บท 22: Ozai's Challenge Part 3
The next morning, several army troopers with shield gauntlets and swords or spears stand guard. A few firebenders are mixed in their ranks. Meanwhile multiple archers stand from rooftops with their weapons as drawn. Across them are piles of head Remnant troopers but the national forces allow their forces to stay and bury their dead for one hour around midnight which keeps the field from getting too messy and stinky.
This time, a fresh batch of Remnant troopers emerge. Fifteen press the right and left flanks of the enemies. Five are firebenders, five are swordsmen, and another five are spearmen on each side. An army captain watches them with a pair of binoculars as his lieutenant stands beside him, "Hmm, another team is advancing but this one is trying to use stealth and it's a lot smaller."
Lieutenant: "I think it's a trick sir."
Captain: "No matter, alert everyone to stay sharp and keep the guard tight. Don't let them be a distraction and don't take them lightly." Six archers arise, this is less than the eight that were reported fighting the larger Remnant force earlier. The army is most likely holding out and not deploying everything at once.
On the left flank, a firebender and a swordsman are shot down by archers. On the right a spearwoman is shot in her forehead by an arrow, "Ugh!" The other archers stand and take aim. They begin to shoot freely but the Remnant soldiers dive behind wagons, trash cans, run into allies, and hide behind damaged fruit stands for cover.
Another swordsman is shot on the right flank while a firebender and spearman are hit on the left flank. The archers continue to aim and rain down their fire as the Remnant forces look to hide themselves. The captain scowls in frustration as Ronin suddenly sprints down the main opening.
The archers being focus on the flanks don't immediately notice. Ronin quickly closes distance from 80 feet away to 50 initially sneaking more until he is clearly just 30 feet away. One of the officers looks up and shouts, "HEEEEYYYY, look down the center!!" Two of the archers on the left and right side turn and looks at Ronin.
One archer on the left flank says, "Wait, I've got him." The bowman takes aim and suddenly shoots his metal arrow at Ronin's neck.
Ronin leaps right but an archer on the left edge of the right building responds, "Weapons free everyone!" As he takes aim at Ronin's chest an explosive arrow hits the right edge of the roof beside them, incinerating two bowmen across him.
Right flank archer: "Where did that come from?!" Kedo watches from a distant rooftop then leaps down from it into a haystack below to avoid being discovered. Alev launches herself in the air with a swirl of light orange and bright yellow flames spinning as she does so. Her gold eyes, wavy long light brown hair, and colorful armor shine as she does this.
About ten army swordsmen with shields, ten spear warriors with shields, and another ten firebenders with shields rush from their stationary positions as they gaze at her. Army captain: "WHAT ARE YOU MORONS WAITING FOR? Kill her!" The four archers on the right flank take aim and immediately fire but Alev launches herself fifteen feet forward while swirling in an upward then downward looping motion.
Alev buzzes right with a beam of fire propelling her and tosses an explosive ball of fire between the archers. The ball explodes killing the two in the center immediately and knocking their bodies into the other two archers; the collision sends both remaining sharpshooters plunging down. Alev flips her hair then zooms away as the other archers try to get a lock on her.
One of Alev's phantoms leaps forward with a fire propelled jump onto the left building before he kicks a swirl of flames into the remaining national archers. Another two phantoms sprint behind Ronin as he advances. Both sporting white armor with wild maroon markings throughout it.
Ronin is now just 12 feet away from his opponents. One spearman tosses his weapon at the rogue marine but Ronin flips seven feet in the air and pushes a beam of orange and yellow fire into a swordsman. The duelist extends his shield to block the shot but flies into an ally's spear.
The blade penetrates his back and chest with blood seeping out. The spearman drops his weapon and battlemate in terror. Army spearman: "Oh my gosh, what have I done?!" The other phantoms leap forward; one with a fiery kick into a firebender and the other punches two fireballs into two unsuspecting opponents. As this happens the other Remnant warriors shout and charge to reinforce the main team.
Ronin punches two calculated flames into an incoming swordsman and firebender. A third firebender pushes thin yet fast a ray of fire at him. Ronin spins right and hurls a brick of fire at the trooper's face. The warrior raises his shield and blocks the shot. Ronin subsequently rotates his right leg horizontally and low as he kicks a whip of fire into the man's legs.
Ronin sees another three nation warriors moving in his direction. The officer rotates his body and shoots a beam of flames into the rooftop. Several debris fall and crush three troopers. A fourth building fragment hits an army firebender's back, breaking it, "Uhhhh!!" A second later a Remnant trooper tosses a spear through an army firebender's chest.
The man's body claps against the pavement under him as the other Remnant warriors close in. Remnant firebender, "Yeeeeaaahhh!!" The firebender lunges in the air and punches two flames into a national swordsman and spear warrior. Gendall charges at a national shield and sword warrior. Gendall blocks a diagonal right strike and causes his enemy to stumble backwards by horizontally butting his shield.
Gendall backpedals and looks at Ronin, "Well, this is our moment."
Ronin nods, "Indeed! Don't tell me you're already getting tired."
Gendall: "You kidding? I could do this ALL DAY!"
Ronin: "Good, because I'm just getting warmed up."
Alev flies behind them like a firefly, "Good, because I am too!" Alev pulls her hands back as she gathers an aura of flames around her hands before she extends them and pushes a wave of fire into five soldiers across her. The fire explodes on impact and dispatches the soldiers. The men and women scream as their bodies are sudden overloaded by extreme convection.
An army trooper screams, "Retreat, retreat, the Remnant has broken our lines!!"
Army trooper 2: "Oh that's not good." A massive explosion instantly kills two men and sends a third one flying fifteen feet in the air before he violently crashes down. Multiple national soldiers are rapidly overwhelmed and cut down by Remnant raiders as they press forward.
Captain Ardo watches with Corporal Kip and others. Ardo: "Come on, this is our moment!" Ships deploy another two platoons of troopers on the right and left flanks. Ardo's team moves on the right while another presses in the left. A heavyset and tall Fire Nation Major named Bezak presses into battle. Bezak has thick black hair, a thin trimmed beard, dark orange eyes, light yellow skin, and a thick nose.
Bezak shouts to his men as dozens charge ahead of him into the capital streets, "Tear them apart!" It all seems bad as the Remnant rapidly gains territory in the heart of Zuko's administration. Meanwhile, the Prompt Adjudicator continues to sail behind the ship that Aang is in. As they continue to follow, the red ship holding Aang lands at the island. However two frigates stand between it and them.
Dengo nods from behind Sokka who is still on the telescope, "Well, we can wait here for now. We don't want to alert him yet with a fight. We will only be able to keep watch for a brief time, the further he goes into those woods, the less we will know."
Sokka replies, "Don't worry, Appa will give us a closer look. But not yet, we will go when it feel right."
Gammal comments, "That's some plan from a master tactician."
Sokka: "Hey just because I'm not all official style like Macai doesn't mean I'm not legit, I just have a different way of doing things. And this is a different situation. I have a feeling that's the way to handle this. You've just gotta trust me ok."
Gammal looks at Zuko, "Was he always this thin skinned? I'm just teasing you buddy."
Sokka: "Right, well for me someone has to earn the right to tease me. And you aren't quite there yet, buddy."
Gammal: "Right back at ya pal."
Dengo: "Gammal, enough of this." Meanwhile, Aang exits the red corvette and the guards escort Aang into a metal transport. The vehicle rides to a circular platform where Ozai is waiting. Ozai has black robes. The platform has multiple black line markings over the sand-colored surface that seems to be made of a ceramic-like material.
As Aang exits the transport, he instantly enters the Avatar state. His eyes turn white, he begins to levitate, and he screams a shockwave of air at the warlord. Ozai gasps and crosses his hands to block the shot but is knocked twenty feet back into the dirt. Aang viciously pulls his hands together and wraps his rival in earth clay that immediately hardens and solidifies.
Aang yells with a distorted voice, "OZAI, YOU WILL PAY FOR YOUR CRIMES AGAINST THE NATIONS!"
Ozai responds, "Not yet." Aang flies toward Ozai and his elite troopers watch but do not attempt to intervene. Ozai: "If you take my bending now, I've ordered my men to kill your beloved Katara. They will know if you do, I have an interrogator who is also a priest. He will sense it and end her life immediately if you disobey. You know what I am saying is true."
Aang looks at Ozai sideways. Ozai: "I took you here to Kecca because this a place where deals are made. I'll give you a chance to free your love, unharmed one condition. You make a pledge. Katara will not be killed, if you deactivate your Avatar state. You and I will both fight in an Jiko Kai, that is a fight where you fight alone without the help of past Avatars against me. Only the mightiest warrior will prevail, so we can learn once and for all who really is the best and most fit to decide the destiny of the people in our world."
Ozai continues, "I've proven, I am still the greatest firebender of my generation. The greatest waterbender, Katara lays at my mercy."
Aang adds, "But you forgot about Toph."
Ozai: "No matter, I'll kill her next. That way I'll ensure the last memory of you are WIPED CLEAN FROM EXISTANCE!!"
Aang: "But what about Katara?"
Ozai: "As said, if you win, she goes free. But if I win, I'll rip her to shreds after I end you. I would be a fool to let her survive and plot against me. Even now, the spirits watch us, Rito, set the terms!" A priest in white and dark red robes pours purple water into the lines, they suddenly glow and turn green.
The energy hovers Aang back down to the surface. Aang feels different knowing he is on his own. Ozai believes the only way for Aang to win a fight like this is for the Avatar to be willing to kill him, but he knows that isn't Aang's nature.
To make matters worse, Ozai knows that the dark forces are on his wide and if Aang wavers it could reduce his pull to and assistance from the light. This would give Ozai more opportunities to overtake him. Ozai also sees the dark as a world Aang can't beat him in and he might be right. One must have the right mentality to use the darkness directly without being driven to insanity.
Azula learned this the hard way. Ozai looks at Aang intensely, "Do you accept?"
Aang shouts, "You're on!" Ozai notices a bit of tension in Aang's voice and smirks. Ozai laughs. Aang looks around and suddenly is pulled up in the air by a supernatural energy source. Green light swirls around him and Aang feels a white burn on his chest. Aang screams, "Urrrrrrgghghghgghhg!!!!" Aang's eyes begin to glow white again.
Aang looks around and sees the spirits of the Avatars before him looking at him in his eyes but no one else notices. The Avatar has suddenly lost a good amount of unseen spiritual foresight, subconscious instincts to avoid and defend against certain attacks, and precautions that derived from the previous Avatars. This essential cuts him off from years of spiritual experience making him more likely to make mistakes and forcing him to solely rely on his personal lifetime.
They watch in the distance but are unable to speak and disappear. The glow in Aang's eyes fades away. Ozai smiles, "Good." Ozai throws his robe off, revealing black and platinum armor. Ozai extends his arms and exhales. A powerful shockwave of red, orange, and yellow flames blows the warlord's earth restraints off of his body. Smoke flows around him, as it clears, he slowly steps closer to his archenemy.
Ozai stares down at Aang with murderous intent. Ozai: "Not so good now, are you? Not relying on hundreds of spirits and lives or whatever you'd like to call it to guide you in battle. Now it is just you and me, boy!"
Aang snarls, "I'm not a little boy anymore. And that is still more than enough to beat you. I was the only one destined to defeat you and I WILL DO IT AGAIN!"
Ozai: "That remains to be seen. Now you fight the full might of the most powerful firebender in history! Now you face a man that no one in your era can beat. Even with all your elements, you cannot match my mastery. You don't have the mentality to beat me!" Aang ignores him and says nothing. Instead, he tightens his fist.
In all his life, he's never been this angry. He breaths in and out rapidly as he tries to compose himself but is unable to. This makes him particularly vulnerable because he is fighting in a completely new way and will need to draw back on what he knows if he wants to best Ozai. Without a clear mind, he is more likely to brawl which is what Ozai specializes in.
Ozai is taller, bigger, stronger, more durable, and while he only has one element Ozai's firebending is more dangerous than Aang's use of any one element. To win, this Avatar will need to use them all in smooth coordination. But instead, Aang continues to breath rapidly and tighten his fists. With the other Avatars gone, he has lost even more self-control. All he wants is to smash him.
Times are different this time around for Ozai as well. Last time, he was distracted by his dream and ambition. He had plans, but he thought beating Aang would be relatively easy. He hadn't had any hard fights in years and was inactive being the Firelord. Despite that, he gave him a run for his money and almost won. If he could do well then, imagine how much better he can now that he is fully focused and honed in.
This time, it's personal! Before Aang was but an annoyance, someone who impeded his plans by destroying his biggest fleet at the Northern Water Tribe capital. Still, Ozai knew he was rapidly approaching victory against the biggest threat, the Earth Kingdom. Ba Sing Se was neutralized, he was blinded by his arrogance.
This time, he won't hold back, not by any measure. He knows his enemy is highly dangerous and is potentially the biggest threat remaining. Ozai is not willing to give this up, not again. He lost everything, his crown, his authority, his image, his wealth, his glory to one boy!! Now may be his last chance to rebuild everything he has lost. It would seem fate has given both of them one final chance to decide who will have influence in this new era.
Ozai shouts, "Uuuuurrrraaaahhh!!!" Ozai punches two rapid bricks of fire at Aang. The airbender flips right and horizontally hurls his own beam of wind at the Remnant figurehead. Ozai leaps over the shot, showing off his muscular legs as he tosses a sphere of fire at Aang. Aang flips forward and a large explosion sparks behind him.
Aang extends his hands and directs two rounds of ice knives at the firebending master. Ozai spins right and raises his hands as he absorbs the shots with a wall of red-orange-yellow flames. The brutal father extends his hands and launches his wall of fire at his opponent. Aang hops right and forward closer to his enemy before landing on his knees.
A second later, Aang backflips on his feet. Ozai swings two fireballs at Aang. The Avatar covers his arms with wrist water guards as he blocks the flames. The guards immediately evaporate after the block which still sting his arms. Aang hisses as Ozai pulls his left leg back and kicks a gust of flames at Aang.
The young monk attempts to leap left but falls and tumbles on the floor. Ozai laughs, "You're looking sloppy boy!" The teen rises back to his feet as Ozai punches four flames at him. Aang uses firebending technique to block the first two flames with his arms. The teen twirls right as he evades a third flame but the fourth flame hits his left thigh.
Aang cries, "Ahhhh!" Aang puts his left hand on his leg as he lessens the sting with a water healing technique.
Ozai interjects, "Oh no you don't!" The tyrant swipes two five-foot wide explosive boxes of fire at Aang. Aang flips eight feet high and seven feet forward as he hears the flames crash behind him. Ozai extends his hands and shoots a beam of red, orange, and yellow fire at Aang.
Aang raises his right hand and blocks the shot with a wall of earth. A second later, he streches his right arm and breaks the wall into multiple stones before he launches them at Ozai at 30 miles an hour. Ozai launches himself eight feet in the air with a fire enhanced jump and swings three swirling balls of fire at the young multi-bending master.
Aang ducks as the first flame zooms over his head then flips forward as he dodges the next two flames. Aang extends his right hand and shoots a long ice sword at Ozai. The ex-Firelord extends his right hand and fries the ice sword with his own ray of fire. Ozai readjusts his hand and shoots another surge of flames at Aang's feet.
Aang pulls his hands down and launches himself twelve feet back and high with a gust of air, "Ughhh!" The airbending master pulls his hands back and shoots himself forward and toward Ozai at an insane 80 miles an hour. Ozai's eyes widen as he extends his hands and pumps himself another 10 feet higher with a gust of fire.
Aang instantly reacts and pumps himself up with a similar gust of air. Aang is now just three feet across Ozai. As Aang meets his level, the Remnant figurehead wastes no time and launches himself toward Aang with a spout of fire form his legs. Ozai grabs a hold of Aang as gravity yanks them both down. Aang gasps, "Yuh!"
Ozai tightens his grip and squeezes his right arm around Aang's left. Ozai grabs Aang's right shoulder with his left hand and burns heat into Aang's shoulder. Aang yells, "Ooooooohhhhhh!!!!" Aang's head jerks back then forward and his legs begin to flop as he reacts to the pressure. Aang tries to think of how he will break free, but a second later he hits the back of his head, back, and butt on the hard floor.
Aang hears a violent thump and takes the full force since he has no hair to lessen the impact. Aang slides backward and the hit is amplified since Ozai's weight shifts onto the hero as he hits the deck. Aang groans, "Emm!" Ozai rains three heavy punches into Aang's nose which turns pink from the hits.
Meanwhile, the battle heats up at the Fire Nation Capital. The sun begins to set as tensions continue to arise. The sky turns from a turquoise hue to a light orange color. Some army naval forces shoot the edges of the Remnant fleet that is parked outside of the capital's harbor. As this happens, the Venki's flagship bombards enemy ships from afar with its long-range guns.
Three cannons from the Great Whaleshark pound a national cruiser. Army Captain: "Oh goodness, that ship is a PAIN to deal with. Someone's going to have to take it out!"
Army Lieutenant: "We don't have anyone that can help us right now, all our hands are full. And our weapons are still divided as we focus on those two corvettes and that lightcruiser attacking us."
Army Captain: "It will take a while for more reinforcements to arrive, all our fleets that came to respond were within a three hour distance of the battle. I wouldn't expect any noticeable help until the next couple hours."
The army lieutenant protests, "Sir, we don't have a couple of hours. If things keep going as they are, we'll be dead in less than an hour if we don't pull out."
Army Captain: "You're right, we need a distraction. Something to buy us time!"
A crew member pokes the captain, "Sir look up, behind us!" The captain turns and notices six testhans flying toward the enemy ships at great speed and about three hundred feet in the air. Testhans are fast, agile, long, raptor and bird-like creatures. They have sharp teeth, sharp claws, and enhanced reflexes.
Macai rides in the grey male testhan that Palu regularly leads to him, Azula rides a magenta female testhan that she personally picked out. Kanna Foloki rides a gold male one. Sonna is on a light blue female testhan with her bow strapped. Irina on a light orange male with her spear ready. Dade is borrowing Rosh's light green male testhan, which means Rosh will be enraged if anything bad happens to it and Dade was never great at dealing with pressure.
Dade's creature shakes side of side and begins flying a bit faster than the others. Dade shouts, "Hey! This thing is impatient! How do I calm it down."
Macai answers, "You have to lead it. If it goes too far, direct it and be stern but not cruel. This is Rosh's pet, so it naturally has attitude. On the other hand, he is the most creative. That will probably help you since you seem to be the worst rider, he can do the work and take over if needed."
Dade shouts, "Hey! I'm a great rider! And it's not a contest!"
Macai: "Relax, I'm only teasing you."
Azula adds, "Besides, it's not like Macai is great at it either. He is so generic in how he rides and predictable. He hasn't the adventurous and free mindset to excel on one like I do."
Dade: "You excel at everything, so what else is new."
Macai adds, "Except, at winning cornhole."
Dade smiles, "That's right."
Azula scowls, "Can we focus on the mission?" The animals zoom forward and Remnant ships look up as they prepare to attack.
Macai announces, "So hears the plan. Dade, just stay high and away from the ships until you get into the city. Kanna, you are a sharp rider, go low to distract them but pull back up if it gets too hot down there! Sonna, stay at a mid-height and fly in through the right side of the city. Irina, try to head to the center of the city, I will do the same. Since you ride a little better than me you can go higher and I'll go lower."
Azula smirks, "What about me?"
Macai: "You, can do what you do best. I know better than trying to tell you what to do. You just end up doing your own thing anyway."
Azula responds, "But it works, doesn't it?"
Macai nods, "Yes, it always does, and often better than my plans." Macai dies forward ahead of multiple Remnant ships. As he hover over a cruiser he generates a ball of white fire and drops it onto the cruiser. As the ball falls, it blows up five troopers below and briefly blinds dozens more. Macai sighs, "That should shake them up a bit."
Macai notices two rods of fire fly at him from his right flank. He immediately pressures for his creature fly go low and speed up. Irina rides a bit behind Macai and lower than his position as two long logs of fire are shot at her. Irina briefly raises her creature as she avoids the shots then swoops down as she gets away from a third shot from her right flank.
A fourth shot is launched directly at Irina but her creature spins upward. Azula breaks off from the main group and accelerates left. She immediately gets the attention of a Remnant corvette which fires three torpedoes at her. Azula's pet accelerates past the flames and Azula turns it left and low as she swarms closer to a frigate. Soon she plunges to being 80 feet over it.
Azula pats her creature then leaps off. With a gust of light blue flames, Azula blows herself left and soars down toward the frigate below her. Azula pulls her hands down and launches herself faster with a beam of blue flames. Azula zooms toward the ship at 70 miles an hour. One of the Remnant crew members look up and notices, "Hey, there is a swirl of blue fire coming in our direction!"
Within a short time, she is only 30 feet away from the ship. A second later, she begins to slow down and stops her flames. Gravity causes her to descend and several Remnant swordsmen, firebenders, and spear warriors prepare themselves as Azula closes in. Azula launches herself lower and faster with another spark of fire until she is five feet over the ship's surface but she again breaks prevents her landing with another ignition of fire.
Azula backflips a second later behind a swordsman. Three firebenders around her immediately punch or kick flames at her. Azula hops right dodging the first flame, which hits a Remnant swordsman across her. Azula ducks and an orange flame hits an enemy spearwoman across her. Azula turns and blocks a third red flame.
Azula reactively spins and her arms and blasts aside multiple Remnant troopers. Two rods of orange fire are kicked at her but Azula leaps three feet forward before kicking her own surge of blue fire into two soldiers left of her. As the warriors continue to attack, Azula continues to counter and pick off the other soldiers on the frigate.
After they have all been defeated, another Remnant ship launches a volley of torpedoes at the ship she is on. The princess sprints forward and leaps off the ship before she launches herself twenty feet in the air. The torpedoes hit the ship and blow it in two.
Azula continues to glide forward at 20 miles an hour, but the effort is taxing and she is exposed. The princess leaves a signal and her testhan flies directly toward her. Azula doses her flame and flips on her animal before turning around and continuing her mayhem. Sonna cautiously raises her testhan as she avoids two torpedoes.
The archer looks ahead and notices the harbor and city are less than 50 feet ahead. The young lady mutters, "Almost there." Sonna looks over and notices Dade who is still flying high. One shot flies at his left side but he sways down and realizes he is over the beachhead. Dade smiles but hears a roaring sound behind him.
The testhan instinctively raises itself as a beam of fire flows directly under him and smashes into a building. Dade gasps, "Whew, well I guess I did pick the right animal." The testhan aggressively flies faster and zooms over the city. Dade pats the animal to calm it down, "Hey hey, relax buddy. I need to touch down and assist the army troopers down there." The testhan changes its direction and zooms down.
Macai is relieved as he enters the city. Macai notices a position that is guarded by multiple enemies but he instead makes a detour, turns right, and lands behind a squad of army troopers. As Macai disembarks his testhan, he signals for it to flee the battlefield in a way that will cause it to fly high and away from enemy attacks. It has been instructed to return in a three days and to do so in a safe manner.
Dade braces himself and holds dearly to avoid falling. Kanna soars high as she avoids shots from several Remnant ships. Her and Azula are the last two that haven't flown into the city yet. Kanna's enemies begin to get a lock on her as they prepare to fire the perfect shots. A second later, she swoops down and multiple orange torpedoes buzz over her head. As she glides down, she hovers just teen feet over the water and between two cruisers.
The ships frantically fire at her and Kanna rises. Both ships accidentally nail and destroy each other. Azula watches in admiration in the distance and salutes Kanna. The princess then shakes her head at the folly of the Remnant warriors who were foolish enough to destroy each other instead of holding their fire and waiting for the right moment to shoot.
Azula uses a bit more time to distract a few Remnant ships as national ships move in closer and bombard the ships that are not focused. Meanwhile, several troopers flee and Mai barges into Zuko's chambers where General Mak waits with his advisor. Mai: "General, we have to get out of here!"
General Mak: "What's happening?"
Mai: "The enemy is getting too close to the palace!" General Mak, Mai, and the trooper run outside of the chambers. Two firebenders and two swordsmen follow them as they exit the facility.
General Mak looks back in rage and pumps his fist in the air, "Maybe, I shouldn't run. Maybe I should stand and fight!"
Mai responds, "No that's foolish. You are a General and a good strategist. Our men need someone to help them logistically and make a plan. That's what you're good at. Go back and meet up our forces deeper in the city. For now, you staying is offering support several kilometers away from the frontlines."
General Mak: "Fine, but what are you going to do."
Mai: "I'm going to wait and watch and see who needs my help."
General Mak: "But?"
Mai: "But nothing, I'm a warrior and servant of our government."
General Mak: "Very well, be safe Mai."
Burning Stone
Dade and Sonna walk enter a street where they see three swordsmen and two firebenders standing guard. They can see smoke flowing from the air several meters away. Dade looks at the troopers, "Hey, what's going on here?"
Male firebender: "Remnant forces are rapidly closing in. See that smoke, that's where their cannons last bombarded."
Sonna hears distant shouting and looks ahead. Dade glances beside her, "Sonna, what do you see?"
Sonna: "Soldiers, incoming!"
Male Firebender 2: "But I don't see anything."
Dade: "Sonna, always had the best vision in the 31st. See just sees things a bit sooner than the rest of us and she hears better too. It's why she's out best archer." From the smoke, several Remnant warriors emerge. Three swordsmen, two firebenders, two spear warriors, and Major Bezak step out of the smoke. Two archers stroll slowly further behind the major.
Bezak: "Ahhhh, bring me their heads!!!"
Dade warns, "Get ready everyone!"
Female Fire Nation sergeant: "You heard him, battle positions!" Sonna launches an arrow through a swordsman's forehead. One of the Remnant spearmen tosses his blade into an army swordman's heart. A Remnant firebender pumps a blast into a female swordsman's stomach and she slides several feet back.
Sonna shoots another arrow into a Remnant spearman's gut. A Remnant swordsman charges while screaming but Dade advances in his direction. The Remnant warrior swings horizontally at his neck but Dade ducks and horizontally slashes his foe's legs before slamming his weapon into the downed man's chest. The man howls as Dade pulls his blade back.
The Remnant Major leaps forward and pumps a wild blaze of swirling flames at the 31st marine. Dade rolls right and Bezak taunts, "Ha! I've read about that armor before, you belong to Macai's unit. You will be a special kill!" Dade glares at the man. Bezak pumps two explosive flames at Dade but the young warrior leaps left.
The ground rumbles and shakes as blackened chunks of stone are blown in the air. Sonna looks at Bezak when a Remnant archer shoots an arrow at her chest. Sonna leaps on the ground but the archer takes aim again before a knife flies in his right rib. Sonna turns and notices the legendary knife thrower and scout Mai leaping behind her.
Mai extends her right hand, "Come on! Need a hand?" Sonna takes her hands and rises beside her. Mai: "Let's show these chumps what good sharpshooters can do."
Sonna adds, "And skilled girls." Mai tosses a knife into a firebender's chest then spins and throws another knife into another firebender's left knee. The man kneels before Mai nails him in his face with a leaping left kick. The other archer takes aim at Mai from a distance but Sonna shots the woman in her neck.
Mai looks back with mutual respect and Sonna gives her a thumbs up. Bezak pushes his hands forward and sends a surge of low flames surging after Dade. Dade gasps, "Yaaaah!" The soldier sprints right before the man notices Mai.
Bezak smiles, "Oh, it's MAI, Zuko's old mistress!"
Mai points at Bezak, "Hey, watch it!" The major hurls a rectangle of orange fire at her. Mai leaps over the flame with a large explosion blowing behind her. A Remnant spearman locks gaze at her and charges. Mai rotates her knives and swings left as she swats the spear in the left direction.
The spearman's eyes widen in surprise at her deceptive skills in close combat. Mai lunges forward and kicks the man in his chest. The terrorist flies seven feet back into a building. A national swordsman slays a Remnant duelist with a left diagonal strike. Bezak soon notices his allies are down but another four Remnant warriors rush behind him. Two are swordsmen and the other two are firebenders.
Bezak laughs, "Hahaha, you cannot defeat me! You are insanely outnumbered."
Mai replies, "I wouldn't be so sure." Mai spins her knives, horizontally flips forward, and tosses two knives at his legs. Bezak jumps but the knives don't hit his flesh, instead they hit the side of his pants knocking him to the ground. Before Bezak even lands, Mai grabs another two knives and throws them into the man's sleeves completely pinning him to the ground in an embarrassing fashion.
Bezak whines, "Warriors, free me!" In a second, two of them are dispatched by knives. A firebender is blasted by one of Sonna's arrows and the remaining soldier is stabbed through his back by Dade.
Dade kicks the major in the back of his head, "So who's in-charge now?!" Elsewhere in the city, Captain Ardo pushes forward with his Remnant forces including Kip, three sword warriors, two firebenders, and a spear soldier. A national force of two firebenders, three swordsmen, and two spear troopers stand across from them.
A national firebender kicks a burst of fire into a Remnant spearman. A Remnant swordsman jumps forward and vertically cuts down an army swordsman. An army spearman springs ahead and impales a Remnant firebender. Kip explodes forward and punches two orange fireballs into an army firebender and spearman.
Ardo pulls his hands up and conjures a wall of fire before shifting them left and blazing a spearman, firebender, and swordsman with one smooth motion. The men scream in agony as their bones pop and body breaks down into black fragments. A remnant firebender pumps his hands forward and pops a fireball into the remaining army trooper's belly.
The man's stomach growls as he meets his end. A second later, a national archer peeps his head from a rooftop left of their position. Kip shouts, "Archer on the roof!" A second later, an arrow flies into Ardo's gut. Ardo looks down and sees blood pour.
Kip extends his hands and pours a beam of fire into the man, vaporizing the upper portion of his body. Kip's brief spout of rage stops as he turns back and looks at his captain. Kip: "No!!!" Ardo falls but Kip catches him.
Ardo gasps as one of the swordsmen pulls the arrow out of Ardo's gut. Kip: "Sir, the assault must continue."
Ardo nods, "Yes, but with-without me." Kip shakes his head.
Kip: "No sir, you survived and saw what they did on Tesero. You are the only one who can avenge them! You know their pain."
Ardo: "No Kip, Corporal, my rank was given to me by Bundi. He knew I was cunning, brave, and looked out for the best interest of my troops. The state of battle can shift as the tides, a good leader must be sturdy amidst them. I have faith in you. Lead this squad to victory and the Lieutenant will take care of our forces still at sea but if you return from this battle you will return a Sergeant."
Ardo gasps his last breath. Kip: "Oh Ardo, why'd you have to go."
Remnant firebender: "Sir, our men need orders! We are sitting ducks out here right now. We appreciate and admire Ardo; but we came here knowing this was an all-or-nothing mission. So, what are your orders?"
Kip nods, "Very well, then we press on. Onto the center of the Capital!" As Remnant troops press on the palace is eventually overtaken and claimed by Remnant forces. The capital flags are burned, and new Remnant flags are put up over the palace. This motion immediately instills fear for the champions of liberty within the city.
As Remnant forces push further into the central Eastern side of the city, Ronin, Kedo, and Gendall lead a daring assault to gain more territory for their cause. This includes a force of two swordsmen, a glaive warrior, and two firebenders. Across them stands a unit of three swordsmen, two firebenders, three spearmen, and two archers.
A Remnant firebender pounds an army swordsman in his face with a flaming right jab. A female army firebender kicks an orange fireball into a Remnant swordman's right kneecap and proceeds to pump a brick of fire into a Remnant firebender's abdomen. Gendall rolls forward and shoves his sword through a firebender's left shoulder before he uppercuts him to sleep.
As Gendall retracts his blade, blood pours from the man's gash. The Remnant soldier swings diagonally left as he butchers a pursuing army swordsman. Kedo charges up an arrow before he launches it between two spearmen, blowing them down. As the fighting continues between both sides, the archers begin to open fire.
One arrow hits a Remnant firebender in his left shoulder and he falls on his back. Another arrow glides through the neck of a swordsman. Soon Ronin, Kedo, and Gendall are the last men left in their squad. Kedo rotates his arrow and charges it up before he blows up one of the archers with a volatile blast.
Ronin glances at Kedo, "Well, looks like we've got quite the fight cut out for us!"
Kedo nods, "Yeah." Kedo would love to say more, but he was never that social and can't think of anything better to say.
Gendall shakes blood off of his sword, "Well, I'm ready. Whatever it takes, to win."
Ronin pumps two orange and yellow flames at his opponents, "I just want revenge."
Kedo shoots an arrow into an army swordman's stomach, "Are you getting it?"
Ronin pauses, "Um, yes I guess." Ronin dodges a blast of red-orange fire before flipping back to his feet, "But, I'm not satisfied until I've done all I can in THIS battle. And hopefully, that includes finding Kanna. For what she did to, Hakon! Of enough, less talking more fighting!" The battle continues.
Alev walks behind a team of two Remnant firebenders and two sword wielding duelists. Ahead of the team is an army team of three swordsmen, three firebenders, three spear warriors, and two rooftop archers. Remnant Firebender: "Alev, we sure could use your help."
Alev crosses her arms and lightly pats her mouth, "I really get tired of carrying."
Remnant Swordsman: "Just help us!" Alev rolls her eyes. One of the Remnant firebenders kicks a flame from his right leg into a army firebender's chest. An army swordsman runs and lunges at a Remnant swordsman with his spear. The swordsman rotates his blade right as he butts the weapon away and leaps forward with a horizontal strike.
The army warrior spins backward and lunges again but again the swordsman parries the blow. A female firebender is shot in her chest by a rooftop archer. Alev launches her body in the air with a swirl of light orange and yellow flames. As she rises the left rooftop archer takes aim at her chest and opens fire.
Alev points her hands up and doses her fire as she launches herself downward. As she falls, her legs hover just a few feet over two army swordsmen. A second later, Alev reignites her leg flames, burning the troops below her. The now twenty-one-year-old woman extends her hands and pumps two swirling fire torpedoes into the archers.
Sparks of light, rubble, armor, and smoke scatter in the air from the strike. Alev descends with a gust of fire as she flies just seven feet over the ground and behind her opponents. A firebender turns around and a spearman bats his head as both of the men are blasted by a beam of light orange-yellow flames.
While distracted, a Remnant firebender punches a fireball into a national firebender's chest. Soon just two spearmen and a swordsman remain while Alev still floats behind them and a Remnant firebender and two swordsmen stand across them. One of the spearmen drops his weapon, "Stop, we surrender."
The other two warriors also reluctantly drop their weapons. Alev lowers herself to the ground level. Alev counters, "Sorry, we've been ordered by Admiral Venki to take NO PRISONERS."
Army Swordsman: "B-but, we are your countrymen! We still are the same people and the same blood. PLEASE!" Alev look pulls her hands back and generates light orange and yellow sparks. The young colonel spins forward and hurls a wide explosive array of fire into the soldiers. They briefly scream before they are silenced.
Unfortunately, what Alev said was true. Any army troopers that surrendered, were not taken captive as they normally are. Instead, they were outright executed. On the other hand, Remnant forces refused to surrender and any squads that were in a bad position during their battle either fought until they were knocked out, killed, or immobilized.
Even the Disciples of Justice, were not known for being so brutal. Making this battle one of the most brutal in the Fire Nation's history. Some streets are filled with dead bodies to a rate beyond what troopers can keep clean or regulated. Some streets have been particularly battered with chunks of the ground scorched or blown apart.
Most of the damage is in the areas near the harbor where most of the fighting has taken place. In the middle of the city, the sides currently seem stalemated and the western areas in the city are mainly untouched at the moment.
Irina and Kanna run together as they look to assist. The sky is shinning a goldish color during a remarkably long sunset that has carried on for almost 30 minutes. Irina: "Hey Kanna, what do you reckon our chances are of finishing this fight before midnight?"
Kanna responds, "Slim." They notice three swordsmen ahead of them and two firebenders.
Female firebender," Kanna, Irina, I'm a huge fan of your company. After this battle, if I'm still alive, I'd love to get some autographs."
Irina answers, "As long as we're also alive."
Kanna hopefully responds, "Don't worry friends, we'll win this battle." Kanna's blonde hair dye has begun to wear off. Now her hair is a dirty blonde goldish color, and her gold eyes shine in the light. On the Remnant's side, two mace warriors, three firebenders, two swordsmen, two axe warriors, and one man with a flaming sword and long yet torn battle cape charge forward.
Irina springs forward and thrusts her weapon into a mace warrior's chest. Kanna lunges ahead, performs a front flip while directing a ray of flames into a firebender before landing on her feet. A firebender punches a missile of fire at her but the 31st scout flips over the shot and a noisy detonation erupts behind her.
Kanna sprints forward and pumps two flames into a pair of Remnant swordsmen. An army firebender swirls forward and flows a blast of orange and yellow flames into a Remnant ax warrior. The remaining ax fighter rushes forward and dives at Irina with a spinning right swing. Irina flips behind him and the man turns rotating his heavy weapon.
Irina extends her spear and slams it into the brute's left shoulder. The ax warrior groans and pulls the spear out of his flesh before tossing it aside, "Ugh!" Irina looks in the direction of the spear but the man sprints after her with a downswing. Irina rolls left as the man's blade puts a dent in the ground.
The young female marine leaps behind the man and thrusts her spare dagger into his neck. The man groans and Irina rips her blade out then stabs him again a second time in his left side. The brute rotates his body and counters with a left backhand. Irina ducks as wind swoops over her head and follows up with a dig in his sternal line.
As Irina pulls her blade back, he collapses with blood soaking on his laying body. An army firebender punches a flame from his left hand at a Remnant firebender but the man blocks the shots with his arms. Kanna leaps in front of the man and neutralizes him with a fire leg sweep. Another Remnant bender beside the man turns and punches two flames at the 31st scout.
The legendary outrider performs two front cartwheels as she leaps away from him. While he is distracted another national firebender kicks a flame into the man's back, "Ohh!" The last Remnant trooper remaining is a mace warrior who charges at Irina as she rotates her spear and slams the back of his weapon into the man's face, knocking him out.
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