They're getting shorter! I apologize for the shortness, but sometimes chapters are begging to be ended where I end them. I could have continued this all the way through to the next chapter I'm writing, but it was screaming to be ending where I ended it. Expect another update tonight, hopefully.

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The sounds of swishing air and water, crackling of fire, rumbling of earth and metal against metal filled the air. Even though there were a larger number of Fire Nation soldiers, it seemed that the Avatar and his friends were winning. The group slowly but steadily cut their way through line after line of the defenses.

Toph took great joy in creating large walls of earth and temporarily pushing soldiers off to the sides. Any that escaped the wall were immediately vaulted into the air or buried to their chins in quicksand. Fai and Suki would gracefully block fire blasts with their metal fans, and would even take people out with the small, but deadly, weapons; though Fai mostly blocked and dodged, leaving the last bit for Suki.

Zuko and Iroh fought on level ground with the soldiers, both being skilled benders and former members of the armies. However, the two were given a bit of an edge by knowing how each soldier was trained. They were able to predict the soldiers' movements and attacks, and were able to block and counter-attack much easier.

Syaoran fought his way by each soldier; only harming them enough to get them out of his way. The boy had only one thought on his mind and that was to get Sakura's feather back no matter what. The soldiers that Syaoran didn't get or were left forgotten by the boy fell to Kurogane. The ninja wouldn't kill, but he would knock them unconscious within seconds.

Katara relentlessly hurled water at the soldiers, pausing only to bend the used water out of the ground and off the soldiers. As soon as the liquid was under her control again she would throw it at them again. Sokka fought alongside his sister. He used his boomerang to confuse and disorient the soldiers and would then hit them upside the head with his club.

Aang was leading the group and surprising them all with his masterful use of all four elements. He used air to knock the soldiers over and then earth and water to bury or freeze them. Fire was used, of course, to give the soldiers a taste of their own medicine. He attacked continuously and it was exceptionally hard for anyone to land a hit against him, though it did happen a few times, as it did with everyone.

Within an hour and a half they had defeated so many that the rest had run, fearing for their safety. The group was haggard and worn, but each looked moderately pleased with themselves. They could now see the light at the end of the 100 year long tunnel, a light that had begun to grow brighter when Aang was found and shone like the sun now. Everyone's clothes were dirty, torn and burnt and their muscles ached, but they all wore confident and determined smiles on their faces.

"There's only one thing left between the world and peace." Aang murmured, hardly able to believe it himself.

"One thing between me and my throne." Zuko said his voice low.

"Between me and Sakura-hime's feather." Syaoran added his own voice to the conversation.

Sokka looked in the direction of the palace; everyone followed his lead, "The Fire Lord."