The Avatar's Redemption

Yea so I took a long hiatus once summer ended. I've been extremely busy and I get very little free time usually not enough to type anything up, but with thanksgiving break here I decided to get back into it and hopefully I'll be able to push out at least one chapter a week. A few edits were also made to this story. So anyway let me know what you think. Comments and Criticisms always welcome.

Book One: Awakening

Chapter 10: Friendship is like a Fire Lily: Part 2

The night sky brought about a quiet and somber darkness; the light of the moon poked through the veil of ashen clouds. The icy snow flowed through the field in a blanket of glistening white crystals. The snow had risen to his shoulders; it was the only thing that kept him hidden from the overarching darkness of the sky. A bitter wind nipped at his face. Every part of him trembled even in his layers of white winter wear. "I really am the son of a firebender," whispered Toshi, his words frozen in the air. The far edges of the Southern Water Nation were inhospitable to even the hardiest waterbender and for a fire-bender on a scouting mission the area posed in even greater risk, but it was the perfect location for a silent strike by the Earth Nation.

Toshi struggled to get his hands above the snow. His numb and brittle fingers punched against his GPS as he entered in various coordinates. The glowing green light of the scanner shone across his face to reveal the heavy bags under his eyes and blue, chapped lips. It was clear that Toshi hadn't slept for days. Toshi heaved his stiff body through the snow and hopped on to his hover cycle. His cold hands grabbed the reigns and he blasted off toward the main cities. The icy wind blasted him across the face. Toshi pulled his scarf over his chin and tried to keep his head behind the front window of his hover cycle. The only comfort he found in this barren wasteland was the thought that soon he would return home. Soon he would return home and plan for an attack. Soon justice would be had and the entire water nation would become a wasteland. His heart warmed at the thought. His father would be proud. His father….

It had been a long time since Toshi had last seen his father. He could only vaguely remember the day that they left the fire nation for a better life. He tried to picture how his father looked on that day. He remembered so little. The blurred image of a bearded man with a worried brow came into his mind. Toshi hated this image even more so than the image that was always shown to him when he would constantly ask about his father as a child. The maids would open up a hologram of a powerful figure in military garments. He had medals and emblems spread across his chest. His stance was confident and his face was cleanly cut and defined. Toshi didn't want to see his father as a military figure anymore; he only wanted to see him as a dad but that was something he just couldn't do.

The maids constantly told him stories of how he was a great inventor who built only the best weaponry in all the nations. When Toshi asked why they had left the Fire Nation the maids would tell him that his father saw that the Fire Nation was becoming a world where the aspect of the people's freedom was falling behind and instead the needs of the Nation were considered first and foremost. Toshi didn't know how much of this was true but he did remember his father's last words to him as he lay on his death bed. "Only you can choose your own path son, your own destiny…but…you must also make sure that everyone around you can also choose their own path…fight for that freedom…don't let it be taken away...like…I did." At the time Toshi didn't really understand why he would say this, but now he felt he understood. He chose his path and his destiny was set before him. He was not going to let anything stop him.

Toshi's thoughts were disrupted by the sound of classical music. His glazed eyes became clear and he could see the lights of a nearby town. The town was a small and shanty place with many of the roofs creaking under the weight of fresh snow. As he drew closer to the beat up town the music grew louder. He could hear the melodious tones behind it and the beauty it brought. Toshi wondered what the town could be doing at such a late hour. Toshi parked his hover cycle a few hundred feet away from the town and decided to walk the rest of the way. Even this far away from the edge of the Water Nation and the snow was still up to his knees. He shivered with every step, but as he drew closer he could feel a growing warmth from the town. He squeezed through a discarded alleyway and made his way to the center of the town. Toshi could see that numerous stores and homes had their doors wide open. Various aromas of typical water nation cuisine filled the air. Although he wasn't fond of the water benders he was fond of their sea weed noodles. Terran followed the smell and found a small noodle house. He looked around and he could see townspeople filling the streets as they chatted and danced in the warmth of the sheltering lights. Toshi had no idea what they could be celebrating, but he knew that there were no Water Nation holidays today. Toshi pushed his way through the small crowd where everyone seemed to have a smile on their face.

Toshi took a seat near the back of the establishment and began removing some of his winter wear. Even though he didn't look like a water bender he figured he wouldn't give away too much attention due to the festivities. Toshi looked around and he could see that the building was very old. It was stylized to fit an older style. Sprawled along the walls were cracks. The inside was painted a queasy looking yellow and the dim lights only added to the effect. The wall was adjourned with paintings and older looking tribal gear that he thought was all but destroyed over the years. He figured the town must have been built during a time before the great wars to have so many old artifacts. Toshi's mind wandered…what could have possibly occurred here throughout its many years…

His thoughts were interrupted when a bright-eyed waitress greeted him with a smile, "What are we having today?!" Toshi found himself to be somewhat unnerved by her eagerness, "Uh…just some seaweed noodles." "Great! Hope you're enjoying the festivities!" She walked away with such speed that Toshi was unable to question her about what was going on.

A steaming bowl of noodles was placed in front of Toshi. The smell was mesmerizing, even for seaweed noodles. Before the girl could move on to serve other customers Toshi grabbed her attention, "Excuse me, but what's going on around here? There's no holiday today, why the big party?" The waitress' eyes opened even wider. She must have thought Toshi was living under a rock. "What!" she said with surprise. "You mean you haven't heard! The Fire Nation has declared the capture of Earth Nation General, Chao! They saw the war should be over soon even though the Earth Nation has the Avatar! Finally we will be able to live in peace…" she stopped once she saw the sudden change in Toshi's expression. His blood boiled. "These HEATHENS," he thought, "They're the reason we suffer! They're the source of our pain. They're the obstacle to peace...They're the ones who restrict freedom…They're the reason my father is dead…" Toshi stood up and pushed his way through the crowd, his eyes blood red. He had to head back to base to see what was really going on.

A new pitch black night sprawled across the sky. This time the moon remained hidden. Toshi had just made it to the main military base hidden in the undergrounds of Neo Ba Sing Se. Numerous other soldiers were moving about the base in organized chaos. Toshi's eyes bounced back and forth as he read bits and pieces of the various halocron messages on the walls. Phase 2 Begins In 4200 Hours…All Soldiers To Positions…Operation UNDERGROUND debrief for all absentee units in Hall 32… Toshi made his way to the hall only to be stopped by Commanding Officer Yemen. "Toshi! No need to head to Hall 32. Might I ask why you were unresponsive to our calls?" "No signal at the bounds of the Water Nation Commander," snorted Toshi. He wasn't particularly fond of Yemen. She was cold and unresponsive, albeit these were qualities needed for her particular position, but mainly his disdain for her centered on her feelings towards him. She always thought of him as pampered. Not good enough to be beside the Avatar.

"Well, what's going on here? What happened to Chao?" Yemen's cold amber eyes focused on him, "Chao's fine. He relayed new orders while freeing Earth Nation slaves. He wants to make an attack from the inside, so he allowed himself to be captured. We've been sending black ops forces behind enemy lines to get close to him." Toshi was surprised the General would make such a brash move, "Hmm. I can assure you the Water Nation citizens are none the wiser. They're celebrating over there." Yemen chortled, "Heh. Yes your assurance is so much appreciated. As if we would do this unconvincingly. Listen; just make sure Terran gets word of this when he returns from his scouting duties in the Fire Nation." Toshi grimaced, "Yes of course Commander."

Yemen headed off towards Hall 32, her boots clanking along the icy steel panels. Toshi sighed and made his way through the bustling soldiers to his private quarters. He needed some time to think things through.

*Ring* *Ring* Toshi looked down at his halocron communicator to see Terran's image. "Hey Terran where are you? We need to talk." Toshi noticed that Terran looked uneasy. His hair was disheveled, his eyes were sunken in, and his stubbles were growing. "Yea I know. I know. I heard about Chao already. I just got back, but we do need to talk…about a lot. I'm assuming your heading to your quarters; don't go there instead meet me above ground. Atop Neo Ba Sing Se's Spiral Tower. I'll meet you there…Okay?" Toshi furrowed his brow. It was unlike Terran to be so wary. "Alright, see you soon."

The wind brushed across Toshi's face. He had been waiting there for at least half an hour already. "Hey…sorry for the wait." Toshi turned to see Terran making his way towards him. "What's on your mind Terran?" Terran's face yellowed; he looked so sickly. Toshi outstretched his hand, "What's wrong?" Terran pushed it away, "Nothing. I've just been meaning to tell you something." Terran cleared his throat, "What's your take on the war Toshi?" Toshi looked surprised, "What do you mean Terran? There's nothing to really think about. We just need to win and end this." Terran frowned, "I was hoping your time in the Water Nation had changed your mind…"

Toshi could sense something just wasn't right, "Huh?! Changed my mind? What in the world are you talking about?" Terran took a few steps back, "You're right about one thing. This war needs to end. Toshi…the war it's just…it's just ruining lives and I'm talking about everyone's lives not just the earth benders but the citizens of the Water Nation and Fire Nation too. I've realized their just like us and that we won't get anywhere just fighting each other like this. If I die another Avatar will just make the same mistakes we've all been making. We need to form a peaceful alliance of some sorts and that starts with ending this whole operation UNDERGROUND and…" Terran was interrupted. Toshi couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What! What are you saying! You can't be serious! You mean to tell me you want to show these heathens mercy! These heathens that killed our families! These heathens that took our freedom and who killed my father!"

"Toshi please just listen! Don't you see that they didn't do this alone? It's our fault too. It's the fault of this unnecessary war!" Toshi lurched forward, "So you're telling me that you're abandoning the cause! You're abandoning us! For who? The Fire Nation!" Terran tried to calm him down, "No I'm not abandoning you all for the Fire Nation. I'm just…" Toshi wouldn't have any of it, "You're leaving! That's the sum of all this is…You plan on quitting… on leaving because you grew some sick sense of pity for these murderers!" "Yes…Toshi I'm leaving the war effort. I need you to come with me too. To help me bring about some form of peace…"

Toshi snapped. He couldn't believe this. He couldn't allow this war to end with the people of the Earth Nation on the bottom. He wouldn't allow his people to suffer any longer. For too long they had suffered. He wouldn't allow anyone, even Terran, to prolong suffering. It was over; in Toshi's eyes Terran had committed the ultimate betrayal. He had turned his back on him and everyone else for a petty and whimsical aspiration that he knew was impossible. Toshi had, in his mind, finally lost the one thing he had left, his bond with Terran. "NO, TERRAN NO! YOU CAN'T ABANDON US! THE OTHER NATIONS TOOK MY FATHER AWAY FROM ME I WONT LET THEMTAKE YOU TOO! YOU CAN"T ABANDON YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS…YOU CAN'T DO THIS. UGRHHH…I'VE BEEN BETRAYED TOO MANY TIMES…I'VE LOST TOO MANY PEOPLE. I WON'T BE BETRAYED BY YOU TOO! EVEN IF THAT MEANS I HAVE TO BRING YOU BACK TO US BY FORCE!" "Toshi no wait you have to understand that I'm not…" Toshi unlatched a seismic disk. "AHHH!"

A miniature explosion launched Terran backward. "YOU THINK EVEN IF YOU BETRAY US YOU'LL STOP ANYTHING! YOU CAN'T STOP CHAO! HE STOOD HIS GROUND AGAINST A FULLY REALIZED AVATAR AND YOU'RE JUST A KID. DON'T BE AN IDIOT!" Toshi brought out his pistols and sent out an array of plasma bullets. Terran covered himself with layers of the Spiral Tower's steel. "Toshi please…" "NO. I WON'T LET YOU LEAVE." Terran regretfully launched the steel plates towards Toshi. Toshi stopped them with ease. "COME ON! THINK YOU CAN BRING PEACE LIKE THAT!" Toshi gave out a snicker. Toshi unlatched three seismic disks. "GET READY!" "Toshi no! You'll bring this whole place down!" Toshi launched the disks. *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* The Tower lurched forward and began to collapse.

Both of the elite soldiers stuck their landings. Hundreds of civilians ran away screaming. Little did they know what was going on. Dusts covered the sky and flew into Terran's throat. "Ack! Ughh…I'm Sorry Toshi." Terran shot out three quick lightning bolts. The sky lit in a flurry of azure electricity. Toshi put up a shield and ran towards the lightning. "COME HERE TERRAN!" Terran pushed forward a wave of burning air. Toshi didn't slow down in his pursuit. He leaped into the air and threw chi disruptors at Terran. Terran tried to dodge them but the disruptors unleashed a wave that managed to affect his chi and nervous system. Terran went numb and fell to the ground. Toshi stood above him with his pistol pointed at Terran's face. Toshi's face was contorted in anguish.

The effects of the chi disruptors were short lived and Terran was able to launch Toshi from the ground with some earth bending. Terran drew in the air towards him. Toshi knew what was coming next. He was starting to black out. He took a knee and feigned surrender.

Terran unexpectedly kept drawing in more air. Toshi cursed at him. He spoke his last few words in his communicator before he blacked out. "Execute order 86. The Avatar has gone rouge." Toshi collapsed to the ground. The moonlight started poking through the clouds. He could see Terran running off, but he saw something else. Something blanketed in the moonlight. It was a crushed and charred Fire Lily.

And so the two parter has concluded. Keep an eye out for the next chapter in which we see the return of Calais.