Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Spark of War. Enjoy the 3700-word chapter. I don't own Avatar, Nick, Michael Dante DiMartino, and Bryan Konietzko do.
If there was any real doubt in Hao's mind? it was broken knowing what was coming and even dreading it all.
What he did know was that he looked back at the beaches of the Fire Nation with a heavy heart. It was almost heartbreaking to deal with and it became harder and harder to imagine.
He looked at Ty Lee who watched from the tree line. It was clear more and more that whatever came next as he looked down at the ground before smiling, ultimately?
It seemed he was in over his head anyway. There was a lot more to try and figure all out, something he could and would deal with at the moment.
There was a lot more to try and understand what to do next… All of it became much more impossible to swallow, something he needed to understand as he placed his helmet atop his head.
If they were in for such a battle? Well? It'd be something for him to fight out of his mind at the end of the day and he wasn't ready for it all to end so quickly.
He didn't know what to try as of now, he didn't at all wish to relax. Not simply because he didn't believe he could relax but because he didn't want to and he knew it at the moment.
There was something else to try and figure out as of now. he didn't know what to understand, something beyond all control and reason. He had a lot more on his mind to figure out their destination and it showed, and it did show as they thought more and more about what to say and do next.
The insanity on his mind was just too much to bear, too much to think of everything on the line as of now. they had a lot more, all too much as of now what to do next as she was all too thrown off, something more impressive than it usually was.
All of it pointed to something beyond his control. Hao said nothing and simply awaited the idea of being a soldier, a member of something far more beyond him. still? it scared him to think more and more of it all, to fight in a war that he was unable to deal with.
It bugged him more and more at the moment but he was tiresome as he looked upwards as he looked down at the ground, unsure and uncertain of what to say and do next. There was a lot more at the time.
Hao sighed and rubbed at his temples. There was a lot more on the line, something that bothered him to no real end. He knew more and more at the moment that another war was going to happen more and at the moment.
All of it pointed more and more to something he just didn't want to or wish to see the end at the end of the day.
Oy, did he wish to deal with it before it drove him insane? Did he wish to see it all to the end before the madness took him. that alone would be worth more than before.
All of it was odd, and embarrassing it was better than denying it and that would cause a lot less pain than usual, a lot less painful than it usually meant. Whatever he did next was going to cut a lot deeper than before, something he had made peace with.
What had he made peace with to be fair? How well did it work? Knowing it all meant something he couldn't hope to make peace with.
Ty Lee waved back, knowing which soldier he was due to the small shade of pink upon a part of his armor. It was not a standard choice but a piece she had placed in a desire to rest, one they would not be able to anytime soon. No, they had to keep going and go on which they could only prepare for the worst if nothing else. A very awkward way to deal with it if possible.
They had a small amount of pride in such things, something that needed to be dealt with. Each soldier was going to fight knowing that they couldn't afford setbacks. If for no other reason than it meant more and more damage was avoided
Yes, they had to keep going, unsure and uncertain of battles shortly, much nearer than he wished it to be and a nightmare he didn't know about anytime soon. It'd be a miracle if he didn't at all chew through their pride and understanding if it did.
Every small little measure just planted a deeper flag in the world than possible as it cut through him, cut into him more and more, and made him feel insecure amongst the flag.
(Present Days)
Hao was utterly silent, not simply just because he didn't know what to say but because everything in the world bugged him. He didn't know when they were getting new reinforcements, he didn't know when fresh food and water would arrive, they were well entrenched in enemy lines.
Yes, he expected within a day something terrible to go wrong and someone to die. All of it seemed to be an idea that he really could and would challenge, part of him almost felt like dragging himself over to the other side and asking… However? He was not stupid enough; he knew damn well what would happen if it went badly? His men would be down the leader they needed.
Hao sighed and pet Razorbeak. He didn't feel like a leader and didn't deserve the role at any damn rate. It felt more like a cage he was locked in for the betterment of others.
However? Unlike most officers? Hao knew the duties of his station. He was fully aware of what he was expected to do and he did not see this as a stepping stone.
He was already general, already someone high up on the leaderboard and it wasn't like he could grow much higher, doing so would only get him in hot water with Ozai.
He snorted; he barely saw the man even when he was able to report. He always seemed ironclad, unshakeable… And ruthless. He was concerned more with winning the war than winning it with their men coming home to their families.
Hao envied those in the trenches, they simply had to fight while he was stuck with the fact, he had to order them to die for their own goals to be gained and achieved.
So much did he lose and yet for so little gained in combat. It beckoned him down a road he was not at all comfortable with. Then again? What would he be comfortable doing now knowing his men were going into trenches and not coming back out?
He sighed as he rolled his eyes at it all. He had a lot on his mind and no real way of carrying it all out. All of their men seemed to be able to relax once more as she seemed to relax once more, looking downwards before as of now.
All of their options were disturbed to him, he didn't know what to do about their army and every single little option on the horizon.
"Sir? We've gotten reports the enemy is setting up another defensive line towards our lines." Hao said before he crossed his arms once more.
This wasn't going to be something that could and would be able to relax once more. Hao frowned and looked downwards at the ground for now as he considered his options. He considered a LOT more than he could deal with, for now, unsure and unable to think of everything.
Oh, did it hurt to be General within any part of the Fire Nation Army? The nightmares plaguing him did not retreat, nor did they at all manage to relax back into his psyche anytime soon.
All of it just resulted in a plagued and managed mess of his brain. It needed to be cut like cancer from his body before something terrible came of it.
"Keep the catapults ready, we're bombarding them if they move the line," Hao ordered with a sigh. "No sign of the relief ships we've sent for?" Hao questioned, realizing what was probably the answer.
He knew more and more they'd be left out to dry by their allies and very little would change that. If the fire nation army wasn't trying to leave them to die? It was just dealt with automatically again and again.
"No, sir. No sign of them yet." Hao heard as he sighed.
They'd be dead within a week at this rate and not once did he find it to be amusing. They wanted him to die, to fail… Not because he didn't have the results, they wanted but because he had a heart. He'd win the war but he wasn't out to kill or slaughter, merely win a war that he had been asked to.
They wanted people more ruthless which he supposed made sense considering they were at war. Compassion wouldn't win battles and it certainly didn't help when someone was willing to fight to the death.
Yes, so much the better. So very much the better for now he supposed as of now nor could they be made to do more with it all.
He was unsure and uncertain of what to try and deal with something like this as he cracked his fingers. All the more the better and all the more and more unsure and uncertain of his actions before now as he seemed to be able to relax. He took a deep breath, looking downwards at the ground.
What else could he do besides try and fight? He had the fight to get to, he had a lot more on his mind as he clicked his fingers against his arms.
He really and truly didn't at all know what the best course of action would be for now…. They had limited men, limited resources, and encroaching front lines slowly bearing down on them and he had yet to push his advantage. One would think this would be the end of him.
However? He wasn't going to end sometime soon. There were goals and despite the rest of command hating him? He had a plan, one which could and would need to deal with for now.
"Can one of you get me a quill? I have several letters to write… And an idea on my head." Hao said before he looked downwards at the ground with a wave of anger growing more and more.
All of it was odd, over and over did he learn from mistakes easily and without fail… Truly, he could and would keep growing and would without a single result on end.
What he didn't know was what Ty Lee and the rest of his men were dealing with. He truly was terrified for her and the rest of them over and over as he looked downwards with amusement, all prepared for the push that would send the enemy skidding backward.
He'd banish them to the window constantly over and over against the wall until something that could and would continue to be as insane as this. All the measures on his mind told him that this was a bad idea… A very bad and nonsensical one, not even he could deal with it again and again, making it feel more and more like a monstrous visage for now.
All of it made him want to scream again and again. He knew his path was going to be able to relax once more and he was able to relax once more as he thought of his next opinion, one which could not be handled any better up and down.
He had a very annoying hunch that whatever his plan was? It'd pale in comparison; the enemy had many advantages and would close down on them like a giant wave of water.
Very cold, ice temperature water. It made him sigh as he realized for now that the best plans, he had laid in the sand were crashing down on him like a wave of water.
Yep, he wanted to cut it all down, rid the world of the driftwood he called his commanding officers. It hurt how little they seemed to understand the war, treating them like pieces of paper on a ledger.
If for no other reason? They'd march down a road that had no end, they'd draw a line in the sand and gladly send dozens of willing men and women within the military and into the frontlines while they sat behind barricades.
None of them could feel the sting of despair as soldiers were thrown downwards and into the meat grinder called war.
Hao simply sighed and looked downwards at the ground, unsure of everything, of every scrap of pain and suffering when it was all over with. Had something else managed to go so far, he might not have given it the time of day but this?
Oh, did this hurt to try and see and do anything about, did he weep over the broken forms of his men on the battlefield, driven only by a cold desire to balance it, to balance them in the best way.
He sighed and leaned back on the command table, eager to end this farce of a conflict before now. He managed to try and figure out a plan.
"Can someone get me the Admiral? I need to have a talk with him and see where our support is, we should possibly talk about reinforcements and new fronts." Hao said as he sighed, ready to go and punch the admiral in charge of this part of the world.
The man was either a fool or something far worse. He knew more and more without support from the rest of his men backing him up.
Their men weren't going to last on the frontlines, soldiers not just for him but for the rest of the empire. That had to change or else they'd be corpses on a damned beach.
He was going to scream and kill something. truly, he would if this didn't change and he'd make sure someone's head was on a pike.
If for no other reason than he would not accept defeat and terror for now, he would not allow it to fall apart as she looked downwards. They were unsure and looking like they'd fall apart when it came crashing down on them both. He was going to be eager to cut down on their heads.
Hao was eager, ready to cut it all apart, looking down at the ground while he smirked and plotted for something else. He wanted nothing more than the defeat of their enemies all over the place.
Had something else managed to end sometime soon as he looked downwards at the ground, had something else before now as she looked downwards if they looked upwards and into the sky?
There was a lot more to try and figure out, a lot more to see and recognize for now. What was the next move? How did they set the move off? How did they get to where they could and would be able to relax over and over?
If he was honest? The idea of being a general was so ridiculous to him and yet Hao did the best he could with everything he had to make do the best he was able to, truly? It had no other option than to fight again and again.
He sighed to himself and leaned on the crate next to him, he didn't feel like a general at times.
Hao hummed and questioned what had become of the rest of his men and the women under his command when it came to it for now.
All of it hurt and yet all of this was part of being a general, of fighting on the frontlines of war and battle. It wasn't something he could afford to be.
"Someone get me a letter; we're going to be telling the command where they can send reinforcements," Hao ordered as he sighed deeply and without even a second of hesitation sent Razorbeak to go get the quill.
It would be a very long and tedious day as an officer, one he could not wait to end. They were going to give them reinforcements and he wasn't going to see his men die for some damn hill. The Earth Benders owned land that was easily guarded and had all the power in the world.
But sure, go fight the people who more or less controlled the land you were standing on. The command did not at all seem to do any recon, or any idea of what was going on, no, they simply floated and sputtered through years of conflict again and again.
He wasn't going to be doing anything to make them appear less stupid. However? He would need to show that his position needed support. Spirits forbid the commanders of the Fire Nation military to look weak in any regard.
That seemed to be the only thing they cared about, their standing amongst the Fire Lord, even if they didn't at all know what they were doing.
Troops were thrown at the enemy slapdash without even a second to try and consider them anything else. He was prepared to go down swinging obviously, but he wasn't willing to die over nothing, that was just stupid for now.
Had he come to care about it seemed to try and figure out more while he tapped his fingers on his arms. They had something else to try and figure out.
(Past)
Hao felt uneasy on the ship, not just because they were away from the land where the enemy had advantages but because he knew something about it all was bothering him.
This place was off, everything here was off… He had no real desire to be fighting yet it seemed to be more and more disturbing to them than him.
Perhaps it was because he had known he'd be fighting that made him want to not think about it. One would not wish to be drawn into pointless combat when it came down to it knowing what was coming and what to see and do about it all… Life always seemed to have a way of acting odd.
He didn't know, he couldn't possibly understand when life came down to it. The amount of possible annoyance at the end of the day before now was going to be taking used to at the moment.
He sighed; he wasn't mad at anything besides himself. He had left Ty Lee alone after promising to be her friend for now, it was a jerk move even if she didn't see it for now. She had a lot more to try and figure out.
"What I'm going to need to deal with now is going to be bothered for the time being… I'm a soldier yet I'm fretting over this?" Hao thought aloud before he sighed to himself, ready to try and figure it out as of the time being as he hummed to himself, ready to scream, looking upwards at the ground.
He was too interested at the end of the day; it would continue to be odder and odder to him as he saw it going nowhere anytime soon. If he could not handle it properly?
Ty Lee seemed to try and figure out as he was able to try and understand as he clicked his enemies once more, they had a lot more to see and do, a lot more to fight through as he sighed to himself once more, ready to scream into the vapid void.
They were utterly thrown off, utterly unsure, and unable to do anything about it for now as he hummed, ready to see it all end for now. He'd see it die out for now… Mainly because it was clouding his mind.
If he survived today? He'd let his thoughts as he hummed to himself, ready to scream for now. He'd let it all flow up to the surface, something that could only seek to vivify itself again and again… There was such a source of it in the world that it continued to grow more and more terrifying.
What did he deal with next? It wouldn't matter, not yet. He had to keep growing and going.
Hao leaned on the edge of the ship, ready to try and focus as he conjured a flame in the palm of his hand, life didn't at all seem to bother fire, something that burned and consume everything in the way for now.
Perhaps it drove him ahead… Perhaps he'd find some sort of salvation at the end of the day, a measure of mercy he could not wish to try and figure something out as of the time being.
Perhaps it just seemed to drive him madder and madder, it felt odd and was too weird to try and see it all end at the day's end.
It reminded him of a time when he and she had spent time on the beach, relaxing and thinking about life after this conflict ended.
(Years ago)
Hao only fell silent, unable to try and figure out what was going on at the moment, this would continue in some sort of fashion, one he didn't at all know, perhaps it would end at the moment… Perhaps they had some behavior that could be repeated to try.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that some chapters will be shorter than others. The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show some of both battles and what comes next. Until the 900–6500-word chapter, Lighting Wolf out!