Book 1 Elementia Chapter 4: Day of the Black Sun pt 1 "The Duel of the Fates"
"Guess this is it…" Aang said with a slight tremble in his voice as he, Katara, Toph, and Master Chief stood on the deck of the submarine closest to Appa in their small fleet.
"Take this," Master Chief said, walking forward and placing a small piece of plastic and metal in Aang's hand. "It goes in your ear. With this, you will be in contact with Cortana at all times, and she can contact us if you need help."
"Thank you," Aang said as he placed the small object in his ear. "Um… hello?"
"Testing, one, two, can you hear me, Aang?" Cortana's voice sounded loudly in his ear.
"Um…hi…" Aang blinked as he heard her chuckle.
"If you're going to be some big hero, you're going to have to be a bit better with words for when you have to give a speech." Cortana said with a laugh in her voice. "You can't be all stiff 'get out of my way' like some people." Her voice then grew serious. "You don't have to be afraid, Aang; you won't lose. I won't let you."
Aang smiled at that before turning back to the Chief. "So, see you at the capitol?"
Master Chief nodded before turning and walking back to the hatch.
"Kick some butt, Twinkle-Toes," Toph slapped his shoulder before joining Master Chief at the hatch, leaving Aang alone with Katara.
The two stood in awkwardness for several moments before Aang finally broke the silence. "Everything's going to change after today…" Aang said, looking up at the slightly taller girl. Katara smiled slightly and nodded as she brushed away stray strands of hair.
"Not… everything, but it will be different…" Katara said, gnawing on her lower lip. "You've changed already, Aang… you're not the goofy kid Sokka and I found in the iceberg so long ago…"
"Says the girl who only wanted to learn waterbending…" Aang flashed a grin. "She's come along way, too, don't you think, Master Katara?"
"Aang, I just want you to know how proud I am of you," Katara said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You've come so far… and you're ready. I know you are."
"But… Katara, what if I don't make it back…" Aang said, doubt clouding his blue-grey eyes.
"Aang, don't talk like that! Of course you'll make it-" her mind was obliterated, reassuring words forever forgotten, when he firmly pressed his lips to hers.
After a few moments, Aang broke the kiss and flushed slightly when he had to struggle to break Katara's grip. He gave her one last smile before turning with his glider to take to the air. Katara watched him disappear into the clouds before Master Chief's voice broke her thoughts. "Get ready to move out," He grunted as he climbed down into the sub. She nodded and hopped on Appa to form an air bubble around him as they all dove below the surface.
--
Laughter erupted in the watch tower at the top of the giant statue of Fire Lord Sozin just before the Harbor of the Fire Nation capitol city. The soldiers and workers watched with amusement as the submarines surfaced along with the Avatar's Bison.
"Raise the Fire Gates, this should be entertaining," the bridge commander said as he looked out at the subs approaching.
They watched as the subs came to a stop, Katara climb from Appa to the lead sub. On her way inside the sub, she passed Master Chief as he climbed up onto the deck, carrying a large case.
He kneeled, placed the case on the deck, and proceeded to open it. The Fire Nation guards watched with interest as Master Chief lifted the large weapon, placed it on his shoulder, and turned it toward the massive, tower-like statue. "Firebenders..." Master Chief whispered to himself as he flipped off the safety on his rocket launcher. "Bend this," He said as he pulled the trigger.
The rocket whistled loudly as it shot through the air toward the statue's head. The Chief didn't budge as Fire Lord Sozin's head exploded violently. He waited as the launcher automatically loaded the second rocket in the four-slot canister. He lowered the weapon slightly and fired again, this time striking the statue in the chest, destroying the upper portion of the statue and causing the upper part of the flaming rope gates to sag. The third rocket struck the base of the statue, causing it to tremble before being finished off by the final rocket, toppling the statue and its gates.
"Assault force A, prepare to move out!" Cortana called over the com as the Subs pushed forward into the now completely unprotected bay. Master Chief placed the empty rocket launcher back in the case and made his way to reenter the sub as it approached the pier.
--
"Zuzu," Azula said as she stood with Mai and Ty Lee behind a large attack force between the approaching subs and the city. "Take some men and go back to the Palace stairs. I have a feeling this is a just distraction."
"But…" Zuko started to argue.
"Wouldn't it make father proud if you cut off a surprise invasion?" She asked with a smirk.
Zuko reluctantly nodded and signaled for a battalion to follow him back into the city. "Get ready for the slaughter, girls," Azula smiled as the submarines rammed into the pier.
A monstrous growling roar with a echoing girl's scream tore from the lead submarine before the tip exploded, and a large metal wagon roared into the air landing just before the Fire Nation troops. The UNSC Warthog's engine purred as Katara sat clinging to the steering wheel, Toph beside her in the passenger seat holding on tightly to the seat beneath her. And behind them, Master Chief stood, both hands gripping the long Gatling Gun mounted on the back of the assault ATV.
"Sweet, what's that?" Ty Lee asked with wide, curious eyes as Master Chief swung the barrel of the gun toward the confused soldiers. "That's so neat!" She said as she watched the barrel begin to spin. Her eyes widened further in shock as loud, cracking sounds filled the air followed by the spewing of blood and torn armor into the air. "THAT'S NOT NEAT! NOT NEAT!" Ty Lee yelled as she, Azula, Mai, and the rear most soldiers began ducking for cover.
"Attack Force A! Move in! Attack Force B and C, prepare to mobilize!" Cortana barked over the radio as Earth and Water Benders as well as Omashu and Ba Sing Se soldiers began storming out from the submarines and attacked the few remaining Fire Nation soldiers still standing from Master Chief's assault.
"Fall back!" Azula called out as her forces began to fall. "FALL BACK!!"
Azula Mai and Ty Lee ran back toward the city with their forces close behind and just behind them the rebels led by the Katara, Toph and Master Chief in the Warthog.
Toph yelped when the Warthog sped forward in pursuit of the Fire Nation soldiers as Fire Nation tanks approached. "Keep going to the regroup point. Remember all I taught you on how to drive this thing. I'll meet you there," Master Chief called down over Toph's yelps and screams.
"What about you?" Katara called up over the engine of the Warthog.
"Just going to do what I do," He said as he jumped from the moving vehicle onto an oncoming four wheeled fire-tank.
He quickly pulled his assault rifle from his back and opened fire on the hatch, before dropping a grenade into the vehicle. He leapt just as it exploded firing on the next two assault vehicles.
They turned quickly in attempt to dodge the weapons fire and crashed into one another, which in turn caused a major pile-up of the Fire Nation's tanks. He glanced back at the running Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe soldiers and nodded before running forward after the retreating Fire Nation soldiers.
--
"What's going on?" Zuko called out as Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee and no more than six soldiers made it to his group.
"Don't just stand there, fool!" Azula called to her brother. "We have to fall back to the palace!"
"No, I don't care what weapons they have," Zuko said with narrowed eyes. "We will hold this line."
"But …" Ty Lee whimpered.
"No, the civilians are taking refuge in the palace," Zuko stated looking at the approaching soldiers. Before glancing up to see two wings of metallic airships flying overhead before slowly landing to his left and right. "What the …" He said in disbelief before he flashed a smirk toward his sister. "It seems the Avatar is more resourceful than you gave him credit."
"Azula, you, Ty Lee, and Mai take a third of the men and go to those airships that landed to the left, I'll take a third and go after the right. The rest of you stay here and do not let anyone up those stairs, understood."
"You can't order me, Zu-" Azula was cut off by Zuko grabbing her uniform's collar.
"UNDERSTOOD?" He growled in her face. "This is a real battle, Azula, not one of your fights where you can manipulate to your favor."
"Whatever you say, little Iroh," Azula snapped before leading her group away.
"Let's move out," Zuko called out as he drew his sword and began running toward his respective landing zone.
Zuko blinked in surprise when he saw the Avatar's male companion from the Water Tribe leading a rag tag group of soldiers from both nations as well as others even he had encountered during his quest to hunt the Avatar.
"Zuko!" Sokka called out as he drew his sword.
"I see you decided to get a real weapon," the Fire Prince stated as he blocked the slash with both of his blades. "Two swords against one, doesn't seem fair…"
"You're right, Scar-face, it's not," Sokka snapped, "For you!"
--
"Where are we going, Azula!" Ty Lee complained as they took a left and ran down an alleyway, "Zuko told us to go to those flying things!"
"I'm the Princess of the Fire Nation," Azula growled, "I do not take orders from a pathetic traitor, nor will I accept humiliation! I'm going after the green one. He's mine."
"There he is," Mai pointed out as they ran out of the alley behind the armored giant.
"You! You overgrown, metal plated fool!" Azula snapped at the Master Chief. "I'm speaking to you!"
Master Chief didn't even acknowledge them as he lifted his rifle and shot down a pair of Fire Nation soldiers that ran toward him. "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!" Azula shouted, her anger getting the better of her.
"Get out of here, Kids," Master Chief glanced over his shoulder. "It's dangerous out here."
"I am Azula, Crown Princess of the Fire Nation!" Azula snapped at the soldier. "You will surrender to me at once!"
"Oh, I thought you'd be older." Master Chief said turning to the trio.
"Surrender or else, stranger," Azula growled at the titan.
"I don't want to fight a kid," Master Chief said looking down at the girls. "Go back where you came from."
"You insolent …" Azula's eyes widened at the giant, before she fired her lightning attack, striking the Spartan in the chest pushing him back into a wagon destroying it on impact. "Fool …"
"Thanks," Azula's eyes widened and the color faded from her face when the green mountain of a man stood from the wagon's wreckage. "I needed the shield recharge."
"What …" Azula gasped before throwing another bolt, this one hitting an invisible barrier around the man. She quickly changed her tactics and began tossing fireballs at the man, which flashed harmlessly against his shields as he patiently walked toward the Princess. The blue flames began to turn yellowish orange as an unfamiliar feeling began traveling up her spine.
"Mai! Ty Lee!" Azula gasped as she took several steps back. "Don't just stand there! Stop him!"
Ty Lee was the first to jump into action. She leapt into the air, and slammed a knife-edge chop to the Master Chief's neck with the sound of cracking, breaking bones. Unfortunately, it was her hand that felt the pain. Before she could respond the butt of Master Chief's rifle was slammed into her face with the Chief's full thousand pounds pushing it. Ty Lee fell to the ground limply without a sound.
"Ty Lee!" Mai called out before tossing several blades at the Chief which bounced uselessly against his newly recharged energy shields. Mai gave a small growl before she rushed the monster with a dagger in her hand. She went for his neck only to be shocked by the Chief grabbing her wrist. He shook his head no before he popped her elbow out of socket with such force the knife in her hand swung around to dig into her own shoulder. Mai's scream of pain would echo in Azula's mind for a long time to come.
"Stay-stay away from me!" Azula cried as she threw weaker and weaker fireballs at the towering Spartan. He kept approaching with his rifle lazily thrown over his shoulder. "Please, I didn't want to do any harm! I'm only following my father's orders!"
"You can understand that, can't you?" Azula said as she stopped fighting but continued to try to keep several feet between them. "I only want to do my duty to my country …"
"I find that hard to believe," Master Chief said looking down at the princess.
"Then …" She glanced away before throwing a fire ball directly in his face. "THAT'S TOO BAD FOR YOU!"
He responded by swinging his rifle around, slamming its barrel into her cheek. She flew off her feet before spinning in the air and slamming into the ground unconscious. Master Chief gazed down at the princess as she coughed in her 'sleep', and spit out some blood and a few teeth onto the stone street.
"Cortana, inform the others the Princess is down," Master Chief said as he picked up Azula, and threw her over his shoulder before moving to her unconscious friends.
--
"You can't win!" Zuko growled as he and Sokka battled along the street.
"Why are you even trying, your sister is a backstabbing freak," Sokka growled as his blade connected with Zuko's swords.
The two danced back and forth swinging and missing their blades in what one observing would see as an elegant dance more than a battle to the death.
"I have to regain my honor," Zuko growled as he slashed again, this time making it past Sokka's defense to scrape along his eyebrow on across down to his cheek, just narrowly missing his eye. Sokka gasped in pain as he leapt back away from his long time enemy. "My father will soon give it back to me."
"You really don't get it do you?" Sokka asked as he gripped his sword.
"Get what, peasant?" Zuko growled as Sokka bent his knees slightly to prepare to rush again.
Sokka roared as he dashed at Zuko again, Zuko lifted both blades to defect the blade only to watch in shock as Sokka's sword broke both his blades in half at impact. Sokka didn't waste the stun Zuko received by spinning around on his heel and slamming the hilt of his sword into the side of his skull, sending the prince to the ground. "Honor is not something someone can give." Zuko heard his words before darkness of unconsciousness.
Sokka looked up when he heard Toph's scream and watched as the Warthog slammed to a stop thanks to the thick stone wall before the stairs leading to the Fire Nation Palace. "LAAAAAAAAND!" Toph screamed as she dove from the warthog, before Katara gingerly climbed out behind her.
"Are you ok?" Katara asked noticing the cut on his face.
"I'm ok, how are we doing?" Sokka asked.
"Team A and B have all secured their locations." Cortana spoke into their ear pieces. "The remaining Fire Nation defenders are retreating up to the palace and Master Chief has taken Princess Azula alive."
"Alright, Team C has secured location and I've just taken Prince Zuko," Sokka informed over the ear piece. He then smiled at his sister. "It's happening, Katara, it's really happening … We're winning!"
"It's all up to Aang now …" Katara whispered as she looked up to the palace.
--
Ozai watched in disgust from the top of the stairs. Smoke billowed from his city and his few remaining soldiers ran up the stairs in terror. "What sort of demon is this?"
"No Demon, Fire Lord," Aang's voice spoke boldly as he landed directly behind the Fire Lord. "Just a soldier who agrees a man like should not rule."
"So you still live after all, Avatar," Ozai looked down his nose at the boy. "My son has failed me yet again."
"Actually Zuko was busy with Katara during the fight," Aang replied, making the Fire Lord's eyes widen. "Azula was the one who tried to kill me … and failed miserably. She's actually pretty overrated."
"Then perhaps I should finish the job for her," Ozai fired off a blast of fire which Aang dodged by jumping into the air.
"Just a few minutes, Aang," Cortana spoke into his ear. "The Eclipse is about to begin!"
The Fire Lord showed why he was given his title by literally catching majority of the garden around them on fire. "I'm not sure I have a few minutes, Cortana!" Aang gasped as he bent backwards to dodge a blast of fire.
"You don't think you can win do you?" Ozai sneered, "Once I crush you, I will destroy the Water Tribes to make sure you can't be reborn... Starting with your two companions." Aang's eyes flashed which caused the Fire Lord to smile. "Oh, do you have a soft spot for the girl? I will agree she is powerful from the reports I've read… Perhaps I will allow my son to be with her. Let her produce a suitable heir from my weak son."
"NO!" Aang barreled toward him, surprising him with a blast of earth bending from directly below. Ozai yelped in surprise as he was tossed into the air. Aang quickly used his Airbending to push himself up with him, opening his water pouch along the way. The Fire Lord gasped as dozens of ice daggers cut into his arm pushing him back to the ground.
"I won't let you near them," Aang growled as he landed.
"You won't have a choice." Ozai growled, making a motion to throw a bolt of lightning but was mildly surprised when it didn't work.
"It's the Eclipse, Ozai," Katara's voice spoke up as she, Master Chief, Sokka, Toph and the rest of the rebels approached.
"Your defenders are down," Sokka said as he dropped the unconscious Zuko to the ground before him, followed by Master Chief with Azula. "It's over."
"Surrender," Aang said standing back to his full height.
Ozai looked around the group and gave a small snort.
"Guys … something's happening …" Toph said her eyes widening.
"Hehe …" Ozai chuckled slightly.
"ALERT!" Cortana chimed loudly in Master Chief's ear. "I'm detecting Covenant movement!"
"Haha …"
"…Please repeat," Master Chief said after a moment of surprise.
The ground trembled and all present but Ozai began looking around. "Is that an earth quake?" Hakoda asked as he gripped his sword.
"Covenant Movement to the North, South, East, and West, I'm picking up hundreds of Brutes, Jackals, and Grunts, as well as FOUR Scarabs!" Cortana clarified as Ozai began to laugh loudly.
Master Chief looked up as the four giant walking tanks climbed up along the edges of the palace's crater-like walls. "It's a trap …"
"Behold!" Ozai beamed, "THE FIRE COVENANT!"
To be continued