章節 23: Ozai's Challenge Part 4
As the battle at the Capital rages on, Appa rides in the air toward the Kecca volcanic base. There, the sky is a faint blue color with a mix of light yellow. Two guards stand at a pathway located on the exterior of the volcano base, one firebender and one swordsman. Firebender guard: "Heh, I wish we were at the Capital, dishing out real damage."
Swordsman guard: "I know, Ozai said this was an honor, I certainly don't feel honored."
Firebender guard: "Let's hope we get some action pretty soon. I'd love to scorch something."
A distant cheerful voice interrupts, "Scorch this!" A boomerang flies and nails both men in their heads. The guards fall off the volcano platform. The boomerang flies backwards into Sokka's right hand. The duelist advances with Firelord Zuko rushing behind him. This time, Zuko isn't sporting his flashy robes but rather has a traditional dark red shirt and black pants.
Zuko stops as he notices a door entrance and promptly prepares to blast it open. Sokka interrupts, "Wait, they may have keys." Sokka checks their pants but doesn't find anything. Sokka comments, "Nope, they were smart enough to force them to knock to get in, but I have gotten lucky sometimes trying that."
Zuko: "Never underestimate the carelessness of others."
Sokka adds, "Or the stupidity of others."
Zuko: "That's a bit harsh, we all come up short sometimes."
Sokka: "Sounds like that's coming from a personal place." Zuko blasts the door open, and it flies into an unsuspecting Remnant sergeant. The door immediately drops him and knocks the officer asleep. The duo run through the hallway into the volcanic base. A team of three Remnant firebenders move to engage Zuko.
The royal punches two rainbow fireballs into two of the men, flooring them. The remaining soldier extends his hands as he shoots a beam of orange and yellow flames at the legend. The monarch raises his hands, and a swirling wall of multi-colored fire blocks the shot. Zuko extends his arms, and the wall shifts into a long ray of fire.
The man leaps left as he avoids the shot, but he sweats as his body takes in the adjacent heat. Sokka tosses his boomerang into the trooper's stomach, knocking him back three feet into the floor. The man slides and rolls over before he passes out. Meanwhile, Katara sits in chains as the inquisitor Zendo stands across her in a dark red chamber.
The chamber has clear and see-through-doors but is illuminated by an open window and bright yellow fire lit torches that are mounted on the walls. Katara has several cuts on her arms and legs as remains hung up. Zendo smiles, "Good, now let's try again." While Katara hates an ancient ability she once utilized before, the man's gruesome actions influence her to reach back into a dark place she hoped she'd never have to go to again.
As the man prepares to swing again the young waterbender concentrates and his left hand (which holds the blade) starts shaking. Zendo shouts, "Ughghghgh!" The man uncontrollably tosses his knife off the platform, and he is pulled against the floor.
Katara: "Release me or I will be the one who runs this torture session!" Zendo looks at the two guards in the room. One is a firebender and the other is a swordsman. Katara pulls them against the ground as well. Katara: "Do you understand?"
Zendo looks at the Firebender, "Tuto, amplify the dehumidifier!" The firebender concentrates as he heats up the room. The dehumidifier turns from red to orange as it heats up even more greatly. Katara's lips begin to chap, her hair loses moisture, and her throat dries as well. Even the open cuts Katara has start to dry.
This does not only impact Katara but everyone else in the room, including Zendo. However, the Firebender is able to reduce the effects of the device. Katara gasps as she loses her grip on the others who can move freely again. Zendo: "Do you see now Katara? I am in control." Zendo signals to his guards, "But due to your valiant efforts, you will not have to worry about me stabbing you anymore. Instead, I will sit and watch from outside the doors as the dehumidifier sucks your body dry of the water it needs to survive."
Meanwhile, Ozai stands over Aang, "Weak!" The ex-monarch continues to rain down on him with a six-punch combination of left and right hooks to the sides of his belly. Aang moans and in a shout of desperation he musters his strength in the midst of his pain. The Avatar tightens his right fist and lays it against the ground as he absorbs and attaches a fragment of the hard floor against it.
The teen raises his hand and counters the royal with a loaded punch. Ozai nearly falls but catches himself and the hit leaves a red mark on his face, "Oooooff!!" Aang opens his mouth and blows a surge of air into Ozai's body; launching him ten feet back and in the air. Ozai glides and tumbles against the hard surface; leaving several bruises.
Ozai moans and groans with each painful bounce, "Oh, uh, ah!" The man slowly rises with his fists tightened before he glares back at his opponent.
Aang enters his battle stance, "You thought I was done? I don't go down that easily."
Ozai exhales and smoke flows from his mouth, "Good, then let's see how much fire you have in you, boy!" Ozai rises with a beam of unstable red, orange, and yellow flames propelling him. Aang punches several massive cubes of ice at the Firelord who flies left to right as he avoids multiple ice blocks.
The man extends his hands and shoots a barrage of flames at his opponent. Aang backflips and rotates his hands as he raises his body with a whirlwind of air and water. Ozai looks back impressed, "Come on, show me what you've got!" The Avatar pulls his hands down then raises them as he launches a barrage of massive stones at Ozai.
The firelord raises his hands and blasts his body over the stones. Ozai pulls his hands down and punches two blocks of fire at Aang. The airbender blasts his body left and right with spouts of air then propels himself further with water. Ozai hurls a ball of flames down at the airbender as he swoops upward.
Aang raises his hands and shoots a beam of water into the flames. Aang shouts with a flicker of rage as he pushes a shockwave of orange fire at the firelord. Ozai hurls his own stream of flames into Aang's. Aang launches himself higher again with a swirl of air then he rotates his body is a spinning motion as he punches a barrage of eight lethal flames at his enemy.
Ozai yanks his arms as he zooms his body left to right with thrusts of red-orange-yellow fire. Ozai flies horizontally right as he dodges another pair of flames then glides forward after his archnemesis. Aang flies after Ozai as well in a fit of rage punching a spout of water , fire, earth, and air into each of the royal's shots.
As the two go head-to-head, Ozai nails the young hero in his stomach with a flying kick. Aang feels a thud as he glides backward and Ozai zooms forward as he latches into Aang a second time. Aang tries to move his arms but Ozai already pins him down. Ozai's hands begin to flicker sparks of fire as he burns Aang.
Aang howls, "Auuuuaaahahahahaha!! Ohhh!"
Ozai taunts, "Don't beg now! This can only end one way!" Ozai pulls Aang forward as he continues to increase his heat. Aang's arms have red burns from the pressure. Aang continues to scream as he is desperate for a way to break free. Aang spins around and puts the duo in rotation but Ozai continues his attack.
Aang starts to accelerate their fall by pulling wind into both of them. The Avatar uses pressure from waterbending to lessen the burns and damage he is taking in; but this tactic will not last forever. This makes the fall speed up and Aang spins faster until Ozai's grip on him loosens. Aang rotates Ozai so that he is over him and Ozai's left hand slips off Aang and dangles in the sky.
Ozai's other hand stays on him and he tightens his grip to keep a hold of him. Ozai generates a fire dagger in his left hand as he plans on ending the fight while he has the chance. Aang's right arm is free due to Ozai losing grip of that portion of his body, the Avatar accelerates his hand using air bending and hits Ozai's with super speed.
Aang follows up with an eight punch jab combination in less than two seconds. Ozai's face is pink from the unexpected flurry. Ozai counters, "You're weak boy. My mother hand more power in her slaps than you have in your punches!" Ozai swings at Aang with his left dagger but Aang evaporates the swing with a water generated wrist guard.
Aang backhands Ozai but the punches does not faze him. Ozai laughs, "Hahaha, you call that a hit?!" Aang pulls his right hand back and generates a glove of stone over his fist. Aang swings but Ozai intercepts the punch with a fiery swat from his left hand which breaks the guard. Ozai rotates over Aang and generates a fire sword.
Aang extends his left hand and shoots hot water on Ozai's stomach. Ozai yells, "Huh!" Aang latches into Ozai's right arm while he is distracted with his left and flips behind the warlord. Aang wraps his hands onto Ozai's and wraps his legs around Ozai as well. The Avatar realized that using brute force and rage is not the best bet against Ozai and that it is better to fight him with a clear mind.
Ozai's insults are simply a way for him to take away the composure of his opponents. As Aang holds onto Ozai's limbs, he uses waterbending to cool Ozai's limbs making him slower (this is called water coordination bending because it is a tactic that reduces the coordination of opponents). Ozai nearly hits the ground but he opens his mouth and spits a cascade of red, orange, and yellow fire into ground launching both of them another ten feet in the air.
Aang keeps a hold of him but Ozai warms his limbs up with firebending which allows him to regain composure. Ozai spins and yanks Aang before he tosses the boy off of him. Aang falls and rolls against the ground. The spiritual warrior painfully coughs before he looks down at the many bruises all over his body. Ozai reactivates his flames as he descends, keeping himself five feet in the air.
Ozai horizontally stretches out his arms as he gloats, "See, you cannot beat me! It is only a matter of time before you crumble before my might, as all do." Aang raises himself off the ground by earthbending and lifting a fragment of earth that he is standing on. Aang glides at 40 miles an hour.
Ozai accelerates and punches two blocks of fire at Aang. Aang punches his own two blocks of earth into Ozai's fire blasts. As Aang focuses and generates a dark clouds over the island. Several drops of rain begin to fall and in seconds it becomes a massive downpour. The presence of the rain and the sun setting reduce Ozai's power and ability to draw on the sun for more energy.
So instead, the former Firelord draws on his rage and hatred for strength. A second later, he launches himself another ten feet in the air with a buzzing pack of red/orange/yellow fire. Four unfettered flames are punched at the youthful monk. Aang hastily shifts his hands as he knocks three air spheres into Ozai's strikes.
The fourth flame nearly scorches his chest but Aang turns his head and spits a gust of ice into the fire. Aang pulls his hands down and turns several rain fragments into ice as he hurls dozens at his enemy. Ozai flies backward with a display of fire as he pumps four explosive fireballs into the ice projectiles, blowing them to pieces and emitting much smoke.
Aang glides through the smoke with a spout of air and punches two water torpedoes at him. Ozai rises again with his fire and punches two flames into the water shots. The duo meet each other face to face and only seem to be a few feet across each other. Ozai challenges Aang, "You have lasted longer than the others, I must admit you are a worthy foe. But it won't be enough to overcome me, you don't have the fire in you."
Aang: "It takes more than fire to win the hardest fights. I don't have to fight fire with fire, I don't have to beat you at your own game. I only need to win at mine and more importantly at the game I was destined to play. You think rage, aggression, and tenacity are the only way to win. But I think patience, love, and clarity are just as potent and even more effective at times."
Ozai: "You are welcome to think that, but I'll kill you with my might. This victory is for the lions, we will always feast in the end."
Aang: "Then this victory will be for the meek and the birds who fly over oppression."
Ozai: "Then let's see who's right." Ozai glides forward with a sparkle of wicked fire as Aang soars ahead with a righteous flow of air and water. Ozai punches two fireballs at Aang and Aang diagonally hurls a air spout into Ozai's left flame while the right flame flies at his head. Aang raises his legs and performs an enhanced air flip before he soars over Ozai.
As Aang swoops his legs down, he kicks a beam of cold water into Ozai's chest. Ozai glides back into the ground but Aang does allow him to tumble, instead he freezes the water and Ozai's body (accept his head). Ozai growls and an explosion of fire blasts the ice off his body. Ozai stands again, "Did you think Macai was the only one who knew Fire Repulse! I invented it!"
Aang shakes his head, "No actually you didn't, you're just the first one to use it in a long time. Kano the Great did." Ozai hurls himself several feet high with another storm of red, orange, and yellow flames. Ozai extends his hands and launches a volley of fire knives at Aang.
Aang creates a round air shield and strengthens it with a dome of water before he launches his body forward through several of the fire knives. The sky turns from a light one with a light grey sky to a violent one as dark forces look to enhance Ozai's chances. The sky turns dark grey, winds strengthen, and lightning cracks through the sky.
While Aang has the winds to use to his advantage Ozai is amped by the lightning strikes. Ozai pulls his right hand back and hurls a swirling streak of fire at Aang. Aang flies right with a swirl of wind. Ozai raises himself again with a bust of fire and flies forward as he knocks another two bricks of fire at his rival.
Aang punches his own two large hail stones into Ozai's shots. Aang pulls his left hand back and blows a chilling whirlwind at his opposer. Ozai opens his mouth and spits a haze of fire into the wind, killing it. As Ozai swirls up, he performs a front flip and left kicks a rod of red-orange-yellow flames at Aang.
Aang flies forward and punches his own mound of snow into the blast. The Avatar punches another two large snowballs at Ozai but the Firelord amps his right fist with fire and melts the snow with a wide swing. Aang flies at Ozai's level again but this time he is about ten feet across from him. Aang pulls his hands back and generates two long water tentacles.
Aang swings at his enemy horizontally and high at his head with his right tentacle. Ozai ducks his head but Aang swings with his left tentacle at Ozai's stomach. Ozai launches himself slightly higher and punches two beams of fire into Aang's tentacles which evaporates them. Ozai hurls a third beam of fire directly into Aang's right shoulder which sends him spiraling downward.
Aang closes his eyes, becomes lightheaded, and nearly loses consciousness as he falls. Ozai smiles and glides toward him with an aura of flames. Ozai proclaims, "YES, my moment has COME!" As Aang falls the rain douses the burns somewhat.
As he falls, he remembers Katara, Zuko redemption and the impact he had on him, the various lives Zuko improved after his change of heart, Toph's encouragement, Sokka's belief in him, the many villagers he saved, and so much more.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Theme | EPIC VERSION (music begins)
A second later he hears Katara saying, 'Get up, Aang!' Aang's eyes open again. Aang rotates his body and swirls ahead with another gust of wind.
Ozai shoots another beam of fire at the boy, but Aang flies several feet forward and right. Ozai shifts and punches two swirling fireballs but Aang zooms forward yet still under Ozai at 30 miles an hour. Aang makes sure he moves fast enough that he can keep Ozai off-guard, but not so fast that he loses his focus and coordination (he could have leapt at 70 miles an hour or greater, but it would not have benefitted him in this case).
Ozai rotates his body and generates twelve fireballs around his body then launches two at a time at Aang's body at 90 miles an hour. Aang launches him body upward with a gust of air while creating his own swarm of iceballs around his body. As Aang buzzes forward two iceballs collide with fireballs with near perfect timing.
Aang dodges a pair of fireballs that readjust location and fly at him from behind but they are intercepted by two of Aang's iceballs. As Aang soars forward he soon is just six feet away from his enemy. Ozai soars ahead and kicks a ray of fire from his right leg at Aang's stomach. Aang kicks his own hot blast of water from his left leg into Ozai's blast.
The former Firelord punches two flames at Aang 's upper body when he Aang looks down and zooms forward at a calculated 20 miles an hour. As Aang zooms forward, he latches onto Ozai's feet with great precision. Ozai heats his feet up and shoots fire from them down at Aang. But Aang pulls his body backward and flips before he lands on Ozai's front shoulders.
This is a bold move because it left Aang exposed to a frontal attack from his opponent, but Ozai was not expecting it. He also does it because if he had leapt forward as he was initially planning, he would have been killed by Ozai's flames. As Aang lands his hands on Ozai's shoulders, Ozai extends his right hand as he looks to punch a hole through the teen's stomach.
Aang rotates his body up and swings so that he hangs on Ozai's back. The Avatar pulls his right hand back as he generates an ice knife and slams it into Ozai's right shoulder. Ozai groans, "Ahhh!" Aang swings a second time and stabs Ozai in his right side knowing that his enemy is very durable and would likely recover from just one stab.
Aang puts his left hand on Ozai's left side and stiffens it with a urge of cold energy using water coordination bending. As the duo spiral downwards. Ozai aimlessly kicks a barrage of flames from his feet as he looks to free himself but Aang wraps his legs around Ozai's and uses water coordination bending to chill and stiffen them.
As they are twenty feet above ground Aang lets go of him and allows Ozai to fall. The young man briefly has the temptation to let him die but he knows that will only lead to the same sort of mess that has occurred today. Instead, he shoots a stream of water into the ground and raises it like a whirlwind. Ozai falls into the swirl of water and air as Aang slowly evaporates it into Ozai has safely flopped on the floor.
(music ends)
The storm stops and the sky is clear again. It is currently a dull white and grey tone. Though still wounded, Aang makes sure his enemy is restrained by wrapping layers of earth around Ozai's limbs. He knows that the veteran is too hurt to recover from Aang's maneuvers and perform fire repulse. Aang floats over him and lowers his body as he lands directly over him.
Ozai looks up in shame at his opponent, "How could you beat me? You're just a boy."
Aang: "No, I am the defender and advocate of peace within this world. Ozai, I have played your game and accepted your challenge. Though you have fought arduously, I prevailed. Now, you will lose your bending once and for all."
Aang puts his hand on Ozai's forehead and his hand suddenly glows with a white light. That light travels into Ozai's body and causes Aang and Ozai's eyes to light up. A second later Ozai passes out and his firebending has once again been removed.
ORDERS ARE ORDERS
Zendo waits outside of Katara's room watching as her body is gradually dehydrated and is drained of its internal water. She looks completely exhausted and gaunt. A trooper pats Zendo on his back, "Sir, Ozai has been defeated. The elite troopers and priest outside yielded to Aang in fear but the forces in our facility still have orders. What should we do?"
Zendo: "You said we noticed a breach in the base already?"
Trooper: "Yes sir."
Zendo: "Then lock down the facility, tell the troops garrisoned to keep it guarded at all cost. Amp up the dehumidifier to max temperate then stay out of there, it will be dangerous for whoever steps in. Let her rot, then we can flee before enemies reach our position. I still have an steamboat outside."
A trooper briefly runs into the room. He uses his bending to reduce the impact of the device. He uses his firebending to heat up the device as much as he can and it turns yellow. He steps out of the room and locks the door behind. The room becomes insanely hot, to the extent that most firebender's cannot tolerate for long. Katara groans, she has been using internal waterbending to reduce the damage she took but now she is in complete anguish.
She becomes wrinkly and her hair starts to lose moisture. She is so drained, that she can't even shed tears. Sokka can feel that Katara is in danger and Zuko can as well. Zuko and Sokka advance in a hall as three troopers look to stop them. One man has a shield and a sword, a woman trooper is armed with a shield and a sword, and a firebender sports a shield with his hand free to cast fire.
The woman with the shield and sword presses Sokka. She steps forward and swings at him horizontally. Sokka perries the strike and counters but she easily blocks the hit with her shield gauntlet. The female presses ahead hit before she lunges her blade at his gut. Sokka rotates his weapon left diagonally as he disarms her by knocking the weapon out of her hand onto the ground.
The lady tries to press him again, but Sokka slams his melee weapon against her shield thrice with heavy swings; the guardian is still unfazed. Sokka follows up with a heavy right kick to her shield with knocks her back and against the ground. Sokka picks up her sword and flexes two swords.
A man with a shield and sword runs after Zuko who extends his right hand as he flows a gust of orange and yellow at his opponent. While the Firelord has the ability to use rainbow flames at will, he often uses that ability when he is more focused and determined. When he is laxer with his attacks, he may fight with his original orange and yellow flames that he used before he was trained by dragons at Sun Warrior City.
The male firebender guardian pops a red-orange flame at Sokka who rolls right. Sokka runs right against the wall then jumps off the wall and kicks the man in his face, knocking him out. Sokka lands directly behind the female firebender who rotates her shield to defend against him. While her back is turned, Zuko flings a fireball into her back, which neutralizes her, "Uoooou."
Zuko pulls his hands back and rotates them as he generates a swirling ball of orange and yellow flames. The firelord rolls forward as he lodges the ball into the man's shield, knocking him five feet back and against the floor. The man's head is sore from the hit and Sokka finishes the man by kicking him while he is down.
Zuko looks at Sokka, "We need to hurry." Sokka is silent, but his face says it all. He desperately needs to find his sister and is more than aware that time is of the essence. Zuko blasts open a door and notices one room that stands between them and Katara. Two firebenders, two swordsmen, and a man with a mace & shield wait.
A firebender punches a flame from his right hand at the lower left side of Zuko's stomach. Zuko blocks the shot with his left knee, pulls his right hand forward, and pops a fireball into the man's chest. A swordsman runs forward him, but Zuko rotates his right leg and diagonally kicks the man in his face. The duelist drops his sword as he falls into a deep slumber.
The man with a mace and shield dives toward Sokka with a vertical swing. The Southern Watertribe warrior pivots right and the mace trooper swings left at Sokka's left side. The young man shifts his blade left as he bats the morning star away from his body and lunges at the man's neck, but the trooper blocks the strike with his shield and pulls his weapon forward which causes Sokka to drop his weapon.
Zuko notices but makes sure he doesn't lose his composure. A firebender tries to catch him off-guard but the Firelord throws an orange flame into the man's stomach. The Remnant soldiers falls against a wall and steam flows from his belly as he gives over. A swordsman tries to ambush Sokka from behind, but the twenty-one-year-old notices and elbows the man in his face. Sokka tries to grab the sword the mace warrior runs after him.
Sokka throws his boomerang but instead of throwing it directly at the man where he can easily block it, he tosses it against the wall. The mace warrior turns, "You missed."
Sokka crosses his arms, "Did I?" The boomerang bounces off the wall and smacks the man's left ear. The soldier is immobilized by the hit. Sokka recovers his weapons.
Zuko pats Sokka on his left shoulder, "Are you ready?"
Sokka nods, "I was born ready."
Zuko looks at the metal door across him, pulls his right hand back, and fiercely extends it letting out a thick orange and yellow rod of flames. The door is blown open and the duo run into the room. It is incredibly hot. Sokka immediately passes out as he is overtaken by the heat. Zuko falls to his knees. The leader glances right and notices Katara in chains.
Zuko shakes his head and concentrates as he uses his mastery of heat control to reduce the damage he is taking. The young royal stands and notices the hot yellow glowing metal device on the other side of the room. Though he is unfamiliar with the device he tries to think of a way to stop it from working, "Think Zuko think! It runs on heat, so maybe I can reduce it's heat. Like how I draw back my own fire."
Zuko pulls his arms in and cools the device down by pulling the heat into his own body. It turns from yellow to orange. This makes him weary and wounded but still functional. Still, he is standing but has lost some of his composure. If Zuko tries this again, he might pass out himself or die. Now that the device has somewhat been cooled but is still intolerably hot for most people, he runs toward it.
As Zuko gets directly in front of the instrument, his discomfort increases. The monarch groans and looks around at the device for some sort of lever that will shut it off. When he notices the lever, he makes sure he increases his heat tolerance as much as possible before pulls it. The object powers down and the glow fades. Zuko falls to his knees and sits there for twenty seconds.
Sokka slowly raises his head and stands. Sokka looks at his longtime friend, "Zuko, I can get Katara out of there. Don't worry, Piandao taught me this trick." Sokka stands across his younger sister, "It all starts with your stance. Then the next step is to control your breathing. After one deep breath in, I follow up by swinging as I exhale."
Sokka follows his own instructions and slashes Katara's right arm restraints. He follows up the slashing her left arm free. Zuko keeps a hold of her, to keep the young woman from falling on her face. The duelist swings a two more times, freeing both of her legs. As Zuko holds Katara he notices her skin is incredibly dry.
Zuko: "Sokka, she needs water, do you have any?"
Sokka: "Yes, I have a pouch." Sokka pours his water in Katara's mouth. She starts coughing and Sokka slows down his rate of pouring. Sokka asks, "Sister, speak to me. What's going on Katara? Are you alright?"
Katara swallows and gasps as she looks for breath. Katara finishes the drink and mutters, "Aang."
Sokka looks to Zuko, "We need to get her out of here." The duo run toward the exit. Sokka keeps a hold of his sister while Zuko knocks two Remnant troopers aside with a large blast of orange flames. As the trio exit the volcano base, Zendo, his assistant, and three troopers look to flee in their steamboat. Two troopers are firebenders and one is a swordsman.
They are standing at the edge of the sand as the clouds clear and the last flicker of sunshine from the day re-emerges. The sky is light blue with a mix of a golden glow. Light shines over the steamboat from above. Zendo hears a gust of wind as the eighteen-year-old Avatar lands behind his escort.
Zendo turns and shouts, "Stop him! Immediately, you fools!" Aang let's out a blast of wind as he knocks all of Zendo's guards into the steamboat or into the shore water. Zendo gasps as Aang looks directly at him. Surprisingly, he is not filled with rage but rather peace and a sound mind. The Avatar follows up by pulling his hands down and sinking the man into the sand; covering all but his head.
Aang causes the sand to thicken which locks the man in his uncomfortable position. The teen questions, "Where is Katara?!"
Zendo grins, "She has surely perished by now."
Sokka interrupts, "I object!"
Aang turns, "Sokka, where..." Aang notices Katara being carried by her brother and her fatigued state. The young man sprints toward her and holds her. He looks into her deep blue eyes, which have grown weary and welted.
Aang: "Katara, what happened to you?"
Katara signals for Aang to come closer. He obeys and she whispers, "W-water." Aang stretches out his left hand and summons a stream of water from the ocean while he automatically filters it with his airbending. Aang pours the water into her mouth slowly and cautiously. Katara's strength returns, her wrinkles depart, her pain is relieved, and her youthful glow returns.
Katara smiles, "Thanks Aang, I've missed you." The young lady stands back on her legs and regains her balance. Her hair once again shines in the sunlight, her eyes look rich again, and her energy returns gradually. Katara holds Aang and slowly kisses him. The hero holds onto her, relishing the moment and what he missed throughout the crisis.
Aang had taken her love for granted, but now he remembers again how special their love truly was. Aang kisses her back, slowly, cherishing every second. He raises his hands and rubs them through her thick and vibrant hair. Katara leans against him and breathes on his neck. Aang pulls back and blushes then kisses her a second time.
Seconds later, the sunlight is gone and a dark blue hue covers the sky. Sokka and Zuko look up dreamingly. Zuko: "Wow, everything happened so fast. For a second, everything we've been working so hard to buildup, was almost snatched away."
Sokka: "True, but we maintained it. And sometimes, that is all we can do. Is keep fighting, to maintain what we dreamed of for so long. It may not seem like much when we're used to it, but when it is at risk sometimes, we remember what really matters."
Zuko worries, "But after all of this pain, we will have to work harder to get back where we left off before this attack."
Sokka: "That might be true, but you never know. Sometimes, it takes an ugly incident to remind people how dangerous hate and division can be. Sometimes, it takes something like this to bring everyone together and to unite the good people. Maybe now, they will listen."
Zuko nods, "You are a very wise man, Sokka. Wiser, than you get credit for."
Sokka shrugs, "There is a time to laugh and there is a time to reflect. When you've seen your sister in chains, sometimes that is enough to act differently even if just for a moment to remember why we are here and think about what we really want. But since we have time, let's fish tonight."
Zuko raises an eyebrow, "Who says we have time?"
Sokka: "We definitely have time."
Zuko: "We need to get back to the capital."
Aang interrupts, "Not yet, we must rest."
Zuko: "What? You're taking his side?! But you are the protector!"
Aang: "I am a protector and I am the last line of defense when things get shaky in this world. However, sometimes I must allow other people to fight and win battles because even I have limits. As shocking as that may be. And I feel, the heroes in the Capital are on their own quest. It is good for their own development that they resolve it without my intervention."
Meanwhile Bulat sits at Ozai's ship the Bustling Rhino which is on reserve. One of Bulat's troopers steps into his office which has dark grey walls, a white ceiling, and a black floor. Bulat is sitting in a shiny brown wooden chair. Remnant trooper: "Sir, Ozai wanted us to wait on standby to see if there was a time to strike. We noticed the Prompt Adjudicator is sitting outside of Kecca."
Bulat: "Wait, something tells me we have faced enough bloodshed at the moment. Afterall, Ozai has been defeated again. I rather spare the men the trouble."
Remnant Trooper: "But sir, we have the bigger ship. We have more missiles, more firepower, and we can take more damage. Their crew is well trained but if we pressure them, we can certainly destroy them. We can make history and a vital victory for the Remnant. Macai isn't even there, I've heard he's fighting at the Capital. Rosh no longer serves, Kett is dead, Kanna is not present either, we can destroy them!"
Bulat: "While that may be true, we also would have to deal with their cousins, brothers, sisters, and the rest of the 31st would come back looking for us. I know these conflicts don't end, look at where we are now. They won't leave immediately, let us wait to see what happens with our allies at the Capital. If they are victorious then we can strike but if they lose, I say we let the dead lay where they are and avoid the extra pain on both sides."
The Remnant trooper puts his right hand on his chin, "I see and I guess you can never underestimate our enemies. It will be a hard fight. I won't let the other men know, because you know some won't take that well."
Bulat: "But some will, some have grown weary of the conflict. Our morale won't be the same as the forces fighting at the Capital. And sometimes, even when you have the edge, it is best to not strike. You never know what battles that victory in the short run could lead to in the long run. And still, Aang will be waiting, he can reactivate his Avatar state. His woman Katara has been restored and if we don't kill them with accurate bombardment and he manages to land on this ship we could lose everything."
Bulat continues, "Even if we managed to kill him, imagine the cost. We have a few thousand troops onboard, but so many would die just to stop him. So many more lives would be lost, so many more stories we would have to tell their families if we live to see the end of it. And if our forces lose at the Capital, chances are our enemies would catch up with us."
Bulat: "If we kill Katara, imagine how many from the Water Tribes would harbor rage against our people, even those outside of our cause. Imagine how many would seek to destroy us next. If we kill Zuko, even here outside of the main battle and our forces lose at the Capital imagine how many more would hunt us and those in the Remnant. The real win, might be in avoiding this worthless battle."
The remnant trooper declares, "Then let us kill as many of them as possible, so we can make sure they suffer before they beat us."
Bulat: "But in the end, the result for us is the exact same. And the nation will suffer the most needlessly. I committed to this mission because I knew there is a chance that we'd win it. Now those odds are declining, some of our friends still want to fight. My hope was in Ozai, but he's lost. The only thing left to fight for is revenge but that isn't what I signed up for. Some of the men in the Capital may feel differently, so let's leave them to that. But let's live to fight another day ourselves."
Bulat adds, "To bury the dead is great when it is done on principle. But when it is done needlessly, we risk being forgotten in the long run. Forgotten and remembered for nothing more than senseless violence which on its own isn't very valuable."
The Remnant soldier wonders, "And what if others scoff at us?"
Bulat: "Then I'll take the heat that comes with it. If you disagree, your options are few. You could challenge me, rise against me to undergo your own orders. If you outvote me, I will step away."
Remnant trooper: "But then, the morale won't be the same." The Remnant trooper walks away and steps into his room then sits on his chair as he contemplates the situation.
Bulat enters the bridge and looks at the navigator who knows the situation, "Let's go, sale as far away from here and the battle as you can."
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