Chapter Thirty-Two:

Lord Yuzin stood at the airbase inspecting the various zeppelins and planes. "Lord Yuzin." a general said. "We are preparing to mobilize."

"Good" he replied. "Tell them we head out at dawn."

"I understand Lord Yuzin."

"Also tell them I plan to join the fighting personally." Yuzin added.

The general awkwardly stepped back. "Lord Yuzin." he said. "I think you ought to reconsider."

"I made up my mind." Yuzin replied. "I will not make my men take a risk I will not."

The general sighed. "If you insist."

Naoki stepped into the room. Yuzin looked towards him. "Are you ready to join us?" he asked him.

"I trust the Avatar on what he says is going to happen."

"So will you pledge your support?"

"I suppose I must." Naoki admitted. "The Air Nation does not turn it's back on people in need."

"Exactly." Yuzin said. "It is important we help out the people of Republic City against threats internal and external."

"I just don't want to be the latter." Naoki replied.

"Lord Izumi felt that away." Yuzin said. "She did not want the Fire Nation to become tyrannical like under Ozai. But sometimes, something must be done."

Nao's eye snapped open. He felt an elbow tap his ribs. "Wakey wakey." came a voice.

He turned and saw Visola lying next to him. "Time to get up." she said. "Get the troops heading toward Republic City."

Nao stood up and got dressed. He stepped out of his tent into the open air. He approached a group of troops. "Prepare to head towards Republic City." he told them.

The troops fueled and inspected various vehicles to make sure they were in working order. Nao walked around, making sure everyone was performing there duties. Nao saw a couple of soldiers chattings. He stepped towards them and cleared his throat. The men looked at him. "Get back to work." he demanded.

Before anyone could do anything, Tsume appeared. He grabbed one of the men and stabbed him through the head. Nao backed off in shock. Tsume looked to the body, then to Nao. "Made an example." he said.

For a minute Nao could not say anything. He took some deep breaths. "Okay, anyone who slacks off will end up like that." he said.

Nao continued to inspect his troops work. He really needed an excuse to get away from that creep Tsume.

I sat over a map with Sela, Genji, Kuma, and Takumi. Kuma ran her finger down a street. "I think this is the best evacuation route for this district." she said.

The rest of us looked at the surrounding roads. We all agreed with Kuma. We then focused on other districts. I pointed to one. "I think either three of these could be good options." I said.

Sela looked the roads. "Hmm, I think this one is the best." she said as she put her finger on a road.

"I don't know." Takumi replied. "I think this one is better."

We debated for awhile until we reached a conclusion. Then we decided on more evac routes. After the planning it was time to get moving. I joined a group of resistance fighters and headed down the street.

One resistance fighter approached me. "Arata?" he said. "You're the Avatar?"

"Do I know you?" I replied.

"I'm a new recruit." he explained. "I joined when my parents were falsely imprisoned.

"That's to bad." I said. "I never knew mine."

"Anway, I've heard all about you." he said. "I really wanted to meet you."

"Well thanks."

He continued down the road till we reached a certain residential block. A few of the fighters knocked on certain doors and where let in. Someone explained to me that they were the local contacts. They had influence over the community.

One of the fighters stepped out with a man following him. "It's not safe to be here." he said. "Let the others know."

Pretty soon everyone was stepping out into the streets. We walked them down to the safety zones to keep them out of the battle. Everyone all marched in an orderly fashion. Until someone stopped. A man looked a saw that his young son had tripped.

The man stepped toward and reached for his son. Suddenly he grabbed his sons neck. I saw the look of shock on his face. He didn't want to do what he was doing. "Kinto!" I shouted. "Get over here."

I dashed towards the man but a foot shot out a tripped me. I felt his foot stomp against my back. I slid over and looked up. People were attacking each other. "Leaving so soon." a familiar voice called out in a mocking tone.

Terror shot through me when I knew who it was. It was Visola. She waved her arms to control the crowd. They kicked, slapped, and punched each other. She gleefully watched everyone's pain and shock as they attacked one another.

Snapping to my senses, I got to work to restrain the people. I dug under the feet to trap them. Resistance members delivered shocks and wrapped cables around there limbs to prevent them from attacking.

Kinto charged towards Visola. He lifted snakes over water and hurled them towards her. They splashed before they could hit her. A couple of Water Tribe soldiers stepped in front of her.

"Love to stay and play brother, but there is more fun to have elsewhere." she said. "See you later, or not."

More soldiers joined them. We stepped in front of the restrained and stunned civilians to protect them from the battle. The earthbenders lifted up stone wall around them, while Kinto and I deflected the blasts of water.

We hurled gravel filled waterblasts at the soldiers. When the soldiers deflected the water the gravel slammed into them. As they staggered the metalbenders advanced towards them and restrained them with cables.

We cut the civilians free, took down the barrier, and pressed onwards. More Water Tribe soldiers fired blasts from the rooftops. We provided cover for them while moving towards the safe zone.

More troops appeared on the roofs, but these were White Lotus soldiers. They and the Water Tribe soldiers exchanged shoots above us. We dodged and ducked chunks of rocks and bursts of fire.

Soon we got the civilians to the safehouse. "In here." I shouted to them.

We covered for the civilians as they were rushed into the building. Blasts of various elements came at them from all angles, and we all worked hard to deflect them. White Lotus soldiers came at us down the street trying to breach the safehouse.

Suddenly an icicle emerged from a soldier's back. He collapsed revealing Visola. "Did you miss me already?" she asked tauntingly.

Visola directed a couple of soldiers' attacks at each other, and grabbed another soldier and hurled him against a wall. "Oh it's so fun here." she declared. "I really miss this city."

"Keep her away from them." I told Kinto.

I ran down the street and then turned around and shoot fireballs towards Visola. She turned around a batted them away. "Where are you going?" she said.

"Don't know or care." I replied. "Just matters that you come with me."

"Oh, you want to play a game." she said. "Fine, I'll play."