AVATAR: THE LAST FIREBENDER
BOOK 1: WATER
CHAPTER 1-4: THE BOY IN THE ICEBERG, PART 4
Southern Water Tribe; morning
The next morning, Zuko showed Aang around the Southern Water Tribe, mostly so that he could become accustomed to the layout of the place, especially if there was a battle. The Southern Water Tribe, much like its sister in the north, was facing consistent attacks from Air Warrior raids, and some rebellions in the north.
The Water Tribe was currently the most powerful nation in the world. However, the Air Warriors were able to gain victories over the other three nations because of a simple few advantages they had which also served as weaknesses to the other three nations. The skies were entirely ruled by the Air Warriors, and utilizing air-powered balloons and airships, they were successfully able to execute effective airstrikes against the other three nations. The Fire Nation, which they labeled as their largest threat, was eradicated of firebenders, and was done so also to settle an old score.
Zuko told Aang of what he knew of the Fire Nation's current status. He said that it was still inhabited, but firebenders were believed to be wiped out. It did not mean they could not make a return, but they would not be able to make such a return as long as the Air Warriors were in power.
Shortly after Zuko finished showing Aang around the city, they returned to the Chief's Palace, where Iroh received word that there were Air Warriors on the move.
"They are not exactly coming this way," the scout informed them, "but they are on the move, and are in our general area, so it might be a plan for an attack."
"We will alert the surrounding villages immediately." Iroh declared, and then he stood up and turned to Zuko. Iroh was far from being a chief who simply sat around and gave orders. He was going to be one of the first that was in on any warfaring action, and his actions boosted morale of fellow Water Tribespeople.
"Zuko," he ordered, "alert the surrounding villages to the east of here. It is not a state of emergency yet, but we would like them to be on their guard and at their ready. They need to prepare their anti-aerial weaponry to counter any attack. Take Aang with you when you go."
"Yes sir," Zuko saluted, and he stood there, waiting for Aang. Iroh turned to face the young airbender, and gave him a few words of wisdom as well.
"They are probably looking for you," Iroh warned him, "do not feel that it is your fault, however. The Air Warriors have been harassing the Water Tribes for a much greater time than you have been here."
"Either way," Aang remarked, "my being here will draw them here. Therefore, my duty is to fight in defense of those who I am with."
"I understand that," Iroh nodded, "so stay careful and don't let your guard down."
With a nod towards him and Zuko, Zuko took off with Aang following him. They were able to successfully alert several villages to the east of the capital city (other scouts had taken those west, south, and southeast of the capital; north was the sea), but on their way back, they came across a sight that not even Zuko recognized.
It was an old Fire Nation ship, and more importantly, they had just seen someone go inside of it. Aang was curious to find out who would hide in such a place, and furthermore, what it was doing here of all places—especially if the Fire Nation was in shambles. He asked Zuko about it, and Zuko paused. He could not her any war horns or calls to duty, so he figured that so far, this was only a preparation instead of an actual battle. With this in mind, he agreed to peer inside the ship.
Once inside, Aang called out a few times, but no one answered. They could hear clanking around, but there was otherwise no response. Suddenly, there was a loud explosion, and both Zuko and Aang could hear the streaking noise of a flare blasting skyward. Because they were inside the ship, they did not notice the rogue airbender the flew out and away. Her movement however, was noticed by the Southern Water Tribe, who now called its citizens to arms.
"Someone set this up," Zuko warned, "hurry; we need to get back to the tribe."
Aang agreed, and whipped out his glider. "Hold on tight," he warned, and Zuko put his arms around Aang from behind. Zuko was significantly heavier than the lithe Aang, but comfort, or even conventionality about appearance, was rated second to their safe return.
Aided by airbending, Aang dashed across the icy surface of the South Pole region, and took to the skies at a low pace. Zuko's blue clothing stood out against the otherwise orange mass that was approaching them at a low altitude, and so there was little alarm once they saw that it was just Zuko and the Avatar returning and subsequently rallying to arms.
Catapults were armed with razor-sharp icicle spikes. Warriors who were not waterbenders were armed with bows, arrows, throwing spears, and boomerangs. Boomerangs in particular were an effective weapon for KOing Air Warriors or sabotaging their war balloons and airships. Aang was armed with his glider, while Zuko and Iroh mostly relied on their waterbending skills to do the job for them. Either way, they were set for a huge battle.
waters north of the Southern Capital; same time
The Air Warrior was swift in returning to her original location, and she gave her report.
"We've probably found the Avatar." she smirked, "are we going to launch the attack, commander?"
"Completely and immediately," her commander replied, "we weathered the first storm well enough; this one against the Southern Water Tribe should be just as easy."
At once several Air Warrior war balloons, zeppelins, and even a few battleships, mobilized. A lot of their naval machinery was taken as a cross between Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom, and Fire Nation Naval equipment, but their Air Force was by all means a power to consider. The Southern Water Tribe had resisted several of these attacks, but their strength was dwindling as the forces of the Air Warriors became more sophisticated. There was only so much an army could do to eliminate aerial opponents.
However, now that they knew where their target was, the Air Warriors would waste little time in getting there and launching another all-out attack.