Miscalculation
Chapter 36: The Invasion, Part 3: Battles and Confrontations
Aang soared high above the sea. For a minute he imagined that he was back 'home' in the Southern Air Temple, out for a carefree flight, no worries and no cares to burden him down, only the air to buoy him up. But there was no air temple below him. There were no other airbenders equally carefree and happy. He was alone, and he was gliding toward the Fire Nation capitol and Fire Lord Ozai and the battle to end all battles. At least, with all that rested on this fight against the Fire Lord, it seemed that way. Nothing like a lot of pressure to put everything into perspective; he flushed as he recalled the little moment with Katara and wondered if maybe the waterbender was thinking about it too. He hoped so. And he hoped that she felt as strongly about him as he did about her. It had taken courage to confess his feelings, a lot of courage. And Aang felt better for having done it. If he didn't make it back to Katara, at least she would know that he loved her.
"Katara," he said softly and looked down at the striking blue sea, the sea that meant so much to the girl. It was her lifeblood really, like the air was to him. He would forever link the two together, the ocean and his love.
The fear and anxiety he had suffered for days had been left behind on the island. Yes, he was still certain that Ozai was terrifying and powerful and deadly. But a sense of purpose filled him now and a sort of fatalism too. He was either meant to battle Ozai today or he wasn't; he was either meant to defeat him or he wasn't. "Hmm, I sound like Sokka now," he mused with a wry smile.
Aang laughed then and opened the little snack compartment on his glider. The food fell out and dropped into his waiting mouth. "Nice!" he exclaimed. "Hits the spot; I'll need lots of energy."
Land was just ahead, pale, soft green that crawled its way up the side of the huge volcanic mountain inside which the capitol city lay. It seemed a strange place to build a city, yet a brilliant locale at the same time. It was tucked safely away deep inside the caldera, lava flowing in great rivers beneath the city. As far as Aang knew, the volcano hadn't erupted for hundreds of years, but it could simply be sleeping, waiting for its moment, biding its time.
None of that mattered now anyway. He needed to find Ozai. Aang paused at the volcano's lip and looked down at the small city, all white buildings with red tile roofs, neat and orderly, a small lake off to one side and the palace at the center. No one could enter the capitol city without climbing the narrow roadway, carved into the volcano itself, that led to the caldera's top and then climbing down inside, following another white stone road. Flying was the only other option, but the only flying machines Aang had ever seen were at the Northern Air Temple, invented by the mechanist.
He glanced about some more and then spotted something that made his blood freeze. Airships, massive things that dwarfed the tiny flying machine designed by the mechanist, along with smaller hot air balloon type contraptions, what looked like a whole fleet of them, were sitting in a row at the furthest edges of the city.
"Oh no," Aang said mournfully to himself. "What does Ozai have planned for them?" The Avatar immediately pictured the invasion force, bombs dropping on them, completely overpowered and he blanched. "I don't like this," he whispered. "I don't like this at all."
The battle began before the submarines touched shore. Catching sight of the gate to the Fire Nation capitol through a periscope, Hakoda ordered the earthbenders into the tanks that sat in the belly of the submarines. The track machines, propelled forward by earthbending, were a key component of the Invasion's attack force.
The gate would be guarded naturally, and the Water Tribe chief expected an alarm to sound at any moment. When the harsh sound broke the relative quiet of the morning, each and every one of them stiffened in anticipation of the fight. Harpoons attached to battlements by long chains, arced off the gate and into the water.
Katara and Appa along with the submarines had to do some subtle maneuvering to avoid the sharp projectiles. Their purpose was to snag anything incoming and reel it up onto the battlements. So far the Fire Nation and its harpoons were having no luck. When one submarine was finally hooked and dragged up through the water, Katara sprang into action, cutting the chain with her expert bending and setting the vehicle free.
Meanwhile, Hakoda, spotting grates in the stone walls, ordered the torpedoes shot, and the grates were promptly destroyed, giving the submarines their opening. As they made their way through, resurfaced and headed up onto land, more and more projectiles were heaved at them, anything from more spears, to fireballs. But they made it to land unscathed.
Mai and Zuko, following the path made by their allies, rode the eel hound to shore. They switched spots on the huge saddle, Mai taking the reins so that Zuko could deflect the incoming fireballs and burn up spears before they could do any damage.
"Are there usually this many guards and soldiers at the gate to the city?" Mai asked. Something didn't seem right. The Fire Nation seemed too prepared for an attack.
"No," the prince replied brusquely. "I think they knew, Mai. I think they knew about the attack."
Immediately, Mai wondered if Katara or the rest even, would lay blame at their feet. It would be natural to think that she and Zuko betrayed them, an instinctive thing, and she wouldn't fault them for it. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Mai tossed one of her blades at a guard, slicing the tendon at the back of his knee and sending him hurtling face down into the stone.
"Blame?" Zuko answered as he sent one of his own fireballs through the air.
"Yeah," Mai shouted in response.
The prince turned to face her. He nodded, the look on his face serious. "Not worried, though." Grunting, he reached for his sword, separated it into its two parts, then stretched outward, barely hanging onto the saddle, and swiped at two soldiers. They ducked comically and caught a glimpse of their attacker's face.
"I think they recognized you," Mai declared.
"Good!" Zuko narrowed his eyes and picked out his next victim.
The submarine bases retracted and the tanks crawled out into the light of day. Even the Fire Nation soldiers had to admit that the scene was impressive, quite a display of power, for savages at least. Fighting began in earnest, with the Water Tribe warriors letting out a battle cry, and soon there were fireballs flying through the sky, hitting some targets and missing others. Tanks crawled up over battlements, crushing the stone, and sending guards running for their lives.
Sokka took charge of a group of Water Tribe warriors. They fought their way forward, along the wide path, a road really, that led toward the caldera. Appa landed and Katara dismounted, using her water whips to knock down the enemy and protect her allies. Barrels filled with water had been placed strategically for her use. The bison was a force to be reckoned with himself, stomping on the Fire Nation's own tanks and sending red garbed soldiers scattering.
It was a tremendous group effort and everyone played his part. The invasion force was making headway, gaining ground, getting a little bit closer to the prized city as the minutes ticked by. But Fire Nation reinforcements came along too; some of them on komodo rhinos, the soldiers who rode them equipped with miniature catapults that flung deadly fire at the invasion force.
Using his prized sword and doing his best to recall Piandao's techniques, Sokka sliced and chopped his way through the enemy, keeping one wary eye on his father who fought with a spear and defended with a shield.
There were injuries now, and Katara's healing instinct warred with her battling one. She scanned her fallen friends, trying to gauge by eye, how bad each of them was. No one was going to die, at least not yet, so she continued to push her way toward the gateway and the road that would take them victorious into the city itself.
Even more reinforcements came, everyone wondering how they all managed to get to the scene so quickly, and surrounded the invasion force. Hakoda eyed the battlements high on top of the cliff and then as the eel hound came close, caught Zuko's eye. Mai reined the animal in. It was obvious that Hakoda had some sort of plan.
"Those battlements up there, we need to take them, gain the higher ground. Will you help?" The chief glanced between Zuko and Mai.
"Yeah," the prince replied. "We can get up there easily."
Sokka joined them next, turning just in time to cut a spear in half with his sword. "What's going on?"
"We're going to take those battlements." Hakoda looked up and pointed to the parapets, one on each end of the cliff. Projectiles poured from them at a steady pace. "They've got some sort of projectile throwing machine up there too and they're killing us."
"We'll use Appa too," Sokka said earnestly. He called for the bison, and hopped aboard with his father. Both nodded at Katara, then up at the cliff.
She nodded back, shouting "Be careful," over the din.
There was far more to worry about than the airships. As Aang glided over the city seeing nothing but empty street after empty street and shuttered house after shuttered house, he realized that something was very, very wrong.
"Is it possible?" he asked himself quietly, landing on one of the streets and peering into one building and then another. "Could they have known about this?"
He scratched his bald head and thought hard. Zuko and Mai came to mind first. Maybe Zuko was so desperate to get back to the Fire Nation that he told his father about the invasion plan. He'd known about it for awhile now. He would have had to fool his uncle and Jet and lots of other people, though, and Zuko just wasn't the plotting, planning, lying cleanly to your face kind of guy. Mai? The love she shared with Zuko was obvious to anyone. She would not go behind his back and notify the Fire Lord. Besides she and Azula had major differences now. They were enemies. Not many people had known about the Invasion plans; King Kuei did. Could he have let it slip somehow, before Ba Sing Se had been taken over by Azula and the Fire Nation? Azula…now that name got Aang thinking.
"Guess it doesn't really matter how anyway," the boy mused. "Maybe everyone's at some festival or something. Or maybe the town was evacuated because of the volcano." He was reaching and he knew it. The volcano seemed as calm as ever and where would this festival be? There was nothing but silence, the occasional explosion from down near the shore the only sound disrupting the eerie stillness. "Ozai; I wonder if you're in the palace or did you run away like a coward?"
Aang had to make certain and should the Fire Lord be guarding his domain, the Avatar needed to fight him. Sighing heavily, (things were not going as planned now, but when did they ever, really?) Aang took flight again.
Zuko dug his knees into the eel hound's body, urging it forward and up the side of the cliff toward the parapets. He was pretty certain from his limited remembrance of the education he received about the capitol's defense system, that four soldiers manned each of the parapets. And they would most likely all be firebenders. The constant barrage of flaming projectiles was a good hint. As the Avatar's bison flew by, Zuko caught Sokka's eye. He held up four fingers and then pointed to the battlements. The young warrior nodded appreciatively and steered Appa toward the left battlement. Zuko and Mai on the eel hound moved toward the right one.
Sliding off the huge lizard, Zuko gave it a quick pat before glancing at Mai. They were both as ready as they would ever be. The soldiers inside the parapet saw them coming and began shooting projectiles at them, one after another. The pair dropped to the ground and rolled out of the way, practically crawling to the little doorway. Zuko's sword was at the ready and Mai had a blade in each hand. One of the soldiers came out to greet them, an angry look on her face. She tossed a fireball their way, almost singing Mai's hair. Zuko managed to lunge and deflect it with his dao. Furious that Mai had almost been hurt, the prince stood up, narrowed his eyes and attacked. The woman was dispatched easily enough and lay unconscious on the ground within seconds.
Mai peeked in the door and got a look at the small projectile machine that flung the spears down below with such ferocity. "We need to destroy that," she said and motioned with her hand.
The other soldiers hid on the opposite side of the machinery, biding their time, trying to analyze their enemy. But Zuko didn't care. With Mai letting her blades fly, distracting the men, Zuko was able to break the chains and links that made the machine work.
"Wanna knock them out too, Zuko," Mai suggested rather forcefully. "I can't afford to lose any more blades." She thought then that chi blocking might just be a skill she learned later on. Ty Lee could teach her, after all, and skills never went amiss.
With a quick, nonlethal blow to each of their heads, Zuko put them out and Mai retrieved her blades. Meanwhile, they could hear an explosion coming from the other battlement.
"I guess Hakoda decided to blow up the place too," Zuko mused.
They heard Sokka's terrified shout next and ran outside to find the young warrior kneeling beside his father, distress and worry in his blue eyes. "Dad, Dad, stay with me."
Zuko knew a little bit about first aid from his time sailing the world in search of the Avatar. There was no physician on board and when someone got sick or injured, everyone pooled their knowledge together and did the best that they could. He rushed to Hakoda and Sokka, Mai right behind him, and examined the wound in the chief's side. "He'll be okay, Sokka. I'm pretty sure."
"What do you know?" the younger boy snarled. "You're not a healer."
"No, but I've seen lots of wounds, and I know a fatal one; your father shouldn't fight anymore, though. You'll have to find him a place to rest."
"I'm fine," Hakoda insisted bravely. He tried to sit up then but the pain was too great. "Damn it! Everyone's depending on me to lead this invasion. Who's going to do it now?"
"Dad!" Sokka exclaimed again. "Take it easy. We need to get you down to Katara so she can do that magic healing thing she does." Mai covered her mouth with a hand, hiding the smirk that sat there. Sokka could be as awkward and inept at speaking as Zuko. Those two were more alike than they knew. "And I can take over. I'll lead the invasion."
"Sokka…" The chief sounded hesitant for just a moment. Then he saw the determination, courage and intelligence in his son's eyes and relented. "All right then," he sighed, both worry and pride evident now on his face. "Do it, Sokka. I'm proud of you."
"I'll help you get him on Appa," Zuko volunteered.
Hakoda leaned on Sokka and Zuko while Mai walked to Appa, giving the stressed looking bison a rub on the nose. "It's okay," she crooned self consciously. The bison puffed warm air from his nostrils, and looked at Mai with knowing brown eyes. She wished momentarily that armor didn't cover his soft coat. She longed to let her fingers drift across the fur, rubbing and stroking. It soothed her as much as it soothed Appa.
Once aboard the bison, Sokka cried "yip, yip," and left Mai and Zuko behind.
"So," Mai shrugged. "What do we do now?"
Zuko looked over his shoulder, toward the tower that guarded the capitol city. He longed to take Mai and head up that way. But leaving the invasion force suddenly and without letting anyone know would look bad. Now was not the time for him to worry about his need to confront his father. That would have to wait. Though he wasn't aware of it then, his chance would come soon.
"Guess we go back down and fight, for now."
They climbed back aboard the eel hound and headed toward the battle.
Sokka took over with a vengeance, organizing all the troops and tanks, making a powerful formation that sat the Fire Nation defenders back on their behinds. They began to retreat, unable to stop the sheer force of the attack or the large number of both fighters and machines behind that force. They genuinely believed in those few glorious minutes that they would defeat the Fire Nation and take over the capitol. But the tide of battle can switch quickly.
Aang didn't expect to find anyone in the palace. But, he held onto a tiny bit of hope nevertheless. When he entered the majestic building, all reds and golds and blacks, and the Fire Lord's throne room, without any resistance, and without seeing a single soul, the Avatar knew with cold certainty that the Fire Nation had been forewarned of the invasion. Frustrated, he shouted out Ozai's name, skidding on the remarkably shiny stone floor and coming to a halt just before the throne.
No one replied; only Aang's echo came back, taunting him. Devastated, he left the palace and flew back to the scene of the battle.
By the time Aang made it back to the battle, the invasion force had gained control of the plaza and guard tower. He was proud and pleased to see Water Tribesmen and Earth Kingdom people walking about like they owned the place. But what was the point now? The Fire Lord was nowhere to be found. He didn't look forward to breaking the news to his friends.
"Hey," Katara exclaimed with a grin as she pointed to the sky. "Is that Aang? I didn't expect him back so soon."
Hakoda, who was feeling a bit better and able to walk around now, along with Sokka, Mai and Zuko, looked up too.
"Yep, that's him all right," Sokka smiled nervously. He had a feeling that something wasn't right.
As soon as the Avatar landed and closed his glider with a click, they were upon him. Zuko and Mai stood back a bit, wondering warily what had happened with Ozai and Azula, if anything. Mai put her hand on the small of Zuko's back and rubbed for a moment. He was grateful for the contact and gave her a sly, sideways look that promised much more contact as soon as it was feasible.
"Please tell me that you miraculously defeated an overhyped Fire Lord in only a few moves. Is that what happened?" Sokka raised his eyebrows and nodded hopefully at his young friend.
Aang glanced down at the ground for a moment. His face was shadowed and his eyes dark. "He wasn't home. No one was home, guys. The entire city is empty. They knew about the invasion. And now I can't fight the Fire Lord." Aang's voice rose in pitch and he sought Katara's eyes. She put her arm around the suddenly frail looking boy and gave him a squeeze. "And, and they have airships…..parked inside the caldera. I don't know if they're finished or working, but Ozai has them."
The news was almost too much for Katara. "They knew," she repeated and immediately looked to Mai and Zuko. "I wonder how. And airships; How did they get their hands on the mechanist's invention?"
Mai narrowed her eyes at the waterbender. "You're looking in the wrong place," she snapped. "We didn't betray you. We didn't trick you and we didn't tell anyone about the invasion."
"It wasn't them, Katara." Sokka shook his head and glanced between the Fire Nation couple and his sister. "Don't even go there. We've got bigger things to worry about." He too wondered about this fleet of airships. They might very well change things a lot.
"How do you know that?" she sneered.
"It wasn't them," Toph spoke up. "Mai's telling the truth…again."
"Then how?" Katara mused. "How did they know? And where is Fire Lord Ozai?"
"I'm thinking my sister found out somehow and my father will be below ground in the bunkers, safe and sound until the eclipse is over. I can show you the way from inside the palace, anyone who wants to come. I need to see him myself." Giving each of his allies a pointed look, he took Mai's hand, letting her know that he wanted her along, at least below ground. He would no doubt worry about her and the dangers she might face, but also knew that she could take care of herself. His father, Zuko needed to confront alone, no distractions. "Are you okay with that, Mai?"
"Azula will be down there too, probably wandering the hallways, protecting her precious father or trying to distract anyone who tries to go after him. It won't be easy to get Ozai. And Ayaka," Mai quivered involuntarily, "She'll be protecting Azula. I'll need help."
"I'll go with you, Blade." Toph chuckled and gave Mai a punch. "I'd love to make princess eat a rock sandwich."
"Ow," Mai said blandly and rubbed her arm. "And my name is Mai."
"Not to me, it isn't, at least not when I feel like calling you Blade." The tiny earthbender grinned mischievously and lifted her arm for another punch, but Mai dodged that one.
Shrugging, Mai accepted Toph's help and unbeknownst to her, the nickname. "All right; thank you."
"I need to go, obviously," Aang stated. "How long is it until the eclipse, Sokka?"
The warrior pulled a small instrument from his pocket, crouched down and popped it open. "The mechanist gave me this timing apparatus." He bent his head over the device, reading it carefully, not wanting to make a fateful error. "It looks like we have around ten minutes until the full eclipse." He stared up at the sky then. The sun and the moon looked as though they were on a collision course, with the overlap of the two just beginning. "We have ten minutes to find Ozai and then eight minutes to take him down. I'm going too." He jumped to his feet and called for Appa. "We'll fly into the city. Then Zuko can guide us to the bunkers."
"Wait, Sokka! They knew we were coming. Maybe there's a trap waiting for you below ground. Do you want to risk that? What about using the time to get everyone out of here, before someone gets killed or captured?" Katara was almost pleading with her brother. "What do you think, Dad? And the airships? What should we do about them?"
"I'm sorry, Katara. We've been planning this invasion for weeks. Everyone knows the risks. If there's even a small chance we could still accomplish what we set out to, we need to take it. Let them go. We'll do our best here, airships or no airships."
The waterbender's face fell. "Fine," she agreed with great reluctance. "Be careful everyone. Please, be careful."
"No worries, sis; all of us can handle Ozai and Azula, especially when they can't bend. Let's go!" Sokka bounced impatiently on his toes and quickly touched his sword and his boomerang. They both reassured him, gave him something solid to hold on to.
"They'll be fine, Katara. And you and I have things to do here, wounded to tend to. And I want to see our people make it up that hill." Hakoda wrapped an arm about his daughter's shoulders and placed a kiss on her head.
The girl snuggled against her father's side, reveling in the warmth and comfort that she had so missed.
Sokka and Toph traveled on Appa, Aang flying close by on his glider, while Mai and Zuko rode their eel hound.
"Okay?" Mai asked her lover.
"Yeah, I just want to say a few words, some very important words to my father. But I'll feel even better after that." He smiled contentedly when he felt Mai's grip tighten around his waist. Truthfully, he was more worried about Azula and the Bringer and what they might do to Mai. A kernel of fear appeared in his stomach and grew steadily larger as they got closer to the palace.
Once inside the empty palace, Zuko quickly led everyone to a hidden stairwell that led below to the bunkers. The heat increased dramatically below ground and sweat trickled down all of their faces.
"I knew it was hot in the Fire Nation, but this is ridiculous," Sokka whined, dabbing at his forehead. "Where's your father's bunker?"
"That way," the prince pointed. "It's the bunker at the end of the hall." He gave Mai one final glance and then took off at full speed, sword bouncing off his back, down the main hall, then down side halls, taking the circuitous route so that he wouldn't meet anyone.
"Isn't he wasting our time with Ozai?" Sokka asked. "I mean we only have eight minutes and the eclipse will be full in," he pulled out the special instrument again, "eighty seconds."
"Let him be," Mai cautioned, giving the warrior a stern look. "We can follow along behind."
"Follow?" An all too familiar voice said inquisitively from down the opposite hallway. "Who are you going to follow, Mai?"
The black haired girl literally felt a chill move down her spine. The voice belonged to Princess Azula and where the princess was, the Bringer was not far behind. Mai waved at Aang, urging him to follow Zuko and get his chance at Ozai. "How's your cheek, Azula? Did that cut I gave you scar?" Her voice was casual, bored and she leaned against the wall, but Mai had two blades ready to throw.
Snarling, the princess rounded the corner, her eye just catching a glimpse of Air Nomad orange. "So, the little brat is alive after all. I suspected. Does he actually think that he has a chance against the Fire Lord?" She cackled then and Mai watched as Ayaka appeared, those cold, dead brown eyes lighting on her.
"He's the Avatar," Sokka clarified as if that explained everything. "He's the master of all, well three right now, elements, and well, he's the Avatar. Of course he has a chance."
The princess paused for a moment as she felt her inner fire begin to fade. It was a terrifying sensation, one she never wanted to experience again. But, she was skilled in other forms of fighting too and looked forward to sparring with the peasants, and Mai. "And who are you, idiot boy?" She sped toward Sokka, and before anyone knew it, had the warrior pinned against the wall, a knife at his throat.
"Sokka," Toph shouted.
"Thanks for answering my question, grubby little earthbender; where have I heard that name before? Do you recall, Ayaka?" She pressed the blade a little more firmly against Sokka's tan skin and licked her lips when she saw a few bubbles of red well up. "And don't think about sending some rock flying at me. I'll cut his throat before it touches me. Ayaka! I asked you a question."
Toph felt the Bringer's heart rate pick up. She was either nervous or angry or scared. The little earthbender was secretly betting on angry. Mai's heart was beating faster than normal as well. Anyone could feel both the anger and the fear rolling off the slender girl. Sokka, his heart was steady and rhythmical. He had to remain calm with that knife poking at him.
"We heard the name 'Sokka' at the prison when you interrogated those Kyoshi Warriors." The answer was methodical. Ayaka's eyes stayed trained on Mai.
"Of course! The one with the reddish hair, Suki, I think her name is? She kept mentioning 'Sokka' and how he would rescue her. Eventually she stopped, though. I suppose she gave up on you. What a disappointment to her you must be." Azula clearly enjoyed taunting the young man.
Sokka clenched his fists, the knuckles turning white. He wanted to throttle the princess, choke every last bit of life out of her. She had captured Suki, hurt her maybe, humiliated her for certain. And one day, she would pay. And soon, he would find Suki and free her, if it was the final thing he ever did. But now was not the time for such thoughts. Sokka knew it and pushed the red hot rage aside.
"Why don't you let him go, Azula? Wouldn't you rather fight me?" Mai inched a bit closer to the princess and watched wide eyed as Ayaka began to spin her naginata. "Ah, I see the scar now. Compared to Zuko, I'd say you're quite lucky, in that anyway."
"Bitch!" the princess spat, let go of Sokka and stalked toward her former 'friend'.
Zuko yanked open the heavy metal door to his father's bunker. Soldiers assumed an offensive stance immediately and began to charge at the intruder wearing Earth Kingdom clothing. Drawing his swords, Zuko made a declaration.
"I am Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation and I demand a word with my father!"
Stunned now, the men halted their movements, uncertain how to proceed. Ozai, wearing a cruel smirk, waved them aside. "Wait outside; no, just leave," he ordered. "Prince Zuko isn't capable of hurting me."
Waiting until the chamber was empty of everyone but them, Zuko took the time to examine his father, a man he had not seen for three long years. He looked the same, perhaps a bit more pompous and slightly overconfident, but the same. "I have a few things to say to you." The prince's voice was sure and strong. He sheathed his swords, assuming a less threatening stance.
"Oh, I can't wait," the Fire Lord laughed, the words heavy with derision. "I'm sure you've learned a lot from my tea sipping, weakling of a brother. Please speak."
Zuko smiled proudly. "I have learned a lot from Iroh, more in one day than I ever learned from you. And he's more a father to me than you ever were or are ever capable of being."
"Yes, well," Ozai answered dismissively, "you two deserve each other."
"What's more," Zuko continued, ignoring his father, "I know now how wrong this war is and how wrong the Fire Nation is. I will do everything in my power to stop it and to stop you."
Ozai laughed. "Pathetic! You are a weak cast off who should have been killed in the cradle. It was your mother who coddled you and tried to convince me of your worth. Do you think you frighten me, Zuko, you and your little threats?"
Both felt the waning of their firebending; the eclipse was only seconds away. Ozai planned to use those final seconds well.
Zuko blinked back tears at the mention of his mother. "How dare you mention her? You're not fit to say her name."
Sparks formed at Ozai's fingertips but the prince was far too distracted now to notice.
"Wouldn't you like to know more about your mother?" He grinned catlike and waited for the response.
"What do you mean?" Zuko asked roughly. "What is there to know?"
The sparks had become blue lightning and with all his strength and with all his remaining power, Ozai directed it at his son, aiming straight for his heart. Zuko reacted instinctively; all those hours of practicing to redirect lightning finally had a purpose. He assumed the stance perfectly, redirected the charge and sent it back at his father. It narrowly missed the man, hitting the banner behind him instead. Zuko wasn't sure whether his miss was intentional or not. He shook with rage, though, and with sorrow.
"Get out!" Ozai shrieked. His hair was in disarray and the teapot was on its side, cracked in two and sitting forlornly on the dais. Warm brown liquid oozed onto the podium.
Zuko left, almost bumping into Aang on the way out. "Now's the time," Zuko encouraged him. "My bending is gone. And he's distracted. It's your fight, Aang."
The twelve year old gulped and stepped into the chamber.
Mai wondered for a moment why she had decided to accompany Zuko underground. The expression on Azula's face was enough to frighten anyone and she had put it there. Mai realized that supporting Zuko was part of her reasoning, but only part. The rest had something to do with a mixture of curiosity…what affect had hers and Ty Lee's combined 'betrayals' had on the princess, just how angry was she at Mai ….determination…to prove to herself she could face Azula and Ayaka and not crumble….and anger…..she despised the princess and wanted to make her hurt like she had done to so many people in Ba Sing Se, like she had done to Zuko, like she had done to her and Ty Lee. Once her motivations were clear, she was ready for whatever might happen. And she had help with her. Toph and Sokka could deal with the Bringer while she and Azula had their moment.
"Why does everyone compare me to that useless hunk of flesh? I am NOTHING like Zuko. He is nothing like me. He only wishes that he could be." Spittle flew from Azula's mouth as she spoke and her eyes were almost crazed.
"No, Azula, Zuko does not wish to be anything like you. And he's a far, far better person than you will ever be. And he'll make a wonderful Fire Lord." Mai's tone was still bland but her smile was infuriatingly smug. "Oh, I thought you might like to know that Ty Lee is very happy now, living away from you. We're both happy."
"You traded glory for sleeping with my brother? And Ty Lee, what is she, a street performer in the Lower Ring of that filthy city full of nothing but rats?" She brandished her wicked looking knife and swiped at Mai. But her movements were suddenly jerky and inefficient. Mai easily dodged her. "Ayaka," the princess screeched. "Get over here, now."
But Ayaka was busy with Toph and Sokka, holding her own fairly well against the earthbender and the warrior.
"Doesn't say much, does she, Toph?" Sokka asked with a sly grin as he deflected the naginata with his sword.
"Nope, she's not what you would call a conversationalist," the sturdy girl agreed. She shifted the ground beneath Ayaka's feet, and the Bringer lost her balance slightly. Using that to her advantage, the earthbender tossed a barrage of projectiles at the older girl.
The Bringer was incredibly skilled with her naginata; she spun and swung the heavy weapon as if it weighed nothing, jabbing outward with the blade that sat atop. Her pride told her to defeat these two peasants. She was Fire Nation and therefore superior. There should be no question of her victory. But then she saw Azula, her commander, struggling with Mai, asking for her help, clearly allowing emotions to get the better of her. An idea formed in her sluggish mind and she almost smiled.
Ayaka made certain that the princess was busy with Mai, her head turned the other way, and she let herself lose. It almost killed her, but she would not go to Azula's aid, not when she could feign her own struggle and then allow the boy and girl to capture her. They wouldn't kill her, of that Ayaka was certain. Neither of them had killer's eyes. Neither did Mai, but that wasn't the Bringer's worry.
Suddenly the fight got much easier and Toph had the Bringer encased within volcanic rock, unable to move a few seconds later.
"Is it just me, or did chatty over there just give up?" Sokka leaned in and whispered in Toph's ear.
"Uh, yeah, no kidding; what's up with that? Anyway, doesn't matter. We need to help Blade. Firebending will be back on shortly and we should get out of here." Toph turned her attention to Azula. She enjoyed heaving rock and metal at the princess far more than she should have.
"Thanks," Mai stated dryly as she watched a crazed Azula wipe a smear of blood from her forehead. One of Toph's projectiles had hit the mark.
"What's the matter, Mai? Can't fight me yourself? Are you that weak?" Her amber eyes, wide and glassy looking, stared at the knife throwing expert.
"Seems to me, you asked for help yourself a few minutes ago," Mai retorted. "And Zuko and I have both learned that there's no shame in accepting help when you need it. That doesn't make you weak."
The princess sneered. "My, aren't we talkative, Mai. I recall a time when getting two words out of you was a chore."
"I've changed; you should try it." Mai smiled a secret sort of smile and thought of Zuko. She hoped desperately that everything was well with him.
"She's distracting you, Mai, trying to get you to stay until the eclipse is over. We need to get out of here, find Aang and Zuko."
Seeing the sense in Sokka's plea, Mai backed off and together the three ran off toward Ozai's bunker.
"What use were you?" the princess shouted at Ayaka. "Maybe it's time I looked for anther bodyguard."
'Please,' Ayaka thought to herself. 'Please, before I cut your pretty, pale throat.'
Outside, while the eclipse was on, the invasion force made its way up the hill and into the capitol city. Victory was so close, so very close and all of them could practically taste it on their tongues. Everyone wore special eclipse glasses made by the mechanist, and everyone handily pushed aside Fire Nation soldier after Fire Nation soldier, many of them surrendering in their weakened states.
"I wonder how Aang's doing?" Katara asked her father. "I hope that he's all right."
"The eclipse is almost over," the chief replied, taking off his glasses. "We'll know soon enough."
Waiting was harder than fighting. They walked toward the palace, this odd group of people, different skills and different backgrounds, all with a common purpose, and hoped that they could maintain their advantage. A chained up Fire Lord and Fire Nation princess would certainly take care of that.
"I am the Avatar and I've come to fight you." Aangs words sounded ridiculous echoing off the walls of the bunker. He flushed and wished that he could take them back.
"You just lost your advantage, fool!" Ozai sneered. "I was down. You could have taken me."
"I prefer to fight fairly," the Avatar reasoned. He spun his staff and narrowed his eyes, determination flooding through his veins now.
Ozai stood up, throwing his shoulders back and his chin out. "No one gets anywhere by being fair, child." He chuckled then. "So you're this pesky avatar I've been hearing about. My daughter couldn't even manage to kill you. Shameful! My children are becoming greater disappointments as the days pass."
"Are you ready?" Aang asked, ignoring Ozai's words.
"Certainly," Ozai replied, all reasonable like.
Aang replied just as reasonably. "Good."
He created a gust of wind that sent the Fire Lord flying. Without his bending, Ozai could do nothing but flow with it, landing as gently as he could. "That the best you've got, boy?" The eclipse was half over at least. He could feel the cold embers of his fire beginning to reignite.
The Avatar stomped his feet and made the floor curve and twist beneath the Fire Lord, sending the man flying again. Ozai grunted in pain as his head made contact with floor. 'Little bastard,' he thought.
Aang was unsure how to approach this fight. He hadn't really given it any thought. Just facing the man, looking into those cruel gold eyes, had been all he considered. And here he was, looking at Ozai on the ground, weakened, and he couldn't move forward.
"Aren't you coming?" Ozai jeered. "I'm down...again."
Aang lifted one foot after the other, feeling as though he was pulling them up and out of thick glue, and made his way to the dais. Ozai used the podium for support and got to his feet. The fire was flowing even stronger now. He could almost make a flame. Hesitating again for a moment, Aang finally bended the spilled tea, chilled it expertly like Katara did, and froze Ozai's feet and hands in place.
"Nice trick," the man cackled. "Now what are you going to do? Come on, finish me off? Are you too weak?"
His grey eyes were even wider than normal, and filled with so much conflicting emotion. It would be so easy to kill the man who crouched helpless before him. Other people would, maybe even some people he knew. But Aang couldn't, no matter how evil or how horrible the Fire Lord was. He couldn't kill him.
Mai, Sokka and Toph met Zuko about halfway to Ozai's bunker. Both prince and knife thrower sighed in relief upon seeing the other. A few men lay on the floor, knocked out by Zuko.
"I met up with a bit of opposition," he shrugged sheepishly, then pulled Mai in for a hug. He breathed in her scent and placed a quick kiss on her bare neck. "So glad you're okay," he whispered.
"Same," she answered succinctly. "Aang?"
"He's with the Fire Lord." Strange how he could hardly bear to call him 'father' anymore.
"The eclipse is almost over," Sokka reminded everyone, panic evident in his voice now. "We need to get Aang and leave."
Nodding, Zuko led the way again. The door to the bunker was still open, the guards long gone as Ozai had instructed them. The tiny form of the Avatar stood perfectly still, his back toward the door. A bright patch of red, the Fire Lord's robes could be seen on the floor near Aang's feet.
"Did you get him, Aang? Is he dead?" Sokka was ready to raise his fist in triumph. "We've got to chain him up..unless he's dead, in which case.." Toph gave him a smack and Sokka got a hold of his tongue. "The eclipse is just about over now," he added more calmly.
"It is over," both Zuko and Ozai declared, their words overlapping.
"Aang," Sokka shouted, "It's time to go." He ran to the boy and grabbed hold of his elbow. "We'll get him next time. It's okay."
"Okay," the Avatar mimicked Sokka. He backed away, and that's when Ozai made a huge ball of flame in his palm, melting the ice that held his hands in place.
A/N: First, worked my ass off on this. I hope, hope, hope that it makes sense. I feel sort of bad for still not finishing the Invasion/Eclipse section, but not that bad. :P I promise that it will be over early in the next chapter and I'll move onto the WAT.
Thanks to all those who reviewed last time.