Chapter 45
Attack
Sokka
I smiled as Zuko and Pala exited the tent together. I had been keeping a eye out for their reappearance. I had been shocked when Zuko approached me and said that he wanted to start a relationship with Pala. I had been frank and told him that ultimately it was her decision. I wasn't going to force her to do anything, I had a feeling that if she knew Zuko asked my permission she would be furious but it was required for our culture. To keep her honour irrefutable Zuko had to ask the oldest male in her family. Because Pala had no family here in our world that responsibility fell to me, the oldest male that she was close to. Smiling myself I turned away and faced the men again. Zuko joined us a few moments later, smiling. It was the first time I had ever seen him smile. I grinned at my best friends, Su Sen still intensely focused on correcting a soldier's grip on a weapon and Zuko who was trying to get back into the mind of a warrior. I found myself hoping their relationship would succeed, it would be awkward if my friend and my sister broke off their relationship. Of course, knowing Pala, she wouldn't let that happen.
"Can we join?" I jerked at the familiar voice as did Zuko. Spinning the two of us found ourselves looking at Jet, Smellerbee and Longshot. A smile worked its way onto my face.
"Of course… wait, I thought you were leaving to make your names in the world?" I added.
"They'll be plenty of time for that later. I figured it would be helpful to start here. That and I have news for your father." He shrugged. Su Sen caught my eye. He looked worried, I didn't blame him.
"What sort of news?" Su Sen asked, stepping forward to join the conversation.
"The princesses army will be here tomorrow."
Maddi
I woke up early and rolled over on my cot. Both Katara and Toph were in bed asleep. Despite the fact we shared a tent we hadn't really spent much time together. Both Toph and Katara spent all their time either helping Aang master one bending style or another or working on their own little side projects. I hadn't found anything to devote my time to. Sure I trained and got involved in politics but besides that I mostly wandered about through the camp, trying to learn as many names as I could. With a sigh I pushed out of my warm sleeping bag, my back cracking, and wandered from the tent.
The air outside was cool with a wind that came from the ocean. I lifted my head and breathed it in, it smelled of salt. A slight cough caught my attention. Turning I found myself face to face with General Iroh. I blinked in shock before falling into a bow of respect. To my surprise the dragon of the west laughed.
"No need to be so formal, Maddison, not with who you are to my nephew." I rose, in surprise.
"You know?" Iroh nodded, his gold eyes smiling.
"There are very few secrets between my nephew and myself currently and I believe I have you to thank for that." I shook my head at his words.
"Hardly, Zuko would have come into his own, eventually," I replied.
"Perhaps, but there is still much I have to thank you for. Please, I would like to have the honour of knowing you better. If the stories are right you know quite a lot about me already." He held out his arm in a grandfatherly gesture that made my heart hurt. My mind flashed to my own grandfather who had died several years ago from cancer. Just like my grandfather, Iroh always seemed to have the faintest smell of smoke on him. With Iroh though, that smell would not lead to bone cancer.
"Sure." Iroh took my arm and guided me away. While we walked he started up a conversation.
"I assume as you came from another world there is much I would not be able to understand so I'll start simple. What's your favourite tea?" A smile worked its way onto my face and I found myself trying not to laugh. Only Iroh would ask that as the first question.
"I don't know actually, I didn't drink tea back home. And here I haven't had one that stands out above all the rest. I'm not a fan of green tea, my grandmother used to make it but she had a habit of drowning it in honey." I explained. Iroh gasped, I couldn't tell if he was pretending to be horrified or genuinely was shocked. His next question was about Pi Sho and when I admitted that game didn't exist in my world he instantly proclaimed that he was going to teach me, over tea of course.
As we passed one tent I happened to look up what I saw stopped me in my tracks. It was a single flag, snapping in the salty wind. The flag itself was made out of a thin fabric with charcoal lines drawn upon it but the lines themselves sent a shiver through me. It was an arrow and inside the end was a circle, split into four sections each with the symbol of one of the four nations. My necklace placed inside Aang's arrow. Iroh stopped, noticing my gaze he smiled.
"A symbol of both peace and hope, all that this army represents on one flag. It is an impressive feat." He gazed at the flag quietly before turning back to me with a smile.
"Come Maddison, tea and Pi Sho are waiting."
Zuko
I was woken at dawn by the sound of a gong. Jerking awake as another sound joins in. The cry of a horn. I swear under my breath and throw on my clothes. Uncle is halfway dressed and in minutes the two of us are outside. On my back are a pair of duel swords that have never seen battle and my face at the same time. Perhaps it is time to let everyone know who the blue spirit was all this time. Although it wasn't that much of a secret anymore after Aang saw my face. The only person who doesn't know officially that I care about is my uncle and he probably suspected as he had been the one to get me training for the swords as well as buy them for me. And as they were the blue spirits signature weapon...
"General Iroh, Prince Zuko." I turn at the sound of my name. A mess anger is rushing at us. He skids to a stop for a moment.
"Princess Azula's army is on the horizon. Approximated time of arrival is two hours. All fighters are being called to the front." With that he takes off again, spreading his news around camp. Uncle and I both pick up our pace and hurry out of the encampment.
Outside the soldiers are arriving, most people here have very light armour, most of it is leather. With fighting fire benders that was actually the wise choice. It wouldn't be the first time that firebenders had heated armour to the point it was red hot.
As my uncle joined the other high ranking fighters I found myself looking for familiar faces. Su Sen was sharpening a particularly vicious curved sword with a serious expression on his face. Sokka was nearby checking his weapons for chips or any other signs of damage. Katara was running around the battlefield hands out, sensing where water was closest to the surface.
Slightly to my right and behind Maddi stood with the five other archers and Longshot prepping their bows and counting their ammunition. Toph stood beside them, chin out but clearly listening to what was going on around her. I took a few steps towards them wanting to talk with Maddi when a small voice came from my left.
"Zuko? Can I talk to you?" I turned, it was Aang. The avatar looked nervous, scared even, and his wide eyes seemed to be begging.
"What is it?" I questioned. The boy I had chased around the world shifted uncomfortably.
"I'm going to have to kill people, aren't I?" I froze, staring at the dead look in Aang's eyes. It was a look I recognized, resolve to do something against his nature.
"Maybe." Aang jerked at my words as I looked at him solemnly.
"It's your choice. No one can force you to do something against your will. Ultimately you decide." Aang gaped at me. I wondered if anyone had ever bothered to tell him that. With the way he acted sometimes it was easy to believe he hadn't been. I found myself wishing that someone had said that to me long ago.
"Zuko…" I looked back to Aang at his call.
"Thanks." I nodded in response to his word. Within minutes he vanished into the crowd of soldiers.
I pulled out my swords and began checking them to see how sharp they were and if they were damaged in any way. I already knew the answers, I had checked them only yesterday but I needed something to do to distract myself until the battle began.
Toph
I stood by the archers, bored out of my mind. I had been told that my job was to make sure that they were not attacked and to give them a place where they could pick off the enemies without posing a threat to their own side. Around us the field grew more and more busy as the other warriors and soldiers joined in on the preparations. If I reached out with my bending I could feet the other army marching towards us. They would be here soon.
"Toph, are you alright?" I heard Maddi ask from where she was standing. She hadn't moved much, mostly shifting her weight as she checked her weapons. She was the archer who would have to attack any enemies that made it past me and onto their tower. The tower I agreed to make. I sense a shift in the army in front. They're getting into position.
"I'm fine, I can't wait to kick some firebender butt." I assume Maddi nodded as I didn't hear any reply. I quickly scanned the archers. All six were standing in the line that had been planned out and now it was time. Grinning I kicked my foot into the earth and pulled up. A long wall of earth sprung up at my command, the archers on the top, bracing themselves as they were raised into the air. Once they were a good eight feet up I stopped and turned back to the rest of the army. There was silence. The only real sound was that of breathing and the standard snapping in the slight breeze. Na uh, this was to solemn, I could feel the fear growing amongst the army. Time to change that.
"Long live Fire Lord Zuko! Long live the Avatar!" I shouted. The men in front of me shifted as did the archers up on their ledge. I could feel the change pass through everyone as Maddi's voice rang from above.
"Long live Fire Lord Zuko! Long live the Avatar!" Voice after voice joined into the throng, people's hearts began pumping with excitement, readiness. Willingness to fight for what they believed in.
We only fell silent when Azula's army came to a stand still, several lengths apart. There were several large animals, judging by their weight komodo-rihnos. We were outnumbered five to one. But the fire nation didn't have me, they were going down. One person stepped forward from the enemy army. What was he doing?
"I am here," the man began, his voice projecting clearly across the field, "to represent princess Azula. The princess has stated that any who wish to leave this..." he trailed off before his voice changed to one of derision, "renegade group will be allowed to return home with their lives. All who remain will be killed." There was silence. No one moved. Somewhere from the opposite side of the army someone shouted.
"Down with Ozai! Down with Azula. Long Live Fire Lord Zuko!" The cheers spread. I can tell the man who addressed us at first is trying to get our attention and failing. Finally I feel him retreat back into his army, although its hard to tell with all the stomping going on where he goes after that. Then with one last shout the armies seem to run at each other with no warning. The battle has begun. I can hear the twang of the bows from above and the shouts and cries of the people fighting. There is the distinct sound of metal clashing against metal and I can't help but grin. Metal, earth, I'm truly in my element. Time to show these cowards what happens when they decide to mess with the best earth bender in the world and her slightly less awesome friends.
Aang
Madness. Everything is happening so fast I can barely keep up. I find myself dodging, ducking, knocking people over all over the place. I'm only able to distinguish between the forces I'm fighting with and those I'm fighting against by their outfits. Our enemies are all wearing uniforms while my allies are wearing a mesh mash of random articles of armour and clothes. An arrow whizzes by my head and I duck away in a panic. It wasn't even close, imbedding itself in the forehead of a man in front of me. I stop stalk still watching in horror as the life drains from his eyes. I don't have time to think on it any more as a group of no less then five fire nation warriors converge and attack me. I block with a wave of air and shoot away. Everywhere I go people are getting hurt. I see men and women bleeding, limping, trying to fight off to many attackers at once. I spot Zuko. He unlike some others is cutting a swath through the ranks of the fire nation soldiers who are here. His two swords from when he was the blue spirit spin, covered in fire.
I hear a cry that sends fear shooting through my stomach. Turning I see Katara overwhelmed by a large group of fire nation soldiers. My heart jumps. I speed towards her, going as fast as I can. I feel sick, if I don't make it in time Katara-
Something inside of me snaps and I feel the now familiar power rush through me. The avatar state. I reach inside me and fire shoots everywhere, covering the soldiers who were about to attack Katara in so much fire I cannot see them. I wrap my arms around Katara and using airbending, shoot the both of us out of the situation.
I land on the long raised platform that Toph created for the archers. Anger is still rushing through me. They tried to hurt Katara. This battle was over, now.
Leaving Katara standing there I raise into the air, still glowing. In an instant I am engulfed in fire and earth and my voice booms as I speak. It is strange to hear within my own voice the echoes of the past avatars, male and female, young and old.
"Retreat and tell your princess that she should not expect to keep her crown long. We are coming for her. Her deeds will not go unpunished." I snarled. A good deal of the fighting had quieted down when I had gone into the avatar state. Already I can see many of the fire nation troops fleeing. The tales of the damage I did back in the North Pole are well known, especially among our enemies. Why didn't I do this at first then no one would have died? As I continue to watch though I can see there is still a large amount of people who are still fighting. My 'glowing' as Sokka once put it clearly didn't change everyone's mind. Still, we're not so badly outnumbered, it actually appears that we are in the majority. Grimacing, I reenter the battle, coming out of the avatar state. Last thing I want to do is get hurt while I'm at my most venerable.
The battle is madness, even with less people my awareness is instantly restricted into just myself and those directly around me. That's all I can afford to pay attention to as I fight. An enemy with a spear comes at me from behind and I only just manage to stop him. Another riding a komodo-rihno with a ridiculously long sword tries to behead me. I throw the sword from his grip and spook his steed with a bolt of fire to the face. That seems to be the point of battle. To attack until the other party is to damaged or scared to fight any more. It makes me feel dirty, evil. Like somewhere above the spirits are looking down and crying at this display of hate. I keep fighting, trying to keep my mind on what I'm doing. Attack, evade, change, attack, evade, change, attack, evade-
There's a cry behind me and I turn to see Su Sen pulling his sword out of a man's chest. I hadn't even noticed him. Su Sen doesn't even acknowledge me as I turn. He's to busy fighting another man, who I blast out of the way with a solid wave of air. I turn away then and return to my fighting. There is still a lot to do.
It is strange how the battle ends. I go to look for another enemy, only to discover that the battlefield is empty of any who would still be fighting. Most have run away or are laying on the ground unconscious or dead. People are already running about, picking through the injured and dead, separating them and transporting those who can be saved to the healing huts that Katara had made. My heart jumps at the thought of Katara and I realize something. Gritting my teeth I begin to look for Sokka. There is something that I need to talk to him about.
A/N: So there it was, the first battle scene with Aang. And another Toph moment. So I just want to say this to all my readers. I want to personally thank each and every one of you, from those who reviewed in the beginning to those who are still reviewing even to those who have never reviewed once. Your support has allowed me to get this far with Change the World and I now wish to announce that this story only has eight to ten chapters left before it is over (ten because the last one planned is going to be either the longest I have ever written or it will be split into two or three, depending on how much I have to write, either option is likely at this point). That's actually a rather terrifying thought that my story will be over so soon. Anyway, there is still Ripples in the World (I seriously need to catch up with some of those one-shots) and the sequel to this one which will semi follow the comics and give a insight to Maddi's life after the war. It probably won't actually be that long (I don't think it will be as long as this one at least) but I'm really looking forward to it and seeing how many of you will follow that series as well. Anyway, I'm looking forward to what is coming up and I hope to hear from you all soon,
Princess Kassie Out
