Hi everyone . Sorry about my second disappearance but here we are with another chap of Azula's monster edited and proof read by ma boy Mustard01 go read his fic it's pretty good. However I do have an announcement I will now be officially taking commissions if you want my price range DM me.
now enough with that drivel and on with the story.
Aang somewhat recognised the young female that sat at the end of the table opposite to himself.
After all, there was only one person at the earth-bending tournament who could bend almost as well as any old master, even better in some cases, Aang had just about kept up with the earthbender known as the blind bandit.
Speaking about the said fighter, this girl looked very similar to her.
Blind? Check
Same height as him? Check
She couldn't be anyone else but the blind bandit. Her father wouldn't stop talking and he didn't want to be rude and interrupt, Sokka beside him happily gorged himself on the food that had been presented to him. Katara, while less enthusiastic, still also enjoyed the food.
"So young avatar what brings you to Gaoling?" Lao beifong asked his curiosity finally getting the better of him.
"I'm here to find an Earth-bending master, it's my next element on the list and when that's done ill be able to stop the fire nations' advance and bring balance to the world," he replied smiling brightly.
Lao nodded and motioned to his left, "We have quite a few earthbender masters here that you could choose from. In fact, Master Yu here is one of the best within Gaoling, however, if you want anyone better you'd have to go to the capital." he finished.
Aang looked slightly confused. The girl had slightly sat up at the mention of an earth-bending master yet it was barely visible. "No need, Your daughter is an amazing earthbender I'm pretty sure she could teach me everything I need to know. After all, she almost beat me in an earth bending….." a sharp kick interrupted his explanation.
Lao shook his head, "You are mistaken avatar, Toph is blind and is still learning the basics. She could not effectively teach you anything." the man seemed to scoff.
"But Mr Beifong, the badger moles that taught the first earth-benders were blind .."
"Do not give me a lesson in history Avatar. I do not care for it, My daughter will not teach you anything and if you continue to insist I will have you thrown from this Household." at that the man's bodyguards stepped forward.
"Mr beifong please just listen I'm pretty sure that your daughter was.." Aang didn't even get to finish his sentence.
"Master Yao, captain takefu please escort the avatar and his compatriots off the compound. It seems they've overstayed their welcome."
It had seemed that Aang had pressed too far.
Toph grinned to herself, her milky white eyes twinkly somewhat. Twinkle toes almost gave her away but it wouldn't be that easy.
Linebreak
It had been several days since Azula had taken the port city, it had been a peaceful couple of days, only the odd Earthbender scouting party that had to be captured and silenced.
Naruto had led the training of the new earthbender unit pushing them past their limits, both the older veterans and the younger lesser trained men had performed well. At the rate they were going, they would be better than their brethren within the earth-bending army.
Azula had watched with a dark grin spread across her face, first water benders now earth soon enough her army would be one of the strongest within the area. She continued to watch on as they trained, her personal regiment of earth benders and water benders wore the blue and black that she wore however in certain areas of their uniform golden circles represented their former allegiance.
Azula stood from where she was seated, straightening out her uniform and stepping down from the shaded palanquin, she began to approach the still-training benders as she did so she was followed closely by two fire bender bodyguards.
Naruto stood at the front of the group, the top half of his uniform and his Haori were off to one side allowing both his tattoos and his scars to be seen by all, those he trained were dressed in a similar manner sweat pouring off each and every person. Naruto noticed Azula approaching from the corner of his eye.
"Kneel to the fire princess." as he said this he fell to a knee, the men and women behind him quickly following suit not wishing to gain the ire of their commander.
"Naruto." Azula purred, "What have you learned so far about the area we are in?" she asked.
"The scouts have reported that There are little to no forces present in large numbers. The earth-benders are scattered across the area for at least a kilometre to the closest town," he reported.
Azula raised a single dainty eyebrow, "what is the town and its size?"
"Gaoling, a medium-sized mining town owned by the Beifongs a noble family descended from powerful earth-benders." he paused for a moment - "They may be sympathetic to our cause due to their dealings with the fire nation."
Azula nodded, "We will move out to Gaoling within an hour if we move quickly we should be there by nightfall" she finished moving back toward the palanquin. But she paused sending a side eye back to her love.
"Take the new task force and capture the city, ensure that the Avatar cannot gain a bending master within the city."
Azula then came close, lovingly stroking his chin and face. "Stay safe. And do not fail me." She turned away her speech complete and her orders given.
Naruto stood, turning on his heel as he did so.
"Prepare for deployment ."
50 minutes later
150 soldiers of the newly formed brigade moved quickly through a dense forest, their blue and black uniforms were layered and covered with leaves and grass camouflaged against the trees. In front of them was their target.
The city of Gaoling.
Guards controlled the gates, watching and inspecting those who entered the city. About 30 earth-benders were waiting around, none seemed to be too aware of their surroundings. Two water-benders approached their position, the men in front of them oblivious to their machinations.
Four icicles flashed from the brush line piercing four individual earth-benders immediately. The rest sluggishly moved to protective positions the gates beginning to shut, 14 earth benders who hadn't moved quickly enough fell into a large sink trap, the earth closing up above them immediately afterwards.
The remaining earth benders went back to back aiming to face the enemy. The panic that stretched across their face was clearly visible.
The brush and forestry moved before them, revealing many shadows. Too many to be anything else but an ambush.
The last of the shadows moved, revealing Naruto in all his strikingly dangerous glory. A dark shinigami mask covered his face with black cloth lining the edges of the mask, blood seemed to leak from the mouth's jagged teeth. He tilted his head slightly staring deep into the eyes of the men who still lived.
"Yield or die."
Around him more and more shadows began to appear, and camouflaged soldiers appeared next to him, all masked however unlike his own mask theirs were all blank.
The earth benders surrendered, dropping to their knees and allowing themselves to be captured.
Naruto looked at the gate, slight disgust marring his face, he drew his kanabo and swung. The solid gold and wrought metal club smashed through the stone gate, bringing down the small structure. He turned back toward his men and nodded.
A thick mist began to roll into the city, flowing into the streets and heavily confusing the citizens who moved about their day. the skies began to quickly cloud over drowning out the sun.
With Toph.
She could feel the moisture in the air. It was thick on her skin, almost unnatural. She could also feel the vibrations of the earth moving and even people being trapped beneath it.
Then she felt him.
How could she not? He was like a beacon of light within the dark.
The guards around the mansion began to speak about a thick mist spilling into Gaoling blanking out everything around them. It was the start of summer, the cities had never seen such thick mist before.
But she knew differently. She knew what was within that mist.
"Toph. head back to your room, this mist is too dangerous for you to be walking around in." Lao said to her, the avatar had left some time ago, however, that didn't matter.
The doors of the mansion were blown open. two guards sliding along the floor unconscious their faces black and blue.
Lao looked in surprise and concern. "Toph! Go quickly. Master Yu take her and keep her safe." more guards piled into the room aiming to keep the lord safe.
Yu tried to push the princess along but found that she wouldn't budge, Her smaller and daintier frame belied her true strength - the master Earth bender actually struggled to push the girl.
Her bright pale eyes remained locked on the open door - waiting for whatever this feeling was to reveal itself.
And it was as if the being could understand her call.
Shadows began to make themselves more apparent.
2.
3.
4.
9.
More and more shadows made themselves visible within the mist, however only one actually called out to Toph's soul. Only one caught the pure intensity of her attention.
The centre shadow began to move forward the mist peeling away from its form, revealing a heavily customised fire-bender uniform, however, what drew their attention was the Haori draped over it as well as the Golden weapon it wielded.
"The Corrupter. He who turns all to ash" Yu whispered, his grip on Toph falling lax as his eyes bulged.
Naruto tilted his head slightly as he watched the group, his eyes focusing more on the female who stared back at him.
Naruto chucked a scroll at the beifong clan leader - the terrified man fumbled with the black and red scroll just about managing to open it. He quickly read the scroll, his eyes flickering across the documents which began to make him pale.
"The Princess of the Fire Nation is coming here?" he asked his voice trembling. Naruto nodded, still saying nothing. He began to walk forward totally ignoring the older man and his wife.
"You are an Earth Bender no?" Naruto said His light blue eyes stared deeply into Toph's milky white ones, her eyes displayed little emotion. Yet Naruto could see the passion and feel the sheer power that emanated from her.
"She is one of the blessed…" The voice that sounded as if a mountain was falling within his head responded.
"What are you talking about." Lao straightened up seeing that this monster was speaking to his precious and only daughter. "Yes, she is however she is not a good one. Not only that she is blind so you would do well to leave her…." His tirade was cut short by a large block of thick earth covering his mouth and lower neck.
Naruto didn't even need to look at the man continuing to look at the Earth bender before him.
"Lady Toph. It would be to your benefit if you followed me for a moment" Naruto said to the teen, who at the order hidden in a request nodded.
After leading him through the house towards the back he suddenly stopped, causing toph herself to stop. "I know what you are, and I know how you do it." he was interrupted when a massive sharpened pillar of earth erupted from the ground before him aiming for the soft flesh of his throat.
he simply sighed, breathing out a small stream of fire that melted the shard of earth. Toph jumped back, a grin stretched across her face.
"You're strong. I could feel you before you even entered the city, it's almost like I'm being drawn to you by something," she replied as she moved away from the dual bender.
Naruto simply removed his mask, stashing it against his hip, he'd already told his subordinates not to interfere on the pain of death.
"I know who you are blind bandit, you hold the very important position of being the only Earthbender I respect." He started as he began walking towards the shorter woman. Earthen spikes appeared and disappeared with each step he took.
"Her connection to mother Gaia is similar to yours, yet purer."
That got a slight eyebrow quirk. "So she's just like myself and Azula then?"
"Yes. however, as your bending is purer than a normal bender due to being a dual bender, your connection to a single element is less pure than that of a blessed bender."
Toph stomped on the ground, and at her action, a platform lifted from the ground, and two large boulders orbited the large platform.
"Come get me, if you think you're hard enough." Her taunting grin quickly drew one from Naruto, he removed his Haori placing it to one side.
He breathed in and exhaled a torrent of boiling flames. Toph could feel the heat even from her elevated position, the grin cut across her face. With a flick of her hand, the twin boulders streaked toward her target akin to meteors toward a planet.
Naruto ignored these boulders coating his hands in flames and diving straight through one and turning the other to dust, using his momentum he propelled himself upwards landing upon toph's platform, rather than running like he believed she would the girl stood her ground. She kneeled avoiding the first swipe of Naruto's enflamed hands, her hands sweeping the ground and gathering clumps of dirt.
She struck back with an uppercut, her arms encased in hardened earth. Naruto narrowly avoided the uppercut, her hand scraping his face lightly. He jumped back aiming to gain some space between himself and his sparring partner.
"You're good. Really good. I'm impressed." Naruto said nodding at the shorter woman.
"Thanks, hotcakes, your not too bad yourself. That magma crap you do is pretty strong." She responded, Naruto shook off her nickname.
"Why do you stay here? You are strong enough to rule this place singlehandedly yet you stay?" he asked, his voice lightly filled with curiosity.
"I could. But I'd be by myself. Plus we wouldn't be having such a fun fight now would we?" she responded Naruto nodded, understanding her well-placed point.
"Join us. Azula is Planning things, she's preparing for a fight. One that will shake this world and the next completely."
"I could join you but the Avatar is looking for a master earthbender, so why shouldn't I just join him?"
"So, you would rather travel with some pretentious monk who ran away when he was needed the most? That coward left people like us to rot and die. Or in your case to be pampered to death." He had to avoid a large rock at those words.
Toph seemed to consider his words, for he was speaking some truths. Aang had been depended upon and worshipped even though he'd given up on the world. This needed to be changed.
"Don't you hate Earthbenders though? So why have you not killed me yet?" she asked, a singular well-cut eyebrow raised in apprehension.
Naruto nodded and sighed. "I'm not going to bore you with some long-ass drawn-out story. Earthbenders murdered my family and tortured me. They did that all because they found out I was a descendant of Fire benders. And not only that but because they thought I was the effigy of some evil avatar." he said casually - toph could see the somewhat pain that swept across his face but chose not to comment.
"So what now?" she asked him.
Naruto simply grinned. "Well, I have to ask you some things first."
Linebreak.
Aang, Katara, and Sokka hadn't been prepared for this. They'd been walking the streets when the mist rolled in. Katara and Aang could feel that the mist was different. Aang had been assaulted by visions and screams from what he assumed to be the former avatars' Spirits. The only spirits which hadn't reacted poorly to the vast mist were the ones who originated from the Fire Nation.
"We have to leave," Sokka said, his voice cracking somewhat. "This mist isn't natural."
"We have to go back," Aang said to his compatriots, both of which wanted to argue with his sudden demand.
"Aang we have to leave. If we go back to the palace any number of things could happen, we don't even know what's causing this mist." Sokka argued back. "If you want to go back and try to convince her to come with us then be my guest. We're going back to Appa." he finished.
"Fine, you guys head back and get Appa ready to…" Aang was cut off by a loud clanking sound.
The sound of metal hitting the earth. That combined with the screams of citizens further within the mist confirmed the thought they all had.
Gaoling was under attack. But by who? Who could manipulate the mist to such an extent? The only water-benders who could've done such a thing had been massacred at the Northern Water Tribe.
Sokka's eyes widened fearfully at the implications of his thought. "Aang blow away the mist. Now!"
Aang looked confused but obliged nonetheless he quickly swung his bow staff generating a large gust of wind, which picked up and carried the mist away.
This did two things, it revealed the eerie almost empty street.
Almost empty.
A man and a woman stood at the end of the street, both wore dark uniforms, their faces covered by bone-white masks.
They stared down the avatar's entourage.
"Guys. They don't look very friendly," Sokka was the one to break the tense silence.
Aang stared at the twins.
The twins stared at Aang.
The man was the first to move. He took to the sky jumping high in a single bound, with a flick of his hand a jet of icy water was flung at almost imperceptible speeds toward Katara.
Aang was the first to react, redirecting the water spear with a blast of wind.
The woman took that moment to jump into action, stomping on the ground an entire row of stone spines cut through the earth towards the Gaang.
Aang slammed his staff into the ground again, lifting a barrier of dust to shield his friends. The twins stared into the dust cloud waiting to see if their attacks had hit, however when the dust cleared they were nowhere to be seen.
The twins looked at each other and nodded, spinning around and rushing back the way they had come, apparently not noticing the Gaang hidden on the rooftop. The trio felt fear.
"Those couldn't have been fire nation - they have similar uniforms but no earth or water bender would betray their people to fight for those Fire bastards," Sokka spat, still shaken up at the ambush that could've gone so wrong.
"I agree, but something bigger is going on, you and katara get Appa. I'll look for Toph and try to get her to come with us to Ba sing se." Aang said, his big eyes locking with his compatriots' own.
"Aang it's too dangerous we have no idea what's going on here and you wanna go get someone who obviously doesn't want to come by yourself?" Katara tried to reason with the Avatar trying to get him to understand the dangers of such a plan.
It was her brother who broke the stalemate. Sokka turned to his sister, "I'll go with Aang and watch his back. You get Appa ready to move when Aang blows the whistle." Katara still seemed uneasy at the idea but reluctantly agreed, watching as her brother and Aang slipped back into the alleyway. She let out a small prayer to the spirits for their protection.
They'd need it.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Aang and Sokka had been walking for almost 20 minutes, and they were still no closer to finding out who the masked individuals were. At nearly every important intersection or building that the duo passed, there were at least 3 standing there sometimes more. But the Duo always tried to sneak past without bringing attention to themselves.
If these ones were anything like the others the fight would be intense. So they avoided them when they could.
They'd finally approached the large Manor where theyd had the meal with the Beifong family. There were a handful of critical changes that had been made which drew their attention right away. One, the mansion and its outer walls had been somewhat fortified the walls cleared and makeshift earth walls were set up.
The second change was the large flags which hung from its upper windows, flags bearing a blue flame embroidered in gold
Aang's staff fell from his hands as he fell to his knees, Sokka looking down at him in slight worry." The Fire Nation… they followed us here. We led them straight to these people." Aang sounded tired, his voice was quiet and sad.
"Aang we have a bigger problem," Sokka said quietly pointing toward the white masked individuals who stood around the Mansion, not to mention the Normal uniformed Fire nation soldiers who stood outside the compound.
"I think the Fire Nation are brainwashing benders to fight for them, otherwise why would an earthbender and a waterbender fight for this filth." Sokka spat, his hatred and disgust shining through for a moment.
"I think Toph is inside, we need to rescue her and get her out before they can get to her," Aang said finally, his mind made up. "Then we see if we can stop this madness." He was about to leap from his perch but Sokka grabbed him stopping his movement before it even began.
Aang spun around annoyed at the sudden grab "What Sokka? If you're not up for it you can wait here till we signal Katara." However, that wasn't the problem.
Sokka was as pale as death as if the man had seen a spirit. He simply pointed, Aang spun around and from their perch, upon a rooftop, he saw what had made Sokka so pale.
Azula. Perched neatly upon a massive armoured vehicle.
And wherever Azula was, that beast of the end times was sure to follow.
Aang shook off the cold feeling that had settled upon his shoulders, turning to Sokka he shook the boy out of his stupor.
"We need a plan and a diversion…."
With the Fire Nation
Naruto stood at the entrance of the former Beifong mansion, his haori and kanabo had been placed back onto his form. Around him, his soldiers stood as an honour guards awaiting the arrival of his princess.
He had locked Toph away in one of the larger rooms within the Mansion, the girl had come along freely and did tend to stick close by to him since he'd taken over the city. She didn't even bat an eyelid at her parents being locked away in the dungeons below the city.
Although she had told him about something being down there, something large and alive.
He'd investigate later.
Naruto snapped out of his thoughts as Azula's transport pulled into the compound, the Tank was one of the newer models much larger than the rest of the convoy. Azula sat on its turret, and a familiar figure sat next to her. The long ponytail and bright baggy clothing did nothing to hide her cheerful smile.
Ty lee.
"HEYYYY Narutoooo" she shouted as she lept from the tank into a cartwheel, rolling to a stop in front of her friend.
"Hello, Ty lee." Naruto's mask muffled his voice, his red eyes tracked ty lee but quickly moved back to Azula once he saw her leap from the tank landing as gracefully as ever, behind her hundreds of men dismounted from other vehicles or beasts of war.
"Lady Azula, Gaoling is yours."
Azula smiled as ty lee continued to practically vibrate with contained energy.
"Good job, that mask does suit you I must say, although it's a shame it covers your handsome face. Now show me our new base of operations." She purred as she walked toward the large double doors.
On either side of the doors stood members of Naruto's experimental unit, two earth-benders in fact. Now that combat had been completed they wore armbands that denoted their benign specialities green or blue denoting earthbender or Waterbender respectively.
Both soldiers opened the double doors allowing their commanders to enter the mansion, which within had been completely changed from what it had been under the beifong family. The flying boar which had been hung over the entrance was removed, being replaced with a Blue flame symbol, things that would usually make a house comfortable and any personal and familial possessions had been removed and burned. The walls had been left bare and many rooms had been turned into barracks or prison cells.
All in all, it was as if the Beifong family had never existed. Lao who at one point had been a secret Fire nation supporter hadn't been too happy at the takeover of his family estate, however with the presence of the Corrupter he didn't dare speak out benign confined to his room.
"What of our guests," Azula asked looking up the grand staircase, Naruto removed his mask as ty lee sat on his shoulders, having climbed up there after they entered the building.
"Well they didn't take to the conditioning well but I believe with some time we should have them on the side. If not we'll just keep them contained…."
Naruto didn't get to finish his sentence, as a burst of wind slammed open the double doors at the front of the mansion, the two guards who'd been there before had been flung into the mansion sliding across the floor and being deposited by the Small group's feet.
Ty lee flipped from Naruto's shoulders as he prepared to fight the Avatar.
"It seems the little coward is here, still trying to rescue those you ran from all those years ago?" Azula taunted, her amber eyes glaring devilishly.
"36,789." Naruto simply stated.
Azula's grin grew wider.
"What's that supposed to be?" Aang asked, genuinely confused but continued to hold his guard as Naruto's men surrounded him.
"36,789. Human life is so fragile, so easy to snuff out," He sneered.
Aang eyes widened in horror, he couldn't belie'sve it. "You didn't, there's no way you could've…."
Naruto grinned as he removed his haori, a wide-fanged grin akin to that of a smiling demon.
"36,789 lives, all gone. They're all on your head, you could've stopped us, could've killed me but you didn't, and now those men, women, and children are feeding Mother Gaia."
Naruto caught the heavy end of the bo-staff, impressed at the speed that the avatar had moved to bring it down on his head so effectively.
"If I were anyone else that would've caught me." he let go of the staff as Aang launched himself into the air, jumping away from the menace. Aang leaned back swinging his staff with as much power as he could gather, sending an enormous hammer of air towards his target.
However, Naruto did little in terms of movement, stomping the ground and raising a large pillar of earth, large enough for him Azula and Ty lee to take cover. Some of his men weren't so lucky and were sent flying through the house and into the large backyard, hitting the ground hard and rolling away.
Azula leaned around the pillar firing off a blast of her infamous azure flames, Aang dropped falling below the small spurt of flames. Naruto dropped the barrier and dashed toward the avatar, a single fist raised and coated in dense rock, Aang weaved around the first right cross and deflected the follow-up. However, the shoulder check and subsequent over-shoulder throw caught him off-guard sending him soaring toward the backyard.
He landed as lightly as possible using the air to cover his body as he struck the ground. He had little time to recover however, Azula ran forward, jumping and propelling herself upwards off of Naruto's broad shoulder, launching a trio of fireballs toward the still-dazed avatar who rolled out of the way of the vicious attack and to his feet.
Naruto went to rush him again but was stopped by the combined forces of a stone encasement and a boomerang. The latter of which clattered harmlessly against his vambrace. Naruto turned to the newcomers - one of which he knew all too well and the other he'd only seen in a passing glance.
Toph and Sokka. Toph wore a different outfit from when Naruto had first fought her, now she wore a beige and green outfit, with a light white Haori over the top of it. However, it did do well to show off her lithe yet amazing figure.
The earth bender and the tramp.
Naruto kicked out of the earthen boot and turned to the newcomers.
"So it appears you've made your choice then? That's unfortunate I had high hopes for you, unlike the rest of your disgusting people." Naruto sneered his anger somewhat surprisingly hidden.
Toph grunted, her milky eyes betraying nothing. "You come here. Destroy my home, imprison my parents and I and think I would ever think about joining you and your merry band of whores. You'd be insane" She finished her torrent of words by jumping and slamming her fist into the ground, sending a wave of earth toward the fire benders.
Naruto leapt over it, drawing his kanabo as Sokka rushed him dual wielding a club and a cutlass, the younger teen swung both wildly trying his best to even land a blow on the more experienced fighter, Naruto weaved in and out of his attacks placing his weapon back in its holster he drove a punch upward into Sokka's ribcage winding him, then he kicked out sending the boy flying back out of the house and where the Avatar had been busy fending off the flurry of blows from Azula.
Toph and Naruto clashed slamming their fist together as the two benders worked to tried to drive the other one off, toph would strike with slow yet heavy blows whilst Naruto struck back, his blows equally as heavy yet also having a heated effect to them.
They continued to trade blows, Toph engulfing her hands within a thick layer of rock and Naruto a thick flowing layer of flames. Each punch was caught, and each kick was deflected the two seemed to be like Ying and Yang never being able to overpower the other.
Finally, it was toph who seemed to win out slamming her hands against his chest and encasing it in an earthen vest.
"Sorry hotcakes - you're just too insane for me."
Toph turned and began to run outside, Aang was still engaged in his fight and Sokka had just started rising from the hit he'd taken.
Azula leapt into the air again, prepared to bring down an arc of flame upon the avatar's head however she was blown back by a sudden gust of wind, hitting the ground and rolling into a quick fighting position. However, she quickly dropped it knowing it was pointless.
For above them hovering was the Avatar's furry pet, Aang had already boarded the massive beast with Toph and Sokka quickly clambering aboard afterwards. Katara quickly whipped the reigns getting Appa to rise up quickly.
Everything had gone to plan.
That was until there was a loud scream of pain. Katara turned to look to see what had been struck, only for her heart to break. Her brother had been struck. he was writhing in pain, and boils and flash burns wracked the left side of his torso.
She quickly dropped the reigns and rushed over drawing the water from her cantina and covering his burns as Aang took the reigns.
"We need to get to Ba sing se."
Fin
I hope you all liked that. There's so much more intrigue on the way not to mention Narutos Reyne of fire is going to change the avatar world forever.
May Neptune guide your storms and goodnight.