3- The Journey Begins.
Three days later, in some harbor of the Fire Nation at night, was a lot of movement going on. A great fleet composed by many ships was preparing for sailing. It was the fleet that was going to fight the great collective invasion force to the Fire Nation's capital and they were making the last checks for everything. The battalion of Colonel Packard was arriving and they're going to embark on the main boat. Of course some of them weren't happy of this new mission, no matter how important it could look. Just the contrary, they're disappointed, even mad of having to do that when they were supposed to have a good deserved rest since a while finally.
"I can't believe we're doing this. Are you guys kidding me? A day away. One day away! And no, now we gotta go with another fleet in order to fight another enemy fleet, and with benders." Mills expressed displeased as he didn't like the change of plans.
"The Water Tribe fleets don't have benders, stupid." Cole rectified.
"The ones of the northern tribe do have, like the one from that ambush that happened to us on an island. Like Ember Island, and that's exactly where I need to be right now, with an umbrella over my head. They couldn't decide another time for invading us."
"We don't know when we would get invaded. That's how invasions work."
"You ain't funny, Cole."
"You think this is something funny?" A serious voice said, catching them off guard and left them frozen in fear and nervous as they saw Prince Iroh in front of them with crossed arms and with a frown face.
"Oh, Prince Iroh!" Mills responded bowing at him immediately, followed by the rest of his teammates. "No, Your Highness, of course. We're just…"
"An invasion to our capital isn't something funny, but serious. My father has chosen you among all battalions of the army because you're some of the best. You should be honored of being chosen for this important mission, and I hope you give the best of you."
"Yes, Your Highness." Cole answered before Iroh embarked on the ship. "Good call of you, pal." He reproached Mills for the prince scolding at them.
"So it's my fault?" Mills defended. "Nobody told us that Prince Iroh would accompany us on this mission. Yeah, it must be that important if he comes too."
The group ended embarking the ship too. A few minutes later the fleet sailed off toward open sea. At the same time, very far from there, on Kyoshi Island in nighttime too, the secret meeting for the expedition was taking place. The boat chosen for the expedition, the Athena, was docked back on the other side of the island to avoid possible enemy presence. The harbor was guarded by members of the Kyoshi Warriors, the special female group that protected the island from all kinds of threats for its inhabitants. Now they were aware of any suspicious individuals that could try to infiltrate the ship. Conrad and his friends, the Beifong couple, were heading toward the secret harbor and it didn't take them long to find the ship and identify themselves as some of the ones assigned to the ship and its crew. Bato and Hakoda were also there as additional security near the catwalk and checked that the trio were in the list. Meanwhile, Princess Ursa, who was already on the island and disguised as some ordinary worker girl wearing some green and brown Earth Kingdom clothes, came to the harbor acting like a normal non-royal person, something not hard for her actually as she was that type of person long before she became royalty, although she was a little nervous and worried of if something would go wrong and somebody would suspect a thing about her. Once she saw the ship Ursa walked toward it, but right at the Water Tribe boys too.
"Excuse us, miss. Can we help you somehow? You look like lost." Hakoda offered kindly.
"Oh no, no." Ursa responded. "Is not that. You see, I'm part of the working crew, and I'm supposed to be in the ship's warehouse taking care of the inventory by now."
"Oh, okay. Then you better get going. You're lucky to have arrived just in time. We're almost ready to go." Bato remarked.
"And in case you need some help, you can count on us." Hakoda assured.
"Thank you. I'll keep it in mind." Ursa thanked the boys as she started to embark. "Glad to know that there some good gentlemen onboard here."
"Wait miss. We still don't know your name." Bato recalled.
"Oh, right. Noriko. My name is Noriko." Ursa answered.
"That's some good name. Alright, we hope you enjoy your stay in our journey, Noriko."
Ursa/Noriko nodded while smiling at them.
"There is no doubt that Kya has become a good influence on you. Now you look like a little improved yourself." Bato teased with a smirk at his pal.
Hakoda laughed a little nervous at that comment. "Yeah, well. One can always try to be a little better, with the right help."
"Well, you can put that in practice again. There's another woman coming at us right now."
Bato was referring to Weaver, who also arrived at the harbor and walked at them.
"Hey, you boys are Water Tribe, right?" Weaver asked at the two boys curious.
"Yes, we are or we wouldn't be wearing these." Hakoda confirmed pointing at his outfit.
Weaver sighed in relief. "Thank the spirits. I knew this was the place and boat. Mason Weaver, painter."
Bato took out the scroll with the list of the names of the ones that should come and looked for her name, even if it didn't sound like a woman's name. "Yes, here it is. But…I've never heard a name like that. Mason Weaver…is a woman's name? No offense." He said cordially.
Weaver chuckled at the teenager comment. "No, is not. And yes, it is. Last time I checked."
"Where do you come from?" Hakoda asked.
"Well, if I tell you, probably you wouldn't believe it, but…I can tell you is the last place you could expect."
Both friends became stunned of what the woman was talking about.
"No way. You come from the Fire Nation?!" Hakoda said in disbelief.
"Yep, in disguise. Two years in country, and with nobody able to catch me until now." Weaver reassured.
"Wow, you have been in the worst place. You have our respects." Bato complimented as he and Hakoda bowed to her. "And what do you do exactly?"
"I'm an anti-war painter. My goal is to make people of the Fire Nation to know what they are doing to the rest of the world. I know what happened to your people many years ago. I'm so sorry." Weaver said giving them her sincerest condolences. "It must be so hard for you."
"Thank you, ma'am, and that's good to know. People like you give us so much support, and an important reason to keep on fighting."
"Thank you. Sometimes non warrior people and non bender people can find out some other ways to fight the war. Some that even the Fire Nation don't expect and neither know how to react."
"You're right." Hakoda agreed. "Paints are way more dangerous than weapons and bending. And we also hope to find in this expedition something that can helps us to put an end to it as soon as possible. Or that is what they have told us."
"I hope you're right too. The world could need it." Weaver admitted. "Cheer up, guys. We'll find it out in this journey, together." She assured putting a hand on Hakoda's shoulder and giving them a smile before embarking.
That took out some good smiles on the Water Tribe boys, seeing that even if it didn't look like that, there were lots of people around the world who supported them and thought like them. Some time later, the Athena sailed off Kyoshi Island and once the island was at the distance there could be seen the fleet composed by forces of the Northern Water Tribe, the Southern Water Tribe and the Earth Kingdom, with the Athena joining them and getting ahead of them. Shortly later, everyone was in the ship's meeting room, including most of the members and warriors of the fleet, reunited in order to being informed about the expedition, its purpose and their plan of action.
"Hello and welcome. I'm Victor Nieves, field supervisor of this expedition." The man in charge of the presentation introduced himself in front of everyone present there. "This is my colleague Steve Woodward, our scroll wrangler." Nieves said introducing his pal, who smiled at the joke while some people chuckled at it, before going next to a blackboard behind him with big papers with images drawn on them, with the first one saying 'Top Secret'. "Our expedition takes us to a place every nautical route known to man has avoided for centuries." He told changing the paper to another one with the picture of Skull Island surrounded by some big storm, something that left intrigued many of those present in the room. "For what we know from very ancient texts and the only existing map, the island is surrounded by a perpetual storm system, allowing it to remain hidden from the outside world. But with our fellow waterbending masters from the Northern Water Tribe, we will be the first to break through to the other side. We're also pleased to be joined, for the first time, by the resource exploration team, led by Mr. Randa and accompanied by biologist, Miss San, and geologist, Mr. Brooks." Nieves said introducing Randa, Brooks and a young woman of light skin, brown eyes and long down black hair wearing also a diadem put on top of her head called San. "Our focus will be on the island's surface, theirs, what lies beneath. With our combined efforts, we hope to find anything rare and unique that could help us to turn the tide of the war on our side. That's the main reason of this journey."
That made most of the ones present to mumble between them, wondering what could that be.
"Mr. Brooks." Nieves called.
"Simple, really." Brooks said as he walked next to the other side of the blackboard and showed some papers with pictures of some strategic movement on the south part of the island and a seismic charge bomb. "We'll use explosives to shake the earth and create vibrations helping us to map the subsurface of the island, thanks to our special devices. We'll station ourselves next to the south shore with some catapults and then strategically drop seismic charges launched from distance to better help us understand the density of the earth."
"Excuse me. Have you said…seismic charges?" Hakoda asked confused and surprised.
"Is that some new kind of bomb?" Lao Beifong asked intrigued too.
"You're dropping bombs? Or launching them?" Conrad added with crossed arms.
"Mmm…scientific instruments." Brooks rectified. "We created them based on earthbending, most of all the badger moles."
Noriko/Ursa, who was also present in the room, paid close attention to everything they were talking about.
"You hear that, boys? We're scientists now!" Bato said loud for the rest of their companions, that took that as a joke and chuckled.
"You guys are not scientists." Steve contradicted, not finding that funny, as he knew how serious was his and his companions' work.
"We'll then secure the zone and make base camp for ground excursions led by Mr. Conrad and the Beifong." Nieves talked next before calling the leading captain of the Southern Water Tribe in charge of the military side of the mission. "Captain."
"All right. Once on the island, the storm's interference will block all possible way to contact with the fleet. That means we'll be by ourselves." The Water Tribe captain instructed as he passed another paper showing the north part of the island and some ship nearby. "Three days later, the refuel team will meet us here on the north end of the island. That may be our only safe departure window for an unknown period of time. So, tip for everybody, don't miss it, please."
Some time later after the reunion, Conrad was having a walk on deck while seeing everyone getting everything ready for any possible attack from a Fire Nation fleet, in case they came to encounter with one. Next, he decided to enter the ship's store and checked the ship's cargo. Among them he could visualize the boxes where the supposed seismic bombs were stored while cannot avoid but wondering what was the real purpose of that mission. But he wasn't the only one sneaking inside there as he could see. But he didn't seem surprised or like caught off guard by seeing it was Weaver.
"What are you doing down here?" Conrad asked her.
"I could ask you the same thing." Weaver said back as she walked at him. "Why does a geological mapping mission need explosives?"
"You weren't listening in class. Seismic charges for the geological survey." Conrad corrected while they walked side to side.
Weaver nodded at him. "Uh-huh. You believe that?"
"I didn't say that."
"Have you met the captain yet?"
"No. I'm also a newbie here, but I've never met anyone of Water Tribe."
"Same here. What about your Earth Kingdom friends? What do they have to do here?"
Conrad then stood face to face to her, as it seemed he didn't like that question. "Don't put my friends in this. You can say or think anything about me, but leave the Beifong out of this issue." Conrad said serious.
Weaver didn't expect that. In fact, she looked surprised. "Wait, those…are the Beifong?" Conrad nodded at her, as she looked a little sorry and ashamed. "Oh, I…I'm sorry. I didn't know."
Conrad looked like he accepted her apologize as he stepped back a little. "Alright then. And about you? Isn't recording a mapping mission with paintings a step down for a painter?"
"The right picture can help shape opinions, specially in the Fire Nation."
"And becoming you the top wanted person in the place."
"Okay, Captain Conrad. What about you? How did Ba Sing Se Special Forces get dragged into this?"
"Just "Conrad". I'm decommissioned."
"Mmm-hmm." Weaver nodded, suspecting about it.
"They offered me money, and I owned my friends one last trip."
"You don't strike me as a mercenary." Weaver admitted.
"You don't strike me as a war painter." Conrad admitted too.
"Anti-war painter."
The pair stood looking at each other. Maybe they both suspected a thing or two about that mission, but they could see that neither of them was a bad person, as they seemed to understand each other more than they believed. Meanwhile, outside on deck, the Beifong couple was watching the sea while cuddling together.
"You know Lao? I wonder how this new island will be." Poppy said to her mate.
"Me too. I hope this one to be different from the others. From what they told us, this one seems to be promising." Lao answered.
"Well, I don't think that to be the most appropriated word for that." A new voice said, who was Bato accompanied by Hakoda that were walking there and stood next to them.
"Oh, hello."
"Hi. We haven't introduced ourselves yet." Hakoda began cordially. "I'm Hakoda, this is my best friend, Bato. We're from the Southern Water Tribe."
"Yeah, it looks obvious by your clothes." Poppy expressed before chuckling a little.
"I'm Lao Beifong, and this is my wife, Poppy." Lao introduced himself and his wife.
Both Hakoda and Bato didn't expect this, as both showed some funny stunned faces.
"You're married and that young? Wow." Hakoda expressed surprised. "Well, then congratulations."
"Yeah, we didn't know it." Bato added rubbing his head with his hand a little embarrassed. "So, you're Earth Kingdom." The Beifong couple nodded at this. "From which place do you come from?"
"Gaoling. You have in front of you the young nobles of the flying boar." Lao declared in some dramatic tone and making some modest and funny pose, making his wife to chuckle.
"No way! You're nobles?!"
"And what are you doing here on some island expedition?" Hakoda asked.
"We came with James Conrad. He's the one who's going to lead the exploration groups, once we get to the island." Poppy answered.
"Ah yes. We heard that too back there, and we saw him."
"I gotta admit. I didn't expect that we're going to need a great escorting fleet, but…because of the times we're going through, it doesn't surprise me." Lao admitted while seeing some of the other ships.
"Indeed. This turned to be some very crucial mission. Let's hope it doesn't end up becoming a waste of time." Bato said.
"By the way, what did you mean that place to not be probably something promising? What do you know about that island?" Poppy recalled from his comment of before.
"From what Mr. Randa told us back in the South Pole, that place seems to be some kind of ancient and forgotten place, but also enigmatic, mysterious and sinister. Besides, it has some very disturbing name: Skull Island, and it really has some shape that resemblance that."
"Yeah, that's something I also thought back in the meeting. That's not a good omen really." Lao confessed.
"He also said that island was like some kind of forbidden place for the spirits, somewhere where they weren't welcome. And also that countless ships disappeared there through lots of years." Hakoda continued.
"That doesn't sound good either."
"And you really believe that?" Poppy asked the Water Tribe boys.
Hakoda sighed. "I don't know, but after knowing that it has some never-ending storm that keeps it isolated from the rest of the world, I've a bad feeling about this."
"I guess that…we'll only figure it out once we reach there." Bato said.
"That's what worries me."
The group of four was not aware that someone was watching them from behind, on the other side of the ship. It was Noriko/Ursa, who looked like she was curious of their conversation and stood there hearing at them before she retreated back, hiding on some dark part of the ship's cover and wearing some coat while she prepared some message, gave it to a messenger hawk and sent it flying off. The message talked about what she heard on the secret meeting, especially the plan. Once she made sure that nobody saw or heard her hawk, she went back to the deck.
Then Hakoda spotted her. "Hey Noriko. You wanna come here with us?" He called.
Noriko/Ursa was at first startled of possibly being discovered, but later she relaxed at what Hakoda said, although she stood a little nervous. "Who, me? Really? It doesn't bother you?"
"Of course not. Come on, join us."
Noriko/Ursa have no idea of what to say. She didn't expect something like that to happen to her on that trip, but she felt a good feeling inside of her because of that, something that made her smile. At the end, she accepted and went at their side to join the conversation. She had to admit…that sensation was really good. It was like the days back when she had friends that she knew, talked with and they did fun, entertainment and memorial things together. And that…reminded her like the old days, before she became the princess of the Fire Nation. Sometime later, hundreds of miles far from there was the Fire Nation fleet with the mission of intercept and eliminate the water-earth joint fleet before their invasion plans could begin. Ursa's messenger hawk reached the commanding ship, received by some of Packard's men that after reading the message went to the commanding bridge in order to bring the princess' report to his superior, Colonel Packard, who was there in charge of everything.
"Maintain course. Stable speed and unchanged until further notice." Packard instructed.
"Yes sir." Responded the captain.
Then he heard someone entering inside. It was his second in command, Chapman, with someone else.
"Colonel, someone here wants to meet you." Chapman reported after bowing and stepping aside, revealing that said person was Prince Iroh.
"Ah, Prince Iroh. It's a true honor joining us here." Packard greeted as they bowed to each other in respect.
"The honor is mine, Colonel. I've heard great things about you and your men." Iroh said.
"I see that our fame precedes us. My men are eager to prove their worth."
"I'm sure they will do." Iroh said, but he looked a little anxious, something that both Packard and Chapman noticed.
"Are you alright, Your Highness?"
"Before I left, my brother Ozai demanded me to ensure Ursa to return safe and sound. Knowing my brother as I know, that doesn't sound of him."
"Maybe he's just worried about his future wife's safety."
"Him? Caring for her? Highly unlikely. My brother uses to agree with everything our father decides blindly. So when he told him that Ursa was going to be his future wife, he took it as a order. So for him, now she is of his property, and I know how he behaves when something of his is at risk."
"Yes, he is hard-headed boy. Sincerely, I wouldn't be pleased if he came here in your place. No offense."
Iroh laughed at what the colonel said about Ozai. "Non taken. I think you two would end in an Agni Kai before this mission could even begin."
That also made the both Packard and Chapman to laugh about. "I think you and I are going to get along just fine." Packard opined.
That moment, someone entered in a hurry.
"Sir! Your Highness!" The soldier with the message said as he tried to catch his breath.
"Wow, easy Slivko. What's the matter?" Packard said.
"We got a message, from Princess Ursa." Slivko reported, offering the message to his superior.
Packard took it as he, Iroh and Chapman stood on his sides to read it as well. After read her report, the colonel smiled and chuckled a little.
"So…that's how it is. They have been in our reach all this time." He expressed before turning at the captain. "Captain, full speed ahead! The same course. At this rate we'll catch them in a few days. "Chapman, prepare all troops. Tell them to check that everything is checked and ready, in case there is any immediate deployment to be done."
"Yes, sir." Chapman nodded before leaving the bridge with Slivko.
"I don't know, colonel. There is something wrong here according to what Ursa said in her report. If they are a united invasion force, why are they traveling to some uncharted part of the ocean? To an unexplored and unknown island?" Iroh questioned, seeing that something didn't seem like their spies said.
"That's why, Your Highness. Said island is their secret beachhead. No one would suspect any invasion fleet coming from there."
"I'm not sure. It sounds too easy, or too risky."
"Well, I'm telling you that we'll make that island the place where they'll have their last battle." Packard declared confident of the incoming success of their mission.
"I hope so, colonel, and I hope you're not mistaken." Iroh said before leaving the bridge, while the colonel kept his sight to the front and the sea, eager to meet his opponents with a frowned but determined and smirking face.