"We have to press the advantage while its there. With those men fleeing from our attacks, we can easily run them down and kill everyone of them before they have the chance to regroup and attack once more." Jet said as they sat in the meeting deliberating on whether to go to Omashu as earlier planned, with the villagers, or to press the advantage they'd gotten.
"But we need to get this people to Omashu where they could recuperate. Life in an army camp is not something anyone would envy one bit." Bato said with a concerned look.
"Recruiting them to fight for us is also out of the picture seeing as the men are either too old or the children too young." A general said.
"We have roughly thirteen thousand freedom fighters with us. If we leave with ten thousand men to press our advantage, we could leave three thousand men to escort the villagers to Omashu." Hakoda said with a grim look. Jet could bet that if it were up to the King, he would rather escort the villagers back, but seeing as they had a real chance to deal a heavy blow to the Fire Empire, he had to lead the men to war.
"It's decided then, we go and liberate every village along our path as well as hinting theses escapees until we kill every last one of them, and hopefully gain recruits to our number." Jet said and looked at the far more experience men who all looked grim at the thought of finally having an opportunity to fight a battle against the Dragon of the West on level grounds.
Once they all nodded, Jet left the room with the others in order to tell his friends, about an opportunity to escort thousands of people, who couldn't fight, to safety.
It wasn't easy losing ones son to war. For a while he'd just sympathized with the fathers who lost their sons to battles against terrorism, but feeling the pain up close broke him.
General Iroh was one of the most powerful benders in history but he couldn't save his family, first his wife, then his son. He had been completely impotent to Agni's will.
Losing his wife had driven him to grief which his younger brother had capitalized upon and used the chance to steal the throne from him, sighting so many reasons. Reasons that were foolish to his own ears but might have sounded like wisdom in his brother's ears.
When Ozai had sent him on this mad conquest, he'd at first refused, was it not cruel to bully other nations into submission simply because you felt your bending was far more superior to theirs? But after a bit of deliberation, Iroh accepted, completely believing that with men loyal to him during and after the war, maybe he could take back the throne and end the war.
He knew it wouldn't be easy, killing people just to save them, but he preferred to do that than go into hiding simply because he was weak before his younger brother.
The earth benders had been stubborn, but after losing his son, his careful plan shattered and all he knew was rage. Burning down the infamous walls of Ba Sing Sae, putting the king and his nephew in prison and having to conquered other cities lest he lost Ba Sing Sae, turned him to a shadow of his former self. Now he was only focused on taking the throne from Ozai and becoming Emperor, maybe when he succeeded, he could end the damned war.
"The Dai Li report that they ate close to their camp." Leo Feng said with a smirk.
"Good, soon we'll have more students for you to reeducate on whom to serve." Iroh said with a grim smile. More brainwashed citizens that would fight to the death for him meant more soldiers in his war against Ozai when the time was ripe.
Iroh then picked up a cup of wine and took a sip of it while ignoring the guilt that nagged him at the idea of stripping of their freewill for his own selfish desires.
The hallway was silent save for the almost noiseless footsteps of the two ladies walking it towards a tapestry. Mai as usual wore her unemotional face while deep inside she felt worry. Ty Lee on the other hand looked quite gleeful as if there was no worry in the world, even though she as well felt worry. There was only one thing that caused the hidden worry in both girls... Azula.
For a long time, since Azula's thirteenth name day, the Fire Princess had been quite secretive. Mai felt that it was because of a boy, probably a lover since Azula was more cheerful whenever alone with her friends while hiding it in the presence of her family. But as usual, Azula was quite tight lipped about the reason behind her mysteriousness.
"Why would Azula ask us to meet her here?" Ty Lee asked as she began to walk on her hands.
"Probably for tea." Mai said without thought while she checked herself for her weapons, she had no idea what to expect once they went into the room behind the tapestry, Azula could be in trouble and not even know it.
"Really Mai, tea? Its midnight there is no way she was would invite us for tea. Maybe a hot cup of cocoa, not tea." Ty Lee said with a chuckle before standing on her feet as they arrived at the secret door behind the tapestry.
"Let's hope it is a hot cup of cocoa then." Mai said and opened the door only to pause at the sight that greeted her.
There was a long table filled with ten out of thirty of Ozai's top generals and Azula looking like the dangerous princess she was.
Well, there goes my hope for hot cocoa.
"Mai, Ty Lee, its good you're here, I was just telling these fine gentlemen about the gold deposits in the Northern Water Nation. Please come and tell them of the research you found in the Library." Azula said with a smirk as if nothing was wrong.
"The one about the gold deposits that could be found around the oasis in The Northern Water Nation?" Mai asked with an air or indifference, as if Azula having a meeting with ten generals was nothing.
"Yes, that one." Azula said. "They doubted my word about it, now that you've confirmed it for me let's move in to the next topic. Handling the silent rebellion in my absence."
Mai fought the urge to break her mask with every fibre of her being. This was unexpected.
"Well, we've been able to recruit spies to our cause and even a couple of wealthy fire benders. All we are doing now is to maintain the illusion of Ozai in full control." General Xing said.
"Good, because once I take the Water Nations, I will be able to declare war on my Father."
"Aren't we forgetting Iroh and Zuko?" Ty Lee asked with a squeaky voice.
"The Avatar will handle them." Azula said with a shrug.
"So who'll rule the Fire Nation then?" Mai asked.
Azula looked a bit troubled before she sighed deeply. "I will, after freeing the other nations from the Fire Nation's influence."
That, I didn't see coming in any scenario.
Princess Toph looked at her adoptive father with a steely face not willing to budge one bit. "Let me go to Ba Sing Sae and free them from the yoke of General Iroh."
King Bumi snorted at her words, "Like I said before, no. Its too dangerous outside Omashu, I won't on good conscience send you to one of the most dangerous places in the world."
"General Iroh killed my parents , I want my revenge!" Toph insisted.
"Even if I let you go, Iroh is one of the most deadly benders in the world. Even I might have problem in killing him."
"Good thing I'm the greatest earth bender in the world." Toph said with a smirk.
Bumi sighed as if a naughty child had just done something silly. "Really? Well then let me make you a deal, if you can beat me in two minutes, I'll let you go."
Toph smiled before stomping her feet to send a wall of earth to Bumi who dodged it and sent two boulders at her.
Toph felt his move before he did it and thus was able to duck and dodge both attacks before sending three missiles.
Bumi spun around and rose his own shield that blocked the missiles, using the dust that followed, Bumi formed a whip and used it to wrap her legs and throw her to the wall. Hiding her shock at the sand bending, she entered the wall and moved as fast as sound to leap out of the ground beneath Bumi to throw him off. However her father leap out out of the way before sending small rocks that gripped her neck and threw her to the ground.
Angry at being outmatched, she spun around and placed her hands on the ground before pulling it like a rug. The result was instantaneous as her father was flung to the roof, when Bumi glued himself to the ceiling, Toph hit the wall and dropped her father into a pit of quick sand.
Bumi launched himself out of the pit only for rock gloves to grip his limbs and force him into the ground, glueing him to the earth at the same time. Bumi, using his head, sent a boulder at Toph only for her to punch the rock with her rock fisted hand and then lift him up with her bending before encasing him in a standing coffin that even restricted her father's head. Surely he couldn't bend earth with his mind.
"You held back." Toph said.
"So did you." Bumi said before he released himself in an explosive manner.
"Please, let me avenge my parents' deaths." Toph pleaded with him.
The silence was long and tense before finally, Bumi nodded his head. "Who am I to stop you? Just promise me that you won't hold back against Iroh."
Toph smirked before she nodded her head. "I promise."
Katara was on the moon, maybe not literally, but very close to it. She was on cloud 9! Her boyfriend was very emotional and easily proved his love for her by kisses, cuddles, hugs, make out sessions and also words of admiration. She often wondered where this amazing Avatar had been hiding!
"There's an island up ahead, I think we should dock there, hunt for some meat and your weird vegetarian stuff, get some water and leave." Sokka said as they stood around a table with the map of the world.
"Not a bad idea because I for one would love to stand on stable ground after a long time." Suki said.
Aang looked at her as if asking her opinion. "I agree with my brother, we are running out of fresh water to drink,and some fruits since the rice we brought along have finished. I don't know about meat since we still have dried fish and meat in large quantity." Katara said with a shrug.
"Tell the other ships, we will dock at the island and restock, maybe spend the night there before we leave for Omashu that is only a few days away." Aang said with a smile before he turned to leave the room, Katara right beside him.
"Do you know what I would love to do in that island?" Katara asked with a seductive smile.
"Go for a swim?" Aang asked with a confused look.
"Have you ever heard of an exercise that takes two to perform and ends in a very pleasurable way?" She whispered into his ears.
The blush that came upon Aang's face told her he'd gotten the gist. With a seductive smile, she walked back to her bedroom to pack her bag for the night.
An hour later they arrived and the moon was already high up which indicated that it was midnight. While everyone began to set up their tent, all Katara could think of was about the night of passion that she anticipated, from the bulge in her boyfriend's robes, she could tell that he too was waiting.
Once dinner was had and they'd all agreed to hunt for food and water by dawn, they all went into their tent.
"Relax Aang, we have all night." Katara said the moment Aang began to kiss her neck in passion and wrap his hands around her waist.
"I can't help it, you're just too irresistible." Aang said as he captured her lips in his the moment she turned to look at him.
Letting go of her restrictions, she allowed the virgin Avatar take control of their love making. With rough hands he caressed her thighs and her breasts, untied her robes and with his mouth he sucked her neck, softly biting it and licking it before he went south to capture her nipples in his mouth.
Throwing her head back to let out a gasp of pleasure, her Avatar took her to places she'd never been, touching her and licking her like an experienced lover, five orgasms later, she was exhausted and dozing off in her lover's arms, wondering how he was so good for an inexperienced man.
Maybe all air benders were taught how to pleasure their lovers.
Zuko had been waiting patiently as he followed the direction given him by his father. He knew that the Avatar had to learn earth bending and since the only place to learn it was in Omashu, he was 100% certain that the avatar would meet the island he saw before him.
After following the trail for four days,he finally had the Avatar in his sights. About seven ships were docked at an island and from the flags of both the air benders and water benders he confirmed he was right. Zuko grinned at the sight before he turned to look at his men and six other ships.
"Men, its time for us to have our glory. We'll burn the ships and then wait for the Avatar to rush out in order to save his ships and sleeping bisons, then we kill them all."
With your death, I will become a living legend.
Aang felt giddy, all the practice with Azula had finally paid off, he had given Katara the most intense pleasure and had even gone three rounds. Yes he felt a bit guilty for breaking his oath, but after some thought he shrugged off the guilt, he was not just an air bender, therefore he could follow any tradition that suited him, except probably eating meat.
With a smile he untangled himself from his girlfriend and went to his bag to bring out a paper and ink from his bag, he had to let his best friend know that all their practice had paid off; he bet she would be so pleased by her student's performance.
Once he was done with the letter, he whistled for Momo to send his letter to her and probably stay with her for a while until she had a response for him, he was practically shaking in anticipation of her reply.
Once he returned to his lover's side, he perceived smoke and heard screams from the people around the camp. With a frown he stood up, wore his clothes before stepping out of his tent, only to see a raging fire burning his ships!
"Katara get dressed, we have company." Probably the fucking Fire Prince, damn!The moment she was dressed, they ran out of the tent towards the shore and saw all his men and women trying to put out the fire with water bending and air bending, looking to the right, he saw Zuko and his men alighting from their ships.
"Who is that?" Katara asked as they all paused to share at the men that obviously started the fire.
"Sorry to disturb your sleep, I am only here for the Avatar, so if you can kindly give him to me I will be on my way home." Zuko said.
"And you are?" Sokka asked with raised brows.
"Prince Zuko, Crown Prince of the Fire Empire."
"You'll have to forgive us if we don't bow, your grace. Just so you know, the Avatar is not going with you." Sokka said.
Zuko simply cocked his head to the left and war broke out.
Aang spun around and sent a wave of air at the prince before he leaped over a ball of fire in order to command a whip of water to be sent as icy spears. Zuko simply sent a massive amount of fire that evaporated the ice and threatened to burn the Avatar that rose an airy wall to block the flame. Running at the prince, he waved his hands in complicated moves that brought a giant wave of water from the ocean to drown the prince who surrounded himself with fire that evaporated every water that touched it, using his distraction to his advantage, Aang sent sharp spears of air that punched holes in the fiery shield in order for Aang to throw a punch that forced the breath in Zuko to hook, forcing him to let go of his fire and hold his throat which allowed the water to fall on him.
Not waiting for the prince to recover, he spun around sending icy darts in the hundreds at the downed prince who instantly leaped out of the way in order to spit out fire like a dragon which Aang had to leap out of the way of. Once he landed, he waved his hands once more to control the air around Zuko's tight fist that was already send fire only for the fire to go out in a puff of smoke.
Zuko acted fast and threw two knives out of his armour before rushing to the Avatar with his duo swords aiming to slash him in half. Luck was on Aang's side, as he used Ty Lee's moves to dodge the knives and every slash sent his way by Zuko before blowing a mighty breeze from his mouth that flung the prince far and into the ocean.
Zuko recovered quickly and flew out of the water with fire at his feet before , like an angry Agni, he sent a mighty wave of fire that Aang had to surround himself with a strong wall of wind, like a tornado which saved him from being burnt. Once his shield was down, lightning came at him so fast that it hit him on the chest, only Azula's teaching helped him to redirect the lightning into the ground, discreetly.
The explosion of the lightning on the ground gave him the cover he needed to send multiple missiles of air and water before he ran and leaped very high into the air to draw out water from the ocean and dumped it all on Zuko.
That should occupy him a little.Once he landed, he ran to Appa who was already about to take flight, as were the other bisons that were filled with air and water benders that had survived the battle. With another leap, he was on Appa just as another lightning strike hit the ground he was on moments ago."Bloody hell! That dude packs a punch!" Sokka said as they watched the angry prince burn the water around him which kept hitting him, courtesy of the water benders.
"We can't go to Omashu with him hot on our heels." Katara said as they left the island behind.
"I know an island far from here, Yayatu Island. They have the best swordsmen there and is only four days away from here. Zuko won't find us there." Suki said.
"We need to regroup and attack this prince before things get worse." Sokka said.
Well, Zuko is as good as Azula said.
Author's Note: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Drop a review to tell me what you think about the story line.
Guest: You my friend are an amazing reader. Your detailed reviews really helped me with this chapter.
My love to everyone else that dropped a review, you guys are the best.Next up is Zhao in the Northern Water Nation and another Zuko scene.
You haven't seen the end of Smart!Zuko.This is Dentici
