Duh dudu DUUUUUUH! Guess who?! MEEEEEE! Please review!
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There were three weeks left before the assault on the Fire Nation would be enacted. Preparations for the bunkers have been kicked into high gear, the Dai Li agents Azula brought home from Ba Sing Se were put in charge o f excavations since they were the only earthbenders in the Fire Nation. Father expected the bunkers to be as luxurious as the palace, as well. It would take another week for the Dai Li to finish, then we would just barely finish the interior design in time for the invasion. It was ridiculous to me, but, I made it happen. I also made sure that there were separate chambers for each of the royal family members so that Father wouldn't realize that Lu Ten and Taiyou were not in the bunkers. Azula was already off preparing a plan of distraction to protect Father if the Avatar did manage to find the bunkers.
I had taken my training up a notch. I was almost to the skill level I had before I entered the army. Azula easily beat me in mock fights, but with each one I resorted to different methods to survive a little longer. Zuko was hesitant to fight me, but relented after I nearly fried him. I may physically not be as strong as I once was, but my fire still burned the hottest.
I had also taken to practicing my lightening bending, as it required smoother, gentler motions that didn't strain my damaged skin. I was starting to become quite fast with the element, too. Producing lightening with quick thrusts instead of going through winding motions to build it up. Azula was frustrated that she couldn't produce lightening as fast as I could, which amused us when ever she tried to practice with me.
"Azula, it may require a more mature mentality." I finally said after she failed for the hundredth time in a course of several days. She scowled, huffing as she stormed off. I shook my head as Ty Lee made to follow her, but Mai stopped her. "She needs time to accept that she can't always be the best."
"But..." Ty Lee seemed hesitant to let her friend be upset alone, but for fear of possible bodily harm from a slightly unstable Azula was enough to convince the circus girl to stay.
"How do you bend lightening?" Zuko asked. He had been really distracted lately, I had caught him staring at Sozin's portrait the other day with a look of... I don't really know, but it wasn't a good one.
"Like a water bender and an air bender dancing." I replied. The look the three gave me was one of disbelief. "I'm serious. Lightening has always been elusive to firebenders because we are so highly emotional and passionate, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but lighting is the 'cold fire' and requires complete peace of mind." I explained to them as I started to move through a basic form for lightening. It was one of the first ones Uncle Iroh had taught me. The first being how to redirect lightening. "Firebenders who can produce lightening are ones with cold blood. But firebenders who can manipulate lightening are ones with peace of mind. Like Uncle Iroh. He learned from watching waterbenders and air nomad scrolls. He used these teachings to build a new regime of techniques for firebending. But, he ended up learning how to manipulate lightening, even redirect it. He is a true master of fire." I concluded as lightening crackled around my finger tips, the fresh smell of ozone lingering in my nostrils as I released a small bolt into the sky.
When I relaxed and turned back to my brother and the two girls, I found myself looking at Ozai, who was watching me with predatory like eyes from the distant balcony. I glanced away, not wanting to acknowledge him. Zuko was staring at me with a slightly pained expression, probably from the mention of Iroh. I felt hopeful that he regretted his decision to turn on Uncle in Ba Sing Se.
"Whao." Ty Lee said, staring at me with awe. "That is so cool, Roka." I smiled and thanked her.
"Uncle taught you how to redirect lightening, yes?" I asked Zuko. He nodded in confirmation. "Good, don't forget that you must channel it through your stomach, not your chest."
"Yes, I remember." Zuko said. I smiled and ruffled his hair. "Come on, Azula's probably gone to eat dinner by now. She'll be okay when we find her." I assured Ty Lee.
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I found myself carrying a small Pai Sho board with two separate bags of tiles, one for each player, through the dim halls of the prison. I turned and found a tall male guard standing before Uncle's cell block.
"Halt!" He called, I did as I was told as the guard approached me. "Princess Roka, what are those?"
"Pai Sho, my Uncle's favorite game. I wish to play with him as there is no one as good as him." I answered. He cocked a brow at me.
"I have to check it before you can go in." He said. I handed him the bags and the board, which were completely clear of anything suspicious. "How exactly are you going to play with that old man?"
"You're going to let me into his cell, soldier." I said, noting the sound of disgust when he said 'old man.'
"You can't do that." He said in disbelief.
"Why? Do you think I can't protect myself, soldier? He is just an old man." I scoffed as I took his keys from him. "Either you unlock it, or I'll do it."
"No, I'll get it." he scowled. He unlocked the first door, then led me to the barred door where I could see Uncle curled up in the corner, looking rather feeble-minded.
"Uncle, I brought Pai Sho with me." I called, knowing his game.
"Who are you?" he slurred his words together. I let a pitiful look mask my face when the soldier turned to look at me incredulously.
"Are you sure?" the man asked me, but unlocked the door when I glared at him.
"You are dismissed, soldier." I said once the door was locked behind me. "I'll call for you when we are done."
"But... Yes, Princess." He relented. I watched him leave before turning to Uncle who was smiling at me slyly.
"You sly weasel-rat." I hissed with a grin of my own. He chuckled softly, helping me set up the board.
"Thank you, Roka, this is a pleasant surprise." Uncle greeted me, kissing each cheek. "It has been a long time. I assume Ozai has kept you busy with the preparations."
"Yes, he is quite outrageous." I sighed, starting the game with the white lotus gambit. "There's only a week left before the attack."
"You're afraid Lu Ten and Taiyou will get caught in the crossfire." Iroh said gently. I nodded.
"I know Piandao will protect them and get them to safety, but I can't help but be worried that my actions will cause more harm than damage to my sons." I replied. Iroh only nodded.
"Being a parent requires much worry." Iroh said. "It was difficult watching Lu Ten take the front lines, knowing that he could die."
"But that was his choice, Uncle. Iroh was so proud of you, he wanted to make you proud of him, too." I said, recalling my older cousin's words to me before he left that day, to never return. "My sons can't choose."
"It gets scarier when they do choose, though." Iroh informed me. "But you will always have someone to support you, and they will find someone to support them as well."
"Really?" I asked uncertainly. He chuckled and moved another piece across the board, effectively completing the lotus.
"You can always find a friend." Uncle smiled, a sad twinkle in his eyes. I hugged him before calling the guard, Uncle reverted back to his madness, fooling the guard effectively. I went to bed that night, praying to the spirits to protect my sons.
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It was time. Father and Azula had gone down into the bunker the day before the actual attack, which gave me enough time to sneak Taiyou and Lu Ten to Piandao at the edge of the palace walls where he would take them to a safe house until the end of the war. I wasn't expected in the bunkers until the evening before the attack, so it didn't raise anyone's suspicions when I was still hurrying about the palace corridors.
I wrote a letter to Azula. I told her everything in the letter, how I had come to realize that the Fire Nation had lost its way, and that I was joining the Avatar. I didn't mention anything about Zuko because I didn't know what he would choose. The last war meeting we had before the evacuation was a rather brutal one for us.
Father had asked Zuko his opinion on the Earth Kingdom resistance. Which Zuko unintentionally convinced Ozai to completely destroy the Earth Kingdom the day of Sozin's Comet by harnessing it's power to burn the entire country. It had been appalling, and I thought I was going to be ill right there in the room.
But, I kept it together. I could tell Zuko was horrified, though. So, I had hope he would turn away from the Fire Nation as well.
Once I was down in the bunkers I began to set my plan in place. I would find Zuko and ty to convince him to come with me while the nation was under attack, then we would escape and follow the Avatar. I already had a small war balloon prepared with supplies for two people. I knew Avatar Aang would probably accept me easily after the North Pole, but Zuko was another story.
I laid down on my bed, I would need my rest for tomorrow.
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Alright, the invasion is next chapter! Hope you enjoyed, and I guess I lied about stretching this out, didn't I? Oops...
