And so it continued like that for nearly six months. Azula would track down Kokuen, attack him, and Kokuen would defeat her. While finding the Avatar was Zuko's obsession, defeating Kokuen had become Azula's. Their battles were something to behold. Craters, burnt trees, black grass, a swath of destruction following their fights.
Flames erupt from Azula's mouth as she roars in frustration. Kokuen's flames coil around his hands. He takes the glancing blow allowing the force of the attack to spin him. He throws a black fire ball at Azula. She dives to the side and begins summoning up lightning. She launches her attack as he slams a fist into the Earth. A wall of flames rises up and blocks the lightning. Azula's eyes are already darting around the battlefield. Kokuen appears in the air right above the wall. He begins summersaulting as he falls to the Earth. Flames form at his feet and create a ring of flames around him. Azula's eye go wide. She jumps up and throws her flames in front of her propelling her backwards and creating some form of protection. Kokuen slams into the ground, the dirt his attack kicks up obscures him from view. When the dirt settles he stands with a flaming fist cocked back. Azula nods and does the same. The two combatants charge, throwing their fists forward.
She lies on the ground in a relaxed position. To an observer she appears to be enjoying a sunny day by the lake. But she is not happy, as the frown indicates. "I lost again," She says.
A few feet from her a cloak boy sits with a fox on his shoulder. "Yes. But you're improving," He tells her.
She growls. "I need to be perfect."
"No such thing."
She turns her head. "You're perfect."
He snorts. "Not even close."
"Closer than me." She sits up and stares at the lake. "My father isn't happy with me."
"Why?"
"Because you keep beating me."
"Not because of the loss of troops?"
Azula sighs. "Father is pragmatic. He believes it is only a matter of time before we defeat the Earth Kingdom. The fact that I've been losing to an unknown Fire Bender is far more embarrassing."
"Your father is weird. But then again, so is mine."
She looks over at her companion. "You've never spoken about your family before."
"Not much to talk about. I haven't seen my dad in ten years, and I can't remember my mom."
Azula looks down at the ground. "My mother thought I was a monster," She says in a hushed voice.
Kokuen shakes his head. "You're not." He turns his head to her. "You're no saint. But you're definitely no monster." He looks back at the lake. "I'm the same."
"Father has ordered me to return home," She whispers.
"I'll miss you."
She smiles and hops up. "Of course you will. Who can compete with me?"
Kokuen snorts. He stands up and turns to Azula. "Azula, I…," He stops.
"What is it, Kokuen?" He ignores her and continues to gaze south. Azula's eyes go wide as a thin beam of light appears off in the distance. "What?"
"The Avatar has returned."
Azula turns to him. "The Avatar?
Kokuen nods. "Judging the distance…the South Pole. Just as Avatar Roku predicted."
"Avatar Roku?"
Kokuen turns to Azula. They stare at one another. Or rather Azula stares at where she assumes his eyes are. Finally he speaks. "Azula, you and I are alike. We are both blessed with great power. But neither of us are monsters." He is silent for a moment letting his words sink in. "But we could become monsters. It wouldn't take much to push us over into the Abyss."
"How can I keep myself from falling?" She asks softly.
"You'll have to find that answer yourself." He turns and begins to walk away. "I hope to see you soon."
Sometime later
Kokuen and a group of five Earth Kingdom generals have gathered in an outpost southwest of Omashu. General Fong slams a hand on the table in front of him. "What do you mean we don't know?" He screams at the others.
"I mean we don't know," Another general says. "We know that the Fire Nation is gathering their fleets for an attack. But we don't know where they're gathering, or where they're attacking."
"Why are we worried?" Another general asks. "Ba Sing Se and our other major cities are far enough in land that a naval attack is pointless."
"We don't know if these ships are transporting troops or equipment as well," Fong explains. "This could be a new invasion aimed at crushing us." He thinks for a moment. "What about those Fire Nation soldiers we captured during the last raid?"
The first general nods. "When they were captured they were destroying sensitive intelligence. I bet they know."
"They won't give up what they know easily," Kokuen says.
Fong smiles. "They will after an hour with me."
"Torture is unreliable. They may just tell you something to make it stop. And we don't have the time or the resources to check if they're telling the truth."
Fong turns to the boy. "You have an idea don't you?" Kokuen nods.
General Wang Wei walks with his head held high. He refuses to be defeated. For the fourth time this week they are taking him to General Fong's office. Once more that idiot will grill him for information. Information he won't give to the fool. The soldier in front of him opens the door. They enter just in time to see Fong throw a punch into the stomach of a boy. "I'm getting tired of the stubbornness of you Fire Nation bastards!" He punctuates his sentence with another punch, this time to the cheek of the boy.
The boy goes sprawling onto the floor. He pushes himself to his knees and turns his head. Wang Wei arches an eyebrow at the boy's condition. One black eye, multiple bruises, blood coming from his nose and mouth. The boy spits out some blood and smiles at Fong. "I don't care if you're tired of my stubbornness. I'd rather die than tell you anything about Yu Dao."
Fong's eye go wide. "Foolish boy!" He kicks the boy in the face knocking him out. The general turns to a soldier. "Take the trash back to his cell."
The Fire Nation general's eye narrow as he stares at the Earth Kingdom general. "The only trash here is you," He growls.
"Let's you and I have a talk," Fong says with a smile.
The talk had been what Wang Wei thought it would be. Semi-cordial with many, many threats peppered in. The general had no doubt that soon torture would replace their 'talks'. As they walked along he noticed the soldiers were taking him back to his cell but along a different path. "Why are we going this way?" As if reading his mind one of the soldiers asks.
"Want to check out that Lee kid. General Fong worked him over pretty good today," The other explained.
"Fine, but let's hurry this up. I'm starving," The other said with a sigh.
Soon enough they came to a cell door. The leading guard opens a latch and looks in. "Oh no!" He cries out.
"What?" The other guard asks as the first begins hurriedly grabbing his keys to open the door.
"There's blood all over the floor!" After a moment he successfully opens the door and rushing inside.
"Damn it." The other guard moves around Wang Wei and stops at the opened door.
"Kid! Kid, are you all right?" The general hears the guard inside the cell calling. "Kid…," His voice is cut off. A second later flames burst out of the cell slamming into the guard in front of the general. The guard slams into the wall and falls to the ground unconscious.
Carefully the general eases forward. The guard inside the cell is on the ground unconscious. The boy Lee is wiping some blood from his lips. He looks up. "Who are you?" The kid demands.
"General Wang Wei of the Fire Nation," The older man informs him.
The boy's eyes go wide. "Fire Nation?" He smiles and moves toward the fallen soldier. After a moment he has the keys in his hands. "Let's get you out of the restraints."
"Thank you," The general rubs his wrists.
"Time to leave," Lee says.
"Not without my men."
"Fine!"
It doesn't take long to release the other five prisoners. "Now what General?" One of them asks.
The General thinks for a moment. "We need to get out of here and fast."
"How about a ship?" Lee asks. The six men look at him. "That guy with the black flames captured a Fire Nation ship. That Fong asshole was talking about using it to infiltrate Yu Dao."
"Is that why they were torturing you?" Wang Wei asks.
He nods. "Yeah. I haven't been there in a year, but it's my hometown. They wanted me to either turn traitor or give them any information I had on it."
Wang Wei nods. He turns to his men. "Most of the soldiers are at dinner. This is our best opportunity to escape. We move quietly, take the ship, and head north." The men nod. Wang Wei turns to the boy. "How are your injuries?"
Lee stands with a wince. "Couple of broken ribs. Considering I was spitting blood, probably some internal bleeding. But I can still fight."
The general stands and smiles at the boy. "And fight well if your attack at your cell is any indication." He turns to his men. "Let's move."
They move silently through the compound. Hiding in the shadows the few guards that are out are avoided. Their luck runs out when they make it to the ship. Sirens blare and the camp comes alive. "They must have discovered we're missing." Wang Wei looks at the ship. A dozen or so Earth Kingdom soldiers have run to the side of the ship to see what's going on. "We need to get those soldiers off the ship and get it running at the same time. If we try to do them separately we'll end up back in our cells."
"I don't know much about boats, so I'm fighting," Lee admits.
Wang Wei nods. "That's fine. Lee and I will escort the soldiers off the ship. The rest of you get us moving."
Their raid on the ship had been a great success. Wang Wei had to admit the boy knew how to fight. His control over his bending was top notch. But now that the ship was steaming north he had time to think about the kid. Specifically how little he knew about boy. The general finds Lee staring out over the ocean. "First time on a boat?"
Lee smiles. "No. I've been on a few."
Wang Wei smiles. "Good, don't need to worry about you getting sea sick." The general leans on the railing next to Lee. "You said you're from Yu Dao?"
Lee nods. "Originally. My parents were killed when I was five. Grew up on the streets. When I was eight I started wandering around. Since I'm a Fire Bender I have to keep to Fire National Colonies and towns we've conquered."
"When was the last time you were in Yu Dao?"
Lee thinks for a second. "Little over a year ago. Stocked up on supplies while I was in the area."
"You didn't stay?"
Lee arches an eyebrow. "Why? I don't have any family. Never had a home. Roaming suits me." He rubs his side. "Or it did until I was captured."
"How'd that happen anyway?"
"I was traveling near Omashu. That guy with the black fires found me when he was leading a group of Earth Benders in the area. When General Jackass heard I was roaming around he thought I'd be a wealth of intelligence."
"He thought wrong?"
Lee sighs and sinks down to the deck of the boat. "Honestly I tried my damnedest to stay out of the war. Troop movements, defenses, stuff like that? Never paid too much attention to them." He smiles and looks up at Wang Wei. "Now? Now, I'm going to an active part."
Wang Wei stares at the boy for a moment before smiling. "You're about to get your first chance."
Lee frowns. "What do you mean?"
"We're headed north. Specifically to the Northern Water Tribe. Admiral Zhao has gathered an armada to conquer their kingdom."
Lee smiles. "Please tell me we have warm clothes on this ship."
The general laughs. "We do. Does that mean you'll be joining us?"
Lee stands and bows. "It would be my great honor."
Wang Wei bows. "Welcome aboard, Private Lee."
Lee straightens himself and smiles at the general. He grabs his side and grimaces. "I think I'll go lay down General."
Wang Wei nods. "Rest up. I have no idea how much action we'll be seeing but prepare yourself."
Lee moves slowly and gently through the halls of the ship. He finally finds his way to a room and closes the door behind him. Once inside he straightens up and stretches. He lays down and stares at the ceiling. Two sets of glowing eyes peer down at him. "It won't be long now Inari."
It takes a few days for the ship to make its way to the Northern Water Tribe. Lee does his best to help where he can. Finally towards evening General Wang Wei gathers the men on deck. "I have finally been able to contact Admiral Zhao's fleet. They have already begun the assault on the Northern Water Tribe. They have met stiff resistance, including the Avatar." His men begin to murmur amongst themselves. "I have been informed that Admiral Zhao has a plan. However, since we are undermanned and unarmed, we are to stay back to provide any support that the fleet needs. We will not be joining the battle." Angry shouts come from the men. They hadn't escaped the Earth Kingdom to sit back and not fight. "Enough!" The men quiet down. "I understand your anger. But this is a direct order from the Admiral. We will obey."
The next day the fleet attacking the Northern Water Tribe. Wang Wei smiles as five of his men have gathered. "It's a good day isn't?" He laughs. His men laugh as well. "It's a good day to conquer the Water Tribe!" He yells. His men yell back. "You men have done great work! Enduring our imprisonment, escaping, liberating this ship, and making good time to the battle. I am very proud." His men straighten as they swell with pride. Wang Wei looks at each men. ("Five?") He thinks. He looks again and frowns. "Where is Lee?" An explosion rocks the ship. "What was that?"
His men rush to the side of the ship. "The rudder and the propeller have been hit!" One calls back.
"Hit?" The general ask. "Hit by what?"
"Not what," A voice answers. The men turn to the door leading to below decks.
"Lee?" One of the men asks.
"Thank you for the ride. Allowing you all to escape was the only way to find out where the armada was heading." He explains.
Wang Wei's eyes widen. "You were never a prisoner! You were a plant! You played the role of prisoner so we'd lead you straight to Admiral Zhao."
"Correct."
The general growls. "Sadly for you the invasion is in full swing. No help from the Earth Kingdom will be able to help." Lee steps out from the doorway into the light of the sun. "YOU!"
He is dressed in a black cloak and has a fox on his shoulders. "Apologies. I'll have to insist you don't contact Zhao." Black flames erupt from his hands. He turns and bend the fires towards the command deck of the ship. It explodes.
General Wang Wei growls. "You think you can stop the invasion all alone?"
Kokuen grabs his hood and brings it over his hand. "I'm not alone. You said it yourself. The Avatar is here." Kokuen bends flames down out of his fist causing his body to be propelled upward and towards the armada.
"Keep pouring it on!" A sailor calls out. Two other sailors load a stone coated with oil onto a catapult. Another ignites it. "Fire!" He calls out. The stone launches into the air. "Reload!"
"Sir!" Another sailor yells out.
"What is it sailor?"
"Look!" He points to the south.
In the distance a figure is moving towards a nearby ship. "What is that?" Moments later the deck is alight. Fire flies back and forth from every side. Then nothing. Then the tower explodes violently. "What the Hell?" Once more the figure launches into the air. This time it is coming for them. "We're about to be boarded!"
Another ship explodes and begins to list to the side. "Number Six." He scratches the fox's chin. "Not bad, right Inari?" The fox chirps in agreement. "Next." Flames erupt from Kokuen's fist. But he stops. The moon has turned blood red. "What's going on?" He looks towards the Northern Water Tribe. "I don't like this." He turns to Inari. "New plan. We had straight for the city and find out what's wrong." The fox nods.
("Is this the end?") Pakku thinks. Fire Nation soldiers are advancing on him with their tank, and he has no water bending to defend himself with. He spares a glance back in the direction of the spiritual oasis. ("What is going on?")
"Sifu!" A few of his students call to him.
"Stand tall!" Pakku yells out. "Do not cower or beg! Remember you are of the Northern Water Tribe!" They nod and everyone takes their stances. The leading Fire Nation soldier begins to bend fire. ("This is it.") Pakku grits his teeth. ("I'm sorry Kanna.") Something jumps onto the head of the soldier causing him to scream out in surprise and lose his concentration. His flames dissipate as he stumbles to the ground. It takes Pakku's surprised mind a moment to realize he's not dead. He looks down at his feet. "Inari?" A moment later Pakku is knocked off his feet. After getting is bearings he pushes himself up and stands. Inari runs up his legs and hops on his shoulder. He smiles. "If you're here." He looks ahead. Steam and dust rises from the spot where once a tank sat. The soldiers are lying unconscious scattered about the area. A figure in black emerges from the small crater. "You're late!" Pakku jokes.
Kokuen bows. "Apoligies, Pakku-sensei." He turns back towards the fighting. "Allow me to make it up to you by escorting these uninvited guests out of the city."
Pakku laughs. "Please do!"
They're running now. The tide of battle has turned. Though the moon is still red and the water benders are powerless, they have lost his battle. ("I wonder who they're more afraid of,") Kokuen thinks. He spins and blasts four more soldiers with his flames. ("Me, or that giant blob of water.") Kokuen jumps to the top of the city wall as the strange blob of water advances towards the ships of the Fire Nation. The cloaked boy lobs balls of fire at the retreating ships as his strange companion destroys a few more. Finally the monster pushes at the ocean causing the ships to crash into one another as they are ejected from tribal waters. It is at about this time the moon returns to its normal color. "Whatever happened is over." The monster looks at the moon before losing cohesion. It drops back down towards the ocean before stringing back towards the wall, depositing a young boy before continuing on into the city. The boy stumbles. "I got you," Kokuen says as he steadies the boy.
The boy looks at him. "Who are you?"
"Kokuen!" A voice calls out before he can respond. The two of them turn. Master Pakku ascends the wall using a tornado of water. He lands next to them. Inari jumps down off Pakku's shoulder and dashes to his perch on Kokuen's. "Avatar Aang! That was you in that creature made of water?"
"Umm….yeah, I went into the Avatar State and combined with the Ocean Spirit," The boy explains.
"Looked very intimidating," Kokuen says as he pets Inari.
"Yeah, the Ocean Spirit was angry because," The boy gasps. "We have to get back to the oasis!" He exclaims as he jumps down from the wall.