Hey all! Again, just wanted to say thank you for all the support I've been getting for this story! It really drives me to keep posting chapters! Anyways, this chapter I had written bits and pieces for a little while ago and some portions are really relevant to life in general. I hope you all enjoy it!
Aang woke up before the sun began to peak over the horizon. They needed the cover of night to make their initial approach towards the fleet. If they were spotted before they could begin their coordinated strike, it would make reaching their targets that much more difficult.
Aang got up quickly and began putting his armor on. How did I go from being a monk to being a warrior? Aang thought to himself. If his friends and teachers from 100 years ago could see him now, how would they react? Would they judge me? Would they be disgusted that I've turned from my pacifism?
Aang shook off these thoughts. "I'm not surrendering my ideals, I'm being flexible to the situations around me." Aang finished aloud. This made sense to him. How could he remain so ridged as an Airbender that he was blind to the situations that were going on around him.
The Fire Nation was in fact attacking the Northern Water Tribe. He had not gone on an offensive himself in a bid for conquering the world, so why had he judged himself so much for it? Because I inherently judge myself for everything. This had been a trait Aang was well aware of himself having over the past few months. One that Toph and Yianna were more than willing to point out to him.
He laughed at this, realizing that it was a part of him that he had made strides in improving upon.
As he put on his last piece of armor, he let those thoughts drain from his mind so he could focus on the task ahead. He grabbed his staff and made his way down to the courtyard. As Aang made his way over to the chief, he saw a commotion of warriors running to and fro, getting into their positions and preparing their defenses. Some Waterbenders had begun fortifying positions and creating ice barriers to protect homes and other fortifications from incoming fire from the day ahead. Aang hoped he could mitigate the destruction that the city would experience but knew it would not be an easy task.
When he reached the chief, he saw that Yianna had already arrived.
"Good morning Aang." She said has she turned to face him. "Take these."
Aang looked down to see she was giving him the most beautiful gold and blue arm braces. "I don't know what to say besides these are beautiful. Thank you." He said as his eyes widened.
Yianna smiled at this: "I thought you would like them, they'll provide a little bit of extra protection to block fire with in a pinch." She said. "Plus they'll match the ones I have myself!" She finished with a smile, showing him her matching pair in blue and white.
Aang smiled at this and bowed slightly, accepting the gift gratefully: "Thanks Yianna, this means a lot to me."
She just shook her head and gave him a tight hug. "Let's be careful today okay? No unnecessary risks out there." She said to him, almost in a whisper.
Aang just nodded in agreement: "Let's make sure we both get back in one piece." Aang finished.
Arnook spoke after their brief exchange: "Are you both ready?" Aang and Yianna both nodded. "Then I give you my blessing, be safe in the battle ahead." Arnook said.
Aang looked down at his staff: "Can you hold this for me till I get back, I don't think I will be needing it today." Aang said, preferring both of his hands to be free to bend with. This really spoke volumes to how he had progressed as a bender. Prior, he would take his staff everywhere, focusing on Airbending as his primary bending source, but in the North Pole, surrounded by water, it felt more natural for him to focus on Waterbending instead.
Arnook agreed and accepted the staff. "I will hold this until you return, I will pray while I do." Arnook said.
Aang smiled at this and turned to Yianna. "Are you ready?" Aang said.
Yianna, nodded: "Let's go."
Just then Katara came running towards them: "Wait! Aang!" She called out before they could both leave. Aang looked over at Katara and back at Yianna who was giving her an unreadable look. Turning his attention back to Katara he began to speak: "You made it to see us off." Aang started.
Katara smiled at him nervously: "Wouldn't miss it for anything. Please be careful today Aang." She continued.
Aang smiled and rubbed the back of his head: "I will."
He was about to turn and leave with Yianna when Katara continued: "No staff?" She said with a look of confusion on her face.
Aang just smiled and shook his head: "I don't think I need it today, I gave it to Chief Arnook to take care of. I gotta go, remember, we have practicing to do later tonight." Aang finished.
With that both took off into a run towards the front wall. Katara waved them off and watched them disappear into the still early morning darkness… Towards the ships and their mission.
As Yianna and Aang glided on the water's surface towards the ships, Aang spoke: "What was that look you gave Katara earlier?" The question came as a bit of a surprise to Yianna, though she quickly recovered: "I guess I don't fully trust her yet. That's going to take some time to do after what happened between you both." Yianna started, quickly continuing: "I just want to make sure you don't get hurt by allowing them back into your life so quickly."
Aang nodded at this: "Thank you for protecting me, admittedly I do let people in quickly, but to let them in on a deeper level, that's something else and that's only you and Toph at this point. It will take time for the others." Aang finished, glancing over at Yianna. She was stunned and couldn't come up with the words to say.
Aang continued: "Alright we are coming up on our first target." Aang said as he dipped under the water. Yianna followed.
They pushed themselves up through a stream of water onto the deck, avoiding the watchmen as they moved across the deck in stealth. Coming up behind the first guard, Yianna froze him in his spot, preventing him from sounding the alarm. She crossed over the deck to where Aang was. He was working on disabling the trebuchet. Aang sent a current of water through the mechanics of the device, freezing the water in place. As the water expanded into ice, the hinges and joints began to split under the pressure, causing the trebuchet to fall apart in front of them. Unfortunately, the noise was loud enough to alert the remaining deck crew of their presence.
"We are under attack!" One of the soldiers said as he launched a fireball at Aang and Yianna who quickly doused it with a wall of water brought up by the ocean. Soon multiple offenders were on the deck charging Aang and Yianna, shooting fire at them as they advanced. Working in unison, Aang and Yianna were able to dodge and evade all of the attacks that were hurled their way.
"Let's go on the offensive." Yianna said, smirking at Aang.
"Thought you'd never ask." Aang responded back as he ushered a stream of water towards Yianna that she was able to use to advance on the soldiers herself.
The soldiers were surprised at this, setting them off their footing momentarily. Yianna, seeing this, took advantage of their momentary surprise and landed in front of them. Ushering the water up around her she blocked their initial volley of flames, turning some of the water into steam. Using this to her advantage, she swung the water around herself like a whip, knocking her offenders over. Aang quickly came behind her, freezing them in place. At this point, the alarms had been set off and other ships were now being alerted of their presence. Quickly, Aang and Yianna made their way to the engine space located at the back of the ship. Taking ocean water and freezing it, they send a large blade of ice through the engine space, disabling the ship in its place.
Both were sweating at this point. "Quick, back into the water!" Yianna called over to Aang. He nodded as they both dove into the cool water below them, disappearing from the enemy view. They remained under the water as they made their way towards the next ship which they knew to be one of the advanced landing craft. Coming up just above the water line, Aang was quickly met with fire blasts from the ships decks. "Cover me!" Aang said to Yianna, barely avoiding another blast.
Quickly, Yianna came up beside him, blocking attacks as they came. Aang began forming a wave in front of himself. Using all of his strength he sent the wave at the bow of the ship, causing the front battering ram to detach from the hull, effectively disabling the ship.
Slipping back under water, they avoided yet another volley of flames that hurled towards them. Things had been going exactly to plan and this could clearly be seen from the front wall of the Northern Water Tribe. Cheers were going up as warriors saw the chaos ensue from the ships in front of them. Explosions rang out.
Katara stayed watching intently on the wall, seeing every ship Aang and Yianna continued to disable, every fire ball they blocked and narrowly dodged. It was nerve racking to her. I should be out there! I should be doing something! She told herself as she gripped the wall tightly.
Chief Arnook walked up beside her. "Sometimes the call of the warrior isn't to fight with fists, weapons, or bending. Sometimes that fight must be fought internally. The internal fight is often the hardest of them all to manage because unlike the fight that your young friend is facing right now" he said gesturing to the fight Aang was currently undergoing: "you do not know the face of the enemy as of yet. One day you will come to the realization that the enemy is none other than yourself. It is the face that tells you that you cannot, that you will not, and that you will never. The face that says you aren't good enough or strong enough or just enough. It is the face that holds you back, that keeps you up at night, and that forces you to inaction." The last sentence he looked directly at Katara: "But I tell you, that face is nothing but a liar."
Katara was silent: "I…"
"The biggest disservice that you do to yourself and others is to believe that lie." Arnook continued. "We can do anything we put our mind to if we take the moment to look our enemy in the face and say: not today. Today I fight for myself, for my friends, for my family, for my future. I fight to better myself and those around me through words and action."
"When you realize that, you become a true warrior, greater than any bender or swordsman." Arnook finished.
Katara didn't know what to say, but tears welled up in her eyes. "For the longest time, I've felt powerless, like because I haven't mastered Waterbending, I'm somehow less of a person then I should be."
Arnook nodded: "Waterbending is a gift that is not bestowed on every Watertribesman, myself included. That does not make me any less of a person as a result. I do not regret not being able to bend myself, in fact, I believe it made me the person and leader I am today because I was not able to bend. Forge your own path Katara. If that means learning and mastering bending as I believe it does, then set your sights on it and succeed." Arnook finished, smiling down on her.
Katara smiled back: "I will."
At this, Arnook handed Aang's staff to her: "Pray to the spirits for your friend, his fight has only just begun." Arnook said as he began walking away from the wall.
Katara accepted the staff and clutched it close to her body, praying hard that Aang would make it through this and back to her.
On the lead ship, general Zhao burst onto the command bridge. "What is the meaning of this!" Zhao started, burning the ends of his sleeves in anger. General Iroh responded: "It appears the young Avatar and a female bender have begun a surprise attack which is focused on targeting our lead ships, trebuchets, and advanced landing ships that we were to use to break through the ice wall." Iroh finished calmly.
Zhao was furious: "How many ships have they destroyed!" He asked loudly.
Iroh responded calmly: "Approximately 7 craft have been disabled thus far."
Just then, another explosion burst out in front of them: "Make that 8 craft." Iroh corrected.
Zhao looked at their pattern of attack intently: "It looks like they are heading from ship to ship, straight down the line." Zhao started. Grinning wickedly he continued: "Open fire on whatever ship they land on."
Iroh turned shocked at Zhao's command: "Surely you do not mean to fire on our own men!"
Zhao turned away, walking back towards the doorway. "Make sure my orders are carried out captain, the Dragon of the West no longer appears to have the stomach for the tough choices of war." The captain just bowed, beginning to relay orders to the other ships who prepared to fire short range at the lead ships.
As the first volley was sent out, Iroh quickly breathed out: "What have we done?"
Hope you enjoyed this chapter!