Blood Boils Without Fire

The Confrontation

CHAPTER 5- The Confrontation

Author's Note: Thanks for putting up with me this far and sorry for the giant Authors Note. With school finally starting for me this past week I will be moving to a more infrequent posting schedule. I will write whenever I can and hope to get out a chapter at the very least once every two weeks, but we will see. To address a question asked in a review "Should I expect Aang/Azula?" The short answer: I really have no idea. The long answer... When it comes to authors there are two major types, planners and pantsers (as in flying by the seat of their pants) of which I am very much the latter. So to answer your question maybe. Overall I have a few major plot points bouncing around, but everything in between is fluid until I post it, and even then it's subject to change. So please if you have a pairing you really want to see leave a comment and if I like it, and it fits, I'll see if I can fit it in. Anyway, enjoy.

Invasion Fleet

Sokka looked behind to see a creature following the boats. As he inspected it more closely he noticed two humanoid figures sitting in a saddle on its back. Connecting the dots, he signaled for the Avatar to be brought below deck. Sokka then nodded to the other captain to implement the plan. The captain bowed and walked to the helm before diverting course. Sokka smiled as he saw the ship turn away. By the end of the day, that sorry village would be nothing more than a pile of corpses.

The Ocean

Zuko and Azula had spied the blue sails in the horizon two hours ago. For some reason, only two of the original ships were still present, but caught a glimpse of Aang being led below deck, escorted by three guards armed to the teeth. As they slowly approached the boats, one peeled away from its sister for some unknown reason, but the siblings stayed focused on Aang.

Zuko slowly brought Appa closer to the vessel, but as he neared the water's surface an ice spike shot up nearly impaling Appa. Quickly gaining altitude again to avoid being injured, Appa fell behind the ship. Realizing he would not be able to drop until he was above the ship Zuko sighed, "Well there goes any chance of a surprise attack."

Azula looked back, "Whatever we need to do, but I refuse to let anyone else be killed to save me."

Nodding in agreement, Zuko nudged Appa onward. The beast picked up speed. Soon they were within two hundred yards of the boat. Zuko looked over at Azula one more time, "Are you sure you want to do this because there's no going back."

Azula looked over her mouth tightening as her face showed a look of determination he had never seen before in his sister.

Below them Zuko could hear movement as the Water tribe soldiers below them prepared to repel them. Slowly Appa lowered them down and soon he and his sister jumped off springing into action. The fire bender's blasts felled two adversaries. Looking around Zuko saw three warriors remained on deck to oppose them as well as a familiar man at the helm.

Zuko launched an assault on the man in front of him felling him quickly. He then turned toward the other.

Zuko stepped forward launching a series of bursts at him, but the man drew water from an unstopped pouch hanging at his hip and deflected the ball of flame. Realizing he was dealing with a waterbender, Zuko knew his long range attacks would be useless on him. As he summoned two flame daggers, the man charged. Zuko ducked as a tendril of water swung through the space his head occupied two seconds earlier. As he tried to step inside the man's guard, Zuko opened himself up to a series of blows to the gut. Zuko doubled over grabbing his stomach, and as he did his opponent took his opening. A tendril of water engulfed Zuko's head slowly leeching the oxygen from his lungs and filling them with water. Zuko flung a pitiful blast at the man in a last ditch effort to wound him.

As Zuko's vision started to turn black he saw the man laughing when suddenly he went rigid. The bubble around his head burst and Zuko began to vomit up the water that filled his lungs. Looking up he saw the man's body fall, replaced by a silhouette of his sister standing proudly where the corpse had but five seconds earlier. She smiled and offered him a hand saying, "Looks like you need the assist, Zuzu."

"Thanks 'Zula," he grumbled in response. Both then turned toward the helm where the last man above deck stood. He looked down upon them from his lofty perch before speaking. "Well, I didn't expect you to make it this far, but I guess surprises can come in unsuspecting packages." As he said this, Zuko realized why the man had looked familiar. His voice perfectly matched the soldier who had so easily dispatched of Koji, the fearsome leader of the invasion.

"Well, I know why you're here, but I must warn you that you will not get what you hope for. Again I offer you a choice. You may stay and fight me for a chance to save your friend, though I warn you that you will die by my hands. Alternatively, you may leave my ship unharmed, and who knows maybe you'll be able to save your family as well."

Confused by the last line, Zuko then realized where the second ship had changed course to. Seeing the realization dawn on Zuko's face the man laughed. Zuko quickly grew angry seeing the man make light of the situation. He yelled, "You bastard. You promised Aang you wouldn't kill anyone else."

The man snarked, "Ah yes, I did say that didn't I. Well, it's a good thing I'm not there to kill them then, otherwise I would be in some real trouble. Now then, which will it be. Will you go save your family or give your life."

Author's Note: Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed chapter 5. As I said above please leave a review as well as telling me what pairings you would enjoy seeing in future. Another big clarification about the AU: The Water Tribe's focus in their raids was not to capture and kill the firebenders, but rather to beat the Fire Nation into submission, which is why there are so many firebenders still around.