Chapter 34
The ship has sailed, and with it all commanding officers of the whole operation to liberate the Southern Water Tribe from the Northern invasion, and to stop Unalaq from unleashing Vaatu upon the world.
After much discussion, Tenzin and Pema agreed that Pema should stay at the battleship. Korra told Tenzin how large Unalaq's largest ships were, but Zhu Li was much larger. It was also much slower than the average battleship, but it compensated it speed with very heavy metal armor. So, Tenzin and Pema decided that they should stay at the battleship, since it would likely be the safest place for the Air Bending Family. Kya and Bumi agreed to protect their family.
While Tenzin spent his time with Pema, Asami stood next to Korra. "You know, I am kind of excited for this upcoming battle, you know? I know it feels wrong but I just feel so bored since we have saved no one lately," said Korra
"I understand Korra. This will be the battle not just to help our friends, but also to save the world. I understand your excitement. But please, don't be reckless. I cannot lose you," said Asami as she looked away.
"Asami," Korra hugged her girlfriend, "I will be fine. Besides, even if Unalaq manages to fuse with Vaatu, what can he do? I am the Avatar, and I know how to bend. Don't worry Asami, I will be fine,"
"Please don't be reckless. You still only have two elements to help you," said Asami
"Yes, but I also have friends. I have you," said Korra as Asami smiled, and the two young women went inside to grab some food, before they retired for the night.
A few days passed. One morning, both Korra and Asami were still sleeping in the bed while they heard a knock on their door. "Who is it?" asked Asami
"It's me, Bolin, Opal spotted the Southern Water Tribe shores," said Bolin as he opened the door.
Korra and Asami immediately pulled their bed sheets over them, so that Bolin could only see their faces and their hands, with their bodies now buried under the sheets.
"Bolin!" screamed Korra as she glared at the Earth Bender.
"Sorry," said Bolin as he turned around, "But you two look really beautiful,"
"Bolin," said Asami slowly as her right arm escaped the bed sheets, grabbed the pillow, and threw it at Bolin.
"I will see you later," said Bolin as he shut the door, running away from the cabin.
Korra and Asami dropped the bed sheets and looked at each other. Korra noticed that Asami's face was red; Asami looked away. "Asami, don't worry," Korra hugged her girlfriend.
"I, that was embarrassing," said Asami
"I know," said Korra as the two began changing from their sleeping wear to regular clothing. While Korra changed her white shirt and blue pants into her traditional blue outfit, Asami changed from her purple pajamas into a red shirt, black and red jacket, and black pants. Asami then picked up her Equalist glove.
"Alright Unalaq, here we come," said Korra as the two finally finished changing and journeyed to the dining room, where they would meet with the rest of their allies before the battle.
When they arrived, Korra noticed that all their allies except the Team Avatar were present. "President Sato, we are approaching the blockade," said Iroh
"Thank you General Iroh. Let's do this as we agreed. Everyone, go to their stations. Let our first phase of Operation: Raava commence," said Asami as people began to spread around.
"I will lead the naval forces from the bridge of this battleship," said Iroh as Asami nodded and the group dispersed.
As the battleship and the whole navy began to approach the blockade, numerous frost arrows began to fly towards the fleet. While these frost arrows could not penetrate the metal armor of even the lightest ships of the Allies Navy, those arrows did present a danger to actual soldiers.
"Incoming," said Korra as she waved her hand, and the ice projectiles changed their direction and fell in the oceanic water.
But more frost arrows fell. While regular arrows required ammunition, and thus the archers were limited on how many supplies they brought, this naval battle took place in the ocean, where the Water Benders had a distinct advantage of having unlimited water turned into ice ammunition.
"Fire," said Iroh as the Fire Benders started sending their native element at the frost arrows, melting them in the process and turning solid objects into steam. And so the battle began, with the Northern troops sending frost arrows, while the Fire Benders of the Allies were melting the projectiles, turning them into steam.
"Take Cover," said Korra as she moved her hand, turning thirty upcoming frost arrows into an ice wall that protected Korra and Asami from the projectiles.
The battle continued.
Suddenly, a large ball of ice flew in the sky and hit one of the smaller ships, creating a large whole in its deck. The small ship began sinking, and the crew quickly abandoned it and tried to relocate to another ship.
More of those ice balls that were at least six feet in diameter flew in the sky towards the Allied navy. One ice ball hit the wall that Korra created and shattered it with the debris sending Korra and Asami away.
"We need to help others," said Korra
"What do you suggest," said Asami
"I will enter the Avatar State and help our troops but I don't want to cause unnecessary injuries and casualties," said Korra
Asami nodded. "Get me onto one of their ships, and I can help our troops," said Asami as Korra looked at her.
"I will be fine," said Asami
"Asami," said Korra
"No, I need to do this. Water Benders might be great in this environment, but they never fought a chi blocker before. Besides, while they are good at mid to long range, I have an advantage of fighting them at close range," said Asami
Korra nodded. She closed her eyes and entered the Avatar State. She then jumped into the water. The pair did not hit the water, as Korra instantly formed a water tornado and rose into the air. She quickly traveled towards the nearby enemy ship and using Air Bending sent Asami safely at the ship.
"I am okay," said Asami as she landed gently on the ship, and then instantly hit the nearest enemy soldier in the chest. The soldier fell. Asami jumped and hit another soldier with her fist, and then third soldier with her foot. Both soldiers instantly fell on the deck of the ship.
Satisfied that her girlfriend was doing fine, Korra began to move her hands in a circular motion. At first, she did so slowly, but then she began to increase the speed of her hand movements. The water underneath her began moving with proportionate spin, and soon a large whirlpool began to form next to the Avatar in the Arctic waters.
Korra moved her hands in few directions and then pushed both her hands forward. The whirlpool changed its direction and flew at the next four Northern ships. When it hit, the four ships began moving in a circular motion.
"Fire," ordered Iroh as his Fire Benders kept firing at those four ships.
Korra then closed her eyes and then opened them again. With her eyes glowing one more time, Korra moved her hands rapidly, going from a lower to higher positions. She then moved her finger closer together and tightened pressure among her fingers. When her fingers touched, she immediately opened her arms and four ice spikes rose from the icy water. Each spike impaled one of the ships.
Korra then relaxed her fingers and moved her hands in different directions. The ice turned to water, and four Northern ships that were impaled now lacked icy spikes. Instead, they had large holes in the middle, causing the ships to sink.
Satisfied, Korra created an Air current and glided at the ship Asami was in. When Korra landed she saw that an enemy soldier threw an ice ball at her. Korra easily redirected the ice sphere and then used the water to freeze the soldier, so that only his head was visible, with the rest of his body frozen solid in the ice.
Korra then saw Asami, who kept fighting with the soldiers. While all other remaining Northern ships were full of soldiers, this particular ship had many lying men and women. With each passing minute, a small group of soldiers on that particular ship kept falling on the deck.
"Asami," said Korra as she approached her non-bending girlfriend. Korra's eyes turned back into blue ones. Korra noticed that a frost arrow actually hit Asami's arm, and a cut with a small wound appeared on her right leg, "Asami,"
"I am fine Korra, really I am fine," said Asami
"No, you need medical attention," said Korra
'Nonsense, I am fine. Let's finish our mission. Korra, do you think you can freeze the ice so that the temperature of the ice would rapidly drop?" asked Asami
"I think so," said Korra
"Good. Korra, I want you to create a small two person boat made of ice in the water and jump in it," said Asami as Korra lifted an eyebrow but did not say anything. The Avatar knew that Asami was very smart, and as such she trusted her girlfriend to come up with an effective plan.
Korra moved her arms and in many directions. A small boat formed in the water, which floated next to the ship where Asami just defeated all soldiers. "Jump in," said Asami as the two young women jumped inside.
"What are we going to do?" asked Korra
"Pilot this thing. But first I need you to create an elongated thick spike at front of this boat. You know, like sword shark's nose," said Asami as Korra nodded and moved her hands in a circular motion and then pointed them at the frontal portion of the boat. An elongated spike formed at the front.
Ice arrows flew in the sky. More ice balls flew at the Allied Navy. One such ball of ice landed next to the boat Korra just constructed. Water filled the boat. While Korra instantly bent it away, both women were now wet.
"We need to get to the flagship," said Korra
"No, let us finish this mission first. Korra, turn the boat away from the shore, and make sure the boat reaches a fast speed," said Asami as Korra nodded and used her hands to move the boat. At first it moved slowly, but then the boat sped up. The iceboat swam away from the battle.
"What are we doing? We need to help our friends," said Korra
"We will. Keep bending Korra," said Asami as she put her cold hand on Korra's soldier. Korra concentrated further and sped up the boat more.
When Asami was satisfied with the speed of the boat, she spoke again.
"Korra, turn the boat around. I want you to change the direction. Move the boat on a curve direction," said Asami
Korra nodded and did so.
"Now, send the boat forward at an increasing speed," said Asami
Korra realized what Asami was trying to do, at least what she thought that Asami was trying to do.
"Asami! We will hit that ship," said Korra in panic
"Don't worry, keep bending and move the boat fast speed. And make sure that the temperature of the spike begins to drop rapidly, especially before the impact," said Asami as Korra nodded again and sent the ship straight at the nearby ship.
As their boat was about to crash into the metal ship, Korra panicked and closed her eyes, hugging Asami. But Asami remained stoic; the President smirked.
Upon impact, the rapidly cooling thick spike on the front of the boat shattered the iron and created a hole in the ship. But the boat kept going. It went straight through the ship, creating a large hole and then swam away.
The boat then hit another ship, and then also shattered the metal. The boat kept going.
"One ship down, two, three," Asami began counting. At one point, there were no more ships ahead of them, "Korra, you can stop,"
As Korra and Asami looked backwards, they saw that on their sort of parabolic curve pathway, their small ice boat sank ten large Northern ships by using the rapidly cooling temperature of the ice to shatter the metal.
"See? We just sank ten large battleships. Your technique made it possible to shatter the metal, and when doing so, our boat moved through the ships like a knife through butter. We created a large hole in each ship, which filled with water, and sank each ship," smiled Asami as she then fell in the boat.
"Asami. Asami!" screamed Korra as she entered the Avatar State and used Air Bending to propel them away towards their flagship. Their trip was fast. When they arrived, Korra landed roughly on the deck, holding Asami Sato gently.
"Get me to our cabin. Warm, we need warmth," said Asami as Korra nodded and carried her girlfriend towards the cabin. Asami instantly took away most of her clothing except her underwear. She then looked at Korra. Korra repeated this, and the two women climbed into the bed, hugging each other, wearing only their underwear.
"We need to share body heat. It will help," said Asami as she covered the two of them under the bed sheets.
"Asami," said Korra
"Cold, cold," said Asami weakly as Korra hugged Asami.
Suddenly Asami moaned from happiness. "Warm, ah, this is nice, so warm," said Asami as Korra looked at her body and realized that her body temperature rose up.
Korra breathed air out of her mouth. The Avatar quickly realized that she breathed warm air. Upon this realization, Korra hugged Asami tighter and kissed Asami with her open mouth. As their mouths met, Korra breathed again, and the warm air traveled away from Korra and into Asami's body.
The non-bender hugged the Avatar even tighter, while impatiently devouring the hot air Korra provided. The two women lay in that position for ten minutes before breaking up.
"Korra, your fire bending has returned," said Asami
Korra smiled and then tried to create a small fire around her hand but could not. "I don't understand, I just raised my body temperature," said Korra
"At least you got your delicious heating powers back," grinned Asami, "Don't worry, you will get your Fire and Earth Bending back, It will just take time," said Asami as Korra nodded.
When both Korra and Asami were satisfied that they were now warm, they changed their clothes and went to reunite with their allies.
When they arrived, Iroh stood next to Tenzin and Azula. "We thinned the blockade," said Iroh
"Good. I think we can begin the Phase Two," said Asami
"We first need to land," said Azula
"Agreed. But now there is a big enough opening for us to push our ships for landing. Korra, assemble the rest of Team Avatar, and with Tenzin and Tonraq go to Oogi," said Asami as Korra nodded and left with Tenzin.
"Grandmother, I guess it's you and me," said Asami
"Don't forget about that young Air Bender. What was her name? Jinora? Really, she looks just like Aang, only her being a female version with hair," said Azula
"Fine. Iroh, please keep fighting the naval vessels, while Kuvira and Lin will lead the ground troops," said Asami
"I will, President Sato," said Iroh
"Iroh, please. I know that I am your Commander in Chief, but I am also your second cousin. We are family, and so you don't need to be so informal with me," said Asami. Iroh nodded.
Asami and Azula approached a plane that stood on the battleship. "I thought that the planes only can fit one person," said Azula
"True, but my father designed a few two person planes. I will pilot, and you will shoot fire," said Asami
"What should I do," said Jinora as she approached Asami. Jinora wore a new Air Bending outfit.
"You will stand between my grandmother and I. I will attach you to the plane's middle portion, so that you will have a lot of movement, but at the same time you will be protected from falling. And in case you fall, you can glide back. You just need to move your hands and feet in opposite directions. This will open the extra wings that help gliding," said Asami as Jinora nodded.
Jinora climbed on the ship, and Asami firmly attached a small very short cable at Jinora's back to the plane. Azula then sat in the back, while Asami sat in the front.
"Good luck," said Jinora as Asami started the plane and accelerated. Azula sent fire behind the plane, while Jinora bent air around them. Next minute, the plane was flying.
"I see Korra," said Asami as she waived to the Avatar.
Korra noticed Asami's plane. "Asami is in the air. Let's do this," said Korra as the air bison met with the plane. Azula began sending fire from the plane, while Mako did so from the bison's back.
While the Korra and Asami used the sky advantage, the flagship moved towards the shore. Before landing, the flagship hit two Northern battleships. The Allied ship kept pushing through the tight space between the two ships. As it moved forward, the flagship pushed the other two ships away. Then, a few minutes later, the flagship touched the land and opened its doors. The ground troops were ready to fight.
While the ground troops prepared for Phase Two, Asami's plane and Oogi kept hovering on the air, sending fire at the ice wall defenses of the harbor. A second plane flew in the sky; Baatar was ready to investigate the area and report about the locations of the Northern ground troops to Kuvira.
"Let Phase Two begin," said Asami in the radio, as the ground battle had finally started.
A/N: I decided to make the last five chapters of Book 2 more descriptive than usual and longer, especially since a lot of things are taking place here. Chapter 39 (first chapter of Book 3) will be of usual size of 2000 words.
Next: Chapter 35, the ground battle