Book I: Water

Chapter XI: The Battle of Agna Qel'a

Part I: Final Preparations

Agna Qel'a, Northern Water Tribe

The next morning

Kuzon was dressed in his battle uniform. He had been taking sewing lessons from some of the healers in the downtime and had finally stitched together a new battle outfit. This new one was made in the style of a typical Water Tribe parka. The only difference was that the colors were of Fire Nation origin. They were scarlet red and gold. It turns out that the Northern Chief had his own personal collection of silks and furs. He had been gracious enough to lend Kuzon some from his own collection. The outfit itself was made up of fur and red and gold silks. It had a hood stitched to it. The outfit also included leather gauntlets around the wrists. Kuzon then flipped the hood up and took a look at himself in the mirror. "Yeah. This is more my style."

The firebender then heard a yawn from behind him.

Katara then let out a loud yawn and rubbed at her eyes.

Kuzon turned to her and smirked. "You know. You are so cute when you wake up."

Katara's eyes widened. "Oh. I never realized…"

Kuzon just chuckled at her sudden sense of awkwardness. He then leaned in to kiss her.

The waterbender leaned in as well.

Katara then glanced at the dark blue battle suit hanging up on the wall and pointed at it. There were also two similar outfits with a blue hood. The other was made in Air Nation colors. "What is that?"

Kuzon glanced at where she was pointing. "Oh. That's your battle outfit."

Katara then stood up out of bed and glanced at him confused. "My..battle outfit?"

Kuzon turned away from her blushing. There was a faint smile on his face. "I've been taking lessons from the healers in how to sew together clothing. I..figured that we would need lighter clothing in the fight so I whipped something up for all four of us."

Katara glanced at him surprised. "You took up sewing?"

Kuzon stared at her confused. "Why do you look so surprised. You don't think I can be multi-talented?"

The confused look on the boy's face made Katara then burst out into laughter. "No. Not at all. That wasn't at all what I was implying. I'm just surprised. Pleasantly surprised." She then got up out of bed. "Let me try it on." The girl then grabbed the outfit and walked to one of the changing rooms. She later came out moments later clad in the battle outfit Kuzon had made for her. "This is amazing. It fits just right." She then snapped the leather gauntlets into place. The girl then brushed a hair behind her ear and bashfully smiled at him. "Thank you. I know you must have spent a lot of time working on this. I..can't tell you how much this means to me. I don't know how I'm going to ever repay you." She then kissed him on the cheek.

Kuzon chuckled. "I think that kiss will suffice." He then began walking out the door. "Come on. We need to give the others theirs."

Katara then took his hand. "I'm right behind you, my flameheart."

Village Center

Sokka and Aang were looking for the other two. They were looking around the Village Center. They finally saw the firebender and waterbender walking towards them. "

Katara then waved at both the warrior and airbender. "Aang. Sokka, we have some things for you both. She then threw Sokka and Aang their new battle uniforms.

Aang caught the Air Nomad uniform in his hands. "What is this?"

Kuzon smiled at his longtime friend. "Call it an Air Nation battle uniform."

Aang immediately picked up on the boy's meaning. He shot his friend with a stern look. "Kuzon. I'm no warrior. I'm a peaceful nomad. I have no intention to fight in the actual battle."

Sokka then scoffed. "You have got to be kidding me. You can't honestly be telling us that you are just going to sit out the fight Aang."

Aang then turned to Sokka with a serious look in his eyes. "That is exactly what I am saying, Sokka. I'm not fighting anyone. Acting violently would be against the teachings of my people. I will do all I can to help evacuate the civilians but that is it."

Kuzon nodded understandingly. "I expected that answer. I wasn't asking you to fight brother." He then shrugged at the airbender. "So do you not want it then?"

Aang then smiled at him. "No. I'll still wear it. I appreciate the gift."

Sokka glanced down at his uniform. It had a wolf claw on the right side of the hood. He then smiled at the firebender. "Thanks flamehead. This will come in handy."

A moment later

Team Avatar was waiting on the entrance wall with Chiefs Hakoda, Arnook, Yue, and the other generals.

One of the men was looking out with his binoculars. He felt his left hand twitch. "They are here."

The First Fleet then came over the horizon.

Chief Hokoda narrowed his eyes on them. "Then we are out of time!" He then turned to Sokka. "Chief Arnook and I are going to gather the First Army. I expect you to follow behind."

The two chiefs and their generals then blew their war horn signaling for the armies to get into their positions.

Sokka then turned to the others. "Time to go."

Katara smiled at her brother and gave him a hug. Tears came out of her eyes. "Be safe Sokka."

Sokka let out an anxious sigh and hugged her back. "You too sis. Take care." He then turned to Aang and smirked. "I want you to get as many civilians out of here as you can airhead."

Aang nodded.

Kuzon then turned to Aang and pulled him into a hug. "Be safe Aang. These firebenders are ruthless."

The airbender hugged him back. "I know." "Same to you." Aang then activated his glider and then flew off.

Kuzon turned to Sokka. "What about me?"

Sokka put a hand on his shoulder. "You are to assist Katara with the cannons. We need all the waterbenders on deck."

Kuzon nodded. "You can count on me brother."

Sokka then grinned at Kuzon. "I know I can."

The warrior then hugged the firebender. "Whatever happens today…I was honored to fight by your side…Avatar Kuzon."

Kuzon hugged him back. The fact that Sokka used his full honorific title filled the rogue firebender with a bit of pride.

Yue then tapped Sokka on the shoulder. Sokka glanced at her and blushed.

The princess had a smirk on her face and her hands behind her back. "Aren't you forgetting someone?"

Sokka chuckled with crossed arms. "I don't know. Am I?" He then grabbed Yue from around the wrist, spun her around, and dipped as if they were dancing.

The two then kissed in front of everyone.

Most of the benders, including Kuzon and Katara, gasped in awe. Some of the male benders were whooping and cheering.

Kirruk chuckled. "Damn. What a lucky guy."

Katara's initial look of awe turned to one of endearment. She smirked at her brother and shook her head.. "Not bad blockhead. Not bad at all."

After a while, the two separated lips.

Sokka grinned at Yue. "Gotta go. Save a kiss for me when this is over?"

Yue giggled. "Of course. Just come back to me alive."

Sokka then ran off to find the rest of the First Army.

Kuzon watched him as he ran off and whistled. "Damn. He is a smooth operator. I could learn a thing or two from him."

Katara then burst into laughter. She then wrapped her arms around his neck and smirked. "I think not. I happen to find you turn on your charms in a different way. I wouldn't have you any other way."

Kuzon felt a smirk grace his face. "I wouldn't either."

The two then leaned in and kissed one another.

Yue looked on in awe. Love truly is amazing. The fact that the outcast from the Fire Nation and the last Southern waterbender found one another. It is beautiful to see. She then took off her silk royal robe and let it fall to the ground.

Kuzon and Katara gasped when they saw what the princess was wearing underneath.

Yue was wearing a light form of battle armor. It had many pockets for small knives both inside and outside.

Katara glanced at Yue with "What are those your highness?"

The princess then took a knife out of a pocket and smirked at the waterbender. "What? Did you think I was going to leave all the fun to you two? I had to enroll in both self-defense and knife throwing classes as a part of my royal training. I'm no waterbender but I know how to fight."

Katara smirked at her. "Good to know." She then turned to Kuzon, smiled, and took his hands in hers. "No matter what happens today...We fight together and if it comes to it...we will die together."

Kuzon gave her a nod. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

The Redeemer, First Fire Fleet

Zuko was dressed in his traditional Fire Nation battle outfit. He was staring out and pacing around anxiously. He could see the ice metropolis in the distance. The time has come. The time for my vengeance. Kuzon Lin Sho. You damn traitor. I offered you a chance at greatness. I offered you a chance at glory. And you burned it in my face. I almost had you dead to rights. I would have if it hadn't been for that snow peasant. That..will not happen again. I promise you that. You will be in chains. I will be victorious. The boy then felt a hand on his shoulder.

He turned and saw his sister. She was smiling with pride. "Are you ready for your redemption Zuzu?"

Zuko just turned to her and nodded. "I am. I will not fail this time! I swear that on Father's name!"

Azula chuckled with an adoring look in her eyes. I'm glad to see Zuko is in high spirits and ready to fight. I will aid him however I can. She then growled under her breath. "When this is done..I will have my revenge on that snow peasant. She bested me because I was overconfident. That won't happen again."

Zuko just nodded in agreement.

Zhao, who was listening, let out a chuckle. He then took in the view with a smirk on his face. Good good. This will be a great day and a great victory for our nation. While you two focus your efforts on the Avatar and his friends, I will destroy the moon. I' ve trained for this day for years. I will be victorious! The man then let out a maniacal laugh.

Iroh, who was watching from his window, let out a sad sigh. My beloved nephew. My beloved niece. The general. They all believe that victory today will better the Fire Nation. The only thing it will do is bring more bloodshed and war upon both the peoples of the Water Tribes and the Fire Nation. Such senseless conflict. The old man then felt a tear go down his eye and took a sip of his tea.