AN: I know it's been…Wow, it's been years since I've updated this story. I am so sorry and I want to apologize to you all. For those that have continued to have me on their watch list, I am so thankful for you. I have decided that I will go a different way than I had originally intended, so chapter 36 has been re-uploaded. I will try my very best to finish this story. You all deserve that. I hope you enjoy the story and, again, I am so sorry.
The invasion group was a lively and interesting bunch. So far, Katara had counted the rest of the Water Tribe warriors, a few swamp water benders, some earth bender rebels from the Earth Kingdom, some regular rebels, two ex professional earth bender fighters, and a crazy scientist and his son. And the scientist had recently blown up a peanut sauce bomb.
Katara stood in the shadows, feeling out of place. She'd felt this from the time she'd arrived last night. Sokka hadn't asked about her red eyes and she'd been thankful for that. Now, though, men in armor sat with bowls of broth, waiting for her brother's briefing of the attack. It was obvious he was nervous, from his tripping to the ramblings of how he came to got at the island. Thankfully, Katara's father took over.
"Today is the day of Black Sun. I want to thank you all for your self sacrifice and your courage. Now, there are two steps to the invasion. A naval stage and the land stage. The first obstacle to get to the nation's capital is the Great Gates of Azulon. Next, we hit the land. Hard. Fight past their battlements and secure their plaza tower. Once done, up tot he palace. At that point, the eclipse will begin. The eclipse only lasts eight minutes. During that time, all fire benders will be defenseless. This is when we need to strike the palace."
Katara stiffened. They were going to attack the palace? What if Zuko got hurt? He would be powerless against the attack if he tried to fire bend.
"The Avatar will defeat the Fire Lord. And this war will be over," Hakoda said. The crowd cheered, but Katara was frozen inside at the prospect of Zuko being harmed.
Everyone suited up as the time to move out drew nearer. Katara changed into the water tribe's uniform for women, leaving the heavy metal armor and helmet for flexible leather protection. She filled her water bags and let out a breath to try and calm herself. Zuko would be fine. He was a master at the twin swords. He could handle himself. She latched the bags to her sides and braced herself for a fight.
The boats were loaded and they sailed off, ready for a fight. As they neared the Gates of Azulon, the water benders were ordered to make a fog to hide them. Unfortunately, it didn't work. An alarm was sounded and large nets were raised from the water, suddenly catching on fire. There was no way they were going to make it through. And Fire nation soldiers approached on speeder boats.
"Everyone below decks," Hakoda called. Katara raced to the lower decks and slid into a large metal container. Once everyone was in, the container broke away from the ship and started to move as one water bender propelled them forward. Getting the idea quickly, Katara helped get them out of there in a hurry.
After a few minutes of swimming, they surfaced for air. Apparently, there was only a certain supply of air could stay in the containers. They stretched and looked out over the water. "Zuko will be fine," Sokka said, catching onto Katara's worries.
She nodded. "I know," she said. "Doesn't stop me from worrying though."
Sokka nodded. "Hey," he said. "I promise that I will do my best to make sure he isn't harmed."
Katara looked up at him. "You will?" she asked.
"I know how you feel about him. And how he feels about you," he said.
She sighed. "That obvious," she asked. Sokka nodded. Just then, Hakoda gave the warning to get back in the subs and continue on their way. Katara climbed in and they made their way to the port.
The earth benders climbed into metal tanks, ready to board. As they crew closer, another alarm sounded and pikes were shot into the water with the hopes of striking. They avoided them, but everyone was tense as the subs made it to land and opened their doors for the strike. In a wave of yells and anger, they charged. Tanks rolled out, fighters charged the soldiers, and rocks flew everywhere. Destruction and mayhem ensued. The swamp benders attacked the Fire Nation ships. Katara barely missed a fire bolt and suddenly saw a large man of seaweed appear from the docks. She wasn't going to ask and didn't have any time. Their tanks were being blown over.
Sokka waved her down and she flew Appa lower. Hakoda and Sokka jumped on. "Take out the battlements," he called. "We can't let them get to our groups."
They flew around the cliffs, striking and destroying. They got to the last two. Hakoda sent Katara and Sokka to one while he went to the other. The siblings had no problems, but an explosion drew them to the other battlement where Hakoda staggered out of with a wounded side.
"Dad!" Sokka cried, rushing forward and catching his father before he could hit the ground.
Katara hurried forward and pulled him onto Appa. They flew to a secure place on the ground and Katara quickly healed the most damage with her healing hands. Hakoda sat up, gritting his teeth.
"Where are you going," she asked.
"To lead this mission," he said. "The troops are counting on me and I won't let them down."
"You're in no position to be doing anything," she said.
Sokka looked around and said, "I'll lead the invasion force."
Katara looked at him as if he were crazy. "What-"
"I may be crazy, Katara," Sokka said. "But the eclipse is about to start and we need to be up there by the time it happens."
Hakoda took a shaky breath and smiled. "I'm proud of you, son," he said.
Katara looked between the two and then to Sokka. "Still think your crazy," she said. "But I'm proud of you, too."
Sokka smiled and put his helmet back on, climbing on Appa and leaving. Katara used her healing hands to seal up the wound in her father's side enough so he could walk. The sounds of battle faded as the group moved on. Katara helped Hakoda to his feet and they followed behind at a safe distance, though they kept their wits about them. The fighters and benders had taken refuge in the wedge formation of the tanks, fighting from the middle. Katara smiled. That was her strategy genius brother.
They continued up the mountain, the Fire Nation soldiers falling back easily. Hakoda breathed heavily, sweat forming on his forehead. His wound must be hurting him, but they couldn't stop. Suddenly, the tanks made a barricade. Katara lead her father to a broken piece of column to sit. Sokka stood by and looked Hakoda over. This gave Katara enough time to look over the battle.
"Is that Aang?" she asked, seeing a flying being headed their way. He landed next to them and collapsed his glider.
"What are you doing here?" Sokka asked.
"He wasn't there. No one was," Aang said. "The entire palace was abandoned."
Sokka's face paled. "They knew," he said. "That stupid princess must have told them."
Aang hung his head. "It's over," he said. "The Fire Lord is probably long gone in some place safe."
Katara perked up. "No," she said. They looked at her. "I've lived in the city for a while. He wouldn't have gone too far. He would probably take shelter in the tunnels under the city. Zuko told me about them and a bunker that the royal family had that was safe during an invasion."
"He's probably there," Toph said. "And I'm just the girl to find it."
"We have ten minutes to find the Fire Lord during the eclipse," Sokka said.
Katara straightened her shoulders and said, "It's on the mountain side."
"Let's go," Sokka said, climbing on Appa. Katara started to climb up, but Aang stopped her. "Stay here. You're the only one who has the healing ability. Stay with the siege." She didn't like it, but saw his point. She nodded and stepped back as the tanks started to roll out again. Appa flew off and Katara helped Hakoda to his feet.
The force moved forward and destroyed the battlements along the way. They marched in unison, knocking back the Fire Nation defenses. As they neared the time of the eclipse, their force stopped and put on a pair of narrow glasses the scientist had designed to protect their eyes from the eclipse. It was fascinating that the eclipse could do such a thing, but now was not the time to moon over the discovery. It seemed like hours, but could have only been minutes, but they stormed the city and captured the roads with ease. Tanks rolled around the perimeter and rebels captured the guards who were unable to defend themselves with fire bending.
Katara helped her father to a bench in the center of the city, checking his wounds for any sort of infection or further damage. Thankfully, there was none. She met his eyes. "You're doing fine," she said.
He patted her hand and smiled. "You make me so proud, Katara," he said.
"Yes," Katara said. "Because every parent is proud of their child who was raised as a pirate and then protects the enemy's heir."
"And I am proud of you for doing those things because you did them out of love," he said.
Katara smiled at the pride in his eyes. A sound brought her eyes up and she saw that the eclipse was finishing. She prayed that they had one, but it was not to be as five large contraptions floated above the city. They were armed with catapults and other weapons.
Aang and Appa landed with Sokka and Toph. "It was all a trap. Azula knew we were coming and planned out every move," Sokka said.
Aang looked at the aircrafts and said, "I can slow them down. Get everyone back to the subs."
Katara nodded and turned to Sokka. "Disable them by attacking their domes. It's a long shot, but might work," she said. She turned and yelled loudly, "Everyone get back to the subs!" The force turned around and made a full retreat. Katara made sure no one was left behind.
Half way down the mountain, she looked back. The crafts' bottoms opened, dropping bombs on them. Katara kept one of the younger rebels under her, protecting him with her body. The bombs stopped after a second and they looked out. The crafts were heading for the docks. "They're going to bomb the subs and strand us here," Katara said, her voice shaking slightly.
"We have to stand and fight," Sokka said, trying to be brave. "We have the Avatar. We could still win."
"Yes," Hakoda said, leaning on Bato. "But on another day. You kids have to leave. You have to escape on Appa together."
Katara stiffened. "What?" she said. "We can't leave you behind. We won't leave anyone behind." She would not lose any other person she loved.
"You're our only chance in the long run," Hakoda said, looking Katara straight in the eye. "You and Sokka have to go with Aang somewhere safe. It's the only way to keep the hope alive."
"The youngest of the group should go with you," Bato spoke up. "The adults will stay behind and surrender. We'll be prisoners, but we'll all survive this battle." Katara was silent, unhappy with the call. She turned and saw the bombs destroy their subs. They were trapped on Fire Nation soil. There was no other way.
The scientist put his handicapped son in Appa's saddle, the small one (names The Duke) climbed up with the help of Pipsqueak, Haru (a young earth bender rebel), Sokka, Aang, and Toph climbed up onto the beast. Aang looked over them. "Thank you all for being so brave and so strong. I am going to make this up to you," he said.
Katara turned to her father. He gave her an understanding smile. He knew what this meant to her; she'd be losing him again. She threw her arms around him, hugging him as tightly as she could. It wasn't fair but she knew that not everything was fair in war.
"You better get going," Hakoda said.
Katara nodded and released him. She studied his face for another moment before turning to Appa. Before she could climb up, an explosion shook the cliff's foundation, sending more rocks rolling toward them. Katara fell back as the earth shook beneath her. Appa moved away and Aang tried to guide him back to her, but that was when she noticed the Fire Nation troops moving in to their location.
"Go!" She waved her arm at the flying bison. "Go! Now! We'll be fine."
Aang darted his gaze to the advancing troops, but a quick look back to the waterbender sealed his action. He gave a solemn nod and directed Appa away from the rebels. Sokka leaned out of the saddle, but Toph pulled him back from the edge. Katara watched them grow smaller and smaller.
Hakado helped her to her feet. "Foolish girl, now you're stuck here." She swallowed at the worry in his voice. He pulled her into another tight embrace. "At least we're together and your brother is safe."
She curled her fingers into the back of his tunic and watched the Fire Nation surround them over his shoulder. Yes. At least Sokka was safe.
Above them, unaware of what was happening below, a single dirigible followed the avatar's flying bison across the sky.
"I'm coming, Katara," Zuko said, eyes trained on the furry creature.