Fight23: The Ash and the Snow
The plaza at the foot of the citadel steps used as a training ground by Master Pakku and his students. The segmented ice columns that Katara had toppled during the duel had been repaired. It was morning and two waterbending students were facing off. The boy was obviously very nervous while on the other hand, the girl looked very confident. The boy raised up a ball of water, turned it to ice, and hurled it at his opponent. Katara bended the ice around her, liquefied it, and sent a huge stream of water back at the boy who was washed up and backwards. The water became ice that imprisoned him about ten feet off the ground. Katara relinquished her waterbending stance while Pakku approached from over her shoulder.
"Nice try, Pupil Sangok. A couple of more years and you might be ready to fight a sea sponge." The master commented with his usual condescending sarcasm. Pupil Sangok continued to struggle until Pakku turned away, made a motion with his left hand, and the ice prison melted, dropping the hapless student to the ground. "Would anyone care for a rematch with Katara?" He looked over at the rest of the male students who were sitting slumped on the ground... and who had all been beaten flat by the girl. And none wished to renew the experience just yet. Only Ryuho was absent. As usual, he was spending all his mornings with Chenlian (with the Master's permission as he was on a higher level than the others) "Katara, you have advanced more quickly than any student I have ever trained. You have proven that with fierce determination, passion and hard work you can accomplish anything. Raw talent alone is not enough." He glared at Aang who was laying on the ground, floating Momo around on an airball, a lazy smile on his face. "Pupil Aang!"
"Yes, Master Pakku?" He answered as the airball dissipated and Momo fell on his head.
"Care to step into the sparring circle? I figure since you've found time to play with house pets you must have already mastered waterbending."
"I wouldn't say mastered, but check this out!" The monk airbended himself to his feet and spun around, collecting snow around him as he went. When he was done, he had turned into a snowman. Momo pounced on him and knocked him down. Pakku and Katara were wearing similar expressions of disdain. The man shook his head in disgust.
"So they don't have palaces in the Southern Tribe?" Princess Yue questioned. She was walking on a bridge, and Sokka on top of the guardrail of that bridge.
"Are you kidding? I grew up in a block of ice. It's not exactly a cultural hub." The boy stopped walking and sat down. Yue laughed warmly, putting her hand on Sokka's shoulder. But after a moment she pulled back and looked at him seriously.
"Sokka, this is wrong."
"What's wrong? We're taking a walk!" Sokka didn't understand – or didn't want to understand.
"I'm engaged. It just feels..." She looked down and started walking away. The warrior's smile waned and suddenly brightened up again as he got an idea.
"I know what you need! You need to meet my good friend Appa!" He hopped down to stand by her side. The princess had no idea who he was talking about. A little later, they entered Appa's pen. As usual, he was eating. Sokka opened his arms wide. "Appa and I go way back. Don't we boy?" Appa ran and pinned him down with his forepaws and started licking him from bottom to top as if trying to peel his skin. "Ahh! Easy! Down boy! Ahh! No! Up!"
"Looks like you haven't been giving Appa enough attention." Yue laughed heartily as he struggled to break free from the bison's heavy embrace.
When they were finally on his saddle, the princess wondered how this worked. He asked if she was hangin' on tight. She nodded, and he slowly said the right words. Appa soared in the sky to the girl's greatest delight.
"Wow! I can't believe you do this every day!" She blushed slightly.
"Yeah, we pretty much live up here." He stretched coolly. Yue hugged herself and wondered if it was always this cold in the sky before snuggling up against Sokka. "Not when you're with someone." He replied.
"It's beautiful up here."
"Yeah." They looked at each other, their eyes filled with adoration, much more enthralled with each other than with the scenery. They slowly drew closer but right before they kissed, they broke off.
"Whoo! Yeah! Good times! Good times!" Sokka exclaimed awkwardly. Both were looking away. When around them, snowflakes suddenly began to fall. A black snow... The princess didn't know what was happening, unlike Sokka who whispered "Oh no." while looking ahead.
All the citizens paused to watch with wonder and apprehension the dark flakes falling from the sky. Aang laughed as he rolled around in a circle in the snow (as always fooling around instead of training hard like Katara), failing to notice the black precipitation. Momo stuck out his tongue, caught a strange flake and ate it. He spat it right back and coughed. The airbender finally noticed and looked up, same for Katara. Chenlian and Ryuho had also stopped their training and were watching the sky. The waterbender appeared a little anxious before he saw the girl frowning deeply and glaring toward the open sea.
"They have come."
"What?" But the firebender didn't answer and ran toward the city. He ran after her.
After landing, Sokka picked a handful of the dark material. It was soot mixed with snow. He had seen it before. Right before his village was attacked. It was the Fire Nation. They had closed in on the North Pole. And from the looks of the stuff, there were certainly a lot of them... They were staring at dense, immense dark gray clouds that were completely obscuring the horizon.
"This will truly be one for the history books, General Iroh. Just think... centuries from now, people will study the great Admiral Zhao who destroyed the last of the Water Tribe civilization. You're lucky you're here to see it." Zhao gloated.
"Be careful what you wish for, Admiral. History is not always kind to its subjects." The older man warned him.
"I suppose you speak from experience? But rest assured, this will be nothing like your legendary failure at Ba-Sing-Se." Zhao stingingly responded to the admonition.
"I hope not, for your sake."
"Tell the Captains to prepare for first strike." The admiral ordered. Iroh turned and walked away. In one of the many corridors, he met with Zuko, who was still in his guard disguise, and asked him in a whisper whether he had a plan as they would be landing soon. The nephew removed his mask and told him he was working on it. He replaced his mask and they split.
The gong of war echoed in the frozen citadel. The people hurried up the stairs to the fort. Sokka was pulling Yue along by the hand when she suddenly stopped. He asked what was wrong. They had to go! She broke free from his grip.
"No, Sokka, wait. I can't see you anymore. Not at all." She affirmed gravely and sadly. The boy turned around in surprise.
"What? We're just friends!" No matter the shape, he wanted and needed to be close to the one he liked.
"I wish we could just be friends, but I like you too much and it's too confusing to be around you. I'm marrying someone else." She turned so she couldn't see him, so her resolution wouldn't waver.
"You don't love him, do you? You don't even seem to like him."
"But I do love my people."
"You're not marrying them." He insisted, rejecting with all his might the very notion of marriage of state.
"You don't understand. I have duties to my father, to my tribe. I have to do this, goodbye!" She ran off, barely holding her tears back, leaving a stunned, distraught, and heart-broken Sokka who was just as ready to cry.
"The day we have feared for so long has arrived. The Fire Nation is on our doorstep. It is with great sadness I call my family here before me, knowing well that some of these faces are about to vanish from our tribe. But they will never vanish from our hearts." Chief Arnook addressed the people in front of him, his voice resounding through the great hall. Princess Yue and Master Pakku were sitting at his side. "Now, as we approach the battle for our existence," He raised his arms up in supplication. "I call upon the great spirits! Spirit of the Ocean! Spirit of the Moon! Be with us!" He lowered his arms. "I'm going to need volunteers for a dangerous mission."
"Count me in." Sokka was first to stand up. His sister cried his name. Other men stood up in the crowd.
"Be warned. Many of you will not return. Come forward to receive my mark if you accept the task." And at the Chief's request, a line formed in front of him to receive the three red lines on the forehead. Sokka was the second in line. As he left, he turned and made eye contact with Yue, and their gaze reflected all their despair and sorrow. The boy walked away. The princess began to cry silently.
Aang was sitting on one of the pylons at the top of the citadel steps, watching the ocean horizon.
"The stillness before battle is unbearable." The tribe leader joined him from behind, along with Katara, Chenlian and Ryuho who had been chosen to defend the city. "Such a quiet dread."
"I wasn't there when the Fire Nation attacked my people. I'm gonna make a difference this time." He stood up with a fierce expression.
The top of the walls were lined with warriors prepared for the war. All looked calm and quiet on a beautiful sunny day. But all knew it was the calm before the storm. Aang atop Appa stood in the center. Katara and Sokka were to Appa's left and the firebender to the right. Grim determination was etched onto all of their faces. In the distance a single ship could be seen. It suddenly launched a fireball directly at the center of the city wall and blew a massive hole through the water tribe symbol. Many defenders were blown backwards into the city by the concussion, along with huge chunks of ice and debris. Another fell in a canal in an explosion of smoke, vapor, water and fire. A trebuchet launched another one from the ship's foredeck, blasting another hole through the city wall. Appa recoiled and roared. Aang gave him the command to fly off. Chenlian jumped on his back and the bison soared into the sky towards the enemy.
The defenders on the wall recovered and started to reorganize. Sokka was calling for his sister in the wreckage when a large pile of snow was waterbended away from a nearby mound and Katara appeared, scaring him. He helped her out just in time to see two more fireballs shoot over the city wall.
The Fire Navy ship fired a few more fireballs at the city before one shot straight towards Appa. The Avatar batted it away with his staff. The projectile went to crash harmlessly against the cliff. The humans decided to take it from here. Appa inverted himself allowing his riders to drop into a free fall. After a few seconds Aang opened his glider and jets of fire shot from Chenlian's feet and fists. They closed in on the ship, the monk while dodging several more fireballs and the girl by cutting or shattering them. Aang arrived on the foredeck and whiped up a gale that blew most of the crew. He hopped onto the arm of the loaded trebuchet and walked down it when a huge Fire Nation soldier blocked his way. He screamed and went up the arm. Two more soldiers who had climbed up after him and had him in a pincer swung their mighty hammers at him and missed, damaging the trebuchet. Finally, Aang leapt into the air and blasted the trebuchet into a dozen pieces. Suddenly, there was a large explosion that shook the entire ship. Chenlian was running wild in the back and laying waste the machinery room. The vessel ground to a stop.
The airbender smiled, ran to the other trebuchet and broke a rather important chain. He fired the trebuchet. The arm overextended and the weapon shot its fireball into the deck, straight through the forepeak and into the water below. Aang ran back up the deck to two more trebuchet, Fire Nation guards in tow. He tied the chains of the two war instruments together in a bow knot and then ran over to one of the machine's firing mechanisms and kicked it into operation. The activated trebuchet drew the other one to itself and they collapsed into a pile of junk after collision. The child grinned widely, proud of himself. He dashed to another trebuchet and was about to strike the firing mechanism with a hammer when he saw the warrior approach. The boy dropped the hammer in fear, narrowly avoiding two chained hammers that tried to hit him many times. He hid from the warrior and was quickly ensnared by two chains which wrapped him to the trebuchet's girder. All of a sudden, a blast of fire hurtled the soldier far away and another melted a large portion of the chains, freeing Aang who quickly got away before Chenlian cut through the remaining trebuchet with a blazing arch.
A huge ice pike pierced through the ship that was then lifted into the air by dozens of others. The two teens jumped over onto Appa as he passed by. The monk thought they were good to go when the girl contradicted him.
"What are you saying Aang? It's only the beginning. We still have a few hundreds more to go." She pointed at the massive fleet that spanned up to the horizon.
"You have got to be kidding me." Aang's expression turned to horror.
"Well, it looks like we won't have the luxury of holding back this time, right, Guang...?" She was smiling. It was a smile that sent shivers down his spine... the smile of a cornered beast that had prepared itself and decided to remove all limitations. Her eyes glowed like the sun and red markings appeared all over her body. She soared and huge jets of flames sprouted from her fists and feet. But the way she would maneuver in the sky, with wings of fire and a lashing tail of flames, the way she would swoop down and roar and her breath of fire, the way the enemies would cower before her and and flee for their lives... that sheer raw and overwhelming power that easily bisected ships or blew holes through them, those graceful movements, that great and majestic form that struck a most primal fear in mortal hearts... at last, she had truly become a dragon baring her fangs!
"Men, you'll be infiltrating the Fire Nation navy. That means you'll all need one of these uniforms." Chief Arnook addressed a group of soldiers. A young and arrogant-looking dark haired man walked in, dressed in a Fire Navy uniform. However, while doubtlessly Fire Nation it was also doubtlessly NOT the current standard, at least for those like Sokka who have had recent run-ins with them. That was why the southern tribe member laughed before covering his mouth. The others turned to look at him.
"What's your problem?"
"Fire Navy uniforms don't look like that." Sokka pointed at the arrogant man.
"Of course they do. These are real uniforms captured from actual Fire Navy soldiers."
"When, like a hundred years ago?"
"Eighty five." The chief admitted.
"The Fire Nation doesn't wear shoulder spikes anymore. The newer uniforms are more streamlined." Sokka walked forwards and bent the tip of one of the shoulder spikes back with the tip of his finger. It bounced back to its original shape as soon as he let go.
"How do we know we can trust this guy?" The young man in Fire Nation uniform asked the tribe leader. He then turned to Sokka, leaning towards him with a threatening expression. "Such bold talk for a new recruit."
"Sokka is from our sister tribe, Hahn, he is a capable warrior and I value his input." Arnook calmly reprimanded him as the southern tribesman looked smugly at Hahn, who did not appear too pleased. "Now, our first objective is to determine the identity of their commanding officer."
"His name is Zhao. Middle-aged. Big sideburns. Bigger temper. Actually, Chenlian and I made a detailed report of the Fire Nation forces and their commander during our stay here and she asked me to give it to you." He handed the chief a scroll containing descriptions of key officers, blueprints of the ships, estimates of the battles...
"Sokka, I want you to tell everything you know to Hahn. He is leading this mission. Hahn, show Sokka your respect. I expect nothing less from my future son-in-law." The chief left as Hahn 'fashinably' pushed his hair back over his ears and Sokka's jaw dropped in shock at the last pronouncement. He recovered and pointed an accusing finger at Hahn.
"Princess Yue's marrying YOU?"
"Yeah, what of it?"
"Nothing, congratulations." The boy turned away. It certainly didn't look as if it was nothing to him.
The battle continued until late afternoon. The sun was setting and the advance party of the Fire Navy fleet was now firing volleys of fireballs from only half a mile away. Some landed inside the city and some hit the outer wall. Master Pakku ordered his waterbenders to stop the blazing projectiles. They collectively raised up barriers of water they froze to catch and extinguish the fireballs. It was then Iroh, as Zhao's military consultant, advised his admiral to halt the attack. It was almost twilight, and waterbenders drew their power from the moon which was nearly full this night. They should wait and resume the attack at daybreak.
"Oh, I'm well aware of the moon problem and I am working on a solution. But for now, daybreak it is." The admiral reluctantly agreed. The ships dropped their anchors for the night.
Katara and Yue were standing in front of the citadel looking out over the city and its walls to the line of threatening Fire Navy ships. Plumes of smoke were rising over several sections of the city that have been bombed. The princess noted they had stopped firing and Katara noted Appa's approached. Aang and Chenlian were coming back. Appa landed on the plaza at the base of the Citadel steps. The Water Tribe girls ran down to them. As soon as the bison landed it lied down on his belly, its feet too tired to keep him up. Aang looked small and dejected on the driver's seat. He slid off and came to rest next to Appa's left forepaw.
"I can't do it. I can't do it." He repeated, holding his head in his hands, very distressed. Katara asked him what happened. "I must have taken out a dozen Fire Navy ships and Chenlian at least six times that, but there's just too many of them. We can't fight them all."
"But, you have to! You're the Avatar!" The princess pleaded.
"I'm just one kid." Aang said humbly and buried his head in his knees in despair. Katara asked about Chenlian and he told her she was in the saddle. The firebender was smiling, but she was also panting, shaking and sweating. Katara had seen her fight too. Of course, that power was not originally hers so it was only natural that if overused her body, as the recipient, would suffer damage. The waterbender had remarked that while her female friend usually treated her body well, she had a tendancy to strain herself a bit too much in some cases. But here she had really overdone it!
"Ah, Katara. Sorry, I don't think I can walk on my own. Actually, I can barely move. Could you give me a hand for now?" The mahogany-haired girl smiled weakly and apologetically. Katara sighed and helped her out of the saddle. They slid down and sat down beside Aang with Katara in the middle. She comforted Aang and scolded Chenlian for overexerting herself to this extent (while she healed her at the same time).
Night had almost completely fallen. Below the nearly full moon, Zuko, now entirely dressed in plain grey and white clothes, was preparing a canoe to be lowered into the water. Behind him a door opened to reveal Iroh who entered and shut the door behind him.
"If you're fishing for an octopus, my nephew, you need a tightly woven net or he will squeeze through the tiniest hole and escape." The old man advised.
"I don't need your wisdom right now, Uncle."
"I'm sorry, I just nag you because, well, ever since I lost my son..." He trailed off, looking away. Evidently, it was too painful for him to continue.
"Uncle, you don't have to say it." Zuko said kindly and sympathetically. He didn't want that parent he loved so much to suffer like that but Iroh nonetheless forced himself because he loved that child just as much.
"...I think of you as my own." And as they turned to each other, the teen's expression was one of deep genuine concern and understanding.
"I know, Uncle." He bowed and saluted him with his arm over chest. "We'll meet again..." Iroh rushed forward and gave him a bear hug. The young man pulled away and walked over to the canoe. "...after I have the Avatar... and Chenlian." Zuko got into the canoe and began to lower it.
"Remember your Breathe of Fire! It could save your life out there!"
"I will."
"And put your hood up, keep your ears warm!"
"I'll be fine." The teen replied from far below. Iroh gazed on worriedly as his nephew departed.
Sokka and Hahn were sharpening axe blades on rotating wheels while discussing about women. Well, Hahn was talking, while Sokka was listening with a very cross face.
"Let me tell ya, Soka, I've courted a lot of girls, but Yue is the finest and she comes with the most perks..."
"Perks!? What does that mean?" Sokka's eyes bulged in anger.
"I mean, Yue's nice and everything, but the points I'll get with the Chief aren't bad either."
"Princess Yue is wasted on a self absorbed weasel like you!"
"Whoa. Hang on. What do you care? You're just a simple rube from the Southern Tribe. What would you know of the political complexities of our life? No offense." Hahn commented with an unbearably smug look on his face. And in response, Sokka yelled and tackled him to the ground and kept punching him.
"You're just a jerk without a soul! No offense!" They rolled around a bit more before the Chief broke them up... and withdrew Sokka from the mission. Arnook left and the Southern Tribe boy looked away, humiliated.
"All right, fall in men! Everybody listen to what I say and we'll take out this Admiral Jo in no time." Hahn commanded.
"It's Admiral Zhao!" Sokka shouted to the departing soldiers.
Zuko led his canoe through the ice flows near the City and up to the wall. He beached the craft on the ice and looking for a way inside the fortress, he spied several noisy turtle seals disappearing into a hole in the ice. Where were they going? They had to be coming up for air somewhere... He took a deep breath and plunged into the hole of icy water.
"The legends say the moon was the first waterbender." Yue said. She, Katara and Aang (and Momo) were standing in a hallway, watching the moon, although the boy had his head down. Chenlian was with them, sitting and resting on the parapet and leaning against a column. She still had not fully recovered, well of course, given how recklessly she had fought. "Our ancestors saw how it pushed and pulled the tides and learned how to do it themselves." The princess told them. Katara had always noticed that her bending was stronger at night. "Our strength comes from the Spirit of the Moon, our life comes from the Spirit of the Ocean. They work together to keep balance."
"The Spirits! Maybe I can find them and get their help!" Aang suddenly opened his eyes wide and grinned. The princess asked how he could do that. Katara explained that the Avatar was the bridge between their world and the Spirit World and that allowed him to talk to them.
"Maybe they'll give you the wisdom to win this battle!" Yue smiled hopefully.
"Or maybe they'll unleash a crazy amazing spirit attack on the Fire Nation!" The little monk spread his arms, suddenly very excited. The girls stared at him fixedly. "Or wisdom. That's good too." He put his arms behind his head and smiled sheepishly.
"The only problem is, last time you got to the Spirit World by accident. How are you going to get there this time?" Katara voiced her anxiety. However, Yue and Chenlian had an idea.
They walked to the far back of the citadel, through a courtyard and stopped in front of a wooden half height door. The boy asked whether this was the way to the Spirit World. The princess laughed. He would have to get there on his own... but she could take him to the most spiritual place in the entire North Pole. She opened the door and they walked in.
Inside there was a long pool of water. At the back of the chamber was a waterfall coming from the glacier way above. On the sides of the pool were two ledges by which one could access the landing at the back of the chamber. The landing was full of greenery, another smaller pool that looked almost tropical in nature, and a small gate shaped like a Japanese torii. The landing was connected to the ledges by two wooden foot bridges. Everyone was filled with wonder at the nature beauty before them. Aang ran over the left bridge, laughing. He landed on the soft grass in front of the little pond and rubbed it fondly. He had never thought he'd miss grass this much! He flopped over on his back as the three girls walked onto the landing themselves. Katara took off her coat. She couldn't believe it could be so warm here. How was that possible? Yue explained it was the center of all spiritual energy in their land. Inside the pond, two koi fish were circling each other in a timeless ballet. One was white with a black spot, the other black with a white spot. Momo skittered up to the pond and began to try and grab the fish. But he ran away when he noticed the severe look of the girls.
"You're right, Yue. I can feel something it's so tranquil." The monk sat cross legged in front of the pond, closed his eyes, and attempted to meditate.
Prince Zuko broke through a water hole in a dark cave filled with noisy turtle seals. He flopped onto the ice floor, out of breath. He flipped over, shivered, and blew fire into his hands to warm himself up. After he had recovered a little, he stood up and ordered the animals to be quiet. They obeyed but started once he had passed them. The firebender approached a waterfall at the back of the cave. He entered the tunnel where the water was coming up and made headway up the channel.
Sokka was crouching down and sharpening his boomerang in the same armory he had had his fight with Hahn. Arnook came up behind him and asked if something was wrong.
"Oh no! Hahn's out there on the top secret mission while I'm here sharpening my boomerang. Everything's fine!"
"Listen to me. I took you off the mission for selfish reasons. I have a special task in mind for you."
"What? You want me to scrub the barracks?" The boy turned to the chief in anger.
"I want you to guard my daughter, Princess Yue."
"Er, sure. That shouldn't be too hard." The young man stood up with a dreamy expression, mingling innocence with desire. The chief left.
Zuko struggled up the tunnel, against the water. He slipped once, but kept moving onwards. Finally he exited the tunnel into the bottom of a large pool of water. He swam up and broke the surface, gasping for air. The top of the chamber was inches above his head. After regaining his breathe, he scanned underneath the water for exits. He saw one, dived and entered another tunnel. Going around one bend and then up he saw what looked like an exit into open air, but once he reached it, it proved to be just thinner, lighter colored ice. Running out of breath, he concentrated and superheated his hands and placed them on the thin ice, burning through it and melting it. He emerged into a tunnel within the Water Tribe City and lied down for a moment to regain his strength and breath.
Aang was still in his meditation pose beside the pool, desperately trying to cross over despite Katara and Yue behind him who kept whispering.
"Why is he sitting like that?" The princess was asking.
"He's meditating trying to cross over into the Spirit World. It takes all his concentration." The waterbender explained. The Avatar cracked an eye at this continued interruption, clearly aggravated.
"Is there any way we can help?"
"How bout some quiet!? C'mon guys! I can hear every word you're saying!" After his outburst he resumed his pose. His eyes fell on the black and white fish circling each other in front of him. And the more he stared, the more they seemed to blur until all he could see was the Yin Yang symbol. His eyes and arrow flashed white and glowed. Yue wanted to know if he was okay. The benders reassured her. He had successfully crossed. He'd be fine as long as they didn't move his body. That was his way back to the physical world. Then she asked why Chenlian hadn't gone with him.
"It's fine. He has other guides over there. We must focus on protecting his body."
"Then maybe we should get some help?" The princess suggested.
"No, he's our friend. We're perfectly capable of protecting him." Katara disagreed.
"That's right." Chenlian concurred. "We shouldn't lessen the defenses. The two of us will be enough. Besides, I have a feeling we've already got an uninvited guest, though can't say he was unexpected..." She smirked.
"Do you mean me?" Zuko answered. "Then don't worry, I'll leave as soon as you hand the Avatar over to me."
"No!" Katara cried.
"Yes! Hand him over, and I won't have to hurt you." He walked over the bridge.
Katara assumed a waterbending stance, while Yue ran off to call for reinforcements. Chenlian stood protectively before Aang, ready to fight, as the little monk, oblivious, was still in the Spirit World. She was still far from her top condition but she'd made do. Besides, Katara had grown much stronger and it was night. It was alright to leave it to her while she would take care of any miss she could make. And if that man lasted until morning... then they would switch over.
Zuko launched forward, firing several blasts of fire. Katara blocked all three with water from the pond. He fired several more as he advanced, but on the last one she used enough water to not only douse his fire, but hurl him backward and lay him flat on the ground.
"I see you've learned a new trick. But I didn't come this far to lose to you." Zuko got up. He fired another blast which she blocked. Katara then launched another stream of water at him, hurling him backwards again. He barely retained his balance, but the waterbender froze his feet are frozen in the ice beneath him. Then, with a massive output of effort, she lifted a wave of water from the main pool behind Zuko that encased him and streamed it over and over into a very dense sphere she froze entirely with him inside. Satisfaction was written all over Katara's face.
"You little peasant. You've found a master, haven't you?" The prince deduced, as angry as could be. And fuelled by his anger, the temperature around him rose enough for the shell of ice to shatter. He charged at Katara but all their attacks missed. He managed to get behind the waterbender only to be repelled by Chenlian. And Katara blasted him out of the way with a jet of water over to the right ledge. While he tried to recover, she raised a huge wave of water that raised him to ten or more feet up the wall where she froze him in place once again.
The sun rose over the horizon. The waterbenders looked out from the citadel over the city wall to the Fire Navy fleet, preparing themselves for another day of fighting even fiercer than before.
"It's daybreak at last. Let's write history." Zhao smirked.
The light of the sun also fell on the two firebenders at the spiritual heart of the Water tribe. Zuko's head that had dropped in defeat suddenly snapped up with a look of determination. He breathed steam, melting the ice holding him in place. At the same time, Chenlian felt compelled to look back at him, only to see him slide down and charge at Katara again. She cried her name. He fired a huge blast of fire. Katara was unable to block it entirely and was thrown back into the post of the gate, knocked out.
"She rises with the moon. We rise with the sun. Now it's only the two of us, Chenlian."
"You really won't back down, will you?" The girl sighed, assuming a battle stance.
"You're the one who should back down!"
"I can't do that. I made a promise, to them and to myself... that I'll protect them, I'll protect Aang no matter what."
At this Zuko snapped and sent her an even stronger blast. She took control of it though, twirled and sent it back with more power. He cut the stream with his joint hands and charged at her. She caught his fist in her hand, quenching the flames.
"Then why?!" He raged. And their eyes locked onto each other, she could see, she could feel, she could hear... all his fury, all his turmoil... He tried to kick her but she spun, dodging it, and retaliated with one of her own that sent him flying. He skidded and charged again. Their arches of flames met. He jumped over the conflagration and aimed for a drop kick that was dodged. Their forearms clashed like swords pushing at each other.
"Didn't you say you would always protect me?!" All his sorrow, all his anguish... And feeling herself buckle ever so slightly as she remembered despite having never forgotten her promise to him, she caught his arm, turned around him and pushed him away and made him trip. Both were letting their emotions submerge them. All the emotions they had desperately tried to bury, hide, control, destroy... She fired a blast at him. He spun his legs, dissipating it and stood back up and attacked again. She stopped his fire daggers. "Why aren't you fighting by my side?! Why aren't you with me... like you promised me!" The boy thundered, releasing all his pent-up anger, bitterness, frustration and all his other feelings. Chenlian's grip weakened, her eyes widened, her heart stopped... she completely froze for a second... all his tears... his desperation... all his passion... all his lo... suddenly, she was hit full force at point blank range. She crashed and collapsed against the other gate pillar.
When the smoke cleared, Zuko looked over at the mahogany-haired girl, his hand on Aang's collar, the sun shining bright behind him.
"Chenlian, this time, YOU will come after me..."
The bowsprits of the Fire Navy ships dropped and opened holes into the Water City's main wall and were then used as a bridge by Fire Nation troops entering the city.
"The Water Tribe can try to resist the inevitable, but their city will fall today." Zhao declared.
Katara woke up to Chenlian shaking her. Both Aang and Zuko were gone. Momo chattered.
"Chen-" The waterbender began but she was interrupted.
"I know!" She yelled, feeling guilty enough as it was, although her friend had no plan at all to blame her since she was just as guilty. Appa landed, Sokka and Yue in the saddle. They hopped down.
"What happened? Where's Zuko?"
"He took Aang. He took him right out from under us."
"Where did they go?"
"Right into the blizzard above. I don't think that man had any plan beyond Aang's capture. You go with Appa, I will stay there and use a different approach." Chenlian sat down in Aang's place and started meditating.
Away from the sanctuary, on the surface of the massive glacier, it was snowing hard. Zuko was struggling through the blizzard, carrying Aang, whose markings were still glowing white.