The few remaining hours of the day melted into night. Once they did, Toph crept out of her room. She doubted that her parents were asleep, but it did not matter because no one would hear them through the levels of earth even if they yelled. The earthbender went outside and stopped for a moment, but it was just one. She could not delay for long. Toph had spent the entire day thinking over what she would be doing. Since the time had come, there was no more need for deep consideration. The girl bent the earth up around the entire home until it made a protective barrier that could keep her parents in and firebenders out. If the Earth Kingdom citizens won, they would be able to free the couple. If they lost…at least the pair would not have to be burned alive.
Toph hurried through the city, carefully avoiding soldiers. She could not attack yet. She needed to do it at just the right moment. The earthbender went to the Underground, but she did not waste time knocking.
"Hey," the Boulder said, a little disappointed.
"We need to attack now," she stated.
The fighters regarded her in shock. "Now?"
"Yeah, either we defend our city now or it starts getting worse real fast. Who knows what those new soldiers are going to be doing."
This caused Sokka to tense and he approached Toph. "There are new soldiers now? Can you tell how many?"
"About a regular ship load for them. The weird part about it this time is that there's this girl who was going all over Gaoling earlier."
Sokka's face turned pale and Katara felt herself becoming nervous as well. Toph sensed the change.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"A girl who's with the soldiers…that's got to be Zuko's sister," Sokka said.
Toph lifted an eyebrow in confusion. "And that's a bad thing?"
"Very bad," Katara informed him. "She's not on our side like Zuko and his uncle are."
"Then that's all the more reason we should do this," Toph reasoned. "I've already talked to Zuko, so he knows. I didn't get a chance to tell him that it'd be tonight, but he'll figure that out when he starts hearing the fight."
Just as the earthbender said this, the group heard a crash and screams. The trio turned to Toph in horror.
"Not those sounds, right?" Sokka asked.
Toph's eyes were wide as well. "Not at all. I didn't set up anything for there to already be people screaming."
Quickly, the group moved back above ground. An attack had begun without their involvement. People were running away from flames getting blasted at them. Homes and other buildings had been set on fire. Toph stomped to make a shield with earth that prevented fire from burning anyone behind her. She felt the soldiers around them and split the shield into pieces that launched at each one of them. The impact sent the firebenders flying back, but they were not the only ones of their kind. More invaders replaced them as the other fighters divided the work. The Boulder and his comrades charged at the firebenders, sinking some into the ground. While they did, Aang used earthbending to make the ground beneath soldiers tremble so that they could not get proper footing. Once they were off balance, he finished it with airbending so that they were thrown away from everyone.
The siblings did not stay out of this either. They focused on the burning buildings. Using the water from a pouch, Katara began putting out the fires. This gave Sokka time to help the people get out safely. Anger coursed through Toph as she felt the citizens getting led out of their destroyed homes. She had been paying attention to where the soldiers were going the entire time. This had been fast. They had already done so much damage. Although she could not see, she could smell the smoke and feel heavy thuds from where debris fell off buildings.
It was difficult for anyone in Gaoling to miss the chaos outside. Zuko and Iroh heard the shouts simultaneously. They both rushed outside to see soldiers chasing down civilians. Embers floated in the air from all the flames. The prince did not think about whether someone would see him or not. His only thought was on whether or not his friends were hurt. So, he ran into the worst of the chaos, following the loudest sounds. There were too many people to spot anyone easily. Zuko combined some of his fire with the flames from a soldier to prevent one of the earthbenders from being blasted. In frustration, he realized he still could not find any of the kids. He was sure Sokka and Katara would be together, but they were nowhere to be seen. A strong gust of wind finally alerted him to Aang's location. Impressed, he saw the Avatar lift a dozen soldiers into the sky with his airbending before they landed heavily back on the ground. Not too far from him, Zuko spotted Toph, but there was someone neither she nor the monk noticed.
Azula was using fire to levitate. She looked between the earthbender and airbender. They both were causing problems with her plan, but only one was supposed to be brought back alive. Preparing a lightning bolt, the princess got ready to shoot Toph. Zuko's eyes widened and he sprinted over to the earthbender, tackling her in time for the electricity to miss. Azula glared at him, but before she could prepare a follow-up attack, Aang created a powerful blast of air that hit her. Flying was not going to be effective as long as he was there. It was safer on the ground, so she gracefully landed (a detail which annoyed her brother).
"So, you're officially a traitor now?" she asked conversationally. "You'd sabotage an attack from your own sister so that you could protect some random earthbender…what a shame. Dad won't be happy to hear that."
"You have to know this isn't right, Azula," Zuko stated, gesturing around them. "You're trying to burn innocent people alive!"
"They're hardly innocent if they stand against the Fire Nation. Your priorities aren't where they need to be. Maybe you haven't noticed, Zuzu, but we're at war with the world."
"And that doesn't seem like a bad thing to you?"
"It was their choice."
"No, it wasn't and you know it. Great-grandfather started this, and now everyone's suffering."
"I'm not suffering. If you were worthy of the royal family, you wouldn't be either."
Zuko frowned at the girl, but he saw that her gaze had moved from him. She was looking at Toph again. At this closer distance, she saw that the younger girl was blind. That was unexpected. The princess went through explanations in her mind until she also noticed that Toph was barefooted. It was possible that there was a reason for that. Zuko knew the calculative expression on Azula's face too well and whispered to Toph.
"She's going to try to use more attacks you can't sense soon. You and Aang should fight the soldiers on the other side of the city."
A doubtful expression was on the girl's face. "Are you going to be okay alone?"
Zuko did not feel confident, but he knew he had less value as a captive than the Avatar and less exploitable weaknesses than the earthbender.
"I'll be okay. If anything happens, the world needs Aang and he's going to need an earthbending teacher."
Toph frowned, but she went along with the request. Running towards the airbender, she moved his attention to some of the approaching soldiers.
"Follow me! There are more soldiers on the west side of the city."
Aang glanced at Zuko and saw his determined nod. Unsurely, he left with Toph, using airbending to suffocate fires as they ran. As they moved to the other part of Gaoling, Iroh was on the east side. His heart pounded in his ears as he searched for his nephew and the other children. What made it take longer was the fighting around him. This situation was unlike those before when he could just stop a fire from around a corner and pretend like he had done nothing. This was an attack and he was a general. There were expectations he could not meet. The firebender could not lead the soldiers in their massacre of the Earth Kingdom citizens. A sole benefit of the chaos was that it kept most of the soldiers from being able to request orders. They could hardly even see Iroh amidst the smoke and embers. The fighters and earthbenders also provided much assistance since they could protect the citizens as he continued his search.
A new sound caught Iroh's attention when he heard another building collapse. It was the first inn he had stayed in. Yet, it appeared odd. It did not look like it had completely fallen. Something was keeping it up. Going closer, Iroh saw that a barrier of ice had been created, saving a group of people from being crushed. Katara melted the ice on one side so that the group could escape. Sokka helped an older man whose leg had been badly injured by the debris. Once the people were out, the boy called back to his sister.
"That's everyone!"
Katara left as well, then used the water to put out the fire. She turned quickly when she heard a fire blast, but Sokka moved in front of her and deflected it with the sword. More soldiers started to surround the duo. The brother and sister got prepared to defend the civilians and themselves, but someone spoke before there was an attack.
"Have we sunk so low as a nation that we'll attack children?" Iroh asked.
The soldiers did not lower their stance.
"We were told to burn Gaoling to the ground," one stated. "No prisoners unless we find the Avatar."
"Surely, you don't want to kill everyone," Iroh said, feeling concerned.
"Our orders come from the Fire Lord, Sir," another soldier said, eyes trained on the waterbender in case she made any sudden movements.
The firebenders' eyes widened when the general stepped between them and the siblings.
"General Iroh, what are you doing?"
"I cannot stand idly by as you follow these orders."
A tense silence hit the group as realization began to dawn on the soldiers.
"Sir, if you stand against the fire lord, that's..."
"Treason, which I believe is of greater importance than focusing your firebending on two young warriors," Iroh said.
The man's voice was calm, but his eyes were alert as he watched for attacks from any one of the soldiers. They seemed almost frozen in place. Several of their arms momentarily lowered before they returned to the way they had been standing.
"Please, General, stand aside and let us complete this mission."
"I won't," Iroh told them. "I understand that you fight for the royal palace, but if you still have respect for my time as fire lord, consider the orders you're given. Following them simply because of who gives them has led to many lost lives. Our home is already strong. We don't need to destroy the world to prove that."
The firebenders got quiet again, but one started to glare.
"Traitor!" he hissed.
Seeing a fire blast, Iroh was about to deflect it, but one of the other soldiers did first. The former comrades turned on one another, adding to the chaos by having fire shot against more fire. This allowed the civilians to scurry off to as much safety as they could find while the battle was ongoing. The siblings went over to the uncle.
"That's definitely a good way to have less soldiers to fight," Sokka said, grinning.
"Thanks for helping us," Katara added.
Iroh gave them a warm smile. "You're very welcome." His expression became more concerned. "Have you seen Zuko?"
"No," Sokka told him. "We've been going from house to house. The first people we've seen so far who aren't one of the city dwellers are you and the soldiers." The boy also began feeling worried. "Maybe he's with Toph and Aang. He probably heard all the noise from their battle."
Iroh glanced around them, seeing that most of the fires had been put out by then. "We need to find them."
Agreeing, the siblings began following the firebender as they searched the city. While they did, Azula was smirking at Zuko.
"You know that you won't win against me, so I guess this is all a distraction. It won't matter," she said. "I'll still return with the Avatar in chains and Gaoling destroyed."
"Until you're sent out again," the prince countered.
"Until our work's done."
"Father is never going to be satisfied."
"Never with you, but you're not going to be a factor after this, Zuzu."
The boy's heartbeat sped up and he barely rolled away from a stream of fire shot at his core. Azula quickly followed up the attack with another blast that got his back. The armor provided some protection, but the heat from her blue flames was nearly too much for the equipment. Azula saw an opening and created a cyclone of fire to surround Zuko. Its circle continued getting smaller as the fire neared the other bender.
"Dad's going to make me his heiress when you're gone," she gloated. "Fire Lord Azula. Doesn't that have a nice sound to it?" When she heard no response, she smiled. "I guess it doesn't matter if you agree or not. You won't be around to hear it."
With widening eyes, Azula saw the cyclone spin faster until the flames spread outwards. Zuko had his broadswords drawn and used them to help him manipulate the flames.
"One nonbender weapon wasn't enough?" the girl scolded.
These words did not mean much to Zuko, but her earlier ones had. He regarded her in shock.
"You actually want to be the one to kill me?"
"What better way to demonstrate my ambition?" Azula saw his hurt expression. "How are you surprised, Dum-Dum?"
"We're family."
There was that odd sentiment again. It made Azula's bored expression turn to a frown.
"I might be unfortunate enough to be related to you, but that does not make you my family," she retorted. "You'd kill me if you had the talent."
"No, I wouldn't."
Azula scoffed. "And you've said I'm the liar."
"I mean it!"
"But you're going to work with the Avatar to kill Dad?"
Zuko's frown faded as he felt some guilt hitting him. The princess saw this and sneered.
"You try to act like we're evil for burning cities, but you'll kill your own father without a second thought. Who's the real monster, Zuko?"
A more powerful flame was blasted at the boy. He managed to deflect it with the blades, but it pushed him back and into a building. Zuko had to quickly duck to avoid another blast.
"He's trying to destroy the world!" he exclaimed, dodging a different attack. "I don't even want him to die. There's just not another way to stop him."
Azula hardly heard anything he was saying and it would not have mattered if she had. The princess was enraged by his treasonous behavior. Her father was a great man. Anyone who stood against him needed to die. Zuko saw the rage in her eyes and worried he would not be able to stall her long enough for the others to get away.
The prince consumed Azula's attention as her attacks became more aggressive and yet more precise. Zuko grimaced when his legs and hands were burned. Azula used her flames to rise into the air again, firing down blasts like burning hail. Each one, he blocked with the flat of the swords, but her attacks were getting faster. Suddenly, Zuko noticed something new. One of the earthbenders was approaching. He was shaping rock into a point and had his eyes locked on the princess. Azula did not turn to the attacker.
"She doesn't notice him," Zuko realized, surprised. "That could be a killing blow if he goes through her head or back."
In the next instant, the earthbender made his move. The rock's force and sharpness would pierce her heart. Zuko saw how Azula's eyes were not moving off of him and in a split second decision, he ran and fired a blast. The princess moved to dodge, but it was not aimed at her. Turning, Azula saw the boy's fire hit the rock, creating enough power to change its momentum and have it fly into a wall. The earthbender glared at him, but the man's face paled when he saw more soldiers approaching. Digging into the ground, he disappeared before they reached the siblings. They surrounded the boy.
"Are you alright, Princess?" one asked, gaze on Zuko.
Azula was quiet for a moment as she regarded her brother. Then she regained her composure.
"I'm fine. Apprehend him," she instructed. "Dad will decide what he wants to do with this traitor."
The soldiers closed the space between them and Zuko. He was outnumbered, but he was still willing to fight his way out. It was possible that he would lose, but he would at least try. Hesitating, he saw lightning sparkling on Azula's fingertips.
"Stand down," she advised.
Discouraged, Zuko realized his lack of preferable options. Fight and get electrocuted. Surrender and get captured. At least the latter allowed hope for escape. Returning the swords to his back, Zuko raised his hands. The soldiers chained his hands behind his back and began pushing him towards the ships. Glancing to the sides of him, the firebender saw that the other soldiers were starting to leave as well. A muffled cheer could be heard. This cheer was caused by the earthbenders and Avatar providing a greater resistance than the invaders expected. Toph grabbed the ground, twisting it so that twenty soldiers sank until their heads were below the ground. Aang saw new enemies approaching and used a combination of earthbending and airbending to create a dust storm that blinded them. Unable to see properly, the soldiers started to retreat. A few firebenders were chased down by earthbenders, but joy went through the city as their victory was made evident.
"Not bad earthbending, Twinkle Toes," Toph complimented, earning a smile from the boy.
"Thanks! Now, we just have to find the others."
"Already done. I can feel them on their way." Toph started to frown. "But Zuko's not with them."
The siblings and Iroh reached the two benders, quickly assessing who was missing.
"Did you see Zuko?" Sokka asked, worried.
"We were fighting Azula, but he had us leave," the earthbender said.
Iroh's face paled. "Where were they?"
"They were on the northern side of the city, but I don't feel them there anymore…anywhere actually."
Aang took out his glider and shot up into the sky, gliding towards the docks. A pit formed in his stomach when he made a discovery. Sokka quickly went over to him once he landed.
"Did you see them?"
The airbender nodded nervously. "Most of the ships are gone."
Iroh felt concern building in him, but he remained calm. "They are most likely returning to the Fire Nation."
"Then we have to go get him," Sokka said.
"It would be safer for you all if I went alone. Without knowing firebending yet, Aang would not be able to stop Ozai."
The Water Tribe boy began to frown. "We can worry about stopping Ozai from burning down everything later. First, we can worry about stopping him from killing Zuko."
A determined look was in the eyes of the young benders with him.
"I want to go too," Aang assured them.
"We can't leave Zuko behind," Katara agreed.
A confident smile spread over the earthbender's face. "And you're not leaving me out of a rescue mission."
Appreciation filled the uncle as he felt their sincerity. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it. We're a team. Can't leave anyone to fight battles alone," Sokka said.
Toph punched one fist into her palm. "The Fire Nation wanted to come to my home and start trouble. Let's see how they like it when we do that to them."