him over the back of his head. Knocking him out.
"Nice try Avatar! But these little girls can't save you."
"Hey! Over here!" I hear him shout.
I turn to face him.
"About time you coward." I taunt. I start launching two fire balls at him, he dodges the first and decimates the second with his staff. He rapidly spins the staff over his head, propelling himself in the air. He lands in front of me, I immediately kick the staff out of his hands. I quickly use a small burst of lightning to knock him down.
"You are such a terrible person Aang, and a selfish, lazy Avatar." I lecture him. "My family may have started the war but you could have stopped it, with training. You chose to run away, on behalf of the royal family I thank you for being awful at the job destiny gave to you." I say cruelly, with a evil smile. I think its working, he looks guilty.
"Leave him alone you jerk!" It seems Sokka is awake again.
"All I have said is true, you idiots worship him as a god for the actions of his past lives. He accepts it with a smile."
Sokka charges me, I blast him with lightning, not enough to kill him.
"No!" Aang yells and I get blasted into a house by him and lose consciousness.
I awaken minutes later to see Appa take off.
"Back to the ship! Don't lose sight of them!" I bellow. My goal is achieved he feels guilty and will work harder to atone for his actions.
Aang jump into the water and rises on top of the Unagi. It expels water extinguishing the fires in the village drenching my soldiers and I, then launching Aang into the air Appa catches him, they fly away.
I decide to kill the Unagi to vent my "rage" at failing to capture the Avatar it takes five minutes to draw it out. It only takes a single full power lightning bolt to kill it, its head crashes down onto the shore I calmly approach and use a blue wall of fire as a blade to behead it. After making sure no one is looking I pull the body out with gravitybending. I then return to my ship to plan.
After arriving back on my ship to see the crew and Uncle looking at me in awe.
"I'm just guessing, but your impressed by me killing the Unagi?" I ask with a small smile. Causing light chuckles to break out.
"Can we head a course for the port nearest to Omashu?" I ask while looking at Lieutenant Jee.
"Of course, Prince Zuko. I'l give the order." responds Jee respectfully.
Time Skip- Unnamed Port nearest Omashu.
Uncle just left, after informing me of our arrival, I asked him to send the letter to father. I gather my gear and leave the ship, after i'm out of sight I teleport to near Omashu. It's near nightfall Team Avatar may not be here still, either way I burn anti-spirit rune sets along with concealing runes, on the outside of Omashu while concealing my actions with illusion, I then decide to do recon on the city. Before doing that I use runes keyed to earthbenders to show me all of them.
Entering under illusion while flying by negating gravity. I search for groups of soldiers, the prisons are most likely to be near a military presence for the event of an escape, the soldiers can recapture them that way. After finding soldiers, who conveniently left the door open for me to enter, without waiting for it to be opened. I enter the base and stay above the soldiers with gravitybending, I eventually find the prisons, large enough to hold two hundred earthbenders comfortably, four to five hundred uncomfortably. I burn in runes for concealing, silencing, and forgetting, but allow a loophole for myself to remember. I then start teleporting sleeping earthbenders in the city into the prison, starting with soldiers only, I eventually run out of sleeping earthbenders and put non-benders into normal prisons after taking their weaponry.
I discreetly exit the prison, and put concealing and silencing runes around it. I generate a magnetic field around the soldiers to conduct electricity through and fire lightning into it, just enough to stun or knock them out. I then alter their memories and teleport them into the appropriate prisons.
I move onto the palace, I remain concealed with illusion and teleport in for recon, I find metal traps for earthbenders, another prison for them too. I add concealing, silence and forgetting runes to the prison section, again leaving a loophole for myself to remember. I decide to start taking down guards I count forty in the palace.
Over the next hour they fall to chi-blocking and stunning. I do all this and they never got to make a sound to alert others.
I finally enter the throne room, causing King Bumi to look up from the throne.
"Hello, King Bumi, I am Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation. I have taken your earthbenders, and soldiers prisoner. I have come to either accept your unconditional surrender, or to defeat you in a battle." I state all this in a voice devoid of emotion. While standing confident in front of him, looking him in the eye.
"I had heard you got banished, and your face burned, of course I also heard you were weak." Bumi says in a surprisingly sane voice, not insulting my intelligence by feigning senility.
"I was banished and burned. As for the rumors of my "weakness", we all have masks we wear, and parts we play." I say omitting the fact i'm a time-traveller. "I was underestimated by playing the weak little boy, people showed me their true opinions of me, showing me if they were potential allies or not. The entire time I was a dragon restrained by the chains that were my mask. When my father burned and banished me, I took off the mask because it was a weakness in a situation that requires my true skills and qualities. The situation being catching the Avatar." I say all this in my voice devoid of emotion. I try not to show emotion in front of enemies.
"The Avatar isn't here, he left, though I don't know where too." He says calmly. He notices my lack of surprise at the revelation. "But as for my answer for the fighting or surrendering, I, King Bumi, hereby surrender the city of Omashu to Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation." He declares to my surprise, which he notices. "I see that you are immensely powerful, I know I would never win against you, I can also see that you are somehow aware of my formidable power and skill, and not intimidated even a little. I will wait here and willingly enter a metal box, and even publicly surrender Omashu before the city in a speech."
Hours later after Bumi willingly entered a metal box, true to his word. I sent a letter to Father, I teleported the messenger hawk directly into the palace and the nearest bases and teleported Uncle here as an advisor, and a few of my men as guards. I burned doors out with blue fire cutting through the stone. I then rested in my spare time to stay at full strength.
One of my men brings a message.
"Prince Zuko, I bring a message from Colonel Mak." He states calmly.
"What is the message?" I ask in a cold voice.
"The occupying force, and the chosen governor Ukano along with his family will arrive after sunrise. They also sent fifty men to be placed under yours and General Iroh's command till then. They are waiting outside for your orders."
"Excellent, please send my thanks to Colonel Mak. Please also ask him or his support staff devise a solution for the now overcrowded prisons here in Omashu, and communicate my apologies for this problem with the explanation that I was operating under a time limit." I say warmly knowing now that it's good news.
"As you command Prince Zuko. Would you like me to send in the men?" I nod yes, when he turns around I summon shadow clones and send them to burn away the runes on the prisons and to discreetly guard it.
The soldiers enter looking nervous.
"Welcome, to Omashu, men. Please separate into equal groups, there are two prisons one of which is in the palace. I believe containing the bulk of Omashu's forces, should take priority. If any of you have any questions or disagreements please get those out now." I say in a cold voice.
"None? Okay, whomever is highest ranking of you fifty handle the details when your ready, inform General Iroh, or myself and we'll lead you to your post."
After leading my group to the palace prison I teleport to the prison rig to get Katara's necklace. Just in time before sunrise, i'm lucky no one already found it.
Two hours after sunrise the occupying force finally arrives Ukano struts into the throne room followed by his family then glaring at me, while I observe him calmly from the throne, with an amused smirk on my face.
"What are you doing on the throne?" He asks angrily.
"Sitting." I state calmly angering him more. Making Mai smirk a little.
"Why are you sitting on the throne?" He asks annoyed and angry.
"Because i'm tired from conquering a city single-handedly and staying up all night. Oh and it annoys people seeing a banished prince on a throne, you among them apparently." I say with a smile. Making Mai smile too, I wonder if I should try marrying her this time around.
"Get up!" He yells finally having reached his limit.
"I'l wait till my men are ready to go, I'l have the servants bring some chairs for your family though. I would also watch your tone with me Ukano, Captain Zhao offended me and he's still getting medical attention, for burns all over his upper body, and a burn on the left side of his face, and blindness in the left eye." I state casually shocking everyone, intimidating Ukano into silence.
Uncle walks into the throne room. "Prince Zuko we're ready to go." he says ignoring the tension in the room.
"Excellent." I state rising from the throne, walking towards Mai, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek, causing her to blush. Enraging her father, who looks at me with a murderous glare. "Bye Mai." I whisper into her ear. Then turning to look at Ukano again.
"Good luck." I say with sincerity, then patting him on the head like a pet animal. Causing Uncle to snort in spite of himself. I turn to leave, winking at Mai, "Bye gorgeous." I say with a smile. Causing her to blush again. I leave the throne room, and teleport the group back to the ship, modifying the memories of everyone but Uncle. I go to Uncle's room to plan our actions further.
I knock twice and hear "Enter"
"Hello uncle, I'l be leaving for the Senlin village area soon, after the Avatar resolves the spirit issue I'l deploy the anti-dark spirit wards. I would have sooner, but this is how he learned to go to Crescent Island, to hear about Sozins Comet, and that he'll have to defeat father before then." I state hoping he doesn't want to come along, last time he got abducted and I had to rescue him.
"Be careful Zuko." He says worriedly, obviously concerned I'l be hurt by the spirit. If it tried i'd destroy it as punishment.
"I will, after that I'l sneak onto Crescent Island, in case I have to help the Avatar escape." I say, Uncle nods resigned by now to my independence.
I gather my armor and teleport to Senlin village. Seeing no signs of Team Avatar I create anti-spirit wards, with a rune for concealing. I repeat the process in the forest area, before teleporting to Crescent Island.
I arrive and conceal myself with illusion. Then sneak into the temple heading towards the sanctuary, to wait. I fortunately don't have to wait long Shyu brings them their just as last time. Sokka devises a plan to use explosives to open the door by simulating firebending with them. It fails, but it was a good idea. It looks like it worked as Katara points out, she lays out a brilliant plan to trick the Fire Sages into opening the door for Aang.
Minutes later the other sages arrive, Shyu plays his part well. They succeed in opening it, only to get ambushed by Team Avatar, this time I don't stop Aang from entering, he makes it in with very little opposition. The door seals with a blinding flash of white light.
"Why did you help the Avatar?" One of the Sages asks Shyu.
"Because it was once the sages' duty. It is still our duty." Shyu responds sadly and proudly.
A Clapping noise interrupts the interrogation. Zhao approaches with six firebender guards. "What a moving and heartfelt performance. I'm certain the Fire Lord will understand, when you explain why you betrayed him." He's not completely talent less after all, unfortunately movers wont be around for over seventy years, his skills in being dramatic will never be appreciated.
"Commander Zhao." The Great Fire Sage says head bowed palms together.
"I'm fairly certain he's a Captain actually, though he is quite a forgettable person. So I may be wrong." I say revealing myself. Angering Zhao. "Nice scars Captain." I say with a sneer. Zhao motions for his firebenders to restrain me.
I glare at them and say. "Touch me and I will make you beg for death." While revealing my blue fire. They stop coming towards me.
"Two traitors in one day, the Fire Lord will be pleased." He says putting emphasis on the word will. "Arn't you a little late Prince Zuko?" He says smiling evilly. "The Avatars already inside."
"I was busy picking out a present for my father. Feel free to ask him about it." I say smugly. "And in what way am I traitor? I operate within the guidelines my father gave me, capture the Avatar and bring him to the Fire Nation. I haven't disobeyed that order, in fact you have tried obstructing my mission, you committed treason by motioning for your soldiers to restrain me. If your so committed to the Fire Nation surrender yourself to my father, but you and I both know you don't care about the Fire Nation, you only care about your image and legacy, the Fire Nation is just a tool to you." I say enraging him. "Further more you committed treason by questioning the power of the line of Fire Lords."
Zhao recovers and turns to his men. "When those doors open, unleash all your firepower!" He shouts rage clear in his voice. I snort derisively, standing where Roku can hurt me, unconcerned.
The door glows bright white once again. Smoke streams come through into the room. The door unlocks itself, beginning to open. As it opens, a blinding white light forces all present to look away.
The light fades, revealing a pair of glowing white eyes in the darkness.
"Ready..." I hear Zhao say.
"No! Aang!" I hear Katara yell terrified.
"He's fine, just watch." I say calmly earning a glare. "Your about to see a proper firebending master, the likes of which you will rarely in meet in modern times." I say with a smile, earning a confused look from her. An angry look from Zhao.
"Fire!" I hear Zhao yell angrily as if trying to prove me wrong.
He and his guards cooperate in blasting fire onto the unseen target.
The wall of fire amasses, circling its new host as Avatar Roku, eyes aglow, is revealed behind the flames, untouched.
"I'd run if I we're you." I say calmly to Zhao and his soldiers. They look at me like I'm crazy for staying to say that.
"What? I can survive this you wimps can't, Zhao certainly can't, I have seen toddlers with more firebending talent than him." I say calmly making Sokka and Shyu snort. Zhao glares at me. I point at Roku and say. "Pay attention."
Roku sends the amassed fire forward in one powerful wave that sears the room, blasting the offenders off their feet and melting the chains binding Katara, Sokka, and Shyu with precision. Leaving me unharmed. The blast destroys the outer wall. A ghostly Avatar Roku, turning his glowing glare upon the offending sages. The sages panic, all turning to run from his wrath.
"Cowards!" I yell.
"Avatar Roku is going to destroy the temple! We have to get out of here!" Shyu says imploringly.
Roku kneels into a forward strike, melting the floor with a molten firebending trail. He steadily lifts his hand, causing the stream of lava below to erupt into maddened explosions. The lava soars through the temple, tearing it apart. Zhao and his firebenders are fleeing for the temple's exit. I calmly walk out while watching them with amusement, knowing I can teleport myself out if i'm ever in true danger. I eventually do teleport back to my room getting bored of it. I go to Uncle's room to suggest he misplace his White lotus tile near a port I showed him on a map. After explaining he agreed so long as he doesn't have to actually lose it.
Ozai POV
After learning of the events on Crescent Island and the allegations Zhao made against my recently useful son. I decided to expedite the justice process to discover the truth. By personally interrogating Zhao and the Fire Sages with the aid of Azula. The guards have brought the sages before me now.
"Now then, your here under allegations of treason and to act as witnesses to my son Zuko's actions while on your Island."
"Now did you all knowingly aid the Avatar?" I ask coldly.
"No, only Shyu did, Fire Lord, Zhao pronounced us all guilty in his opinion." Replies the Great Sage.
"Good, now for the actions of my son." I say coldly.
"Fire Lord if I may. I would like to recount the actions of your son Zuko." Shyu says boldly.
"Very well, begin." I say.
"When he first appeared after the Great Sage greeted Commander Zhao, he taunted him. 'Saying that he's fairly certain he's a captain, though he's such a forgettable person. I may be wrong.' he then went on to say 'Nice scars Captain'. When Zhao motioned for his firebenders to restrain him, he glared at them and said 'Touch me and I will make you beg for death' while revealing his blue fire."
"Sorry, did you say Blue fire?" Azula interrupts.
"Yes, princess my fellow sages can verify the fact." Shyu says, the Sages nod in agreement.
"Continue." I order. Glad my sons gotten stronger.
"Yes Fire Lord. Zhao mentioned two traitors in one and that you would be pleased. Then said 'Arn't you a little late Prince Zuko' and 'the Avatars already inside.'"
"Your son responded." Shyu continues, making Zhao look nervous."'I was busy picking out a present for my father. Feel free to ask him about it.' In a smug tone 'And in what way am I traitor? I operate within the guidelines my father gave me, capture the Avatar and bring him to the Fire Nation. I haven't disobeyed that order, in fact you have tried obstructing my mission, you committed treason by motioning for your soldiers to restrain me. If your so committed to the Fire Nation surrender yourself to my father, but you and I both know you don't care about the Fire Nation, you only care about your image and legacy, the Fire Nation is just a tool to you.' he then continued 'further more you committed treason by questioning the power of the line of Fire Lords." Shyu finishes.
"Explain Zhao." I say with rage clear in my voice.
"After the Avatar returned he escaped using the Avatar state. Zuko said it took the power of the Avatar state to beat him and his crew. I said that 'So a twelve-year-old boy bested you and your firebenders. You're more pathetic than I thought.' He challenged me to an Agni Kai for my insult and questioning of his power."
He's withholding information. "And?" I ask. "The full story." I state coldly.
"Zuko said. 'You will learn your place, even while a banished prince I'm your superior. I'm descended from Sozin, your descended from a peasant whore who sold herself for a mere piece of silver.'"
I hear Azula stifle a laugh, getting a hate filled glare from Zhao. That won't do, after the Northern Tribe is beaten he'll have to die.
"I see where your injuries came from." I state with some pride in my sons power and ruthlessness. "Continue."
"After your son defeated me he warned me after making sure I could hear his words. 'Good, if you ever question my power, insult or oppose me in anyway. I will spare the Fire Nation further humiliation due to your weakness and stupidity and kill you. If you try to attack me from behind like I suspect your thinking of trying, I will burn your other eye too.' In a cold voice. Before leaving he said 'Be glad I went easy on you and only used amateur attacks. Someone get him medical attention.' Then my seconds came to take me away."
"Continue Shyu." I command.
"Yes Fire Lord, when Zhao ordered his men 'When those doors open, unleash all your firepower.' your son snorted derisively while standing in a dangerous place seemingly unworried about injury or even death. When they fired and the water tribe girl expressed concern. Your son said 'He's fine, just watch.' Calmly. 'Your about to see a proper firebending master, the likes of which you will rarely in meet in modern times.' With a smile, earning a confused look from her. An angry look from Zhao."
This angers me, Shyu continues.
"While Avatar Roku was preparing his counter attack your son calmly said 'I'd run if I we're you.' to Zhao and his soldiers. They looked at him like he was crazy for staying to say that. 'What?' he said 'I can survive this you wimps can't, Zhao certainly can't, I have seen toddlers with more firebending talent than him." This causes Azula and I to snort in amusement. "He then pointed at Roku and said. 'Pay attention.'"
"Tell me your impression of the Avatars counter attack." I say angrily. Still angry at my sons remark about a proper firebending master.
"It was a master move, Roku was possessing the Avatars body. It was total, absolute control, he probably could have shaved with his firebending." Shyu responds, even earning my grudging respect for Roku's abilities from the description alone.
"When Roku destroyed the temple your son calmly walked out. That's the whole story Fire Lord." Shyu finishes.
"Very well, I don't believe my son is a traitor. The "gift" he picked out for me was Omashu, which he conquered in a single night." I say to shock and surprise around the room.
"I believe he will capture the Avatar and return in time, he seems to have researched the past Avatars to understand their capabilities. Shyu, your guilty of treason, you will spend life in prison. The rest of you are innocent. You are all dismissed."
