Chapter 27: The Beginning of the End

Zula hurried on deck, forcing the night's events from her mind as she was faced with a bigger problem than Zhao's inabilities. She snatched the scope from a sailor's hand and raised it to her own eye, viewing the two distant ships on the horizon. Both were flying the flag of the Avatar, and namely the Guerriers Réels. She lowered the scope.

"Guerriers Réels." She stated firmly. The sailor she'd so rudely taken the scope from turned to her.

"But I thought we killed their best officers." She smiled at him demurely.

"You know, the more I think about that, the more I believe that it was just a ploy. The thing we should be worried about most at the moment is how they were warned."

The forest was alive with teenagers and soldiers struggling to prepare the ship for departure.

Katara was the only one not down in the valley. She was dressed all in black, with Zuko's broadswords strapped across her back. One lay bare across her folded legs, and she brushed one hand against the dirt. The wind danced around her and caught in her loose hair. In one quick motion, she grasped the sword and her hair and sliced cleanly through the folds. The hair floated from her now open hand to the wind, and off through the skies. She tied the now shoulder-length locks in a short ponytail and stood. Her once bright and forgiving eyes were dark and angry.

Jet strolled up, and she turned to meet his gaze. He took several steps back, repelled by the look in her eyes, and then sighed. Better angry than dead. He thought.

"Iroh's ready to go. Are you coming?" She nodded briefly and followed him back down the hill.

No one noticed the silver dragon as it drifted down from the clouds. Sinking slowly into the cool water, she swam alongside the boat, and called to the dragon within.

(Hello, Dragon of Fire.)

(You are a dragon? There is another?)

(Yes, I am a Dragon of Air. My name is Akierin.)

(I am honored to meet you Akierin. I am Hessair.)

(You are in a predicament Hessair. Your Bond lies dying and the Avatar has been captured.)

(I know! But, by Saitrie, what am I supposed to do?)

(The Avatar is now my responsibility. I am going to speak with him, and then seek out those who traveled with him. Do not despair, for hope is kindled. Help is already on its way.)

(My gratitude Akierin.)

(Until next we meet Hessair.)

And then Akierin flew up to where the Avatar was held.

(Hello Avatar.)

…Akierin…?

(Yes, it's me. I've missed you Aang.)

I'm amazed you found me.

(When the bison's spirit was lost, his responsibility passed to me. We can formally Bond later.)

There was silence for a few moments.

Can you see how Zuko's doing?

Akierin turned to the son of fire, and felt deep within him.

(He is fading.)

Aang moaned and hid his face in his hands. Akierin looked at him thoughtfully.

(Do not fear, young Avatar. Help in coming.)

Aang sighed as the silver dragon took flight and headed of towards the island where Iroh and company were setting sail to join the four ships now surrounding Zula's.

Zuko didn't stir when the dragon probed his mind, and couldn't feel Hessair yards below him. His dreams had ended as his body shut down. Nothing Ediera could do could help and silent tears ran down her cheeks as silent prayers were said.

Late that evening, Iroh's ship joined the fleet and as the general stepped onto the main ship, the captain came up to him.

"What are our orders General Iroh?" the captain said after saluting. Iroh scowled at the ship in the distance, the only one of the six bearing a Fire Nation flag.

"Prepare for battle."

Katara surveyed the fleet, her eyes resting on the troops. The traditional white armband had been advanced due to the number of non Fire Nation recruits joining up. Now, a colored stripe had been added, red, blue, green, or silver, depending on your nation. A young girl came up to her, sporting a silver striped armband.

"Excuse me, Lady Katara?" She looked down. The girl couldn't be more than eight. She hadn't been dressed in armor like the warriors, and looked out of place on the ship. Even as the girl seemed frightened, Katara couldn't bring herself to smile.

"What is it?" she snapped, but the girl was unperturbed.

"Did you travel with the Avatar?"

"Of course." She turned and walked away, and the girl ran below deck to tell her friends that the rumors were true, that this was THE Lady Katara.

The skies darkened, not only with night, but with dark brooding clouds as well. The forbidding sky opened up, and the rain poured down. Anyone outside was instantly drenched, and lightning lit up the sky.

The battle started at midnight.

As the first fireballs began to fly, Zula ran down below deck. She dodged troops arming themselves, and men going below to maintain the engines and the rhinos. She swore to herself she wasn't having second thoughts, that she wasn't wishing Zuko would live, that it didn't matter. She'd done what she had done.

When she reached the prisoner's cells, she double checked the lock on the Avatar's cell, and assigned about ten men to it. They'd focus on keeping Iroh's forces above deck, but it couldn't hurt to be a little cautious. Zula then flitted into Zuko's cell, he still hadn't moved. She pressed her hand to his throat and recoiled sharply. He was freezing. Taking a deep breath, she repeated the motion, and her heart leaped into her throat.

There was no pulse.

I'm am now working on the next chapter. Please don't kill me or you'll never find out was happens next.

An attempt at randomness...

Scene: ...beginning of this chapter...

(Zula runs out onto the deck but floor is really slippery and she slips and skids on her butt across the deck. Crew and extras burst into laughter.)

Director: CUT! Zula, are you all right?

Zula: COULD YOU HAVE WAXED THE FLOORS A LITTLE MORE?

Stage Hand: Sorry.

(Zuko comes up and stands by his chair)

Zuko: Nice to see someone else at the receiving end of practical jokes.

(sits down but chair collapses beneath him. He yells in anger while everybody starts laughing again. Sokka walks by whistling innocently)