Chapter 10:

Prisoners of War Part 2

The sun was setting now, bathing the village in red and orange hues. The blue mask stood out against the dusk sky, yet Zuko felt the comfort of anonymity. He left the water-tribe coat behind and jumped from roof to roof in his dark Fire Nation garb. His Dao blades reflected the red sky as they shifted on his back.

He wasn't looking for the two men that harassed the shopkeeper and her husband. No, it would only cause the couple more trouble. The only way to help them was to get to the source. The Fire Nation needed to be removed from the village, and he know that they would not leave willingly.

In fact, he counted on it.

He knew that the generals wouldn't bat an eyelash at the loss of a few dozen troupes stationed in such a small Earth town, but it would hurt their pride more than anything. The mere thought of Earth Kingdom peasants ridding their town of the superior Fire Nation would shake them to their core; they may not even report the loss in fear of political embarrassment. Then again, they could try to politicize the incident as a reason for destroying the small town instead, claiming that the people were too savage to be civilized.

His plan was vague and risky. If Iroh knew, he would tell Zuko that he was being reckless and stupid, and Zuko would be fooling himself if he disagreed. However it was time to do something. He was supposed to be the avatar after all, and how could he ever considering himself as such if he could not liberate but one small village from his own homeland's–his own father's–ruthless control.

The villagers were all hiding in their homes, the miners had returned for then, and they spoke in whispers with the curtains drawn. Fire Nation patrolled the street, some in pairs, some alone.

He dropped down behind a single soldier in almost complete silence. The unsuspecting man whistled as he walks, his spear held loosely in his hands. He wasn't likely a firebender given his low patrol rank especially in such a small town. Zuko crept up behind the man, and before he could even register he was being attacked, Zuko held his dual blades against his throat.

"Wha–

"Move an inch and I'll slit your throat," Zuko hissed. "Where is your commanding officer."

"I–I," the man stammered, "I won't tell you a–

"Raise your voice again and I'll ask someone else," Zuko said pressing his blades against the man's skin until small bleeds of blood started to drip from his throat. "I'll give you one more chance; where is your commanding officer."

"Th–the warden stays in a Fire Nation ship just–just off shore," he squeaked. "Please don't kill me. I…I was only following orders."

Zuko paused at the man's plea and remembered what Iroh had said to him back on their ship before it and their crew was lost at sea: 'there is no honour in destruction.' He had never threatened someone to such an extent let alone kill them, but if he let the man go, he would alert the rest of the stationed soldiers and perhaps even send word to the Fire Nation. The village would be doomed, yet his hands shook with doubt.

'I'm sorry, uncle,' he thought, 'I lost my honour a long time ago,' and he slit the man's throat.

…

"I just wish we could do more for you," Katara said softly as she sat besides Tyro and his wife.

"You shouldn't worry about an old man like me," he wheezed.

"What if you both ran away?"

"We have no where else to go, and besides, I won't abandon the others." He gave her a resolute smile. "We live together and we will die together."

A brief knock sounded on the door before a man burst into the store front. "Tyro! Tyro!" he called, "you won't believe this!"

"What's the matter," Tyro responded, rising from his prone position on the chair.

"A blue spirit is attacking the Fire Nation! I saw it for just a moment, but the soldiers are dropping like flies! A few of us are banding together to fight off the rest." He smiled wildly. "We'll liberate our village tonight."

"Well," Tyro coughed, and rose to his feet. "I'm not going to sit here idly while my fellows fight."

"But Tyro," his wife voiced worriedly, "you're sick."

"Then it's now or never." He placed his hands on her shoulders to gave her an assured smile. "Go help the others escape the village: anyone who can't fight for themselves. When this is all over and I'm still alive, I'll find you.

"I'll fight too," Sokka declared.

"Me as well," Katara said.

"What!? Oh no. No no no no," Sokka exclaimed, "you're going to help evacuate the villagers. Bring them to dad and tell him the situation. We're going to need all the help we can get."

"But, Sokka–

"I told dad I'd protect you!"

"I want to fight! Why can't you trust me–

"Why can't you understand that you're not a fighter!"

"I can waterbend, Sokka!"

"Like you can even call that bending–

"Excuse me!?"

"You heard me!"

They glared at each other, red in the face and seething. Katara felt hopeless and furious but most of all she was frustrated at her own lack of training. Everything she knew about waterbending was self-taught: experimentation, trial and error. It was a difficult and timely process which gave little reward for her efforts. If only she had a direction, some advice to keep her in the right direct, and she was sure she could be an amazing bender.

"Fine," she said through gritted teeth and she walked out the door.

Sokka groaned, "why can't she just stay out of trouble?"

"It's hard to protect someone you care about," Tyro said, his hand resting on Sokka's shoulder in assurance, "but eventually you're going to have to let them figure things out themselves. I know you're worried, but you have to give her some space to grow."

"I guess so," he grumbled.

"Now lets show these Fire Nation men what we're made of."

…

Zuko approached the shore where the Fire Nation ships were docked. In front of the docks was what looked like a small square for gatherings and festivals, but it was clear it hadn't been used for either for quite some time. Metal posts were erected from the dirt like claws, wood and charcoal collected around each base.

It was a warning to all who opposed the warden and a final resting ground to all who didn't head that warning.

He could hear fights breaking out around the village; it filled him with relief. Now he had much less soldiers to eliminate which gave him ample time to take out the warden. He thought for a moment whether he should sink the ship like how the pirates sank his own, but the idea struck too close to home and he doubted he would be able to round up enough fire power to cause any devastating damage to the large vessel. This left him one option: to confront the warden face to face.

Sneaking aboard the ship was relatively easy and no guard even sensed his presence. He went looking for the warden first to keep an element of surprise; the rest of the crew would have to be left for later.

He found the man barking orders from within the bridge: something about taxation. Zuko didn't care to listen. A few soldiers left hurriedly, not noticing him waiting in the shadows. He let the men leave and focussed on those who were left: two guards and the warden.

"I cannot believe the incompetency of this crew," complained the warden. He had a pompous attitude and a obnoxious tone Zuko recognized in Fire noblemen who were used to being pampered and pleased; it was a repulsive trait by any measure. "How am I supposed to keep order in this village if my own men can't follow the simplest instructions? Imbeciles, the lot of them."

His guards kept silent to keep the warden's temper off their own backs. The warden continued voicing his grievances as he looked out the window of the bridge, his hands clasped behind his back. "These Earth peasants aren't as efficient as they used to be with so many catching this petty sickness. They are earthbenders, grovelling in the dirt is their trade, no? And yet they beg for medicine and mercy. Ha! I won't waste a single resource on their pitiful cases. Hm, what do you think, should I demonstrate what happens to lazy workers in the square?" His words were met with silence. "What is the matter with you!" He called turning around to face his men. "I have asked you–" his voice died in his throat for what he saw behind him were his two guards lying limply on the floor, red puddles pooling around their bodies. The masked intruder stood silently above them, his double blades glistening with the blood of men.

"Wh-who are you!" yelled the warden.

Zuko advanced on the man, his swords in hand and ready. He didn't answer.

"What do you want with me?!"

"It's not really a personal matter," Zuko said brusquely, "but men like you disgust me." He lunged at the warden suddenly. The man, startled, stumbled out of the way with his arms raised in defence. Zuko's swords shallowly cut through the wardens uniform and skin.

"How dare you attack me!" the warden yelled furiously. "I'll burn you just like all those worthless Earth peasants!" In haste he took a firebending stance and attempted to counter, but Zuko could tell he was sloppy and out of practice.

There was no doubt that the warden never earned his position. His upperclass standing placed him in power without a need of skill or experience, but he would soon regret his lack of physical prowess.

Dodging a blast of unpracticed fire Zuko swung his blades within the warden's defences, cutting deeply into his flesh. The warden howled in pain and clutched at his bleeding chest. He backed away until his back pressed up against the glass. "Get away, you demon," he heaved, struggling to catch his breath. "I – I'm not scared of you! You're only prolonging the inevitable! The Fire Nation will unite the world together under one rule; there's nothing you can do to stop it. Do you hear me?!"

"The Fire Nation isn't trying to unite anyone," Zuko spat, "and you're wrong. I will stop the Fire Nation. I don't care how long it takes, but I'll pick you off one by one if I have to." The warden looked baffled as Zuko slipped his blades back into their sheaths leaving his hands empty. "You burned these citizens in the streets, so I'll return the favour." Zuko thrust forth a powerful blast of fire fuelled by red hot anger. The warden, caught completely by surprise, froze in shock as force of the fire struck him with so much power the window broke behind him and he fell to the metal ship deck ablaze.

The warden's cries of burning agony as he fell shook Zuko to his core. It reminded him of his own father's wrath. The vicious pain that engulfed the left side of his face. The face of his father standing triumphantly above him and the spell of burning flesh.

His hands shook. His heart hammered against his chest. He could faintly hear shouts from outside both in shock and jubilation. The earth villagers had reached the cheered at the burning warden like the crowd at his own Agni Kai.

Zuko shoved the blue mask into his shirt and hurriedly headed back down towards the deck. He was eager to distance himself from the bridge which was burned black from the warden's attacks. He didn't get far before he ran into a familiar face.

"Ack! Huh? Is that you Zuko?" Sokka said in surprise, his hand clutching his nose which was bruised from running into Zuko. "Where have you been?! When I found your parka, I thought they got you!"

"My apologies," Zuko muttered, "I didn't want to ruin it." It was true that he did not want to burn the parka, but the bright blue colours of the Water tribe were much too bright for slinking in the night shadows.

"So you abandoned it in an alley," Sokka responded flatly.

"…yes."

"Alright, whatever," he sighed, offering the lost parka back to Zuko. "You know, I had my suspicions when I saw that warden guy fall out of his window on fire, so I guess it really was you wasn't it." It wasn't a question. Zuko kept silent as Sokka continued, "I think I'm actually starting to like you even though you're a firebender."

"Thanks," Zuko responded with a raise brow.

"Come on, lets go join up with Tyro, there's still some firebenders we've gotta teach a lesson to."

Tyro and the rest of his companions continued to fight the Fire Nation soldiers aboard the vessel, however, it was difficult for the Earth benders to gain the upper hand on the metal deck. Most men resorted to battling with makeshift weapons such a pick axes or rakes, but some even fought with just their fists. The warden's body lay in the middle of the battle, burnt to a crisp and barely recognizable.

"Aaaaaaah!" Sokka yelled as he ran into the fray with his club raised high.

Zuko drew his hood over his eyes and gripped his dual blades. Being recognized by the Fire Nation soldier or the Earth villagers would be dangerous even if the Earth villagers and the Water tribesmen did not know of his status as a former Fire Nation prince. He joined the fight, but refrained from standing out or using his bending.

Casualties began to pile up as the battle raged on, neither side overpowering the other, but just as the villagers began tire, their saving grace arrived in the form of seasoned Water-tribe warriors.

Hakoda lead his men with their spears and clubs raised as they charged the Fire Nation men in full force. The soldier who had already been fighting off the villagers could not keep up with the sudden appearance of the water-tribesmen, and the battle soon turned in the village's favour.

With renewed confidence, Zuko fought the soldiers fiercely, his blades aimed at vulnerabilities in their armour. Yet his assurance was short lived when he heard a panicked shout among the violence.

Sokka's parka was in flames. He had taken the full force from behind yet the many thick layers he wore protected him, if only for the time being. Zuko tried to focus on calming the flames from a distance, but the agitation he felt from battle prevented him from focussing. The fire was spreading.

Suddenly Sokka was doused in water clumsily but firmly bended by none other than Katara.

"Katara!" Zuko yelled in surprise and relief. He abandoned his fight to join the two teens, but they had already ignored their surroundings to bicker.

"What are you doing here?!" Sokka shouted. "I told you to go with the other villagers! This isn't a place for girls!"

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Katara responded furiously. "Maybe I should have let you burn then!"

"That's not the point!"

"How is that not the point! You should be thanking me–

"Watch out!" Zuko yelled as he ran towards the two. Fire Nation men had noticed their distraction and with one quick motion, fire barrelled towards them. Sokka and Katara had no time to move out of the way.

Zuko managed to make it between them and the flames before he attempted to erect some sort of fire wall to take the brunt of the force, but rather than fire, the very air around him swirled to protect him. The fire dissipated like a candle in the wind.

Taking advantage of the shock that seized the soldiers and villagers alike, Zuko followed through with an airbending move he had been trying to perform on the boat. Air plowed into the men who attacked Sokka and Katara sending them into the air and a good distance backward. They crashed into their fellow soldiers with a clang as their metal armour helmets fell off their heads and onto the metal deck.

Hakoda's tribesmen took advantage of the shock that gripped the Fire Nation men to overpower the remaining soldiers. The Earth villagers shook off their own stupor to aid Hakoda's men and together they prevailed.

Tyro sighed in relief, his village was free, but upon seeing Zuko's display of an art long gone, he learned of a loss he hadn't wanted to consider. "My son," he said slowly, the world blurred as tears streaked down his old face, "Haru has been dead for many years, hasn't he."

It's a good thing I separated Prisoners of War into two parts because together they would have been around 5000 words. Chapter 9 would have come so much earlier had slip it a long while ago, but hopefully the sooner release of Chapter 10 is enough. I wouldn't want you guys waiting on a part 2, nobody likes a long wait after a cliff hanger.