I slid down Appa's side once we landed near the Fire Lord's palace, my hands tightly gripping the handles of my meteor swords. With me were Shan We, the twins, Aang, Sokka, and Toph. The three Earthbenders crouched down, placing their hands on the ground we stood on as Aang asked "Do you feel anything down there?"
"Yup", Toph replied after Jin nodded to her, "there are natural tunnels crisscrossing through the inside of the volcano, just like you said". She jerked her head to indicate Shan We, and as I turned to look at the tea-loving Firebender, I saw him staring up at the Royal Palace. Glancing up at the monolithic structure, I suppose it was very strange for him to look upon a structure that his people probably held as being sacred ground.
"Is there anything else?" I asked, hoping that our three Earthbending companions would find the Fire Lord's bunker before the advantage of the eclipse passed us by. "Is there some kind of a structure somewhere? Preferably a bunker of some kind?"
The blind girl stood up before planting her hands firmly in the dirt. "There's something big, dense, and made of metal deep in the heart of the volcano" she replied.
"Sounds like a secret bunker to me" Sokka said optimistically.
Toph and the twins then thrust their fists forward, opening a circular tunnel into the earth as Aang told Momo "Stay safe; we'll be back soon". We then filed into the tunnel, and I saw that we could either go right or left.
"This way!" Toph said, leading us to the right. "The other way's a dead end!"
"What would we do without you?" Sokka asked.
"Probably get lost in this tunnel system and either starve, go mad, or get captured by the Fire Nation" I replied sarcastically. "Probably in that order".
We then started making our way through the tunnels, relying on the Earthbenders to be our guides. Soon enough, we emerged into a fairly large cavern with one overriding feature: spurts of lava dotting the entire floor. I shivered slightly, imagining what it would be like to be roasted alive as Toph pointed to the other side and said "The tunnel continues on the other side, and it leads right to the bunker".
"We'll have to be fast but careful…" Sokka started to say as he stepped down onto the floor. He had barely taken his second step when some lava spurted right next to him, causing him to scream as he huddled into a ball while Aang instantly cooled the lava with a gust of air.
"How is that careful?" Aang asked him.
"I was wrong" Sokka conceded. "We need to be fast, careful, and lucky". We all then ran across the floor, dodging around spurting lava and hoping that we wouldn't be melted before we reached our destination. Eventually, we made it to the end of the cavern. Unfortunately, as we entered the next one, we discovered that it consisted of nothing but searing hot magma. "There's no floor" Sokka said breathlessly. "It's just a river of lava".
"Technically, that is magma" Shan We said, holding his chin. "Either way, it will kill us if we fall into it".
"Climb aboard and hold on tight" Aang said, bringing out his glider. I exchanged a doubting glance with the tea-loving Firebender as Sokka and Toph tightly gripped onto the edges of Aang's glider. Motioning to the twins, Shan We and I moved to the edge of the rocky platform we stood on as the twin Earthbenders summoned a flat platform from the wall. We then stepped on it before it carried us along the wall all the way to the other side of the magma chamber.
"Oh yeah" Sokka said, slumping his shoulders. "Earthbending. Right". I smirked as we continued our advance, making our way through a long tunnel before we reached a large, dome-shaped metal wall, with a very sturdy-looking door leading into it. "That's some door".
"Congratulations, Sokka" I said sardonically. "Your powers of stating the obvious are astounding".
Toph exchanged a slightly devious smirk with the twins before the three of them walked over to the door. They tapped on it, and the blind girl turned to us and said "Not a problem". The Earthbenders proceeded to demonstrate their new 'Metalbending' technique, and I thought they were showing off just a little bit as they pounded into the middle of the door before ripping it open like a piece of silk.
"I am so glad we added you to the group!" Sokka said ecstatically. I found myself agreeing with him; if Toph and the twins weren't with us now, then we wouldn't have gotten very far.
After a few minutes of walking, we encountered a man dressed in fine robes, who I recognized as War Minister Qin from the drill that had attacked Ba Sing Se, whistling a tune as he walked along. We all entered into fighting stances, and he blanched as he held up his hands. "The Fire Lord's chamber is that way" he said nervously, pointing to his right. "Down the hall to the left and up the stairs. You can't miss it".
"We are most appreciative of your assistance, War Minister" Shan We said before we resumed our run down the tunnel in the direction he had indicated.
As we hurried along, Sokka checked the device the Mechanist had given him. "Only thirty seconds until the total eclipse". Shan We and I exchanged a glance. This was it; the Firebenders we were about to face would be almost completely helpless, and we would finally be able to end this horrible war. Finally, at long last, we arrived at large double doors emblazoned with the Fire Nation insignia.
"Now remember", Shan We reminded the others, "this is going to be a trap. Azula will try to distract us until the eclipse is over. Takara and I are your secret weapons; we'll wait until we can surprise her, and hopefully, best her in time for Aang to face the Fire Lord".
We all nodded, and the master Firebender and I took our places on either side of the double doors. Aang closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. "I'm ready" he said. "I'm ready to face the Fire Lord". He proceeded to swing his staff, creating a powerful gust of air that blew the doors right off of their hinges. I waited, pressed against the wall as the others rushed into the bunker, and I heard a sound that chilled me to my very bones: Azula's voice.
"So, you are alive after all" she said in that damnable ice-cold tone of hers. "I had a hunch that you survived, but it doesn't matter. I've known about the invasion for months". My fingers flexed around the handles of my twin meteor swords, every fibre of my body wanting to rush in there and end Azula once and for all. I looked over at Shan We, and he gazed at me with his amber eyes, a sympathetic smile on his face. I exhaled, keeping myself under control.
"Where is he?" I heard Aang ask. "Where is the Fire Lord?"
"Hmm, you mean I'm not good enough for you?" Azula asked, feigning being insulted. "You're hurting my feelings".
"Stop wasting our time and give us the information" Sokka demanded. "You're powerless right now, so you're in no position to refuse". Across from me, Shan We quietly tried summoning a small blue flame in his hand, but all that appeared was a puff of blue smoke, just like when he had lost his Bending shortly before Azula had captured me.
"And stick to the truth" Toph added. "I'll be able to tell if you're lying". I wasn't so sure; Azula was psychotic, and a master manipulator and deceiver, which meant that she had a good chance of successfully lying to the blind Earthbender.
"Are you sure?" Azula asked, her tone condescending as she unwittingly agreed with me. "I'm a pretty good liar. I am a 400-foot tall purple platypus bear with pink horns and silver wings".
I arched my eyebrow a little at the sheer absurdity of the lie as Toph said "Okay, you're good, I admit it". I then heard and felt the earth shake a little before the blind girl added "But you really ought to consider telling the truth anyway".
Suddenly, I heard some earth cracking before being completely shattered, and Shan We and I exchanged curious glances as Azula calmly said "When I left Ba Sing Se, I brought home some souvenirs… Dai Li agents". My eyes opened wide with shock as the Firebender standing across from me clenched his teeth in frustration. This was bad; now Azula had a counter to being powerless during the eclipse, and if we took too long fighting the Dai Li, then she and her father would regain their Firebending.
We heard a powerful gust of air being cast right before the telltale sounds of Earthbending before a brawl broke out. Nodding to each other, Shan We and I rushed into the bunker. We were greeted by the sight of our companions battling a dozen Dai Li agents, who tore up the inside of the bunker as they employed their Earthbending I order to defend Azula. Ducking my head a half second before a boulder rushed past, I turned my attention to a nearby Dai Li agent. He thrust his fist forward, launching a man-sized boulder at me. Taking it in stride, I stood my ground, slicing down with one of my meteor swords. The boulder was cleft in two, and the pieces impacted the wall behind me.
Undeterred, the Dai Li agent thrust both of his fists this time, launching two boulders at me. Charging forward, I pushed off of the ground with my feet, landing on one of the boulders. Leaping off of it and the other one in quick succession, I brought my swords down in an overhead chop as I came towards my opponent. He dodged my blades, but as he moved to counterattack, I deftly swept his feet out from under him. Once he landed on his back, I kicked him in the face, knocking him out.
Turning to my right, I saw Shan We striking another Dai Li agent in the face with the haft of his pole weapon, knocking him out before he turned his sights on Azula. I reflexively clenched my teeth in anger upon seeing the psychotic teenager dodging and ducking the others' attacks. However, my anger soon turned into slight pleasure as I watched Shan We leaping into the air towards the Fire Nation Princess, bringing his weapon down in an overhead chop. Azula, upon seeing him, let out an involuntary gasp, falling onto her back with a look of terror on her face.
Capitalizing on her distraction, I leaped over Shan We as he landed, my swords aimed at the teenager's cold, dark heart.
I brought my pole weapon down on Azula, but as she fell onto her back, she hastily backed away, and the blade of my weapon buried itself into the floor. I stared resolutely into Azula's amber eyes, beholding her terrible visage; her face was just as I remembered it, with one half burned and covered with leathery flesh. The outline of her skull was barely visible, and the scar ran up all the way past her hairline, interrupting what was once carefully-managed hair.
Suddenly, Azula rolled to the side as Takara landed, driving her meteor swords into the ground. The Fire Nation Princess stood up and, with a furious sneer, retreated into a side tunnel. "Leave her" I told the Kyoshi Warrior as she withdrew her meteor swords from the ground. "This is a distraction; Azula is buying time for her father. We have to find the Fire Lord".
"No!" Takara replied. "She dies!" She then charged after Azula, and I and the others chased after her. The remaining few Dai Li agents sealed off the exit with a rock wall, but Jin and Li demolished it, allowing us to continue our pursuit. Further down the tunnel, I could see Azula running, with Takara hot on her trail.
The Dai Li agents were easily taken care of, and I said "Wait, stop!" Takara stopped her chase, turning to face me as Azula merely leaned against a tunnel wall, glancing over at us with a slightly bored and slightly hateful expression. "We can't afford to waste time with her. We have to leave her and find the Fire Lord".
"No! We can't let her get away!" Takara shouted. "She has to pay for what she's done!"
"He's right, Takara" Sokka said gently. "Azula is only forcing us to waste our time while the eclipse winds down. We have to move on".
The Kyoshi Warrior turned to look at Azula, then back to us. Her expression was pleading; she was silently begging one of us to say we were lying, and that she could focus all her attention on Azula. Ever since we had started to travel with Aang and the others, she had told me that she was getting better, that she was starting to heal after the trauma she had experienced at the hands of the Fire Nation Princess. But now, I saw the truth: she hadn't healed, not fully, and she would refuse to move on until she enacted vengeance on the Fire Nation Princess.
After several glances back and forth, Takara eventually slumped her shoulders in defeat, sheathing her twin meteor swords. "You're right, Sokka" she said, almost too quietly to hear. "We should go". We all then started to walk away, hopefully with enough time left of the eclipse to defeat Fire Lord Ozai.
"So, Sokka's your name, right?" Azula asked in her cool, carefully-modulated voice. "My favourite prisoner used to mention you all the time". We stopped, and I turned to see Sokka glaring over at Azula as she continued. "She was convinced you were going to come rescue her. Of course, you never came, and she gave up on you". Beside me, Takara flinched, and I could see tears running down Sokka's face. He suddenly turned around and charged at Azula, shouting at the top of his lungs. Based on their reactions, I could only assume that the teenager was referring to Suki, the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors and a close friend of Takara's. I knew it was a sore subject with her, so I didn't inquire as to all the facts.
I saw Azula focusing her attention on Sokka, the unburnt side of her lips curling into a sinister smirk, and it was then that I caught sight of the glint of metal from her hand. Reacting instantly, I changed the grip on my pole weapon before throwing it towards Azula. The weapon shot through the air, its impressive blade aimed at my enemy. In less than a single heartbeat, the blade of the weapon pierced the sleeve of Azula's armour before pinning her arm to the wall, causing her to drop the shuriken. Li then used his Bending in order to bind her wrists.
"Where is Suki?" Sokka asked, his voice low and threatening. "Where's Suki! Answer me!"
"Sokka, this does us no good" I told the young Water Tribe boy. "We have to move on; Azula will never tell us the truth".
"Where are you keeping her?" Sokka asked, ignoring my words.
"Why don't you ask your painted friend?" Azula asked mockingly, and I saw Takara scowling and looking at the ground out of the corner of my eye. Suddenly, an explosion sounded from nearby, and my eyes opened with realization. "Oh, it sounds like the Firebending's back on". With no warning, Azula kicked her feet upwards, casting a light arc of flames which sent Sokka staggering back. She then cast blue flames with her hands that shattered her restraints, freeing her. We all entered into fighting stances, and the lips of the scarred Fire Nation Princess curled into a sinister smile, the burnt side of her face resembling a smiling skull. "Dad's all the way at the end of the hall then down a secret stairway on the left. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to see you now".
She then ran down a tunnel, and Takara exploded into action, drawing her swords and chasing after her old tormentor with a shout. "Takara, wait!" I called, but this time, there was no deterring the woman I loved. Turning to the twins, I said "Jin, Li, go after her! Keep her safe". They nodded, and were off a moment later, sliding across the rock floor in pursuit.
"Ugh, I fell for it!" Sokka growled in anger. "I used up all our time".
"It's not your fault, Sokka" I assured my Water Tribe companion as I stared at the tunnel where Takara had run into. "When it comes to those we love, we would do anything".
"Besides, Azula was ready for us" Toph added. "She had every move planned out".
"And now it's too late" Sokka said despairingly.
"Maybe it's not too late" Aang countered, drawing all our gazes. "The eclipse is over, but I can face the Fire Lord anyway".
"Aang, you can't" I told the bald boy. "The Fire Lord is one of the greatest Firebenders in the world, and he has decades of experience over you".
"But I'm ready" he retorted. "I came here with a job to do and everyone's counting on me".
"Aang, I have no doubt that you are prepared" I said, crouching down and placing a hand on his shoulder. "But you aren't prepared to face the Fire Lord. Not when he is at full strength. You may be the Avatar, but right now, you're not ready".
"The Fire Lord knew we were coming this time" Toph said. "We thought we had surprise on our side, but we didn't. It just wasn't our day. What we need to do now is go help our friends".
After a moment, Aang sighed, and I could see the look of defeat in his eyes. He had come here with a mission, and in his eyes, he had failed the world once again. "I guess you guys are right".
"You'll have another chance" Sokka said, placing a hand on Aang's other shoulder as I stood up. "I know you will". With that, Aang, Sokka, and Toph turned around and started to walk back in the direction we had just come from. I looked down the tunnel Azula had indicated. After a moment, I took a deep breath and, separating the energies around me, cast a bolt of white lightning at the tunnel ceiling in between myself and the others. The lightning struck, creating a fantastical explosion that created an instant cave-in, separating us.
"What are you doing?" Aang called from the other side.
"Aang, you must find it within yourself to face the Fire Lord another day" I replied. "I go to face him now".
"Are you crazy?" Sokka asked incredulously.
"I have the greatest chance against the Fire Lord than anyone in this invasion" I explained. "Go and help the others. It's time I had a conversation with Ozai".
"But…" Aang started to protest.
"Go!" I repeated. "I'll be fine". After a moment, I heard their footsteps as they made their way back to the invasion force. Taking a deep breath, I started walking, following the tunnel Azula had indicated. After walking for several minutes, I came to the entrance of a bunker with the Fire Nation insignia emblazoned upon it in crimson. This was it; I was about to face the Fire Lord, a man who I had been taught as a child to revere and obey without question. It was high time that I faced him, and with another deep breath, I opened the door, quickly rolling across the floor and entering into a ready stance.
The inside of the bunker was empty, and after a quick examination, I knew that I was the only one in it. Growling in defeat, I eased my stance, cursing my odds. I had allowed the Fire Lord to escape, and had most likely doomed the rest of the world in the act. Deciding to head back and aid Takara and the twins, I started to turn around when I noticed a side door. My eyes narrowed a little as I opened it, revealing a long tunnel that angled upwards and likely led to the surface, perhaps even to the throne room. Perhaps my chances weren't so bad, I thought to myself as I slowly ascended.
Eventually, I came to the end of the tunnel and into a hallway that was most definitely inside the Royal Palace. Remembering the general layout, I quickly jogged through the various hallways until I reached the door that led into the throne room. Opening it, I entered the vast chamber and saw Fire Lord Ozai walking towards the throne along with a contingent of Imperial Firebenders. Deciding that the time for subtlety was over, I closed the door loudly enough so that the sound reverberated through the throne room. The Fire Lord and his guards turned to look at me, and his face contorted into a look of anger. "Seize him!" he ordered, and his guards proceeded to rush me.
With a grunt, I leaped into the air, aiming a kick at my opponent's head. A streak of blue flames shot forth from my foot, striking my red-armoured opponent square in the chest. He was sent sprawling from the force of the impact, his armour instantly becoming singed. As I landed on the floor, I entered into a roll, avoiding multiple crimson flames being shot at me by my other opponents.
Once I was back on my feet, I struck my fist against the ground, creating a circle of blue flame that shot outwards, momentarily distracting my opponents. Using that moment, I quickly thrust my fist towards four separate men, launching blue fireballs at them. Most managed to avoid the arc, but they were caught unprepared by the fireballs, which struck the ground at their feet and exploded fantastically, throwing them back into the walls and knocking them unconscious.
A few moments later, and all of my opponents were dispatched, with the exception of one. Breathing heavily from the brief skirmish, I turned towards the far end of the massive throne room, my gaze falling on a middle-aged man with long black hair, a black beard coming from his chin, dressed in fine robes, and wearing the Fire Lord's crown piece in his top knot. "Fire Lord Ozai", I said, slowly walking towards the man as I spoke, "it's time we talked".
I shouted as I leaped through the air, bringing my twin meteor swords to bear as I sliced them downwards. Azula nimbly dodged my attack, proceeding to aim a spinning kick at my head, casting blue flames with her foot. I ducked below her attack, spinning and aiming a slice at her other leg. Unfortunately, she managed to avoid my black blades as she put some distance between us with a backwards somersault, landing gracefully on a nearby rock. We had entered a large cavern a few moments ago, giving both of us a proper arena for our fight.
"Someone's a bit angry, aren't they?" Azula asked mockingly. "Don't tell me you're still upset about the beauty marks I gave you?"
I growled before spinning, building up momentum before hurling one of my swords at her black heart. The Fire Nation Princess never missed a beat, catching the handle of my sword and spinning in a circle, never breaking the weapon's momentum before she hurled it back at me. I responded by backing up a few steps and crouching low to the ground, allowing my weapon to slide perfectly into its sheath, just as Master Piandao had done during mine and Sokka's tutelage. "I'm not mad" I replied evenly, despite the inferno raging inside of me. "I'm just going to cut you up into little pieces and hand them to your father!"
I then drew my other sword as I charged my opponent. The teenager aimed a kick, shooting a stream of blue flames at me. I took it in stride, moving to the side and allowing it to harmlessly strike the ground. When I was close enough, I pushed off the ground, leaping onto the rock where Azula stood. I landed a half second later, proceeding to slash at my opponent several times. The Fire Nation Princess, however, was incredibly nimble, and managed to avoid my attacks. Eventually, she thrust her fist at the ground at our feet, shooting blue flames downwards as she leaped backwards. I did the same, somersaulting through the air and landing gracefully.
I looked up, only to find that Azula had gone. She had disappeared, and was either fleeing or preparing for some sort of sneak attack. Closing my eyes, I allowed my other senses to probe my surroundings, as Master Piandao had taught me. Somewhere nearby, a single drop of water landed in a pool, and the sound carried through the cavern. I slowly spun in a circle, focusing on drowning out all other noises, such as my own heartbeat, in an effort to discern where Azula was currently hiding.
Quietly, almost imperceptibly, a shuffling sound carried from somewhere to my right. Smirking, I exploded into action, hurling one of my swords to where the sound had originated from. Not a moment later, I heard the sword imbedding itself into stone as Azula cried out in surprise and pain. Smiling at the fact that I had struck a blow, I maintained my offensive, leaping onto the nearest rock wall and running along it for a few feet before I was close enough to see a pair of monolithic stalagmites rising on either side of a small waterfall. Azula was standing on one of the stalagmites, and her half-burned, nightmarish face bore an expression of fury, a fresh cut on her unburnt cheek.
As I made my way towards her, a large boulder suddenly appeared out of nowhere, smashing the stalagmite and utterly obliterating Azula's footing. As she grunted and fell, I turned around and saw Jin and Li standing near the entrance of the cavern. I smiled at them, grateful for their assistance, and they smiled back before returning their attention to Azula. Jin kicked a boulder from the ground, and Li proceeded to kick it towards the Fire Nation Princess. It smashed into the wall behind her, the force knocking her down to the floor. The twins and I then surrounded her and entered into fighting stances. "Give up, Azula" I told the teenager. "You've lost".
The Fire Nation Princess stood up, pausing in order to dust off her armour before calmly replying "So, you brought some friends to this fight". She craned her neck, almost as if she heard something, and added "So did I".
My eyes widened with horror, and I turned to the twins and said "Jin, Li, look out!" Both of the Earthbenders thrust their arms upwards, summoning stone pillars that would launch them to safety, but it was already too late. Jin managed to leap away to safety, but a bright flash of pink suddenly appeared beside Li. Ty Lee used her Chi Blocking on the Earthbending boy, and he went limp just as his pillar launched him to the other side of the cavern. He crashed onto the floor, rolling awkwardly for several feet before his brother caught him.
Just as Ty Lee turned her perpetually-perky smile towards me, a glint caught my eye from somewhere elevated. I pushed off with my feet, somersaulting backwards as several tiny knives struck the ground where I formerly stood. I landed, immediately pushing back off and spinning horizontally through the air as several more knives shot underneath me. I barely managed to land before Ty Lee was in front of me, aiming several jabs and kicks. Fortunately, with an extensive knowledge of Chi Blocking, I deftly avoided each of the moves, slowly backing up as I did so.
I heard several telltale sounds of Earthbending coming from nearby, which told me that Jin was busy fighting with Mai while I was stuck avoiding the pink menace. In the back of my mind, I asked myself where Azula was in all this, and I got my answer as I was suddenly tripped from behind, landing hard on my back. Noticing that Ty Lee was using the opening to her advantage, I instinctively swung one of my swords at her. She easily dodged the attack, extending her arm and jabbing me on the shoulder. My arm instantly became limp, falling to the floor as the girl in pink disabled the rest of my extremities.
From where I was lying, I could see Jin desperately defending his brother, but Mai was slowly pushing him against a wall. She threw a few knives at him, and he brought his arms together, summoning a rock wall that absorbed the projectiles. The wall was then instantly lowered back into the ground, and the Earthbender kicked a boulder in front of him before punching it at his opponent. As she dodged, Jin noticed my predicament. He moved to aid me, but I shook my head as much as I could. I couldn't ever forgive myself if I allowed the twins to be captured, and I didn't want to think about what it would do to Shan We if he lost them again.
Even from so far away, I could see the look of anguish on his face. Together, he and his brother would have had a significant chance of besting the girls in a place made entirely of earth, but alone, he was no hope. He clearly wanted to help, but knew that he couldn't. 'Go' I mouthed, and with tears running down his face, he thrust his arms towards the wall, shattering a section of it before carrying his brother through. The opening was sealed behind him, and I was happy that they had escaped.
I felt my swords being wrenched from my grasp, and glanced up at Azula, who gripped them with a sinister smile on her face, her scarred half making for a face of nightmares. Inwardly, I shuddered, honestly and truly afraid of what she would do to me.
I pursed my lips as Azula smirked at me, my hands clenched into fists. Deciding to waste no time, I quickly swung my arms in a circle, casting a bolt of white lightning at the Fire Nation Princess. She leaped over it, and Ozai used the opportunity to fire two crimson fireballs at me. I leaped away from the elevated throne, landing on the floor several feet away. Turning back around to face my opponents, I made a sweeping motion with my left hand, and my flaming blue Dragon entered the fray once more.
The beast roared as it brought its jaws down around Ozai, who barely managed to leap out of the way. At the same time, Azula sliced her hand downwards, creating a line of blue flames that sliced down towards me. Changing focus from my puppet, I quickly thrust my fist upwards, firing a short blue flame that dissipated my opponent's. Ozai suddenly appeared at my side, and letting my instincts guide me, I swept my hand to the left, and the Dragon slammed into the Fire Lord as he raised a flaming shield around himself. The sheer force of the attack caused him to slide back a ways, but unfortunately, I had allowed myself to become distracted.
A stream of blue flame shot towards me, and I barely raised my arms and created a shield as it slammed into me. With my attention occupied, it was soon joined by a crimson stream, which forced me to stagger backwards. I clenched my teeth as I held my shield in place, feeling the heat from both of my opponents' flames dangerously close to me. Summoning what strength I had, I gathered as much power as I could before I released it, shouting as I unleashed a massive explosion of blue flames that sent my opponents flying backwards.
With a momentary respite, I took a deep breath before aiming two kicks at Azula, firing quick, successive blue fireballs at her. As she blocked them, I charged forward, leaping into the air and aiming a kick at her head. She dodged, and after a brief but furious exchange, she aimed a punch at my throat. I dodged just in time, following up by grabbing her arm and flipping her onto the floor. She landed on her back with a grunt, and I reared by fist back. Just as I started to bring it down, however, a hand caught my fist, and I turned to see Fire Lord Ozai's face just before he struck me in the face.
My vision flashed with pain as I staggered back. Shaking my head in order to clear my vision, I prepared a counterattack. I bared my teeth as I aimed a kick at the Fire Lord's head, only to suddenly see a small, delicate foot come rushing towards me. I then found myself falling onto the floor. Never willing to give up, I stood back up, charging at Azula. For what seemed like an eternity, we went on like this: I would attack one, only to have the other strike me while I was distracted.
As the struggle dragged on, I felt my strength wane. My attacks became slow and sluggish, while every exertion felt like I was attempting to lift a Komodo Rhino with one arm. Ozai struck me in the face once more, and I grunted in pain as I staggered backwards, suddenly finding the strength to stand unbearable as I fell to my knees.
"End this pointless struggle" the older man said as he and his daughter stood over me. "You have lost; your army is defeated, and this… vain attempt on my life has obviously failed".
Panting heavily, I gazed at the two before me. Wiping some of the blood from my mouth, I replied "So long as I draw breath, I will never stop. I will never cease in my efforts until you and all that you have designed are brought tumbling down. I will oppose you with all of my strength and resolve, and one day, you and everything your forefathers have built shall crumble". Ozai sneered at me for a moment before his fist was the last thing I saw.
Jin held onto his brother, dragging him as he made his way back to the rest of the invasion force. Eventually, he reached a wall of rock, and after setting his brother down for a moment, thrust his arms forward. The wall shattered into oblivion, sending small bits of rock and clouds of dust askew. Once the debris cleared, Jin could see the rest of the invasion force gathered on what looked like the approach to the Royal Palace.
"Jin! Li!" Katara cried upon taking note of them. She and a few others ran over to them, and Jin felt relief as he no longer had to carry his brother. "Where are Shan We and Takara?" the Waterbender asked. Jin clenched his eyes shut and shook his head, indicating that they hadn't made it back from their battles. Just then, the Earthbender took note of the large shapes moving across the sky, and looked up to see a shocking sight. Massive airships were making their way forward, towards the beach.
"They're making their way towards the beach" Aang noted. His eyes opening with sudden realization, he said "Oh no! They're going to destroy the submarines!"
"How are we all supposed to escape?" Sokka asked.
"We're not" Hakoda replied gravely, and Jin turned to see him being supported by Bato.
"Then our only choice is to stand and fight" the Water Tribe boy said, his hand clenching into a fist. "We have the Avatar; we could still win".
"Yes, with the Avatar, we could win… on another day" Hakoda countered. "You kids have to leave. You have to escape on Appa together".
"What?" Katara asked incredulously, voicing Jin's thoughts on the matter. "We can't leave you behind. We won't leave anyone behind".
"You're our only chance in the long run" Hakoda told her. "You and Sokka have to go with Aang somewhere safe. It's the only way to keep hope alive".
"The youngest of our group should go with you" Bato added. "The adults will stay behind and surrender. We'll be prisoners, but we'll all survive this battle".
"I've got some experience with Fire Nation prisons" Tyro said. "It's not going to be easy, but we'll get by".
Jin didn't even hear as the airships destroyed the submarines, stranding them in the Fire Nation capital. His attention was focused on the fact that he and his brother would be losing their father and Takara yet again. Fate, it seemed, was a cruel mistress, and as he turned to look at his brother, Jin could see tears running down his cheeks. After tearful goodbyes, Aang stood up and addressed the crowd. "Thank you all for being so brace and so strong. I'm gonna make this up to you". With that, Appa took off, and as he let out a mournful growl, Jin and Li held themselves close, sharing in their tears and grief.
Well, there we have it. The unfortunate conclusion to the invasion: Shan We and Takara lost their respective battles, and are now prisoners. I've been planning this moment since the very beginning of the story, and it was just as emotional then as it was writing it. Shan We's last stand, in particular, was a little difficult to play out, seeing as I want him to win, but realistically, everything played out like it would have.
I wanted to emphasize, for Takara's fight, that she has really grown since the story started. She's become an incredibly-talented warrior who's willing to stand up to her demons (literally) and fight for all she's worth. That being said, she still has a lot to learn, and fighting Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee at the same time would be too much for her to handle.
Also, Shan We, while an incredible Firebender, would have lost to Ozai and Azula. One-on-one, he can beat Azula and almost beat Ozai, but two-on-one and he is down for the count.
Up next: The Western Air Temple!