Fire and Aether

Chapter 32: The Day of Black Sun Part 1: The Invasion

 Picture for reference (Rose's invasion outfit)^^
      Rose woke up, for once, feeling like she had actually got some sleep. The young woman had gone on many more adventures during Team Avatar's time in the Fire Nation and, somehow, helping people had helped her too. She was still struggling with her feelings for Zuko, but she remained optimistic that what Roku had said was true.
     The rest of Team Avatar were already awake and making plans. Sokka had been pouring over maps for hours.
     "Good morning, everyone!" Rose called out in excitement.
     The group asked if she was ready for what would happen that day and she affirmed that she was indeed ready. Unfortunately, as she explained, she couldn't go into the Avatar State because Azula had blocked her spiritually and metaphysically with her sneak lightning attack.
    At that moment, the rest of the invasion force arrived. Hakoda was the first off the boat, running to hug his kids. Next off the boat was former Queen Ophelia. She rushed to hug her daughter.
    "Oh, Rose! I've been so worried about you, sweetheart!"
    "I'm ok, mom." Rose said, laughing in relief. "I was worried about you." She glanced around. "Are my brothers here too?" 
     Ophelia gestured to the boat. Descending the stairs were Will and Catie, arms linked and dressed in battle gear. There was no sign of Jasper.
     Rose rushed to her oldest brother and sister by marriage, hugging them both. "I was so worried!" she admitted.
    Catie explained that Will had come to meet up with her earlier than they planned. When the Fire Nation took Ba Sing Se, Will went to find Catie to warn her. Jasper had been captured when the Aether Realm fell. No one knew where he was imprisoned.
     Rose frowned. The younger of her two brothers was gone, captured by the people she had to fight. All she could hope was that the invasion plan today would work and she could free him soon enough.
     Plenty of old friends began filing off the boat after that: the swamp dwellers, Haru and his father, earthbenders Team Avatar had helped during one of their many adventures, Hippo and the Boulder, the former of which gave Toph a huge hug, a couple of inventors who helped Team Avatar fight the Fire Nation, the remaining members of the Freedom Fighters, and Aurora and her subordinates.
     Several new inventions had been created to use against the Fire Nation. Aang had even got a new airglider!
                           * * * * *
     An older man sat guarding Iroh's cell, filing his nails. "I bet you're tired of being stuck in this cell, old man." he rudely said. "Well too bad. You're never stepping outside these walls again."
     A female guard walked in with a smile plastered on her face. "Breakfast!" she called.
     "Careful, Ming." the male guard warned. "Don't get too close. His stench will knock you right out." He chuckled as he walked off.
      "I snuck you in some white jade tea." Ming told Iroh, kindly. "I know you like rare teas." She set the food and tea down inside of Iroh's cell.
     "Thank you, Ming. Ever since I was put in here, you have been very kind to me."
     She smiled, sweetly.
                           * * * * *
     Once all of Team Avatar's allies were gathered together, it was time to explain the plan. Sokka was so nervous he couldn't do it, making himself feel like a failure to his people.
     Hakoda took his spot to explain. "Let me just clarify a few points for everyone. Today is the Day of Black Sun. And I want to thank you all for your self sacrifice and your courage. There are two steps to the invasion: a naval stage and then a land stage. To gain sea access to the Fire Nation capital, we have to get past our first obstacle here."
      He pointed to a spot on the map. "The Great Gates of Azulon." He turned to another map, pointing to a particular spot on it. "Next, we hit the land and we hit hard. We must fight past their battlements and secure the plaza tower. Once we do that, it's up to the palace. At that point, the eclipse will begin."
      Boulder raised a hand. "Excuse me. The Boulder is confused. Isn't the point to invade during the eclipse? When the firebenders are powerless?"
      "The eclipse only lasts eight minutes." Hakoda explained. "Not enough time for the whole invasion. And the royal palace is heavily guarded by firebenders. So that's where we'll need the eclipse advantage the most."
      Aurora stood up. "I'd like to make one point." Hakoda gave her room on the stage to speak. "The Fire Lord has help you haven't prepared for. His consort is a witch and she has another helping her. That's where I come in. I and my people will serve as the distraction for the witches and their allies while the Avatar and her Guardian do their work."
      She nodded towards Rose and Aang.
      "Yes, thank you." Hakoda said, nodding at the seer. Aurora took her seat once more. "When this is finished, the Avatar will have defeated the Fire Lord, we will have control of the Fire Nation capital, and this war will be over."
      Everyone stood and cheered.
      With that, they ran off to prepare for a fight.
      Sokka sharpened the sword he'd gotten from the master who taught him how to use it, securing his boomerang as well. Katara waterbended some water from the river into several water bladders secured to her sides. 
      Toph put on her Blind Bandit gear, securing her arm bands. Aurora changed into a tight fitting gown used for fighting, securing her arm bands, tying back her golden hair in a braid, and lacing up a pair of boots. She grabbed her wand, securing it to her side, along with several pouches full of potions, and a curved dagger.
     Aurora's subordinates dressed similarly to her. The women wore gowns that only reached their ankles while the men wore tight fitting tunics and trousers. Their kind usually walked around barefoot but, for the battle they laced up boots. All carried wands or staffs, a belt with several pouches of potions, and some form of protection. Several also had animal companions following along. (Aurora's being a unicorn with eyes that matched her own.)
      Every other tribe that had come to fight dressed in the battle armor of their tribe. Will and Catie looked vastly different. Will wore golden armor over right fitting clothing, a long cape flowing behind, sword in his hand and several more weapons at his belt, a beautifully crafted helm at his brow. Catie wore water tribe armor and a dark blue dress that reached her ankles, her hair loose and flowing under a wolf head helm.
     Ophelia dressed in golden armor that turned into a long gown at the skirt. She secured a long cape on top of it. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a tight bun, secured by the crown she placed on top of her head. She applied war paint and declared quietly, "Today I avenge my husband."
     Aang changed into his monk like clothes and shaved his head, standing tall and proud, his new airglider in hand. Rose changed into an outfit that covered the top of her torso and had a skirt to cover her legs. She, too, reluctantly put on boots. Warpaint was applied, as well as minimal jewelry, that being a few bangles and a necklace made out of one of Crystal's crystal scales, a reminder to stay strong.
      Crystal and Appa were given armor to wear, the both of them glinting in the light, one of silver, the other of gold.
      Aang and Aurora took their places on either side of Rose. "I'll understand if either of you want to back out. You're both my oldest friends in this life," she turned to Aang, "and the others." she added, turning her gaze to Aurora.
      Aurora smiled. "Whatever happens today, I stand with you, Avatar. You've been like family to me throughout your many lifetimes and I'm honored to have found you again." She bowed her head.
      Rose turned her gaze back to Aang. "You know I can't leave you, sis. You're the only family I have and I won't abandon you in your time of need, no matter what. I will fly with you."
      Her eyes filled with tears at their sentiments and she fell into their arms. "Thank you." she whispered.
                          * * * * *
      Zuko had made up his mind.
      He changed out of his princely outfit and into his travel clothes. Sitting down, he wrote a quick letter.
    
       I will make it up to you. I'm coming to help.

     He rewrote the letter a few times then decided to just go with those two short sentences. Calling a messenger hawk, he sent the letter off to find his lost princess. He turned from the window, ready to leave, when a thought occurred to him.
     Sighing, he sat down and wrote a second note then sent a second messenger hawk to send it, to a different person this time.
     Done with that, he stood, strapped his swords to his back, and left the room. He had one thing left to do before he left.
     It was time to confront his father.
                           * * * * *
      "There you are!" Rose said as she took a spot beside Sokka. "The boats are ready, everyone is in gear; it's time to go."
      "I messed up, Rose." Sokka said, sadly. "I couldn't even explain the invasion plan without making a mess of everything."
      Rose placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Some silly speech doesn't matter, Sokka. There's so few people who are good giving speeches. I can't even make a good speech and I'm the Avatar." She giggled, making him chuckle a bit.
     "But I've seen you fight. You fight for the greater good, for those who can't defend themselves. You've done it time and time again, even when the odds were stacked against you. And that's what's important. Today we fight for the greater good and, no matter what happens, we're gonna win."
      Sokka looked at his friend in amazement. "How can you be so confident?"
      "Because I failed once in Ba Sing Se and, because of that, we lost the Earth Kingdom and my own home." Tears pricked her eyes. "My father...is gone and my brother is missing. I will not fail again."
                          * * * * *
      Everyone filed onto the boats. At the head, Team Avatar stood, along with their families (Hakoda, Bato, Ophelia, Will, and Catie), Aurora, and a few swamp dwellers. The rest were filled with their other allies and the armies of aetherbenders, waterbenders, a few eatherbenders, and Aurora's subordinates.
      Katara, Catie, and the swamp dwellers were in charge of whipping up a fog cover long enough for them to get below deck when the gates rang their alarm. Quickly, everyone got in the submarines and took off before the firebenders even got in the boats.
      Team Avatar sat in the one at the lead along with Aurora and the inventor as there were only so many spaces available. The others followed as did Appa and Crystal who each had air bubbles around their heads so they could breathe underwater. 
      The inventor explained that the submarines were Sokka's idea, along with the idea of using waterbending to steer them, that which Katara, Catie, and the swamp dwellers and other waterbenders were doing. There was only one problem: they had a limited air supply so they'd have to resurface before they reached the beaches for a quick breath of air.
      "Sounds fair."
                                 * * * * *
      "Lunch, General Iroh!" Ming called sweetly. Setting the food down, she added, "And, this time, I brought you an extra bowl of rice."
      "Thank you, Ming." Iroh said. "Your little gestures of kindness have made my days in prison bearable." His demeanor changed then.
      Iroh knew the invasion of the Fire Nation was about to happen and he would use it as a cover to escape. Yet he did not want the one person who showed him kindness to be considered at fault.
      "I think you should take the rest of the day off. You don't look well." he lied. "Maybe you should go home and rest."
      "But I feel fine." she protested.
      "Trust me. It is better you are not here this afternoon."
      She only nodded, worried for the old man.
                         * * * * *
      When the group took a break for air, Team Avatar said their goodbyes, hugging and wishing each other well. Aang and Katara shared a kiss, leaving Rose to think that maybe when this was over she'd find Zuko and see if he truly loved her.
      With that, they submerged once again. Rose and Aang went ahead, one by dragon, the other by airglider, cloaked in invisibility.
      There was a bit of trouble at the gates but the waterbenders got through them via torpedos coated in ice. Finally, they resurfaced on the beaches. Storming the area in machines powered by earthbenders was the next step.
     Everywhere, benders of every type fought. The earthbenders not powering the machines launched rocks a the buildings. Waterbenders cut through it with their bending. Aetherbenders used trickery and their bending to fight off numerous enemies. Aurora and her subordinates doused some firebenders in potions, others being hexed. Will lead one group while Hakoda and Sokka lead the other to fight with swords and other weapons.
     The battlements were a problem so Katara, Sokka, and Hakoda took them out together but Hakoda got injured while taking out the last one, taking him completely out of the battle. Sokka decided to take control of the army, knowing they had to make it to the volcano by the time the eclipse started. There was no time to waste.
     Under Sokka's direction, they took the city and made the firebenders fall back, getting close to the volcano. If everything went according to plan, they were gonna win.
                       * * * * *
      Rose and Aang landed at the doors of the palace and looked around. As they declared themselves and prepared for a fight, they found something that was worse than fighting the Fire Lord: he had vanished without a trace.