Wandering Firebender

Fifty Seven: The Other Side

Alger stood with Koda, Marx, and Nezu among a number of other earthbenders. They nervously watched as a fleet of Fire Nation ships were slowly approaching the shore. It wouldn't be long before they arrived and the battle would begin...

"I-I don't think I can do this." Nezu said, his breathing becoming shaky.

"This is what we've been preparing for. Don't lose heart now." Marx said to encourage him. However, Nezu shook his head. He was starting to hyperventilate.

"I need to sit down..." He said, suddenly stepping away from the others.

"Hold on," Alger said. He pulled a stone out of the ground. He put his hands on Nezu's shoulders and directed him to sit down. "What's the matter?"

"Hey! We need ya'll to look alive! That means you too, firebenders!" One of the other earthbenders barked at them.

"We'll be ready! Shut your mouth and mind your business!" Koda snapped at him.

"Please, give us a moment." Alger said in a nicer tone. The earthbender grunted and muttered to himself as he left them.

"Nezu. I've never seen you like this. We've fought plenty of soldiers before!" Marx pointed out.

"Y-Yeah but not like this! We fought in camps and small towns! Not a whole friggin' militia!" Nezu argued, gesturing towards the fleet of ships.

"But we're not alone here, Nezu. Look around. We're surrounded by allies," Koda pointed out. "We can do this!" She said to encourage him. However, Nezu still wasn't convinced.

"There's too many...I don't wanna die, guys. I..." Nezu got choked up after finally saying his fear out loud. He suddenly became overwhelmed with emotion and the urge to cry.

"Nezu," Alger sat down next to him and put an arm around him. "I know how you're feeling right now. I understand that you're afraid. I'm afraid too. We all are." He said.

"Scared out of our minds, honestly." Koda agreed.

"But you know how important this is. And you're here because you want to make a difference. Right?" He reminded him. Nezu swallowed and nodded.

"Someone's gotta do the right thing. We're not all bad people." Nezu said.

"You're right...stand up. It's time to prove it." Alger said.

Nezu sighed and nodded again. He slowly pushed himself to his feet. He looked to his friends and nodded, silently confirming that he was okay. Marx and Koda patted him on the back. They were all ready to go now.

"I really hope we win this war. I don't wanna be a traitor for the rest of my life." Nezu said as they took their positions again.

"Whatever happens, we'll be fine as long as we have each other." Koda said to reassure him.

"It's cheesy, but it's true." Marx said with a chuckle. It was enough to get Nezu smiling.

Alger smiled a little bit. Seeing these three reassuring and supporting each other as friends was inspiring to him. It was the sort of bond that he hoped to have one day.

He thought of Elio in that moment, and he found himself hoping that he would get to see his friend again after the war ended, so that he could experience that sort of close bond of friendship for himself...

As soon as he dropped down into the airship, Elio was met with opposition. He turned around and was greeted by a fireball coming directly towards him. Elio's eyes widened in surprise. He stepped forward and blocked the attack with a closed fist.

As the fire faded away all around him, he was able to quickly survey his surroundings. There was one narrow hallway in front of him that he could go down. One soldier stood on the other side of the hall, blocking him from accessing the rest of the airship.