Chapter Twenty One
The Price of Mercy
Iroh stood beside his nephew on the lowest deck above the water line. Zuko was clad in a gray tunic and dark cloak, and he worked to lower a one man craft into the water. Zuko had his Dao swords on his back, and slowly lowered the boat down.
Iroh watched, and helped his nephew when needed. He was supposed to be meeting with Zhao and Azula, but this was more important. His nephew, who he loved as his own son, was about to set out on a mission to capture the Avatar. Again. Despite his realization of the unjustness of this hundred year war, he set out to capture the Avatar. The only chance for the war coming to an end.
Zuko for some reason believed that if he did this, then his father would heed his pleas and end the war voluntarily. Iroh understood that that would never happen, and it would only serve to get him imprisoned or banished once again, and perhaps even killed outright,
"Prince Zuko, tell me again what your plan is?" He said cautiously.
His nephew stiffened. "Uhh.."
Iroh closed his eyes. He breathed slowly. The young man before him didn't tell him of his plan before, despite what Iroh might have said. Judging by Zuko's response, he assumed that he didn't have one. The plan that they had cooked up together only went so far as to get them here.
"First I have to find and capture the Avatar." Zuko said at last.
"And then what?"
"I'll figure something out!"
"Zuko! This is exactly what happened at the Ilah stronghold! You got him out, and then you had to fight for freedom! What would have happened if they hadn't taken you with them!?"
"I would have figured something out!" Zuko snapped.
"No! You would have been taken to the Fire Lord in chains and tried for treason! You never think these things through!" Iroh said, his voice raised.
"I-" Zuko unleashed a breath of fire. "I'll think of something. I have to do this, it's the only way I can end the war!"
"Ah, yes, ending the war by capturing the only person who can stop the Fire Lord from destroying the world!" Iroh said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I am begging you, Prince Zuko, think before you act! Why must you capture the Avatar? To restore your honor? Your honor was never lost! Nothing you did that day was dishonorable. You spoke against the pointless sacrifice of inexperienced soldiers, and then you refused to fight your father and Fire Lord!"
Zuko looked as if his uncle had slapped him. He staggered a step and braced himself against the gunnel. He wiped his quickly, and regained his footing. He took a deep breath.
"I…" Zuko trailed off. He was glad to hear that his uncle believed him to be honorable, and that he had never lost his in the first place. Even still, he had to capture the Avatar. It was the only way he could think to end the war. If he captured him, then his father would listen to him, he would have to.
"I know what I have to do, I know my destiny, Uncle."
"Is it your destiny? Or one that somebody else has thrust upon you?"
Zuko turned away at his uncle's words. He gripped the railing of the gunnel tightly. Iroh placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Prince Zuko, whatever you decide to do, I will stand with you. I love you, my nephew. Ever since I lost my son, I-" Iroh's voice became thick with emotion.
"I know, Uncle. You don't have to say it."
"I think of you as my own. I only want what's best for you, Prince Zuko. When you get to the Avatar, ask yourself the big questions. Who are you? What do you want?"
Zuko nodded, and embraced the old general. They held each other for a few moments, and then Zuko descended the rope ladder to his small craft.
"Be careful! Remember your breath of fire, it could save your life!"
Iroh watched as his nephew paddled the small boat away from view under the cover of night. Zuko soon lost sight of the ship, and managed to steer clear of the other ships in the fleet. He came to sit behind an iceberg, waiting for the sentries of the Water Tribe to pass by enough times so that he could learn their pattern.
He watched for a little more than an hour, and a half dozen sentries passed by in that time. Every five minutes one would walk over the remains of the gate. It seemed that there was a set number of men on watch for that shift, and they walked a rotation around the facility.
Zuko waited for the next sentry to pass, and then made for a blindspot on the shore. He got out of his boat and coiled his rope around himself. He fastened his swords to his back and inspected the cliff beside him. It was nearly sheer, and he could see no way to climb it. He considered going further out and then climbing up another spot, when he spotted a group of turtle-seals diving into a hole in the ice. He walked over to them, and watched them for a moment. The moment passed and the seals didn't come back. He reached into the hole and found that it was a tunnel of sorts.
"Where are they going?" He looked back in the direction of the Water Tribe, although he couldn't see it. He thought he could just faintly hear the sound of seals barking from that direction. He pondered his options. He could look for an alternate route up the cliff face, but that would take time. Judging by the stars, it was already past midnight. He only had a few hours remaining before sunrise, and he didn't want to be caught scaling a cliff in broad daylight. He could try and swim through the tunnel. The seals would have to come up for air eventually.
Zuko grit his teeth, and mentally prepared himself for what he was about to do. He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and dove in the water. It was terrible. Cold as cold could be, but Zuko kept pushing. He forced himself along the tunnel, using the sides to propel himself when he could. When he thought he couldn't hold his breath any longer, and he began to think he would drown, his head broke the surface. He gasped for air, and pulled himself onto dry land. He curled into a ball and used the breath of fire his uncle had told him to.
The relief was instantaneous, warmth spread through his body and he regained feeling in his limbs. He shuddered. He coughed. He sat up and groaned, holding his head in his hands. That had been a terrible idea. Why couldn't he have just found a cliff to climb? Zuko took stock of his surroundings, noticing that he was underground. He could see faintly, as there were some glowing crystals growing on the walls.
Zuko felt starved, and he reached inside his shirt for the bag of food he had brought there. It was waterproof, and stocked with a protein rich mix of nuts and dried meat. It didn't taste the best, but his travels through the colonies had instilled in him the belief that he should carry food with him at all times. And that practice had already come in handy.
After he had eaten, Zuko got up and stretched, working life into his exhausted limbs. He walked around the cavern, inspecting the different outcrops and tunnels. He saw one that seemed to lead in the direction he remembered the Water tribe was in, and he paused.
He was exhausted. He could feel the sunrise was only a few hours away, and he would be hard pressed to find and capture the Avatar before dawn. He could wait, he thought. Regain some energy, sleep a little. It would give him time to come up with a plan.
Sokka and Katara ate hurriedly. Yue and Aang were talking quietly in a corner, and though they couldn't hear the words, the siblings could tell that whatever the pair was speaking of wasn't particularly uplifting. The night before had been largely uneventful, except for when Momo had decided to stick his head into Sokka's mouth. Sokka had coughed and choked, and somehow he had avoided waking Yue.
The four of them had slept together in the same room. Sokka and Yue had fallen to sleep on a couch in the sitting room where their first fight had begun. After Momo's incorrigible midnight antics, Sokka had found Yue snuggled beside him warmly, and when he looked around he saw that Aang and Katara had fallen asleep holding hands. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. He liked Aang, they were practically best friends. Perhaps it was just that he didn't like the idea of his sister being with anyone.
The fighting had resumed a few hours after dawn, yet Arnook and Pakku insisted that Aang and Katara remain at the palace. They said that it was important for new combatants to get regular rest and extended breaks from fighting, and promised to send for them if the battle took a turn. So far, the warriors and waterbenders had managed to hold back the tide of war without their help.
According to Arnook's best estimates, the warriors and combatants in general from other cities wouldn't arrive until nightfall on the fourth day, at which point Pakku would head the counter attack against the Fire Navy. They had taken Sokka's suggestion of freezing the propelling mechanisms and expanded on it, and he had helped them to plan the operation. They would start on the eastern side of the fleet, and freeze the ships closest to the city first, making a floating barricade that the surviving vessels would have to navigate through.
Sokka knew that he should be hopeful at the prospect, and glad that the Water Tribe was able to hold out so well under such short notice. Some things were bothering him though. First off, the assault was not weakening. That implied that Zhao was still alive, which in turn implied that Hahn had failed, or at the very least he had yet to make his assault. Sokka was not inclined to believe the latter. Hahn was quick and decisive, and he wasn't one to wait until a moment presented itself. He had always made his own opportunities.
Second, was how the Fire Nation had managed to sneak up on them. The northern Water Tribe had managed to spot and intercept Appa. A single sky bison that could be taken for an odd cloud from far off. Yet he had been told that the sentires had spotted them days before. If the Water Tribe had lookouts and sentries scattered across the northern ocean, then how could an Armada of massive war ships get the drop on them? They would have to know where the sentries were, and plan their movements precisely to avoid discovery. How…
Sokka gasped and dropped his cup. Aang and Yue looked at him, startled. Katara whipped her head towards him, a seaweed noodle hanging from her mouth.
"A spy!" he exclaimed, looking between the group.
"You want us to get a spy in the Fire Navy?" Yue asked. Sokka shook his head.
"No, well yeah but that's not what I mean. The Fire Nation has a spy!"
"How do you know that?" inquired Katara.
Sokka explained his train of thought, and the group listened. Their faces went from skeptical, to shocked, and then to dismay.
"It makes sense. It would explain how they snuck up on us. And why Hahn…" Yue trailed off. "Isn't back yet. They have someone watching us."
Sokka nodded, but then frowned. "I don't know how high up they are. If they had been in the war room, then the Fire Nation would know about all of our defensive strategy, and we wouldn't be doing as well."
"Unless they were biding their time. They could be sitting on that information, waiting until the right moment." Katara said, staring off into space. "If they acted on every piece of info they got, then it would be pretty easy to figure out that somebody has been compromised."
Sokka stood abruptly, "I have to go find Arnook. I've got to warn him about this."
Katara stopped him, "No, I'll go. You've got to stay with your 'moonlight', remember?"
Sokka froze. He didn't realize that Katara had known about his pet name for Yue. Although, now that he considered it, he hadn't exactly been subtle in its use.
"Fine, fine. As long as someone tells him. Pakku too, I guess, but nobody else. The more people we tell the messier things could get." Sokka said, and Katara moved for the exit.
"Katara," Aang spoke as she was leaving. "If we're not here when you get back, look in the Spirit Oasis. Yue and I figured that we could go there and I can try to contact the spirits of the Ocean and the Moon, ask for guidance, or, oh I don't know, some kind of spirit attack."
"Spirit attack?" Katara asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Eh, I can dream can't I?" Aang said, and Katara laughed before bidding them to take care.
Sokka crossed his arms, and looked at the sun from out of the window. It was already past noon. The fighting had withdrawn, and the defenders were having a respite. All were grateful, but they didn't expect it to last. Why was the Fire nation using such short lived landing operations? Wouldn't it be better to keep at least a section secured and try and bring in more ground troops? That's what he would have done, if he were laying siege. And why were they still concentrating fire on the gate? Shouldn't they be trying to take out some of the infrastructure? Sure, the damage could be repaired easily by the Water Tribe, but that would cost valuable time and energy. Sokka's father had said that Zhao wasn't particularly gifted at strategy, but he had expected more than this. Was he developing a cunning plot perhaps? Sokka doubted it. Master Piandao had warned him not to underestimate his opponents, but Zhao was impossible to underestimate.
Aang gathered his staff, and began walking towards the door. Sokka stood and helped Yue to her feet. The three of them journeyed to the oasis. When they arrived, Aang sat lotus style on the ground, trying to concentrate. Yue started to speak, but Sokka shook his head. He put a finger to his lips and she fell silent.
The young Avatar sat in his position for some time, and the shadows lengthened as the sun drew near to the western horizon. Sokka heard the sounds of battle begin anew, and assumed that the Fire Nation had begun their assault once more. This too he found odd, that the Fire Navy would resume fighting so close to sundown on the night of the full moon. Why would they do that? Surely they knew how the moon boosted the power of the waterbenders.
"Sokka," Aang said after the second hour of sitting in a meditative pose.
"Yeah?" Sokka answered, coming to sit beside him.
"This is not going as smoothly as I had hoped."
"Really? I hadn't noticed."
Aang snorted at the sarcasm. "Do you have any tips? You've been to the spirit world at least as many times as me. More if you count the time Hei Bai grabbed you."
Sokka paused, and stroked his chin in consideration. "Well, I've only gone in on purpose once. The other times were in my sleep or when I was kidnaped. Thinking of it, it's only been what? Three times? You've got the same number, I think."
Aang shrugged. "Any port in a storm. I'm kinda short on options, so I have to ask you."
Sokka considered the question. "Well, for me, when we went at Jeong Jeong's camp, I had to wait until you had gone. I opened my third eye and once I saw you leave your body I left mine. I ended up speaking to Koh after I learned that…"
What had he learned? It was right there, he could almost touch it. Reaching for it, he felt a deep sense of foreboding. He stopped himself. Whatever it was, it was grim. He decided to wait until after the battle was over and the Fire Navy was pushed out. It didn't sound like a grand undertaking to gain potentially distracting knowledge in the middle of a siege.
"Learned what?" Yue asked when he didn't resume speaking. She had noticed the vacant look in his eyes he got whenever he was lost in thought. Sokka shook his head.
"I can't remember, but I don't think it's anything good. I'll try and figure it out when everything's over. Can't get distracted, right?"
"...Right." Aang said, glancing at Sokka sideways. He and Yue shared a concerned look, but didn't press the issue.
"Anyway," Sokka pressed on. "When I bonded with Koh, a gate was formed in my mind. That's how I managed to cross back into my body, and I can go through it to the spirit world."
"Maybe you should go through it now? You can ask Kuruk how I can get into the spirit world and come back. Or maybe Koh knows where the Ocean and Moon Spirits are." Aang suggested. Sokka grimaced.
"If I did that, then I'd have to take up Koh's mantle again. I don't think that's a particularly good idea. You know what kind of effect it has on me." Sokka told his friend, and Aang groaned. He nodded and resumed his meditative pose.
More time passed and dusk filled the night. Katara eventually showed up, and she tiptoed over to Sokka and Yue.
"What did my dad say about the spy?" Yue asked.
"He was skeptical, but I think I managed to convince him. He and Pakku are trying to ferret him out. I wish my dad was here."
"Why?" Yue asked, surprised at the seemingly unconnected end of Katara's statement.
"Other than the fact that he's our dad?" Sokka said, with a half smile. "He's done this before. There was a ring of infiltrators and spies in our tribe. It's how the Fire Nation found out that there was another waterbender." he jerked a thumb at his sister.
"Yeah, Dad managed to ferret them out pretty quick after he realized they existed at all. We don't really know how, we were too young." Katara finished Sokka's thought.
The three of them began chatting idly, forgetting that Aang had been trying to concentrate. The Last Airbender tried to ignore them, and he managed it for a time. Eventually, he snapped at them.
"Oh, please go on! I'm not trying to concentrate or anything!"
"Sorry, Aang. We just- Gah!" Sokka apologized and then leapt to his feet, drawing his sword. Katara drew forth water from the oasis, and Aang's eyes snapped open. He whipped his head around, looking for the danger. He found it standing atop one of the bridges. There in a menacing stance, stood Prince Zuko.
Azula chaffed in the Water Tribe armor. It was slightly too big for her, and the furs were a bit itchy. She glanced over at Mai and Ty Lee, who were also clearly unhappy about the wardrobe change. She decided not to reveal her displeasure. It wouldn't do for her to appear so weak. Her uncle had no such reservations, as he had complained readily.
"Really, Admiral Zhao. These disguises are not particularly comfortable. Sure, they're warm, but couldn't we have altered them a bit more?"
"Unfortunately not, General. We're on a tight schedule. If we're to capture the Moon Spirit before the waterbenders can mount a sufficient counter attack, then we must act now. Hahn has informed me that the Water Tribe has reinforcements coming from the other cities, and they will soon be arriving. I imagine you understand the consequences of a sea battle against a legion of waterbenders? Our fleet would be safe of course, but we would fail to take the city in a short time. We would have to prolong our attack, and perhaps even have to wait until the comet to achieve total victory."
Iroh nodded. "Yes, yes, I understand. Please forgive my grumbling. I'm an old man, after all."
Zhao dipped his head, signaling his agreement. Apparently he also thought iroh was an old man.
Azula had helped concoct the infiltration plan. According to Hahn, there was a small cove a mile or so outside of the city, and there were no guards stationed there. His father, a nobleman in Chief Arnooks council, had arranged for the cove to be unguarded. It was an easy access point to get to the top of the cliffs that surrounded this side of the northern continent. From there they would cross the tundra and descend into the city, and from there they would head to the Spirit Oasis. The Fire nation would time their attack so as to distract the defenders, who would be rallying to push back the invaders, hopefully leaving the Oasis unguarded.
After the spirit was captured, the waterbenders would be, in theory, powerless. It was fortunate that Hakoda wasn't in the north currently. He was incredibly capable of defeating the Fire navy with only non benders. Azula doubted that he could take on the entire fleet, but it would be much harder for them if he was there. She wondered if Sokka was as capable. He had managed to thwart their capture of him, and Hahn had said that he was terribly clever. Always finding a way to achieve… She tightened her fists. She was thinking of him. Again. It was possible that she only thought of him because of how likely it was that they would face off in the next few hours, but it annoyed her nonetheless.
Mai and Ty Lee exchanged amused glances. They had noticed the pattern of Azula's behavior whenever Sokka was mentioned, and they had gone one to assume that when Azula scowled and clenched her fists it meant she had thought of him. The poor girl.
"Alright." Admiral Zhao said, and Hahn stood beside him. "Our main objective is the capture of the Moon Spirit. The spirit's mortal form is that of a white Koi fish that swims in a pool in an Oasis. There is also a black fish, which nobody is to touch. The Ocean Spirit is far more powerful in its mortal form, and any attempt to harm it will be met with devastation unseen since the destruction of the Air Nomads."
Ty Lee raised her hand. Zhao looked at her, and said, "Yes, Mai Lee?"
"Uh, it's Ty Lee, actually." She corrected. Zhao blinked.
"Oh. Do forgive me, Lady Ty Lee."
"It's fine," Ty Lee said in irritation, "but what I wanted to ask was why is the Ocean Spirit so much more powerful?"
"La has fully merged with at least one mortal champion. The combination of spirit and mortal gives the Ocean Spirit a greater hold on the physical world. Not as strong as the spirit of the Avatar, of course, but powerful nonetheless. Tui has never fully merged with a human, and so her touch is limited."
"Why hasn't she done so?" Ty Lee said, absolutely enthralled in the topic. It was Iroh who answered her.
"The bond of the Moon Spirit requires sacrifice. One would have to do something so selfless and noble that it's instinctual. It cannot be planned, it is an action of the heart."
Zhao rolled his eyes. "Moving on. After the capture of the Moon Spirit, we must find and apprehend the Avatar. He won't be able to waterbend, and this will be our greatest chance to take him."
The assembled soldiers nodded. Some of them wore Water Tribe armor, and others wore the parkas favored by civilians. Laluk had supplied them with those clothes over the past weeks, and Hahn had purposefully garbed his men in armor to aid in the Fire nation's mission. She would have preferred the parka, but Hahn had revealed that the Sokka had given her description to the war council. Even going so far as to describe her eye color. According to Hahn, he had said they were Like the sun. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. Ty Lee had snickered, but Azula refrained from setting her on fire. Ever since her first talk with Iroh about it, she had warmed up to her friends teasing her.
She had found herself surprisingly happy to have found a confidant in her uncle. It was… comforting. She never felt like she could share her fears with her father, or her advisors Lo and Li. She refused to admit it, but she found that she had come to both love and trust her uncle. His advice had led to her becoming closer to Mai and Ty Lee than ever before, and she was grateful.
The briefing ended, and the infiltration teams boarded the small steamers that would transport them to the cove. They were split into three teams. Zhao's was the largest, consisting of Iroh, Zhao, and eight firebenders and spearmen. Her own team consisted of herself, Mai, Ty Lee, and a young Ensign named Tema, and an additional firebender. Azula hadn't bothered to ask his name, but she thought it was Tahno, or Kano, or something O. He had served on Zuko's ship, and had volunteered for the mission. Uncle had vouched for him, so she had taken him in her own team.
The third and final team would stay behind to guard the steamers, a combination of Yu Yan archers, spearmen, and firebenders. They were to be commanded by one of the archers, Lieutenant Shang Wen.
The voyage didn't take long, and they were soon at the cove. The rearguard bid them farewell, and the remaining two teams were led by Hahn to the city. Once they had descended the cliff, they split into two groups. Admiral Zhao's team would take a more direct route, and Team Azula would skirt along the side of the city. Her route was the one Hahn said was the most likely for an escape attempt should the Avatar and his friends flee.
At the top of the cliff, the groups paused for a brief rest while they watched the progress of the battle. Dusk had passed a short time ago, and the Water Tribe was fighting furiously. The full ground force was being confined to a few city blocks and the field behind the Glacial Gate.
"Azula." The Princess turned, surprised to hear her uncle drop her title.
"Be careful. It's a dangerous thing we are about to do." Iroh said, and his eyes appeared wet. Was he that concerned with her wellbeing?
"I will, Uncle. Thank you for your concern, but it's hardly needed." Azula said arrogantly. When she saw that her uncle was not soothed, her voice softened. "Nearly all of their forces are concentrated in the battle, and we're taking an indirect route. You'll be in greater danger than we will."
"I know…" he said softly, and then he shocked her by wrapping her in a strong embrace. "You're strong, and I know that you'll survive. Whatever happens, remember this: I love you, my niece."
Azula froze. Mai and Ty Lee shared a look. Admiral Zhao pretended not to notice. Tahno, that was indeed his name, rolled his eyes and smiled. Azula fought back embarrassment and patted her uncle on the back.
"Thank you Uncle. I will."
Zuko stood on the bridge, stuck in a standoff. Sokka held a sword in one hand and his boomerang in the other. Katara was holding an impressive amount of water in the air. Aang was brandishing his staff.
There was a white haired girl that he didn't recognize. She stood a little behind Sokka.
"Zuko." Aang said, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Aang. Katara. Sokka. Nice sword." He said, unmoving from his stance.
"Nice hair."
Zuko's mouth twitched. He had grown more hair, it was perhaps two inches long now, having been growing for a little more than two months.
"Well? What do you want?" Katara snapped, refusing to look away.
Zuko was reminded of his uncle's questions, but he didn't want to think of that right now.
"It doesn't matter what I want! I have to capture the Avatar!" He snarled.
"Why?! You've been chasing us all over the world, and for what? To stop Aang from ending the war?! I've got news for you, Zuko, the war is bad!" Katara retorted.
"Don't you think I know that?!" He shouted, "I've seen what it's done! I've been there, I-!"
He cut himself off, clamping his mouth shut and clenching his jaw. "I must capture the Avatar. It is my duty to the Fire Nation. There is no other…"
He stopped when he spotted a flurry of motion in the water below. He glanced at it quickly and saw Koi swimming in the pool. His eyes widened in realization. He returned his gaze to Aang, and tried to put it out of his mind. He made a step forward, but his leg wouldn't obey. He tried again, and still his body refused to heed his commands. He returned his gaze to the water. He looked back at the Avatar and his friends, and he could see looks of confusion on their faces.
He took a deep breath. It was time to ask himself those big questions. He couldn't move forward until he did. Who was he? What did he want? He was the Fire Prince. Son of the Fire Lord, blood of the dragon, long descended from agni himself. He had walked the land and sailed the sea, seeing the wrath and devastation of a war with no purpose. A war that killed thousands, and nearly extinguished an entire people. A war that had to end.
Zuko felt that he knew the answer to the big questions. He was Zuko, and he wanted peace. The realization hit with the force of a tsunami. He staggered, bellowing his frustration in the night. He righted himself, and saw looks of concern on the Avatar and his friends' faces.
"Zhao is going to kill the Moon Spirit." He said, refusing to look at them.
"What?! How?" Aang asked, lowering his staff.
"He has found the location of her mortal form." He pointed at the water, at the white koi, and turned to walk away.
Sokka stared in disbelief, looking between Zuko and the water. He opened his third eye, and saw that the fish glowed with the same light as Yue. He remembered how the fish had touched his sword when he asked the moon for her blessing, and realized how blind he had been not to realize it. This was the Spirit Oasis for a reason, wasn't it?
"Why are you helping us? Why now?" Katara asked, lowering her water.
Zuko glanced over his shoulder, and Sokka could see the dark fire of corruption fade and then go out as Zuko spoke. "Sometimes, we find allies where we least expect them."
"Zuko, wait!" Aang said, causing the firebender to pause. "Join us! I need a firebending teacher."
Zuko shook his head. "No. I can't."
He continued walking. Sokka ran to join him, followed by Katara. Zuko struck a defensive stance, but The pair didn't attack.
"If you won't join us we won't force you. But you shouldn't wander blindly through the city." Sokka said, and Zuko eyed him with suspicion. "Do you have something to write with?"
Zuko produced a small bag and pulled out a piece of wax paper. It smelled like dried meat and nuts. Zuko pulled a twig from beneath a nearby bush, and charred the end before handing it to Sokka. Sokka drew a map on it quickly and returned it to Zuko.
"A friend of mine showed me this route. It's a bit long, but it should keep you from most of the fighting. I don't know if you would, but do you know what happened to him? He was sent to kill Zhao, he would've made his move last night. His name's Hahn."
Zuko shook his head. "I don't. I was in disguise, and my uncle never mentioned him. Besides, I was making my way here for most of the night."
"Why were you- it doesn't matter." Katara said, "Thanks, Zuko. You'll make a great Fire Lord one day."
Zuko said nothing, and turned his back on them. He walked out of the Oasis and out of sight.
"Aang!" Sokka said sharply, taking charge as soon as Zuko was out of sight. "Fly off and find Pakku. Tell him of Zhao's plan, and then tell Chief Arnook and Commander Ignick. We need to guard the Spirits!"
Aang nodded and took off, flying close to the buildings to avoid being spotted by firebenders.
Sokka, Katara and Yue were left alone in the Oasis. Sokka paced back and forth, thinking furiously.
"Do you think we can move the spirit?" He asked, but Yue shook her head. "It's too cold to keep them elsewhere. This is the only place warm enough. If we had known about it before, then maybe."
Sokka nodded. "Katara, we're going to need some defenses. Will you put up some barricades? If they get here before we have defenders, it'll give us a chance to slow them down."
Katara began to put up blocks of ice, making sure to secure the bridges. She organized the barricades in a fashion that would force the Fire Nation to be funneled into a few sections. She did her best to make the barriers as thick as possible, so that any firebenders would have to take time to melt them.
Before long, Pakku showed up, bringing a team of waterbenders with him. They aided Katara in her efforts, shoring up their defenses. In time Ignick joined them, bringing a small team of warriors. He posted them outside of the gate to the Oasis, and he came to speak with Sokka.
"How long do we have?" He asked. Sokka shrugged.
"I don't know. They might be on their way now, or it could be days. Zuko didn't know anymore than he told us."
"Zuko? The son of the Fire Lord?" Pakku asked, surprised. Sokka nodded.
"Yeah, I think he's changed sides." Sokka answered, "At least, he's against the war now."
Ignick and Pakku exchanged a look, and Pakku smiled. "Thank the spirits for that. We should get Princess yue to safety, if they arrive while she's here-"
The sound of fighting interrupted him. Pakku and Ignick rushed to the other fighters and Sokka followed, unsheathing Moonlight as he ran. He leapt through the gate and cut a spear in half, barely deflecting a blow. The attackers were… Water Tribe?
One of the men in armor removed his helm, revealing him to be Admiral Zhao. He rushed Sokka, twin fires burning from each fist, and struck out at Sokka's head. He dodged, and noticed for the first time one of the attackers was familiar.
"Hahn?" he said in shock, and was nearly burned by Zhao. Aang landed on the firebender,s shoulders, having returned just in time to save Sokka. Sokka didn't notice, as shocked by what he was seeing as he had ever been in his life. His friend, Hahn, had betrayed him. His third eye was opened still, and he was seeing Hahn for what he truly was. Inside of the young warrior was no light but a blue so dark that it was almost black. It was coiled in his chest like a snake, ever poised and waiting to strike.
Hahn looked at him and smiled. It was the same smile that Zhao wore, the look that a predator gave a fawn. "Yes. Me."
Hahn turned away from his opponent, and drew his spear from the man's chest. It was Ignick. He still lived, at least for now. Hahn had taken him in the back, and the old warrior rolled to his side, gasping. He looked at Hahn in sheer confusion, watching him walk towards Sokka.
Sokka backed away, slowly. His shock turned to anger and he began to yell. "You! You were the spy?! Is your father in on it too?!"
"Yes, I am." Laluk said, lashing out his waterbending towards Pakku. He knocked the old master off his feet, and leapt through the gate and into the Oasis. Zhao followed suit, and soon half of the combatants had filed into the Oasis. Sokka followed with Aang, but Katara stayed outside to fend off the remaining firebenders.
"Excuse me," An old man said, and Sokka recognised Iroh, who had taken off his helmet and followed inside. He elected to ignore him, as he thought the old general might not be on Zhao's side. He hadn't participated in the fighting, instead he merely stood on the sidelines.
Sokka dashed madly through the battle, trying desperately to get to Yue. He leapt over a barricade and crossed the bridge, running to her side. "Stay behind me!"
Yue nodded, her eyes wide in panic. She looked at Sokka's sword and he noticed that the blade was wet with blood. When had that…?
The fighting seemed to intensify, and the Fire Nation were surrounded. It looked like the battle was turning in favor of the Water Tribe, until Zhao began to cycle his arms. Electricity cracked in the air, and warriors scattered to avoid the bolt. Sokka grabbed his boomerang and whipped towards Zhao, who ducked, and then leaped onto the ice barricade, all while generating his attack. He locked eyes with Sokka, and smiled that manic grin of his. Sokka's eyes widened in fear. Time seemed to slow as Zhao let free the lightning.
Sokka prepared himself for death. And in that moment, the memory he had sealed away broke free, and he knew that he faced the abyss. When the lightning hit him he would cease. He could dodge it, he thought, but then it would hit Yue. It was no choice at all, really.
Sokka took what he thought would be his final breath, and then he realized that Zhao wasn't aiming for him. The bolt was at the wrong angle, it would pass him by and hit…
"No!" Sokka cried, realizing that Zhao had aimed for the Moon Spirit. He tried to intercept the lightning, but he had realized it too late. He could do nothing. He was powerless to stop it. He turned and reached out, trying to jump in front of the blast, but he was too slow. The blast soared past him.
Nothing could be done; the Moon Spirit was doomed. Nobody could…
The sound of thunder split the night, and a body fell to the ground. Sokka turned and could not comprehend what he was seeing. Behind him, he could hear Iroh yelling, and then a rapid succession of firebending. He heard a commotion, and then running footsteps.
He fell to his knees, and wrapped Yue in his arms. She had realized Zhao's target before he had. She had moved first. She had taken the bolt. With his third eye, Sokka could see her spirit begin to fade.
"N-no. No, no, no. Yue, please!" He said, tears filled his eyes. Yue coughed weakly and met his eyes.
"It's okay." She said weakly. "It had to be done."
"You're going to be fine! K-katara can-'' Sokka choked back a sob. He swallowed before bellowing, "KATARA!"
Yue weakly reached for his hand, and he took hers in his. He watched as the light became dimmer still. "Please, don't go. D-don't leave me."
"I love you, Sokka." Yue said.
"I love you too." He said, pressing his forehead to hers.
Sokka watched with tears streaming down his face. Slowly, the light with Yue dimmed, faltered, and went out. Sokka held her there, and in an Oasis at the very top of the world, Yue died.
Sokka was frozen. He couldn't breathe. He felt something break inside him, and whatever it was fell away. A hole had been opened up inside, and he knew that it would never be filled again.
Footsteps approached him, and he didn't bother to see who it was. He held Yue to his chest and wept. A pair of figures knelt beside him and tried to take her. Sokka snarled and looked up to find Katara and Aang.
"Sokka, I can heal her, there might still be time!" Katara said desperately, her hands coated in glowing water. Sokka shook his head, but laid Yue's body beside the pool anyway. One of her hands fell into the water.
"No. She's gone. I saw." he tapped his forehead and continued to weep.
"Zhao did this. He tried to kill the Moon Spirit, and Yue-" His voice broke. Katara started to cry. Aang stepped back, stumbling away. He put his head in his hands.
"No, she can't- Yue can't be-" He stopped speaking. Tears filled his eyes. "I did this. It's my f-fault."
"No, Avatar. Only Zhao can be blamed." Katara and Aang looked over to find Iroh standing with them, a look of deep sorrow on his face.
"No." Aang said. The wind began to howl. Aang's tattoos began to glow. When he spoke again, his voice echoed with the thousands of Avatars that had come before. "I saved Zhao. It's because of me."
Aang lifted into the air, wind billowed around him. Water was pulled from the pool. The Avatar roared and the noise echoed around the oasis. Aang flew into the air and towards the battle.
Sokka didn't care. He stayed where he was, holding Yue's hand. Iroh knelt beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It's going to be okay, Sokka. One day, you will see her again."
Sokka shook his head and reached for the void. He found it, and he dove so deeply into the trance that he did not think he would come out again. When he spoke, his voice was haggard.
"No. I won't. She has gone where I cannot follow." He spoke.
"What?" Katara asked, wiping her face. Iroh stood and stared at Sokka with trepidation.
"What have you done?" he asked softly. Sokka stood and wiped his eyes.
"What was necessary. The Face Stealer has me now. My soul is forever in his keeping. When I die, that's it. My existence will end." His voice was level. He walked to his sword and picked it up.
Katara looked at him in confusion. The Face Stealer? She called after him, but her brother ignored her.
In his mind, Sokka opened the gate and let Koh's power flow through him. He pictured Koh's home and called his name. In an instant, he was there.
"I need more. They took her from me." Sokka told the spirit. Koh nodded and turned to smoke. The smoke billowed forth and entered his lungs. Sokka breathed deeply. As he began to return to the mortal world, Koh's voice rang out.
"Do not say I did not warn you."
Author's Note
Only one chapter left in part one now, and we're at the 250 page mark! Would probably be higher, but I just start the next chapter on the same page as the last one ended.
I tried to put in a decent amount of foreshadowing throughout part one, the most obvious being Sokka's dream at the start of chapter sixteen. I hope that Yue's death wasn't fully unexpected, seeing as she died in canon.
Anyway, I got pretty sad writing that scene. I knew t was coming, and I had the event planned from the start. If it upsets you, feel free to leave a review insulting my honor.
11/06/2022