Gladiator

by Seyary-Minamoto

In a world where the Avatar wasn't found, the Fire Nation took over two nations and they strive to overcome the last one. Water Tribe warrior Sokka seeks to fight for his people's rights, but he's captured by his enemies. His life is no longer in his hands as he fights as a Gladiator, and his fate will eventually depend on the Fire Nation Princess, who needs him for her own ends...

224. Chapter 224: Fire Lord for a Week 5

The steamed buns were delicious, as were the pickled vegetables and the cold noodles. Fortunately, the four had finished eating the feast by the time they heard a startling knock on the house's front door.

"Were you expecting anyone else?" Shoji asked, glancing at Ty Lee with curiosity: the young woman's unusual frown answered the question all on its own.

Shoji had visited Ran often, as he was asked to by Haru and Ty Lee, while they were abroad. The Earth Kingdom woman had enjoyed his company so much that she ensured he would stop by their house for dinner at least once a week even after her son and daughter-in-law had returned, and the young man had been delighted to comply. At this point, he almost felt he was part of their family. Thus, he knew they weren't visited that often by anyone but himself… especially when it was long past dusk.

"I'll go see who it is" Haru offered, pushing himself up from his cushion at the dining table and walking steadily to the door.

Ran hadn't known sudden visits would be so dreaded in the Fire Nation, too. The ones she had received in her home village, in the Earth Kingdom, had never been welcome, for she had wanted nothing to do with the cruel soldiers who had taken her husband away from home. Yet where she initially thought she would be overreacting over her traumatic past – her body had trembled instantly, and she had instinctively wondered whether they could safely hide if need be until the threat was gone –, she didn't expect Ty Lee would bear a confused and fearful expression on her face as well.

Haru sensed noise outside the house even before opening the door: two soldiers of the Domestic Forces stood behind it, and from the looks of it, there were many more such soldiers calling on the residents of the nearby houses. Haru was instinctively apprehensive, yet resolved to show no fear: he was an Honorary Citizen by now, and they would have to respect him as such, whatever their purpose might be…

"Is something wrong?" Haru asked, stern.

"We apologize for interfering with your evening" said the man of the pair, bowing his head in Haru's direction "But an emergency has presented itself. We are here to guide you to evacuate into the underground tunnels for your safety"

"What…?" Haru's eyes widened: it wasn't the first time this had happened, but why on earth was it happening again? Had the White Lotus staged a new attack?

"What's going on?" Ty Lee asked, rushing to the door to Haru's side. The soldiers bowed respectfully in her direction.

"Please, gather everyone in your house and bring them to the tunnel's entrance as soon as possible" said the female soldier this time, speaking to Ty Lee "The Fire Lord has commanded it"

Ty Lee swallowed hard but nodded in compliance. And she had been enjoying today's dinner so much, too…

"We will be there shortly" she said. The soldiers bowed their heads respectfully before moving on to the next house.

Haru cast an uncertain glance at Ty Lee, finding she was scanning the street with unrestrained concern: there were soldiers knocking on every door, conveying the order directly. Whatever was happening wasn't quite as sudden as the last time an emergency had required them to head underground, she supposed, otherwise they would use the usual alarm instead…

Or was the risk even greater this time, and soldiers had been sent to see to the successful evacuation of every household?

"Ty Lee?" Haru called her. His wife whipped her head towards him quickly, catching movement behind them from the corner of her eye: Shoji and Ran had approached as well, surely confused after overhearing the soldiers' orders.

"Surely something serious happened…" Shoji said, softly "Otherwise, there's no way the Fire Lord would give an order like this one"

"Yeah…" said Ty Lee, biting her lip "And I bet Azula won't be evacuated with us this time either, so we won't be able to ask her anything. Whatever's going on, she's Crown Princess now, so… she's probably dealing with it herself"

"And we'll help her more if we obey the soldiers' orders, I take it?" Haru asked. Ty Lee gritted her teeth but nodded.

"Yeah. Hopefully this will be over soon, whatever it is" Ty Lee smiled as enthusiastically as she could at her three companions.

After a quick check to ensure the oven wasn't lit, and that all their most prized valuables were stored away safely, the group gathered a few water canteens by Haru's suggestion and left the house. Ty Lee locked the house's entrances safely before joining Haru, Shoji and Ran, who waited for her before filing towards the nearest tunnel entrance: soldiers were guiding the gathering people inside the tunnels carefully, and they would have to wait in line shortly before heading underground, still plagued with uncertainties regarding what might have been the cause of this sudden evacuation order…

The instructions arrived as well at the buildings closer to the Palace: Mai had only just finished tucking Yuudai in bed – the restless boy had requested a story, and he was still wide awake as his mother struggled to think of one – when Ruon Jian barged into the room at haste, agitated.

"Soldiers just stopped by" he told his wife, who frowned immediately "We have to evacuate to the tunnels, again"

"Why?" Mai said, frowning "Though… they never do say why until it's over, do they?"

"It must be serious, if they're sending soldiers to check everyone's evacuating as ordered" Ruon Jian said, swallowing hard "I'm afraid it will be a long night"

Mai sighed in agreement, leaning down to scoop up her restless son, who giggled in delight at the prospect of not going to bed just yet. He was far too young to understand something dangerous was happening… far too young to realize, too, that evacuating underground wasn't going to be a fun adventure, but a tedious, confusing one instead.

Yet, as he was so enthusiastic now, Mai certainly had no plans of wasting the opportunity to change him out of his sleep clothes and into casual ones all over again. Then, she led him to join his father and their house's servants, all of them nervous and waiting until they could head underground together.

The call, of course, reached the two-story house where the Rehabilitation Center was hosted: they had obeyed the order quickly, rushing to the nearest tunnel entrance, swarmed by sleepy residents of the city. Yet Yang stood with his back turned to the tunnel, his eyes set upon the silhouette of the city's tallest building, perfectly contrasted against the moonlight.

"Yang?" Haiyan called him, and he frowned before turning towards his wife with a reassuring, yet half-hearted, smile.

"It's alright. I'm just… wondering what's happening, like everyone is" he said "Wondering if… if they're okay"

"You're the one who always says the Princess and the Blue Wolf are the strongest people in the world, aren't you?" Haiyan smiled, clasping his hand in her own "If we don't find them underground… then it will mean that they'll face this threat themselves, I suppose? And, if that's the case, I'm sure whoever's caused this latest emergency will be very sorry to have them as their enemies"

"Yeah… yeah" Yang said, grinning back at his wife "They are the strongest combination of gladiator and sponsor, after all"

Haiyan smiled, reeling her husband closer so they could join the line to head underground. There were many entrances, but those at the main streets were largely crowded and theirs was one of them. As chaotic and complicated as the evacuation appeared so far, Yang and Haiyan knew that, within hours, the city would be completely deserted, for everyone would be hiding within the safety of the tunnels, just as it had been years ago…

At the other end of the city, Song had only just rushed to the door enthusiastically, beaming despite the lateness of the knock she heard on her door: her smile faded immediately when she found a Domestic Forces officer standing outside instead of Rui Shi. She had already thought he was surprisingly late, but this…?

"The Fire Lord has issued an order for immediate, emergency evacuations for the entire city, as well as the bay area" the soldier spoke bluntly. Song's brow furrowed.

"The… the Interim Fire Lord?" she repeated. The man blinked blankly before nodding, puzzled that a commoner, and a foreigner at that, would know that the actual Fire Lord wasn't in the city at the moment.

"Indeed. Please, be quick about your evacuation. Your nearest entrance to the tunnels is two streets down, you'll find more soldiers ready to guide you there" he said.

"I see… uh, I suppose I can't ask what's going on, can I?" Song said. The officer shook his head "Well… if you happen to see the Imperial Guard, Rui Shi? Please let him know I'm safe, just in case he worries about me"

"O-oh… sure!" said the man, blinking blankly at Song's unknowing revelation.

Song dodged back indoors too, gathering a few supplies, just in case their time underground would extend beyond what anyone expected. She had scarcely seen Sokka over the course of this week, and every nightly visit by Rui Shi had been perfectly calm, as though nothing was going on… then again, surely Rui Shi had refrained from sharing any serious problems that had arisen during Azula's tenure as Fire Lord, if just to soothe Song's concerns. Yet why she would feel the need to evacuate the entire city, as well as nearby settlements? Were they truly facing a threat so dangerous that something like this would be necessary…?

Song breathed deeply and closed her eyes, elevating a quick prayer to any spirits who might listen. She didn't know if there was any power in such thoughts, in such faith… but she deeply hoped the man she loved, and her two dearest friends, would be safe and sound when facing whatever menace they were about to battle.

---

Heavy, marching footsteps could be heard all across the terrains surrounding the Fire Nation's Royal Palace: the gates were fully open, allowing the many soldiers, whether of the army, the Domestic Forces and even the occasional Enforcers, to stride inside and offer their squad's reports to their commanding officers. After years of tranquility, this new threat had stirred up much fear and unrest: yet the firmness in the orders each group received, the certainty in the voice of their current, temporary leader, reassured many restless hearts, filling them with determination and resolve to defend their nation against whatever this new threat might be.

It rubbed her the wrong way to withhold important information from her officers, but Azula had refrained from sharing her suspicions about Rhone's weapon with anyone outside the group she had summoned to her father's study earlier. She had no doubts some of the soldiers suspected her of unnecessary paranoia already, but others appeared to take the threat seriously precisely because she did. At this point, if the first group wound up being right, she'd be profoundly grateful, yet she highly doubted she would be so fortunate…

Azula stood before a temporary war table, erected at the entrance of the Palace's building: she took to instructing squad leaders there, pointing to the main locations they had to defend, as well as developing the strategic response against the potential invasion group Sokka had suggested Rhone might split his forces into.

"We have requested assistance from the Air Force as well, though it's hard to say whether they'll arrive on time or not" Azula explained, breathing deeply. If they didn't, it'd fall to her – or rather, to her armored dragon – to fly and identify the direction and objective of the secondary group "If they do, the Air Force's captain will send word for the strike team to attack, once we've determined the enemy's position and likely goals. As there will be a total of twenty-seven different locations to protect, and it's quite unlikely the enemy will be able to attack them all, those of you who are within the general area of the enemy's objective will, if possible, rally together with the forces stationed there. If you can ambush the enemy, all the better. Therefore, if the location you're guarding isn't attacked, your objective will be to stand ready to reinforce the two groups that will deal with the enemy's assault"

"We do have superiority in numbers" said one of the Domestic Forces' captains, nodding "We will do best to use it"

"Indeed. These provisional reinforcements will only take action after the two enemy groups have been identified and tracked down" Azula finished "Do you have the total numbers of Domestic Forces officers currently dispatched to protect the civilians in the underground bunkers?"

"Ah, yes, currently there are twelve squads underground" said the captain "Is it enough?"

"It better be" Azula said, sighing. Twelve squads or twenty, it might make no difference if the damn spear reached them… yet she would be a fool if she left her people defenseless underground "Very well, then: the forces that are closer to the bay area than to the general objective will rejoin with the group I'll command only if I request for backup. Otherwise, you will hold your positions"

If the spear was ordinary, a mere bluff, Azula would certainly feel rather foolish for the complicated orders she was giving… but if it weren't, her only logical course of action would be to keep the damned otherworldly weapon from claiming as many victims as it wished to. It was hard to say if she would be successful, and she knew it would be far too reckless to charge forth alone… but if she could successfully protect the lives of those under her command by doing so, she'd certainly consider it.

The commanding officers around her seemed to agree with her orders – at the very least, they voiced no opposition against them. Once Azula raised her head, meaning to ask if they had any lingering questions, she found a large, armored airship in the distance: it caught the eye of many soldiers, who watched it eagerly as it descended slowly by the Palace's gates. A long, rope ladder dropped from the airship's cabin, and a new arrival dashed down the ladder at haste, to meet up with his previous commanding officer, who waited for him on solid ground. Within moments, the two men were striding towards their table, commanding admiration and respect from their fellow soldiers.

"Admiral Zhao… and Captain Zhen" Azula said, smiling subtly. The other captains and commanders standing by her table stepped back, allowing room for the new officers to stop before the Princess's table "It seems you were successful in recruiting the Air Force, Admiral"

"Well, it's only me for now, I turned my airship around at haste once the Admiral's message arrived" Zhen said "He didn't say he needed too many airships, though…"

"We don't, truthfully" Azula admitted "Your job will be to scout the enemy from above. One ship is likely to continue onwards, to the port, but the second ship could, presumably, travel elsewhere. If the second ship does diverge from the first, you will send word to the strike force about where they've headed to, so that they may move in and help protect the likely objectives the enemy might attack. The strike force will be lying in wait on the city's entrance, at the top of the crater"

"I understand" said Zhen, nodding "And if the situation were, spirits forbid, more dire than you anticipate, would my airship be expected to join the battle as well?"

"I would hope it doesn't come to that" Azula said, gritting her teeth "At any rate, I would rather you don't join the fray unless all groups succumb to the enemy somehow, and even then, I'd sooner suggest you retreat than launch a reckless attack on the enemy. You're tasked with surveillance and assistance for this mission: you will enable proper communication between our many forces so that groups can reinforce each other, if need be"

"I understand" said Captain Zhen, frowning. That the Princess would speak as though it was possible that all groups would fail against this threat… what sort of dreadful menace were they about to face?

"If I may, I believe it would be wise for Captain Zhen to inform both sides of how each battle is unfolding?" Zhao suggested to Azula "I wouldn't expect that we'll need much backup or that the battle will take much time at all, if your tactics pay off, but I suspect the leader you've assigned to the reinforcements' group will appreciate the occasional update on your status"

"He might" Azula admitted, with a grimace.

"If he knows you have the situation under control, he'll be less likely to act out" Zhao said, and Azula shrugged before nodding.

"I hope you're right" she said, breathing deeply and glancing at all the military leaders, crowded around her table "Very well, then. Are there any further questions?"

Standing at the center of a Fire Nation military operation should have been an unfamiliar, confusing, conflicting situation for Sokka, yet he knew he stood where he had to, watching at a fair distance as Azula finished her instruction of the officials at her table. Within moments, Zhen rushed back to the airship, climbing the ladder expertly. The other commanding officers spread out too, ready to move out with their respective squads: a group of soldiers was assigned to stay behind and guard the Palace, even in these circumstances. Everyone else, however, would be dispatched to their next locations to await an attack that, with any luck, wouldn't begin until everyone was in position.

Sokka breathed out and gathered more courage than he thought he'd need before walking towards Azula, as she rolled the maps she'd just used in her latest briefing. The set of her shoulders, the heavy frown over her brow, the shift of her eyes as she likely pondered every possible factor that could backfire today…

Those eyes softened, however, when they rose to meet his own. The crease between her eyebrows eased up, and her tense shoulders seemed to relax slightly. He was in his full gladiatorial garb right now: his black-blue armor, his armguards, his helmet were all in place, just as his weapons had been slung over his shoulders, save for the bombs he carried on his belt – he had brought all his smoke bombs along when he had rushed to his empty house merely an hour or two after midnight, uncertain of whether they'd come in handy or not. He couldn't take anything for granted: all the weapons he had brought wouldn't seem enough when he considered he might be powerless to help the woman before him, if danger came her way…

"All done?" he asked her. Azula nodded slowly, stepping away from the table.

"You?" she asked "Rui Shi has already gathered the second squad, hasn't he?"

"They don't look too happy that both him and I appear to outrank them, if just for now" Sokka commented, casting a quick glance at the unfamiliar Imperial Guards "I only hope they know better than to rebel against us halfway through this operation"

"They've sworn to serve the Fire Lord, and the Fire Lord has handed me his authority, if only momentarily. They have to obey me, whether they like it or not" Azula said, releasing a breath as she glanced at the soldiers who stood out most: those red robes and armor, often lined with gold highlights, demanded respect and intimidated enemies who might oppose them. Azula knew her decision to grant Sokka leadership above their exclusive group would likely sit ill with them, and it would be another challenge for Sokka to handle… yet there was no one else she dared entrust with that kind of responsibility.

"Why me, though?" Sokka asked, glancing at her with uncertainty "If you wanted to force me to go with them, you could still do it without making me their temporary leader. Rui Shi could've done it just fine…"

"Rui Shi needs to watch his own back around Shaofeng's men" Azula sighed. Sokka raised an eyebrow "The General has been hostile to him for years, and I have no way of knowing if he has given any orders to his loyal guards to strike him down if he makes any moves he doesn't like. And if they were to interpret this situation as though Rui Shi was making some sort of power grab amongst the guards…"

"And you think they won't interpret it that way as long as he's not the one wielding the position of authority?" Sokka asked. Azula shrugged but nodded.

"It's the best I can hope for. I'm still sending him with you because I trust the two of you most of all… but I'm also hoping that, as long as he's not the figure of authority in your group, he'll be safe from any foul play his fellow guards might have been instructed to deal him, in Shaofeng's absence"

"Is this why you haven't tried to have him reinstated as captain, too?" Sokka asked. Azula nodded.

"As many jokes as we've made at his expenses, Fei Li has done fine at the role" Azula said "He's a good enough shield for Rui Shi without even knowing it. As long as Rui Shi has little political power, no matter what influence he may have on me, Shaofeng shouldn't act against him. So…"

"So, I have to protect him too by taking on this mission's leadership myself" Sokka said, scratching the back of his head.

"I'm sure they'll find themselves respecting you before they know it" Azula smiled.

"No point in asking why you wouldn't entrust the leadership to Iroh, either…" Sokka said, and Azula shook her head "You could've sent Zhao with us instead, though I'd rather keep Iroh away from you anyhow…"

"And it's also better if Iroh can be with Toph. He shouldn't do anything that would bring her harm" Azula said "I know I didn't deal you the nicest Mahjong hand, Sokka… but I do think you're capable of this. Of even more than this, if you ask me…"

"Hey, now" Sokka smiled a little, for the first time in hours. Azula grinned too "I'm not as experienced as most those people, I'd say, but… if you truly think I can do this, I'll give it my all"

"You're experienced in many ways they're not" Azula said "And your insight in dangerous situations is unparalleled. Before they know it, they'll be looking to you for guidance, and you won't lead them astray"

"You might put too much faith in me" Sokka sighed. Azula chuckled and shook her head.

"Just the right amount of it, I'd say. Aren't we supposed to be the greatest team there is?" she asked him, her golden eyes gleaming, even in the darkness "This is but another way to prove it, I suspect"

Sokka's smile strengthened, though he averted his gaze from the Princess. Standing so close to her, yet knowing she was currently out of bounds, out of reach… his limbs grew heavy just to think of it. She meant to face deadly peril, trusting he was strong enough to lead a mission on his own… and every bone in his body screamed that he wasn't. Without her, he felt bare even in his armor. He needed her, he always had known he did… but never before had he felt that keen need clawing into his chest, as though tearing his heart out, at the thought of watching Azula walk away, knowing he wouldn't be able to follow.

But he understood. Despite his feelings, he understood. So, he raised his head again, taking a deep breath.

"We'll be waiting for the orders on where to go at the city's entrance, then?" he confirmed. Azula nodded again.

"It should make it easier and faster for you to reach the second ship's attack, or to join me at the bay, depending on the situation" Azula said.

"Alright, then" Sokka said, breathing deeply "Be… be very careful, okay? I promise I will be too, so…"

"We can't guess the outcome of this mess for certain just yet" Azula said, though she offered him another reassuring smile "But, whatever the cost, I'll keep this nation safe. Even if the cost is, of course, my future assignment… but at this point I've long lost any hopes of becoming High Governor of the Colonies"

"Really?" Sokka asked, disheartened. Azula shook her head.

"It makes no matter right now, Sokka" she said "We'll deal with the consequences when they catch up to us. As we are, the one thing I have in mind is protecting this city, this nation, as best I can. That's what matters"

Sokka released his breath, but he smiled fondly at her after she spoke those words. He nodded in approval, and the Princess smiled back.

"I don't know what's going to happen next either" he said "But you prove again, and again, that you're the worthiest Fire Lord this nation has ever had"

"I don't…" Azula said, but she laughed as Sokka shook his head, allowing no retorts.

"Doesn't matter if your father would've dealt with this faster, as far as we know, with that assassin of his…" he said "You're doing your damnedest to protect your people, and you're ready fight the threat yourself if that's what it takes. He wishes he were half the Fire Lord you've proven to be in only three days"

"Soon to be four…" Azula said, but she sighed before nodding anew "I'll accept your flattery, even if I disagree profoundly with it…"

"Heh, color me surprised" Sokka smirked. Azula laughed too, but she raised her head again, a proud, genuine smile on her face now.

"Do your best. With how effective and efficient you always are, I'm sure we'll be fighting side by side within moments anyhow" Azula said. Sokka chuckled and shook his head.

"Surely not, you're a thousand times more efficient than I am. By the time I catch up with you, you'll probably have blasted that spear into the depths of an active volcano…"

"Not the worst idea, come to think of it…" Azula said, stroking her chin "I wonder why the Air Nomads didn't think of doing that"

Sokka laughed, the lighthearted moment easing their hearts ever so slightly. It wasn't enough, of course: it scarcely compared with holding each other intimately, to speaking the words they always needed to convey and thrived in hearing. Yet they couldn't afford anything else…

For the second time that week, Sokka brought his hands to his chest, in the proper position for a reverence, and he bowed his torso towards Azula. She was taken aback, though she smiled at the gesture all the same, shaking her head lightly.

"Bowing still doesn't suit you" her voice was barely a whisper, as tightness spread over her throat.

"Suits me fine when I do it to the one person in this world who warrants this much respect" Sokka said, smiling as he held his position "I won't let you down, Fire Lord Azula"

He rose again, uttering her title with strength and conviction that was soon reflected by his sincere, heartfelt azure eyes. Azula's smile was far more fragile than she intended: it took all her willpower not to jump in his arms, right then and there.

"I know you won't…" she whispered, though her smile grew stronger before uttering her next words: "That's why I entrusted you with this mission after all… Commander Sokka"

His grin faded, replaced by cluelessness. Azula's grin strengthened as she turned, though her eyes didn't leave his just yet. One more visual of the man she loved… one more chance to see those handsome features, puzzled by her latest words. His eyes, still so earnest, followed her even if he remained frozen where he stood: Azula watched him from over her shoulder, just for a little longer…

And then she turned her head forward, a hand on the sword hilt on her waist, ready to face her newest challenge.

Her guards awaited her, together with two squads of the Domestic Forces that Zhao had assembled to further bulk up their group. Standing near them, almost blended with the night, was her armor-clad dragon, whose attention seemed focused on her and nothing more. It was, altogether, far more people than Azula wanted to risk in a fight against Rhone and his spear… but she knew she was in no position to argue about it. Even if she believed she was the best equipped individual to deal with Rhone, she was, as well, the Interim Fire Lord. Risking her life recklessly in battles against the enemy was, no doubt, a behavior she had learned from Sokka… but it was one she shouldn't cling to so tightly when the nation's stability hinged on her performance for at least three more days.

"Is everything ready for us to march to the bay?" Azula asked Fei Li, who nodded promptly. Admiral Zhao, only a few steps away, nodded as well.

"Whenever you're ready, Prin-… I mean, Fire Lord" Fei Li said, bowing his head remorsefully after his slip of tongue.

Azula ignored the mistake, however: it was not the time to be hung up on lesser matters. She walked to her dragon, who regarded her with keen eyes that seemed to glow under the moonlight: Azula dared caress his armored snout for a moment, conveying her full trust in him as well, before stepping closer, to climb on his saddle.

The Imperial Guard squad led the march, followed by the walking, armored dragon. The Domestic Forces under Zhao's command were the last of the troops assigned to defend the Capital's bay. They marched gradually, guided by the lanterns that had been lit in the Palace and city by the Domestic Forces many hours ago: even in the darkness of the night, their shapes were visible… and they would be far more visible within no time, too. Despite being no firebender, Sokka could already tell dawn would break soon. They had no more time to waste.

His group waited not far from where Azula's own had been. Two other squads of Domestic Forces officers had been assigned to them as well and they flocked to Iroh instinctively, just as the others had been under Zhao's direct command. The Imperial Guards standing close to Rui Shi, however, lacked the distinct, reassuring presence of the third squad.

"Ah, are we moving out already?" Iroh asked, once Sokka reached them. Toph had been lounging lazily on the ground, but she jumped to her feet at Iroh's words.

"The Interim Fire Lord wants us to wait for the airship scout's report at the city's entrance, overlooking the bay" Sokka said. His serious, professional tone surprised both Rui Shi and Toph, though it seemed to reassure Iroh, instead.

"Such a complicated operation just to cut down a few enemies…" said one of the Imperial Guards, stepping forward: one glance revealed his uniform had light alterations, namely at his helmet. Was he the appointed captain of the second squad, then…? "And it's been entrusted to a foreigner. Is this the Princess's idea of a bad joke?"

"Stick around if you want to find out" Sokka retorted, still without a hint of amusement in his voice "If you'd rather not find out, however, step aside right now. I have no use for soldiers who won't follow orders, whether out of sheer negligence or disregard for their roles as protectors of their nation"

"Y-you… we're supposed to go with you" the Captain retorted, taken aback by Sokka's sharp answer "We were assigned to…"

"Then you'll do your duty and keep your judgment of the situation to yourself" Sokka said, bluntly "If this is a waste of time, all the better for everyone. If it's not, I won't risk the safety of your people by leaving their fate in the hands of troops who can't do as they're told"

Sokka had no doubts the Captain would have more to say, whether to dismiss Sokka's words, or to defend his honor as a soldier, but the Blue Wolf was entirely unconcerned with it. He stepped forward, confirming with a glance that Toph, Iroh, Rui Shi and the Domestic Forces were ready. Everyone stared at him expectantly, and he knew better than to keep them waiting.

"Move out!" he shouted, his back towards the troops.

At first, he suspected no one would follow: that would have been fine by him too, for he would have gladly stormed single-handedly against Rhone's group if need be. Yet after his second step, he heard the unequivocal sound of boots against the ground, falling into the perfect rhythm, right behind him. He breathed in, and the power of the air filling his lungs somehow offered him renewed vigor: the military stride he had rehearsed with Azula long ago returned to his mind, and he marched at the head of his group without betraying the slightest hesitation. Without fretting about how terribly out of place he was amongst all those firebenders who, in another world, would have likely been his mortal enemies.

For there was a firebender, marching far ahead, so far he could scarcely see Xin Long's silhouette in the shadows of the city anymore, who had trusted him with a duty he would uphold, for her sake above all else. Whether her future as governor was at risk or not, she marched towards danger, ready to fight it off with her own hands if need be: Sokka would honor her trust, the responsibility she had bequeathed to him, by doing the same.

Darkness turned brighter with each step that brought them closer to their destination: an hour after beginning their march from the Palace at the very center of the Capital, the group leading the defense against Rhone's invasion had reached the bay. A line of light in the horizon colored the sky in the distance: the sunrise was merely moments away.

The Imperial Guards slowed to a halt at the port, right before the piers. Empty cargo ships and smaller fishing boats were docked amongst the armored navy vessels: at this hour, under any other circumstances, fishermen would already rush their boats into the water, hoping to haul in the first catches of the day, but for today there was nothing but silence in the port, silence that was only interrupted by the marching boots that had finally stopped moving.

Azula's guards distributed themselves in a horizontal line, in front of Xin Long. Zhao instructed the men under his command to stand at either of the dragon's flanks, further protecting the Princess. High above them, so far it would have been near impossible to identify if the night were still young, floated an airship, hopefully at enough distance to perform its duty as expected. Azula frowned heavily, glancing at it only briefly before setting her eyes on the horizon instead.

The very entrance of the Capital was defended with a barrier that the soldiers in charge had raised, a barrier to block any hostile ship's path, that seldom saw any use in current times, just like the Great Gates of Azulon. A burst of light signaled the sun was finally rising… yet, just at the very center of that bright line, was a dark stain. Azula narrowed her eyes, disregarding all caution pertaining not watching the sun directly… it was too far away still to tell whether it was a single ship or not, but Azula's blood boiled upon assuming, immediately, that this could only be Rhone.

Xin Long, underneath her, was the one to caution her not to behave recklessly, for once. The role reversal might have been amusing in any other circumstances, but the Princess couldn't tear her eyes off the horizon. Neither could the soldiers who, despite having a less clear view than she did atop her dragon, were finally glimpsing the enemy ahead.

"How shall we proceed?" Zhao asked Azula. She breathed deeply.

"If he uses the Spear at once, I'll try to counter it myself" she said "If he's slightly more intellectually inclined than that, I want everyone to stand their ground until combat is imminent. We don't need to start a battle right away, especially when we don't know what his actual resources are"

"You'll try to deter him from whatever he's doing?" Zhao asked.

"Not truly. I've already assumed there's no persuading the likes of him" Azula said "But if we can win some time, all the better. It means the reinforcement group might have a chance to join with us sooner, if Rhone isn't alone"

Her words were no surprise, not truly… yet Zhao raised his head and glanced at the determined Princess, finding she remained completely focused on the horizon. She would feel safer once the reinforcements were free to join up with them, then? Even though it was apparent the reinforcements wouldn't have a better chance at overcoming this enemy, if their current group failed to do so?

Did she truly rely on her gladiator that much? Zhao had pondered if perhaps the Princess had sent him to lead the other mission to spare him the pain of fighting someone he knew personally… yet suddenly a new variable arose in the complicated, unpredictable relationship between his best friend's daughter and her personal fighter. She had pushed him away, possibly for his own sake… but she wanted him by her side, all the same. She might even feel she was at her best, as long as he was with her…

The possibilities that surged in his mind were no priority in the face of the incoming menace, so Zhao silenced them quickly, turning his head forward anew. He had learned his lesson long ago: Azula's personal life was her business, and hers alone.

The sun rose gradually, and the shadow that crossed it loomed closer. By now, Azula had little doubts left: it was only one ship. Sokka's interpretation of Rhone's likely actions had been spot-on. She hoped, deeply, that he would be able to defeat the group riding on the second ship efficiently, leaving him with enough time to spare to assist them at the bay. While there was a part of her that truly hoped to finish off Rhone alone, there was something remarkably unpleasant in the air, in the very circumstances that had brought them here, that convinced her she would fare better if she faced this challenge with her closest partner…

Three blaring, loud, interrupted sounds of a horn tore across the silent morning: the soldiers stationed at the barrier were conveying a message that Zhao recognized immediately. He snapped his tongue before glancing at Azula.

"There appear to be hostages aboard the ship" he said. Azula scowled.

"Unsurprising, and expected" Azula said, shaking her head "Send word to the soldiers: lower that barrier. The more survivors we can salvage from those ships, the better. I don't want to imagine what Rhone might do to them, or the soldiers, if we don't let him through right away"

Zhao sighed but nodded: the bay was too far from the barrier, after all. If the enemy started his attack at such a distance, he would have the chance not only to kill whatever hostages he had aboard his ship, but, if that Spear was truly what it was supposed to be, he might even be free to attack the soldiers stationed in the nearby towers and the barrier before anyone but the Princess and her dragon could reach him. If the plan was to overpower the enemy through superior numbers, they had to allow him into the port, whether they liked it or not.

Zhao conveyed the Princess's order to a member of the Domestic Forces. Within a matter of minutes, the appointed messenger of the Domestic Forces' group had sent a bird to those at the barrier. The barrier sank underwater, enabling the looming ship free passage through the bay to meet his doom at the shores, as long as Azula's hopes and plans didn't backfire completely.

"Hold your positions" Azula ordered, upon sensing fidgeting from the Domestic Forces' soldiers "There may be only one ship, but we won't take our victory for granted. Show no weaknesses, and remain resolute: we will see this through to the end"

The short speech served to settle some of the restlessness: the ship was easier to distinguish against the bright sky as it crossed the space of the barrier without a hitch, and the sun had risen high enough to tower above the ship at this point. It was a medium-sized vessel, carrying one catapult that hadn't been armed: why wouldn't he arm it? Attacking the port with a siege weapon could provide Rhone with a potential source of chaos to splinter through the forces that meant to repel him… but perhaps he wasn't expecting any forces to be ready for him, altogether. Let alone for those forces to include a large, armored dragon…

Or, perhaps, he had a much better source of chaos up his sleeve. One far better than a catapult could hope to be… Azula gritted her teeth, the sinking feeling in her stomach intensifying as the distance shortened between her group and the slowly approaching vessel. For it was moving slowly, even if constantly, as though their enemy wasn't in a rush at all… perhaps that was for the better, Azula reasoned. If Rhone had pushed through at full speed, chances were he would have arrived far sooner than they had, perhaps halfway through the evacuations, and that would have been catastrophic for the Fire Nation.

From her vantage position atop her dragon, Azula could see more of the deck than the soldiers on foot could. She narrowed her eyes, identifying a few more shapes near the cabin, aside from the catapult… though they weren't moving. A foreboding feeling rose inside her chest as she pondered whether the soldiers at the barrier had seen corpses or actual hostages, but she contained her emotions for now. Panicking out of outrage over Rhone's crimes would only harm their operation, in the long run.

Then, suddenly, a moving shape. At first, it was but a shadow… yet as the ship progressed, Azula's narrow eyes identified the body's bulky shape… the sleek, black hair, too. The dark armor atop the black clothes. The weapons, protruding from his belt or dangling on his back… save for one.

The sunlight reflected off that serrated blade, so its silver shone gold instead: the handle had a handful of adornments, protruding out of the weapon as though to protect the hands that held it. It was all the easier to see its details as the man waved the spear to the side, allowing further light to reflect off the metal: as glorious the weapon appeared, it only instilled a sense of desolate foreboding in Azula's chest.

Xin Long's growling brought her back to her senses only to realize the enemy's ship was closer… so close he was nearly at the longest pier, at the very center of the bay. And it still hadn't slowed down.

"Princess…?" called Fei Li. Azula huffed: the pier was solid rock. If Rhone had no intentions of slowing down his ship, it would crash for sure.

"Steady" she said, raising her hand to the sword at her hilt. It wasn't as though she had much of an opportunity to use it right now… but it was reassuring, at least, to hold her weapon as she waited for Rhone's impending next move. Everyone at port watched with horror as Rhone's ship continued its progress without the slightest hesitation…

The loud screeching noise was almost deafening as the ship rammed into the solid pier: no doubt, he had damaged the structure of the pier, just as he had torn open the hull of his ship. Azula's eyes narrowed further: Rhone's carelessness sent many messages, but the main one she could recognize right now was that he didn't expect to need this ship again, if he was so willing to discard it. Either he was certain he would be victorious… or he didn't care, either way, whether he was or wasn't.

It took a moment for Azula to realize her men had followed her orders, even though the ship's crashing into the stone dock was far from a calming sight. No doubt everyone felt the urge to rush and attack… but they had stayed put, watching the slanted ship just as their Princess and leader did, without jumping into action recklessly.

Within another moment, the same man Azula had identified at a distance had stepped up to the ship's tilted prow, climbing atop it with ease as he scowled down at the Fire Nation's forces from his own vantage point. By then, Xin Long's fierce grunting was louder yet: his attention was focused on the weapon, Azula realized. His reaction starkly reminded her of his behavior in the Spirit Library: it was further reason to take that spear to be exactly what they dreaded it might be.

The cold-blooded eyes scanned the port slowly, his grip on the spear tightening: they had predicted his moves, had they? A nation as proud of its navy as this one would always be far more active than this on any given morning. The lack of fishing boats outside the barrier, and the fact that patrol ships now seemed to clear out of their way rather than attempt to stop them, had already been a tip-off… yet the entire bay area appeared empty, save for the soldiers and himself.

Well, their safety precautions would amount to nothing in the end. He would see to that.

His eyes finally settled on the figure at the very center of the soldiers: the large dragon would have likely daunted any lesser threats than himself, but Rhone had been acquainted with worse beasts than that. It took more than rows of sharp teeth to daunt him, and it certainly took much more than a Princess, clad in a pretentious golden armor, to do so as well.

"Nice welcome you've arranged for me, Ashmaker Princess" Rhone spoke loud and clearly: had the port been as busy it as it ever was, his voice would have been lost within the noise… yet, in the silence only broken by the rocking ships in the rolling sea waves, his words could be understood perfectly.

"You've made enough of a fuss to earn it" Azula retorted, tightening her hold on Xin Long's reins and her own sword. She suppressed the urge to jump into battle right away, wary of the weapon and of any other unpleasant secrets Rhone might still be hiding "I doubt I should waste my time advising you to surrender, should I?"

"Surrender? The threat you attempt to pose is meaningless" Rhone replied "Though, by the time you realize how meaningless it is, I hope you won't be cowardly enough to beg for mercy. I won't grant it"

The Imperial Guards at the front of the formation tensed up at the man's insult: as much as Azula had ordered them to stand down, Fei Li raised his hands into a position of preparation, and the others followed. Within moments, all members of the Domestic Forces had followed with his example, whether they were firebenders or non-benders, readying themselves for the promised battle.

"I will say, I had thought it'd take longer to smoke you out" Rhone declared "I had a perfect plan for it and everything, you see…"

With those words, he leaned down on the deck. His voice didn't break through the silence anew for that short moment, and the tense soldiers only grew more anxious for it. Azula gritted her teeth: she had to see that they wouldn't rush to attack Rhone until that damn spear was out of the way, at the very least.

Yet holding back the troops would become a difficult challenge once Rhone rose to his feet again… for he wasn't alone anymore.

"H-help… help us…"

The man, dressed in the traditional navy uniform's armor, could only have been one of the ship's soldiers, perhaps even the captain… yet he could barely stand upright: Rhone held him by the nape of the neck with his free hand, displaying him before his enemies blatantly, taunting them openly… most of all when he raised the blade of his guandao to the man's pulse point in his exposed neck.

"Rhone!" Azula shouted. Even at this distance, she could see his lips curving into a cruel smirk.

"I thought I'd have to make an example of a few of your soldiers, you see, to get past that first barrier, but you opened the gates just fine, didn't you…?" he said "I suppose I underestimated you, Ashmaker Princess. I didn't expect you or your father to ever lower yourselves to fight for your own to this extent… I was sure I'd have to kill even more people for you to so much as hear I was coming your way. And even then, you'd stay tucked safely in your Palace, waiting for everyone else to solve your problems for you…"

Although she had been the one to command they should hold their position, the one who ushered her men not to put themselves at risk unnecessarily, it was taking every ounce of Azula's willpower to contain her urge to jump at Rhone right now. That man, begging for help… the one underneath the White Lotus hideout, his limbs rotten away by Seethus's power, had begged for help just like this. As had the slaves her father had executed, just as the fires had started to scorch their skin… she could hear them, see them, in the soldier who writhed in Rhone's hold. And her soul shattered, for she knew no matter what she did, the man was condemned, just as those other men had been. If she made the slightest move, Rhone would cut him down. And as Rui Shi had put it the previous evening, Rhone would certainly want to make an example of someone to prove the power of his spear and intimidate his enemies…

The life of the man before her would go to waste. Again, she would be powerless to save him.

"I guess Sokka's not so wrong about you, after all" Rhone continued, and the blood boiled in her veins to hear him speak her lover's name "Though he's still wrong to believe your lot can amend the wrong you've wrought upon the world. It's too late to amend anyone's sins"

"It's far too late for you, no doubt" Azula said, frowning heavily "Set down that spear and release that man at once"

"Wouldn't you like to know what I did to the crew of the first ship?" Rhone asked, raising his eyebrows "It was over in a second for them. Just as it will be for you, and for everyone around you"

"P-please… let me go…" the man whimpered pitifully, stretching his neck as far from the tip of the spear as he possibly could.

"Rhone!" Azula shouted again "This is your last chance!"

"You're in no position to threaten me, Ashmaker Princess!" Rhone growled "Unless, of course, you'd like to switch places with my hostages?"

A collective gasp ran through the group of soldiers. The proposal was terrifying, and the worst possible deal Azula could throw herself into… the Princess knew so as well, despite she nearly accepted it at once.

"Don't even think about it!" Zhao snapped, his small eyes streaked with panic as he glanced at her.

"Ah? Your life matters more than his, does it…?" Rhone asked, smirking proudly "Sounds just like the Fire Nation's creed, after all…"

"Y-you… kill me, then!"

The hostage soldier's sudden shout caught everyone by surprise, including the Princess who had been halfway through crafting a plan to see the man released safely. Her eyes widened: the previously terrified man had found unexpected courage and resilience upon Rhone's threats and words.

"No…! Don't do it!" Azula shouted, damn near jumping off her saddle as she pushed herself up at haste, her feet firmly set on the stirrups.

"Well, isn't that touching" Rhone said, though it seemed all amusement was gone from his face "The Princess doesn't want you to die, but you'd like to die for her sake, wouldn't you, captain? Seems about right to me… not like I had any real plans of turning you in for her, in the first place"

"RHONE!"

Azula's last shout was accompanied by a jerk of Xin Long's reins. The dragon rose on his hind legs, gathering the power needed to jump forward at the Princess's command… but before the Princess could give out any orders, the spear cut through the man's exposed flesh.

The entire battalion froze when a visible, black cloud seemed to ooze out from the spear: it was akin to smoke, but far too corporeal, with too much purpose…

And that purpose was fulfilled when the blackness slid into the wound, attracted by the light bleeding of his neck.

Xin Long jumped into the air as Azula watched the scene before her, in powerless horror and anguish. The face of the man who had refused to be traded for her had dried in a matter of seconds: his body decayed at a terrifying rate, the blood, the chi, everything that kept him alive and breathing was immediately sapped by the power of the Bloodlust Spear that remained lodged in his neck. In a matter of seconds, the drying body had become a corpse, all traces of life vanishing into oblivion.

Rhone's eyes never left Azula's shape: he had wielded the Spear for months, used it when it suited him, longing for the moment when he would introduce it to the Princess and her father, hoping to use it to end their worthless lives in the blink of an eye. And in that frozen moment in time, where fear shot fast into the hearts of all those soldiers, Rhone savored the future he had built himself with the Spear… however short it might be.

But this was his purpose. This was why he had survived that cave, that world, so many years ago… everything he had endured in this miserable life would allow him to fulfill his only true purpose. Afterwards, he would welcome nothingness gladly.

Rhone released the dry corpse, letting it collapse on the ground. Xin Long, suspended yet frozen in shock after what they'd seen, offered Azula a vantage point from which she could see the ship's deck perfectly: despite her previous shock, she now could see the same shapes she had seen earlier by the ship's cabin, shapes she had initially thought belonged to corpses. Yet they still had flesh, fully corporeal bodies, their mouths gagged, their limbs tied.

Their eyes gazed back at her. Panicked, wide eyes.

The realization shook her further. He had kept more than one hostage, expecting he would have to make further examples, killing them one by one as he waited for either Azula or her father to finally come to him…

Fury like none she had experienced until then overtook her: she would kill him. She would put an end to Rhone, and to the massacre he had planned to unleash upon her nation. She would stop that damn spear, no matter if it was the last thing she ever did.

"Men!" Azula shouted, and Rhone frowned: had she snapped out of her surprise so fast? Was she planning on giving orders, too…? "Board that ship, at once!"

Rhone scowled, flipping the Bloodlust Spear from one hand to the other, finding the perfect angle with which to aim and toss the weapon at the remaining survivors: they were the second ship's crew, the ones he had wanted to capture for this express objective. They were cannon fodder, nothing more than bait… and he wouldn't allow the Princess to rescue them.

The soldiers barely had a chance to react yet when Azula charged an electric attack, her outstretched arms shifting fast within the very window of time Rhone had used to switch the spear from his left hand to his right. The Princess stretched her fingers just as Rhone tossed the weapon towards his next victims…

The lightning blast blinded Rhone for a moment, flashing right past him: the Spear, inches away from its next victim, was blasted by a force powerful enough to cast it into the sky, spinning in circles, instead.

"He has more hostages!" Azula roared, using the small opportunity to explain her last order to her men, who, with the ship's current, slanted angle, couldn't possibly spot the remaining survivors.

Unsurprisingly, the first to jump forward into action were Azula's guards: Shuren, Taro and Tai Wei launched themselves forward, hoping to jump on deck by propelling themselves with firebending. The others ran down the pier instead, though there was no doubt they planned on flying themselves aboard as well, once they were closer to the ship.

Yet Azula took off first, carried by Xin Long, who roared ferocious, blue flames at the weapon that had stopped spinning, in midair… and was once again aiming at the trembling humans on the deck.

The dragon urged Azula to take care of the spear's wielder: he would push the weapon away from the ship and the armed forces while she dealt with the man responsible for this mess instead. As much as Azula wasn't in complete agreement with such a plan, she clenched her fists and jumped off the saddle once they were flying above the ship's deck: her dragon shot off to the sky, shooting further fire to divert the Spear from its path.

The shock of watching a man rapidly decaying in front of their eyes had been too much to process for most of the soldiers at first, even for a seasoned one like Zhao. The others had no forewarning: he did. He had known this weapon could truly be the otherworldly legendary spear, responsible for millions of deaths in battlefields of old… but deep down he had believed it was impossible. He had trusted it was, truly, just a legend…

He gritted his teeth and glanced back at the soldiers at his command.

"You heard the Princess! We're securing the hostages!" he shouted, hoping to jump-start them with his order. He knew he certainly needed a few slaps of reality after witnessing the monstrous skills of the spear, too…

Yet, to his relief, his men obeyed his words. They marched down the pier, following him as he, in turn, followed Azula's soldiers. Taro, Tai Wei and Shuren had already landed on the deck, right behind Azula: the Princess released Wolf's Bane just in time to parry the dadao sword Rhone had slammed down upon her. Unbridled rage shone in both their eyes: the meeting of gold and cerulean was a clash of fierce coldness, as violent as the swords that collided between them. Nothing in those eyes evoked the feelings another set of blue could elicit within Azula… they evoked the exact opposite sensations, if anything.

Sokka had cut down Rhone's previous dadao sword: this was a replacement, and how Azula wished Wolf's Bane could cut through the blade exactly as Sokka had cut its predecessor. She could withstand Rhone's attempt to overpower her, however… and that offered the three guards already on deck the opportunity to strike: three fire blasts were launched at Rhone consecutively, strategically, so that even an attempt to dodge would find him in the path of fire anew.

Rhone leapt back, struggling to shield himself from the fire with his armguards, and afterwards, he shot a hand upwards at haste. Azula gasped, letting her gaze travel towards Xin Long, who had been chasing the Spear away… but the weapon had answered its summons, shooting downwards so fast, so suddenly that her dragon couldn't have kept up. The weapon was in Rhone's hands within instants, and when the three firebenders attacked anew, each attack dissolved against the spear…

The fire failed to harm it. It had dissipated, and it seemed whatever powers the Bloodlust Spear held as good as made Rhone invulnerable, so long as he was holding it. Azula gritted her teeth: she had seen this power, once before. Seethus had been able to fight off bending, to deflect common attacks… but maybe she had one ace up her sleeve Rhone wouldn't be able to counter.

Yet she couldn't summon gold fire as easily as that: her heart was too troubled, her mind clouded with hatred. The attempt failed: the fire was blue, and she clenched her teeth as she tried to focus into producing a proper gold flame this time…

Too late. Taking the confusion of the firebenders as an advantage, Rhone drew his metal boomerang, tossing it at them… no, it hadn't even come close to his four opponents. The boomerang soared around them, fast, in a circle…

It caught one of the hostages, just as Jianghuo, who had successfully climbed aboard by then, had been attempting to undo his bindings.

The blood that splattered out of the wound beckoned the spear far more powerfully than Rhone's previous call had. Rhone allowed himself a proud smirk, releasing the spear anew: this time he didn't toss it at all, for it merely soared on its own accord, attracted powerfully by the scent of blood.

"JIANGHUO!" shouted Tai Wei.

The guard managed to glance back just in time to watch a massive dragon falling atop the monstrous weapon: they crashed so hard, so loudly, they tore the ship's deck open, falling into the ship's lower levels, caught in a fierce struggle that neither weapon nor dragon were willing to relinquish.

Rhone snapped his tongue, catching the bloody boomerang effortlessly as it returned to him: he launched it at his four enemies next, but a shield of condensed blue fire broke the weapon's planned trajectory. Again, thwarted by the Princess. She had far too much experience fighting boomerangs, of course she did…

Yet there was nothing she could do: the blood would beckon the spear back to the man who had been cut by the boomerang, no matter if Rhone wasn't close enough to aid it in reaching its target. As soon as it shook off the pesky dragon, that man's fate would be sealed, and the same was true for everyone else's within the damned dock.

It was the perfect chance for the four firebenders to attack Rhone: yet he leapt back, sweeping his sword to block their flames before rushing towards those who were obeying the Princess's orders to release the hostages.

"Fei Li, he's coming!" shouted Qiang, as he struggled to help one of the hostages to climb off deck, aided by planks Zhao's soldiers had provided them with.

Fei Li gritted his teeth, gathering a charged firebending attack and tossing it at the enemy. Yet Rhone was nimble, inching out of the way of the attack…

Only to get caught square in the back by a blast of blue flames that scorched his hair, too.

Turning his back on an enemy as dangerous as Azula was an obvious mistake, one that might be amongst the last he made if he dared do it again. Rhone snarled, switching his directions abruptly in the hopes to tackle Azula away… yet, once he launched himself at her, the Princess leapt above him, landing right before the hostages she intended to save somehow.

"Cover me!" Azula ordered her men: Haoren and Wuhan leapt between the Princess and Rhone, launching new attacks on him as the Princess knelt before the wounded man.

He was trembling violently, eyes wide in dread and fear… who knew what sorts of horrors he had witnessed even before watching the captain of his ship decaying into nothingness? Azula gritted her teeth and focused: gold fire. She had to soothe her wild heart, think of Sokka… he would be here soon. He would be finished with his own mission, and then he'd be right here to help. By then, Rhone wouldn't stand a chance. They would fight together, win together, and spend the rest of their days together…

The gold fire danced in her hands only for a second before she pressed it to the wounded man's shoulder. He cried out in pain, startling the hostages that lingered on deck, as well as a few soldiers, but Azula didn't stop. The man did his best not to squirm away, regardless of the pain, understanding exactly what the Princess was doing.

"Hurry, hurry, now!" Azula could hear Zhao's voice down at the port: he was organizing the safe evacuation of the hostages. By now, only five remained on deck. The rest of them were already down at the docks, guided away by the Domestic Forces.

It wouldn't be an absolute victory over Rhone, but if they kept him from killing the rest of his hostages, it'd certainly count for something. Azula drew her hand away, studying the red, bright and painful skin of the man before her: the bloody gash was fully cauterized. He gazed at her in disbelieving wonder, and Azula offered him an encouraging nod.

"Go, now. Get yourselves to safety, all of you!" she said, pushing herself back to her feet.

Azula didn't wait to confirm the hostages had obeyed her order: Xin Long seemed to struggle underneath the ship's deck, noticeable by the violent sounds of his large body clashing with the metal. Azula could only hope he was winning, though her mental connection with her dragon was so chaotic she couldn't quite tell who had the upper hand at all…

The confusion on the ship's chaotic deck was far too much to keep up with once the Spear was summoned anew: Rhone had snatched his boomerang, tucked it into its scabbard, before raising a hand to await the return of his new weapon.

It tore its way out of the deck, and to everyone's surprise, it didn't stop dashing upwards once Rhone clasped it: the non-bender flew into the sky with the weapon, carried well out of the range of their strongest firebending. Azula snarled, charging lightning with far more strength than before, and she aimed it in their direction… yet, even when the metallic weapon should have drawn the lightning to itself, it shot out of the lightning's path and the bolt merely continued upwards, into the sky. Rhone's body had jerked like a feeble doll in the hands of a violent child as the weapon shifted fast and carelessly to avoid damage.

At such point, it was inevitable to ponder who was the mastermind and who the weapon: as the legends had claimed, the Bloodlust Spear had a will of its own. Perhaps its desires, its interests, aligned perfectly with Rhone's… perhaps it merely used Rhone as a vessel to perpetuate its chase for blood, chi or whatever it sought. Whatever the truth of their bond might be, though, the Spear suddenly jerked away from the ship, aiming, instead, for the hostages and Domestic Forces members rushing down the dock.

"Run!" Fei Li shouted at the soldiers, despite dreading it might be too late…

A sudden, fast blast of fire rushed out of the pandemonium at the dock, aimed straight at Rhone and the Spear. Too fast for the Spear to protect itself, and Rhone, from the attack.

Rhone released the Spear when the flames reached him and fell straight into the water: the fire that had spread over his clothes, concealed underneath his armor, was muffled quickly by the liquid before it could deal him further damage. The Spear lunged down into the water as well, seeking out its wielder for a second time, offering a chance for further hostages to flee the scene while Domestic Forces soldiers crowded around the Imperial Guard responsible for the latest attack on Rhone and the Spear, raising their weapons and fists in preparation to defend the escaping hostages from the enemies, once they resurfaced.

Azula released a relieved breath before gathering her wits: it wasn't the time to be blown away by Renkai's surprisingly efficient firebending. She could commend him for it later, if need be: for now, she had to see to it that everyone was evacuated as fast as possible.

"Admiral!" Azula shouted, rushing to the edge of the damaged ship: Zhao had been directing the evacuation of the hostages so far, and he glanced at Azula as soon as he heard her voice "See that the hostages are taken safely underground! My men and I will hold off the Spear for as long as possible!"

"I will, but…!" said Zhao, panic crossing his eyes before resignation took its place "Just be careful, Princess! I'll be back to assist you as soon as possible!"

Azula nodded before rushing to the hole at the center of the ship: she didn't need to check on Xin Long with her own eyes to know he was still unharmed, as their bond offered her a good enough understanding of her dragon's status, yet she was soothed soon enough once she glimpsed the large creature at the bottom of the ship, climbing through debris and torn metal floors on his way back to her.

"What should we do, Princess?" Taro asked, hands raised preemptively towards the water, wary of Rhone's potential return: he had been underwater for too long, so the likelihood was that he might have resurfaced someplace unexpected by now, ready to strike.

"Everyone needs to get off the ship once the last hostage is out" Azula said, climbing on Xin Long's saddle anew "We'll try to fight him on solid ground, together. Once Admiral Zhao is finished, there will be more firepower we can focus on either Rhone or the Spear, or both. For now, our job is to save as many lives as we can before…"

A splashing sound, by the other side of the dock, silenced her immediately.

Xin Long wasted no time dashing off the ship: the soldiers on the dock scrambled out of the Spear's reach, yet it was too close: one Domestic Forces soldier screamed as the weapon rammed into his arm.

Xin Long threw himself at the Spear recklessly, forcing it out of the soldier's arm before it could do further damage: even so, it was plenty of it. The soldier's arm had decayed rapidly, just as the captain Rhone had killed with the Spear earlier. Although his face retained its pale color, greyness had spread over the skin of the blackened wound, and the man's arm hung limply on his side: he couldn't seem to stop screaming.

"Move! Get going, fast!" exclaimed Zhao, ordering the soldiers to return to their duties at haste. The dragon had offered them an opening, and saved one more life before it was irremediably lost… despite, as he inspected the panicked man's arm, Zhao knew his limb would require amputation, at the very least. If whatever the Spear had done happened to spread further in his body, the man's life might no longer be salvaged…

But there was, Zhao hoped, one possibility to put a stop to the corruption. It might not work… but it was better than nothing. He glanced to the side, an arm still around the trembling, panicked man who couldn't seem to stop repeating:

"I-I can't feel my arm, I can't feel my…! I can't feel my arm…!"

"Princess!" Zhao shouted: Azula had plunged into the water with her dragon as he wrestled with the Spear. He hoped she had taken a deep breath before falling underwater… yet he also hoped the dragon would have the sense to return to the surface soon. Zhao didn't know if dragons could withstand being underwater for long, but there was no doubt two firebenders would be a lot more helpless in that kind of environment than in solid ground or midair.

After a few tense moments, they resurfaced again, flying upwards at vertiginous speed: the dragon wrestled with the Spear, smacking it with his massive, deadly claws while the Princess, atop him, coughed to cleanse her lungs. Yet the fight was so fast, each move of her dragon and the enemy so sudden, she could barely breathe at all.

"Princess!"

Zhao's voice did reach her this time: in the midst of the agitated battle, Azula glanced towards the pier to find only a few soldiers and Imperial Guards lingered near Zhao, who held a wounded officer in his arms. Azula gritted her teeth upon recognizing the officer as the one the Spear had attacked before Xin Long could stop it.

Asking Xin Long to help her reach the wounded man was a bad idea, especially when he was completely embroiled with his struggle against the weapon, coating it with his blue fire as it attempted to shake off the dragon's hold. If Xin Long didn't keep the Spear at bay, that officer's injury might pale next to the damage their forces would receive. And as long as Azula sat on this saddle, she had a chance to fight the otherworldly Spear just the same… she cast a quick glance at it: she could attempt to cast her gold fire at it, blend it with Xin Long's blue, and perhaps nullify the Spear's corruption…?

Yet she knew, without needing to test her powers, that any fire she produced right now would have very slim odds of being gold. Especially when she could scarcely aim at the enemy, when she could hear Zhao calling for her, when the officer's desperate voice reached her too…

She gritted her teeth before making up her mind to trust her dragon, to try out using her gold fire against the spear after the wounded soldier was safe, and she pushed herself off the saddle.

All the onlookers gasped as the Princess turned in midair, arms fully outstretched at either side of her body to generate twin jets of fire that propelled her back to the pier where the wounded officer waited. Despite knowing he shouldn't rely on Azula to resolve all their problems, especially when she was no less than Interim Fire Lord at the moment, Zhao was profoundly relieved to see her returning to the pier.

Azula eased her fire gradually and descended with unusual clumsiness on the damaged dock, nearly stumbling as she knelt before the frantic officer. The rest of the soldiers and guards spread out, offering her the room she'd need to work on the wound…

Though, as she stared at it, Azula wasn't quite sure this would work as easily as it had with the previous injured soldier.

"I… I don't know if I can fix it" Azula admitted, but Zhao shook his head.

"Your gold fire is unique!" he said "If there's a chance he can be saved, it can only be by your hand. I know it's not much help to pressure you, but Princess…!"

"I know, I know. I'll try" Azula said, raising her hands until they hovered right above the infected, black wound.

The veins that crisscrossed over the man's arm were highlighted by blackness: even though the contact between the Spear and the soldier was brief, it had done an unimaginable amount of damage. Azula breathed deeply, trying to still her heart… and yet she couldn't seem to do so. Her hands trembled, and her mind couldn't focus. Not when the only image across it was that of the decaying captain drying up in Rhone's hold…

"Princess" Zhao called her again, bringing her back to reality as she raised her head with a start, meeting his dark brown eyes "Are you unable to summon the gold fire?"

"N-no. I can, I… I think I can" Azula said. Zhao nodded.

"I don't know how you conjure it, exactly… but clear your mind. Breathe" he said. She blinked blankly "Focus on your inner fire and breathe"

Azula gritted her teeth before nodding too. She followed Zhao's example, simple principles of firebending that she had been unable to return to over the piling, insurmountable pressure squeezing her very soul. She was soaked after riding into the sea with Xin Long, which hadn't helped with conjuring fire either… but she could do it. All she had to do was think of the source of gold fire… of the man who had inspired her into discovering it. He would rush to the port, hoping to give her a hand in this battle: she meant to ensure it was over long before he could arrive. He wouldn't have to sacrifice his soul any longer, not for her sake or anyone else's.

Fire glowed in her hands, the brightness of the gold as blinding as the sunrise had been, and she pressed it to the man's wound. She braced herself for screams, for writhing – as did Zhao, who held down the injured man to ensure he wouldn't wrestle out of Azula's cauterization over pain… yet the man hardly reacted to the fire. His whimpering changed from outright terror to confusion, but he wasn't in pain… which only meant that his arm had been damaged to such an extent that he could barely feel pain anymore. Azula gritted her teeth but continued, knowing there was a chance she wouldn't be able to salvage his limb… but at least she could stop the wound from necrotizing the rest of his body any further.

She continued to work, focused on the man and nothing more, at least for the time being. She had chosen to save his life, come what may: defeating the enemy was important, but so was surviving the massacre it was attempting to unleash upon them. The less injuries, the less casualties, the truer their victory would be.

Finally, the man started to writhe, shivering and shuddering in Zhao's hold: his complaints became much more earnest now: his arm, with those dark, unsettling webs of blackened veins, was now charred all the way to his elbow and shoulder. His arm would never be what it used to be, Azula suspected, and that was unsettling to acknowledge… but she hoped it would be usable again someday, regardless.

She reduced the power of the fire and withdrew her hands at last: the wound was red instead of black now, but his arm had been salvaged, to a fault. The soldier was near tears, and Azula didn't know whether they were born of gratefulness or fear. Whichever it might be, she couldn't stick around to find out:

"Where's Rhone?" she asked, raising her head to glance at the Imperial Guard nearest to her position, Qiang.

"We haven't located him again yet" Qiang admitted, as Azula jumped to her feet and glanced around herself with uncertainty: her men had spread out across the port, surveilling the water, in case the behemoth of a non-bender reappeared.

Could he have drowned, deep underwater? Azula doubted it. They weren't bound to be so lucky.

"Clear out the dock, now" Azula commanded the remaining Domestic Forces' soldiers, who had already been lifting the soldier to his feet, with Zhao's help.

"I'll see this injured soldier and the hostages to safety" Zhao promised her "We'll come back to your aid as soon as that's done"

"Just as I'd have it" Azula said, nodding "Go, now"

Zhao nodded in her direction and led the way across the damaged pier at haste: the torn ship was empty now, and most of the hostages had been guided away. Azula's guards were perfectly positioned to keep tabs on Rhone once he broke out of the water, all through the docks, and Xin Long continued to wrestle the Spear in midair.

Yet… Azula frowned, noticing something was different in that last combat. Instead of pushing the Spear and deflecting its movements, as he had so far, Xin Long no longer appeared to be in control of the situation. Instead, the Spear was pushing Xin Long, all its spiritual corruption poised to overpower the mighty dragon.

"Xin!" Azula shouted, and Xin Long, for all his fierceness, seemed to welcome her input: what could he do? How was he supposed to fight back? It seemed that, for all his scales and armor, the Spear had suddenly decided he was a worthy target to cut into.

Azula clenched her fist before giving Xin Long a new idea. A temporary solution, she hoped, that might keep the wretched, otherworldly weapon at bay…

Xin Long exerted all his strength into shoving the Spear off him before flying back towards the dock, at haste. Unsurprisingly, the Spear followed.

Azula breathed deeply, conjuring a blast of gold fire steadily. The guards near her watched the Spear giving chase after the dragon, raising their hands as well to attack, if it were needed… though they suspected nothing they did would be of use. So far, only the Princess's lightning blast had kept the Spear away from its intended purposes: and so far, only gold fire seemed strong enough to overcome the Spear's corruption.

Their duty, naturally, was to back up the Princess. To defend her, if the Spear targeted her next… to give their lives if need be and ensure she would have a clear shot at undoing the Spear's corruption.

The obvious enemy loomed ahead… and, with most eyes raking the water or the skies, no one ventured a glance at the seemingly empty ship until it was too late.

The Spear was close enough to strike at, so Azula gathered her firepower and raised her left arm, meaning to unleash the attack with one precise, powerful blow as she jumped forward…

A loud, crashing sound by her left ear broke her stance and intent.

The world seemed to freeze for just one moment before confusion took hold of her completely. She knew, despite not understanding just yet what had happened, that she should be feeling pain… and that she might just be unable to move, once she did.

The gold flame in her hand, packed and ready to be launched at the Spear that chased her dragon, dissipated into nothingness. Her arm flopped down heavily, as if it were made of lead, no matter if she willed it to stay upright. She had lost control of her entire arm… and it was no surprise why, once she glanced towards her limb to find a large, silver blade lodged in her left shoulder.

Even then, she couldn't understand what had happened to her. She couldn't understand that she had failed to save her dragon from the clutches of the Spear, that she had been attacked from behind by an opponent who had used the momentum of a jump to tear through her golden armor with his dadao sword; that her men were currently roaring with outrage as they rushed to attack the man who had just delivered more physical damage to the Princess than any opponent she had faced, up to date.

Climbing his way through the sinking, torn ship hadn't been easy, but Rhone had guessed, quite correctly, that the Princess would want the ship emptied as soon as possible. The likelihood that any of her men would return to the useless vessel to search for him underneath the deck was low, so he had lain in wait, concealed by the shadows of the broken ship until the perfect opportunity to strike had arrived: once the Admiral and his retinue of soldiers was gone, the Princess, even if she wasn't entirely alone, was vulnerable, with only four of her guards nearby, her back towards a ship that she had wrongfully assumed wouldn't represent a threat to her anymore.

Now she collapsed as she lost her balance, the heavy blade still lodged on her armor, her blood breaking out of her body through this wound… and pouring down on the pier chaotically once her enemy reeled back the blade in her shoulder to defend himself against the onslaught of fire that had assaulted him. Yet it was too late for them to amend the damage, and they knew it just as well as Rhone did. He damn near smiled as he hacked away at the soldier by the Princess's right: his fire caught Rhone in the face, but the non-bender charged onwards, crashing against his enemy before diving into the water anew, where those firebenders would never be able to reach him, and the fire that had caught his face, hair and armor would be muffled away before the damage was too severe.

Chaos, the worst kind of chaos, would wreak across the Fire Nation's Armed Forces now. Their strong defenses, their strategies, their hopes to protect their people, all gone to waste. For the one devising those plans had been annulled in one fell sweep: their daring, royal leader had been wounded, severely. Her injury was akin to severing the head of the serpent: no matter how they might writhe and struggle against him, ultimately, Rhone would see to it that the Fire Nation would fall if she wasn't there to stop him.

The damage sustained by the Princess had resonated with the dragon immediately: he had slowed in midair, horrorstruck upon understanding why his rider's plan had failed… and upon doing so, the dragon found that the Spear had lost all interest in him, drawn to something else entirely.

In the end, it seemed Princess Azula would succeed at saving her dragon from the Bloodlust Spear, just as she had intended to… by inadvertently drawing the weapon to herself, with her very own blood.