Outcasts, chapter 3
It was time.
Sokka and Toph, along with a few earth benders and Kyoshi warriors, were now boarding the invasion flagship. Sometime during the night, all the stuffy old people and Aang had finally come to a decision. The first ships would all be stolen Fire Nation vessels, mostly earth benders, as water benders, with their dark skin, would be much easier to spot than Earth Kingdom warriors. Followed by them would be the vessels of each nation, joined together in the first united opposition against the Fire Lord in one hundred years. Sokka couldn’t keep a smile off of his face. Every time he thought of their plan, his plan, finally going into action, he would get a small fit of the smiles. Even Toph seemed to notice his change of mood as they walked onto the deck of the flagship.
“Why are you so happy, Sokka?” she inquired as they made their way to the barracks below. I haven’t felt you this excited since the time we were invited to that feast in Ba Sing Se.”
Sokka smiled and ruffled her hair, earning a solid punch in the arm. “Progress, my dear little lady. Progress.” He saw the confusion on her face, so he clarified. “Everything we’ve done. All the sacrifices we made. It’s all been leading up to this moment. There have been loads of times where I questioned why I’d left my tribe to help a twelve-year-old kid I didn’t even know at the time, especially when the things we did didn’t seem to help anyone. I’m just happy, Toph. Really, really happy.”
Toph smiled and punched him in the arm, harder this time. “Don’t go being all mushy now, Sokka. Leave that to Aang and the Sugar Queen.”
-----
The flagship was ready to leave. Sokka, Katara, Hakoda, Aang, and Toph, all stood in the bridge, watching (as best as some of them could) several of the Mechanist’s people fiddle with the odd machinery in there that operated the ship. Sokka and Hakoda were playing Pai Sho together while Aang, Katara, and Toph talked with each other about their roles in getting to the Fire Lord.
“The plan’s simple enough,” Katara said as she combed her hair for the millionth time that day. “We travel down the Secret River, getting as close to the Fire Palace as we can, hopefully getting past the walls of the Capital City. From there, we do everything we can to make it to the palace.”
“It sounds good in theory,” Toph said casually, “but how good will it work when we actually do it? I mean, we’ve fought an army of Earth benders before, but Aang and I mastered that element. This is foreign territory here, in every sense of the phrase.” She sighed as she felt Aang shiver to himself. “No pressure, though, right?”
Sokka laughed a little as he caught the indignant look on Aang’s face. He moved his white lotus tile across the board, blocking a potentially effective gambit by his father. “Of course there’s no pressure, guys. All the vessels are present and accounted for, and everyone has been avoiding other Fire Nation vessels as often as possible. The chances that the Fire Nation knowing of this invasion are slim to none at all.”
If only he knew.
-----
At the same time Sokka was musing about the rebellion’s progress, Zuko was fretting over the news of the invasion. Commander Arrluk had succumbed to the scorperine venom before he could give all the information Azula wanted, but he had given enough. A small army was at this moment making its way to the capital in an attempt to enter the city covertly and attack the Fire Lord whilst caught off guard. It was sobering news, and the way it was obtained made the Fire Prince nearly vomit.
Azula, however, seemed to be in a total opposite mood. The girl was working nonstop to redouble the fortifications in the palace, making sure each guard squad had an even balance of benders and non-benders. She was leaving nothing to chance.
After the interrogation, Azula called an emergency war meeting, which caught most people off guard. These things were planned days, even weeks in advance, but no one, not even the Fire Lord himself, questioned the calling of the highest-ranked members of the bureaucracy. Zuko was now sitting at the end of the war room table, a map of the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom colonies laid out before them. Azula sat next to him, and both were in full Fire Nation armor.
“It looks like they’re caught off-guard,” Zuko said as she steadied herself. “Like they’ve never done anything spontaneous.”
“Perfect,” the girl said confidently. Zuko eyed her for a moment before returning his attention to the others at the table. She began to speak, her voice much more soft-toned, but not any less quiet. “Honored Gentlemen of the Fire Nation,” she began, looking at each person in turn. “It is an honor to be in your presence, as I am sure you feel honored to be in the presence of my father.”
“Yes, your Highness,” one man, Admiral Chen, spoke out. He was an older man, used to things being blunt and to the point. Azula had admired him as a child. “But can we get to the matter at hand? I’m sure we can all rest safely without the use of long-winded pleasantries.”
“Indeed, Admiral,” Azula said calmly while giving him the gesture of respect. “As you all know, the Fire Navy has recently apprehended a commandeered Fire Navy warship, manned by soldiers of the Northern Water Tribe.” A few murmurs were heard across the table at this, confirming her statement. “I personally saw over the interrogation of the man in charge, Commander Arrluk. After a few hours of interrogation, he informed us of what he’d been doing and why he and his men were so far from the North Pole.” More excited murmurs, this time in surprise. “My brother will continue from here.”
Zuko looked at her in surprise, and beneath the table he felt her nudge his foot. The young prince nodded and cleared his throat. “As my sister was saying, Arrluk gave us all the information he could before his untimely death. Commander Arrluk and his men were only one group among possibly hundreds of vessels making their way to Fire Nation territory.” A small series of gasps were issued here. “Now, wait,” Zuko said, trying to quell the obvious surprise. “Arrluk never gave the exact amount of vessels, but he seemed certain that number of vessels was a high one.”
“Hundreds of Fire Navy Vessels?” Another man, who Zuko had no idea of his name, questioned. “Surely, we would have noticed that many missing ships.”
“The man said only a few ships were commandeered to keep suspicion down,” Azula spoke up. “Upon further review, I and several of my trusted advisors looked at the Navy stock charts and have noticed several unexplained disappearances of Fire Navy warships, some Imperial Class. The estimates that number in the hundreds would be Earth Kingdom rebels, Water Tribe warriors, mercenary crews, and possibly traitors.”
“Commander Arrluk confirmed the presence of Chief Hakoda of the Southern Tribe, his children Sokka and Katara, and Toph Bei-Fong, former companions of the Avatar. Also among their ranks are the Kyoshi Warriors, several Northern Water Tribe figureheads, and Earth Kingdom rebel factions.” Zuko looked at each of the members of the council and stopped at the face of is father. It was impassive, yet interested at the same time. Zuko continued.
“Arrluk succumbed to the interrogation techniques before we could get their position, but we do know that on this day, they are leaving a remote island and heading on with their invasion plan.” He sat then, and his sister stood then.
“Good gentlemen. The other nations of the world have finally banded together, though at this time it would seem too late for them to make a difference. Nevertheless, one cannot ignore a malicious fly, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem. They are weak. Their Avatar is dead, the Earth Kingdom is conquered, and it is only a matter of time before the Water Tribes are erased as utterly as the now-extinct Air Nomads. A footnote in the history of this great nation.” A few mumbles of approval before Azula continued on.
“But weakness often creates desperation. This desperation cause the Avatar to hide for one hundred years. This desperation led to the defeat during the Great Siege of the North and the death of Admiral Zhao. We must nip this accursed weed in the bud, tear out its roots, and set the weed aflame in our palms. As such, I propose to you good men that our watches be redoubled, all available Fire Nation troops brought to the Capital City, and any suspicious persons arrested without question.”
Although her plan wasn’t perfect, it was eventually hammered out to something that all people attending the meeting were satisfied on.
Zuko left that meeting alone, his head full of troubled thoughts. Tonight he would be going to see his Uncle. It was imperative.
After all, even if Zuko didn’t know, it was the Eve of the Day of Black Sun.
----
The moon was surprisingly still full that night, though it had been nearly a week since he’d sat alone on that beach, contemplating his place in the group, and in the grand scheme of things. He was pleased to see that he wasn’t the only one up so late this night. He was now in the presence of Water benders beyond just Aang and Katara. Not only that, but they had regular people pacing the deck, nervous of what the next day would bring them.
Sokka sighed and walked to the guardrail, watching the Secret River carrying them to Ozai’s palace. Things seemed to be going perfectly, despite the awkwardness of the Water Tribe members who’d donned Fire Nation armor for the first time. It was far more restricting than the thick parkas and flowing robes that served as armor for the tribes.
“Leachy nut for your thoughts?” a young, yet mature, voice behind him asked. Sokka turned around to see his sister donned in the make up and clothing of the Yu Yan Archers. He smiled awkwardly at her.
“You look totally weird in that,” he commented off-hand. Katara grunted and spun around, her look of frustration evermore hilarious due to the face paint she wore.
“I’m serious, Sokka. You’ve been a bit to yourself lately. It’s not like you.” He gulped as he caught his sister’s look. It shown with concern for him.
“It’s nothing, really,” he told her. “We’ve been out here for two years nearly, most of the time just us three or four. I’m still trying to get used to us being around other people.”
“Oh,” she said, appearing satisfied. “Well, if you do need something, Sokka, you can tell me.” She put her hand on his shoulder for a moment before moving on.
----
Zuko made his way through the Fire Palace once again. He wore the black suit he’d used to wear when masquerading as the Blue Spirit, but now he let his face show. The appearance of the Blue Spirit in the Fire Nation would not bode well at all for anyone.
Running quickly through the night, Broadswords sheathed, he made the run from the palace to the stone prison without getting winded. After the usual threats, he entered his uncle’s cell chamber. The old man was already awake.
“I was expecting you, young prince,” Iroh said calmly. “Tomorrow is a big day. Many things are going to happen.”
Zuko looked at him for a moment. “You already know about the invasion?” he asked the man.
“No,” Iroh said to the boy. “But the Avatar’s companions are crafty. They know about Sozin’s Comet, and were planning to attack before it arrived. Tomorrow would only be natural for the arrival of an assault, even if the scale is small.”
“You’re being cryptic again, uncle.”
Iroh chuckled a bit and nodded. “I suppose I am. Tell me, Zuko. Do you know what an eclipse is?” Zuko shook his head. Iroh nodded and smiled a bit. “I would have guessed as much. You know that the Sun gives Fire benders their ability to bend.”
“Yes, uncle,” Zuko said impatiently, not making a connection.
“An eclipse is a day in the year when the Sun Spirit and Moon Spirit meet with one another on the physical plane. To do so, the Moon moves from the night sky, blocking the sun. This, in effect, is like a full moon, bringing Water benders to the height of their abilities,” Iroh told the boy.
“And Fire benders should be stronger, too, right?” Zuko asked. Iroh shook his head, his eyes closed.
“The eclipse is known to the Fire Sages as the Day of Black Sun. The moon is able to completely blot out the energy of the sun, yet leave behind its corona. The effect of this is much like what we saw at the North Pole when Admiral Zhao killed the Moon Spirit.”
“You mean…”
“Yes,” Iroh answered. “On the day of Black Sun, Fire Benders will be unable to access their bending.”