Chapter Eight
After returning to the tank train and meeting back up with Mai and Ty Lee the hopped back on bored and Azula ordered the tank train to return back to her ship. soon after they arrive to the war ship word came from messenger hawk straight from Azula's father, fire lord Ozai.
"Looks like father wants us to meet with War Minister Qin." Said Azula how ordered her men to prepare the tank train for immediate departure. Not long after they were back on the tank train and wasting no time at all heading for meeting point specified in the letter. Now all four of them were seated inside the massive Fire Nation drill, that had several Fire Nation tanks rumble across the terrain. The Fire Nation drill slowly moving its way toward the Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se. the largest city in the Earth Kingdom. Several sections of the drill extend forward, releasing steam as spikes are driven into the ground. The drill's command module ascends where inside is Princess Azula, Naruto, Mai and Ty Lee, War Minister Qin and several operators of the drill.
"This drill is a feat of scientific ingenuity and raw destructive power. Once it tunnels through the wall, our troops will storm their city. The Earth Kingdom will finally fall, and you can claim Ba Sing Se in the name of your father. Nothing can stop us." Said War Minister Qin looking around the command room proudly.
"Hmmm, what about those muscle-y guys down there?" said Ty Lee who was looking through the drills telescope. As she peers through a periscope at several Earth Kingdom troops using earth bending to create large trenches, Fire Nation forces following them in hot pursuit.
"Please. The drill's metal shell is impervious to any earth bending attack." Said the War Minister striking the periscope roughly alarming Ty Lee.
"Oh, I'm sure it is, War Minister Qin, but just to be on the safe side ...Mai, Ty Lee, and Naruto take the earth benders out!" Said Azula looking over at her companions.
"Finally, something to do" Said Mai looking relieved as she stopped swinging a knife around her finger and got up off her chair. Once outside Naruto, Mai, and Ty Lee saw the earth benders wedge large earth spikes into the metal shell of the drill to halt it. However, the drill's segments separate, reducing the columns to crumbles. The Terra Team narrowly manages to conjure earth shields to defend themselves against an assault of flying daggers hurled by Mai. She Naruto, and Ty Lee slid down the shell of the drill. Ty Lee lands gracefully onto the ground. She effortlessly manages to defeat the earth benders through an acrobatic display, utilizing chi blocking. Naruto using his fire bending is land on the ground on go's on the attack seeing earth benders flying back with his fire balls. Once the earth benders were taken care of Naruto grabbed both girls around the waist and flew them back up the drill so that they could head back to the command center.
"Back so soon." Said Azula once they had returned to their seats
"That was to easy." Said Mai, taking a knife out again and going back to twirling it around her finger.
"Hey, look at that dust cloud. It's so ... poofy. Poof." Said Ty Lee who was looking back through the periscope and spotting a large billowing cloud in front of the drill.
"Don't worry, Princess. I'm sure it's nothing" said War Minister Qin however Azula had a doubtful look on her face. Several minutes passed without any more incident till finally the whole drill started to slow down a bit.
"Congratulations, crew. The drill has made contact with the wall of Ba Sing Se. Start the countdown to victory!" said War Minister Qin making an announcement through the overhead speaking tubes. And just as everything was looking like a success for the War Minister a call came in.
"War Minister, an engineer was ambushed! His schematics were stolen!" Qin is clearly surprised while Azula narrows her eyes in suspicion.
"War Minister, a brace on the starboard side has been cut clean through! It's sabotage, sir!" another engineer called in
"Let's go" said Azula rising to her feet. Leaving the command room Azula, Naruto, Ty Lee, and Mai started to move through the drill looking her the Avatar. It didn't take them long however to find them trying to saw through another brace. Azula runs forward launching a blast of fire at them
"Wow, Azula, you were right! It is the Avatar!" Said Ty Lee as they race after them. once
"Follow them! The Avatar's mine!" Said Azula once they reached an intersection and they saw the Avatar and his team split up. As Azula chases after the Avatar Mai, Ty Lee, and Naruto go after the other two. The two begin descending into the pipe when Naruto, Mai, and Ty Lee arrive. They manage to escape into the canal just as a flurry of daggers is sent their way floating through the slurry. Mai and Ty Lee run over and peer into the pipeline.
"Ugh, disgusting!" said Mai who looks down at the slime. However, Naruto already jumped down
"C'mon! You heard Azula. We have to follow them!" said Ty Lee.
"She can shoot all the lightning she wants at me. I am not going in that wall sludge juice" said Mai who shivers in disgust. Ty Lee shrugs and leaps through the pipeline into the slurry. Mai shudders with a final expression of disgust and closes the hatch. As Katara and Sokka slide through the slurry onto the ground with Ty Lee following them in hot pursuit. Katara uses water bending to stop the flow of slurry and plug up the back entrance of the drill, thus trapping Ty Lee and Naruto. Back on the top of the drill Azula appears before the Avatar and a battle ensues between the two. Azula shoots fire blasts at Aang, who manages to block them using air bending. She continues the fire attacks only to have each one of her strikes deterred by water whips. She eventually manages to vaporize the water, sending Aang back. The two narrowly dodge the several boulders that are hurtled toward them at that moment. Aang uses earth bending and air bending to send rocks at Azula, who manages to avoid them all. Azula sends another powerful fire bending assault that slams Aang into the Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se, leaving him unconscious.
At the front of the drill it is seen having completely dug its way through the Outer Wall. Azula as she walks over to him with fire in her right hand, preparing to deal a deadly final strike, but Aang awakens and sends her skidding back using an earth bending gauntlet. A flood of slurry is released as the drill bores deeper into the wall, coating the two. Azula slides toward a helpless Aang, attempting to halt herself by wind milling only to collide with him. The force of the collision sends both sliding off opposite sides of the drill. Azula is able to stop her descent by grinding her feet into the drill's side while Momo drags Aang up to the top with the help of Aang's air bending
"Thanks, Momo. I owe you one.. Now all I need ... Actually, that is what I need for once." Said Aang. He uses airbending to position the boulder over the X mark in the drill. Using earth bending, he cuts the rock several times, creating a wedge that fits inside the middle of the hole. He begins sprinting toward the wall, scales up its side by riding an air scooter and, once he arrives at his highest point, rockets at lightning speed toward the bottom. As he propels himself downward, Azula catches sight of him and fires at him. She misses by mere seconds and is sent back forcefully as Aang leaps and slams down on the wedge, creating a large ripple effect. The impact of the blow causes the sliced braces inside the drill to collapse and the pipes to burst, releasing a torrent of slurry. Slurry begins to seep from the drill.
Slurry gushes from the rear of the drill, and Ty Lee and Naruto slams into the wall of the rock pillar as she is forcefully pushed forward by the flood. The drill begins to release steam and its segments begin to collapse. On the other side of the wall, the drill is seen coming to a halt. Azula, skidding down the drill also covered in slurry. She lands by Ty Lee, causing the acrobat to be covered in slurry once again. A hatch opens, revealing Mai, who is completely clean.
"We Lost." She said in a boring tone of voice.
