Conqueror Azula Chapter 11 - Eclipse Part 3, an avatar: last airbender fanfic

[Aula on a rather big bolder, descending]

This will hurt again, won't it? AUGH. Daaammm... pain tells you you are alive. No, this should not hurt worse than lightning, a fucking bolder is not allowed to hurt more than lightning. Ah, control that damn pain, it is just a fire, a fire that fucking hurts. Damn. Fucking. Bolder. Get off. Breath damn can't. Fuck it, concentrate. Gather your pain, anger, all the frustration feel all of this through your hands. I. said. Get! OFF!

As if a bolder would stop me... Pah. Damn.I'll teach that bastards to... focus. This is not a duel to the death, but a war. As much as you want to tear them apart, you have to like this would be dumb... still want to go. What are you looking at?

"Stop gaping."

AU. Ok, stupid Idea, manipulate the muscles directly, by electricity. Feels strange, I won't be able to best them like that. Damn, guess I should not go in there again. Fuck... this was less dificult during training... must be the damage. Would help if the world stopped spinning.

(An enormous flaming rock as big as a wagon impacting at high velocity commands some attention. Said rock going off like a bomb turns even more heads. In the middle of the impact crater surrounded by flames lies something black. Then it moves in strange ways, rubble falling of revealing a black, blood stained armor. Still surrounded by fire shaking it's were reluctant to antagonise a being that could take apparently saw a siege engine shot as annoyance. The fire dies down as two yellow eyes open, glaring at them. It took a second to realise who this rising demon was.)

"Agni it's the princess."

You don't say. Can't fight like this, barely walk. Only one leg and left arm still working like they should. Inner or outer city gates… ah stopped spinning. Inner… god didn't feel this smashed since I got hit with lightning. Doesn't mean I can't fight anymore. A mount, that's it.

"Stupid bolder, I am ok. You, lend me your mount. You lot follow me."

A simpl bolder no matter how big should not be able to match lightning! Still did its damage. Guess this round goes to you guys, 2:1 or 200 to 700, maybe even worse. To be expected with elite against rookies, even planned. Hate to lose, even hate to lose when we are supposed to lose. Well, you won't even reach the palace, all according to my plans. Now where, ah there is the command group. They see me, strange expressions…no matter as long as they follow order, no time to think about this yet.

"Your orders, majesty?"

"Pull back; hold the walls till only our rear guard is in, than leave too. These walls won't offer an advantage much longer. We will rip them apart the moment our enemies climb them."

Just pass them, a lit louder, ride up the , some better some worse. Still not through the gates… damn, ok we lost the left flank.I see, didn't want anyone behind your back a wise move. These are encicled, too late to safe. Damn bolder, this could have been avoided. Focus.

"Third, fall back, then fourth then second. MAKE THEM PAY. Let these savages pay every foot in blood!"

/"Azula. Az-zul-aa! AZ-ZUL-LA!"

Cheering… feels kind of nice… bolder, not at this range. Eat. My. Pain. Really, you didn't think the same trick would work a third rime? Still I should better get off the walls. Strange, it was not fear yet they seemed motivated... whatever analyse later.

"Concentrate fire on the water bender and the blind bandit."

Hmm… no, there is no way to save that company now…. but maybe...

"Colonel, the whole remains of the first division, everyone disengage now! You, rider, tell the captain of the 9th division they are the rear guard. . . no, the heavy infantry has to stand their ground till the enemies reach the walls, got that."

If I adjust a bit maybe they might have a chance to fight their way out… at tiny chance against superior opponents but a chance none the less. Still… at best they lost a third of their fighting power, maybe less. Quite a scary brunch, a text book example numbers are not everything. A good bender easily counts as a siege weapon, a master bender can be better than a whole company, exceptions like me or that earth brat can count for a whole division. Still ours fight well to, both sides fight better than expected. Shows I still need more battle experience. Oh, seems parts of our left flank escaped after all.

"Pull the hurt units deep into the city for some rest."

/They are breaking through, 9th and 4th are cut off, my princess please.

Working with professionals just once… easy they are getting there. You wanted recruits… well… some seem surprised.

"Lieutenant, tell the colonel the moment the salve fire starts all units have to run, go. You, keep down salve fire until most are through, than abandon the walls."

/We can still fight.

A single soldier expressing their feelings, the same mentality that makes our nation great.

"I know you want to fight, but our reserves on the path want some fun too. On my mark rain down fire on them while the last disengage, then abandon these walls."

"We have reserves?"

Some special units, the elite guard of my father, our secret weapons ... but the ones waiting for you is the third division of my newly forged army – the first being yours. Think I would leave them any chance on our victory? When they attack our CAPITAL?

"Some."

Can't help this smirk… now he sees them… you are a bit late.

"You have seen the worst our enemies have to offer, now rest. It might surprise you that our capital has reserves. Just that it might have come as a surprise that the conqueror of Ba Sing Se HAS a plan. It might be the reason I LEAD this army and you are a soldier. Now follow your orders! Officer."

Should have done this all along, I am their commander and not some front line soldier… there has to be a way to be both… well. Hmm, soon they will break through, just five minutes at best.

"Pull the remains of the first division far inside the city, cavallery to the stables. Tanks-"

#First division lost all tanks.

"I know. I want the first … four companies and the heavy infantry right behind these gates two left, two right line Formation, half your tanks in front. The other half and some light units around that turn, our second counter charge, one… no two companies. Three companies a line of defense at the gates, the last company and your best shots on the city gate."

#You expect them to break through.

"Yes, each time. The double line will break, but they should hold till our counterattack returns. Run back and not turn, another counter-attack and then they reach our final line before the city gates."

#Incomming.

Where… pah… breath in, gather strike. Even with just my left that's not enough.

"We'll tear down that wall, than our tanks make a counter charge towards our trapped company, heavy infantry close by. Free them, than retreat to the city gates including remaining tanks. Get ready."

Maybe I should get a bit back, it would be the smart thing to do. Engaging like I did was pretty dumb, especially as I lost the surprise effect after the first time. I could have died a dozen times over, really shouldn't have engaged like that. These are not normal troops, these are elites. With master benders… damn brat. Eh... at least a worthy opponent, was quite fun. So this is the power of an earth bending master... eh without that support I would have won. Brought men… well seems they all came…

Should have done this all along, I am their commander and not some front line soldier… there has to be a way to be both… well. Hmm, soon they will break through, just five minutes at best.

"Pull the remains of the first division far inside the city, cavalierly to the stables. Tanks-"

#First division lost all tanks.

#You expect them to break through.

"Of course, the line up is to wear them down. The double line will break, but they should hold till our counterattack returns. Run back all the way and join, another counter-attack befor we fall back to our final line. Our final line before the city gates that is."

#Incoming!

Where… pah… breath in, gather strike. Even with just my left should be enough. Breath out, there you go. Fire has still range advantage, and with enough time for a finisher don't even TRY hitting me here. Ok, a bit dangerous for those guys…

"We'll tear down that wall, than our tanks lead a counter charge towards our trapped company, heavy infantry close by. Free them, than retreat to the city gates including remaining tanks. Get ready."

Maybe I should get a bit back, it would be the smart thing to do. Engaging like I did was pretty dumb, especially as I lost the surprise effect after the first time. I could have died a dozen times over, really shouldn't have engaged like that. These are not normal troops, these are elites. With master benders… damn brat. Eh... at least a worthy opponent, was quite fun. So this is the power of an earth bending master. Would've beaten her one on one, shame I didn't get her. Easy, not exactly as planned but they already have no chance.

[PoV Troph]

A man was screaming about the loss of his arm till her second bolder stopped his pain for ever. Earth came up in time to shield her and those water-benders behind her from another fireball. Not quite enough, the two at the sides got burned, thankfully just on their armors. A second later one guy became a human torch, too far away to save for her.

At least till now none of the guys she really knew had died… except it had. The angry hippo was now a dead hippo. At least it had been fast. She didn't like this one bit. While she was blind, and very thankful for this at the moment her echo… at the beginning she managed to ignore it, for a few moments her rage had stopped any feelings but now…

She could feel the last moments of both, friend and foe, even most emotions. Rage, fear, determination, hate, regret, panic but more than any other pain and suffering. This was a slaughterhouse and the battle would not end any time soon. She already could feel the hundreds awaiting them just beyond that wall… shit. She could feel them do it again, that combined attack. She raised an earth-wall as fire rained down on them.

Most were protected, but some… they didn't die. At least not quick, with some luck you survived, a bit more and you even survived with only ugly scars and all limbs.

/Shit, pull back, get back from the walls! Troph right side, 3 move, Katara left!

Why… oh. Oh damn it all…

"Tanks, there are tanks behind it."

Together they managed to streatch it out just in time, the scattershot still broke through here and there. But even more worrying was the charge. Tanks from the front, while those close to surrendering got new hope and went out too.

/Disingage. Tanks, line formation, we go in! Charge to the other side and build me a nice wall again.

Instead of pulling those tanks up, she made a pitfall in front of one before going in formation. They were running in again, once again at the front her task was to defend. They concentrated on her, and she liked that. Not so much the recognition, but it meant others were safer. And she could take it, as long as she recognized the attacks in time.

/Watch the left

Easier said than done with dozens of guys firing on her walls… as long as her walls held she and everyone were safe, should they break dozens would die. At least that crazy bitch didn't seem too eager to fight anymore. Sokka lead them in a curve, she was too busy defending the flank to recognize anything until they were in front of the formation. Then they crushed into that formation at an angle. The tank crushed through literally, rolling over the first ten soldiers, slowing down as the benders inside went to work. Bones break, flash meshed and cut, she felt the horror of one soldier becoming as blind as her.

A second later the tribesmen went into the formation, where the tank had crushed into it they had easy pickings, spears or rocks found their openings and cut bellies, slit throats, pierced heads, dozens died. Her wall raised fifteen feet, blocked a counter from the other side of the pass.

"Go on!"

The tank moved on, crushing in the second line just as she allowed her wall to come down. The soldiers were now nearly cut off, of the two hundred about thirty lucky were already dead, twenty suffering a great variety of horrible death, about forty were cut off and twenty too injured to fight. The remaining ninety however stood their ground, there was enough space to retreat around the tank or her, and they went for that chance.

Their efforts were supported from the other side, most fireballs were blocked by ice, stones or shields, missed or hit the tanks. Yet some found their mark, one rather close to her. She could just sense as the man rolled over the ground, fire put out fast enough. Despite his cries he was luck, he would survive, her earth stopping the fire before it killed him… well maybe not that lucky he lost the part making him a man.

/Surrender! Surrender and you will live.

For just a moment the fighting stopped. A third of the man had gotten away, a third was dead or dying, the third, maybe three dozen counting injured glared.

*And how do you keep us?

Her mark, she let her sink into the earth.

"This should hold long enough until either side can dig you out. Your wounded get first aid."

The Lieutenant glared, looked around, then nodded. She went to work, as Sokka looked at the other side.

/The same amount on the other side, damn. How many…"

"Got away? About sixty, thirty of the initially cut off, thirty of the surrounded, half of them too injured to fight. Other side are two hundred again… you're not going to like this… around that curve wait some tanks and about a hundred split, behind that three hundred, another hundred at the gates, can't tell what's about the city, too many people there."

/… we crush the tanks, then go a step back to… shit. It will be five hundred, if we don't get them in time... and there are the tanks. Don't run, move in formation. We can't reach them fast enough, they have the initiative... wedge formation

What the hell are they doing? With just that few they can't do much. No you idiots. Damn. Another one bites the dust.

/Don't run after them, just shoot. Skirmisher, our formation protects against them…

But is slower… and they have time to regroup… scattered before and a line behind, five hundred, and this is just the city gates. Aang, you better end this fucking war today.

[Ty at a battement close to the coast. ]

Ty you are an Idiot. You wasted precious time watching that fight. The faster you get the patrol to them the sooner they realize they have lost and give up. Least that idea with swinging on the trees worked. Still, I NEED to do something for my leg…

I am really an idiot aren't I… get the medi pack from the fortifications. Jump right in… bit cold ah… ok already better but still… oh.

"Hello. Where is the first aid kit?"

This is no good they will freeze to death inside that ice… hmm, Az was taking about weak points, and chi was used to bend that ice… worth a shot. Weak points in buildings, preasure points in body, this is neither but close to both. Come on, else they will die. There, does it... it cracks...

"YAY!"

Even better, freed the first aid pack.

"Who... are... you..."

HA, jackpot, just what I need. Ok, swollen… still that salve should help. Ew, these things don't want to.

"Ty Lee, you should get something warm. Thanks for this."

Ty that is an emergency. UGH. Hate those pills. At least it is working… more or less. I should be less groggy once I reach it. Just a bit faster… How far… whoa, careful, cliffs... Already? No… who collapsed those? Dumb question… poor soldiers…

Why did they have to invade? All of this is so darn pointless. Did they see me? No good. Err… what is that thing? Green, big, ugly, scary… yep… a sea monster, watch out! I know you are the bad guys but no one should get eaten by a monster. Especially not those already out of the fight.

It is not eating right now… did they tame it? Ugh. Still not smart letting it this close to the wounded guys... Or do they feed the wounded to it? No, stop thinking like that. Focus, that passage is a bit difficult. Err… here was supposed to be a bridge. Not that far… well… here goes nothing, and I've enough momentum, it should be enough, JUMP.

DAMN that armor… close, stretch… AU. HA got it, just climb uuuup… quite deep. Ok, don't follow the road, run along the cliffs. Az better apologizes for this mess. Damn.

They say up the cliff is hard. No, it is not. The down part is the really difficult thing… no slow way down, but I can do it with momentum. Step there, five foot jump to the right, two foot to the left, six foot, three foot to the left, then right, then… no, that rock seems more loose than the rest, rather take the slide, far jump, roll jump again, slide ten feet jump again. Easy, don't think just do, trust your instincts… GO!

Ignore the crash . . . waaah JUMP, phew close one. . . damn slippery plants… waah… jump from that avalance… there that bolder. Doesn't hold either… keep moving, keep on top the sliding rocks, HA, I DID IT! Well… not as steep now. Stupid loose rocks… don want go back anyway and we're on the easy part. Follow this big path, nearly enough for my whole foot, and only short jumps this is easy. Hmm… goes down quite a bit, these rocks look quite scary EEEK.

Wah... calm down. Corpses are to be expected. Shit, Azula would mock me in the afterlife if I died because of a dead man. Sorry, if you are a woman, can't tell from here, hope it didn't hurt much or too long. How is this killing supposed to be noble? I don't get it. Huh… suppose the cliffs do not only look like they can impale. Finally, the gates... carefully, least they shot you.

"Hi, could you signal the patrols to gather at the statue of Azulon? You kinda missed the invasion."

You are supposed to act, not stare at me like I were a ghost. Damn, the same problem, nobody listens to you. What to do... right act. You can do this. Act like a role in the circus. Who gives orders... Az, yes I can do this.

/W- who the hell are you?

How would Az react...

"Major Ty Lee, commander of fire princes Azula's guard who right now fights the invasion YOU missed. If you could be so kind to follow the orders from the HIGH COMMAND and order everything that can move to gather at the statue?"

That was a good impression right? Why are you still doing nothing? Was this not good enough. A bit angrier maybe…

"Did. I. Stutter?!"

/N- no. You heard the major. Ma'am, we can only reach a part of them from here, they are scattered searching for the enemy

Hah it worked. Oh right Signals can't be seen through the smoke, hawks can't be used during the eclipse, could be captured… AZULA you cruel, crazy... argh. Now I get why you sent me. Closest way between two points.

"Can you stop the fire?"

At least that... hmm, at least a bit wider than I am used to... is it sticky or slippery... of course slippery. But not too much. One of these days Az...

/Ma'am?

"They can reach the rest on the other side right? And the shortest path is along the net.

What is it with them and catching flies…

/N- no we can't reach them... Ma'am that net goes for miles… MAJOR?!

Ah, a bit wider up here and less sticky. Colder than I expected, does it even burns - ouch. Ok, mind your face. Don't get your face close. Not a problem unless I slipp. Well… what was the current record. Think about a mile, but that rope was not on fire. Hmm... easier than expected.

"Wish I hadn't to do it with a bad foot..."

Gets a bit wider... AH NO. Not again, forget something again. Phew, didn't go too far, they are still here.

"Ah, good you waited. Send a falcon to the home fleet when you are out. Case 'sea lion'. Oh and when Azula says sent everything she means everything. Every soldier and everything that can float... Meet you at the statue."

Azula and her code words… I hope someone keeps tabs because I won't run this again. A bit wider, but that burning taw is slippery… still yes, can run. And some people say the circus is dangerous. This is madness. No, how did she say it-'Calculated risk'.

[Left pillar of Azulon's gate, command room]

/Did you just see what I saw?

%A girl appearing from out of nowhere, giving us orders from the high command then jumping out of the window on to the burning steel net?

-Aye.

* In pink armor... Sir… she... she is now running on top of the net! Wait she is returning.

Said the strange girl before jumping out of the window. Again.

*Ty Lee… where did I get that name….

Finally the old sea bear accepted this was real, including all implications.

/GET MOVING!

While rushing to fullfill the orders they had time for a few choice words.

%Wait… THAT is the same Ty Lee as in hero of Ba Sing Se?

*Think anyone else can do that? RUN along a BURNING net like it was solid ground?

-Aye.

%How the hell did she even get here?! Did she swim along those deadly cliffs?

*Was not wet, maybe she flew? Or climbed along those cliffs?

%Climbed? Impossible, I go with flying… or maybe she can run over water…

/Run faster! We have to get there before it's too late!

-Aye.