Hm, so you remember those four chapters I was going to do over the weekend? Never happened. As it turns out my weekend was exceptionally busy, and I only got half of this little chapter here done. The story's almost over though, probably 2-3 more chapters left after the second one I'm updating tonight (You get two today so don't complain about the missing chapters over the weekend.), and should be done before this friday. I'll force myself to get it done by this friday. Secret of the Fire Nation could potentially ruin the entire story, so expect this to be wrapped up shortly, and without furthur ado I present to you chapter ten of Ozai's Feather. (well, eleven if you count the prolouge).
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"Let's go, let's go! All hands on deck!" The shouts came from the leading Earth Kingdom ship, similar commands echoed forth from the other boats. Aang sat on the bow of the ship as it pulled out of the harbor, staring off into the distance. He glanced to his left and patted the bison beside him before rising to his feet. As he walked around the bow he saw Katara, as well as other water benders, working to speed up the ships and get them to the Fire Nation in record time. Water benders lined the sides of all the ships, there were roughly fifty from the Earth Kingdom and twenty from the Water Tribes, and moved their arms in synchronization, causing the water to aid the ships with a helpful current.
"You ready for this, Twinkle-toes?" Toph asked as she stepped out from behind Appa.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Aang replied, a nervous grin on his face.
"Good, cause the Fire Nation's going down." Toph smirked and then walked off the find the group of soldiers who had fallen under her lead. There wasn't much for the young earth bender to do at the moment, without eyesight and no earth to bend in case of an attack she felt temporarily useless.
"Hah! We're beating you!" A call came from the side of the great ship. Aang blinked at the familiar voice and then walked to the edge of the ship. Glancing out over the water he noticed a Water Tribe ship not too far off the port side. This ship was at the front of the Water Tribe fleets, and being steered by none other than Sokka.
"What are you doing?" Aang asked with a laugh. It always seemed to him that Sokka made him laugh even when he was feeling bad.
"Steering a boat, what's it look like?" Sokka said, pointing to the rudder he held. "I felt useless just standing around, so I asked if there was something I could do and got this." The warrior grinned.
"Who else is there with you?" Aang asked, resting his elbows on the rail of the ship as he conversed with his friend.
"Suki, Fai and the Kyoshi girls," Sokka replied, "And about thirty Water Tribe warriors." Sokka finished his face proud that he was considered to be one of those thirty.
"Tell them all that I wish them good luck!" Aang shouted.
Sokka gave Aang a thumbs up, "You too!" Sokka said. He then went back to focusing on his work, following the orders of the officers on deck.
Syaoran, Kurogane, Zuko and Iroh were currently riding on the healers' ship. The ship would need protection once they reached the Fire Nation, and the four of them, as well as a few skilled water benders, were it.
"Syaoran-kun, are you sure that you're going to be alright?" Sakura asked when Syaoran had escorted her below deck.
"I promise." Syaoran said reassuringly, "I'll be ok, and I'll get the feather back for you no matter what."
Sakura smiled, "Ok." Sakura left Syaoran and approached the nearest door. Before she disappeared into the room behind it she said, "Be safe. Tell everyone else to be safe too. Make sure to tell them that."
Syaoran smiled and then walked back to the deck where he stood beside Zuko, Iroh and Kurogane, "Sakura-hime says for us to be safe."
Kurogane and Zuko grunted in response, not moving their eyes from the horizon.
"She really is a nice little girl." Iroh commented with a chuckle.
Syaoran smiled politely at Iroh before joining them in looking out over the horizon, wondering what awaited them there.