"We're approaching the coastline everyone," Hakoda announced. "We finally get to sleep on land. You know what that means, right?"
"Booze," Someone shouted.
"Sex!"
"Party!"
Katara and the other teenagers looked around the cheering adults confused. Save Sokka who also cheered with them all.
"Sokka," his sister admonished.
"What? Can't I be a guy?"
"Now, now," Hakoda interrupted. "Everyone here has deserved a break. But let's not get out of control. Fire Nation ships patrol this coastline. Stay alert."
Haru's father was absent from Hakoda's announcement. Instead, he looked out to the hills on the horizon.
"Whatcha looking at dad," Haru asked.
"You know what's over that horizon?"
"Ba Sing Se. The capitol of our great kingdom."
"Yes. For over a century the Fire Nation has attacked its great wall. Without success. Through all the pain and misery of the last century, it has served as a safe haven. A beacon of hope against the endless tide. Yet it has not joined the fight for several decades. Not since the birth of the new king. It's a sleeping titan. One who's effort could be the deciding factor in this battle."
"Why do you think they've abandoned said fight?"
"Who can say for sure? Perhaps they've lost faith and have cowered away from the harsh realities of war. We need to remind them of the strength our people hold."
"If we have any strength at all," Haru said.
"We do. Look at what we've built. We've assembled nearly all the tribes of earthbenders from around the earth kingdom. We've survived all attempts to hinder our cause. We have what it takes to pull this world back from the brink. Somewhere over that horizon, the key lies. I can't wait to see it. It must be amazing."
….
"There it is," Alphys said in awe. "I've heard about it. But never thought I'd actually get to see it."
"I saw the wall once," Aang commented from atop Appa's head. "From the sky. Never went in though. The nomads weren't fond of it. They viewed it as a prison. Where no one could be free."
"And I can't see anything," Toph commented.
"Thank you for that observation Toph. It's a shame you can't. It's… Woah."
"That impressive huh?"
"Yes," Alphys finished for him. "But that's not all. It seems we're not the only ones seeking to gain entry."
"What do you mean," the blind bandit asked. Tons of refugees want to get in all the time, right?"
"Not refugees this time. Invaders."
A long cylindrical object was making its way across the ground towards the base of the wall. An object with a Fire Nation insignia upon it.
"I… What is that" Alphys asked with awe. "Such machinery… I've never seen anything like it."
"It's a drill," Aang answered. "They're going to force their way through the wall."
….
"This drill is a marvel of scientific ingenuity and raw destructive power. When it tunnels through the wall, our forces will storm their city. The Earth Kingdom will fall. And you can claim Ba Sing Se in the name of your father. Nothing can stop us."
Azula stared blankly ahead at the war master as he rambled on and on about the brilliance of his new toy. A look usually reserved for Mai who sat in the seat next to her. The princess had displayed such detachment for over a week since her last encounter with the Avatar. It scared Mai more than any outburst she could display. Apparently the War master had finally noticed it too as he stopped his thinly disguised self-praise for a moment.
"Princess? Are you listening? You seem- "
"I am fine War Master Qin, "she responded in tone that both indicated she was anything but. But also, that any further questioning it would be unwise.
"As you say Princess. In any case, we need only reach the wall and we can end the war. After a century of war, you will be the first Fire Royal to properly set foot in the Earth palace in over a century. Your uncle only made it in a short ways before his expulsion. You will go farther than he ever did. A legacy worthy of the heir to the Fire Nation throne."
"Believe me War master. I will have plenty of legacies to my name before I die."
"Uh, Azula?"
The princess glared daggers at Mai.
"Sorry. Princess. Looks like we've got company. Earthbenders coming our way."
"Fear not," the war master reassured her. "The drill is impervious to any Earthbending attacks."
"Let's kill them anyway."
"Princess?"
"You heard me. Mai! Let's go give them a taste of Fire Nation hospitality. Aka kill them all."
For a minute there, Mai really wished she were still with the Avatar.
….
"Hold! Stop that… Thing! Don't let it land!"
Earthbenders on the wall took battle stances and pulled rocks from the ground with intent to launch them upon the approaching air bison.
"Wait," Aang called out. We're not enemies! Please hold your fire!"
They did not hold their fire.
"Dodge," Alphys commanded.
"No! Remember twinkle toes? Earthbenders hold their ground! Stand strong!"
"I don't think confrontation is the best idea," Alphys responded.
"It's the only idea! Fly at them! Show them who's boss!"
Against his better judgement, he followed Toph's recommendation and flew towards the incoming boulders.
"Remember! Don't dodge. Face them head on like an earthbender!"
He held his hand out before him and gritted his teeth.
"Aang," Alphys pleaded. "I really don't think- "
The boulder exploded into various chunks.
"I… Never mind. Continue."
Another boulder approached him. Another raised palm and projection of will. Another scattering of pebbles.
"That's it twinkle toes! I knew there was a real man in there somewhere!"
The guards upon the wall scattered as Appa made landing. Aang landed down from his back with a gust of wind.
"Did he… Just airbend?"
"Impossible! I saw him earthbend those rocks to smithereens!"
"I can both airbend and earthbend. I'm the avatar!"
The men took another step back. They all muttered to themselves.
"So, the rumors are true. The master of all elements. And… More airbenders?"
"Earthbender here! The rest of these saps? Yeah. All Airbenders."
"Rest of saps…. Does that make you a sap too…."
"I- Shoot. You got me there."
An elderly man stepped forward.
"Welcome to Ba sing Se, avatar. I assure you our city is usually a much better place. You just happen to be arriving at a bad time."
"Well, we're willing to help."
"No need for that good sir. We have Terra Team on the ground. They can manage the weapon. Never before has the Fire Nation ever broken through the wall. That's why they call it Ba Sing Se. Not Na Sing Se."
"What about the dragon of the west," Toph. "I hear he got in."
"Well, yes. But he was quickly expunged. And he took advantage of a moment of weakness. When Our troops were not at their best. We've had plenty of time to strengthen our defense since then."
"Sure, you have," Toph said. "But the more the merrier, right?"
"Again. No need my young friends. Please sit back and watch, will you?"
"I'm forty," Alphys said. Suddenly, she remembered something important.
"Uh… Sir?"
"General. General Sung."
"Sorry. General. Have ever seen a young man named Yang enter this city?"
"Maam, hundreds enter this city all the time. I rarely catch any of their names. Who is he?"
"… My son."
"My apologies."
….
Terra team to their credit was giving it their all. They produced layers of rocks to slow down the drill and launched stone pillars from the earth underneath tanks to flip them over.
"Ha," One of the boisterous members said. "This is the unstoppable Fire Nation army? I expected more! Give me a real challenge!"
As if to oblige him, a bolt of lightning hit him in the chest and tore through his heart. The earthbenders froze and looked for its source.
"Kill them all!"
Two girls slid down the side of the drill. One with curls and an apathetic bored expression. The other…. Murderous glee.
They threw more rocks at their foes, but they were too quick. The bored one retaliated with darts that impaled them by their shirts against the drill.
"Give us a hand here, pl- "
Their call for help was interrupted by their shrieks as blue flames seared the flesh form their bones.
The remaining soldiers cried out in terror. Even Mai stared gob smacked.
"See that, you filth! That's the future of all earthbenders! Your entire little shithole kingdom!"
The soldiers got their sense back too late. Flames surrounded them in a circle, leaving them nowhere to dodge the flames that snuffed out their lives.
"Azula… Woah."
"See? See how easily I did that? And they thought I wasn't cut out for it! That I was some weak helpless little girl!"
"Azula…"
"Well, they were wrong, weren't they? I'll show them. I'll show them all! I'll kill them all! The avatar! Everyone!"
….
"No," the general whimpered. He pulled away from the telescope. We're doomed. We're doomed!"
"Get it together wuss! Your city is under siege! Act like a general!"
"I… Yes of course."
"So do you want the Avatar's help now?"
The man bowed his head in in shame.
"Yes. Please."
"Great… So, we gotta go kill a metal monster…. Think I'm too lame for that….."
"Fair point," Aang asked. "How will we kill it? I don't think anything we can bend is enough to pierce that outer casing."
"Then we strike the inside."
"Scuse me, nerd," Toph asked.
"The outer shell of that is probably held up by several support pillars on the inside. If we cut those down, we could send the whole thing crashing down."
"Take it down from the inside….. Like my heart…"
"Uh…. Yes Nap. Like your heart."
"Awesome," Toph knocked her fists together. "Let's fight them together up close. Give them a taste of earth justice! Actually, forget I said that. That sounds dumb."
"Understood," the general acknowledged. "We'll remain up here to provide you air…. Wrong word. Just support."
While his friends headed for the edge to disembark on what was most likely a suicide mission Aang decided to take a look through the telescope himself.
He recoiled back in shock from the brutality below and turned to the general.
"What killed them?"
A girl. A Firebender. With blue flames."
His heart stopped.
….
"So how do we get inside," Aang pondered the obvious question. They were huddled down behind some rocks, staring up at the mechanical monstrosity bearing down on them.
"We can't let them see us until we get too close," Alphys responded. "If we could only blind them somehow."
"I like the way you talk nerd," Toph grinned. "I'm gonna conjure up a dust storm. After I do, get ready to move."
True to her word, Toph moved her arms and conjured up dust to block them from sight. Not before Aang had gotten an up-close look at Terra Team's corpses though.
"Right. Let's move!"
That they did. Toph had a little trouble keeping up as the others had air on their back to boost behind them. Not that she complained. It would show weakness.
"All right," Aang said as he stopped. "We're underneath it. And I see a way inside. Let's get in there and blow this thing apart."
The airbenders jumped up and were prepared to head on in when they noticed their Earthbending companion was still on the ground.
"You coming," Aang asked. "Or have you got cold feet?"
"You wish. I can't see int here with metal floors. I'll stay out here. Try to slow this thing down."
"Ok…. Have fun… And uh… Stay safe… Unlike me, you matter….."
"Oh Nappy. You know how to make a girl feel special."
They moved on with stealth as their primary advantage. Thankfully, all of them had experience in suing the air.
Eventually though, they came to a hallway with a guard who wouldn't move. Aang pursed his lips. Ow to deal with him…
"You can act! It's unlikely an enemy is going to show mercy when you first meet. So, you can act in ways that might increase their likelihood of surrender or retreat."
He supposed it was worth a try.
"Wait here," he told them. Both gave him an odd look.
"Hi there! Do you feel unappreciated? Taken advantage o- "
He didn't get a chance to finish before the man launched flames at him.
"Ok. I get it. You don't so much, but- "
The man got knocked against the wall into unconsciousness before Aang could finish.
"With all due respect Aang, what were you thinking? That is not the key to long-term survival!"
"I was just trying to avoid a fight."
"Really? I don't- No. We'll discuss this later. But please. Don't do something so absurd again."
Aang looked at the unconscious man.
Thanks for the advice Gyatso, he thought. Working out great so far.
….
"Hey… Azula? You uh… You ok?"
"Perfect. Never felt better."
"Really? So… That was you just now in a right state of mind?"
"I did what was necessary. They were enemies of our nation. They needed to be put down.
"With a grin on your face?"
"Might as well enjoy your job, right?"
"So, you're really fine? No- "
"Mai. I suggest you discontinue this line of discussion. I am doing my part and preparing for the main event. Nothing more."
"Main event? You mean when we get into Ba Sing Se."
"No. I mean when I meet the avatar again. Show him the kindness he's shown me. The horrors I have planned for him…"
She trailed off and giggled. This did nothing to soothe her fears. Before she could comment further however, Azula's attention was drawn elsewhere."
"War master? Is it just me, or are we moving slower?"
"I'm sure it's nothing princess. More Earthbenders trying to slow us down and delay the inevitable."
"That's not nothing," she growled. "Every second delayed is another second they have to ready their defenses. Mai. Let's go. I'm hungry for more charred flesh."
….
"Here's one," Alphys pointed to a metal bar standing tall up to the ceiling.
"So, we cut all these, and it should bring the whole thing down?"
"That's the plan."
"Great. So, how do we cut it? I don't think air is gonna cut it."
"That- Is a great question. Did you master that lightning trick with fire? I bet it could do the trick."
"Yeah. I never got to that."
"Spirits, what do we do then?"
"You're the smart one. Don't you know?"
"Maybe we could…. Find a tool….. or something…. Or maybe….. rock….."
"I guess that's all we 've got right now. Let's find something."
The closest they did find was an engineer with some kind of saw tearing through metal plates.
Right, Aang thought. Let's try this again.
Before he could even step around the corner, Alphys knocked the engineer into the wall again.
"Wha- You didn't even give me a chance!"
"Why would I? Give you a chance to alert the whole drill again?"
"Got the thingy….."
"Listen. I know this is hard to hear. But this is the enemy! If you don't hurt them, they're going to hurt you!"
"It's not that simple!"
"It is that simple! This is war! You don't win a war by patting them on the back and asking them to be friends!"
"The old nomads would never- "
"They're dead. This is a new world. Is this how you're going to react when you see that princess again? If so, you're going to die. Is that how you honor your family's memory?"
"Maybe we should… Destroy the drill… Then we can lie down and look at the sky…. Worthlessness helps….."
"I- Right. Get the other saws. Let's see if this works."
They went back to the base of the pole with their newly acquired tools. Each of them looked between the objects and the structure they were meant to cut.
"Well, guess we've gotta act like earthbenders. Head on."
So, they got to work sawing into the metal pole. It was a difficult task compounded by their relatively weak arm strength. With some time though…
"Finally," Alphys breathed heavily. "It's coming loose… Stand back!"
They gave it some distance as it slid from its attachment to the ground and ceiling. It fell off the thin railway and collapsed to the ground far below.
"Shit!"
Aang jumped.
"I don't think I've ever heard you swear before."
"We'll never make it at this rate. There are too many to cut and not enough time to do it in. they're going to get into the city…. They're going to find…. Fuck!"
Aang watched the doctor for a second to make sure she wasn't going to lash out again. Fortunately, she didn't.
"All our plans mean nothing if the Fire Nation gets inside the wall," Alphys bemoaned. "What do we do?"
"Too bad we gotta smash them all, you know….. If only we could….. only smash a few…. Right….."
Aang's eyes lit up.
"Maybe we don't have to cut them all down. Or even through all the way."
He walked up to Napstablook and jabbed his hands out suddenly and quickly to different points on his body. He finished off with a knock on his which caused the stoic man to fall over and onto his back.
"Oh….. haven't done this for a while…. Thanks…. Needed to remember my worthlessness…."
"No! Don't think that! Avatar, was it really necessary to give him even more self-loathing?"
"Wasn't my attention. I was just showing you something Toph has been teaching. You can use someone's own strength against him. Hit him at the right points and he'll lose balance. Then when he's reeling, you deliver the final blow. His own mass falls without the strength needed to hold him up."
Alphys blinked. Usually, it was she who confounded others with facts.
"Ok….. What?"
"Basically, if we take out a few beams around the drill and then deliver a force big enough from above to cause it all to cave in on itself."
She still seemed confused.
"Ok, maybe that wasn't the best explanation but- "
"No. I think I got it. We'll need to move fast though. Spirits. This is more action than I expected when I agreed to come with you."
"This is what you wanted though, isn't it? A chance to see the real world. To do real good?"
"Hmm. Yeah. Guess that part is nice."
….
"Come on twinkle toes! Hurry up! I can't do this forever!"
The little blind girl pushed back against the oncoming drill with all her might. She cursed her inability to bend metal. The particles were simply too fine. Something beyond even her ability.
"Spirits. This is a pain in the ass. I almost wish someone would show up to throw a bunch of fire at me. Jus to liven things up."
"Prayers answered!"
Something hot seared her feet, causing her to fall back onto her rear. She gripped it, howling in pain.
With her seismic sense, she felt two pairs of feet land on the ground before her. Both familiar. Both dangerous. With her hearing, she could hear the drill bearing down on her.
"Sorry twinkle toes I'm not dying today."
With effort, she conjured a hole beneath her to swallow her up before she could be crushed or caught and sealed it up behind her.
"That was," Mai paused, dreading Azula's reaction. "One of the Avatar's companions."
"I know. I have sight. Unlike her," the princess growled. "He's here. Trying to ruin my happiness again. It's only fair I return the favor."
….
"Attention, troops! The drill has reached the wall! Start the countdown to victory!"
"Great," Aang muttered as finally sliced through the metal pillar and severed it. "We don't have time to cut any more. This will have to be enough."
"So, what now, "Alphys asked panting. "How will you deliver the final blow?"
"On top. I'll make my way outside and- Crap! Duck!"
Blue flames shot down from a catwalk above. Merciless yellow eyes hit him with the most frightening death gaze. A few feet away stood another pair of yellow eyes watching with remorse. N one moved for a minute. Grey eyes met yellow.
"Run," Aang choked out.
Run they did. Barely avoiding more blue flames. They ran until they reached a fork in the road. One hall leading up. One down.
"Get out of here! I'll oversee the rest!"
"Aang," Alphys warned. "If you fight the princess, you must- "
"I know what I have to do. Now go!"
"Hmm… Wonder if he does…"
At the end of the hall, they found a hatch. Upon opening it, they saw a river of rocks and sludge.
"That's uh….. Ew….."
"Don't think we have a choice. Let's jump!"
They did indeed jump into the sludge and get carried away. Just as a dagger hit the wall behind where they previously stood.
Mai looked down into the muck and grimaced.
"Well, an excuse not to kill them. That's something I guess."
….
On top of the drill, Aang ran towards the front where the device was burrowing through the wall. He knew what he had to do… No. scratch that. He had no idea. How was he going to deliver enough force to shatter this thing? It seemed impossible.
He found a dent. An imperfection in the steel coating. The best place to strike. But with what?
"Wish toph knew how to metal bend. Or better yet- "
He got a tingling feeling running down his spine. Instinct telling him to move.
He ducked to dodge the blue fire and turned around in a fighting stance.
She stood about ten feet away. Her own feet in a similar stance. Her own face murderous.
His mind raced. How to beat her without a blood fest?
Mercy would just result in his own death. Could he act in some way that compelled her to-
She answered that with more flames.
He could always run. Run until he found some way to-
No. He had to stay and fight. Not an option to flee. He had to fight.
But he didn't have to kill her. Just injure her enough to- Do something.
He remained on the defensive while she pressed forward with an endless barrage of blue death. He suspected the only real reason for his continued survival was her obvious mental instability.
He didn't want to risk firebending. He knew no moves she couldn't counter. Also, it stood a greater likelihood of inflicting permanent damage.
That meant for the moment all he had was air. Air to dodge and keep the fire away from his person.
But he could only buy time for himself. Not for the people of Ba Sing Se. Not with the drill forcing it s way inside. He needed to deliver a killing blow to this thing and soon. But how?
His thoughts consumed him. Blinded him to Azula's movements. To her attacks. Long enough for one to graze his foot.
He gasped and fell to his other foot. With one hand, he clutched and massaged his burn. And with the other bent air to keep the flames at bay.
"Spirits, if only I had some rocks to- "
He lost focus for one second. That's all it took for his other foot to get singed. He cried out and fell backwards onto his arms. It took all his effort then to pull his way back.
He wasn't fast enough in this condition though. Azula quickly began closing the distance. Her grin turned ever more murderous as he grew more panicked.
"Gotcha, you little shit," she called out giddily as she gripped the front of his shirt. "No. More. Running!"
His hands grabbed her arm and tried to keep it away from his face. To compensate, she let go of his shirt and pressed her now free hand to his face.
She cackled at his screams.
"How does it feel? Powerless? Afraid? Now you know how Lo and Li felt!"
It looked like the end.
Then help rained down from on high. Giant boulders rained down around them. One darkened them in its shadow. Where many would see their life flash before their eyes, Aang saw opportunity.
Through the pain, he held a hand up to stop the boulder in its tracks and flung it at the princess.
He could have in that moment potentially delivered the fatal blow. No doubt, many around the world and across time would have applauded him for such an act. Death to the Fire Lord's daughter.
But he couldn't find it in himself. Against all odds, she had come to mean something more than an enemy. She had come to be a kindred spirit. More than that though, he was full of determination. Not to spill blood. Not again.
So, he held back and tossed it at her enough not to kill. But to deliver her into unconsciousness. She fell onto her back. Her beautiful face marred by a blood spot and a grimace.
He stared at her sadly. He'd found a way to act and not kill. But he still felt guilty.
The sound of rock falling apart snapped him back to reality. He had a mission.
"Right. Now all I need is- "
He jumped in the air as another boulder landed next to him. His eyes instinctively moved from the rock to the dent. An idea began to form in his head.
"Huh. You know, that could work."
He bent the boulder above the dent and cut it apart to form a cylinder. Its pointy end fit into the weak point.
"Perfect. Like a hammer. Now I just need enough force."
He took a deep breath and readied himself to sprint. He rushed full speed at the wall. With years of practice behind him, he ran up the wall, using the air to propel him up.
When he reached what he estimated was the halfway point of the wall's length, he turned back around and ran down at full speed. With enough force he would-
He saw Azula stir and realized too late the price he was about to pay.
His feet landed on the rock and forced it into the metal. Immediately, the impact produced a shockwave of wind that sent Azula flying back to the other end of the drill.
Without thought, Aang leaped after her and wrapped her in his arms. As they went sailing off the back of the drill, Aang pushed his feet forward and bent air from them to slow their impact.
After landing, the avatar looked up to witness the fruits of his labor. Rocky sludge poured from the massive machine, drenching everything nearby as the technological terror fell apart.
"Not bad Twinkle toes! You've got Earthbending spirit in you all right!"
"Toph! Professor Alphys! Nap! You made it out!"
"Not without some pain," Alphys pointed at Toph's feet. "Nor- Spirits! Your face!"
With the adrenaline wearing off, Aang finally began to feel the pain of his new facial feature hit him like- Like he just hit the drill. He collapsed to his knees, struggling to keep Azula in his arms.
"We need to go. Back onto the wall."
"What about her," Toph gestured to his acquaintance. "Hand her over to me and I'll put her down for good."
"What? No! No! We are not killing her!"
"Aang," Alphys started nervously.
"No! This isn't us! This isn't the air Nation! How can we build a world of peace if we show none?"
"This is ridiculous," Toph responded. "There are exceptions. You can't spare everyone. Certainly not someone like her!"
"Yeah…. Look what she did to your face… Nasty jam splash there… Hey…. Do you hear….."
Flames hit the ground by Toph's feet. Not enough to singe her again, but enough to make her fall back. Darts pinned her to the ground.
With the main threat out of the way, the Firebenders landed on the ground and surrounded them. Mai accompanied them but with noticeably less fervor.
"Release the princess," One soldier demanded.
"And what," Toph responded. "We get to walk free? I say smoke her!"
"No," Mai ordered. "Let's not let emotions rule the day- "
"You don't get to offer advice," the blind bandit interrupted. "We took you on as a friend and you stabbed us in the back!"
"I… Azula's death can only result in your own. You must know that."
"Yeah. But it'd make you angry. I say it's worth it!"
Mai bit her lip. Anyone with eyes could see her inner turmoil. Her eyes looked Aang's way. He returned a sympathetic glance.
"We're taking her," Aang said. "Let us go and we won't- "
A hand grabbed his throat and pushed him to the ground with insane strength. He found himself pinned on his back with a potential madwoman grinning bloody murder down at him.
"Better idea. Executions for all!"
"Azula, wait! Think of the opportunity here!"
The princess glared daggers at her friend.
"I am thinking of the opportunity Mai. The opportunity to win this war."
"His death won't win this war. You kill and we're still no closer to conquering the Earth kingdom than before."
"We would have conquered the city if not for him."
"Your uncle broke through the wall, and they still forced him out. It's pointless to strike form the outside. We have a century of war to prove it."
"And why is that any excuse to spare this whelp?"
"Because now we have a way beyond the wall. The avatar is our ticket in! He can give you access to the Earth King! We can take this city down from within! But not if he's a corpse!"
Azula pondered for a minute in silence. Her fist clenched and trembled with rage. After a minute however, she relented and leaned in close to the Avatar. The hairs on the back of his neck rose up and his heart beat erratically.
"You will escort me to the Earth King and help me bring the wall down. You will fulfill the oath you once swore to me as a member of my guard. If you fail or do anything to upset my destiny, your friends here will die. Are we clear, dear Kuzon?"
"That's not my- "
She squeezed his throat.
"Do. You. Understand?"
"Twinkle toes….."
"Yes."
"No….
"Some Avatar…. Lightweight….."
Guess you're not much of an earthbender after all, Twinkle Toes."
His eyes looked Mai's way. She couldn't look back. She appeared ashamed.
He felt the same way.
….
"All right, you're next up! The Kyoshi warriors or whatever you're called!"
The Kyoshi warriors in this case consisted of Suki and Sokka who insisted he be called one such so as to get ahead in the line. Katara rolled her eyes at his cheeky grin.
The rest of the Kyoshi warriors were vowing to stay back and help run some pirates off the coast along with Bato. Hakoda's second-in-command who he was in discussion with now.
"Remember. Don't chase them too far from shore. That's their element. And you're there to protect the coastline and our base of operations."
"Got it boss," Bato responded. "With our men, the Earthbenders and these fine ladies, We're in good hands."
Said fine ladies being the rest of the Kyoshi warriors. They giggled and waved Suki goodbye. Pakku didn't seem happy about the current arrangement.
"Why can't the girls traveling with us stay and lend the fleet a hand? They want to prove their battle prowess don't they?"
"They want to be more than fighters old man," Hakoda responded. "And they've earned the right to stand in Ba Sing Se. In the Earth King's presence. Get over it."
The old man clearly wanted to continue pressing the case but relented with a groan and a roll of his eyes. Katara couldn't keep the grin off her face.
"Gosh this is really happening, huh," Haru said with a humongous grin. "I get to see the Earth Kingdom Capitol! This is like a dream come true!"
"I guess so. I never thought I'd get to see it myself. Me! A waterbending tribe girl! I thought I'd live and die amongst snow and ice!"
"And I thought I'd die never getting to see my father. Or restore the tribes! Yet here we both are. About to embark on a boat into the city of walls and secrets! And soon, who knows? Maybe even get an audience with the Earth King himself!"
"Yep. We've come a long way. I'm sure your family is proud of you."
"And yours of you, Katara. Without you, my family would still be separated. My father and I still in prison."
"And I probably would have joined that Jet weirdo. Spent my days flooding innocent villages. Turned out a mass murderer."
"Maybe. But neither of us turned out that way. As long as we're together, I reckon we can do anything."
"As long as we're together," she repeated.
As if by instinct, he took her hand. She didn't flinch away.
"Then we'll face it together. Whatever may come."
"And we'll survive."
"You better mean it, Haru."
"I do. I- "
"Seriously. I've lost enough. Promise me you'll live."
"All right, Katara. I promise you. Whatever happens, I will live. We'll win this war. And greet the dawn together."