In the darkened night, Aang stood alone, staring out at distant lights. It was early in the morning and Aang suppressed a yawn. It wouldn't do well for him to be tired at this moment, not now.
He looked around the hastily constructed trench line and could see other darkened figures moving around.
Aang was alone however, his friends had not arrived yet. They were still conducting business with guns and weapons. They were gathering water and cleaning their guns. They were sharpening swords and polishing them off. Toph simply wanted more sleep.
Aang, having no need for any of that, arrived at the trenches first and now here he was, gazing at enemy fortifications that were beaming light out in front of him. Spotlights, Aang thought. He doubted Sokka had planned for it.
Aang ducked as a spotlight shined over his head.
He desperately hoped that smoke could stop the ray of light that shot from the spotlight. If it didn't, it would be a slaughter. Blood would fly and the smell of rotting corpses would assault his nose. Just like Lyon.
He peeked once again over the trench, gazing towards the area he knew the portal laid. He could imagine his world on the other side? The gentle breeze in the air temples, the coldness in the Water Tribes, the warmth of the Fire Nation, and the sweet smell of the Earth Kingdom.
General Bradley had been right. The Fire Nation soldier wanted nothing to do with this world. The armies being pursued by the Germans and French were pushed back to the portal and they fled right through.
In total, there were about 20,000 men defending the portal, across all the hills and trees that stood in their way. 20,000 Fire Nation soldiers that just wanted to go home Aang realized but had been forced to stay. Had they rescinded themselves to their fate or were they trying to be strong in the face of the oncoming onslaught?
Aang closed his eyes and imagined them sitting in their bunkers, waiting for what they knew what was to come. He could imagine their faces, illuminated by fire. Their faces solemn as they stared out into darkness.
Aang thought of these men, some full of fear and distraught while others of acceptance. It made Aang think who truly was the enemy.
Was it the men that huddled together as they stared at an ever present doom? Or was it the people that Aang had aligned himself with that seemed to destroy the Fire Nation.
Aang would admit that the Fire Nation had done horrible evils. It took all of Aang's willpower to not hate each of those that resided there for what they did to his people. But what the people he was aligned with debated doing worse. He had seen them do worse. It made Aang wonder who truly were the bad guys.
There was the sound of earth being crunched underneath someone's feet. Aang turned around expectantly.
"Toph." Aang said with a nod. "I see you finally decided to get out of bed."
Toph chuckled. "They we're all too loud and I finally got up. Sokka was the loudest, complaining about his sword and gun."
"So they're all still trying to prepare for the oncoming attack. Did Pierre mention what time it was?" Aang asked.
"Yes," Toph nodded. "When I left he said it was around 4:30. We have thirty minutes until it happens."
"Has Katara gotten back from collecting water yet?" Aang asked curiously. "You mean your lover Twinkletoes?" Toph said causing Aang to blush deep red.
"No I, I'm just curious." Aang replied sheepishly. "How about Pierre?" He asked trying to prove his point.
"You can't fool me Twinkletoes. You can't lie to me. You always forget." Toph punched him in the shoulder. Aang rubbed it lightly and continued to stare off into darkness as he wondered where everyone was.
—
Pierre stood alone outside the house as he waited for Katara. He was the last man in the house after all had left for the trenches. He didn't want to leave Katara to figure out they all had left so he had had opted to stay and wait for her.
Gently he leaned back against the wall near the door and rested his eyes. He didn't know when he would be able to again.
He heard footsteps from his left and allowed himself to crack open his eyes. He saw Katara standing there expectingly.
He nodded at her, "Katara." He spoke softly.
"Where did everyone go?" She asked with just as much softness. Like they were trying to be as quiet as possible for
reasons Pierre did not know. She was clutching a medium sized container of water in her hand.
"They left a little while ago for the trenches." Pierre replied with a shrug. "I thought I would wait for you so you wouldn't be left clueless."
"Thank you, are we going then?"
Pierre nodded and leaned down to grab his rifle. He picked it up and slung it over his shoulder. He took out his pistol for one final look.
It gleamed from the crescent moon, showing its blackened sides and wooden handle. The m1911 pistol was a beautiful gun.
Pierre holstered it and nodded at Katara, signaling he was ready. The two walked slowly down the darkened streets of the town. The first town taken by the Fire Nation, left almost untouched.
The lights were out to hide themselves from Fire Nation recon teams and bombing crews. It gave the town a ghost like mood. Pierre could barely hear the footsteps of his feet against the cobbled roads.
"I can't believe you were the only one that waited for me." Katara started, breaking their silence.
Pierre shook his head. "It's just a thank you for acting like a mother to me these past few months. I probably wouldn't have eaten after Gustave's death if not for you." He argued.
"You, Aang, and Haiko are really the only ones that are ever thankful for me being so motherly. Everyone else just complains very loudly. It's a pleasant change from Aang just defending me."
Pierre nodded in understanding. He wasn't stupid, he knew of both of their feelings. Aang most likely hid his annoyance to not make Katara hate him. He just wanted them to get together already. It was so obvious that they both liked each other.
"So how does water bending work?" Pierre asked curiously.
If it hadn't been dark, he would've seen Katara grin widely. "I'm powered by the moon. If it was a full moon I would be extremely powerful. Water bending is about channeling the energy of the water and redirecting it. It's about control and inner peace."
"Oh, good thing it isn't a no moon night. I heard the generals were arguing over waiting until then but decided against so that reinforcements wouldn't arrive."
"Sokka hates those nights." Katara said with a frown as thought of a blue eyed princess with white hair. Kind and sweet, willing to do anything for her people.
"Does he now." Pierre said in surprise. Katara nodded as she broke out of her thoughts.
"You never mention to Sokka I told you this but his girlfriend turned into the moon."
"The moon?" Pierre said in a dumbfounded voice. "Like the thing that's up there." He pointed up at the small sliver in the sky.
"Yes, that moon. She was a princess of the Northern Water Tribe. She was a kind and loving soul who deeply cared for her people. The Fire Nation came and one of their admirals, Zhao, came and killed the moon spirit." Katara said until Pierre interrupted.
"There are spirits!" He exclaimed in surprise. Katara nodded, "The moon disappeared after the spirit was killed and all water benders lost power. No one could bend, we had all lost our ability. Yue, the princess, had been touched by the spirit when she was younger. She decided she would turn herself into the moon so that her nation wouldn't fall. She transcended up into the sky and turned into a spirit as a result. Sokka was inconsolable for days."
Pierre nodded slowly. "No offense to you guys but your world is weird. The idea of spirits even existing boggles my mind. Is there no God?" He wondered aloud.
"I wouldn't know the answer to that." Katara said shaking her head.
"What happened to Sokka afterward?"
"He was silent for a few months, refusing to do anything with another girl under the moon. But he eventually realized that Yue would have wanted him to be happy so he did date this other girl. Her name was Suki, she was a Kyoshi Warrior, the head one in fact."
"Who are the Kyoshi Warriors?"
"They are warriors created by Avatar Kyoshi to protect her hometown. They are proud and deadly warriors. They are also all girls."
"Did you say she was an Avatar?" Pierre asked, wondering if he had heard Katara right.
"Aang is one in a long line of Avatars. They are reborn in another nation every time one dies. Aang is the physical embodiment of a spirit." Katara said sheepishly. She just realized that Pierre wouldn't know any of that.
"Aang has a spirit inside of him! Does it like hurt him?" Pierre said in shock, his mouth wide in a large o.
"No, the spirit is a good spirit. It's very kind and cares deeply for the human race. She is just a peacekeeper."
"I see."
The two reached the trench line that was still hidden by the darkness. But the sun was coming close to rising. The day was stretching it's long fingers out across the sky, illuminating the trench to bask in the glory of the sun.
"If you have anymore questions, you should ask Aang after the battle. He would know these things better than I." Katara said turning to Pierre who nodded.
They jumped into the trench and found the rest of their friends already there.
"Does anyone have a time?" Sokka asked. Everyone looked at Pierre who shook his head while putting his hands up. "Don't look at me."
Haiko however looked at a watch on his wrist and replied, "It's 4:55. The officers said we will charge when the planes drop smoke though."
"So we wait." Aang clarified. Haiko nodded at him and looked up at the sky in anticipation for the aircraft.
Ten minutes later they were still waiting and men were getting antsy. The other sectors had advanced on the enemies and they could hear the distant sound of gunfire and artillery. Yet there were no planes to save them.
"Where are our flyboys?" Some of the Americans were asking up and down the line. Some shrugged, others thought they would charge without them. The officers we're adamant that they were coming however.
It would be five minutes later that they could hear the low drone of a propeller. In the darkness they could not see the planes but they knew they were there.
They could hear whistling from the air and soon in front of them there was a dense layer of smoke. The Fire Nation soldiers now had their turn to be antsy of an oncoming attack.
"Let's go avenge our boys!" An American officer screamed. And with that they jumped over the trench and charged forward.
Other side of the Portal
Moza gently pulled up on the joystick and his plane pulled off the ground. It was early in the morning, the sun had not even peeked over the horizon. He had been awakened abruptly in the morning by his friend, Uzo.
Uzo had said that the portal was under attack and they needed air support. Enemy bombers were laying down smoke all over the battlefield, letting the enemy reach the first line of defenses with almost no casualties.
His squadron had quickly gotten in their planes and began to take off. He was the last one to get up in the air. They turned south towards the portal, in 10 minutes they would reach it.
They were flying low to the ground in preparation for going through the portal. Moza began to fix his plane for traveling through the portal. He checked his stabilizers and double checked to see if his throttle was all the way up.
He checked his speedometer to see if he was at the required speed. He was.
The portal was in sight now. It's purple swirl mesmerized him. "Prepare for entry." His flight commander said over the radio. Then they entered into the swirl, off to battle.
France
The soldiers moved across the first field to the first defense rather easily. The Fire Nation soldiers in the bunkers ahead of them still didn't see them. They gripped the machine guns with white knuckles.
Then they fired into the smoke, hoping that they would slow an advance if there was one. Aang leapt out of the way of some stray bullets. He watched Toph earthbend a boulder and throw it at the bunker where the bullets came from.
The Fire Nation soldiers screamed in shock as a boulder came and crushed them.
The soldiers continued to move forward across the field until they reached the first enemy fortifications. The Fire Nation soldiers brandished swords and spears against the bayonets of the Romanians and Americans.
Pierre blocked a soldiers strike with his bayonet and kicked him back before stabbing him.
Haiko slung his rifle over his right shoulder and unsheathed his katana. He blocked three soldiers at once and forced each one back. He kicked one in the shin causing him to collapse while he ducked under two swords. He slashed one in the stomach and attacked the final one from behind, lobbing off his head. He moved to the one on his knees.
The soldier looked up at Haiko solidly. He was unarmed. Haiko looked back with just as much coldness. Haiko raised the hilt of his sword and knocked the man out.
Aang flung himself in the air and landed behind a firebender. He bent a rock at the nape of the soldier knocking him out.
Katara splashed water into one soldiers face making her stumble. Toph made her trip on a rock before she could firebend at Katara. Katara then kicked the soldier in the face, knocking her out.
Sokka blew off a spear strike with his sword. He forced the weapon back and the soldier swung in a wide arc. Sokka ducked and slashed across the chest. The soldier fell to the ground face first.
Zuko, with his two dai swords blacked a strike from a soldier.
"My Prince." They whispered mockingly. Zuko grimaced as he kicked them in the stomach. The soldier stumbled but looked up with a smile. "You have certainly gotten stronger since last time you were on the mainland."
"You know when two people are fighting, there isn't this much talking." Zuko grimaced at the soldier. The soldier sneered and lunged forward. Zuko merely sidestepped and whacked the soldier in the head with the flat end of the sword.
The soldier fell down like a rock. Zuko, even if the soldier was a jerk, would not kill members of his own nation.
Within 30 minutes the fortifications were taken and many soldiers had been taken captive. They were escorted by a few Americans back to the town. Those that were injured were placed on stretchers and trucks came to pick them up.
One of the American officers, Lieutenant Booker, had binoculars to his eyes. He was surveying the next line of fortifications.
The sun was rising now, illuminating the ground ahead. A wide field of grass laid ahead, spread out for miles to the north and south. A mile east however there was a large hill that towered over the plains. It was larger than the hill they were on at the moment.
On the fortifications, a Fire Nation spotter sat in a trench surveying the forward fortifications. The rest of the first line had already fallen, now it was up to the second line.
He could see Americans roaming the trench line. He grabbed his radio and spoke a few coordinates. There was an affirmative and soon he saw artillery shells flying over his head.
Pierre saw the shells first. Flying at unnatural speeds towards the trench line.
"Everyone get to cover!" He screamed, grabbing Haiko and rushing towards a bunker. Aang, Zuko, Katara, Toph, and Sokka along with a few soldiers followed them in.
The last man jumped in right before the shells landed. There was the loud explosions from around them as the shells fell. They pressed their hands to their ears as hard as they could.
The last man who had jumped in attempted to stand up until a shell landed right behind him blowing him forward. He had been in the doorway and all the shrapnel hit him in the back. He died instantly.
When it stopped, they all lowered their hands and looked around. Aang stared in horror at the dead man in front of him. He saw all the blood turning the uniform well. To his shock and further horror he saw that the soldier was Luca, the accordion player.
Katara and Zuko also looked in just as much shock and horror. The man who had been lively and joyous the other night. The man who had been living was now lying on the ground with a face of pain forever ingrained on his face.
"Come on guys, now's not the time. We can mourn later." Pierre said placing his hands on Zuko and Kataras shoulders and looking at Aang. They exited the bunker and came across an officer, Lieutenant Booker, exiting a nearby bunker.
"I need a radio!" He screamed out. A young private with a radio on his back rushed forward and knelt before Booker. Booker grabbed the phone next to the radio and dialed a few numbers.
"We need more smoke! We're being destroyed by artillery out here!" He yelled into the phone. He remained stoic as he heard a voice and sneered.
"What?! Why can't they?!" He screamed looking forward.
Moza flew high above the battle. Below him he saw men fighting to control a single troop line. Then there was a flash that caught his eye.
It was an enemy plane. From up here it looked to be a Stuka.
"Commander, I see a Stuka below." Moza calmly said over the radio.
"How many are there Moza." Moza gazed down and tried to see if there were any more enemy aircraft. He counted three more.
"There are three more sir. That makes it four."
"Prepare to dive in three…two….one." The commander said and Moza pulled his joystick to the left, pulling him down. With him in the far left today, Uzo being the closest on his right, then the commander, and finally two more pilots.
They dove down, their fire birds gaining more and more speed as gravity pulled them down. Moza felt the trigger and prepared to pull.
When he thought his bullets would be most accurate, he clutched his hand. Bursts of heated spheres fired from his guns, impacting the Stuka below.
He pulled up quickly and looked back seeing he a plane diving towards the ground in a stream of smoke. But it wasn't the plane he was shooting at.
"I think I got one!" Uzo screamed in joy and Moza laughed. "Great job Uzo!" He said over the radio with a chuckle.
They looped back around to behind the Stukas. The tail gunners were attempting to hold them back with fury. Moza pulled up behind one and he could hear bullets impacting his plane.
He executed a roll while pulling the trigger and he watched the tail gunner slump forward. The plane dove towards the ground at an alarming rate and Moza watched from above with another kill to his name.
Lieutenant Booker was still snarling when said Stuka flew over his head into the ground. He watched a Fire Nation plane fly over his head and he shook his head. That was why.
He put down the phone and motioned with his hand. "Get those tanks up here. We need armor!" He called out.
Immediately there was a response and M3 Stuarts and M2 Mediums crossed the trench line.
Booker turned to a man next to him. "Relay up and down the line that we're crossing now before the sun rises and we're all out in the open." The man nodded and rushed off into a mass of men.
Pierre, Haiko, and the rest of the Gaang heard the American officer say this and readied themselves.
Three minutes later most of the troops were ready. Lieutenant Booker raised his arm and fired a flare.
The tanks rolled forward with the men right behind. The Gaang plus some were behind one of the M2's, trying to stay out of the line of sight.
At twelve hundred meters, artillery began to land near the men. Aang winced at every explosion as men screamed.
At about eight hundred meters from the hill, the Fire Nation soldiers opened up with bullets and fire. Fireballs flew over the tanks, bullets bounced off, and lightning finished them off.
The M2 Medium the Gaang was behind suddenly caught on fire. Turned out a bolt of lighting had impacted the front and easily went through the armor. It moved through the tank and hit the engine.
Pierre quickly motioned them to move toward a little depression ahead. The Gaang quickly rushed over and laid down. A few soldiers including Alexandru and Cornal hid with them.
A trio of Americans holding a large machine gun plopped down next to them. They deployed a tripod and began to fire in bursts at the bunkers.
Pierre glanced over the top and saw that there were large concrete barriers ahead. Tank barriers, three rows of them.
"Let's get over there!" He yelled over the sound of the machine gun pointing forward. He was the first one to run out from the little depression and crossed the short space to the barriers.
Next, Sokka and an American private holding his helmet with his left and his M1 Garand with his right. Sokka unslung his own rifle and used his scope to try and shoot the machine gunners. They were too far.
Toph, Katara, and Aang rushed over under a hail of bullets to the barrier to Sokka's adjacent. Pierre and the private pushed over to the next row of barriers.
Pierre began to shoot. When he turned back, he looked to his left to see the private struggling to reload his M1 Garand. The soldier was much scrawnier than Pierre but they were likely the same age.
"Here let me." He said to the private outstretching his hand. The private looked at the hand for a second before placing the rifle in Pierre's hand. Pierre handed him his and told him, "Try your best to hit them."
Pierre stuffed in a few bullets with his thumb until it got in the way of the bolt. "Ah" he grunted and sucked on his thumb before placing in the last bullet. He handed the private the rifle back.
The private nodded shakily in thanks and grabbed it. Pierre grabbed his weapon and nodded back at the private.
Zuko pushed forward to a barrier on the row in front of Pierre. Aang raised an earth barrier that allowed him to get up next to Pierre.
"Pierre, what are we going to do? We're pinned!" Aang yelled trying to hide from the bullet impacts on the side of the concrete.
Pierre looked him squarely in the eye. "You and Toph are going to raise earth barriers like you just did to stop the bullets. It will take some effort but I'm sure you two can do it."
Aang nodded and raised an earth barrier. He looked towards Toph and screamed her name. She looked at him and nodded. She raised a larger earth barrier.
Aang shook his head at her and began to walk forward, the earth barrier stopping all bullets.
"Everyone get behind them!" Pierre yelled pointing at Toph and Aang. The soldiers who had been closest rushed forward to get behind the tanks.
Aang saw a bolt of lightning coming towards Toph and raised a piece of rock and threw it at the bolt. The bolt exploded dangerously close to Toph but she was safe.
They could hear machine gun bullets impacting the wall of rock from the other side but the confidence of the soldiers neve wavered. They were confident in the abilities of Aang and Toph.
One of the soldiers grabbed a bazooka from his back and stepped out from the protection of the rock. Aiming for the bunker in front, he pulled the trigger.
He watched the projectile fly into the crack of the bunker. It exploded in a shower of smoke and sparks.
"Go, go, go!" Pierre screamed, realizing they had to take advantage of the one less bunker. It was a mere 100 meters from the top.
Aang and Toph created a ramp up the mountain and the soldiers ran up it instead of the steep mountain. Within seconds they were in the trench.
There were ten soldiers plus the Gaang and Pierre and Haiko. Making that there were seventeen who just entered the trench. There were seven Ameticans and three Romanians.
When they entered the trench, they expected to see themselves surrounded by Fire Nation troops. Instead they were alone?
"Do we split up?" Aang asked.
Pierre turned to the Americans. "Are you guys a squad or?"
One of the Americans nodded, "Us five are." He said and five soldiers, including the private raised their hand. There were two Americans who were unaffiliated. One however had a big red cross on his helmet. A medic.
"Alright, Haiko, I, the three Romanians, you two." He pointed at the two American. "And Katara, and Aang will go left."
"The rest of you, Toph, Sokka, Zuko, and the American squad will go right and clear that way." The said people nodded and turned and ran.
Pierre looked off for a second before turning and motioning for them to follow. "I'm starting to feel like an officer." Pierre muttered.
Pierre raised his gun and slowly walked down the trench with everyone behind him. It was eerily quiet, too quiet with a battle going on.
Pierre looked to his right and saw a little underground area. "Aang, Katara, Romanians, go in there and clear it out if there's anyone there."
Those people nodded and walked into the hidden room. Aang and Katara walked in, already in stance with the 3 Romanians right behind them.
When they entered, they found themselves in a hallway. "Clear these two rooms first." Aang told them pointing to the first two rooms.
Aang took to breaking down the door to the left while Katara did the one to right. Aang kicked the door open with air bending.
There were three Fire Nation commanders staring over a map and they looked up in surprise.
"Oh uhh." Aang said with a chuckle. The Romanian behind Aang, Cornal, raised his gun and shot the one in the center. The commander flew back into a wall.
This seemed to break the commanders out of their stupor. One grabbed a holstered pistol and fired two bullets. Aang ducked under the bullets but unluckily, Cornal didn't.
The two bullets impacted Cornals in the chest and he fell back. The other Romanian that Aang didn't know the name of looked down at Cornals bloody body before shooting the officer.
The final officer lit a flame in his hand and jumped over the table. He tried to shoot Aang who ducked easily. He created a rock fist that he used to punch the officer in the head.
Katara on the other hand froze the door then broke it. Inside there were two chefs cooking food. They looked up in shock as Alexandru ran forward and knocked them out.
There was a final room at the end of the hallway. The now four advanced on it slowly, weapons raised. The door opened for them.
Four soldiers stood in the doorway, a firebender, a swordsman, and two rifleman. Alexandru and the Romanian stepped back and fired. One of the bullets hit the door frame while the other hit one of the riflemen in the shoulder.
The one remaining rifleman shot and missed. The swordsman and firebender ran at the group while the rifleman put a bayonet on.
Alexandru stepped back and also fixed a bayonet. He had utter faith in Aang and Katara to defeat the three soldiers. He did not want to shoot and accidentally hit them.
The other Romanian bent down next to Cornal and pulled him up into the trench where Pierre, Haiko, and the two Americans were. The medic immediately went to work with him while Haiko, hearing the battle entered into the room.
Aang easily blew the swordsman back into the wall knocking him out. He quickly sent a torrent of fire at the rifleman sending him stumbling backwards. Aang blew the man back further to the wall and used some water to freeze him there.
Katara and the firebender traded blows. His fire was countered by Kataras water but slowly, she was forced on the defensive as more and more of her water turned to steam. But then the firebenders hand froze.
The firebender looked at it in shock and Katara smirked at him. She kicked him back to Aang who froze his limbs against the walls.
Haiko entered too late to join the fight and he hung his shoulders and exited. Alexandru, Aang, and Katara exited the room up into the trench above.
"How is he doc?" Alexandru asked the medic who was tending to Cornal.
"All the bullets miraculously missed his vital organs and veins. He'll survive if I bandaged him up quick enough. He was bleeding enough already but I think I stopped it." The medic replied without looking up.
Katara knelt down next to the fallen Romanian. "Here let me." She said placing water against Cornal's wounds. The medic backed away and she froze the water.
"This should stop the bleeding. No blood will get out. He now just has to heal." Katara looked down at the man. "I hope he has a speedy recovery."
"Just stick with Cornal doc. We'll clear the rest of the fortifications on our own." Pierre told the medic who nodded.
Guns aimed once again they walked down to the next bunker. They could hear the sound of a machine gun from inside.
"Grenade anyone?" Pierre asked. The American took out a grenade and handed it to Pierre.
Pierre took out the pin and threw it in. There was a muffled explosion and then they entered. They found the three Fire Nation soldiers that had been in there already dead.
"Really hope we have more grenades." Pierre said looking around.
"Don't worry, we do." Alexandru replied with a smirk.
The American walked over to the mounted machine gun. He with great effort took it out of the mount and carried it like a baby.
Aang watched curiously as the American placed it on the side of the firing area of the bunker. The machine gun was facing the next bunker over.
"See you suckers." The American said with an evil smirk. Aang could only watch in horror as the American pumped bullets in the Fire Nation bunkers. He could see the soldiers inside falling in surprise to the hail of bullets.
Once the job was done, the American stopped shooting. "Problem solved." He mumbled.
This was the first time Aang got a good look at the man. He was a strong looking man, wide shoulders and big legs. He wasn't overweight but muscular. He looked like someone who grew up lifting things and helping around the house.
A big difference from Pierre, being the skinny guy he was. Pierre had light brown hair while this man had jet black. He spoke in an accent unfamiliar to Aang. But then again, the only Americans he knew was Omar Bradley.
Pierre looked at the American. "Good job." He said. "What's your name soldier?" It was extremely funny watching Pierre trying to act like the bigger man here when the American was half a head taller and a lot buffer.
The American smirked. "Leonardo DeLuca."
Pierre nodded. "Your an Italian American aren't you."
"Hell yeah I am. From Brooklyn baby. Home of the Dodgers." The American, Leo, said with great importance. Yet Aang had no idea who the dodgers were.
"I thought all of New York City got burnt to the ground." Alexandru said.
Leo laughed. "The city is too big for it to all be burnt down. Lower Manhattan and parts of Queens got the brunt of the attack. I didn't know anyone who died in the fire. But I do know that what the Fire Nation did was evil and I signed up for the war right then and there."
Leo grabbed the machine gun. "Enough talking, let's go kick Fire Nation butt." He said with another devilish smirk.
"I'm sure we attracted attention with that little stunt. We'll have our chance to defeat them." Haiko reasoned.
They exited the bunker and Haiko was right. There were a few Fire Nation soldiers standing in their way. "Well sorry." Was all Leo said before he pulled the trigger of the machine gun.
The Fire Nation soldiers in their way folded over from the bullets. Pierre, Alexandru, Haiko, and the other Romanian that Aang did not know the name of were all firing their rifles.
Soon the soldiers laid dead or injured on the ground. "Where the hell is the rest of the force?"
There was a scream to their left and they turned to see ten American soldiers pointing their M1 Garands at them.
"Woah, woah, we're friendlies." Leo exclaimed putting his hands up. The soldiers lowered their rifles and jumped into the trench.
The fortifications as it turned out were mostly cleared. At least enough so that they could push again to the final defensive position until the fortress.
Cornal was receiving the necessary medical attention. When they reached him, they found him being carried away on a stretcher and the medic brushing himself off.
"Another live saved I hope." The medic said staring out at the Romanian being placed in an ambulance.
The American squad with Zuko, Toph, and Sokka got back. "Where's Cornal?" Zuko asked.
"On a stretcher on his way to a field hospital." Alexandru replied. The others nodded.
The trench was now filled with Americans and Romanians moving around the talking.
"Avatar! Avatar!" They heard someone scream. They turned to see a private and Lieutenant Booker. "What is it Lieutenant?" Aang asked turning around.
"I got a message over the radio. It's for you and Prince Zuko." Lieutenant Booker handed him and Zuko the phone and clicked a button on the radio. On the other side there was an eerily familiar voice.
"I hope you are receiving this Avatar and dear brother. I have come to help my people get through these hard times in France. I hope you two are prepared for the hell that is about to be rained down upon you. These new weapons that we find ourselves with are extremely awesome. With them, an average soldier can defeat anyone. Why don't you two stop by anyway. If you guys decide to come, I'll make sure you aren't hurt, at least not by the average soldier. I just want to talk to you guys. I feel like I haven't seen you guys in forever. See you soon Zuzu." Came the voice of Azula through the radio.
"When did you receive this?" Zuko asked in shock. The Lieutenant shrugged. "A little earlier. Maybe like 15 minutes ago."
"Zuko we have to go." Aang said turning to Zuko. Zuko shook his head. "I don't trust her Aang. She might not make true on her promise of no harm from the average soldier."
"But if we defeat her then the Fire Nation defense and morale falls. Nothing hurts morale more than seeing your princess be captured. We have to take the chance." Aang reasoned.
"Fine, we'll go Aang." Zuko finally admitted. Aang grabbed his staff and turned it into a glider.
"Zuko grab onto my waist." Aang told Zuko.
"No! I'm not grabbing onto your waist." Zuko said in disgust. Aang rolled his eyes and grabbed Zuko's arm before he took off.
Zuko screamed as he was lifted up into the air by the hem of his shirt and desperately grabbed onto Aang's waist. Aang laughed very loudly just making Zuko blush.
Lieutenant Booker watched for a few seconds before turning to everyone in the trench. "Come on everyone! There's another hill to be taken!" The Lieutenant called.
"We can deal with everything later but now, let us fight for freedom!" The Lieutenant added. The reaction was instantaneous. Soldiers stopped what they were doing and looked over at the final fortification.
It was the highest elevated plateau in the area. It slowly rose up and up gently until you reached the trench. Up the slope there was a single trench of soldiers that they could see sitting on the bottom of the trench.
The plateau was clearly very fortified too. Even from where the soldiers stood, they could see the mass of men that were guarding the trench. The artillery guns behind glistened in the sun.
There would be no tanks joining them. They were stuck behind the anti-tank concrete barriers. It was extremely hard to get through them for the American tanks.
Between the plateau and the hill they were on, there was a large field. It was a field of blooming red poppies. Coming into maturity, easing the eyes. They glistened in the early morning sun.
Men began to exit the trench and run forward towards the trench. The further away they were they reasoned, the less likely it was they would get hit by the artillery.
This plan however backfired for when the few men charged, the entire group charged. As how one leak can destroy the dam, a few men create a charge. Among them was the Sokka, Katara, Toph, Pierre, Haiko, and everyone else.
Leo as he was running turned to the young private to his right. The same private that Pierre had helped earlier during their charge.
"Who do you think is going to win the World Series this year?" He asked. The young private, short and scrawny turned to large man to his left.
"Is now really a good time to talk about baseball?" The private said sarcastically. "What better time is there than when we're about to be gunned down. We might as well set aside out differences." Leo laughed.
"Well I'll talk about baseball with you as long as your not a Dodgers fan." The private said cynically. Leo slapped his head with his hand as they continued to run.
"Don't tell me your a Yankees fan." He complained.
"Hell yeah I am. And let me guess, your from Brooklyn and are a Dodgers fan." The private snarled but he quickly smiled. "You know we're going to win the World Series."
Leo smiled too. "Nah, you know we will win." The two would get along fine.
Sokka tried to avoid stepping on all the poppies while Toph stepped on each. "Stop acting like Twinkletoes Sokka." She yelled at Sokka.
"But they're so pretty!"
The Fire Nation artillery men looked through his binoculars at the mass of troops running at the trench.
"We have a whole mass of targets. Just shoot and I am sure you will hit something." He called back to his fellows on the gun. The soldiers nodded and pulled a string. There was a boom and artillery shells flew through the air.
Then the most peculiar sight. Rocks formed a shield to hide the soldiers. There was an earthbender the Fire Nation artillery man thought. He grabbed a radio and made a request.
Up in the air, Moza got a request. There was an earthbender attacking the Fire Nation defenses in the western sector. Air support was being requested from the soldiers on the ground. Either a bomber or fighter. It didn't matter.
"We have to protect our mates on the ground!" The flight leader said. "Keep an eye out for any enemy aircraft. I would be surprised if none else appeared."
Moza surveyed the land from where he was. In the distance he could see the English Channel, a deep shade of orange from the sun. This allowed him to see the 4 shapes flying towards them against the backdrop of the channel.
"We have four planes coming toward us. Spitfires, I think." Moza said over the radio.
"Fly to intercept."
The Firebirds banked hard to the right and set a direct course for the Spitfires. It was five Firebirds vs. four Spitfires. Not a very large force to Moza's surprise.
When they were close enough, each of the pilots of both nations pulled their triggers. Bullets flew through the air and the flight leaders engines was hit. His plane entered a steep dive that ended when his plane smashed into the ground.
"Crap we lost flight leader Jiun!" One of the other pilots screamed in horror. "Don't relent!" Moza replied.
When they passed, the Fire Nation pilots banked hard. "Pick you targets. I have utter confidence in our abilities to defeat these Brits."
The Fire Nation planes once again passed the Spitfires. Moza saw the side of the Spitfire that passed on his left. They had three kills.
Said Spitfire quickly banked hard and got itself on Moza's tail. Moza grimaced as he began to perform evasion techniques. He's twisted and twirled but the Spitfire wouldn't leave.
He was aware of the Spitfires capabilities. A great dog fighter, not as nimble as the Firebird and he doubted this pilot would fall for his usual air trick of making them lose speed through a sharp incline. Instead he chose another technique to get on their tail.
He pulled up into a steep incline and he watched the Spitfire follow. It wasn't steep enough for either to lose speed. Instead Moza quickly pulled back into a backwards loop.
The Spitfire had a moment of indecision. Should he follow or just pull out. He decided to follow but this moment of indecision would prove decisive. He couldn't see Movza anymore.
When Moza leveled out he performed another loop and he looked below him to see the Spitfire had taken the bait. It had performed the first loop but not the second. He had not seen Moza pull up a second time.
Moza leveled out again at the Spitfires tail. He instantly pulled the trigger and watched the bullets impact the tail. The Spitfire caught fire and descended in a ball of flames.
Moza pulled back and saw one of the other pilots chasing Spitfire but with one behind him. He chased after and began to shoot the Spitfire behind his fellow countryman.
The Spitfire began to leak light gray smoke and began a slow descent towards the ground. His fellow pilot shot down his Spitfire as well.
The final Spitfire, realizing he was outnumbered, flew back towards the channel. They had lost their flight leader but had taken out three Spitfires.
Remembering the request of the artillery man, Moza took control of the situation. "Everybody, dive down. We're strafing the Western sector." He said over his radio.
There were affirmatives and they turned back. A pair of Fire Nation bomber pulled in front of them and unloaded a payload on the soldiers. It was followed by Moza's squad lighting them up with machine gun fire.
Toph who had raised an earth wall to protect her and her friends from bullets never saw the bombs coming.
Toph flew back, blown away from the explosion next to her. She just barely registered the sound of bullets impacting the ground.
"Toph!" Katara screamed kneeling over her fallen friend who groaned. She was bleeding the arms and legs and in the stomach. She took some water and laid it over her rooms.
With the water she plucked out the shrapnel in her friends body before it became a problem. Toph groaned again and Katara wished she knew better how to be a healer.
"Medic!" Pierre yelled looking at the young girl. A medic came and kneeled next to Katara. She looked and saw it was the same medic who was with them earlier.
"Good job on healing the wounds." The medic said looking over Tophs body. He quickly took out some bandages and bandaged the necessary places. He then grabbed her and slung her over his shoulder.
"I'll take her back to the field hospital. Just keep fighting and don't worry about your friend. If we don't defeat them here then we may possibly be doomed." The medic looked at each of them square in the eye before running away with a barely conscious Toph.
The troops without Toph were out in the open and exposed to machine gun fire. Luckily in the field, there were a few rocks and depressions. The soldiers rushed forward and hid behind these things.
There was also a very small ridge, about 5 feet raised above the ground that many were hiding behind. Among them was Sokka, Katara, and everyone else they had been with.
"Leo, do you happen to still have that machine gun?" Pierre asked loudly over the sound of the screams and gunfire. Leo shook his head. "I left it, all I have is my shotgun."
"Not very helpful right now." The private said.
"Thank you, hey, you never told me your name."
"It's Nick."
"Well then thank you Nick for that very needed information."
"Now's not the time you two!" Katara yelled at the two Americans. They could hear the machine bullets impacting the other side of the ridge.
One of the American squad members looked up over the ridge to try and see the enemy force. There was the sound of an impact and the soldier fell, a bullet to the head.
"What the hell!" Leo shouted, scrambling back. Sokka clutched his head over the sound. Similar things were happening to all the soldiers behind the ridge.
"What are we going to do!" The Romanian soldier shouted. There was a permanent fear etched on Alexandru's face. The stress of the battle was stressing on him. He was close to breaking.
"We're done for. We're done for!" Another American was mumbling. His knees were pulled up to his eyes. His hands clutched his ears.
There was the sound of a rocket flying towards them and smashing into the little ridge that protected them, exposing lots of soldiers.
They were gunned down instantly by the machine guns as they screamed.
"We're being murdered out here!" Nick screamed in horror.
"Where is that bloody mach-" The soldier next to Nick was saying before he got an arrow to the head and slumped forward.
Leo decided against his better judgment to try and peek over the ridge. There was a clang and he fell backwards. A bullet had hit his helmet, he was saved.
"I can't take this anymore!" Alexandru shouted standing up, looking straight at the enemy. There was the sound of a bullet impact and he fell backwards.
"Alex!" The other Romanian soldier screamed.
"How far away do you think that trench is?!" Pierre asked Katara loudly over the screams and gunfire. "Too far Pierre!" She replied with a face etched with horror at what was going on around her.
"Does anyone have an anti tank gun?" Pierre shouted.
An American soldier raised their hand.
"Shoot the trench!"
The American soldier raised the bazooka and quickly stood up. He pulled the trigger and his helmet flew backwards. A bullet had hit it sending the helmet flying.
The machine gun fire slowed. "Come on! We have to charge now or we're all doomed! It's 20 meters away!" Pierre yelled out.
Americans and Romanians emerged from their hiding places and ran forward with a purpose. The Fire Nation soldiers in the trench raised their rifles and shot. The machine gunners in the bunkers above shot at the soldiers too.
Soldiers fell to Katara's left and right from bullets. Fire flew past her and she quickly took out some water to defend herself with.
She jumped into the trench and the ground squished beneath her. Fire Nation soldiers turned and faced her. Katara quickly realized that what she was standing on was mud and she smirked. She raised more water from the ground and began to swirl it in a ball.
The Fire Nation soldiers faltered slightly but kept their weapons raised nonetheless.
Katara knew what she needed to do. She froze the ground beneath the soldiers before running at them as they slipped. She flung water into their faces, kicked them, punched them. Soldiers fell to her ire left and right.
Soon Leo joined next to her and pumped something back. "Have a nice ride." He said before pulling the trigger of the gun that he called a shotgun. The Fire Nation soldier in front of him flew backwards and Leo pumped it back again.
Leo and Katara together made an unstoppable force. Soon, they had cleared out the trench quickly with the combination of Katara's waterbending and Leo's shotgun. But the Fire Nation soldiers still remained in the bunkers above, pumping bullets out at them. There would need to be a new plan.
Aang and Zuko still remained in the air as they searched for Azula below. No one had tried to shoot at them as they were flying. The two were almost beginning to believe Azula.
"Do you see her Zuko?" Aang asked. Zuko, still hanging on by Aang's waist shook his head. "I'm both too terrified to look and I wouldn't say I have the best eagle sight."
Aang shook his head and continued to look. Then he saw a flash and quickly pulled to the right. Someone had fired a bolt of lightning at them.
"I think I found her Aang." Zuko said and Aang rolled his eyes. He dove down and landed across from the Princess.
"Hello Azula." Aang said, face devoid of emotion.
Azula turned around and smiled at Aang and Zuko. "Hello Zuzu, Avatar."
"Why did you bring us here Azula?" Zuko asked.
"Two reasons actually. You both have to realize how evil the people here are. Have you seen the weapons they have created? They are downright horrible. At least we, the Fire Nation didn't commit some of the atrocities they did." Azula said with a smirk.
"The Fire Nation murdered my entire people!" Aang yelled at her, flinging his fist angrily.
"Regretful but needed. They stood in our way. But the people here committed genocide against a people for simply existing. Entire peoples were destroyed all in pursuit to make names bigger on a map."
"What are you talking about. No one would do that." Zuko said in disgust
"Don't tell me you haven't opened a history textbook here. When the people of Europe discovered the lands of America, the entire native population perished. What they did was evil." Azula reasoned with them.
"That. America was discovered in the late 15th century. That was four hundred years ago." Aang exclaimed in shock. "Don't blame people now for what they did centuries ago."
"But yet, don't you blame us for the death of your own people." Azula smiled like the devil.
"No," Aang stated causing Azula to lose her smile. "I learned that I shouldn't blame people for the mistakes of their ancestors. If I did, then me and Zuko here wouldn't be working together."
Zuko stepped forward, "Your time is up Azula. You can't fool us with your trickery. We're here to defeat you to end all this bloodshed."
Azula sighed, "That's a shame. I was really hoping I could make you see reason. But that brings me to my second reason why I brought you here. Without any benders, the Allied force is getting destroyed. Soon the Fire Nation will rule this world too."
"The Fire Nation won't be able to fight if they don't have their princess." Zuko said getting into a bending stance. Aang mirrored him.
Azula laughed. "You assumed I was going to lower myself to fight you. No, I have other plans." Azula motioned with her hand and a dozen soldiers stepped forward, rifles raised.
"It really is a shame you two couldn't see reason and join me in bringing a new, better world. You may fire when ready." Azula turned around and walked away.
Right when they pulled the trigger, Aang raised an earth wall and created a tunnel below them. "Hop in!" He yelled at Zuko who did just as he asked.
As Aang flew down he closed the hole above him. The two were then consumed by the darkness of the tunnel.
The soldiers were once again pinned in the trench. "Does anyone have a new plan?" Haiko called out over the sound of the machine gun fire.
The soldiers to his left and right all shook their heads. Haiko groaned in annoyance. The gunfire wasn't as bad now that they were three feet in the ground. Bad news is that it was very cramped.
"Would ice work well for defense?" Katara asked. Haiko sat in thought for a second. "If you make it thick and cold enough." He said after a minutes thought.
Katara smirked, she would make it really cold. She stood up and and froze a two foot wall of ice in front of the trench. Bullets impacted the ice but never got fully through.
Soldiers began to climb out and began to run forward with the protection of Katara's ice. It could however only protect ten soldiers at a time. Pierre, Sokka, Leo, Nick, Haiko, Alexandru's friend, and a few others joined Katara as they ran up the hill.
They leaped into the fortifications and were immediately under fire from all side. Katara quickly broke the ice and flung it at all sides. She didn't kill any of the soldiers just incapacitated them.
"What a beautiful today is for a fight!" Pierre exclaimed while the others rolled their eyes.
Katara walked over to the front of the trench and raised two columns of ice. Soldiers quickly began to pour through into the trench to help clear everything out.
The sounds of battle were quickly becoming evident as bayonets and swords clashed. There were screams and gunshots. Leo found that he really loved his shotgun.
Katara fought three firebenders easily taking them out with well placed kicks and spurts of water. She truly showed why she was a master water bender.
Haiko and Sokka worked together to hold Fire Nation soldiers off with their swords. The two expertly parried and attacked as a team, pushing the many soldiers back. One would always have the others back.
Pierre was stabbing and swinging with his bayonet. He proved why it was that the French had invented the dreaded weapon of war with the way he handled it.
Soon the trench was cleared and all that was left was to clear each of the rooms within up and around the trench. Fire Nation soldiers were fleeing to the fortress, most likely to return home. The Americans and Romanians let them.
Pierre, Haiko, Katara, and the Romanian were walking together through the trench. Sokka was busy awing at the idea of the shotgun. He was inspecting Leo's gun and was practicing using it. On safety of course.
"I'm sorry about Alexandru." Katara told the Romanian. The Romanian shook his head. "I know none of you know my name. It's Klaus. I hate you guys just referring to me as you or him. And thank you."
They passed a tunnel that seemed dark and foreboding. "We should probably clear that." Haiko whispered.
"I suppose we have to." Pierre said annoyingly. "I doubt there will be anyone in there but we should probably check. Protocol you know."
They descended into the dimly lit tunnel with slow steps. It split into two hallways, both equally dark.
"Haiko and I have right. You two have left." Pierre said. Klaus rolled his eyes at being called you again.
"This place gives me the creeps." Haiko muttered. He was behind Pierre as they both had their rifles raised. "It makes me feel the same."
The two turned to the right at the end of the hallway. "Still no one. Should we head back?" Pierre asked.
"We might find something down here. You never know if we turn back now." Haiko replied.
The hallway split in two with rooms at each end of the new tunnels. "I'll go straight." Pierre said and Haiko nodded.
Haiko turned left toward the tunnel and slowly made his way down until he disappeared. Pierre watched longingly at the man before turning and walking slowly down his tunnel.
The tunnel banked hard to the right to a wooden door. Pierre made his way up to it and felt it to see how sturdy it was. Taking a deep breath he sent a kick to the door and it broke open.
Pierre stepped into a room full of crates. They towered up and above the young soldier like gods judging him. The room was lit by low lanterns.
The ambience of the room was starting to rub on him. It made Pierre deeply uneasy.
"Arghhh." Someone leapt at Pierre with a broadsword. Pierre raised his gun and blocked the sword with the barrel.
Pierre looked at the man who was taller than him. He had a long black beard and had a face of utter anger at Pierre. He was holding the broadsword with only his right hand. Wait, only his right hand.
Pierre gasped as he felt something plunge into his lower rib cage. The soldier smirked at him as he withdrew the dagger in his left hand. Pierre dropped his rifle as stumbled backwards, clutching his wound and fell.
He looked up slowly at the soldier who was smiling cruelly down upon him. The soldier went to reach for the rifle and grasped its brown hilt.
Pierre as quick as he could reach for his m1911 and pointed it at the soldier who was now standing back up. He pulled the trigger three times, watching the soldier jerk back a few times.
The soldier looked at him with surprise in his eyes before falling back onto the crates, causing them to collapse. Even if the man had survived, he would have been crushed by the sheer weight of all the crates landing on top of him.
Pierre with an excessive amount of willpower stood up and stumbled forward. He ran his left hand along the wall as he tried to find Haiko. His eyesight was dimming. He had to block the blood flow or he would be a doomed man.
Pierre reached the divide of the two tunnels and stumbled down where Haiko had disappeared. "Haiko!" He rasped loudly. There was no reply. Pierre took a deep breath and was about to rasp again when suddenly Haiko appeared.
"Pierre what happened?" He said in worry. Pierre was starting to feel really drowsy now. "Fire Nation soldier. Dead now. Need…" He coughed. "Katara."
Haiko slung his arm around Pierre and began to carry him forward through the tunnels. "You'll get through this Pierre. Don't worry." Haiko told him and Pierre nodded numbly.
At the place where the group had split off, they found Klaus just exiting the tunnel. His mouth opened in a wide o as he saw Pierre covered in blood.
"Klaus, we need Katara now!" Haiko screamed at the Romanian. Klaus nodded and ran back into darkness. Haiko carried Pierre up the ramp to the trench. When they got there, Haiko was about to lay Pierre on the ground until he realized it was in two inches of mud.
Haiko knew he had to make Pierre comfortable and decided against himself. He raised Pierre up and placed him on the area over the top of the trench. He laid Pierre on a small incline surrounded by poppies, overlooking the fields and hills of France.
Haiko picked up Pierre's head and laid it on his lap. "Just hang in there Pierre. Soon you'll be okay." He said stroking Pierre's light brown hair.
Pierre was still clutching his right side with his hand. Haiko ripped some cloth off his shirt and wrapped it around the wound. A bit of liveliness returned to Pierre's eyes as he removed his hand.
"Haiko I'm scared." Pierre mumbled. Haiko's eyes softened at Pierre. "There's nothing to be scared of. You are going to be fine."
"No I'm not, I have already lost half my blood." Pierre said looking directly into Haiko's eyes. "I don't want to die Haiko." He added turning left and looking at the hills of his homeland.
"At least I'm going to die here in my homeland. Not a foreign country unlike many others. I get to see natures beauty as I die." Pierre gazed over the hills and fields as a single tear ran down his face.
"I still had so much to live for Haiko. There was so much more I could have done." Haiko nodded sadly at Pierre.
"I wanted to move somewhere nice. Maybe we could have gone to Japan together. You know Haiko, I've always liked you." Haiko nodded firmly. Contrary to popular belief, he had begun to suspect this in the coming weeks.
Haiko picked up Pierre's hand and squeezed it. "I've liked you too Pierre." Pierre smiled very lightly. "That's good." He mumbled.
"What's gonna happen when it's all gone?" Pierre asked with a slight amount of fear. "Will there even be anything else beyond or will everything end. Will God save me?"
"Even if God doesn't save you then the spirits will." Haiko said squeezing Pierre's hand again. He could hear footsteps coming behind him and saw Katara and Klaus there. Katara quickly raised her hands and tried to heal Pierre's wound.
Haiko watched with expecting eyes to see the wound heal like it had so many times. But it didn't. Pierre was already too far gone. Katara looked up at Haiko, tears starting to prick both their eyes as she shook her head.
She kneeled down next to Pierre and gently rubbed his head. Pierre's breathing had slowed every slowly as the last tendrils of his life gave way.
"I suppose this is it." Pierre looked up at the blue skies with the fluffy clouds floating all over. He thought about all the good times he had. The times in Lyon with his friends. His time when he was younger with Gustave. When he would walk into his mothers kitchen and his mother would have food steaming on the table.
"What a beautiful day today is." He said quietly as his eyes stilled and his hand gently fell from Haiko's grasp.
In France's fields, a young man died fighting for his nations freedom. Surrounded by Poppies that gently swayed in the wind. The sun gently laid its hands on the body. The shadows swayed. The gunfire halted and the birds chirped beautifully as the last semblance of Pierre's conscious left.
Haiko bowed his head into his friends chest and began to cry. Katara patted Haiko's back as she too let the tears fall. Klaus stood in the back solemnly watching the two.
Surrounded by the red flowers, stained by his blood, Pierre finally died.
End of Part 1.
Happy Thanksgiving to my American viewers.