I don't own Avatar: The last airbender
Chapter 38
"That should be the last of them in this area, for now at least." Sai's voice rang in Zuko's head as the prince stopped his fire stream.
Zuko was standing on the southern walls of Amora, or whatever was left of it. While the main force bashed against the sand people defenders, Zuko (and to some degree his uncle) flew to the walls to sterilize them from the archers who quickly became the main threat to the soldiers.
It was ironic in a sense. The walls had enough ballista to wreak havoc on the armored units of the force, but their own artillery was enough to make short work of said stationery ballista before any real damage could be done. The sand benders had to be on the field to be of use, and in doing so became a target to the much more military fire bending soldiers. The defending foot soldiers also left much to be desired.
The scavenger side of the sand people really came to view. They were used to be the offenders in a conflict, using their environment and maneuverability to hit fast and hard, and then run. But when defending, their very advantages turn against them if faced against a professional force that forces them to a head on fight and exhaust their tricks. The archers still stayed in their scavenger element, which is why they were causing such a problem.
Because of the need to save ammunition for the city itself, Zuko couldn't just order an artillery strike every time a group of archers released arrows. And unlike the ballista, the archers could move freely. That is why Zuko had to personally make sure that the archers on the walls were no more, or at least too preoccupied to shoot at the troops below. A job that was easier said than done.
Thankfully, Zuko had his uncle with him, so he had to go through only half of the battlefield, wich was still a few good miles. And the walls had passages inside them to allow more archers to shoot arrows through slits on the wall, which meant that Zuko couldn't just "stroll on the wall" but had to take care of the passages inside the wall as well. Those guys were pests next to him, but the job itself was long and tiresome.
"Arrow in your six!"
At Sai's warning, Zuko turned around and caught the offending object. The arrow itself was at least a meter in length, with a sharp metal head meant to pierce armor. No doubt it was shot from a longbow, an infamous tool meant to deal with heavily armored opponents with ease. Zuko immediately threw the arrow like a javelin back to the sender who was two hundred feet or so away, securing a headshot in the process.
Not waiting to see the body fall off the wall, Zuko jumped high with a blast of fire. When Zuko reached the maximum height from the blast, time seemed to stop for a moment. Then, he willed his armor to fire a stream of flames upward, making him descend like a comet and easily breaking through the layers of stone.
Once inside, taking a single second to cherish the terrified expressions of the bowmen, Zuko began his slaughter. With a blade extended from his arm wrist at command, he slit the throat of the nearest sand man and continued with gutting another one. By then, the rest of the man finally got their bearings and attacked Zuko all at once. Not that it helped them any.
Zuko bashed the first man with his shoulders as he held the knife armed arm of the attacker with his own and rammed him to the wall, hard, with the satisfying sound of crushed bones and stone. Taking the hunter knife of the now useless hand, Zuko shank it into the femoral artery. Throwing away the heavily bleeding man aside, Zuko caught again an arrow that may or may not have penetrated his armor and stabbed it downward in the mouth of another man that came at him. the movement itself was strong enough to nail the man to the floor. Taking the nailed man's knife, Zuko threw it with precision to the one who tried to shoot him. once again, a bullseye.
"Well, that was fun." Zuko commented.
"Roll forward!"
Zuko did so, just in time to evade a pair of blades that shank the floor. Turning around, Zuko saw an enforcer that had already pulled his swords off and was in the process of cleaving Zuko in two. Zuko raised his own armored hands and caught the enforcer in the wrists. The two struggle for a second before Zuko pushes the hands to the side, allowing the blades to swing harmlessly. Zuko then bashed his head with the enforcer's inferior helmet, causing the enforcer's head to rattle a little, and pushed on his own assault.
Right hook left hook, knee, high maker, and a kick. The enforcer was sent crushing into the wall but shrug it off almost immediately, blades still in hand. Say about Mi-Sha what you want, but the guy didn't cheap out on the training and equipment of his personal army. Zuko extended his wrist blades and the two clashed again.
The two tested each other's strength for a second, in which Zuko was superior as the nameless enforcer gave ground. Said enforcer immediately went back to try and slash Zuko, but the prince caught him in act and sparks flew as their blades collided. The enforcer was very good with his twin blades, and it showed. This became a dangerous dance of slashes and stabs.
During all of this Zuko had other things in mind, however. Since when did an enforcer become so slow? And he could have sworn that an enforcer was much stronger. It was just… to easy. Don't get him wrong, this enforcer is a tuff nut to crack and an opponent Zuko couldn't underestimate, but it was a far cry from the enemy that took the entire crew and Mi-Dved to fend off.
"It's just you who have gotten better, your highness. Now I'm sure that testing your growing skills is important, but I suggest finishing this fight. We're on a time table after all."
'Right.'
In their next clash Zuko electrified his blades, much more lethally than when he fought Hakoda, cause the enforcer a shock. Zuko used the time to heat his right blade and shank deep inside through the left armpit, piercing the heart in the process.
Zuko then lifted the enforcer up with his right hand, as the blade still stuck inside. That way, he made the blade stub even deeper as the body slid downward until the tip of the blade touched the armor on the other side.
Looking up to the limping body of the impaled enforcer, Zuko threw it to the side with disregard as he retracted the blades back to the armor. A single thought running in his head.
"Can't believe I used to be terrified of those guys."
Mi-Dved couldn't help but say out load as he pulled his axe of the cleaved skull of the enforcer he faced. Apparently, Mi-Sha used the usual tactic for making sure cowards are fighting something scary on the front by putting something even scarier behind. Unfortunately for him, Mi-Sha didn't count on his enforcers to actually be taken out.
"Alright boys, enough dill-dallying!" their commander yelled. "Take position and be ready for debrief!"
"Yes sir!"
Once the group was ready, the commander shared their next step as he spread a map of Amora on the ground.
"Listen up, We're here." He pointed at a dot near the walls of the drawing. "As command so fit, we're on pest control. Meaning, we're the ones responsible for cleaning the area for the engineers to secure and blast all the tunnels they can find."
"With the help of our friend here." He nodded respectfully in Mi-Dved's direction. "We'll have a much easier time to move and intercept opposition. Make no mistake, this is just as dangerous as the meat grinder outside was, if not more so. Now Mi-Dved is going to give you lot a few points from his personal experience, so be quite and listen up."
With an inviting hand wave, Mi-Dved got to the "stage".
"Alright, I'll keep this brief." He started. "There are a few points that will help you stay alive."
"First, always be in pairs and if possible triplets. It's easy to be surprised here and it would mean your death."
"Always make sure that your group has a full 360 degree view. If you have a blind spot, you can be sure that someone will use it.
"When you meet a wall and need to go around it, don't. Just blast through it if you don't want to get shanked, I've seen enough muggers use this exact move. And spirits forbid, don't be stupid enough to go in an ally. And if you do, at least burn it as much as possible in the few seconds before you die."
"If you meet a kid or a woman crying for help, blast them immediately. I don't care how much they cry or if their old enough to be your child/ grandma, no one that survives here is retarded enough to go to black armored skull wearing fire breathing killers for help. It's obviously a trap and you need to regroup and counter ambush said trap."
"If you see any colorfully dressed people, their mist likely are gladiators so be sure to outnumber them five to one or disengage and shoot a flare upwards so we can find you. Which reminds me, when you shoot your flare make sure that it's up to protocol. It's a grantee that the enemy will try to use a fake flare signal to lure us into traps."
After telling the commander that it's all he had to say, they started the cleaning. The first building they saw was quickly reduced to rubble by an axe throw from Mi-Dved. The addition of raptures made sure that there would be no rock bigger then a man left.
It was as planned, after all. They were here to clean and exterminate, not conquer. Zuko already gave did he could to make sure the "civilians" are as least harmed as possible, although Mi-Dved privately thought that the banditry in the region will sky rocket now with all of those people outside and unsupervised. Usually he wouldn't have cared, but damn Zuko for infecting him with a conscience.
With the deed done, and some screams heard as the building collapsed, the men checked that there are no survives or earth benders that would attack them when their back is turned. From there, they knelt and planned their next move. With the map, they drawn a few routes that will be taken by groups of five to spread and clean the area affectivity. As the heavy hitter, Mi-Dved would lead the team with the most building filled route.
Mi-Dved threw his right axe to another house, crumbling it as well. Spirits, he liked those upgrades. After making sure that the area was clean, he and his man advanced further until they reached a bazar.
"What now sir?" One of the men asked. "No stone means that your axes are less effective if there isn't a building to crumble on top of any ambushers."
"Then we burn it." Mi-Dved answered evenly. "The old rugs and wood look flammable enough."
Understanding the command, each of the soldiers shot a strong stream of flame. Together, the flames created an inferno that quickly consumed the bazaar. Mi-Dved heard more than one scream in the process, meaning that there were indeed ambushers hiding behind the curtains. As a finishing touch, Mi-Dved bended his axes to crash through the stands to crumble them and trap the people inside.
Once the deed was done, they continued forward as they repeated their process. Destroy buildings, burn anything flammable. They secured a few tunnel entrances but didn't dare to go inside. It was the engineers who are to safely blow them. They also didn't linger, their job was to break any opposition they see and sterilize the place. The engineers themselves would have an escort that will guard them from any strugglers they missed.
"We're almost at the end of the route." The soldier who was responsible for their directions told. None of the others said anything that may have tempted fate, they knew better. Not that it much helped, because soon after they saw a crying kid.
"Mommy! Mommy!" the kid than saw them. "Please, help!"
Right… he's not falling for this. But in any case, they need to disassemble this trap or else others will fall for it and get killed.
"Easy there, kid." Mi-Dved said as he masqueraded calming the kid down. "Where is your mom?"
"There!" the kid pointed at a direction. From what little Mi-Dved remembered, it led to an ally of some kind. A perfect spot for ambush. Obviously, the kid tried to lure them into a trap. Well then, time to take care of it.
"Remember what I said about situations like this?" he received a nod from his man. Even the one with the map who was already studying it for the possible places of the ambush, smart guy. "Continue with the dismantling while I follow the little guy, I'm counting on you."
"Sir!"
They shouted and quickly followed the map guy, who already had a route to outflank the ambushers from behind. With little else to do, Mi-Dved turned to the kid.
"Lead the way."
The kid ran as fast as his little legs could take him, but Mi-Dved caught him before he could leave. "Wait up, I can't run very fast." A fat lie, even with this armor on Mi-Dved could run miles before having to take a break. What good is a soldier if he can't get to the enemy to get the killing done? Besides, he had to make sure the guys have enough time to reach and take care of the ambushers.
Fast walking, he could hear sounds of battle somewhere. A look to his side revealed that the kid looked even more concerned.
"I'm sure your mom is fine." Mi-Dved said to stay in character.
"Yeah…"
Once they reached a certain point, the kid excitedly yelled that his mother is right in the next corner. Turning around, the kid had a look of shock and fear. Walking to see what had the kid so spooked up, Mi-Dved wasn't so surprised.
In the alley there were bodies of thugs, some burned and some stabbed or slashed. Above them stood the squad that accompanied Mi-Dved. If he had to guess, the boys fell on the would be ambushers from the rooftops and took them by surprise.
"You have some very ugly mothers, kid." Mi-Dved said from behind the little frack.
The kid tried to bolt away, but Mi-Dved caught him once more, this time a hand on the skull. He lifted the kid up to see each other eye to eye, which meant that the kid dangled some good feet above the ground.
"Listen up, you little piece of garbage." Mi-Dved made sure that the kid looked directly into the skull like mask, who even if was redesigned to have miniature holes all across for breathing and seeing still had the skull imprint.
"We've got order exactly for little vermin like you. Because the prince is so nice, the first kid that tries to do something like that has the privilege to keep his free trail at living. Beyond that, we're ordered to kill any scumbag like you just as we did to your friends here. And so are the others, so if you meet another group feel free to pray that there wasn't someone before you who tried to be funny."
"If I were you, I would have ran to the blown walls on the north and get the heck out of here, capish?" The kid nodded frantically with face breaming in tears, before Mi-Dved threw him at the wall hard enough to really hurt the kid.
Turning away, disregarding the kid entirely, he looked at his men.
"Alright boys, good job with the ambush. Now let's book it before we're late to the gathering point."
"Sir!"
As they walked away, one of the man commented about what happened.
"Sir, good thing you were with us. I sure would have fallen for the trick, even with your warning."
"Years of experience growing here." Mi-Dved said as they continued their track. "Besides, it takes one to know one. I to used this trick more then once."
"You, sir?" Another trooper asked. "Forgive me for saying this, but you don't exactly fill all the… little things it involves."
"I also was a kid once, you know." Mi-Dved dryly said. "But to be fair, Jasmine was the one who always acted as bait."
"Ahh… Yes, that makes perfect sense."
"So true."
"Much more believable."
"By the way, you think that kid would be fine?"
"If he's smart, he'll go north. If not, he deserves everything that's coming to him."
It was harsh, but so was life. The kid chose to get them killed and they gave him an out, there is no better offer than that. It better be a monster to others and spare your men than be merciful to others and a monster to your men.
The group continued with their track.
"Bring forth the convicted!"
Azula heard the strong voice of her father clearly across the hall. Another criminal had been found guilty, some thief who thought it a good idea to steal from his betters. After a quick trail he was found guilty and her father decided to punish him, that wasn't anything new nor strange.
No, what was new was the form of punishment father decided upon. Usually, in cases like that, the person is sent to the boiling rock, but not this time. This time, father decided that a much firmer approach was needed as he ordered the man to be burned alive.
Azula was with the rest of the court at the same stands where she watched father burn Zuko in that "Agni Kai", ironic in a way. In any case, the convict was brought forward and cried for mercy as he was tied to the pyre.
"Please my lord, mercy!"
A useless gesture, begging wouldn't sway someone as strong-willed as father.
"It was just a little statue, please! I have a family!"
Ooh, not the right words.
"If you do not cease your bickering." Father said. "They shall join you in the pyre."
That stopped all the begging, although the convict still couldn't sniffle his tears.
The man was tied to the pyre by a pair of masked royal guards. What each of them was thinking rights now, Azula wondered. Are they honored to do the orders of their lord? Repulsed by the act for whatever reason? Afraid of what's to come should they show disobedience? Or maybe relish on the criminal's pain?
Whatever they were thinking mattered little, however. Their masks hid their expressions, and their obedience was absolute. They tied the man with chains, making sure that the man was still tied even when the fire reach the bindings.
And then the fire started.
The man screamed.
A whimper to her left caused Azula to shift her attention to her acrobatic minion. The athletic girl had her eyes closed and ears covered with her hands. By the way she still whimpered and tried to look small, that didn't help much.
This setting was probably too much for the big hearted chi blocker. Azula haven't decided yet if it was a weakness that she should purge from her minion or used against. In any case, it meant that she had to put an eye on Ty Lee for the near future.
Looking to her other side, she saw Mai sitting stoically as ever. However, as someone who spent time with the girl and learned many things to control her minion, Azula noticed a few fractures in the girl's pose. Mai's hands where tagging her knees a bit stronger than proper, her eyes moved a millimeter to the side to not look directly at the pyre. It seemed that even stoic Mai wasn't emotionless after all.
Azula tore had sideward glance to look at where her father sat. He was regal and powerful as ever while he sat on his sit, even more so than usual. The stone her trice cursed brother gave him shone brilliantly in the specially designed robes, right in the middle of the chest and near the heart.
Once again Azula held back a shiver at the power of the stone radiated through her body. How such a thing could exist, never the lass how her brother of all people discovered it, was still a mystery to her.
The expression on her father's face was new as well, one that she had rarely seen before. It was a look of pure cathartic delight, not unlike what he wore when he became fire lord after grandfather's death. Azula held back a shiver of her own.
It was the right course of action, Azula reasoned. A harsher punishment one time to discourage others from committing more crimes, one that is more efficient than usual and saves more resources to use. By no means was it caused because of entertainment, father was never wrong.
Hearing the barley whispered reactions of the crowd near her, she overheard a few concerns. Apparently, not all the so called nobles had the will to see through the act and appreciate the efficiency. Fortunately for them there where no talks that bordered treason, yet…
Looking back to her father, she once again saw the glee in his eyes as he had a first view on the burning man, who was still alive by the will of some malevolent spirit. Father was always right… right?
"Oh spirit…"
Sokka puked once again on the sandy floor. When the battle haze settled, and the adrenalin wore off, he had actually time to think about what happened. Oh, it was terrible, he bucking killed people! Oh spirits, he actually killed man! In called blood!
Sure, they were trying to kill him, and he would probably be better dead then hostage, but he still killed people! All the shock came crushing down now.
And what about those who died while fighting alongside him?
Li Ken took a shield piercing arrow to the face while Sokka hid behind the guy's shield. Sokka had nothing bad against the guy. He always was ready to help and had a mean kick in ball games, Li Ken would have gotten far. And what about his girlfriend back home? Li Ken was supposed to marry her once he got enough credits from his service to buy a house of their own, who's going to tell her the bad news? And what about Li Ken's parents?
And Suse. The guy was kind of a jerk and had this snobbish attitude, but that didn't stop him from covering for Sokka at the waves. It also didn't stop him from throwing himself at a killing sword strike that was aimed as Sokka. Sokka knew basically nothing on the guy, but he was sure that Suse had hopes and dreams and a family that missed him. And now the they were all crushed and broken because Sokka couldn't move to the right two seconds earlier!
He leaned on the wall and slowly slid to a sitting position, before pulling his helmet and throwing it to the side. He covered his face with his hands and began to cry. Cry for what exactly he wasn't sure, those he killed? His comrades? His innocence? Maybe even all combined.
"Hey, you ok there man?" Sokka suddenly heard after a while.
Pulling his head up, he saw another fire nation soldier approximately his age with a face that was a little familiar for some reason. The guy sat next to him and offered a flask to drink from. Sokka, decided that there is nothing better to do, excepted and took a sip. He immediately spat out the bitter taste of the alcoholic drink."
"Yeah… tastes like garbage." The other guy said. "Thought it was fitting."
Sokka couldn't help but agree.
"Hey, sorry for asking, but you seem familiar somehow. Have we met before?" Sokka asked. "Sorry, I'm just… not a hundred percent right now."
"Sure, no problems." The guy said understandingly. "Name's Toro. You saved my butt a few times during the waves, came to thank you."
"No problem." Sokka said.
"Hey, want to come with me back to the guys?" Toro suggested. "We're planning to have a ball-foot match until the commanders call us to babysit the engineers. In the honor of the fallen, you know. I promise that all of us has basically zero talent at the game."
A place to throw away frustration and depression for a time while making a fool of yourself with the rest of the guys who are just as frustrated and depressed as you? Yes, it sounded like something he needed right now.
"Sure, sounds good." Soekka said. "I must warn you though, I'm the worst player."
"Nonsense." Toro retorted. "None is worse than I."
The two laughed before Sokka handed the flask back, the flask had stains of red.
"Maybe I should wash myself a bit before." Sokka awkwardly said.
"Yeah… probably for the best."
"Argh… can't we go out any faster?!" Amir told the man who guided them. "You said that we'll be out of this hell in an hour!"
Father finally managed to bribe someone to take Amir away from this hovel. And just in time too, if rumors where to be believed. Apparently, the water savages turned traitor. Now that usually wouldn't have been a problem, as Mi-Sha anticipated something like that and put the beast master on guard on the most likely place those savages would hit.
Amir knew uncle Kruki, he was a good friend of mom. He was also very cool as he shared Amir's hobbies of seeking wild animals on people and enjoy the screams, uncle Kruki even let Amir something train the animals. But the most important thing was that unlike the old man, Kruki was strong. Strong enough to easily take care of some barbarians, especially with old Nancy.
The strange thing was that they didn't get any more reports on what's happening. They got a report that the barbarians were killing their soldiers with some kind of a black beast, but no more. No word about any conflict with uncle Kruki, no word at all. Every scout they sent in there wasn't heard from again. It was unbelievable, you should have a big group of highly trained ninjas to dispatch all the scouts with such efficiency, something the barbarians clearly not.
He was sure that uncle Kruki is taking care of the problem, but still had a strange feeling of uncertainty in his gut.
The real bad news, is that Mi-Sha is livid. He ordered everyone of some importance to get out and spill blood. Unfortunately, it included him as well. So when father managed to find someone to take him away from this pit, it was spirit-send.
It still didn't mean that Amir wasn't annoyed at their guide for taking so long.
"And an hour still hadn't passed, prince Amir." The worm said.
"Then when the #$& will it pass, you little $#& _&$_$&*#." His ever funky Zia said.
Zia had a special place in his heart, mostly because he bought Mi-Dved's from hers. She had a black pixie cut hair and green eyes, as well as piercing in her right ear, nose, and mouth. Her black lipstick fit nice on her sun kissed skin.
She had an average height, like his Jasmine, but had a more muscular frame. She had a black crop-top that stopped at her stomach with a silver skull painted on it, as well as matching short pants that were a size too small and had a been turn off five fingers or so after the legs started. Which was perfect for Amir, he wouldn't have any of his girls cover themselves more.
As accessories, Zia had a spiked black collar and a matching belt. As well as fingerless black gloves with spikes on the knuckles. Her array of various blades was half hidden in her belt and boots.
"When we get up." The annoying guide said. Oh, Amir is going to have so much fun watching the worm die once they reach the ground.
Zia was about to stub the man, but Amir held her back before she could act. "Later, so you could savor it." He calmed her down.
It seems like the spirits smiled upon him, because a few minutes later the guide told them that the exit was right above.
"Bend away the rock above, and we're scot-free." The guide said.
Amir nodded with his had to one of father's glorified babysitters to check the ground. He wasn't stupid after all. When the brute returned, however, he brought some unexpected news.
"What do you mean 'We're under a medical tent'?!" Amir asked bewildered.
"Like I said, boss. Rock near a tent with ash maker wounded." The thug said.
"Well, quite a surprise is it?" Amir asked as he sent a predatorily grin to their guide "What do you say, guide?"
"I-I knew nothing! I swear!"
"I say we $# the *$#& out of his $# &$ and then [a very long censor ] !" Zia suggested a rather detailed and vivid description of what she wanted to do.
"A moment, love." Amir turned to the shivering guide, oh how his bravado disappeared. "Tell us, you waste of space, are there any other ways to exit?".
"N-no, this i-is the o-only o-one." The guide stuttered.
"I see." Amir said before turning to the thugs. "hold him down."
Immediately, the man was pressed to the ground, being held by all four limbs. Amit turned to Zia.
"Have fun." He told her as he enjoyed the show of her doing exactly what she described before.
After a while, the deed was done and the now guideless group debated what should be done.
"I think it's for the best if we wait until nightfall." One of the men accompanied them said.
"The *$# I stay here more than I already $&$ have already." Zia countered. "I say we get the &$# up there, $#&*# attack the &$#_ and get out while they're %&$ confused. We don't even &*# & know if the $&*#_#$ are any less active at night."
"She has a point." Amir decided. "We go loud and quick while we know that most of their forces are in the city."
He saw a few sour looks among the guard dogs, but they had a little choice in the matter. And so, with a loud bang, they threw the rock that hid their entrance out and started their glorious assault on the half dying man in the medical tent.
In the process, he discovered another surprise. He noticed the familiar shell shocked face of none other than his Jasmine, who was with another girl of water tribe ethnicity. He could've help but put another predatory grin from ear to ear.
The spirits are truly smiling on him, as they should.
Katara took off a little break with Jasmine after a long day of tending to the wounded. It was… an experience.
She knew that once the fighting started there would be an influx of patients, but she still was surprised by the quantity. And to make matters worse, those were the once who could be evacuated in time. Most of the troops either had a first aid on the field, or didn't make it in time. It was a very depressing thought that she couldn't put heads or tails to.
Those were fire nation soldiers, like the ones who raided her home for decades and took her mother away. She shouldn't feel anything but glee as they ripped what they saw. But she couldn't. Seeing all the gruesome states and the pain there where in… it just didn't sit right with her.
And they were also fighting to bring her mother back, as unintentional an unknown to the soldiers as it was. Which added many more layers to the absurdity and confusion she felt.
As Zuko instructed, in special cases where there was needed "divine intervention" the patient would have been taken to a private wing and under the milk of the poppy for Katara to work her magic. It was draining, both physically and spiritually. Unlike her, however, Jasmine didn't seem to be much affected by all the blood. Something that Katara asked her about on their break.
"Oh, I'm used to see similar sites in my time at Amora." Jasmine said. "I'm just not used to tend the needs of so many men at once."
"Argh… why does anything you say has to be sex related in one way or another." Katara massaged her temples.
Jasmine, however, just rolled her eyes. "No matter what I say, people will find a way to sexualize it because of how I look."
"Yeah, yeah… keep rubbing it." Katara mumbled before trying to change the topic. "So you had experience in cases like this?"
"Well… not at the severity of some of those, thank goodness, but my brother had his collection of injuries. I needed to learn fast to patch him up, although I must admit that a healer wasn't something I thought I would become." Jasmine said before adding an afterthought. "Not a fashion designer and model as well, at least not of the normal kind."
"Really?" Katara was surprised. "Than what where your plans in life?"
"At the start? What I was made for." Jasmine said as if Katara should understand what the more developed girl was talking about. "Later? Find some noble kid with money to get me with his child, so I could blackmail him for an allowance big enough to live of for me and Mi-Dved."
"What?!" Katara was shocked. That… that was vile. She couldn't put words for a reply yet.
"Oh yeah. When I met Zuko for the first time I thought that he was finally the guy, you know. My age, no female companion in sight and the prince of the fire nation to boot, he was the perfect target." The evil woman continued. "Although I'm glad that it didn't work out like that. Being recognized as who I am instead of what I am is… nice."
"But you still look at him like a piece of meat." Katara commented unimpressed.
"Oh, don't get me wrong, I still want to be the mother of his children and-" What followed was a very detailed description that caused Katara to blush so hard that she feared her skin may become permanently crimson.
"Ok, ok, stop!" Katara finally said. "So what exactly changed?"
"Well, for one, I won't try to trick or deceive Zuko nor anyone like I planned to. Now neither my brother nor I are in a vulnerable state that forces me to act like this." Jasmine listed. "Besides, Zuko had… domesticated me for lack of better word."
"Again with the bed talk, what is wrong with you?!" Katara was tempted to pull her hair out.
"As I said, I was made for this."
"Stop this nonsense and start giving answers that I can actually understand!" Katara was on her last straws.
"I mean it in the most literal way." Jasmine said. "Tell me, what do you know of selective breeding?"
"Hm?" the question caught the water bender by surprise. "It's a way to make animals stronger and more fit for their purpose. But how is in connected?"
"If you have to choose between two racing mounts, one a racing mount and a result of selective breeding for that singular purpose and one a random mount from the sticks, who would you choose for a race?"
"Ahm… the breed one?" Katara said uncertainty, which seemed to be the right answer because Jasmine nodded.
"Yes. Now don't take it wrong, but I'm the racing mount and you're the other one. I'm not saying it as an insult, but as a fact." The other girl said before Katara could interject. "You know that my mother was a prostitute, right?"
"Ahm… yes…" Katara was suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
"It's not exactly the right word, she was the prostitute. The most beautiful, the most skilled and the most charming, the best woman in the entire world they called her. Men would have paid a king's ransom just to be in the same building as her. And do you know how women like her are made and having kids? It would put them out of work for a few good months."
At Katara's headshake Jasmine continued.
"They aren't allowed to have kids with just anyone, you know. The partner, besides being rich enough, has to have certain qualifications that will make sure that the girls that are burn from the union will grow up to be at least as good in their work as their mother."
"And you…" Katara didn't even know what she wanted to say.
"Yes, I'm the result of such a union, Mi-Dved too. From the moment I was born, I was taught to be just like mother. What little girl doesn't want to be like her mom?"
That… that was dark.
"But your mother tried to give you a better life, right? You and Mi-Dved managed to break free after all." Surly the love of a mother was what freed them.
"What are you on about?" Jasmine asked in confusion. "Mom was part of the system, she's the one who educated me the most."
And just like that Katara's hopes were crushed, she literally heard a sound of broken glass in her head. Then she noticed something as she tried to think of anything else.
"Wait, you said that your mother was with you, but what about your brother?" Katara asked in confusion. "He can hardly follow your… carrier."
"There are gigolos as well, you know." Jasmine answered. "Besides, because of his size, Mi-Dved had another carrier. He would grow up to fight and die in the pits, like his father probably. He was taken to train under the arena master, it's only because mother was very good at her job that she was allowed to spend time with him at all."
Was there no end to the hole Katara dug herself in?
"So how in the spirit world did you escape?"
"Well, mom died, we were thrown out and left to fend for ourselves. Even then I was sure that it was my destiny to follow the footsteps of my mom and rise up as the best there is, even if I didn't understand what it exactly meant in that age. Like I said before, it was what I was made for. It took teenage rebellion, a few times for Mi-Dved being on death's door, and some eye opening revelations to change my worldview."
Jasmine paused for a second before continuing.
"The point I'm trying to make is that I am because how I was raised. No two people think alike, and truly understanding people of different cultures is nearly impossible. For all of our friendship, we don't understand each other in some cases. What you think is abominable I take as facts, and it's mutual. Our time at Zuko's side had changed both my brother and I dramatically, but many acts that he or you treat as normal are still incomprehensible for us."
Now that caused Katara to think. Could she really blame Jasmine for what she planned to do? Would Katara have done differently in the other girl's shoes? She wanted to say yes, but one sentence held her back. After all, what girl doesn't want to be like her mother.
And it wasn't even just Jasmine. Many other people still baffled Katara with their behavior. Like how is everyone so wasteful with their food, or how aren't they as close to each other as the people of her tribe are.
It also opened some dangerous thoughts, like the fire nation soldiers for example. They took everything from her, but they still fight and die to protect those that are under them. Where they madmen on a leash, or young men who lost their way? She would never underestimate the propaganda of the fire nation, a masterful machine that those soldiers were influenced by from their birth. Were they truly so different from the girl standing next to her?
Before she could think more about it, there was suddenly a loud boom as a big boulder was smashed into the tent. She almost didn't have time to think what was going on before strangers burst in the tent and began killing everyone.
To her side, Jasmine initiated the oldest defense strategy known to womankind, one that was practiced and perfected even before humans could read and write. She screamed very load so that every soldier in the camp (and even beyond, Katara's poor ears were sure of it) will rush to their aid as soon as possible.
In the meantime, Katara gathered her bearing and remembered that she wasn't some defenseless woman. She threw a stool on the back of the head of a thug that was in the process of choking an injured soldier under him. The hit itself did little to harm the thug, but it distracted him enough for the soldier to grab something sharp and slash it across the bigger man's throat.
When, an admittedly handsome, young man stormed in, however, Jasmine went to a little shock. The man was dressed with a much better quality wardrobe than the others, he had a vast and long white pants that left his biceps and abs completely exposed. He had a face of a prince and long black mane, as if he was taken from a young woman's fantasy. Honestly, if she was not in a situation like this, she would have madly blushed.
Jasmine apparently knew him by her look, and Katara had hope that it meant that he was going to help. Surly someone as beautiful as him couldn't be in league with the attackers. That hope was soon crushed, however, when he grinned savagely at Jasmine.
"Change of plans!" He called the others. "We take those two with us!"
The men who weren't busy rushed at them. Thinking fast, Katara took Jasmine's hand and run with her out of the tent. Apparently Jasmine knew the guy very well, because she was far less responsive than Katara would have liked. Unfortunately, their exit was blocked by a very boyish girl around their age.
"Surprise -$!"
And so, the two were surrounded by the thugs. Fortunately, the appearance of the short haired girl somehow broke Jasmine out of her trance. So there was at least one upside here.
"Zia!" Jasmine yelled angrily. "What are you doing here, you snake?!"
"Why to rescue you, of course. My beloved Jasmine." Damn it, even his voice was beautiful.
"A-Amir." Her friend named the guy, her voice trembling. "H-how are you h-here?"
"Does it matter, my dear?" He said with a smile. "All what's matter is that once again, you're back to me."
"Amm, Jasmine? Context please." Katara felt that she was missing many things here.
"Long story short, guy's the son of my mom's boss. Ugly in the inside as beautiful on the outside and has a lot of money to never understand the meaning of 'no'. He's also not over the fact that I damped him. Ugly next to him is a laying #$& that dated my brother only to sell us out."
"Your words hurt dear, we were much more than that." Amir said. "Don't you remember all the nights we spent together? How you excitedly talked how you will be just like your mother? How you will always be my best girl?"
"Go. To. Koh!"
"Tat tat, your time with the rabble made you forget your manners, we'll have to fix it once you're safe with me." Amir said disappointed. "Get her!"
That Zia girl was the first to rush with small blades on each hand. She was so fast that Katara acted on an instinct. Using her water bending, Katara threw all the water that was on the floor from all the broken equipment and threw it as a slap to the girl.
The water send this Zia away with a painful scream. Apparently, there were some sharp objects inside the water she bended (although calling it water was a bit of a scratch, liquid is more fitting). Said objects caused severe scratches and some stuck inside the skin. The other girl was cursing a storm.
Only then did Katara thought on what she just did. She water bended, in a fire nation camp, in front of fire nation soldiers (the fact that they were busy with more pressing matters didn't count). And unlike with the healers, this time it was pure combat.
The moment she hesitated was all it took for her hands to be tied by a whip and for her to be thrown to the floor. As she tried to move her head up, she was brutally held down by Amir's shoe. All she could do was to watch helplessly as the men closed on Jasmine. Even the feverish fight of the soldiers wasn't going to be enough, they were barely holding as is.
"No…"
Jasmine said as the men grew closer.
""Nonono!"
They didn't stop.
"Get your hand off me!"
They didn't.
"Nononononono NOOOOOO!"
Something unbelievable happened. Jasmine's scream was so loud, that a literal power wave came from her mouth. It was so strong that The man who was holding her hand was blown away. The same with everyone behind him, including Amir. If Katara's bending came as surprise, Jasmine's came as a shock.
"I have seen a power like this only once before…" One thug that wasn't on the line of fire said in awe as he stepped back slowly. "From Mi-Sha…"
"Air bender…" A fire nation soldier said in apprehension.
AN
And here we have Jasmine unlocking her air bending, like some of you have guessed. And in front of a crowd no less. that is going to be a hack of a headache to Zuko.
I have to admit, some of the parts here went way darker that intended.
Anyway, onto the reviews:
deniswanheda:
Happy to know you enjoyed, and happy birthday!
Yes, Sokka is growing up to be a man. Wonder how that will change things once Aang is out.
Lord Lelouch :
Thank you.
The idea with Hadoka sure has pros and cons, and Zuko will surly consider all of his options after the battle. The analogy with Xing, Zuko and Ozai is spots on, it's exactly what I was aiming for when creating Xing's character. glad to know that it was appreciated.
Ozai's and Azula's reaction will be... something, you can be sure on that.
Sokka HERO OF THE FIRE NATION! now wouldn't that be funny.
Hope that the Azula segment here answered at least some of the questions concerning the direction things are going in the fire nation.
Theoraticly, in terms of power and chi, Sai mostly using the power that is already inside of Zuko (natural or mutated), wither Sai is equipped or not matters little in terms of raw power. The main advantage is that Sai utilizes the potential of Zuko's body to the fullest. Sai doesn't feel pain or exhaustion, doesn't hesitate and doesn't make humane mistakes. Zuko is already fighting on his own as of now, with Sai on the back sit for special cases like that trick against the pressure currents with Mi-Sha. Without Sai I would rate Zuko's fighting capability about two thirds of what he demonstrated fighting and winning boom-boom man on his own with some difficulty but not on par of Iroh or Ozai yet. Of course should Sai take direct control things will get very serious.
02cjdgmail:
Glad you liked it, and ironically I wrote about Sokka's growing PTSD right in the next chapter. As for the other ideas I liked them both, although the later will probably come much later in the story and with a good enough reason and background to fill it logically in the story. As for the other questions, Zuko will be taller then most and intimidating, but there will always be people who would be taller (Mi-Dved, Mi-Sha). A story is as good as its antagonists after all, so there will be no shortage of tall and intimidating people to contend with. As for Vaatu, yes, eventually. the conversation though may not be what most would expect.
Engineer1869:
Thank you!
A sad truth of reality, you can't save them all. Hakoda is defiantly going to gat a few (hundred) whistles.
Zia's story... is a bit different I'm afraid, sorry to disappoint. Besides, there will be enough drama as is. As for Xing, yes, Xing is prideful like that. Unfortunately, his nose isn't as developed as a shirshu's, but on the other hand Xing is much more resilient to overloading sensations.
Katara will have other things on mind right now then beating her brother to death and back, although she will defiantly get to that eventually.
J4M35W1NZ:
You're making be blush!
Please continue.
.
Anyway, I'm more than happy to read all your reviews.