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Chapter Twelve: Scorch
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Zuko extended his hand forward, frying the multiple objects the Mask had set out for him with his LV 7 Lightning Bending.
"You learn quickly. Partly because of the Gamer." The Mask said. "But you have a lot to learn before you can unlock your Mana abilities."
"And why's that? They seemed really powerful."
"Like any form of bending, it takes time to master. Even for the Gamer."
Zuko released a wave of fire so powerful half the dungeon room was lit ablaze under his [Scorch]. "I'm already strong. And I can get even more powerful. Just teach me!"
"Patience." The Mask said. "That concludes our training for today."
Curious, Zuko checked how his stats had been coming along.
Name: Zuko (Alias: Li)
Class: The Gamer/Firebender
Level: 56 (1657/20000 EXP)
Title: Banished Prince
Age: 16
Health Points: 1800/1800
Chi Points: 1709/1800
STR: 48 (+5)
STA: 47 (+10)
DEX: 45 (+20)
INT: 38
AGI: 24 (+10)
LUK: 19
Earth Kingdom Copper Pieces: 577, Earth Kingdom Silver Pieces: 290, Earth Kingdom Gold Pieces: 176
Special Status: None
Perks: -Adept Firebender (-20% Chi Point consumption when bending fire)
-Focused (-15% Chi Point consumption when using all |Fire Techniques|)
-Easy on the Eyes (+20% speed Progression in female 'routes')
-Tenacious (+2 to all [Statistics] in combat)
-Vital (+10 to |DMG| ability and -5% to Chi Point consumption when bending fire)
-Speedy (+20 DEX)
Flaws:
-Apathetic (-10% speed progression to all 'routes')
-Hotheaded (-5% speed progression to all romantic 'routes')
Known fire techniques:
-Flame Gout (Level 56, 004/530)
-Blaze (Level 67, 107/210)
-Fire Punch (Level 57, 519/750)
-Lightning Bending (Level 7, 202/320)
-Fire Press (Level 38, 062/390)
-Scorch (Level 39, 025/270)
[Press here to expand this list]
Zuko could see the Gamer had basically doubled his already massive ability in Firebending in about two weeks. At his current pace, he'd reach Jeong Jeong's mastery of firebending by the time the invasion arrived.
Curious, Zuko pressed the 'Scorch' skill.
[Scorch Level 39 - A burning strike using the momentum of attacks to build fire. Attacks multiply damage depending on DEX and STR. Passively resists all fire attacks done to the Gamer upon reaching level 35.]
Zuko's eyes widened. "What the!? Scorch makes me invulnerable to fire!?"
"In essence yes. I hope you understand how powerful the Gamer is now."
"Oh I do."
The Mask shrugged. "We're still done here."
"But we-"
By the time Zuko was done talking, the Mask had already returned him to the gardens in the Royal palace of the Earth Nation.
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Bowing his head, Iroh spoke. "Might I ask why I was summoned?"
"Summer has begun." said one of the Earth Nation's generals. "The Fire Nation will use the stronger sun to launch a full-scale assault on the walls of Ba Sing Se."
"By royal decree of the Earth Kingdom, you have been granted a pardon. In return, we ask you to help us plan the defense of this city."
Iroh stroked his beard. "A siege may prove very costly. We will need help. Send word to the Water Tribes. They will prove of great use to us when the invasion arrives."
A General nodded. "We will. What else do you advise General Iroh?"
"General?" asked Iroh.
"What is left of the Four Nations is rallying together to fight your brother. We only ask for your assistance." a member of the council said. "Your legendary abilities in warfare nearly brought the Earth Nation to collapse. And we nearly lost to you."
Iroh gave his vast military knowledge to help. "The first thing we must do is restructure the current government. With no faith in the King with the Dai Li now being public, levying troops and the war effort will be difficult."
"And what do you propose?"
"The people must choose representatives. It's the only way to restore faith in the Kingdom."
"A bureaucracy?" a General balked. "Even the Water Tribes have royalty."
"Still. There need to be limits on the power of the King. Otherwise, we won't be able to plan the defense properly."
A General nodded at this. "On that, we can agree. I'll help organize a census to begin structuring this. What else?"
"I know how to break the walls of Ba Sing Se. I've done it before," said Iroh. "We must ensure this doesn't happen again."
"It won't. Intel reports the Fire Nation is amassing a fleet of brand new airships to attack the walls. We would have little defense against this unless we had known about it ahead of time."
"Then it's settled." Iroh nodded. "General How will help reorganize the government. Generals Tsao and Min will help me train the army in counter siege tactics. And Generals Sung and Shi will help accommodate counter-tactics against the Air Fleet with the Water Tribes upon their arrival."
"War Chief Hakoda was last spotted a few leagues south of Chamaleon bay. I'll send word to both tribes to ask for their help." General How said.
Sung sighed. "The Crown is already weak as it is. Won't asking for assistance lower what little faith is left of the King?"
"This is no time for politics," said Iroh. "We will face the largest assault the world has ever known by land, air, and sea. I'm afraid help is the only thing between us and defeat."
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Talking excitedly, a large group of recruits stood around holding spears and wearing armor.
"I heard the council of five asked for help from General Iroh himself!"
Another recruit sighed. "The city just falls apart worse and worse by the minute."
"Attention!" General Min said.
Instantly forming rows, dozens of young men fell into formation.
"This is General Iroh. He will be training all of you in tactics to counter the coming invasion. All of you must take orders from them as you would any other person of their rank." said General Tsao.
Iroh walked forward speaking. "The second siege is fast approaching. You will face a fully modernized army, well versed in war. However, you have one advantage." Humbly Iroh bowed his head. "I know exactly the ways in which this attack will come."
He scanned the faces of the young men with his aged eyes. "The first siege was the first true test of Ba Sing Se's defenses. Needless to say, most of you were too young to see its failure. The Earth Nation will not fail again. Through proper training and discipline, you can overcome this challenge."
"Six years ago I broke the Outer Wall for the first time in history. Your job is our second line of defense. Should the Outer Wall fall again, you must defend the Outer ring. Despite the rural terrain you should stand your ground."
Iroh looked one recruit in the eye. "Some of you may wonder why I had a change of heart. I see the reason why in every one of you. You are defending your home, your country. And your families. The siege will take many lives but I will be there with you in battle. Is this clear?"
The recruits yelled together their doubts erased. "Sir yes sir!" they said together.
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Zuko watched Earthbenders create large trenches to stop tanks just outside the Outer Wall. "That's not enough."
"Excuse me?" one of the men asked.
"Fire Nation tanks can climb walls. We need to fill these trenches with explosives."
"Makes sense." Looking at each other, the men nodded and left to find some.
Katara approached. "Look at you. You seem to fit command pretty well."
"This siege is gonna make everything we've faced look like a tea party." Zuko rolled his eyes. "This is no time for jokes."
"This is the perfect time for jokes!" her brother said. "How else are we supposed to keep morale up?"
"By staying focused." Zuko crossed his arms.
"Lieutenant Zuko." a courier in the army bowed his head and passed him a scroll. "General Tsao reports from the western wall."
Katara scoffed. "Lieutenant? Why would they make you an officer?"
"It's just temporary." Zuko smiled at his friends. "I have good news for both of you."
"Which is?" asked Sokka.
"Both Water Tribes have just agreed to come help."
Gasping, Katara turned to her brother. "We're going to see dad again!"
Zuko read the rest of the report. "Great." he put the scroll away.
"What is it?"
"Tsao can't spare any more men in this part of the wall. Hopefully, your dad is bringing enough men to help," said Zuko.
"How many would you need?" wondered Sokka.
"At least about five hundred. Does your father have that many?"
Sokka shook his head. "Not even close."
Zuko looked over the portion of the outer wall he was given to defend. He only had around sixty men total. Twenty strong City Guardsmen who could man the trenches, and forty light spears and levies. Even the Earthbenders in the latter weren't the best of fighters. He knew that only a third of his men were Earth Kingdom Army regulars, and would be of any real use to him in a fight.
"Hey, why do you look so down?" asked Katara.
"We're going to be outnumbered pretty heavily. Most Generals know that if we lose this portion of the trenches, they can use this as a jumping-off point to mount tanks on the walls."
Sokka waved a hand towards the defenses. "I think you guys have a job well done so far."
Zuko didn't disagree.
The defense was simple but effective. There were huge trenches meant to trap tanks and men about forty feet deep and steep enough that no one but Earthbenders could enter or leave them. At the top and a few paces closer to the outer wall was another trench with huge shearing rocks acting as shields to protect against firebending and projectiles.
He watched a few of his men slide down the wall holding barrels of explosives. Watching the charges being set, Zuko spoke to the Water Tribe siblings. "The council has given me some help too."
"I thought they couldn't give you any more troops?" said Sokka.
"They can't. They let the two of you fight with me out here."
Sokka smiled. "Looks like we'll be fighting together ponytail."
"I don't wear that anymore." Zuko rolled his eyes.
Katara looked around. "What makes this part of the wall so important?"
"There's a guard tower posted just up there," Zuko said pointing to it. "If we can make a hard point here, we can slow the advance enough to buy the towers enough time to deal with the airships."
"Airships? How'd they pull that off?" asked Sokka.
"The Fire Nation's engineers are the best in the world," said Zuko. "Should make this invasion difficult. Your father's fleet probably can't hold the seas long enough to stop the invasion completely. Which is why the council's called him here to defend the capital."
"I still can't understand why you'd be helping us so much," Sokka said. "You're fighting against the same people you grew up with."
"I know," Zuko said. "Which is what lets me know we can pull this off."
Katara raised her hand to shield herself from the sun a little. "This summer looks like it's gonna be really hot this year."
"That's a problem. With the Comet arriving at the end of the summer, usually, the sun is harsher. Gives the Fire Nation an advantage."
"Don't you mean, you an advantage?" asked Katara.
"I'm not part of the Fire Nation anymore. That ship sailed when Azula tried to kill me in the catacombs."
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After the sun went down, Zuko spent his first night deployed in the trenches to guard the city. Both Water Tribe siblings still stayed to keep him company.
"Do you really think we can win this? It seems like Azula and your dad have every advantage possible." Sokka said.
"That may be true. But the side defending in a siege has a strong advantage. We should be able to hold until the end of the summer. After fall sets in, the weaker sun should ease the attack." said Zuko.
"Wow." Katara snorted. "Almost like you've been bred for war your whole life."
"That's because I have," Zuko said as he stared into the fire. "This war is about more than just defending what's right. I want to change the way the world sees firebending. My father has ruined the way firebenders are seen. It's time to reclaim the true pride of bending. Honor. Justice. And peace."
"Honor," Katara said. "You're starting to sound like your old self again."
"After Aang defeats my father. If. He can defeat my father. Rebuilding the Fire Nation again is a task only my uncle will be able to do."
"What about your sister?"
"I never wanted to rule," Zuko said honestly. "Being Fire Lord isn't what this war is about."
"I thought you wanted to bring honor back to the fire nation." joked Sokka.
Katara looked at him. "Go see if the troops need help setting up camp."
"But I-"
The look on her face was enough.
"All right." he stood up and left.
Zuko looked at the necklace Katara wore. "I wonder. Was your mother as noble as you?"
"Noble? What do you mean?"
"You gave me a second chance. When I didn't deserve it. There was a part of me that would've been fine letting Ba Sing Se burn if it meant getting Aang."
Katara shook her head. "That's the thing about you. You try to be all stoic Zuko. But you're the most sincere out of all of us."
"I've done nothing but screw things up since I met you." sighed Zuko.
"You did. But you stood up to your own sister. You turned your back on doing the one thing that gave you meaning in life."
Zuko smiled a bit. "Thanks."
"It's all that matters. None of that honor, or valor, or whatever you've got going on in your head matters. Just doing what you honestly think is best."
Zuko watched the fire crackle. "I'm sorry that I asked about your mother."
"Don't be. She'd be just as curious as I am."
"Curious about what?"
Katara looked up at Zuko from the campfire. "What do you really want?"
"I think I made that clear. To bring back pride to fire bending."
"No. What do you really want?"
Zuko took a second, but he knew what it was. "To find my mother. And do what she would've thought is best."
"But, is she alive?"
"I've been asking myself the same question for years. I don't think there's anyone around who knows. But even if it takes my whole life. I'll learn the truth about her."
Katara watched Zuko summon part of the campfire to his fingers, rolling the flames between his hand. "Doesn't that hurt you?" wondered Katara.
"Fire used to be a burden," said Zuko. "Now it's my friend."
Katara moved closer to him. "I can talk to the Northern Tribesmen. We can get you some of that Spirit Water."
"What for?"
"To heal your scar," Katara said. "I don't know if it would work but."
Zuko shook his head. "It's okay. I'm fine with keeping it. Unless you think it looks bad."
"Bad?" Katara spoke kindly. "No. I just wanted to do it for you."
"Why?" Zuko looked at her from the fire. He stopped rolling the fire between his fingers and extinguished them with his bending.
"You've been defending Ba Sing Se from the shadows since you got here. At least from what records the Dai Li could tell us. I had my doubts about trusting you. But then." Katara looked back at him. "You revealed yourself to be the same person who rescued Aang from Zhao."
"Yeah. I forgot to tell you all about that." admitted Zuko. "Forget about the Mask. It's just stupid."
"Stupid? It seemed to mean a lot to you."
Zuko said nothing.
"Zuko."
"All right," Zuko explained. "It did. My mother used to be an actress, and she told me stories about her favorite mask. The mask of the Blue Spirit. Turns out the Blue Spirit was a legendary warrior. A one-man army. But he was more than that. He was a true hero. A defender of the innocent. That mask, it's all I have left of her."
"What about your family? What about your uncle?"
"They don't like talking about her. Especially Azula."
"Is that why she hates you so much?"
Zuko nodded a little. "It's part of it. She's convinced I used to be my mother's favorite. Drives her crazy. But that's not the case. Mom loved both of us equally. It's our father who's twisted her view."
"But, your sister believed him," said Katara.
"She always lies. But she got it from my father. To him, anyone who has a heart is weak. It's why he's favorited her since we were little."
"I'm sorry about your family."
Zuko looked back into the campfire. "I'm sorry about yours. I feel partly responsible for what happened. This war took everything from me, but I just wanted to believe I was the only one."
"How do you think it will end?"
"Aang will kill my father," said Zuko. "It's all I ask of him when the time comes."
"That doesn't sound like him at all."
"Doesn't matter," Zuko said bitterly. "First he has to learn firebending."
"Zuko your father dying won't bring back your mother."
Zuko balled his fists. "I don't care. If it wasn't for how it would go down in history, I'd kill him myself."
"You would?"
Zuko grunted. "He ruined my life. He's ruined the entire world in every way."
"You sound angry."
Zuko's emotions seemed to make the campfire grow. "Of course I'm mad! He's a monster!"
"Do you really want him dead? Or are you just saying that?"
Zuko scoffed. "The first thing I was taught in the Fire Nation was not to hesitate."
"But you would?"
Zuko looked at her. "How would you react if you found the man who killed your mother?"
Katara stayed quiet. "I. I wouldn't know."
"See? Not so simple." Zuko stood up and stared into the fire, balling his fists. "No matter what it takes, I'll stop my father."
Katara nodded. "You've changed."
"We all do. War isn't simple Katara. This siege will push us, maybe even to take a life. I just don't know if I can come to terms with it."
Katara bowed her head. "I'll see you in the morning."
Nodding back, Zuko sat back down to look at the fire again. "Hm," he said.
Now that Katara was gone, Zuko basked his hand completely in the campfire. Instead of being burned, the fire simply licked his hands, warming him lightly instead of burning his skin. Smiling, Zuko now knew that the only thing Azula could threaten him with was lightning.
He knew his battle with Azula in the catacombs already showed how little fire could affect him. Maybe at lower levels Scorch resisted it lightly and then repelled fire completely upon level 35?
Regardless, Zuko needed to rest before the next day.
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