Aang shot awake with no warning, scaring me half to death. I yelped, and shifted into a girl, catching myself in almost a push up.
"Sorry, Ave!" Aang said. I smirked, getting up.
"No prob, little dude." I said, stretching.
"Sounds like you slept well." Katara said. I came up beside Aang as he made a sweeping motion with his hand.
"Like a baby moose lion. I'm ready to face the Fire Lord." Aang said.
"So, what's your strategy for taking him down?" Toph smiled and raised her hands to her eyes, her fingers wiggling outward in a mimicry of the Avatar State. "Gonna get your glow on and," She punched the air with a determined expression on her face. "hit him with a little Avatar State action?"
"I can't. When Azula shot me with lightning," He looked down sorrowfully and closed his eyes briefly. "my seventh chakra was locked, cutting off my connection to all the cosmic energy in the universe."
"You know what I just heard?" Toph held up one hand and opened and closed it in a 'gibber-gabber' expression. "Blah, blah, spiritual mumbo jumbo blah, blah, something about space."
"Spiritual stuff is really hard!" Aang said.
"Yeah, that's why Avery's always so grumpy." Sokka said.
"Hey!" I said, crossing my arms. "I'm not always grumpy..."
"Oh, no." The ocean had thick fog visible on the horizon. Katara appeared concerned. "Sokka, do you think the fog will delay the invasion?"
"No." Sokka stood, grinning. Five Water Tribe ships suddenly appeared from amid the mist. "That is the invasion!"
On the shoreline Aang, Toph, and I stood by the water. We utilized earthbending to raise rock from beneath the water and form a dock. Four Water Tribe docked. The last Water Tribe ship came into port. Katara and Sokka run over to one of the men.
"You made it, Dad!" Katara said, embracing her father happily. I smiled at the sight.
"Were you able to locate everyone I told you to find?" Sokka asked.
"I did." Two members of the Foggy Swamp Tribe disembarked. "But I'm a little worried, Sokka. Some of these men aren't exactly the 'warrior type'." He turned his head slightly toward the two swamp dwellers. One enthusiastically swung his arm.
"Oooh-whee! This place ain't nothing like a swamp." He pointed accusingly to a rock in the water. "What you reckon that is, Tho? Some sort of Fire Nation exploding trap what eat ya?"
"It's just a rock, Due." Tho said.
"Well, I'll be." He scratched his head.
"Is it just me, or are those fellas a little loose in the leaf-hat?" Their father said. A man walked past, behind the chief and his family, stopping beside Sokka.
"I just wish they would wear pants."
"Pants are an illusion, and so is death." A third swamp dweller said. The dad, Katara, and the man appeared less than reassured; Sokka, on the other hand, grinned widely. I walked over and smiled.
"So, your Katara and Sokka's dad?" I said. The man smiled.
"I am. Who is this?" He asked Sokka.
"Dad, this is Avery. She's from the spirit world." Sokka said. "Avery, this is our dad, Hakoda."
"Pleasure to meet you sir." I said, extending a hand. He shook it with a smirk.
"The pleasure is mine. So, are you a full spirit?"
"No, only half spirit. My father is Chi." I said. "My mom, Lin, is mortal. And I'm close family friends with Hei-Bai."
"That's quite impressive." Hakoda said. "This is Bato."
"I think I remember you..." I said, humming thoughtfully. Then it clicked. "Oh! You were at the abbey!"
"I don't think I remember you..." He said.
"I was a shirshu at the time." I said.
"Ah, now I do."
"Hey, Avery! Come here!" Aang said. I bowed politely to the Water Tribe men and went over to Aang, where he, Katara, and Toph stood by a teen with a goatee and moustache.
"Toph, Avery, this is Haru. When we met him, his town was controlled by the Fire Nation. So he had to hide his earthbending."
"Katara inspired me and my father to take back our village." He turned to Katara who blushed and looked away.
"You helped us find our courage, Katara. Now we're here to help you." A man, probably Haru's father, said. I smiled at the sight.
"It's nice to meet both of you." I said, nodding. Toph turned away. Suddenly, a bomb exploded on a boat, making Sokka, Hakoda, Aang, and I run toward it. A mechanist appeared from below deck, coughing. A boy in a wheelchair left the boat, followed immediately by his father, and Pipsqueak carrying The Duke on his shoulder.
"Was that a new invention?" Sokka asked. The wheelchair boy licked his fingers.
"Yes, but unfortunately the incendiary capabilities of peanut sauce prove to be a failure." Said the mechanist.
"You're making peanut sauce bombs?" I asked.
"They're destructive." said Pipsqueak.
"And delicious." The Duke added. They both licked the sauce that splashed all over their faces. Momo flew over to Pipsqueak and started licking his face, much to his and The Duke's amusement.
"Where you able to complete work on the plans I send you?" Sokka asked.
"Yes, I was, and I think the Fire Nation will be quite surprised." the mechanist said.
"Aang, my dad and I made this for you." the wheelchair boy said, handing a staff to Aang. Aang tapped it on the ground and it opened, revealing a brand new glider.
"A new glider! This is amazing!"
"And as a special feature, I added the snack compartment." he rotated the handle, making the snacks come out.
"Oh... well, I'm sure that will come in handy."
A very nervous Sokka stood on a podium with his father and Team Avatar, including me.
"Don't worry, you'll do great."
"Good morning everyone. Ahh!" He tripped up stage. "Umm... so, as you know, today, we're invading the Fire Nation! I mean I know you know that because otherwise why else would you be here?" He laughed nervously. "Uh anyway," He dropped scrolls. He unraveled one on a board. "the Fire Lord's palace is here" He pointed at the map, realized it isn't the map, and flipped the chart several times until it was the map. "Uh nope, uh wait, uh wait, uh wait, it's here, and uh, there's an eclipse today and Aang's gonna fight the Fire Lord and the firebenders won't have any fire to use so that's good for us! And... um... I'm sorry let me start at the beginning. Katara and I discovered Aang frozen in an iceberg, now I didn't like Aang at first but grew to love him over time, then we went to the Southern Air Temple where Aang used to live and then we met Suki, who's a Kyoshi warrior. She dressed me like a woman and then she kissed me, and then Aang's friend was a crazy old king and..."
"Wow, when he says the beginning he means the beginning beginning." Katara muttered. Hakoda and I stepped forward to intervene.
"...and then Katara got Haru arrested and then now he's grown a mustache which if you look at him in the front row you can see it..."
"Thank you, Sokka. It's okay why don't you take a break?" Sokka left the stage to sit down, disappointed in himself. Hakoda addressed the crowd. "Let me just clarify a few points for everyone. Today, is the day of black sun, and I want to thank you all for your self-sacrifice, and your courage. There are two steps to the invasion, a naval stage, and then a land stage. To gain sea access to the Fire Nation capital, we need to get past our first major obstacle here," He pointed at the map. "The Great Gates of Azulon. Next, we hit the land, and we hit hard. We must fight past their battlements and secure the plaza tower. Once we do that, it's up to the Royal Palace. At that point, the eclipse will begin."
"Excuse me. The Boulder is confused. Isn't the point to invade during the eclipse, when the firebenders are powerless?" The Boulder said.
"The eclipse only lasts eight minutes, not enough time for the whole invasion." I explained, having run through the plan with Sokka enough times to have it memorized. "And the Royal Palace is heavily guarded by firebenders. So that's where we'll need the eclipse's advantage the most."
"When this is finished, the Avatar will have defeated the Fire Lord. We will have control of the Fire Nation capital, and this war will be over!" Hakoda said. The entire crowd cheered. I stepped up again and cleared my throat.
"Alright, the plan is set. I think we should give credit to the brilliant minds that planned this. Hakoda and Sokka." I said. The crowd cheered again and Hakoda smiled at me. "Okay, okay, calm down. Alright, I'm going to be blunt with you guys. I spent some time in the Fire Nation as a friend to the royals." Multiple people in the crowd gasped. "But, I left to help the Avatar bring down the Fire Lord. I know what it's like in the city. And I have one request. Do not attack the innocent."
"What innocent!" Someone yelled. I frowned.
"I hate to break it to ya, but not everyone there is a monster. Just like people from the other Nations aren't all saints. I was nearly killed multiple times by people from the earth kingdom, and once from the water tribes. Listen, what I'm trying to tell you is that you should look with mercy upon those who deserve peace." I said. I sighed. "I know it's hard to believe me-"
"Yeah, why should we? You're a simple girl!" Someone said. I snarled and gripped the podium.
"I'm not a simple girl! I'm not even a full human! But no one is here is simple! We're all war scared here! " I said. They quieted. "I'm as eager to end the war as you are. But do not harm the innocent civilians. I didn't storm up here to yell at you about equality, or about my life story. I'm just trying to be human, like you."
"Uh, Avery..." Hakoda said as I passed on my way off stage.
"What?"
"Look." He said. I turned to see the crowd in awe. Then they began to cheer.
"We've been looking everywhere for you. The boats are ready to leave." I said, approaching Sokka as he stared out over the water.
"I messed up Avery." He said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"The invasion plan was my moment of truth and I completely flubbed it. I just fell apart." I walked over and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Sokka, that speech wasn't your moment of truth. That was just public speaking, and nobody's really good at that." I said.
"My dad is! He explained the plan perfectly and inspired everyone, like a real leader should. And you're good too!"
"Sokka, your moment of truth isn't gonna be in front of some crude map; it's gonna be out there on the battlefield." I said.
"You seem so confident about everything, how do you know we're gonna win?" Sokka asked, looking me in the eye.
"Because I already failed you guys once at Ba Sing Se. I won't let myself fail again." I said. He smiled and I hugged him. "We're going to be fine."
I tugged on a different outfit for armor. I knew the colors of the outfit because Katara told me. I tugged on muddy brown pants and a emerald green long sleeved shirt. I pulled on a light green shirt over that and an assortment of leather straps. I then slipped on black boots and black gloves. I nodded and turned as there was a knock on the door.
"Uh, come in?" I said. Sokka entered and smirked.
"Nice get up." He said. I chuckled.
"Nice make up." I said.
"I'll have you know that it's traditional Water Tribe warrior face paint." Sokka said defensively. I smiled.
"Hey, I know. I'm teasing. Anyways, it's really cool actually." I said.
"Do you want it?" He asked. "The face paint I mean."
"I'm color blind, I can't do the cool designs." I said. He rolled his eyes.
"I'll do it." He said. I sat as he sat across from me, pulling out face paint. "Don't worry, I won't go crazy."
"Yessir." I said, closing my eyes. He applied the paint to my eyes, cheeks, and lips before grunting in approval.
"My work is complete." He said. He held up a mirror and I grinned.
"Awesome! Thanks!" I said, hugging him. "Let's go."
"There they are, the Great Gates of Azulon."
"I don't see any gates." Katara responded to her dad. I sniffed the air and smirked.
"They're there alright."
"Katara, you and the swamp benders whip up a fog cover." Hakoda said.
"We'll sneak by them statues just like we sneak by that Fire Navy blockade!" Tho said. Katara, Due, and other swamp benders waterbent a thick fog cover.
"Keep it up, we're almost through!" Hakoda said. Suddenly a bell rung as a huge net rose out of the water and was set on fire. Sokka and the others were shocked to see patrol boats racing toward them.
"Everyone below deck!" I called. Everyone goes into the boats.
"Let's hope your invention works." Hakoda said to Sokka. I smirked and ushered everyone into the several submarines. I heard footsteps just as I closed the submarine. We traveled beneath the gates. Inside, waterbenders were moving the subs. The mechanist sat at the front. Hakoda, Sokka, Pipsqueak, Bato, and I stood behind him.
"You've really outdone yourself this time, son." Hakoda said, placing a hand on Sokka's shoulder. Sokka beamed. I looked back to The Duke and Toph and smiled slightly. Toph was obviously getting seasick, and The Duke offered her his helmet. She vomited into it. The Duke just placed his hand on Toph's back, trying to comfort her.
"Well, I just came up with the idea. The mechanist did all the work." Sokka said.
"Now don't sell yourself short, my boy. It was your idea to use waterbending to make the subs sink and float, brilliant!" Mechanist opened a scroll, revealing a very crude drawing of a submarine. "Though your original designs were a bit difficult to decipher. Unfortunately there is one problem I couldn't fix. The subs have a limited air supply. Before we land on the beaches, we'll need to resurface."
The fleet of submarines surfaced on the water. The Duke was dipping his helmet into the water, trying to wash out Toph's vomit. Everyone was stretching as Aang landed on the submarine from Appa.
"So, this is it huh?" Aang said as Sokka, Katara, Toph, and I approached.
"Are you ready for the Fire Nation to know the Avatar is alive?" Sokka asked.
"I'm ready." Aang said. The foursome hugged and I smiled, placing a hand on my hip.
"I hope you kick some serious Fire Lord butt, Twinkle Toes." Toph said.
"Hey, Avery, get in here!" Katara said, pulling me into the group hug. I laughed a bit.
"Everyone listen up." Team Avatar came out of the hug. "The next time we resurface, it'll be on the beaches. So stay alert, and fight smart. Now break times over, back in the subs." Sokka, Toph, Momo, and I left, leaving Katara and Aang standing alone together.
"Everyone in position. Earthbenders, into your tanks. This is gonna be a rough ride." Hakoda said. "Except Avery, you may be an earthbender but we need you out."
Toph and other earthbenders climbed down a ladder in the sub and got ready. An alarm went off as the subs approached the gate. Several harpoons were launched at the subs, but most missed. One hit, causing a leak which was quickly sealed by a foggy swamp waterbender turning the water to ice, and pulled the attached sub out of the water. Katara quickly responded by piloting Appa out of the water and using waterbending to slice through the chain, dropping the sub back down.
"Ready the torpedo." An ice-covered torpedo was loaded. "Launch!"
Huu launched the torpedo with waterbending. Six torpedoes made holes in the underwater barrier, making it possible for the subs to pass through. Toph, the Boulder, and other earthbenders stood in a metal tank. Water Tribe warriors and foggy swamp waterbenders were in a clump. Sokka and I stood amongst them. Sokka let out a sigh and I placed a hand on his shoulder. The subs rose from the water, being instantly attacked by missiles. The subs opened and several tanks exited while the other soldiers yelled and charged out. The battle commenced as we made our way inland, destroying battlements as we went. Earthbenders used rocks provided by a truck containing many rocks. Appa arrived and Katara jumped off as Fire Nation tanks appeared. An earthbender tank destroyed a battlement by crushing it. Another tank lifted its front up to slam down and crush a Fire Nation tank. More Fire Nation tanks arrived as the army pushed on. The swamp benders used water provided to destroy enemy tanks. I sucked in a breath and shifted into a spirit shirshu, letting out a roar. I reared up and smashed down, sending a Fire Nation tank flying with earthbending. Sokka sent a thumbs up.
"We're a man down. Where in tarnation is Huu?" Tho said. He and Due continued waterbending, launching a tank into the water. Suddenly a large seaweed monster came out of the water and destroyed several enemy tanks, throwing one into a battlement on the ledge above.
"Hey Huu! Where you been?" Due called. The seaweed opened to reveal Huu standing inside.
"Communin' with nature. Takes a while to collect this much seaweed." He closed the seaweed again as he saw a large fireball coming straight toward him. Several Fire Nation soldiers on rhinos appeared shooting fireballs at a group of Water Tribe warriors. They charged, and Sokka quickly disarmed one of the riders and stole his rhino.
"Dad, look out!" Sokka called. Hakoda grunted as he turned and deflected a fireball with his shield. He turned back to disarm a soldier and quickly defeated others, then jumped on the rhino to join Sokka. The rhino bucked them off and I caught them on my back, simultaneously earthbending a cage around the rhino. The vehicle full of rocks for earthbenders was destroyed. Huu, inside the seaweed, destroyed more tanks. An earthbender tank was destroyed by a battlement above. Hakoda and Sokka saw it happen.
"Sokka, we've gotta take out those battlements! It's our only chance."
"I've got an idea."
Sokka, Hakoda, Katara, and I (back in human form) rode a fully armored Appa. Sokka drew his sword and sliced the end of a missile launcher off. As they flew past another, Hakoda threw two bombs inside the battlement. Two soldiers ran out as it exploded. Katara broke two barrels of water attached to either side of Appa and the water formed around her arms. We flew past another battlement she froze the soldier and launcher inside. Appa landed between two still operational battlements. The four of us jumped off Appa.
"You two take out that battlement. Avery and I have this one. Watch each other's backs. Hakoda and I entered the battlement via rooftop. We fought the two soldiers inside until the launcher shot and exploded. I gasped and pushed Hakoda out of the way. I yelled out in pain.
"Avery!" Hakoda gasped as I fell. He took out the soldiers and picked me up. He exited and Sokka and Katara gasped.
"Avery?" Katara breathed.
"Avery!" Sokka yelled running over.
Appa landed on the edge of the battlefield. Sokka and Katara helped Hakoda help me onto the ground, and Katara started trying to heal me.
"How does that feel, Avery?" She asked.
"Ah, a little, better. I need, to get back to the troops." I attempted to stand but fell back, crying out in pain.
"You're hurt, badly. You can't fight anymore." Katara said.
"Everyone's counting on me to fight, I can't let them down." I attempted to stand again but couldn't. "Ahh!"
"Can't you heal her any faster?" Sokka asked.
"I'm doing everything I can. Someone needs to stay behind with her." Katara said.
"No, I'm fine." I insisted, but hissed in pain.
"I'll stay with her. But the troops... they need someone to lead them."
"I'll do it." Sokka said. He stood. "I'll lead the invasion force."
"Don't be crazy Sokka."
"Maybe I am a little crazy, but the eclipse is about to start and we need to be up that volcano by the time it does." Sokka said.
"You can do this. I'm proud of you son." Hakoda said.
"I still think you're crazy, but I'm proud of you too." Katara said, standing and mounting Appa. I smiled and gripped Sokka's hand before nodding.
"Kick ass for me." I said. He smirked and put his helmet on. He boarded Appa.
"Yip yip."
Oh no, poor Avery! But you totally know she's going after them, right? Bwahaha!
Disclaimer:...