August 24th, 10:00 AM
Capital Island
Royal Plaza
The rudder of their ship turned smoothly to the right, aligning the portside bow with the bright red carpet running down the center of the massive stone pathway. A crush of people that barely fit inside were waiting with baited breath for metal stairs to be lowered and the procession that would step down before them. A single, armored soldier appeared on the deck. A few people cheered before realizing who it was. Then, the sign they'd all been waiting for showed up, a black ponytail attached to an otherwise bald head. The cheers of the crowd rose as one to a tremendous racket. He was followed closely by four others, and their cheers intensified when they saw their eldest princess and the king's brother step down next to their prince. There were a few muffled murmurs when a girl with charcoal black hair tied up in buns exited, but a coupling of her arm with Zuko's quieted them immediately. Nothing could stop the dull roar of mistrust when a sandy-haired, pale-skinned boy Zuko's age covered in scars and with a large gourd on his back followed them off. He stuck close to the center of the group, placing himself in the middle of a triangle, standing an obsessively precise 2.5 feet from the prince at all times.
As the procession moved down the path, the royals waved and smiled. The gourd-wearer, in stark contrast, was scanning the crowd, violet eyes piercing anyone who dared to stare back. Some looked away, unable to bear his gaze, out of fear or excitement; others met his eyes and held them as long as they could. He was unperturbed by this, and continued to observe. A man walked out of the crowd, bearing a sword and wearing armor. His intentions were stated obviously seconds after he made his presence known, the crowd dying down quickly. "Cheara, you are a pretender to the throne, seeking to destroy the Fire Lord's noble-blooded heritage! I will end your plot here and now, whore!" She stepped forward, starting to draw her blade, before the gourd-wearer held an arm in front of her. "Please, my princess, do not sully your blade with his blood. He is beneath you. Allow me to take care of this." Cheara nodded. "Do what you want with him, Gaara." He registered the command and bowed deeply.
Whoever this man was charged right at them, attempting to cut straight through the human body in the way of his target. The cork of the gourd popped off. His blow was inches from landing when a wave of sand shot up and stopped the blade cold, wrapping around it without Gaara moving a muscle. The sand clenched, turning the metal sword into a warped heap on the ground. Seeing this, their attacker launched blasts of fire at them, stepping forward as he did, getting closer and closer. The sand started to turn to glass, falling to the ground and laying still. 'He can't control the glass! All I have to do is melt all of his sand, and he'll be helple-' "I'm growing bored of this. End it, Gaara." The boy knelt to his prince. "Yes, milord. Immediately." He extended a hand and the sand shot out, almost faster than the human eye could see, wrapping around the man. For the first time, there were two emotions clearly present on his face; joy and bloodlust. It formed into a cocoon of sand, and when he clenched his fist, it shrank down to the size of his fist. There was a horrible creaking of metal and snapping of bones as the man was compressed alive. The sand flew back into his gourd, revealing a steel cube three inches high and wide. The procession continued to move afterwards, as though nothing had happened. The crowd was almost as quick to get over the brutal killing, now chanting "GAARA!" along with the names of the others.
His steps were sure and even, keeping him in the direct center of the group. He'd measured, and this was the exact distance he needed to stay away from them for his shield to block any attacks aimed their way. He moved like his singular purpose was the protection of these people. Several more armored people stepped out of the crowds, sheathed swords at their hip. He raised his hand, before Zuko tapped his shoulder. A single shake of the head and the sand that had begun to trickle out of his gourd stopped. At the center was a girl with the same dark brown hair as Zuko, pulled up into a top bun with two long bangs framing her face. "Thank you for calling off your attack dog, brother. Welcome home. Father wants to meet with you, immediately. Come with me." Zuko looked at him. "Gaara, this is my sister Azula. You are absolutely forbidden to kill her." He nodded curtly. "Yes, milord. I will remember her face. Do you wish for transportation?" He rubbed his chin and nodded. "If you wouldn't mind." "I live to serve." A cocoon of sand whipped up around their procession and twisted into nothing.
August 24th, 10:30 AM
Caldera City
Fire Nation Royal Palace
They reformed steps outside the Fire Lord's throne room. Azula grabbed her stomach and doubled over. "What was that?!" Gaara shook his head. "My apologies. Vomiting is natural the first time through the Sand Flicker." A small sand bowl formed underneath her mouth. She glared up at him. "I can't puke in front of others! I am a princess!" He looked over at Zuko, who nodded. "Father won't tolerate you being in the throne room. It's for the best." Their forms twisted once more.
Approximately a hundred meters away, in the middle of a barren field, they reappeared. "We are alone. You may vacate the contents of your stomach." She retched onto the ground, straight into the sand bowl that had moved with them. He stood motionless, eyes scanning around them. "My apologies. It appears that I was incorrect. Stay behind me." She wiped her mouth and looked at the flat land. "I didn't know my brother enjoyed the company of the insane. There's nobody here. Take us ba-" His hand shot out, grabbing an arrow headed for her face in mid-air. "If you are not within a meter of me, I cannot guarantee your safety." She pressed her back against his. "What's going on? We're being attacked in the middle of our own capital!" Her tone was indignant, as if someone daring to threaten her life was unimaginable. "It appears that an assassination team has been sent from the earth kingdom." The arrow crumbled to dust in his hands, showing that it was made from stone, as his sand blocked several more. She spat on the ground. "Earthbender trash. No offense." His head shook. "None taken. I believe the prince calls this maneuver "Set them up and knock them down."
He stomped a foot onto the ground, popping three pillars up, each several meters away. On top of them were three people, dressed in dark tan clothing that blended almost perfectly with the surrounding earth. Azula kicked and punched the air, sending streams of blue fire towards each. They attempted to dive off into the ground, but shackles of rock kept them in place. Seconds later, all that remained was three ashen skeletons. Gaara's eyes widened as his gourd dissolved into sand. A bright green sword flashed out and he seemingly teleported behind Azula, blocking a pillar of earth that would've struck her in the back. He slammed a palm into the side of the pillar and a scream echoed out from underground, followed by a sickening crunch.
He knelt to touch the ground. "They have been dispatched." Her hand was on the back of his neck, glowing red hot. "Where did you get that sword?" He shook his head. "Off the corpse of Jacob Hayes. The prince believed Ihara would not be enough. I claimed it as my reward." Her hand lifted. "He's dead? What a pity. I suppose you'll work for my plans, though. Now take us back to the palace." His finger twitched and they twisted into sand.
She held her stomach, but straightened up after a moment. "That is a very useful talent. I see why my brother keeps you around. Wait out here, Father tends to murder any earthbender he sees." He continued to stand stock still, even as a rocket-powered fist crashed through the doors. His gourd dissolved and formed a shield around him as the fist exploded into fire. It turned to glass immediately, fracturing and cracking. He stared nonplussed through the clear substance at the goateed man with the same hairstyle as Iroh, though it was still black compared to the other man's gray, with sheer unadulterated rage painted on his face. The glass finally shattered, but instead of dropping to the floor, it floated in midair for a moment before the shards pointed at the man as one and lunged in. His body exploded into a sea of flames as sand formed an equally titanic wall. He yanked Azula behind it, instants before she was burnt to a crisp. She held close to him before they warped away, onto the steps before the palace. "Do not attempt to enter until someone retrieves you." A swirl of sand and he was back in the fray. He ducked under a blast of fire that tore through the wall behind him, sending a spiraling lance of sand at his attacker.
"GAARA! FATHER! STOP!" Their attacks died out in unison, lance fading away into a harmless splash of sand and the fire turning into a few small embers. Zuko breathed a sigh of relief. "Introductions. Gaara, this is my father, Fire Lord Ozai. Father, this is Gaara, my retainer. He's sworn his life and loyalty to me." The sand poured back into his gourd as he placed one palm in front of his chest as if praying, the other balled up in a fist below it. "Pleased to make your acquaintance." Ozai sneered. "You may be able to fool my children, but you can't fool me. You're the icon. I can sense it." He shook his head, pulling the sword out of his gourd. "Perhaps you are sensing this. He gifted it to me upon his death, claiming that only someone who had slain him was worthy." He tossed the blade to Ozai, who caught it with some difficulty but managed to hold it up. He stared down at the blade in his hands, focusing on the ruby. Once satisfied, he threw the blade back. Gaara caught it deftly with his left hand and put it back in its proper place. "How long have you been with my son?" "One year, three months, two weeks, and six days. I have left his side once in that time, when he needed me to find someone. If you would please excuse me, I must go collect the daughter you nearly incinerated." He flickered away without another word.
His appearance brought Azula off her feet. "Is my father dead?" His face was deadpan as he said "No. I am learning more about emotions, and believe you may be feeling confused about his actions endangering you. Would you prefer to go somewhere else?" She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "My bedroom. And I'm not distressed. He probably had good reason for what he did." A moment later they were in a dimly lit room, with the color scheme plainly obvious. The canopy bed was neatly pressed, with pink sheets poking out from the red covers. She shed her armor and laid down. "You've saved my life twice today, and I don't want you to think I'm ungrateful," he was gone before she finished the sentence, leaving a pile of sand on the floor that read "Privacy. Swipe to call." She shook her head. 'Just who did my brother pick up on his travels?'
He reformed close to Zuko's side, fixing him with a look. "Spies?" He shook his head. "Speak freely. The servants aren't allowed in this wing." A trickle of sand came from his throat. When he spoke, his voice had turned back to that of Jacob. "I gotta say, I wasn't expecting your old man to know it was me. Am I famous around here or something?" He received a shrug. "You've been here as long as I have. I shouldn't have to say it, but fighting him would be a very, very bad idea. What you saw wasn't anywhere close to his full strength. The whole palace would've been leveled."
Gaara's head fell forward. "I expected as much from the ruler of the Fire Nation. That's why I decided to work so much on Sand Flicker, because I'm going to have to hightail it out of here fast, if worse comes to worse. So far, the plan's going smoothly. She's already decided I'll make a suitable replacement for myself, and is probably going to tell me what's up in a few days." Zuko nodded. "Good. Insist on my involvement, and if that doesn't work, then let me know what it is." Then he looked off to the side. "Are you still planning to kill her?" He shook his head. "No. I don't think taking her life is the right thing to do, not unless she was going to use me for something really heinous, like wiping out an entire tribe." He nodded. "In a war, the only people who should die are the ones that choose to fight. If I ever become Fire Lord, I'm going to draw up a set of things that nobody is allowed to do, no matter the circumstances. Genocide tops that list." He cracked his neck, making a sound like a firecracker going off. "I'll give you a hand. Maybe even give the other nations a chance to sign. It could make this war end a whole lot quicker."
Zuko's brow tightened. "You don't approve of the war, do you?" He stretched his fingers, small pop noises coming from them. "No. The Air Nomads are almost extinct, the Southern Water Tribe is the same story, and other than that, the map is virtually unchanged. If I could stop it myself, I would, in a heartbeat. This war is a failure at doing anything other than killing a whole lot of people, who've been born, lived, and died before it was over." Then he snickered. "Besides, the nomads had whole temples full of very flexible women. What I wouldn't give to go back a hundred years or so and have some fun there, it's such a loss." His cheeks reddened slightly. "That doesn't surprise me at all. You two could stand to be quieter."
A pair of arms draped around his neck from behind. "Why would we ever do that? Can my little brother not handle a few curse words?" Gaara's head swiveled to peck her on the cheek. "I think you're right, Ara. We'll need to get him used to them. Make sure to be extra loud tonight." Zuko shook his head. "No, definitely do not be. If my father ever finds out about this, he will kill you, no matter who he thinks you are." He hummed, thinking about it. "Fine, I guess we can skip tonight. I'll take you somewhere nice and secluded tomorrow to make up for it." "Mmm, now that sounds like fun." Someone knocked on the door and the sand trickled back into his mouth.
Iroh walked in. "I hope I am not intruding on anything, but there is a war council meeting in fifteen minutes. The Fire Lord wants both of you there. And you should probably go too, Gaara." He rubbed his forehead. "Hmm. I have a bad, bad feeling about this." He waved it off. "You said you had a bad feeling about going to Tin-Shui Island, and nothing happened at all. Stop worrying so much." 'Yeah, nothing except being told that some people know about icons, despite not being ones themselves, and slipping up and telling the White Lotus that I know who they are. Nothing happened at all.'
Skills: Sand Shield Lvl 6: 971/6000 "It's the perfect, impenetrable defense. Nobody can get past it." Sand will automatically protect you while this skill is active. It's pretty simple, not much to understand.
Costs: 45 SP per minute
Sand Flicker Lvl MAX: 6250/6250 "Shunshin no jutsu!" Use a burst of stamina to move quickly, almost to the level of teleportation, leaving sand behind to mask your departure. Special Trait: Intangible MAX Bonus: You can take up to five people along with you, for the cost of additional SP per person.
Costs: 75 SP per person per kilometer.
Cooldown: 5 seconds
Max distance travel: 15 km (One person)
Yes, Jacob did spend all 16 days training these two skills in specific. Sand Shield gains exp by blocking damage, so having someone wail away at him with fire and blades makes for effective training. Sand Flicker was done the hard way, teleporting all over the place, waiting 15 minutes for his SP to regenerate, then doing it again. Bending sand and crushing people counts as earthbending, hence the lack of a Sand Coffin and Sand Burial skill.
August 24th, 11:10 AM
Fire Nation Royal Palace
War Council Room
Their arrival was greeted with small nods and glances towards Gaara. He ignored them, following behind the three who he had arrived with. Instead of taking a seat, he chose to stand behind Zuko and Cheara, arms folded across his bare chest. His gaze was unwavering, staring down at the map lain on the table. 'I thought so. The Northern Water Tribe. They're planning the invasion.' It was fairly detailed, showing the bay with the capital of Agna Qel'a at the center, the twin mountain ranges that slashed across the icy continent, and even the two smaller islands to the east. Several settlements were labeled, most of them with numbers ranging from a few hundred to seventeen thousand at the most. The only ones marked were Agna Qel'a and a smaller target with approximately 200 people named Marksman's Peak, situated on the curved entrance to the bay.
"What is he doing here?" Those words came from the mouth of a man situated at the head of the table, wearing his brown hair in what must've been the most popular style in the Fire Nation. Zuko shook his head. "He's my retainer. Saying he does not belong here is the same as saying I do not." The man sneered. "Good, I can save my breath. I hate saying the same thing twice." Gaara's eyes snapped onto the man, fixing him with an intense gaze without moving his head. "If I hear you address the prince with such disrespect again, I'll kill you, Captain Zhao." His face stayed even, but a bead of sweat ran down his cheek towards his mutton-chops. "I meant no disrespect. The prince is only sixteen, and has little experience with large-scale battles. Useful input from him would be limited." He closed his eyes, the black rings melding into one thick line.
He opened his mouth and eyes at the same time. "Your point is valid. But if he is to succeed his father, it would be best for him to gain that experience, both on the field and in the council room. Agreed?" Zhao nodded. "So long as he knows why he is here, I see no problems with his presence." He was internally smirking at the display. 'Outside he's as cool as an ice cube, but I can feel his heart pounding. Imagine that, the great Zhao, afraid of a teenager with a little bit of sand.' One of the men on the side shook his head. "The first order of business is this. Captain Zhao, please rise." He did as commanded, pushing the chair out behind him. The second man walked over and presented him with two golden bars. "For twenty years of exemplary service, you are hereby granted the rank of Admiral of the Navy. Continue to serve with dignity and honor." They were placed onto his shoulders, turning each into a trio of small ones above a single thicker one. He bowed deeply. "Hail to Fire Lord Ozai, long may he reign. I will not fail in my duties."
Once everyone was reseated, the meeting continued. "Our second order of business is the invasion of the Northern Water Tribe. In a month and a half, we will launch our assault by sea. Admiral Zhao will be leading the attack on Agna Qel'a, while a smaller force led by Captain Fu will deal with Marksman's Peak. Admiral, how do you plan to accomplish this?" He stood up and held his hands behind his back. "As you well know, the city of Agna Qel'a is heavily fortified, with titanic walls of ice surrounding it in all areas except a narrow ten-degree slice at the very front. A classic strategy, to funnel any attackers into a choke point, enabling a much smaller force to fend off a large one. Effective, but with two glaring flaws."
Gaara decided to answer the unspoken question. "It fails when attacked from afar, or in the face of completely overwhelming manpower." He nodded. "Correct. The best strategy is a mix of both. A long range bombardment by 133 catapult ships to weaken their defenses, followed by a frontal assault. From the information our scouts have gathered, three ships can fit in the gap between the walls and into the city. I have already specially prepared the ships that will be boarding to fit as many men as possible, and they will be carrying fifteen percent of the invading force. Enough to cause substantial damage if it is successful, but not enough to cripple our assault if it fails." The men around the table murmured and nodded in assent.
He continued to walk around the table, standing behind the generals and other admirals. "Of course, with the water tribe's dwindling numbers and poor economic state, I expect them to fall within a week. Once Agna Qel'a has fallen, the rest of the surviving tribe will be thrown into disarray, and so long as we keep a close eye on them, will cease to be a threat for the rest of the war." He sat back down in his seat to polite clapping. "A good strategy, that will surely lead to a swift victory. Excellent work, admiral." Gaara's eyes shifted around the room, unsure of what he should do next. One of the generals, a gray-haired man with narrow eyes and a thin jaw, noticed his indecision. "Do you have something to say, earthbender?"
"I take no issue with the plan. Simple, but effective." He moved silently to the space between Cheara and the fat, bearded man next to her. His hand reached down towards the man's left and pulled it above the table. In one quick motion, he jerked it down and brought his knee up, snapping it and leaving the bones poking from the skin in a gory mess. "GAAAAAAAH!" His eyes were blazing hot, small flecks of teal showing up in the purple. "If you touch the princess' thigh again, the last three hours of your life will be intensely painful. She may not wish to make a scene, but I have no such qualms." The man rushed out of the room, gripping his arm as he went. He bowed to the table. "My apologies for the interruption. Please continue." The reactions were mixed, some of them frightened at the brutality, others nodding in approval as he moved back to his spot.
A man with flat brown hair and a pencil-thin mustache rose from his chair next. "Captain Zhan Wei Fu. My plan for dealing with Marksman's Peak is simple. They are a town of assassins that specialize in one-on-one combat, not grand displays of strength, and not all of the roughly two hundred there are fully trained. Eight ships with two legions between them are all I will need. Afterwards, I will rendezvous with Admiral Zhao and join the main fleet." His face didn't move at all. 'I'll be taking care of them first, then.' He received no applause, only small nods as he sat.
The man who had started the meeting rose once more. "The third order of business is this. As I am sure you have all noticed, there are two empty seats at the table, those of Admiral Arisaka and General Ihara. The latter's emptiness needs no explanation, but the former's is a deeply troubling matter. A boy of age sixteen named Jacob Hayes killed him on Kyoshi Island. It took the combined efforts of General Iroh, Prince Zuko, Princess Cheara, and Gaara the Earthbender to kill him." One of the men on the right shook his head. "If he is already dead, then what is the problem, General Gonjin?" Gonjin stroked his beard. "The problem is this; until approximately a year ago, there was no record of such a powerful individual existing. If the Earth Kingdom has been training an army of Jacobs in secret, and they are all of the same caliber as he was…" The room fell silent.
"Then we've lost the war." Everyone glared at Gaara. "I have only said what you are too afraid to." Gonjin nodded. "He's correct. Right now, we are in a stalemate with the Earth Kingdom, though it pains me to admit it. We have the advantage in terms of strength and technology, but their population grows nearly as fast as we can kill them. If they manage to produce even a few more… super soldiers like him, the balance could tip in their favor." Iroh spoke up. "Do not forget, he was only a boy. A fully grown man would be rivaled in terms of power by three people in the whole Fire Nation."
The air in the room was tense. Gaara shook his head. "You have not brought this up because it is an "if." There is another, is there not?" The room erupted in shouts. Gonjin slammed the table, silencing the officers. "Yes, and no. News has reached us of another teenager, this time a fifteen-year-old girl, traveling the Earth Kingdom in search of any and all Fire Nation military. A battalion of eighty soldiers challenged her, and none survived. She wields shock blue war fans, earning her the moniker of the second coming of Kyoshi. It is unclear whether or not they were trained the same way, as the reports of their fighting styles are vastly different." His eyes widened almost imperceptibly, brimming with pride. 'Suki? She's really turned into one kickass warrior, huh?' "You propose to have her killed." He exhaled. "No. I am telling all of you to issue an order to your men; if you see her, retreat immediately. Nobody short of our very best has a chance of defeating her. That is all, this meeting of the War Council is adjourned." The back of his head itched. He leaned down to Zuko's ear and said "I'm being summoned. May I take my leave?" The curt nod was all he needed.
August 24th, 5:30 PM
Fire Nation Royal Palace
Azula's Bedroom
He knocked on the door. "Come in." He didn't bother opening it, instead choosing to Flicker inside. *Ding!* '1 point earned for CON. I was getting worried, that hasn't happened for almost three weeks now.' Azula was standing, clothed in more casual wear than her armor, consisting of a red robe and black pants that went to her mid-calves. "What happened inside the war council meeting?" His eyes narrowed. "There was likely a reason you were not included. I doubt my divulging such information would be treated lightly." She rolled her eyes, a small smile forming on her face. "Nobody will punish you for a harmless conversation with a friend. Come now, you can tell me." He looked confused for a moment. "Friends?" He rolled the word over his tongue for a moment, as though it was completely foreign to him.
He finally nodded, eyes stirring in confliction. "Okay, um, "friend." Captain Zhao is now Admiral Zhao, there is an invasion of the Northern Water Tribe scheduled in a month, and there is a girl that has sworn vengeance on me for the killing of Jacob Hayes, currently fulfilling the role he played." Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "An invasion of the- and that doesn't shock you?" He shook his head. "No. Admiral Zhao and Captain Fu will be leading it. Do you intend to participate?" She frowned and closed her eyes. "This is horrible timing. You'll be going along with Zuko, then?" He shook his head again. "The prince desires the comforts of home after such a long period of time away. Though I believe he does not include you in that category."
She waved her hand in the air. "Our relationship is not what you'd call perfect, or even good." He frowned. "Family is supposed to care for one another. Yours is one of the first I have witnessed break this cardinal rule. Banishing a son for being unwilling to harm his father, stealing the throne from your brother's fingertips, nearly killing your own daughter in a battle frenzy… it makes me glad for my orphanhood." She smirked. "Oh, our family? That's just the way it is. My mother killed my grandfather, who was planning to kill Zuko. So you're an orphan? Do you remember either of them?" 'Now how do I handle this? Let's go for something that's almost the truth.' "My mother was one of the most beautiful women I ever saw. She had hair just like mine, and an infectious smile. My brother liked to play with puppets, and my sister was as fast as the wind. They both had her smile, something I lack." She toyed with a strand of her hair. "So you didn't know your father?"
"My father enjoyed shoving knives into women and children." The ease with which he said it made her draw a sharp breath. "You mean…" He nodded. "I saw him butcher them in front of my eyes." He took a deep, shaky breath. "First, he went for my mother, arms open, as if to hug her. Then the knife plunged into her back. I was five at the time, and I failed to comprehend what had happened. He set upon my brother next, catching him in the throat. The spray of blood went all over the house, and even my childish mind knew something was wrong. Thankfully, I was what he set upon next. I watched as the glistening red metal came down at me. That was the first time it happened. The sand blocked it, curled up around his arm, and seconds later crushed him into a bloody pulp. The desert protected me, it recognized me as its own." Her mouth was open in horror. "What happened to your sister?" A small smile tugged at his lips. "I said thankfully for a reason. She is alive and well, living peacefully in a small mountain town. She was the only reason I had to live until a year ago."
They sat in silence for a moment on the sand benches he had conjured. She opened her mouth to speak several times, then thought better of it. Finally "Are you okay?" came out. He nodded. "Yes. Are you?" Her head whipped up towards him so fast her hair nearly flew out of place. "What? Why would I not be okay?" He shook his head. "Your pain is obvious. The source, I do not know." Shock paved the way for a flash of anger. "It's obvious?! You're right, you don't know a single thing about me!" He stared at her deadpan. "Yes. That is why I asked." Her anger faded into exasperation. "What else did I expect? You're so blunt it hurts." He blinked and rose, inspecting her. "How have I injured you? My apologies." She waved him off. "An expression. I'm perfectly fine."
He shook his head. "You were about to tell me why you were not." She drew the curtains aside from the room's lone window to a perfect view of the setting sun, only a sliver left above the horizon. "Perhaps another day. It's quite late, and I need my beauty sleep." He nearly left before a sensation traveled up his feet. "Earthbenders know when you lie." He disappeared in a swirl of sand, leaving her with a shocked look on her face.