Hello! So, here it is! At last! The Scarlet Solstice, part one! I hope you enjoy, and please read and review!
Ara awoke before dawn. It sounded like everyone had beaten her to waking. Today was finally here. The Scarlet Solstice, the Day of No Night.
She breathed in deeply, peeking out of her tent and inhaling the warm air. She put on a light robe over her undergarments, and looked out, where around her, people were rushing to and fro, setting up more war medical tents. They were gathering weapons and putting on armor. Water Tribe was blue and white, Earth Kingdom was green and brown, and the Fire Nation under Iroh was in maroon and red, with orange sashes tied around their waists, to distinguish them from Ozai's army.
Ara grabbed a parcel and a large heavy bag, threw them over her shoulder, and grabbed Warrior. His armor was still on, and so all she had to do was get on and fly to the main tent. She flew over the many soldiers preparing, running everywhere.
At last, she parked Warrior next to Appa, already waiting outside. She grabbed her bags and walked inside, where the main generals, her father, mother, and the rest of her family were there, all getting ready in their own earthbended areas. Toph felt Ara, and she walked up to her. "You ready?"
Ara gulped nervously. "No, but I need to be. Can you make me a dressing room?"
"Sure. And don't worry. We're all nervous," she said as she earthbended tall walls. "Just yell to any earthbender when you're done."
Ara stepped inside and Toph bent the last wall behind her. Ara bent and froze a mirror onto one of the walls, and began to unpack her belongings. She took out her new clothing and her own-made armor, and began to dress herself.
Nearly twenty minutes passed as Ara tried on her new clothes and armor and did her hair in her original way. She put up her hair loops as the finishing touch, tied on her headband, stood, and looked at herself in the mirror. Both her mother and father stared back at her in her reflection's appearance. Ara smiled, proud. She then turned to knock on the wall. "Any earthbenders, could you please let me out?"
The wall to her right immediately went back into the ground and Toph stood. "I just decided to wait for you," she said. "I don't take very long. How do you look?"
Ara nearly almost forgot that her aunt was blind. "I think pretty good, for war. I also think that I'm ready."
"I can feel it," Toph replied, putting her arm around Ara's shoulders. "You are ready."
Ara then stood as Toph put on her clothing and armor, and she waited for her aunt to get ready. But when she came out, Ara nearly fell over.
"Toph! You look—amazing!"
Indeed she did. The young woman wore her original clothes (redone for proper fitting after she entered her growth spurt at 16), and her hair was again tied back except for her bangs, and the armor that now covered her chest, back, and limbs was beautifully made. It was a shining green-turquoise color with the Earth Kingdom insignia on the front and on her arm bands. And she stood tall, proud, and true.
Ara smiled and took her hand. They both ran to Aang's, Katara's, Sokka's, Zuko's, Mai's, and Ty Lee's part of the giant tent, where they all were putting on own handmade armor. Toph stepped proudly into the center of everyone, and Sokka put his arms around her, giving her a quick kiss.
Ara stayed behind, but just to gaze at the wondrous armor her family each wore. They all made their own, a custom fit for each; each bearing their insignia of their nation on the front.
Katara's was an icy-blue color, stretching and curving around her like the flow of a river. Her hair was in loops and she did the rest in a braid. Sokka's was of a dark blue, white, and grey, that Ara thought it marked him as a true Water Tribe Warrior. Zuko's was a dark maroon and black that shone, and it signaled him as a powerful bender. His was so elegant; the black of the armor stood out like a starless sky, dark, smooth ebony, and smooth as silk. His hair was in the normal Fire Nation style, and he had a bright sash around his waist, marking him as the good side of the Fire Nation.
Mai wore all black, but it was a strong, tough material that acted as her own armor. Her suit was designed to hold nearly and uncountable amount of daggers and knives. Ty Lee wore a silky grayish pink material that was beautiful to see and touch; it had a silky feel yet was durable cotton that was made by her to move around easily in.
Last of all was Ara's father. The Avatar had his regular Air Nomad robes under his armor, but the armor was a mix or dark orange and deep yet bright amber-yellow. Her father looked so regal, like an amazing, powerful, strong, wise, bender and a leader. And he was. He looked ready.
Ara stepped into their view, and the first to notice her was Zuko. He turned and nearly fell over while he gazed wondrously at the girl he thought he knew. "Ara?" he asked. The others turned.
The young water-airbender watched as her mother teared up and smiled, and they all gasped, yet smiled. She then looked at her father, whose eyes were misty, and he breathed in. "Ara, my daughter," he whispered as he opened his arms wide. She ran and leapt into his embrace, hugging him for dear life.
He kissed her head. "I'm so proud of you," he whispered. "And you look so beautiful, so—ready."
She knew she was ready. And she loved her pick of her own design of clothing. She, while in the Fire Nation, had seen some material that she loved. So while Zuko had stayed to talk with Uncle that one night, she went back to buy it. It was the same two colors as her father's robes: orange and yellow. She had a red sash, brown pants, and black boots. She looked like a true airbender, but the only way that showed her as a waterbender as well was her hair, combed back, two hair loops, and the rest hung down underneath the bun.
"The only flaw is this," Aang said, removing the headband. "It's time for the world to know the Avatar has a daughter. You will join us when we walk through the army, and you will be known to all, that the Avatar is not the last airbender. You are Ara, a waterbender and airbender, a wise and loving young woman, a fighter, who will fight with her father to save the world again."
He put a hand on her shoulder. "You are ready. We're all ready," he said, looking up at everyone else. "Let's go meet everyone."
Just then, the bugle sounded. "That's the signal for everyone to meet," Sokka said. "Let's go."
The group began to walk, but Aang stayed. He grabbed Ara.
"Hey, before you go, I have something for you."
"What?"
"A gift, from a father to his daughter."
Aang reached inside his robe and pulled out a small bag. He opened it, spilled the contents, and Ara gasped.
Aang held in his hand a beautiful necklace. The ribbon was a bright blue, but the pendant was what caught her attention. It was a beautiful white stone, with her mother's design, but in front of the horizontal wave pattern, an arrow stood out, pointing down. She smiled as tears filled her eyes. "Dad…"
"I know usually these necklaces mean betrothal," Aang started, "but Katara was given hers before her mother, and I wanted to give you this from me. I love you Ara. I met you just a few weeks ago for the first time in my life, and my life has changed so much, for the better, just because of you. I love you, and I'm so proud of you."
He reached up and placed the necklace on her neck. He looked at his daughter, and she smiled. "Thank you so much, dad. It's beautiful. I love you," she cried, throwing her arms around him.
He put his hand on her cheek. "Whatever happens to us, I love you so much, more than you know. Let's catch up with the others."
They ran to the rest of the group, who stood before the tent opening. They all waited while the generals organized their troops below. But Aang took this time to turn to the group. "Guys, I told some of you last night," Aang started, "but I'm really proud and glad that all of you have stuck it out with me this far. I love you all, and whatever happens, to any of us today, you will never be forgotten in the way you all loved, saved, and helped me. And if I perish, do not forget me."
The group shared their part of "no you won'ts" and "don't talk like that buddy's," but they all gathered for a group hug, their last one for a while, they all thought, and tears were spilled. But they got in order: Aang and Katara in front, Sokka and Toph behind them, Ty Lee, then Mai and Zuko, and then Ara last.
Zuko turned around and gave Ara one last hug. "I'm so proud of you," he said, kissing her forehead. Ara smiled. "Thanks, Zuko. I'm proud of you too. You've come so far. I love you." She turned and looked in his eyes. "Thanks for everything."
Zuko smiled, and he now noticed the beautiful white pendant that hung from a blue ribbon around her throat. He smiled, thinking back to how Aang had talked about making his daughter a necklace.
A booming voice of one of the generals was heard, and the approximate army of 500,000 (yes, many others besides soldiers and warriors came; women and children came too; all who were finally fed up with the war came if they could) quieted down.
"First of all," the general started, "I'd like to thank every single person who came here today, ready to finish this war. We might not know your names, but you are remembered. This day will be remembered throughout history as the Day the Fire Nation not under Firelord Iroh's command will be done away with and this one hundred and twenty one year war will end, and the world can once more live in peace!"
The army roared and cheered.
"Now, as I and the other generals and leaders of the world's nations stand, we greet our greatest leader of this battle and war, Avatar Aang!"
The crowd roared again, and Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph walked out and up the stairs onto the huge platform overlooking the armies of the world. They all stood, side-by-side, all holding hands. Aang then stepped forward.
"Today," he boomed, "we end this war! I have seen too much of it, and today, Ozai and all beneath him will suffer for what this over-a-century-old was has done to us all. Firelord Iroh has joined us, with his army of the Fire Nation that is against Ozai. All Fire Nation on our side wear the orange sashes.
"But I thank you all for coming today to fight for the world's freedom; our own freedom. I will fight with you all and I want to finally end this war with you. My friends and family here next to me have all been great support, and as you look around you, that is your support. We will all be fighting with you. Katara, my wife," Katara stepped forward, "Sokka, my brother of the Water Tribe," Sokka stepped forward, "Toph, my sister of the Earth Kingdom," Toph stepped forward, "Zuko, my brother of the Fire Nation and next heir to the throne," Zuko stepped forward, "Mai and Ty Lee, my sisters of the Fire Nation," the two women stepped forward, "and I am here today to tell you all, that I am not the last airbender!"
The huge crowd began to murmur.
"For fifteen years she has been hidden to the world, for fifteen years, she has kept her identity a secret. She is a powerful bender and a wise strong leader, and she will not let you down! I give you Ara, an airbender, a waterbender, and my own daughter!"
Ara stepped out of the tent into the rising sun. As she stepped forward, the crowd cheered. She smiled.
"We will lead you all today," Aang continued, "the brightest, longest, and fullest day in 300 years, and when we wake up tomorrow, the world will be a whole new one. This world will live in peace and prosperity once more. This was will be over, once and for all!"
The crowd cheered. And as Ara looked at her father, full of pride for him, she smiled, glad she was to fight by his side. But she caught a glimmer of sadness and disbelief in his own words deep in his eyes.
"Let's go," he said, and they began to walk down the front steps towards Appa and Warrior. Aang walked first, holding hands with Katara with one hand and walking with his glider staff in the other, Momo on his shoulder. Toph and Sokka went behind them, holding hands, and Ty Lee came behind, then Mai and Zuko. Ara came last, smiling and nodding her head to everyone. The all stared and smiled as she walked past them, and they bowed as the procession passed them.
The group finally got to Appa and Warrior, and they all got on. The bison and eagle flew them to the front lines, where in the distance, they could see the enemy approaching. And even though Ozai only had control of less than half a nation, their army was giant, and hard to say it—grand.
Azula was getting ready on her side of the war, when two scouts came up and bowed. "What have you seen?" she hissed.
"We snuck into their meeting," one of them started, "and we found out something…"
"What?"
"The Avatar is no longer the last airbender."
Azula's eyes widened, but then she smiled evilly. "Tell me what you know."
The group on Appa and Warrior landed at the front, where Hakoda and Iroh were waiting, and the troops behind them marched towards them. Zuko got off first. "My father's army is huge," he whispered. "How many did the scouts number?"
"At least 100,000," Hakoda said. "We have the number advantage, but his whole army is almost all firebenders, and they have the advantage of the Scarlet Solstice. The ones who aren't firebenders are highly powerfully trained soldiers, and they have most of the Dai Li. The have the advantage today."
At this point, Sokka was deep in thought, and suddenly he shot up. "Dad, how long until we make contact?"
"About 20 minutes. Why?"
The others looked at him while he was thinking.
"Toph!" he suddenly cried out as he grabbed her by the shoulders so quickly that even she barely felt the move in time.
"What?!" she cried, "Snoozles, are you trying to KILL me?" she yelled.
"Toph, do you love me?"
"Sokka," she rolled her eyes.
"Do you love me?" he asked again, quickly shaking her.
"Yes, I do! You know I do!"
"Will you still marry me?"
"Sokka, we've been over this! Yes, I will!"
"Now?"
Complete silence. That question caught all of the others off guard too. Their mouths dropped at the question.
"Sokka, are you nuts?" Toph asked. "We're about to start the biggest battle of the war, and you want to get married now?"
"Toph, I love you. I can't wait any longer. 15 years is too long. And we picked this day a few weeks ago. I think it should stay this day. And if anything happens to us, I want us to be married until the end. I love you so much. Toph Beifong, will you marry me, here and now?"
She smiled. "Yes, I will. Let's do this!" He grabbed her in a tight embrace, and they turned to Hakoda. "Dad, marry us!"
"You two are insane," Hakoda said. "But you love each other, so I guess it's okay." The others laughed. "but promise me that you'll have a real wedding and party after this!"
"Yea, yea, whatever," Toph said. She turned to hold both of Sokka's hands in hers. He looked at her. Man, she was beautiful.
Aang and Katara held each other as they watched their best friends get married.
"Dearly beloved," Hakoda started, "We are gathered here today to witness the union of this man and woman in marriage."
Hakoda continued on with the jobs they would have together and how they would struggle, but their marriage would be a loving relationship. Then came the big part.
Hakoda continued. "Do you Sokka, take Toph to be your wife, to live together in the holy state of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better or for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?"
Sokka smiled. "I do."
"Do you, Toph—"
"Uh, dad, we're on a bit of a tight schedule. I love him and will do all of the things you said to him. I listened."
"Uh, okay, and you two didn't come fully prepared, so you have no rings or necklaces, but we'll hold that until the true wedding."
"This is my vow to you Toph. I love you and will always stand by your side. With this, I thee finally wed."
"This is my vow to you Sokka. I love you and will always stand by your side. With this, I thee finally wed."
"Okay, I guess that counts," Hakoda said. He went on about love, it's gift, how the two had now pronounced themselves man and wife, and finally got to the end.
"I now finally pronounce you man and wife—and may your days be good and long upon the earth. You may kiss—"
The first fireball was launched from Ozai's army and generals started yelling orders. As the troops scattered out of the way of the giant flame, Hakoda unsheathed his weapon and yelled back to them as he started to run, "Just kiss her now, Sokka!"
Toph grabbed him and their lips met, sealing their marriage. They both smiled through the kiss, and they didn't let go for a while.
"Okay, back to the war!" Hakoda yelled, and started ordering directions to his men.
Sokka and Toph parted, and he put his hand on her cheek. "I'm glad we did it," he said.
"Yea, me too. I love you, so much." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again. And they didn't notice that Aang and Katara were kissing too. As they parted, Aang whispered, "I love you."
Katara smiled. "I love you too."
Zuko and Mai had kissed as well. "Whatever happens, I love you so much," he said. "If I don't make it, will you take the throne?"
"Zuko, don't say that! I love you, and you will make it!"
"But if I don't?"
"But if anything happens, I will."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
The Gaang stood together, proud and strong, as they each bent out their element and took out their weapons. Ara got on Warrior. "Yah!" she cried, and Warrior screamed and took to the sky. The Water Tribe warriors on the polar eagles followed her. The rest got on Appa, and the army began to walk forward.
Suddenly, as the sun came fully over the horizon, the sky turned red and a great orange wave of light spread out over the whole land, Zuko groaned and fell over on Appa. He held his chest and nearly cried out. "Zuko!" Mai screamed as she crawled over to him. His hands dug deep into his chest, but she turned to grab his hands away and nearly got burned. "Ouch!" she cried. "He's burning! Literally!"
Aang stopped Appa in mid-air and they all watched but couldn't do anything to help as Zuko thrashed. "Zuko, what's wrong?" Katara yelled. She bent her healing water over him, but his skin was so hot that the water instantly sizzled and evaporated. "I can't help him!"
Suddenly behind them, Aang fell over. He groaned too as he clutched his chest. "Aang!" Katara screamed as she caught him, but dropped him to the saddle as his skin burned her. "Ouch! What's wrong with them?" she said as she began to pace frantically as her husband and other best friend still twitched.
"What do we do?"
Ty Lee instantly grabbed Katara and pulled her down into a sitting position. "Wait! They're both firebenders, right? I bet this has to do with the solstice. The sun is giving them the strength. It's their inner fire exploding. If I'm right, they'll be okay."
The group watched the two struggling. Their fevers made their skin start to shimmer with perspiration. But then they stopped as soon as they had started. They both relaxed, but it didn't even look like they were even alive.
Katara moved to touch Aang, but his eyes opened suddenly and she gasped. He sat up as if nothing had happened, but he looked more energized, focused, and ready.
"Aang?"
He turned suddenly towards her. "My inner fire—it's growing," he said. "I can feel my body growing more powerful and fueled. I feel—like I'm burning inside, in a good way."
He looked at Zuko, still unconscious. He touched him, and Zuko's eyes opened. "Zuko," Mai breathed. "Are you okay?"
He turned to her, and she gasped. His beautiful, handsome gold eyes now had red emanating from the centers.
"I'm fine," he said, putting a hand on her cheek, but she gasped and pulled away. "Ouch! Your skin still burns!"
"Sorry," he said as he felt his chest. "All of the firebenders' inner fire just exploded. Now our power will grow as the sun rises." He stood to a kneeling position, held out his hands in fists, and opened them furiously. Instantly, his hands caught fire, and his energy made it grow unbelievably strong. Aang did the same. He looked at Zuko. "We're ready."
Ara whispered calmly to Warrior. "Okay buddy. When we reach the enemy, drop me. I'll take care of myself. You need to fly and take out your own troops, 'kay?"
The eagle chirped. Ara raised her hand to the sky, where the other polar eagles and their riders came behind her. She swung her hand around, and the group, including Appa, flew in a circle, falling behind the running troops. They prepared the attack.
Ozai commanded his army with great intelligence. He ordered the Yu Yan archers to the front, his whole army beginning to run too, and after her father had made decisions on the troops, Azula called the shots.
"Ready?" she called aboard her komodo-lizard.
The Yu Yan took their aim as they ran, some aiming for Appa and the eagles, but most were aimed to the sky to come down on the oncoming troops.
"Fire!"
The sound of unleashed bows were heard only by Toph's sensitive hearing, and she passed the news to the eagle riders. "Arrows—coming in! Swerve and spin!"
The riders directed their eagles and Ara screamed with an airbender's breath, "Arrows coming! Take cover!"
The earthbenders built protection around themselves and the other troops around them, and some had shields, but already Ara could see that many fell. She guided Warrior around and down, and the riders in the air watched as their army finally found contact with Ozai's at last.
Ara guided Warrior down once again, where she jumped off of his back and rode an air scooter down. As she hit the ground, she knocked all of the surrounding warriors away, but they swiftly got up and prepared to attack. She uncorked her water, and bending it into a stream with one hand and airbending a small cyclone of air with the other, rose her elements to her outstretched arms, then assumed her fighting stance.
"Let's start this…"
Okay, hope you enjoyed! Sorry to leave you with a big cliffhanger, but I had to! It's a big chapter! Did you guys like Sokka and Toph's quick marriage? Yay!! Now they're married! But what will happen to them in the war? Did you guys like the inner fires exploding? And now Azula knows of Ara? What will she do? What will happen to them all?
And I just realized something a few days ago, that in this chapter, Aang gave Ara a necklace out of his love, Katara's mom gave Katara a necklace out of her love. Katara's mother is dead… do you get where I'm going? It's all part of the story, so don't hate me!
Anyway, also, guess what? You guys have caught up to me!! I haven't typed any more besides this! It's written, just not typed! YOU CAUGHT ME! Bad news: No new chapters until Saturday, sorry. But luckily I'll type enough to last me until the next weekend! So please keep reading! And you all probably get those emails when I submit a new chapter, so don't worry! I'm not going to forget it and leave you hanging like a lot of authors do and never finish the story! I love this as much as you guys, maybe even more! It's written, it's just not typed! So I gotta do that! Thanks so much for all of your guys' support, and thanks for loving my story so much! I'll give you guys new chapters over the weekend, but for now, I leave you with a cliffhanger to get you pumped up for Saturday, or even Friday, because I might type for you all. Thanks so much, and please tell me what you liked! READ AND REVIEW PLEASE! Thanks!
I love ya guys,
Avatarone3