Disclaimer: I don't own AtLa.
BTW, sorry if the talk in the previous chapter is a bit circular. I wasn't quite happy with it, but it is what is and hopefully it's just me being critical.
Read, enjoy and review!
Chapter Twenty-Six
Battle of the Sun 2
Sun Warrior Island: Fire Nation waters: 13th-21st guìyuè, 99 AG
The Warriors listened to the Avatar's warning of an approaching invasion fleet grimly, but without panic. They had long prepared for and accepted the high likelihood that one day this would occur, and the arrival of Anji and her two companions had only increased it. They set about making preparations as soon as Anji alerted the chief to her vision. Of course, she told them only of her vision of Tui and La and the invasion fleet. The conversation with Kuruk, she kept to herself.
The elders, the few pregnant and nursing women, and the children of the tribe all gathered any supplies they required or might need along with other things of sentimental or religious value, whether to their families or to their community. Then they were taken to the small, hidden port on the far side of the island where they climbed into half-a-dozen small boats slightly larger than the size of an average fishing boat but of a style unique to the Warriors and designed with small cabins containing bunkbeds. It was a squeeze, but four slim adults could co-exist with minimal discomfort within. Once they were settled into the boats, they set sail for a nearby atoll hidden away where they would be able to survive safely for months. Appa and Momo were sent with them.
The sky bison and lemur were not fighting animals. Azula and Zuko had once mused about training Appa for battle, but the look of cold fury they had received from Anji in response to the thought had put a quick end to the thought. As such, it was decided to send the two survivors of the nigh-extinct species away with the civilians to hide from the invaders.
They were close enough to the main island that they would quickly be able to learn the outcome of the battle and react accordingly. If the Warriors fell to the Coalition, the adults would take the children to the nearest free island to seek a place to settle in a village with their kin, or else found their own settlement. The boats were designed to be sturdy and manage through heavy storms. Through their plans and stories, their people would survive and continue on, if changed, akin to the airbenders of the new century.
That being said, the preferred option was that the Warriors would triumph, repel the Coalition, and their vulnerable members would be able to return and reunite with their family who remained behind. Anji, an airbender trained to evade and flee to the core of her, even with her other aspects, had quietly wondered to herself why they would bother fighting if they had the option to flee and survive. Her Fire predecessors had informed her that it would blacken their honour if they did so. Further, Agni had entrusted them with the protection of the last remaining dragons. Ran and Shaw were clearly aged to those who knew enough of their species to pick up on the signs, as the Avatar could from her past lives' experiences with them. Too old to leave their home. The Warriors could not abandon them either, and so they felt that staying and fighting to the last was their sole option. The thought of anybody able-bodied for battle fleeing probably hadn't even occurred to them.
Anji felt a twinge of frustrated exasperation at the Fire Nation's deep devotion to their honour that caused and solved an abundance of problems throughout the centuries, and kept her mouth shut on her opinion on that. Although she was irritated at them putting their lives on the line for something as vague as 'honour', an irritant that had been driving even Fire Avatars out of their minds from frustration at the many problems the concept had caused over the age, she acknowledged and agreed with the importance of protecting the dragons.
Whilst the vulnerable people of the community went into hiding to await the outcome of the battle, the fighters prepared for it in their own ways. They had the advantage of the forest and mountain terrain they knew so well. The trees were closely packed, dotted with ruins and hidden traps, and complicated to navigate safely in you were inexperienced with it. As it so happened, the only reason Anji and her adoptive siblings had safely reached the centre was because one of her predecessors had discreetly guided her and ensured she unconsciously picked out and avoided the hidden snares. Now, the Warriors added yet more traps to the forest and ruins, turning it into a complete death trap. With their disgusting ability to suck water from plants, the waterbenders would undoubtedly manage to get through to the city eventually, but not without heavy losses that would be added to when they reached the city. All the Warriors were assigned a place to hide themselves within the abandoned city, their strategy being a guerrilla style to accommodate the inevitable, i.e., that they would be heavily outnumbered by their attackers. To deal with this, the Warriors would hide themselves within the ruins and attack from hidden alcoves and passageways before falling back and using the extensive series of passages to escape and attack elsewhere.
Anji, Azula and Zuko were adopted into the strategy, and the chief emphasized to everyone that the main priority was to protect Ran and Shaw. The Masters were hustled into the safety of their caves and the best of the Warriors were assigned to protect them. They hoped that the dragons would stay inside and unknown to the Coalition, but if needs be, their guardians would lay down their lives to protect the last two of Agni's children.
There was little else that they could do until the fleet was sighted. They didn't know when the enemy would arrive, and so all they could do was wait. An atmosphere of nervous anticipation that always formed before a battle, worry and grim determination hung over the island and its residents. Even Ran and Shaw seemed to realize that something was approaching.
The Avatar, her two companions and the Sun Warriors left behind to fight all waited in subdued nervousness, waiting for the announcement that the Coalition fleet was approaching. Not quite a fortnight after Anji was warned by Tui and La of the coming attack, one of the two scouts on duty at the beach came rushing into the small clearing where the majority of the tribe's defenders were having dinner. It was sunset on the full moon, though they were given a blessing in the form of a cloudy night. It wouldn't stop the waterbenders, but they wouldn't be as strong as on a clear full moon night.
"The enemy is in sight!" The young Warrior declared; dark amber eyes wide. "At their current speed, they will reach the beach by eleven."
Anji exchanged glances with her friends, realizing that the moon would be at its zenith for the start of the battle at least.
The chief was grave looking, but unafraid. He squared his shoulder and stepped forward, drawing the attention of his people.
"Sons and Daughters of Fire!" He called. "The time has come! We have taken into our midst the Avatar and her people, and they have been given the secret of our people and our ways, and we can now be proud to name them as our own, as Iroh of Clan Ōkroda, uncle to Azula and Zuko, is. They are our family, and we are sworn to protect them, as they are sworn to fight by our sides for our people.
The Avatar's return represents the return of hope, the return of the Balance to Light and Peace, but the servants of Darkness and Chaos seek to prevent this! The Coalition, worshippers of the Dark Spirits such as Anningan and Agloolik, approach! They seek to keep Evil dominant, to subjugate and eradicate all who stand against them! But ours is the element of power, my people! Fire is the element of passion, of life and determination and our inner flames are unable to be extinguished!
Today, we fight! We fight for the Light, for the Avatar, for Agni and His children! Most of all, my friends, my family! We fight for freedom!"
The Warriors yelled in response, shaking their spears and knives and other weapons, and then began to prepare, lovers and siblings embracing and giving quick words and ensuring there was nothing left unsaid if the worst should happen to either. Anji herself hugged Azula and Zuko as tightly as she could, stamping down the memory of the last time she had been involved in a proper, pitched battle.
"I'll see you both when it's over," Azula declared in a voice that dared destiny to take her siblings from her. Her golden eyes shone with hidden fear for them as she embraced the others.
"I'll never let it go if you end up with a scrape from one of these idiots," Zuko added, clutching tightly to the girls.
Anji couldn't find it in herself to joke.
"Everything will be fine," she exhaled shakily, as if she could force it to be so through pure willpower. "Be careful, both of you. Please. Don't overestimate yourselves, or underestimate any of them."
"You too," Zuko added, expression going solemn.
"We'll all be fine," Azula insisted stubbornly. Then, they had to split up and head for their assigned places. Anji went to speak to the chief first.
"Avatar," he inclined his head seriously. "Are you ready?"
She glanced away, in the direction of the shore. "I failed when the Coalition attacked my people," she murmured. "I won't fail this time."
The chief inclined his head in respectful assent. "I trust you, Avatar," he responded simply.
As he went off to get himself into position, Anji used airbending to fly to the treetops to peer out and spot the coming fleet. While she could see out across the bay easily, she herself would be unseen.
The scout's prediction was correct. The Avatar clenched her hands into tight fists and exhaled heavily as she watched the fleet, at least fifty warships full of experienced and talented warriors, glide up to the Sun Warriors' Island.
The Battle for the Sun was about to begin, and with it came a turning point in the War.
/\\\/\\\
Kaito had not really wanted to take part in the invasion of the Sun Warriors' Island, but a letter from his father passed to him by a smug-looking Gilak had made it clear this was his last chance. Either he participated in the battle and distinguished himself in some way, or he would be disowned and exiled officially. And despite what Pakku thought, Kaito knew his family well enough to understand that if he were disowned, it would only be a matter of time before he lost his life too. His father and especially his brother would be unwilling to risk the prospect of a rival claimant hanging around and acting as a potential draw to the many vassal chiefs they had who resented Sokka for one reason or another.
And so he and his ship had joined the fleet sailing for the island located by the angakkuit, Pakku silent and grim-faced as he increased the already-heavy intensity of their training during the journey to the island. Once the battle began, Kaito regretted not taking his chances with fleeing, the way his mentor had discreetly hinted at him they could do.
Getting through the forest was a nightmare, and the invasion force of 1,000 men lost over a hundred to the traps and poisoned arrows and darts shot at them by the natives during the trek alone. Then they reached the City of the Sun, and found themselves at a heavy disadvantage as they struggled to fight in the narrow streets, the dark worsening the matter given their lack of familiarity with the trap ladened metropolis. The full moon was inconveniently obscured by clouds, reducing the light even further, and the Warriors were living up to their name. Although their bloodbending, superior numbers and experience-sharpened fighting skills allowed his people to advance, it was a painstakingly slow process and the defenders made them pay for every inch in blood. Kaito's world narrowed to shouting, clashing weapons and flashes of bright flame and swirling water as he fought on. Even when he was relying entirely on instinct, as he was here, he was unable to act lethally, not when he doubted his actions so much, and so he tried his best to incapacitate instead of kill those he crossed paths with.
Somehow, he didn't remember how, he found himself in a clearing on the outskirts of the city. Perhaps he'd been trying to get away from the fighting, or perhaps he had followed some instinct or other. Whatever the reason didn't matter in the long run. What mattered was not how he ended up there, but what happened within its' bounds.
In the clearing were Gilak, a group of dead Warriors, and the Avatar. She stood between himself, his fellow waterbender, and two dragons, of all things. In the midst of his hazy mind, Kaito was wary at how agitated the beasts appeared, twitching and growling and shaking their heads.
Gilak smirked darkly and spoke, but there was a rushing in Kaito's ears and he didn't know what he said. Something about successfully luring the dragons and Anji to the clearing for his ambush, the young prince thought. He wasn't positive. The Avatar spat something back, eyes flickering with bright rage, and sent a jet of deadly flame at the chieftain. Gilak conjured a waterwhip to slice through it, turning it to mist.
Kaito breathed heavily, watching and unable to move as Gilak and the Avatar fought. At first, Anji was clearly better, with two elements (and he saw the Fire Mastery she now wore showing she was halfway through) and pure talent at her disposal, but Gilak got the advantage when he performed a series of attacks that forced the Tulku to take a severe hit to the stomach to protect the red dragon. The blow sent her to the ground where a puddle of blood began forming, and then she screamed in agony when Gilak, smirking cruelly, bloodbent her, twisting her injured body into awkward, painful shapes, taunting her as he did so. Her hatred was clear as she spat a dollop of bloody spit at him. That she was strong enough to struggle and force her limbs to twitch despite being caught in his grip said a great deal about her willpower. Most couldn't even blink by themselves when bloodbent by Gilak. He enjoyed the pain of drying out their eyes.
Gilak snarled and advanced to stand over her. Kaito felt the way he had when Sokka bloodbent him, unable to move or even think, a fog coating his thoughts. He stared blankly as Gilak forced Anji to watch with a horrified expression as he sent an ice dagger through the eye of the red dragon, killing it. The blue one let out what could only be termed a mournful cry as its' mate? sibling? slumped to the forest floor, unmoving.
Gilak conjured another blade, and Kaito couldn't tell if he was going to make her watch him a second time when he killed the blue dragon, or if he planned to kill Anji first. Whatever it was, Kaito moved first. Why he chose to move when he did, again he could never quite say. All he knew was that one minute he was watching in silent horror and shock, the next he was stabbing his old tormentor through the back with an ice spear.
Anji stared at him from where she was weakly curled on the ground, and Kaito stared back at her, swallowing harshly. He could hardly believe what he had just done. He was now a traitor to his nation, and any hope of seeing his grandmother and the twins again was gone.
"Go," Anji advised him, her voice hoarse.
Kaito went. He found Pakku sulking through an alleyway and grabbed his mentor by the shoulder, dragging him away and back towards the beach. Pakku didn't protest, willingly joining him as they scrambled away and stole a small boat to escape on, both well aware that they were sealing their fates as traitors and exiles, most likely for the rest of their lives. Even if the Coalition fell, as became increasingly likely with every day that passed since the Avatar's return, they would still be likely to bear the blame for everything done by their nation. It went without saying that if Hakoda and Sokka won, it was likely that they would wish for death.
From the boat, they saw the Avatar rise in a sphere of all four elements, a white glow brighter than starlight radiating from her, and they watched the elements rain down on those below her, though Kaito doubted any firebenders suffered from her attack.
Later, they learned that of the 1,000 Coalition soldiers who went to the Sun Warriors' Island, they were the sole survivors. All the rest were killed by either the Warriors or the Avatar in the State. Neither showed mercy on the invaders, and news spread of the Avatar's triumph, inspiring yet more uprisings all over the conquered sections of the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom, and even emboldening Bato's rebels into larger and more frequent attacks.
By the start of spring, it was clear to all that the Coalition's grip was slipping. And the tighter they sought to clench their fist around their conquests, the more escaped from their grip.