A sign of a true leader is that no matter the obstacles, what is needed is done to protect people. Even though the Fire Nation soldiers were everywhere, that did not mean the Water Tribe had to submit to them. Even as Hakoda watched their weapons and supplies burn in their ships, he did not feel discouraged. To be discouraged is to be defeated. He assumed that was what had happened to the Air Nomads. The chief could only go off the stories he had heard of for what happened to them, but he had his beliefs. He believed that after the first group was killed, the others soon fell. They were probably overcome with fear, anger, and grief. He could understand all of those emotions which was why he had to be sure they did not overwhelm his warriors. Yes, warriors. That was what they were despite their unpleasant predicament. They were not made warriors by their weaponry but by their determination in and out of battle.
The soldiers could think they had the upper hand and maybe few people would disagree with them, but Hakoda would. To him, they had no advantage so great that they were made unbeatable. It would be impossible for the soldiers to be everywhere at once. Even beings of the spirit world were not given omnipotence. That meant he had a chance to keep his people safe. Hakoda walked through the tribe, angrily looking at the shelters which had been made. Something caught his eye and it was the sight of Bato making a shelter for one of the elders. His home had not been taken, but he still wanted to protect the others. Glancing about himself, the chief saw the warrior was not the only one doing this. It did his heart well to see. His people still had their fighting and caring spirit. The day they stopped being willing to protect and help each other would be the day they were defeated. That day would not come–not if he had even a single breath left in his body.
The man kept walking and took quick mental notes for where each home of the soldiers was located. He understood that this would change as new homes were built, but anything was better than nothing.
"Two on the east side," he thought. "Another five in the north and it looks like seven more are going to be in the west. The south side is still mostly my people for now, but that might not last for long."
Hakoda walked until he reached a storehouse. Inside, nothing was missing which probably meant the soldiers did not know what it was. He hoped it stayed that way. Checking the walls, he confirmed what he had believed–that they were solid, soundproof, and without any holes through which someone could look. It would not be perfect, but it could work. Hakoda returned to where he saw Bato working and walked by him.
"Come to the storehouse tonight and bring your group," he instructed, eyes in front of him and not directly landing on the other man.
Bato did not overtly nod, but his eyes said that he would be there with everyone who would have been on the ship with him had their voyage taken place. He had questions, but he had even more confidence in his leader. The chief appreciated that confidence because he was not sure if he had as much in himself.
That night, Bato and several other warriors stealthily crept out of their homes and made their way to the storehouse without being spotted by even their relatives or friends. When they got there, they entered and saw the chief standing in the middle, facing the opposite direction.
"They won't take over our home," he assured them. "Even with our weapons destroyed, we'll make more and become stronger fighters with hand-to-hand combat. From now on, there will be rotating groups of warriors who come here to train. If we all came at the same time, it would be suspicious and we can't let them think that we're doing anything strange."
Bato and the others nodded, feeling excitement. When they were done, they would wipe the Fire Nation soldiers clean off their land and eventually off the face of the earth. The first of many training sessions began that evening. By the time morning came, Zuko was heading to the dining hall of the ship. He had given his request to the chef the previous night and it had been followed. The boy could already smell the delicious scent of baked ash banana bread. If he could smell it, he knew that meant the others would soon, so he had to act quickly. Zuko speedily cut a piece and wrapped it before leaving. He would have to make this trip faster than the others since it was morning and he would be expected to be training. Still, that did not mean that he could not go for a short visit. Zuko returned to where he had last spoken with Sokka. As they had agreed, he was there. This was a major relief to the Fire Nation boy and he handed over the bread.
"Thanks," Sokka said, sort of surprised that the other boy had not been deceiving him.
The bread felt so warm in his hands and he could smell the sweetness and the spices. Already, it was making his mouth water, but he did not want to give anyone from the Fire Nation the satisfaction of knowing he liked something from them. He did not have to contain his anticipation to try the food for long because Zuko was already heading back.
"You aren't staying to ask more questions?"
"I can't today. I'll try to come back sometime soon. Probably tomorrow, but it'll be later on in the day. I'll find you."
Sokka just shrugged and unwrapped the bread. He wanted to share it with his family, but then he would have to explain how he got it and he was not sure he wanted to do that.
"Dad wouldn't let us try it if he knew," he pondered. "Katara probably wouldn't tell him, but she might by accident and I'm not sure how Gran Gran would react."
To prevent being asked any problematic questions and not at all due to how hungry he was becoming, Sokka started eating the bread.
"This is actually really good!" he thought. "Helpful too because I'll need my strength for tonight."
When the boy heard the sound of approaching soldiers, he hurried back home, making sure to dispose of the evidence on the way. Because Hakoda was out of the hut and keeping an eye on things, Sokka was able to get back without anyone noticing. Zuko had similarly good fortune on his return to the ship. He was able to weave in between exiting soldiers and make it back to the training room. At that time, he would be expected to work on firebending since he no longer could do any sword fighting (anywhere with a possible audience at least).
Zuko went to the fireproof dummy and punched a fireball at the item. The blast was not overly powerful, but its aim was accurate. Still, the prince wished that he could have pushed the dummy back with the attack. A chill went down his spine as he noticed he was no longer alone. Quickly, he stopped and bowed slightly.
"Hello, Father," he said.
Ozai walked over to the training object and placed his hand against where the fire had hit. A frown creased his forehead.
"This is already cool," he mentioned, looking at his fingers. "This is why it was a waste to spend your time with weapons. Do you see that now?"
Zuko did not agree with that statement. He loved using his Dao blade far more than firebending, but he would not dare to say something so blasphemous in front of the firebender. Ozai stepped closer to him.
"Don't you accept the fact that this was the best decision?"
"Yes."
Ozai's scowl did not leave his face. "You would lie to your own father?"
Zuko glanced up in concern. The elder firebender's eyes burned with a rage just barely hidden by his otherwise calm expression.
"I-it's just that Uncle wanted me to learn how to use swords."
"Because he recognized your obvious weakness and chose to enable you. If he actually thought you had any potential to be an accomplished firebender, do you really think he would have suggested such a disgraceful hobby?" There came a brief moment of silence. "Well?"
"No," Zuko said quietly, eyes low.
"I'm glad we're finally starting to see eye to eye. If your uncle were smarter, he would know not to entertain incompetence."
Hearing this, the young prince felt a fire ignite in himself. He looked up with a glare.
"Uncle's the wisest man I know!"
As soon as he spoke, he regretted his decision. Ozai had gotten quiet, but his expression was no longer containing his anger. He stepped forward as Zuko stepped back. The boy felt his heart racing in his ears so loudly that he did not immediately hear a voice.
"Uncle," greeted someone.
Ozai stopped and turned to look behind himself. In the entryway was a young soldier with a smile, but only some of it reached his eyes.
"Lu Ten?" Ozai said, almost unsure he had seen him correctly.
"Lu!" Zuko exclaimed excitedly.
The visitor approached the two and put a hand on his uncle's shoulder before hugging his cousin.
"I'm glad I was able to come."
Ozai's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing away from the war? Does news travel that slowly here?"
"No, but it's been a while since I've seen any of you. Same for Dad, but he can't get away just yet, so I agreed to let him know how everyone was doing. You could imagine my surprise when I heard that you weren't even in the Fire Nation anymore."
"Change doesn't start when you stay put and settle," came the cold response.
Lu Ten just nodded. "Dad feels the same."
The soldier could have stabbed his uncle with a fire blade and cut him less deeply. He was not numb to the harsh glare he was being sent, but he noticed that there was an attempt to quell the rage if only slightly. Ozai realized it was becoming more difficult to do this as he saw how happy the cousins appeared. A smile on Zuko's face was there which he had not seen since before his nephew and brother left. It made him feel almost ill.
"I'll let Azula know you're here," he said, turning to leave. "I will be busy today, but I'm sure she'll be a marvelous hostess."
When the father left, Lu Ten glanced down at Zuko with a more serious look in his eyes. The boy could feel the intensity and looked away.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"It looks like I interrupted something."
Zuko shook his head. "Nothing really. We were just talking about sword fighting."
"That's a shock. I thought he hated weapons."
"He does. That's why he sent Master Piandao away."
"He what? Dad wants you to learn."
"I know, but it wasn't an order or anything. What Dad told him was."
Lu Ten frowned and felt some anger build in his stomach. "I'll let him know when I get ba–"
"Don't!" Zuko caught himself and got quieter. "Don't bother him with that."
"But if he gives an order too, it'll mean more than what your father said."
The younger prince looked at him with almost pleading eyes. "I know, but please don't tell him."
Lu Ten was about to ask why he still did not want anything to be done when he heard light footsteps.
"Hello, Cousin," Azula said dryly. "Bored already with battle or are you just hiding?"
"Hello, Azula," the older Fire Nation royal said.
"You didn't answer, so I'll assume it's the latter."
Lu Ten forced a smile. "How have things been going?"
"Oh, this is a new game," she mentioned sarcastically. "First, you pretend to care about how I've been and then I pretend to care about you. Normally, you just play games with Zuzu."
"I care about all three of you," he assured her.
Azula nodded with a bland look on her face. "I see you've already started. That makes it my turn now. I've been doing well. My firebending is getting even better, unlike Zuzu's. I'm sure I'll be bending lightning soon. How's the war been? Have you killed a lot of the Earth Kingdom scum?"
Her cousin tried hard to not sigh. "Congratulations on your progress with bending. As for me, things are going well. I'm moving up the ranks at a steady pace. I should be a sergeant soon."
Azula smirked. "And I'm sure that has nothing to do with our dear uncle."
"Lu works hard," Zuko defended. "He's getting promoted because of that, not because Uncle is the firelord."
"I didn't know you were joining us in this game, Dum-Dum. You're playing it well, though."
Zuko frowned and gritted his teeth. Azula always knew how to get under his skin. It had been like that for as long as he could remember. Lu Ten could sense this and gave him a warm smile.
"It's alright, Zuko. You're both still young. I wouldn't expect either of you to fully understand how it is to be a soldier in war. If this goes our way, you never will."
This time, Azula frowned, but her expression did not stay for long. "How does Uncle plan on leading from Ba Sing Se? He should just give the throne to Dad if he's going to be so busy."
"But he's not going to, so there really isn't any point in speculating further on the matter," Lu Ten said.
The princess's frown became more harsh, but it contrasted with the smile growing on Zuko's face. He had only ever known two people to get to his sister and they were his uncle and cousin. They were the only people who did not condone her behavior or find themselves too fearful to say otherwise. Instead, they managed to oppose her in such a way that he admired them very much. He wanted to be just like the other prince when he got older.
"You two are dull," Azula said. "I don't feel like babysitting you."
She left the cousins and Zuko's grin only got wider.
"I don't know how you can always do that," he admitted, looking up to the heir in more ways than one.
"She wants to get to you. You just need to have confidence in yourself."
"That's easy for you to say. You're going to be the firelord one day and are already an accomplished soldier in the war."
"There's nothing wrong with being a prince only."
The boy scoffed. "Don't tell my dad that."
Lu Ten's expression became serious again. "Are you really okay? I know Dad wanted Master Piandao here to keep an eye on things."
"I know too, but I'm okay."
After having a penetrating gaze, the soldier sighed. "We didn't want to leave you here."
"I'm not upset or anything. It makes sense why you left."
"Still though…" The young man seemed unsure what to say. "Dad thinks something's going on. Is there?"
Zuko frowned a bit before shrugging. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You know you just have to tell us if there is. We can't help unless we know."
"There isn't."
Sensing that he was pushing too much to be successful, the heir began to smile. "So, are you going to show me what you learned with that Dao or am I just going to have to guess?"
An excited expression went over Zuko's face and he began leading Lu Ten back to his room to demonstrate the new moves. As he did this, the day turned into night. Sokka awoke when he heard his father getting out from under some blankets.
"Knew it!" he thought happily. "He wouldn't just sit by and do nothing."
He peeked with one eye to see what Hakoda was doing. Once he was out of the home, the boy followed him at a stealthy distance. The chief was going to the storehouse and he was not the only one there. Sokka's face took on a pouty look when he saw this. He could not look into the construct and there was no way to sneak in without being noticed. Whatever his father was planning, he wanted–needed–to be involved. Temporarily, he considered digging underneath the storehouse, but he knew that would draw too much attention with someone either seeing him or falling in later. No, he needed a better plan. If he stayed out, someone could spot him, so he had to hide and not mess anything up for the men.
"The warriors," he thought. "Maybe they can help me. Zuko might not have been that wrong when it comes to people knowing I'll lead them one day."
He got a far enough distance from the storehouse to prevent being seen, but he also needed to be close enough to get a good view. This tested his patience. It felt like it was taking forever, but he would wait if it helped. Finally, he saw the warriors leaving. He knew his father and that he would be the last to go–be the reason either to ensure everyone else had gotten out safely or to train more on his own. As he guessed, he saw people leaving one by one. Their faces were moist from perspiration due to the training. Bato was the first to exit the storehouse. Sokka was not shocked by this, but it was not helpful. He needed someone else. When several more tribesmen exited, he decided on one.
The young heir would ask that warrior to show him what training they had been doing. Bato was not an option. He was too close to his father and would just tell him or try to convince Sokka to leave matters to the adults. Not knowing how much time he had until Hakoda left the storehouse and doubting he would get the best results that night by asking anyway, Sokka returned home. Katara was awake when he got there and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Where did you and Dad go?"
"Dad went to train some of the warriors."
"He wouldn't have let you join. What were you doing out?"
Sokka just shook his head and put a hand over his mouth.
"You can tell me. I won't tell him," Katara whispered, thoroughly interested in what her brother was planning.
"Knowing would just stress you out."
"I can take it. I'm not frail."
"Sure you are. You're a girl."
"So what? Some girl waterbenders even fought the Fire Nation soldiers."
"Yeah, and look how that turned out."
Katara frowned at him and tucked herself back under the blankets. "You're the worst. The boys got captured too. Girls are tougher than you think. You'll realize that one day."
Sokka stuck out his tongue at her and got under the covers again himself. He could not even imagine a girl being tough. If the waterbenders had been that proficient with fighting, they would not have been apprehended. Of course, the male waterbenders saw little more success. Still, it was difficult for the boy to imagine what a woman fighter was even like. If he ever found a girl who was a warrior…he would probably not know how to respond. He considered this some more until he fell asleep. Not everyone was sleeping, though. As the children rested, Hakoda continued his solo training and Ozai was in his chambers. With him were two soldiers who had accompanied Lu Ten on his voyage.
"Do you see my point?" he asked.
"I do, my prince, but I'm just worried about opposing orders from the firelord," one answered.
Ozai could hear the nervousness in his voice and envied how his brother could put that in people. The Dragon of the West was not a man to be trifled with but was one to resent as far as he was concerned.
"My brother does not always see the big picture when it comes to the Fire Nation. Why simply take over regions of the Earth Kingdom when you can burn them to the ground and build them back up? Those peasants will never truly be loyal. They've tasted the flavor of freedom for too long. They won't accept anything less. Thinking otherwise is a fool's plan."
"If we do that immediately, the others might not side with us and then we could be executed."
Ozai glared at them. "Are you so foolish yourself too? I never said to kill everyone at once. Accidents happen–make them. No one has to know it's happening. By the time my brother learns of this, everyone will be dead and their homes will be filled with Fire Nation citizens. Even he could not punish you when the entire nation is in celebration over the victory."
"Yes, Prince Ozai. We will work towards that goal."
"Don't disappoint me," he ordered. "You're dismissed."
Bowing, the soldiers left him and returned to their ship. Ozai brought his hands together and looked at a map of the world. The Southern and Northern Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Air Temples…they would all be his one day if he were patient enough. He never was one for patience, but he hated defeat even more, so he did not mind learning new skills. The prince closed his eyes and saw the world he wanted. It was a world of fire and it was breathtaking.
