chapter

[Zhao's Flagship]

"You?"

Zuko felt the tension steam off his body when the door to his tiny, peanut-smelling pantry opened and a Fire Nation soldier stepped inside, peanut shells cracking under her red armoured boots. The signature red and black armour of a Fire Nation Navy Firebender was a relief compared to someone like the resident traitor-hunter. Zuko figured that she was likely from the Eastern Fleet- having chaffed under the way the 'Grand Admiral' was running things compared to Admiral Chan. It was the most likely explanation; but looking at her, he still couldn't help but feel that little prick of suspicion at the back of his mind.

"Please, have a seat." His uncle just gave a friendly smile as he offered her the only other stool in the pantry, "I'm just brewing a fresh batch of jasmine tea. It will help with the cold."

"Thanks… I'd like that."

"From what I've heard, it is unexpectedly colder in the North Pole, I'll advise Zhao to have the troops gear up slightly in advance…" His uncle said, the porcelain clinked softly as he prepared the tea, and wisps of steam rose from the teapot and mingled with the lantern's light.

Zuko very patiently waited for them to get on with the pleasantries- just listening to the distant, rhythmic hum of the ship's engines vibrated through the walls, a constant reminder of their place in the heart of the Fire Nation's Armada. Or more specifically, Grand Admiral Zhao's Armada. He ground his teeth as he noticed that his uncle and the soldier were content to just watch the teapot brew. And taking the chance to give her a second glance, he recognised the lieutenant- one of Zhao's personal guards actually.

Finally tired of waiting, Zuko prompted, "Do you have a name, soldier?"

She looked up, and that feeling of suspicion pricked at him again.

"I do." She said simply. Then she reached up.

Zuko watched as her armoured hands lifted off the helmet, and raven black hair spilled out. And as the helmet came away, he almost stumbled back from his tiny stool as he saw a face that he hadn't seen in years- not since that day he had left home. Her eyes like molten gold- the same shade as his- looked at him, inset in an angular face with his father's noble cheekbones. He knew that face- haunted his dreams more than a few times over the years.

"Nothing to say?" Her unpainted lips quirked in a small smile. Her voice hadn't changed since he last heard it, but noticeably missing that mocking undercurrent that he had been so familiar with. In fact, the smile was almost fond, bittersweet, as she met eyes with him, "Have you truly been away for so long that you can't even recognise your own sister anymore, Zuzu?"

He didn't reply, still staring at her.

"I know this all very sudden, Zuko…" She murmured, subdued in a way he'd never seen her before, "And I know you're still suspicious of me, so before we get down to business, let me just say… I'm sorry. For how I treated you in the past. I'm sorry for that."

"You're saying that you're a lot of things…" He said when he finally found his voice, "But you're not my sister. Azula would never do the unthinkable and…"

"Look so desperate?" She suggested with a self-deprecating laugh, "Come to you for help?"

"Apologise," he muttered. The Azula he knew would never apologise, especially not with any sincerity. So, the girl sitting before him, with those sad golden eyes, couldn't possibly be his sister. Never in a million years.

"… for what it counts, I really am sorry." Azula admitted, cradling his uncle's jasmine tea that she had sworn to hate all those years ago, "I know I said and did a lot of mean things. But… I need your help, brother. And from what Uncle has told me, you need mine."

Alarm bells just kept ringing at her innocent act. An entire childhood of his scheming sister's plots clued him into it. Azula would never talk about needing help. But more than that, she'd never admit it, "No."

"No?"

"What kind of trick are you pulling this time? I know father imprisoned you after you disobeyed him. If you think you're going to steal the Avatar from me, think again, Azula!"

"Prince Zuko, that was uncalled for! Your sister has been through a lot!" Iroh put his fat bulk between them.

"No, Uncle." She said quietly, "It's alright. I do kind of deserve this suspicion. You were suspicious too when I first approached you."

Her gold eyes looked at him with a type of anger that he'd never seen before, "You think I'm after the glory of capturing the Avatar? The parades, the feasts, even the claim to the Throne of the Fire Lord? No! Tou can have it all, Zuko! What I want is for things to go back to before that Khan came along with his elixirs; and with him, That Child tricked father into favouring her while he tossed me- his own daughter- in the dungeon! For once, this isn't about you and your mistakes! It's about mine! And I just… I just want my life back!"

Her shout rang in his ears in the enclosed space of the pantry, and he realised why her anger was so different- even her temper seemed so unfamiliar now- less malicious than the temper he'd seen when they were younger, and more steeped in genuine hurt. Her gold eyes glanced away in shame.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't yell…"

"It's okay, niece… His uncle rested a hand on her shoulder before looking over to him, "… Prince Zuko, Azula wouldn't lie. Not about this."

'Azula wouldn't lie.' The words just didn't click together for Zuko. And it just showed how his uncle didn't grow up with her. Barely spent a year with them in the royal palace, and even then, not that often. He didn't know Azula like he did. Yet, she'd never do this. And Zuko was faced with the possibility that his sister had really changed. Maybe. It was getting really hard to tell. And yet… if it really was true… if Azula really had been changed…

"… Azula," His voice came out a soft whisper, "What happened to you in the capital?"

She looked away, "There's no time to tell you all the sordid details. Explaining it once to Uncle was enough."

"What they did to you was monstrous…" Iroh whispered. "I'll do whatever I can to make things right. I promise."

To Zuko, Azula getting a taste of her own medicine sounded like something from his dream. But from his uncle's tone, it wasn't pretty. And for the first time in his life, he felt like a jerk for yelling at his sister.

Azula sighed. "Listen, either turn me down or we work together. Just make a decision quick, Zuko, we only have so much time before someone notices I've abandoned my post. I'll help you capture the Avatar and redeem yourself in the eyes of father. And in return, you'll help me get things back to the way they were."

His Honour… How else was he supposed to answer?

"I'm in. Let's do it- let's work together." Zuko nodded to his sister, and his uncle gave a small smile of approval.

"Do you already have a plan, niece?" his uncle prompted, and Azula nodded.

"I have… two things that point us in the right direction." She began; and from her pocket, she produced a stack of papers and handed it to him. "This is the latest intel report from the North Pole made by my betrothed."

With a soft flutter of papers, she laid the pages all out on the dark metal floor amongst the scattered peanut shells.

The sheer number of them told a story that Commander Khan was nothing but detailed. Maps of the roads and waterways, points of interest highlighted, sketches of the city defences, and recommendations on how to overcome them. There were even portraits of high value targets- the chief waterbender healer, the Water Tribe peasant siblings and their master 'Pakku'. Yes, on these pages were everything that the Armada needed to effortlessly take the Water Tribe capital…

… or for them to capture the Avatar from right under Zhao's nose.

"What do you think, Uncle?" prompted Azula.

Their Uncle Iroh remained silent for a moment, simply sipping his steaming jasmine tea, his golden eyes scanning the pages with a focus Zuko rarely saw- a rare glimpse of the legendary general once known as 'The Dragon of the West.' Finally, Iroh spoke, "His division is low on supplies and outnumbered ten-to-one; and yet… he's not requesting for further orders. In fact, the commander seems to be informing Zhao about how best to proceed. Very interesting."

"I should have known that it wasn't Zhao's plan, given what the Armada's secret weapon is." Zuko sighed, before feeling a satisfied smirk on his lips. "But this is good to know. Caught lying in front of father… It was good to know that they had blackmail material.

"Yes, yes. It's all my betrothed's plan…" Azula rolled her eyes impatiently, "We can put this blackmail material to use once we're back home."

"Right…" Zuko grunted, looking down at the scattered papers, "Are we supposed to read through all this to find what we're looking for?"

"No need, it is right here, Prince Zuko." His Uncle Iroh tapped a fat finger on a specific page among the mess, and continued, "The 41st Division is drawing out the entire ground forces of the Northern Water Tribe. We have a small window of time- between Khan distracting the Water Tribe Army and Zhao fully occupying the city- when the Avatar will be the least guarded than he's ever been."

"The best time for us to capture the Avatar." Zuko whispered under his breath.

"I also have something else too." Azula fished something out her other pocket, and there in her armoured palm, lay a small grooved piece of metal. "This is a mold of Admiral Zhao's seal. With this, we can issue any command to the 41st Division, and they'll have to follow. I just managed to nick it when you two arrived. And Zuko? We'll need your ship as a backup plan. Inform your crew- people you potentially trust- that I might drop by."

"I'll tell Lieutenant Jee to expect you…" Zuko grunted. "Not like there's any place in the North Pole where you can land it."

"An escape plan is always useful, brother."

"Whatever you say…" He considered the little piece of metal in her hand for a moment and asked, "What were you planning to do with the seal?"

"You tell me, Zuzu," Azula smiled, "Uncle's the general, and you're the expert at chasing the Avatar. If anyone can find a way to deal with Khan and also help us get to the Avatar, it would be you two."

"The Fire Nation- maybe even the Four Nations- will be better off without a barbarian rampaging on it."

"Glad that we're all in agreement that my betrothed needs to die."

"All?" Zuko repeated with a jolt as he realised something. He whipped his head towards his uncle, "You too, uncle? I didn't think you'd approve of this."

The older man lowered his head as if ashamed, "Immortality is a pill that humankind is not ready to swallow," he tiredly rasped, "I have seen what even the hope of it to the best of us, and I can only imagine what it would drive the worst to do. This course of action… it's not one I would ever counsel; but sometimes, the path of least bloodshed is still stained, and we can do nothing but carry on, even as it leads us through a dark tunnel. The lure of eternal life is too great a temptation. A path too perilous to be walked…"

His wrinkled eyes looked down into his teacup, lips pressed together as if it pained him to say the next words.

"… A tea, far too dangerous to be brewed."

Their tiny pantry fell silent at that. If their tea-obsessed uncle said that, then he had to be serious.

Azula continued in the silence left by their uncle, solemnly whispering, "Yes, it would be best if my betrothed- and any dreams of an Elixir of Immortality- never leave the arctic tundras, much less return to our Nation's shores."

Zuko nodded, "You have a plan?"

"Something close to one." She replied, slender fingers playing with Zhao's seal. "Here's what I propose: We send a response to his report. An impossible mission. One that he'll die trying to accomplish."

Zuko looked away, and his sister noticed.

"Something wrong with my plan, Zuzu?"

"No, I'm not… It's just ironic. My banishment was caused by me trying to save a 41st Division, and now I'm going to end it by sending their less-honourable successors to their deaths."

Azula chewed on her lip, and slipped her helmet back on. "Well, I'll give you some time to think about how to write the message. I really can't stay here for long for much longer, that Child-" She whispered, golden eyes glancing at the door behind her as if wary of evil spirits bursting through it, "-is smarter and more dangerous than she lets on."

"I think you have let rumours blind you." Their uncle commented, "I looked into her eyes and saw nothing but a child. Her mother on the other hand… now she's someone who is not to be trifled with."

"Uncle, you don't understand!" Azula snapped, her voice tight as if she was struggling to look for the words to describe Anya. "She's not just a child. Her master assassin of a mother had trained her well- trained her to sniff out disloyalty, to find the tiniest hint of treason and drag it to her dear 'Uncle Jao' like some cat bringing home a dead lizard-mouse. I'm not even sure how she does it, but she's caught actual traitors with far less clues of treason than what we have in hand here. And if she catches us… Well, let's just say that Zhao was right about one thing: We're not going to be afforded a military tribunal before she hands us peanuts and launches us from a trebuchet while wearing the sweet, innocent smile she's fooled you with."

Personally, Zuko didn't like the image of himself being tied to an explosive munition and launched into the sky with a bag of peanuts. But their uncle wasn't convinced, stroking his grey beard as he spoke softly, "I'm sorry, but I do not think I'm mistaken, niece. There wasn't a single hint of malice in her green eyes. She was just another six-year-old child-"

But before he could even finish, a sudden chill swept through the room, making the hair on the back of Zuko's neck stand on end.

The metal door creaked open, and a shadow waited for them just beyond the threshold- backlit by the red lights and blocking the only exit with a smile full of teeth.

"Whatcha doin, Juko~?" The six-year-old responsible for thousands of deaths sing-songed. The same little girl who had a knack for sniffing out plots and schemes of traitors and dissidents (exactly the kind of things that they were doing just now) before she gleefully put a stop to them. In a shower of ultraviolence. Her green eyes almost glowing as they casually glided from him to his uncle and then Azula. "Oh! There's a lot of you in here! Ehehe!"

They couldn't do anything but stare back. Even his sister had tensed up, saluting stiffly. "I can explain everything, Lady Anya."

A bead of sweat ran down his neck. Zuko didn't think that anything Azula could say would help them. She knows. They've been caught- they've 100% been caught! Could they even fight their way out of here? Except, those red eyes of that master assassin standing behind Anya stopped any idea of it.

"You don't have to explain!" The pink-haired little girl smiled smugly up at them, "Cuz Anya thinks we all know what I'm here for, right, Juko?"

"Peanuts~ Peanuts~ Anya gots the Peanuts~ Gonna steam 'em up! Eat 'em up! And burp 'em up!"

Anya marched off with her sack of shelled peanuts, leaving behind Juko, Uncle Ayy, and secret-agent-Azoola. She didn't know why Juko and Uncle Ayy were so scared. They were just helping Princess Azoola with her Secret Mission! Maybe they were scared she'd spill the beans? But they didn't need to worry- Anya was super good at keeping secrets! She'd already kept her secret of hearing people's thoughts for so long! Like how the Lou-Tenny wanted Papa to hold her without clothes on, or how Fire Lord Ozzy daydreamed about flying around on a flying sword and making the evil earthbender towns build statues of him.

So, yeah, Juko and Uncle Ayy's secret was totally safe with her! Azoola's too!

She was happy for Princess Azoola, too. The Princess had been super grumpy about her butt hurting since they left the Fire Islands. Anya had heard about that- how grownups would spank other kids on the butt if they were being bad. Good thing that her Mama and Papa Khan didn't do that, because she was a good girl! She didn't poop her pants in front of everyone like Prince Juko did, or… wait, had Azoola been a bad girl then? She had to be if Fire Lord Ozzy told Papa Khanmander to make her butt hurt.

Anya heard Azoola's thoughts about how Fire Lord Ozzy will like her more if she brought back that evil airbender though. Anya was kinda sure she knew why… but she had to make sure. She tugged on her mama's black dress, looked up to her. "Mama, you said that if someone hurts someone else' feelings, you have to make up for it, right?"

"Hmmm…" Her mama cupped her chin, thinking about it too, then smiled back, "Yes, it's only right to try making amends with people you care about."

"Waku! Waku! Anya understands!" She nodded. Princess Azoola was on a secret mission to make Ozzy happy by 'making almonds' with him. It made sense now and it was so cool too! She didn't know how the airbender fit into that, but it still made sense! But Anya did feel really sorry for Fire Lord Ozzy. First, Princess Azoola with her butt hurting and now Prince Juko with his pants pooping. Both his kids had butt problems. Poor Ozzy.

It was good to see the Princess smiling. She seemed really happy thinking that Juko and Uncle Ayy were her 'Pons' now- whatever that meant. All Anya knew was that it was one of those pieces for Pai Sho- an old person's game. Super boring.

"Mama, we're gonna see Papa Khan soon, right?"

Her mama blushed almost as red as her eyes, "He's not…" she tried, but just changed her mind, "Just wait a few more days, Anya. We'll see him soon."

Papa Khanmander was busy beating up the evil waterbenders. Maybe he even got her a new plush toy! She hoped that it was a tiger-seal or something!

But the message they were going to send to Papa was really nice though! He will definitely be happy to get Azoola's message!

On the dark metal surface of my writing desk, a single slip of paper sat illuminated by the soft glow of the lantern. My shadow, alongside the shadow of the busty Kyoshi Warrior redhead in the green kimono who stood beside me, loomed over the words written on it.

= F =

Assault and eliminate the Water Tribe army, you have nine days.

That's an order.

Send no hawks until your mission is complete.

= F =

Suki's blue eyes reread the very brief message, her face scrunched in a wince, "Hey Khan, you did say in your report that defeating the entire water Tribe army is the one thing that we can't do, right?"

"I mentioned it thrice in my report," My deep voice grunted, sliding the annoying message aside and going back to writing the closing remarks of my book: Interview with a Water Tribe Princess by Khan. "But Zhao wouldn't send me a message shorter than his usual novels unless it was an emergency. It could be that Fire Lord Ozai might be pressuring him to hurry, or some situation arose in another theatre that urgently requires the ships that the Armada borrowed. We don't know; but regardless of the reason, we have to do our best and execute this order."

Suki reached over, picked up the message and stared at it. "And we have to do it in nine days, because that's when the Armada arrives?"

"Just seven now," I corrected, "That message was dated two days ago, and at this point? It's almost welcome: We're the end of this protracted arctic campaign is finally in sight."

"It should've been sooner, and a lot less messy," She angrily murmured, "Arnook, Aang, that Pakku geezer too, and especially Sokka If he'd just have believed me and taken the deal…"

"Leaving the enemy leadership alive and free to fight another day is always a mistake." I said, "But in the end, we achieved our primary objective for this campaign: Severely diminish the Northern Water Tribe's ability to resist the Armada. With Aang injured, their cattle stolen and all their ships burned down, they'll realise the need to surrender as soon as the Armada arrives. Or at least, after an entire day of sustaining heavy bombardment- high explosive munitions have a tendency to end shock and awe."

"Or they're going to refuse to surrender for the fifth stupid time in a row." Suki groused, right before her anger fell away to just weary irritation, "But even before that happens! We still have that army that we're supposed to deal with in just seven days… somehow."

"Yes, somehow..." I replied, but I had my attention elsewhere- specifically on the notification that floated right before my eyes.

New Quest:

WELCOME TO ICE FIELDS!

Main Objective: Kill all the soldiers in the Water Tribe Army within seven days.

Secondary Objective: Do it in six.

Rewards:

Large XP Bonus

Large Reputation increase with the {Fire Nation}

+ 2 Perk Points

Secondary Rewards:

[Legendary Division Feat: The Frostforged Thousand] Nothing stopped them: Not the snow, not the cold, not all men in the Water Tribe Army… All units in your army gain a 20% stat bonus when fighting outnumbered. They also gain permanent dexterity bonuses for stealth checks and rough terrain movement (snow or otherwise); a constitution bonus for cold resist and supply consumption; and a spirit bonus for bending.

+ R +

I stared. Hungrily. The basic rewards were mediocre once again, but the secondary reward? Now that was the real prize. A perk that would affect my entire division- the first of its kind that I've seen.

[Legendary Division Feat: The Frostforged Thousand] was a literal force multiplier to compensate for our constant lack of numbers; and all those little bonuses synergizing together meant that those same thousand would be able to sneak behind enemy lines regardless of terrain, and continue operating for extended periods of time thanks to the reduced supply consumption. It would make the 41st Division even more of a formidable force than it already was. How could I ever say no?

"In fact, Suki…" I smiled at her, "Not only will we deal with the Agna Qel'a Resistance army. We're going to do it in six days."

"Six d- But aren't worried about the division?" The redhead asked, "I mean, I know you probably have some grand plan already. And we've fought 10-to-1 odds before, but never as a whole Division and never against a whole army! I guess what I'm saying is that we might actually lose a lot of people here."

"Worried?" I repeated, setting down my brush as I finished Interview with a Water Tribe Princess. The wooden click accompanying my exhale of contemplation. Yes, the prospective casualties of fighting an entire army by our lonesome did put a damper on my plans. Despite all the advantages that we had stacked in our favour, a lot of my 41st Division soldiers were likely going to fall in battle- it was inevitable in this scale of direct combat. just how it was when we were this outnumbered. I let out a sigh, "I suppose-"

Just as I clapped shut the finished Interview with a Water Tribe Princess, blue notifications window that only I could see winked into my vision- Notifications that made me realise one thing…

…that the day had finally come.

+ R +

Intelligence: 19 - 20

+ R +

NEW PERKS AVAILABLE:

Lvl 20 Intelligence Perks Available:

[-] Bibliophile (Passive): You like your books like you like your women: spread wide open right at the interesting bits… Double your Intelligence bonus for reading- vastly increasing read speed, retention, and comprehension. (Stacks with other memory perks. And extends to manuals, schematics and skill books for other stats.)

[-] Hyperfocused Training (Active): Achieve a higher state of being by focusing all of your brain cells- all three of them… For a single day, one chosen skill has 150% XP gains, but all other skills gain no XP.

* 1 Perk Points Available.*

[-] means that perk has yet to be purchased.

+ R +

I laughed, deep and loud. The grind has finally paid off! I had finally claimed it after all those endless nights of interviewing old farts, transcribing the notes into books, and hoping that it would be the one. How surprising that it would be the Princess of the Northern Water Tribe's interview that would be the last step.

And yet, even now, [Intelligence] 20 was only a beginning. The start of a long staircase that would lead to the heavens.

Because with it reaching that specific level, it also meant…

Intelligence Check Succeeded!

20/20 Intelligence required to unlock [Engineering] Skill!

+ R +

[Engineering] Lvl 1

The skill of designing, constructing, and optimising the structures, mechanisms, and processes that shape the world. Specifically, the world where the Moon and Ocean are willed into existence by spirits, where a reincarnating messiah figure travels the world on a giant flying bison and where physics has less to do with empirical laws and more about soft suggestions that bend to the whims of people who have barely invented toilet paper.

At higher levels, [Engineering] transcends mere construction of bridges and the tinkering of assorted gadgets. Mastery in this skill allows you to create mechanical wonders and architectural marvels that defy conventional logic: animal-mounted heavy weapons, coal-fired steam engines that violate thermodynamic laws, and rumbling war machines that laugh in the face of both metallurgic principles and anything that stands in their path. From towering fortresses to unstoppable contraptions, [Engineering] will enable you to build resplendent creations which shall carry your ambitions to the Heavens... If you can gather the resources and materials to build it, that is.

+ R +

It was a little known fact, but Chinggis Khan held a great appreciation for big siege weapons.

His Mongol Horde was so much more than just a horde of 'horse-riding savages' that swept across the known world. No, he press-ganged into his service the finest engineers he could capture. From the shores of Jin Dynasty China to the warm dunes of the Khwarezmian Empire in Persia and all the way to the Kingdoms of Europe, these Engineering units built the bridges that carried his armies and the siege engines that brought low many fortresses. And in the decades that followed, when these highly skilled engineers combined Chinese gunpowder with Persian flamethrowers and applied European bell-casting techniques, they produced the weapon that changed the world: The cannon.

And now, here in this world of bending and spirits and pliable laws of physics… What could I achieve? What can I build?

I don't know, but I'm sure that me and that army of lightly-armoured Water Tribe infantry trudging slowly over open plains will find out very soon.

"Uh… Khan? What's so funny?" Suki spoke up, eyebrows raised in worry.

"Like I was saying… Worried?" I repeated, "No, why would I be worried when I have finished my book? I have so much to do. So much to try. So much to build."

"Someone sounds more confident about our chances." Suki chuckled.

"The ability to complete Engineering projects can do that to a man." I nodded, "In fact, for a milestone this massive… I'm in the mood for some celebration."

With a deft display of [Dexterity], I deftly undid her kimono's sash. Suki's blue eyes blinked as the kimono fell open. Milky-smooth skin from her slender neck, down the expansive valley of her hefty pink-tipped breasts, across her toned tummy and down to her bare pussy.

"You weren't wearing anything underneath?" I asked with a brow raised.

"Are you kidding? I was hoping for something like this to happen!" Suki grinned, shrugging off her kimono and placing her hands on my desk, "Why do you think the others aren't here? I bet that I'd get to turn your frown upside down if left alone with you, and now I'm going to win that bet too!"

"Ah, so that's why they volunteered to do a supply run with Yue without you."

"Mhm! And it's all thanks to this 'Engineering' thing, and I'll be honest…" She winked over her shoulder, slid a slender hand over her shapely taut rear and tugged a delicate labia open to reveal her steamy pink centre, already dripping with nectar. "… I don't know what that is, but if it gets you in the mood, then go engineering!"

"I see…" That put a damper on my mood- the one time that I wanted to take the initiative in sex, Suki still beat me to it. But only a little bit. It certainly didn't stop me from gripping her by waist and slamming myself into this redhead's tight, hot pussy.

"By Kyoshi, I needed this…" She sighed happily, eagerly pushing back to meet my thrusts, even adding a little wiggle of her hips each time I bottomed out to tease my cock with her womb's entrance. She even had the gall to wink at me, "Just so you know what you're aiming for."

This horny little redhead…

"We had sex just the night before."

"Pfft, those're just details~" She moaned, "H-harder, Khan, I think I'm getting an idea too!"

"No, you're not, Suki."

"Fine," She pouted, "I've- Mmmm~ Me and girls have had this idea for a while now, but we weren't going to suggest it cuz we know how stretched- heh, get it?- the division was, but now that you're more confident oh yes~ with the division's ability to handle the Water Tribe Army…"

"R-right, so it goes d-deeper~! I mean, it goes something like this. Whenever you're ready, we walk up to Agna Qel'a, and then you…"

(A few days later) [Agna Qel'a - Northern City Gates]

"AVATAR!"

Katara raced through the snow-covered streets, her breath coming in short, visible bursts.

The icy winds of the Northern Water Tribe's capital howled through the freezing air, carrying the glittering snowflakes like tiny diamonds over the walls and into the city of Agna Qel'a below. Along the newly-waterbent walls, brave water tribe warriors stood ready and poised for action, their forms cloaked in heavy fur parkas. And the reason for the alert was obvious, and very audible.

"AVATAR!"

The word echoed over the walls of Agna Qel'a, bellowed from lungs that were impossibly powerful.

Master Pakku- with his royal blue parka and stern expression- was already there by the barbican, directing warriors around the gates that led to the Polar Wastes. The creases on her waterbending master's elderly face looked even more pronounced then, but softened when he saw her running. "Katara?! What are you doing up here?"

"I could hear it all the way from the Palace!" She answered. "Are the Fire Nation attacking?!"

"They're not, but-" Master Pakku paused trying to explain and just grunted, "It's easier to show you now that you're here anyway, come with me!"

He waved for her to follow him as he jogged up to the top of the gates.

"AVATAR!"

It was impossible to not spot the source of the shouting.

Beyond the ice gates, starkly visible against the endless white snow, a great silhouette stood like a monument to imminent and unavoidable violence: Commander Khan. His skull-faced helmet leering at them from atop his massive frame, his spiky red armour a stark contrast to the blinding whiteness that surrounded him. His shadow stretched long and ominous across the ice. And standing with him were the Kyoshi Warrior traitor team In their green kimonos and painted faces. All of them looked unbothered by the dozens of waterbenders that had water and ice aimed straight at them.

"AVATAR!"

Khan's voice boomed like thunder, and the defenders flinched just slightly.

"Avatar! Come out and face me! Stop hiding like a coward!"

The words cut through the cold air like a knife, reaching the ears of those within the city's walls.

As she and Master Pakku reached the top of the gates, all eyes seemed to lock straight at her, including the Kyoshi Warriors. But it was the Fire Nation Commander's eyes that- just for the briefest moments- made her freeze in her tracks. Those green eyes glaring at her through the eye slits of that skull helm.

"Where is the Avatar?" Khan demanded.

"Admirable of you to come to our walls, Fire Nation." Master Pakku shouted back, "Foolish, but admirable. Why are you here, you overgrown snow-rat?"

"I have come to speak to the Avatar, not his fools," The giant declared, "Or is he still acting the part of the coward and hiding from me?"

"Aang isn't hiding!" Katara shouted, unable to help it when someone was badmouthing her friend, "He has nothing to prove to the Fire Nation, least of all, someone like you!"

The Giant's eyes seemed to narrow- seeming like he savoured her being there. "So, the mighty Avatar is too frightened to show his face?" His booming voice filled with mocking. "Or maybe... our fight has left his spirit broken and beaten, just like the rest of your misbegotten tribe?!"

Katara's fists clenched, the anger inside her rising like a tide. Almost subconsciously now, the snow at her feet began to melt and the ensuing water swirling subtly in response to her emotion. She took a step forward, her voice ringing through the arctic air and right at the evil giant. "Aang is more powerful than you could ever understand! He doesn't need to answer your challenges!"

"Then why isn't he here to defend his honour?" He taunted, and his eyes seemed to look at her critically, "Is the Avatar so afraid of facing me again that he chose instead to send a girl to do a man's job?"

Now that comment didn't just break the arctic camel's back for her, it also crossed a line. The faces of her new recruits- the first all-female waterbender unit of the Northern Water tribe- flashed in her face, as if granting her their strength. Their anger. Katara roared back, "The minute he's ready to fight again, he'll take you and your entire Nation on! He's not afraid of you or any of your Fire Nation soldiers! But that's assuming that you'd make it that long, because the women of the Water Tribe are going to make you eat those words, you overgrown bull-pig!"

Before Katara could say more, a firm hand rested on her shoulder. "Katara," Master Pakku, his face calm but stern, stepped forward to stand beside her. "He's trying to get under your skin. Don't let him bait you."

"I… you're right, Master Pakku." Her jaw tightened in frustration, but she remained silent- not wanting to let that Fire Nation monster who had hurt Aang and her brother to provoke any more free reactions from her.

Behind the Giant, Suki- the damned traitor- glanced sideways to the commander with her blue eyes. "I don't think Aang's going to meet us, Khan."

"It makes no difference," the giant said with a shrug, turning his skull-faced gaze back to Katara. "The Avatar has the luxury to talk, but you should spend more time preparing. Which is especially true for those deluded enough to think they're stronger than they are."

Katara's frustration threatened to spill over again, but she managed to keep a lid on it- but just barely. "Don't underestimate us," She said coldly, "The women of the Water Tribe will fight just as fiercely as any man. You'll see that when we meet on the battlefield!"

"I wasn't talking about the women." He barely acknowledged her statement, clearly unimpressed by her words. And with a dismissive wave, he signalled to his Kyoshi Warriors to leave with him.

Katara watched as he began to walk away, a surge of frustration and helplessness welling up inside her. She couldn't let him have the last word.

"If you're so sure about you winning…" she called after him, "Then why not offer us a chance to surrender again? Or do you already know that we won't back down?"

The Giant stopped mid-stride, his back still to her. Then, slowly, he turned his head to glance at her over his spiked red pauldron, just enough to let her know he was looking at her, "There's no need for that. Not anymore." he said finally, "You've made your choice, and now, everyone else has made peace with it. Even Princess Yue. There is nothing left for us now other than to wage War."

Their gazes locked across the distance, and for that fleeting moment, Katara knew they understood each other: This battle would not just determine the fate of Agna Qel'a, but possibly the entire war as well.

And with not even another word, the Giant and his entourage turned away for the last time, their figures fading into the swirling snow of the Polar Wastes, leaving Katara and Pakku standing at the gates.

Master Pakku waited until the silhouette of the Giant disappeared completely before he placed a hand on her shoulder again, his voice gentle but firm. "It's time to prepare, Katara. The battle is coming."

"The girls and I… We'll be ready. We'll fight with everything we have." She said quietly, "We'll make sure that we won't even need to bother Aang for this. It'll send the most powerful message we can to the rest of the world: We can be strong even without the Avatar."

Master Pakku whispered a prayer. "May the Moon and Ocean Spirits, watch over us all."

"May They help us all." Katara finished.

"Can't believe she fell for the same trick I did. But she practically confirmed it, didn't she, Khan?"

"Yes, Katara's slip of tongue was everything we needed: The Avatar's still wounded."

"Agna Qel'a is massive though- we'll need time, and we'll need it empty of… annoyances."

"Suki, this may truly be it… Of course, the 41st Division will buy you that time. You know what to do, Kyoshi Warriors, make me proud."

"… In this life or in our thousandth life, the Kyoshi Warriors will live to serve you, our Khan."

- Converging Shadows End -