Several hours after Aang had left, as Zuko was studying a map of Hekeng, a messenger burst into the room, bowing quickly to the Fire Lord.

"Fire Lord Zuko, a message from Hekeng."

"Who sent it?"

"Some messenger from the city, my lord. He landed his boat in Fire Nation waters just a few hours ago."

Zuko took the letter, nodding in thanks to the messenger, and unrolled the scroll hastily.

Fire Lord Zuko,

My name is Okuma, and I've lived in the city of Hekeng for twenty years. My family emigrated here when the colony was established, and we moved back after the Avatar and you established the mixed colony model. I have been a loyal servant of the Fire Nation for my entire life, and believe me when I say we had nothing to do with this. Yet our people are being bullied, beaten, and put away. My wife and children have all been imprisoned, and the few remaining citizens and I have been forced to go underground to hide from the mob that tears our homes and livelihoods down. We have been running forever, but we cannot do this forever. Even now, the Police are preparing to break their way into our hideout. Please, Fire Lord, help us. We cannot win this on our own, and rumor has it that the Earth Kingdom is arriving soon. We need you.

Zuko put down the scroll in time to see yet another messenger enters the room with a small telegraph. Deeply troubled, Zuko set the scroll aside and took the telegram, his eyes widening in shock. Worried, he strode to the door purposefully, summoning a messenger.

"Send word to General Sato. We move as soon as possible, and I will be joining him personally."

Walking out of the room, Zuko made his way to the armory, flanked by his guards, who he ordered to stay outside.

Striding confidently to the armor chests, he opted for a light armor suit, similar to the armor he had worn as a teenager hunting the Avatar. Then, looking at the swords on the opposite wall, he carefully selected his personal set of dual dao swords that he had used in the past. Sliding his weapons into sheathes on his back, he strode out of the armory, fixing the Fire Lord Crown in his topknot and went to see Mai.

"You're crazy. I won't let you," Mai said, glaring at him.

"I have to do this, Mai. I won't let my people be punished like this!"

"You can accomplish that perfectly well from the palace, Zuko! You can't just go running off like the old days! We aren't seventeen anymore!"

"Mai, I need to be there for my friends and for my people," he said, desperate.

Mai glared at him angrily, tears falling from her eyes, as she touched the golden ring that Zuko had proposed with.

"I need you here, Zuko! Can't you get that in your thick skull?! You mean the world to me, and if you died…" she said, trailing off.

Zuko wrapped her in a hug as she cried into his chest. Then, touching her face, he kissed her on the mouth passionately. Then, after an eternity, he pulled away.

"Mai, I promise you that I'll return. I love you, and I would never put you through the pain of my dying. But I need you to stay and rule over the Nation while I'm away."

Crying, she turned away.

"Just leave, Zuko, if that's what you really want."

He began to say something, but quickly stopped himself. He knew when his wife wanted to be alone, and he knew that anything he would say would only hurt her more. Zuko reluctantly turned away. He would miss her, too, but he couldn't tell her that. She was the one thing that kept him from hurling himself out the Palace windows half the time, and she was the one thing he cared about most in the world. He didn't want to leave like this, but he knew that he was needed at the docks. He resolved to repair things with Mai when he returned, and he walked towards the door, pausing at the threshold, glancing at his beautiful wife sadly.

"I love you, Mai."

There was a pause as Mai was silent, staring out the window quietly.

"I love you, too, Zuko."

They were on their last footing. The last remaining citizens had barred themselves in a small house in the corner of the Merchant District, which had been emptied by the crowds. The women and children remained in the basement, barricading the sewer entrance that had lead them there and fearing for their lives, while the fighters, men and women alike, stayed above, armed with scavenged weapons and, for a few, firebending.

The mob had, after running for a week, tracked them down and cornered them. The mob numbered in the thousands, and police officers surrounded the building in support of the horde. They did nothing, however, and only hurled insults and oaths towards the barricaded Fire Nationals.

Ohara gripped his spear tightly as he ducked behind a barricade, avoiding the thrown rocks that they were pelting at them. He glanced at his comrade, a man named Ishido who had once been a Firebender in the Army, and had served as a leader of sorts for the last remaining civilians. There were other holdouts, they knew, but this was the largest, numbering around 900 citizens.

Okuma had been the leader, but he had fallen in battle long ago. He looked at the grizzled veteran in fear, and was surprised to see that the man was calmed, barely reacting to the situation at hand.

"Do you think they'll come?" he asked, the bare remnants of hope clinging to his words desperately.

The man glanced at him, smiling grimly.

"It's in the hands of the spirits now whether we live or die. We have only to decide the manner in which we go out to cement our legacy."

"They," he said, gesturing towards the mob outside, "want to kill us like we're vermin, but we can't give them the satisfaction. We'll go out like men, fighting for our honor and our people, and perhaps, if the Fire Nation ever does arrive, they'll know we died for what was right."

The boy nodded uncertainly. The prospect of death was not something he welcomed. He thought of his mother and his girlfriend, who were both in the basement, and he found a new sense of determination. No, he thought to himself. I'll fight.

The crowd began moving forward, and the benders began hurling rocks at the building, and cries resounded as the building shook.

"Hold your positions! Prepare for battle!" bellowed Ishido, flames flickering in his hand.

As the mob got closer, brandishing machetes, spears, and makeshift swords, Ishido signaled the remaining warriors, who popped up, sticking their spears out the gaps in the barricade as Isihido and the other Firebenders hurled balls of flame at the encroaching crowd.

Then, suddenly, a wave of fire swept in front of the crowd, who stopped in fear, avoiding the flickering flames that surrounded the building. A single man walked through the ring without fear, and Ohara's eyes widened with recognition. The man walked fearlessly in front of the crowd and drew his dual swords, pointing them at the crowd, increasing the flames as he glared at the mob.

"These people are under my protection. Disperse now, or I'll be forced to fight."

The crowd hesitated for a moment, then a group of men roared in anger and charged the man.

Zuko saw the men coming immediately and reacted. The first man stabbed a spear at him aggressively, which Zuko dodged nimbly and swiftly cut the point off of with his sword. A man bull-rushed him from behind and Zuko dropped into a crouch, swinging his feet around, burning several men, who were flung backwards, lost in the crowd. Several more rioters charged him, the first swinging a butcher's knife at him, which he deftly turned with his swords, and responded with a fire blast that flung the man like a rag doll. A roar came from his left and a large police officer, one he had seen the previous night, bended a rock at him, which Zuko barely broke with a fire slice. The man hurled several more rocks, which Zuko barely managed to dodge and finally encased his fists in rock and charged at Zuko.

Growling, Zuko dropped his swords and flames flickered to life on both his fists. Grunting, Zuko released a stream of fire from his hands, which he swung towards the man, hitting him squarely in the chest, flinging him backwards.

As another wave of rioters charged towards him, however, a barrage of fire blasts came from behind him as General Sato and his men arrived in the nick of time, pushing the rioters back. Seeing the army of troops disembarking from the distant fleet of ships, the rioters retreated towards the Residential area.

As the smoke cleared, Zuko picked up his swords, panting in tiredness as he sheathed his dao, massaging his shoulder where the earthbender had nicked him. He turned, nodding towards Sato, who was directing his men into defensive positions. As he walked towards the building, he could see people moving the barricades aside and steaming out. A middle-aged, grizzled man ran up to the Fire Lord and bowed deeply.

"Thank you so much, Fire Lord. We are in your debt."

Zuko smiled, holding the man's shoulder, noting his posture, and recognizing a veteran of the War when he saw one.

"No debt is needed. I shall never leave a Fire Nation citizen, nor a fellow soldier, to certain doom. Now, follow the soldiers to the ships, and we'll transport you back to the Fire Nation."

"But my lord—" the man began.

"I know this is your home and this is where you belong, but that is not what is important right now. We must get you back to the Fire Nation, and perhaps we can move you back some day."

"My lord, that wasn't what I was going to say. There are many of our friends who have been locked up by the Earth Kingdom. They're being held in the Town Hall dungeon. You must get them out."

"Don't worry. I'm not leaving until every Fire National is back with us."

Satisfied, Ishido bowed deeply, walking towards the stream of citizens. Many of them bowed to Zuko, thanked him profusely, and promised that they would repay him, which he refused. No payment was necessary. He had done this for his people.

After the citizens had embarked on the ship, Zuko found General Sato.

"What's your status, Sato?"

"Sir. We've secured the entirety of the Merchant and Port districts. The rioters have pulled back to the Residential areas, but have only made camp and have made no moves. I've entrenched infantry forces mixed with firebenders all along the street, and we have Tundra Tanks dispersed throughout the main defense line and at the shore areas to defend against the Eastern Bank. Our cruisers have created a blockade formation around Hekeng, and we have several more ensuring no moves are made to use the river crossings."

Zuko nodded. "What type of defense will we be able to put up if Earth Kingdom soldiers arrive."

Sato shook his head uncertainly, pointing to the map.

"Our forces are spread thin. We only have one reserve group and no spare tanks or vehicles. The Tenth doesn't have many Firebending Regiments, but the 12th, 13th, and 224th have been split amongst the defending regiments. Our reserve consists of one Tundra Tank regiment, the 122nd, one Komodo Rhino regiment, the 101st, and one infantry regiment, the 210th. We have all twelve of our infantry regiments manning the line, and Colonel Kuemon's Trebuchet regiment is standing by for serious engagements. If an entire legion arrives, however, I doubt we'll hold out for long. They'll likely make short work of our defenses."

Zuko nodded in silence again, staring at the map in deep thought. Then, he looked at Sato, thanking him, and walked towards the front lines, his Imperial Firebenders following. Regarding the man briefly, Sato felt reassured that Zuko was there as their leader and returned to the map, discussing contingency plans with his Colonels.

One Hour Earlier

Avatar Aang dropped in front of the Town Hall in shock. He had neared the city cautiously, and pillars of smoke had been climbing high from all over the city. Swooping over the city, he had stared at the devastation of the city's industrial center, as well as the ruined Fire Nation Quarter and the massive mob combing the city streets. He had briefly entertained the idea of landing in the crowd and ordering them away, but his instincts told him that such a move would only turn the citizens against him, which he hoped to avoid. Peaceful resolution was his aim, no matter what had happened during the War.

As he landed, several Police Officers readied their bending at him, staring in surprise when they recognized him.

"Avatar Aang! What… what are you doing here?!" A guard said, looking fearful.

"I need to talk to the Governor immediately."

"I'm sorry, I cannot allow that. The Governor must… be kept in protection until the Fire Nation rebels have stopped."

Aang glared at the man, slamming his staff on the ground threateningly.

"I don't see any rebels; I only see a city gone to shambles. Don't test my patience, officer. Take me to him."

The man backed away reluctantly, and then ran into the town hall quickly, returning after a few minutes.

"Follow me, Avatar."

Outside the city, several miles away, lay the encampment for the Earth Kingdom's Third Legion. Amongst the tan-green tents lounged the soldiers of the Third, mostly earthbenders and some non-benders, all of which were rearing to fight. The Hekeng Bombing had enraged many Earth Kingdom soldiers, and the Army had to fight away throngs of volunteers who desired to travel to Hekeng and fight. Many of the Earth Kingdom citizens who wanted to fight even went as far as wanting to invade the Fire Nation, but cooler heads prevailed, for the most part.

Commander Wei was sitting in front of a map of the city, making plans, when a soldier arrived, saluting stiffly.

"Commander Wei, your scouts have returned."

"Show them in," Wei grunted, looking towards the tent's entrance.

Several grizzled earthbenders entered the tent and saluted. The leader, Captain Fong, stepped forward to give his report.

"Commander Wei, the Fire Nation has landed in Hekeng and evacuated their civilians."

"Could you tell their numbers, group, anything?"

"Yes, sir" the man said, pulling out a scroll. A rough drawing showed a Fire Nation banner that had the number ten and a stylized dragon on the banner, which Wei recognized immediately.

"The Tenth Division, correct?" Wei asked, to which the Captain nodded solemnly.

During the war, the Tenth was infamous as being an elite and top-notch Fire Nation force that included benders, nonbenders, and vehicles alike. During the war, the Tenth Division had been the ones that assaulted the Northern Water Tribe, and many of its soldiers were likely hardened veterans of the Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom campaigns.

"We also saw Fire Lord Zuko personally, sir. He fought off a crowd and allowed the Fire Nation citizens to flee, and was then backed up by his army."

Wei glanced sharply up in surprise, standing. He stared at the map in concern, thinking. The Fire Lord was personally in Hekeng, which was good and bad at the same time. Good in that it gave the Earth Kingdom an opportunity to be rid of the reformist leader, but bad in that his superior bending skills and his very presence would make the Fire Nation that much harder to defeat.

"Where are they now, Captain?"

The Captain stepped towards the map, indicating the area nearest to the Port District.

"They've entrenched themselves around the Merchant and Port districts. Infantry have dug themselves in deeply, and Tundra Tanks as well as Komodo Rhino cavalry was spotted. Corporal Park reported that he saw a battery of Trebuchets, but that's unconfirmed. The mob has fallen back to the residential areas, and the police force have entrenched themselves around the Eastern Side's ferry docks. Fire Nation cruisers have formed a blockade around the port, and are watching the ferries to make sure the Hekeng police don't cross."

Wei cursed to himself. The Earth Kingdom had no formal naval force. A significant push had been made to modernize the Earth Army, but no significant additions had been made as of yet.

"Is there any way to contact the Water Tribes and ask for a navy to defeat the Fire Nation?"

"Sir, my contacts in the Hekeng police reported to me that the Avatar arrived. If that's true, then that means that the Water Tribe, which is loyal to the Avatar, won't make any military moves until Avatar Aang gives permission. We're on our own."

Wei nodded, thinking. He juggled around strategies, tactics, and scenarios in his head for several minutes until he was satisfied.

"We'll be moving in ten minutes. Tell the men to pack up immediately. We'll march into Hekeng and occupy the Residential Area. Inform the men we will adhere to the Rules of Engagement. Unless they are fired upon, no hostile moves will be made against the Fire Nation. Captain, coordinate with your contacts in the Hekeng Police Force and contact the mayor. Dismissed."

Mayor Shun hurried outside and bowed deeply to the Avatar, looking flustered and worried.

"Avatar Aang… it is an honor."

"Mayor Shun, you must quell this riot and leave the Fire Nationals at peace. Nothing good will come of this."

Shun, who had looked worried, hardened his face, frowning.

"I simply cannot do that, Avatar. The Fire Nationals bombed our city, and I cannot do anything to disperse the mob. While what they are doing is deplorable, I simply cannot intervene."

Aang glared at Shun in contempt.

"You're the Governor. Of course you can end this. Your people will listen to you and you alone. It is my duty as Avatar to maintain this world's balance, and what is happening now will set in place a series of events that will spiral out of your control quickly."

The Mayor glared at Aang and was about to retort when the telltale sound of earth meeting fire resounded from far in the distance. Startled, Aang sprinted to the edge of the wall, and looked into the distance, where pillars of fire and chunks of rock flew between a tall building and a horde of civilians.

Determined, Aang readied his glider until he was pulled back forcefully by a wall of rock that pushed him backwards, landing him on his back. Angrily, Aang righted himself with Airbending and readied his staff, glaring at the ring of officers surrounding him. The Mayor glared at Aang, backing away slowly.

"I'm sorry, Avatar, but I simply cannot allow you to intervene."

"Stand down, or you'll regret it," Aang threatened.

The Officers glared at him, determined. Sighing in exasperation, Aang reviewed his options. Why was it, he thought to himself, people always underestimated him? He really hated fighting, but he had found that he had been doing a lot of it recently, considering the War had ended.

With a roar, all the officers hurled large chunks of stone at Aang. Reacting instinctively, Aang jumped into the air, narrowly dodging a slice of rock that flew past his nose by a mere centimeter or so. Landing on his feet, Aang bended a sphere of air which he shot at the first officer, propelling the man backwards—more chunks flew at him, but Aang stopped them in their tracks, sending them back to their owners, knocking a few more officers down. Another man made a rock club out of the ground and swung it at Aang, which he barely dodged once again, retaliating with a burst of fire that punched the man back several feet.

All guards were down, and the Governor glared at Aang in hatred.

"It's time to rid the world of your presence, Avatar," the Governor growled, sending colossal chunks of earth at the man.

Aang dodged each one nimbly, relying on his Air bending skills, and he sent several smaller chunks of rock back at the Governor Shun, who tightened his pose, breaking the chunks against his forearms. Roaring, Shun extended pillars of rock at the Avatar, which Aang ducked and weaved under; receiving several nicks and bruises in the process. Then, he was knocked backwards by a huge rock from a nearby pile of rubble that the Governor pushed down on Aang, slowly crushing the Avatar.

Grunting with the effort, Aang resisted briefly, but the Governor was too strong, and his vision blurred as the air was crushed out of him. The Governor snarled smugly.

"All hail the Dai Lee!" He shouted, to Aang's shock.

Desperately, Aang tried bending the rock away, but the Governor's superior strength, which was being backed up by reinforcing officers, was simply too much for even Aang to resist.

Then, the boulder halted its progress and splintered into fragments as Aang's eyes and tattoos glowed bright blue. Rising into the sky on a pillar of air, he tore off the roof of the Town Hall and hurled it at the Governor with a roar, bending fireballs and water blasts in succession.

The governor and his troops scurried away, and Aang sank back onto the ground, panting.

He hated doing that.

Then, from behind him, the distant sound of fighting stopped, and Aang turned, staring in shock. The harbor of the city was now full of Fire Nation cruisers, all of which were disembarking squadrons of soldiers, tanks, and cavalry. Grabbing his head, Aang fell to his knees.

"No…" he said, knowing that any hope of peace was long gone.

He flew down to where Zuko was and strode up to him angrily.

"Why did you come before I instructed, Zuko?! You've ruined everything!"

Zuko looked at Aang impassively, taking the shouts and curses from the enraged Avatar.

"I had this under control, Zuko. You've made things considerably worse with this move, can't you see that?! I mean, you've invaded the Earth Kingdom, Zuko! This is like your Father all over again!"

Immediately, he took back his words, regretting his outburst. Zuko's previously neutral face tightened and uncertainty, fear, and pain registered on his face as he staggered backwards, almost as if Aang had physically punched him.

"Zuko… I'm sorry. I didn't mean that, I was just trying to say that—"

Zuko held up a hand, rubbing the bridge of his nose in stress.

"Look, Aang, I understand what you were saying, but I assure you I had no choice. These people were about to get massacred, and they would have, if we hadn't arrived in time. Luckily, we were able to save all the Fire Nationals and they're on their way home now."

Aang was taken aback, slightly surprised.

"Oh," he said, rubbing his neck in embarrassment.

"But I'm not leaving yet, Aang, sorry."

Aang's anger rose again.

"What do you mean, you're not leaving?!"

"Aang, there are hundreds of Fire Nation citizens that have been imprisoned. I am not leaving until they are returned. No citizen of my country will ever be left behind."

Aang smacked his forehead in frustration, sinking to his knees in desperation. Everything was falling apart. He had had a plan, and that had gone bad quickly, and now the threat of another war was on his hands. He knew he couldn't take Zuko's side, or the Earth Kingdom's side, even though he personally felt that Zuko was right. He remembered back, nine years ago, when the Harmony Restoration Movement had been launched, and Aang had been forced to entertain the thought of killing Zuko. Since then, however, they had become even closer friends. The thought of killing him was inconceivable. There was a heavy silence for a long while as the shouts of soldiers calling out orders and the soft crackle of campfires remained the only sounds.

"You're thinking of the promise, aren't you?" Zuko asked softly, playing with his marriage ring.

Aang nodded silently, looking towards the setting sun and the soldiers entrenching themselves along the road.

"I won't hold you to it anymore, but if you truly feel I'm being my father…" he began.

Aang looked at Zuko angrily.

"This is different from then, Zuko. We're like brothers, you and I. Everything we've fought for, our friendship, everything. You presided over my wedding, and I presided over yours. I could never do that to you let alone Mai. I'd be hunted until the day I died."

Zuko chuckled, crossing his arms. The sun was dipping below the horizon, and the stars were coming out, lighting up the night sky with billions of tiny dots.

"Aang, I'd trust you with my life, and you're my best friend. I'd never do anything to hurt you, but I have to do this. I need to do this for my people and for my family's honor," he said, extending a hand to his friend.

Looking up silently, Aang took his hand, pulling himself to his feet and dusting himself off.

"I understand, Zuko. But I can't get involved directly. I can't show favorites."

Zuko nodded in silence, smiling at his friend, as they both embraced.

"We also have another problem," Aang said, as he began explaining his encounter with the Governor.

Zuko listened to the story, his eyes twitching in memory as he recognized the name.

"The Dai Lee still exist."

Hey guys,

Thank you so much for sticking with me. Unfortunately, I had planned on the Battle of Hekeng cycle only lasting four chapters, but it looks as if it may be a bit more. More will come after, and if anyone has any suggestions, comments, or ideas, either PM me or put it in a review. They help, seriously; I miss stuff a lot of times.

Anyways, thanks for sticking with me and keep reading and reviewing!

Cheers,

IGdude117

P.S. Got the Dark Horse Avatar comics on the way... time to nerd out all over again. ;)