Change The Flame, Change The Fate.

Chapter XX

The invasion of the Fire Nation where the moon can be seen gradually moving in front of the sun. The submarines remain stationary at the shores of the plaza. The plaza is empty except for Huu, disguised as the swamp monster, and several Foggy Swamp Tribe members.

The invasion carries on. The Fire Nation armies try to shoot the Earth Kingdom tanks, but they are too powerful. Earth Kingdom soldiers run about and fire boulders to counterattack the Fire Nation. A few earthbenders emerge briefly from within the Earth Kingdom tanks and hurl boulders toward the enemy. One soldier commands catapults to launch smoldering boulders.

Several fireballs are launched into the air. One lands forcefully near Sokka and a few troops who are huddled together behind a stationary Earth Kingdom tank, studying a map lying on the ground. Sokka cringes at the sound of the explosion. While Katara comes back with Hakoda, Sokka smiles at this sight.

"Dad!" Sokka brightens as he rises and approaches the two.

"You're on your feet again!"

Hakoda sits down; somewhat weakly. "Thanks to your sister. I'm in no shape to fight, but maybe there's some way I can help." Hakoda grins.

"Everything's going smoothly and the eclipse hasn't even kicked in yet." Sokka grins.

Katara moves away, sensing something in the distance. "Let's hope our luck holds out," Hakoda states hopefully before noticing his daughters move away.

"Katara, you seem distracted. Is something wrong?" Hakoda questions.

"Yeah. Is that... is that Aang?" Katara squints quizzically while Sokka looks shocked as he rises once again and moves toward his sister.

"What?" Sokka questions before he and Katara see Aang riding in on his glider, dodging several fireballs. He lands in front of the group.

"Please tell me you're here because the Fire Lord turned out to be a big wimp and you didn't even need the eclipse to take him down." Sokka pleads hopefully while the three join Hakoda again and kneel.

"He wasn't home. No one was. The entire palace city is abandoned." Aang sighs.

"They knew..." Sokka has his epiphany while Katara gasps and Aang grinds his teeth in frustration.

"It's over. The Fire Lord is probably long-gone; far away on some remote island where he'll be safe during the eclipse." Aang groans in dismay.

"No. My instincts tell me he wouldn't go too far. He would have a secret bunker; somewhere he could go and be safe during the siege but still be close enough to lead his nation." Sokka states thoughtfully.

"If it's an underground secret bunker we're looking for, I'm just the girl to find it." Toph declares as she points to herself.

Sokka pulls out a mechanism. "The mechanist

gave me this timing device. It looks like we've got about ten minutes until the full eclipse. Ten minutes to find the Fire Lord." Sokka announces while the group nods curtly.

"We can still do this. We can still win the day!" Aang cheers.

"Wait! If they knew we were coming it could all be a trap. Maybe we should use the time we have left to make sure we all get out of here safely." Katara states worriedly.

"Everyone who's here today came prepared to risk everything for this mission. They know what's at stake. If there's still a chance and there's still hope, I think they would want Aang to go for it." Hakoda chimes in.

"What do you think? You're the one that has to face the Fire Lord. Whatever you decide, I'm with you." Sokka questions while Aang rises and turns his back to the group as he looks into the distance to the palace determinedly.