Ashes of Devotion [ATLA - Azula x OC]

[Lucernello]

Oh, by the way, Luce, how are you? You said you were sick on Sunday, are you feeling better?

Click to shrink...

I'm better, thanks for asking! My sleep schedule got messed up but other than that, I'm all good now. I hope you are doing great as well.

 

[Lucernello]

AN: Happy Friday, friends. I hope you have a lovely weekend.
​

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98 A.G

"Who are you really? And don't you dare try to lie. I will know if you do." the young girl said.

"Are you sure? I'm a pretty good liar." Azula challenged.

"I'm sure, I will feel it if you do." replied Toph.

Feel? So the young noble probably was feeling vibrations in the earth, being blind probably made her use her powers all the time. Much like her chi, this young girl polished and refined her skill, until she could also feel their heartbeat and blood pressure changes. It wasn't a wild guess.

"That's a handy skill to have." said Lin. In her world there was a machine able to measure muscle activity, blood pressure, and breathing changes invented not long ago. If this girl was telling the truth and was able to do so by just bending, it was truly impressive.

Good to know that Toph said it up front as well. Lin could control such conditions with her machines and chi. Of course, actively doing that all the time was quite exhausting and it was easy to make a mistake if she wasn't focused correctly, but she could do it if needed; manipulation was still on the table.

"I am a hundred and twenty meters tall platypus bear with pink horns and silver wings." said Azula all of a sudden.

Lin was totally thrown off by the ridiculous lie and couldn't help but stare at the princess in disbelief.

"I… I admit you are good." replied Toph in a more quiet voice now.

Lin cursed the timing of Azula and her jokes. Now that her certain belief in her lie detector skill was proven faulty she wouldn't trust it anymore. A wasted opportunity just to prove a point. Lin sighed, deeply disappointed.

"Well… Never mind that, how long can you stay, Toph? I do want to tell you more, as I said… but it's the middle of the night, I'm sure your family will be missing you." Lin said.

"Not long actually… I have to go back soon or they will notice." replied the young girl.

Lin nodded. As she expected, the young noble was escaping her house without them knowing.

"How about this then, tomorrow at sundown we will meet here again if you are able. We can talk more then. Our names are not lies, in any case." said Lin.

"Alright, I can be here tomorrow night." said Toph.
​

---

Lin still found it difficult to not be surprised by the events that followed. Toph was actually part of one of the most powerful noble families there was in the Earth Kingdom as a whole: Beifong. The family's influence over Gaoling was immense; they were even respected along the entire continent and for generations they had trade deals with the entire world.

Discovering that Toph belonged to that household felt like they had gone searching for copper and found gold, a baffling situation that gave her so many opportunities to take the city even faster.

Over the past few days, Lin had fed the girl information carefully, never lying outright, but also never offering more than she requested. She let curiosity do the work, allowing Toph to pull truths loose once Lin knew the girl wouldn't react badly to it.

The girl spoke freely about feeling trapped in her home, how they treated her disability as a weakness and that overprotection always made her feel like she was made out of glass. It was enough for Lin to feel some sense of familiarity as she explained to the young girl that she was also part of a noble family.

Although in her case, it was more like they wanted her to excel at everything and she was just good at being a soldier which is why she had enlisted so young in the first place. They also both approved of the military. But she didn't want to participate in politics.

Toph showed little interest in the war or the idea of national duty, which concerned and confused Lin at first, then she was able to see it as an advantage. Disinterest in the war created flexibility, and she was clearly more open to the idea of them being part of the Fire Nation.

When Lin revealed where exactly they came from, Toph barely reacted, her attention drifting immediately toward a more relevant question: whether Lin could actually bend fire. The young girl got mad at her for not using her full strength in the duel and demanded a rematch immediately.

She also let her know that Azula was actually the princess of the Fire Nation. Something that Toph found fitting but didn't explain further as to why.

They returned to the arena at night, sneaking in when no one was around. When there was no tournament going on, it was just empty and looked like any abandoned cave. Lin carried their own supplies, including Fire Nation healing salves for burns just in case, and Azula didn't want to be left behind and also came with them.

The spars were fun and relentless. Toph adapted quickly once Lin stopped holding back, her earthbending aggressive and inventive even under unfamiliar attacks. Lin still tried her best not to hurt the young girl.

Lin exploited the blind girl's limits by using low flight, attacking her without touching the ground. Instead of frustrating Toph, it sharpened her focus and drove her to push harder, but still Lin managed to secure more wins.

"So how did you end up with metal arms and legs?" Toph asked her at one point.

"Well… my brother and I wanted to be the best firebenders in the world. We were both training quite hard with father. At one point, however, he began experimenting with a complicated firebending technique, something he had discovered in our family library. He made me draw on his face. At the time I didn't realize just how dangerous this technique really was, it was a costly mistake."

"So he used this bending technique on you?" Toph asked.

"No… more like he used the bending incorrectly and he ended up hurting us both. Imagine having the power to make rocks explode outwards with the strength to pierce through a human being in the blink of an eye. Now imagine having the ability to throw that power so that it explodes far away from you. That is the technique he was trying to learn to impress our father. It is called combustion bending." Lin continued to explain.

"Something I didn't learn." Azula noted.

"It is quite dangerous, it requires a certain affinity to it as well. If at any point you are unfocused or you are disrupted while bending this way, explosions will happen all around you. I refuse to teach it, and my brother Raizo wouldn't either. Even though he is still actively using it, I know he still feels guilty about hurting me, he barely looks me in the eye. I don't blame him for it." Lin answered.

"Why does he keep using it then?" Toph asked.

"It is too powerful a skill to abandon, he is a dedicated assassin. One who leaves nothing behind but a crater and can attack from so far away they never see him coming."

"Whew… remind me not to piss your brother off." Toph said, making Lin chuckle.

"Well, do you guys want to continue with the spars?" Lin asked.

"You are on, princess!" Toph shouted.

Lin observed without comment as Toph managed to keep pace longer than expected, forcing the princess to dodge and duck without getting too overwhelmed by her blue flames. They were quite even in terms of skill, and the remaining time of the night they spent going at it against each other.

When they finally stopped, both looked exhausted and a bit hurt. Lin quickly got to heal them both. With emotions high and bonding done, Lin presented Toph with a simple exchange.

"Toph, how about you come with us wherever our unit goes and I will even let you challenge Bumi or whoever we face strong enough to merit the challenge."

"Do I have to follow your orders?" Toph asked.

"Just like Azula, I cannot give orders to you. The princess is higher ranked than me and you are a civilian from another nation, not a soldier under my command. So no, you can go wherever you want, but it would be more fun if we remained together."

"Sounds fun, yes..."

"We only need a little bit of help. You see, our goal is to take Gaoling city for our nation." Lin continued. "If you help us, I can assure you, I will do whatever I can to take you anywhere you want."

"Mmm, well, alright. But with a condition. My parents are not to be harmed." Toph said.

"Done." replied instantly Lin. To be honest, she wasn't sure the Fire Nation would even want to harm the Beifong family. They even had a hand in the weapons trade and had dealings with elements of the Fire Nation in the past as well. Another reason why Gaoling remained mostly isolated from the war.

She informed Toph of what she needed from her and how she could get to where Azula and her team were hiding. With the agreement set, they parted ways with the young earthbender. Lin told Azula that she needed to go back and that the next time they saw each other, Gaoling would be under their rule.

"We shall see each other again soon, Princess."

"Don't be late." answered the young royal.

Lin turned toward the mountains, beginning the long walk to the glider that would carry her back to Chin Village.
​

---

Lin was pushing her men to the limit, exhaustion clearly visible on their faces. She was confident though, they would be ready soon to assault the city of Gaoling. Of course, that was the moment someone decided to interrupt her.

A runner reached the edge of the training ground, boots skidding slightly in the dirt as he slowed himself enough to deliver the message without collapsing.

"Ma'am! A Fire Nation cruiser is approaching from the west, we cannot confirm its affiliation yet!"

"Easy, corporal. I want you to get Captain Zhou and Lieutenant Kaida to meet me at the docks." she answered before addressing another of her men. "Sergeant, get me a squad ready in full armor. If it is a hijacked ship we will delay it. And get a cannon aimed at the docks as soon as possible! Move it!" she barked and turned in the direction of the dock.

A western approach made little sense. Beyond that stretch of coast lay only the abandoned remains of the southern air temple and long strips of sea that no longer held strategic value, territory already purged and stripped clean during earlier campaigns.

A storm could have pushed a ship so far but she had been on one of those ships and it only drove her south, not west. No supply routes ran that way, and there were no patrols worth reinforcing that area. There really was no reason for a cruiser to approach under standard orders.

Still, if it wasn't a hijack situation, as the acting commander she should meet it head on. Captain Zhou and Lieutenant Kaida joined her as she descended toward the docks, the training field already fading behind them.

They quickly descended towards the dock and Lin directed her vessel captain to move and leave room for them to dock.

The cruiser was easing into position with painfully slow movements, and she could faintly hear the steam engine making strange noises. She quickly assessed the crew as they came into view; it was a reduced one and they were wary as they saluted them.

The ship carried Fire Nation markings, but they were poorly maintained and only the main watchtower looked clean. The deck activity suggested long travel and limited resupply. As the gangplanks dropped against the dock, Lin approached, flanked by her captain and lieutenant duo.

Commander Lin was not prepared to see Prince Zuko step down first, followed closely by General Iroh. Lin felt the brief, involuntary widening of her eyes before discipline and her thousands of hours of training kicked in.

She had never seen the prince in person, she had only seen drawings in portraits that no longer matched the man approaching her. The burn scar across his face disrupted the image she had carried for years.

She didn't let the surprise of their visit show in her face. She straightened, saluted, and bowed with correct form, acknowledging both the prince and the general with equal composure.

"My prince. General Iroh. It's an honor. I'm Commander Lin of the red battalion."

She had met Iroh before during her enrollment to the army parade. He was there to see the new recruits. The respect she held for him was not diminished by his failure at Ba Sing Se. He had pushed further than most officers ever before, had reached the wall through sheer persistence and strength of will.

She could understand his loss at his son's death. She had seen capable leaders falter after losing family to the war, their resolve eroded by grief, and she did not fault him for that. The attempt itself had been a feat.

"No need for that, commander. I'm a retired general." Iroh said.

"Your honor in service was earned through your decades of experience in the war. It does not go away with age, General. Even when you retire, the army will still see you as their general." Lin answered.

The general accepted this with a small nod, his expression warm, and Lin turned her attention back to the prince.

"My prince, I'm the acting commander of the entire southern theater in the war, we will be moving to capture Gaoling and Omashu soon enough, but know that you can take command of the battalion as you see fit. Do you have a mission for us?" Lin asked.

"Err… nothing like that, commander. I just need repairs done to my ship, and a resupply of the resources you can spare."

"Of course, my prince. Whatever you require." Lin answered

"Do you have any tea I could take? I ran dry sadly." General Iroh said.

"At once." Lin ordered Lieutenant Kaida to see to it, adding instructions to prepare food, to assign a platoon to inspect the cruiser, address any structural or mechanical issues, and replenish supplies.

Her soldiers moved fast doing as ordered, and Lin noted the Prince watched the process with a lot of focus. As to what had caught Zuko's attention, she could only guess.

"If you could please follow me, you can rest easy, my men will take care of your crew and your ship."

Lin led them inland. "I will gladly provide any information you need, I'm not informed about your journey or what it entails but we can share maps and routes we have of the area around the peninsula. We even had a few of our scouts map Kyoshi Island to the southwest." Lin said.

"Impressive, commander. I think I need the tea first." Iroh replied.

"Of course."

Lin had two main reasons to help them to this extent. The first was that she really admired the General. The second being that while true, the prince was banished, that didn't necessarily mean that it would stay that way. It could pay well in the future to extend the hand to them here.

As they walked toward the village center, the soldiers they passed stopped their work for a few seconds, acknowledging the prince and the general with proper bows. Lin noticed that the Prince seemed to get rigid with those interactions but no comment was made so she just decided to note it as an observation for now.

"Also, I merely want to assist in your mission, you don't need to share any information with me if you don't want to." Lin said as they arrived at her temporary office.

But now, as she said that, she found herself facing another challenge. Deciding which tea would be adequate for the duo; a hard task.
​

---

Iroh had grown accustomed to more reserved welcomes. Since his nephew's banishment, Fire Nation ports had become places of tension and hostility. In most ports there was no respect for them and they were only met with glares.

Chin Village stood apart from that pattern, and he was pleasantly surprised with the warm welcome at the southern peninsula port. They were respectful and kind, showing none of that pity or hostility they were getting used to.

Iroh had seen Commander Lin before, with her metal limbs it was hard to miss during her enrollment ceremony. It was still hard not to stare, something his nephew was not used to, but the commander didn't seem to mind. She really had ascended through the ranks quickly.

Lin moved through the settlement as if she owned the place, which was a bit arrogant, but the retired general could see in the eyes of the soldiers close by that they really admired the young girl in command.

Those same soldiers stopped whatever they were doing, just to acknowledge them and bow to the prince. They would then continue with their work normally, while civilians moved freely among them, carrying tools, supplies, and materials without fear. It was a sort of casual calm and respect for each other that felt like a breath of fresh air for Iroh.

He observed the rhythm carefully, noting how infrastructure was being built with the cooperation of both Fire Nation engineers and Earth Kingdom civilians. It was the sort of peace and cooperation he had dreamt they could achieve once the war was over.

He followed Lin into her office near the plaza. The office was simplistic in nature, with little decoration and everything set as practical as possible. She brought tea swiftly, and they sat beside a small table in the center of the room.

As he held his cup, steam rose with a familiar comfort that Iroh accepted with gratitude. It was a beautifully prepared tea, Lin was clearly knowledgeable in the art, although he would have preferred his favorite Jasmine tea instead of the traditional ginseng the commander had prepared for them.

"So… May I ask how your journey has been so far?" Lin asked.

Zuko stiffened immediately, his frustration surfacing as it often did these days. And Iroh couldn't even blame him, for many the search for the Avatar was just an excuse for the prince to be banished indefinitely.

Commander Lin didn't seem to notice, or simply ignored his nephew's glare. Iroh chose to speak then, Lin seemed to respect them enough to even offer some aid to them. It would be rude to be guarded here.

"Well, our travels began on the western air temple, the closest temple to the Fire Nation isles. The climb was harsh and unrewarding, its ruins only offer death these days." Iroh paused, and seeing as he had the commander's full attention, he continued.

"After not finding the answers we wanted, we traveled through the northern colonies on the west coast. It was a struggle to get the supplies we needed, but luckily my good friend Shinu helped us."

"Ah, Colonel Shinu. My unit trained with his archers a few years back, he is a competent leader." Lin commented while nodding.

Iroh was surprised someone would train with the famous Yuyan archers, especially firebenders. They were always so quick to dismiss nonbender abilities.

"He is also kind, and we could continue our journey, thanks to his help, to the south. For the past eighteen months we have been trying to find any clues to the avatar's whereabouts in the southern air temple isles and its surrounding areas. Some of the places up there we couldn't reach. The climb was too dangerous, but my nephew hasn't lost hope we can find a way. The problem is, our ship needed maintenance, supplies, and the crew a bit of rest from the long months at sea. We had to halt our attempts at it." Iroh said.

"Rest assured that your ship will be repaired fully and we will supply you with anything you need. Our dock will always be open in the future as well if you need to come back. Around seven hours to the north, if you don't lose sight of the coast, you will also find Ketu Harbor where you will find help as well. I believe Commander Zhao is in charge of that port at the moment, last I heard." Lin informed them.

"Zhao? Well, I guess he should be happy with the promotion. Thanks for the information, and we appreciate your help with our ship." commented Iroh. The truth was that he didn't think Zhao would be friendly with them, it was a good thing she mentioned it, now they knew they should avoid Ketu harbor.

"I may have a solution to your problem regarding the climb to the southern air temple. We have developed a vehicle capable of flying as high as any airbender could." Lin said.

"Really?!" exclaimed Zuko, suddenly standing up.

"Zuko, patience, I'm sure the commander will explain." Iroh said, calming him down.

He had watched his nephew chase hope blindly, and anything that gave him the slightest hint of hope made Iroh feel so sad for him. Zuko wanted to restore his honor and go back to the Fire Nation, not realizing that his father never intended for him to find the Avatar.

"It is as I said, we have a vehicle capable of flying with the help of a firebender. I will have my people prepare one of the gliders to give you a demonstration, you can wait here and finish your tea meanwhile." Lin said, saluting them and swiftly exiting the room.

The tea had warmed him enough, it was really the best they were treated in a while. He hoped his nephew at least gave them a few days to rest.

"What are your thoughts, Zuko?" Iroh asked.
​

---

Prince Zuko found himself in better spirits than he had expected the moment they committed to docking at the first port they saw with Fire Nation banners. True, it was a small dock and hugging a cliff which at the beginning brought suspicion.

He was glad the decision proved sound almost immediately; the reception lacked the hostility he had grown accustomed to, and instead they were met with the familiarity and order he was used to before his journey began.

The soldiers held respect for him and his uncle, and no one looked at him with pity or suspicion. For the first time in weeks, he felt as though he still occupied a place within his own nation.

"Err… do you know why she wears armor on her arms and legs?" asked Zuko.

"I believe she lost her arms and legs and those are not armor but rather limbs built for her." his uncle answered.

"Wow… uhm, well… I think we should hear her offer out, Uncle. It could be useful." Zuko said.

"I suppose so." Iroh answered.

For once, his path forward did not feel like a series of closed doors, and the sense that his luck might finally be turning was a happy thought.

Which of course had to be shattered straight away as soon as the commander returned.

"They are already getting everything ready. I forgot to ask, my prince. Do you want to see your sister? I can get Princess Azula brought to you here in two days time."

The words barely left her mouth before Zuko's temper surged, heat flaring instinctively in his chest as his thoughts raced.

"What?! Explain yourself, commander!" His voice cut across the small room. Commander Lin looked genuinely taken aback by the reaction.

"P-Princess Azula arrived in the south months ago, she is currently occupied with espionage and intelligence missions in Gaoling. Her ship remains close to the shoreline of that city just in case there is trouble. I assure you she can be retrieved easily." said Lin hurriedly.

Zuko felt a tangle of emotions tighten inside him. Relief followed immediately; Azula was not present, and he would not have to face her or her usual cruelty.

Jealousy came just as fast, because she was already contributing to the war effort, while he continued to roam the world chasing the avatar who no one had seen in a century. He did not want to see her.

"There is no need to send for my sister, and I want to depart as soon as my ship is repaired and resupplied."

Lin accepted the request, bowing slightly. "It will be done as fast as possible."

Zuko felt his uncle's hand on his shoulder before he could storm out. "We appreciate that, commander. Now, I seem to have finished my tea, you promised us a demonstration."

"Right away."

Lin led them out of the village toward a clearing near the cliffside. Zuko followed, trying to get thoughts of his sister away from his mind. As they approached what looked like a small street they saw the vehicle she was talking about, surrounded by a few engineers working on it hurriedly.

The machine rested on small wheels, it had huge metal wings on each side. It looked strange, and Zuko felt a ripple of doubt that this was going to work.

"This is a glider, it generates lift on its wings as it gains speed, powered by a firebender in the back."

She directed him to the forward position, placed Iroh in the center, and took the rear herself.

"I will be controlling the glider for this demonstration, but we can train one of your soldiers to man it, it really is not that hard once you get used to it."

A lieutenant handed them goggles to protect their eyes from the wind. Zuko climbed into his seat reluctantly, his gaze fixed on the open air beyond the cliff's edge as he tried to understand what he had agreed to.

"Is this safe?" Iroh asked.

"We have hundreds of hours of training on this glider, it is perfectly safe. But just in case, the glider can now land in water with pontoons, which are those blocks you see above the wheels; they float. In case of an emergency, you can jump out using firebending to land safely in the sea." Lin answered. "Ready?"

"Err, yes!" answered Zuko.

As Lin started firebending, the glider began to move, its speed increasing as it rolled toward the cliff through the narrow street. Zuko's heart pounded hard enough that he felt it in his throat, his grip tightening on the frame as the edge rushed toward them.

Instead of plunging downward, the glider lifted smoothly, wind roaring past as they climbed, the sensation unfamiliar and exhilarating all at once. The sea fell away beneath them, the coastline shrinking as altitude increased, and Zuko felt a rush of awe.

They climbed higher than he expected, the land below flattening into shapes and colors, and the air grew colder against his face. For a moment, all of his troubled thoughts stopped. He felt a sense of tranquility and excitement at the same time, up there where nothing could touch him.

"I imagine this is what flying on top of a dragon felt back then!" shouted his uncle.

They flew for a couple of minutes, gliding, occasionally turning to stay close to the cliffs and the sea.

"Alright, I'm going to lower us close to the dock!" shouted Lin in the back, the sound of the wind making it hard to hear.

The commander guided the descent, controlling the glider smoothly, circling back toward the docks. It really was a wonderful vehicle, the way it could maneuver in the air was astonishing.

"I'm going to land us close to your ship!" she said.

The glider responded as if alive, and a sense of vertigo sat on Zuko's stomach as they descended. Finally, the glider settled onto the water with surprising gentleness. Soldiers moved quickly to secure it with ropes to the wooden dock.

Zuko remained seated for a moment longer, breathing hard. Landing this thing was definitely scary. When he was finally helped to climb out, he saw that his Uncle had the same look on his face close to what he was feeling.
​

---

"I will have the glider ready for your departure, while I understand you won't have a strip of land to gather speed, you can tow the glider with your ship and gain speed in the water enough to lift from there." explained Lin. "We will add a few hooks so that you can pull it up to the side of your ship."

"Thank you, commander. That was exhilarating." replied the general.

She hoped to have given the prince and the retired general the respect they deserved on their mission. Lin didn't think they would find anything but her help would be remembered. If something happened to the royal family and Zuko was forced to return, he would remember her help, she was sure about it.

"Lieutenant Toma here will crash train someone from your crew, shouldn't take you longer than three days. You are in good hands." Lin said.

Still, the air around them had turned awkward once she had mentioned princess Azula, so she figured it was time for his men to handle them, and for her to go back.

"I will let you rest while my people work on your ship. Let me know if you need anything. I have to go back to work." Lin said.

"Don't worry about us, Lin. Thank you for the tea, it was delicious." replied Iroh.

With a deep bow and a salute, she left the docks back to the village. She would have to request her engineers to build one more glider, but they had the resources luckily. Her family had recently sent a shipment of supplies for them.

There was still a lot of work to do, Gaoling was not going to be taken by itself after all.​

 

[Lucernello]

Age: 17
Affiliation: Fire Nation Army.
Current Rank: Lieutenant Colonel (Battallion Commander)
Family: Renshi noble family. Lord Kaien (54), Lady Shyno(47), Heir Raizo(26).

Appearence:
Hair: White-burnt, bleached, Black.
Eye color: Golden.
Height: 5'6'' (168cm)
Weight: 299lbs (136kg)
*More than half of her body are replaced by metal parts.

Personality:
Goal/Motivation: Victory for her nation.
Likes: Strategic planning, combat.
Dislike: Politics & Religion.
Fears: Losing control.

Abilities:
* Firebending.
* Close-quarters weapons training.
* Marksman.
* Enhanced body parts.

Weaknesses:
* Heavy maintenance
* Affected by loud noises (PTSD)
* Difficult to heal when wounded.

 

[vickoFM]

Age: 17
Affiliation: Fire Nation Army.
Current Rank: Lieutenant Colonel (Battallion Commander)
Family: Renshi noble family. Lord Kaien (54), Lady Shyno(47), Heir Raizo(26).

Appearence:
Hair: White-burnt, bleached, Black.
Eye color: Golden.
Height: 5'6'' (168cm)
Weight: 299lbs (136kg)
*More than half of her body are replaced by metal parts.

Personality:
Goal/Motivation: Victory for her nation.
Likes: Strategic planning, combat.
Dislike: Politics & Religion.
Fears: Losing control.

Abilities:
* Firebending.
* Close-quarters weapons training.
* Marksman.
* Enhanced body parts.

Weaknesses:
* Heavy maintenance
* Affected by loud noises (PTSD)
* Difficult to heal when wounded.

Click to shrink...

Who's a little murder machine? You're yes you are

 

[BxHero]

I did not realize she was that heavy and she is damn tall for a seventeen year old especially a girl at that. If not for the metal bits weighing her down she would probably be like 5'8 or higher.

 

[Rotceh]

Awasome cap, and awasome image, ....I realy surpresed that Azula dont jump on Toph ahah

 

[Lucernello]

I did not realize she was that heavy and she is damn tall for a seventeen year old especially a girl at that. If not for the metal bits weighing her down she would probably be like 5'8 or higher.

Click to shrink...

She is very heavy. The way she is able to move fast enough for combat is by actually bending or similar to. To move her limbs she has to constantly cycle chi through them, so to move faster and not be weight down, she has to cycle more than usual and that energy helps her carry that added weight. Since she is doing this from early age, her chi reserves grew with her enough to do that. But I imagine she is at that limit where she cannot progress anymore unless she cuts some of that weight, which could happen if her engineers or the mechanist finds a way to help her with that. It is not in my plans yet, what do you think?

Also yes, she is tall and she would be taller if she never had that accident. I based her height on her brother who is 7'2. A tall family.

 

[Lucernello]

AN: Sorry about the delay, my family unexpectedly invited me to their vacations and they were too good to say no to. I had to prepare a lot of things for that. Anyway, enjoy the chapter.
​

---

98 A.G

Lin stood at the edge of the cliffside battery and let her gaze rest on the dark outline of Gaoling in the distance. The long rows of the buildings offered a nice view with the city lights scattered unevenly along the mountainside.

They had killed the scouts near the bay close to Gaoling that evening then landed all of the cannons from their ships to attack the city. They had moved without stopping once they had everything ready and closed in on the city from the southwest.

Now Lin was letting all of her men prepare everything. Behind her the cannoneer company moved with urgency, but making no mistakes, iron wheels creaking softly as cannons were aligned and elevation angles adjusted by hand.

She had spent the last days training with them extensively. Going over the physics behind how to calculate the trajectory of the shot, pacing their reload cycles, and drilling them until their movements became second nature to them.

The effort had cost her a lot more than she had expected, although she did her best not to show it to them. Adrenaline still coursed through her system each time she heard one of them fire. She could feel the heat lingering under her skin, and at the edge of her vision shapes appeared that did not belong to the landscape.

Sometimes she would see soldiers from her past life, sometimes she could hear shouts in Korean in the distance, but she could still remain focused and anchored in the present moment somehow, which was enough to do her duty.

She glanced at the men, and she could see they were nervous. Lin did not fault them for it, for they understood that within minutes their actions would reach beyond the mountain face and into the city below. Hundreds would die by their hands if the plan went ahead as expected.

Lin could see their hands fidgeting briefly before their training and discipline took hold of them again. Their breaths steadied, and each crew kept to their assigned task, loading shells, sealing chambers, and checking fuses with careful attention without uttering a word.

Lin had crafted a plan that would make Gaoling fall in one day. The opening bombardment would strike the mountain perimeter during the night. The resulting landslide and rockfalls would sow chaos on their defensive positions and scatter both soldiers and civilians into confusion.

Under cover of that chaos, her red company would be deployed into the same mountain, including her. At dawn, her messengers inside the city would deliver a single narrative, stating that the earthbender defenders had chosen to fight them on those mountains without regard for the people beneath them, placing blame squarely on the governor and the military command for the destruction that followed.

By the time the sun rose fully, Gaoling would already be surrounded and in disarray. With their morale plummeting to the ground, it would be easy to overwhelm them and take the city fast. And they could probably avoid taking heavy casualties this way.

Then Lin intended to present her forces as the only structure capable of restoring order. The city would be open to their occupation, because the alternative would appear worse, and resistance would collapse before it even began.

With the help of the intelligence unit, they had managed to map every defensive position, every escape route, and even how their supplies moved through the city. That unit would remain hidden within the Beifong estate, protected by Toph's cooperation, and positioned to assist once her army took control.

Lin walked the line one final time, her presence steadying the crews without a word. When she reached her position, she raised her hand, the motion small and deliberate, and her officers fixed their attention on her without hesitation.

She lowered her hand and gave the order in a voice that carried no doubts or hesitation.

"Fire."
​

---

Mayor Zu, Gaoling's governor, woke to the sound of stone tearing itself apart. The first impact jolted him upright, the floor beneath his bed shuddering as if the foundations of the statehouse had received the full force of an attack.

Before he could fully orient himself, another tremor followed, stronger and closer, dust shaking loose from the ceiling beams and drifting through the air in thin sheets.

"What is this… we don't get earthquakes in this region…" he mumbled.

He pulled on trousers with hurried movements as a third impact rolled through the city, the sound deep and prolonged as if rocks were being moved by dozens of earthbenders. At that moment, a guard entered his chambers in panic. His breath was uneven, and his eyes were wide in alarm.

"Mayor! Sections of the mountain are giving way, entire slopes are breaking loose and crashing down into the northern districts. There are streets buried under falling stone and some roofs crushed." He said hurriedly. "The guards present there are already struggling to hold the damage and stop the falling rocks."

"Direct every available earthbender to evacuate the northern district. Let's contain this, prioritize the residential quarters. We need to help them fast before they are trapped below stone." Zu ordered at once, while fastening his belt.

As the guard exited his house rapidly, Zu pushed outside into the night, where the cold air made him shiver. He ran toward the north district, in the distance he could see another landslide in the mountain walls. He paused his run to take a look at the surrounding ring of mountains that hugged Gaoling's city to the north. They all seemed alive at the same time.

Rock and stone poured downward in waves, boulders tearing free from high atop, and its slopes were splitting open as if struck repeatedly by an invisible force. Dust clouds rolled through the streets in the distance, choking the air and obscuring lantern light.

Then Zu began to notice a strange noise. It came in intervals, deep concussive booms echoing through the valley, followed by fresh collapses that traveled the same way as the recent landslide that had just happened. Zu felt a cold certainty settle into place as another sequence of impacts shook the ground.

This was not an earthquake or a natural occurrence. The Fire Nation was somehow involved. Their spies had not delivered a report in weeks, they had little hope they were still alive, and they were expecting an attack on the city soon, but not whatever this was.

He did not know how, only that this scale of destruction was not natural, and the booming sounds in the distance could be the new weapon they had heard rumors of. How enemy forces had reached the mountain tops without earthbending defied immediate understanding, and Zu forced himself not to dwell on it as he turned his attention back to the city below.

He caught the first runner he could find, gripping the man's shoulder firmly enough to cut through the panic in his expression.

"Soldier, get a grip! Go to your superior, command every district to pull guards and labor crews to the north of the city. Quickly now, we need to evacuate the civilians and contain this chaos!" Zu said. The runner nodded and bolted through the chaos.

Defensive posts would be thinned, but if they failed to manage the falling stone so many would die or lose their homes. Fear could spread quickly, he needed to get his commanders to bring order.

Zu saw more guards rushing into collapsing streets, civilians ran without direction, causing panic among his forces. Some were even clutching children and belongings as debris thundered down around them.

Zu finally found two of his commanders already barking orders.

"Mayor, this situation is out of control!" Colonel Moshi said.

"I agree, colonel. We need to stabilize and help the civilians get away from this." Zu replied.

"You heard the governor, direct everyone who is able to help, we need every earthbender here if possible." Moshi said.

The colonel quickly made a small roof and small room for them out of stone. "We will use this as a command point, let's bring order, people, without fear!"

Earthbenders worked until their movements slowed, sweat and dust streaking their faces as they struggled to hold slopes in place long enough for people to escape. Shouts echoed through the streets, commands colliding with screams.

Finally, after what seemed like the entire night, the landslides began to stop and the falling rocks quieted. There was still chaos, people going through the rubble and civilians crying after losing family or their houses.

An officer from the Omashu detachment reached their command post through the confusion, his armor was scarred, as if he had been hit by a rock.

"Mayor, there is enemy movement in the ridgelines. We saw silhouettes of what seemed to be Fire Nation soldiers that were not there before, high in the mountains. We should push immediately toward them and attack before they can bring the mountains down on us." he said.

Zu refused. "No, captain. If we go fight them up there, we will cause more destruction to fall down on the city. I don't know how they did what they did, but it seems it has stopped so far, let's focus on preparing the defense and helping civilians." He said, his voice firm despite the noise.

Whatever force the Fire Nation was using, it was aimed downward, and any attempt to contest the heights would draw further collapse onto Gaoling itself. Their priority had to remain the people still trapped below.

"Mayor! Control is breaking down in the adjacent districts. Civies' are ignoring evacuation routes and are pushing barricades in panic. Fights are also breaking out as we speak, people are ignoring the blockade on certain streets to try and reach their families living in the north district." A runner said.

Zu closed his eyes briefly, breathing through the dust and strain, knowing that this was escalating beyond their control too fast.

"Alright, order the guards to control the crowd, we need civilians out of the picture. Light signal fires to guide evacuees and concentrate more of our forces here to help bring order." Zu said.

Exhaustion would claim them before the night ended, yet they had no choice but to endure.

"It's going to be a long night, colonel."
​

---

With the arrival of morning, Lin watched her forces settle into their final positions as the city below remained fractured and unsteady. Some of their streets were choked with debris, and there were still structures partially collapsed. No doubt, earthbenders were scattered across the northern districts attempting to contain damage.

Smoke and dust still hung low over Gaoling, blurring distance and dulling sound, while movement within the walls remained disorganized. She had descended hours earlier, dropping into the mountainside under cover of darkness alongside most of the riflemen unit and the red company.

It had taken quite some time to drop everyone in using the gliders but they had not been attacked and the landslides that had occurred only left stable ground to land on. She looked around to her riflemen, getting ready and preparing their weapons.

They had trusted her parachutes without question, stepping into the void one by one despite lacking the advantage of firebending to correct a fall if something went wrong. Lin knew they would hold, she had known it from experience in her past life, but the men did not share that certainty.

She had them train over the past few weeks, and she appreciated their bravery to commit to it, overcoming their fears. Their willingness to carry their duty above all and their courage, was something Lin was willing to praise.

With everything aligned, the bulk of her army advanced from the southern plains, if they attacked quickly enough, the city would still be in chaos and there wouldn't be enough defenders to stop them from entering the city.

They had the task of forcing the defenders to split their attention while panic still dictated movement within the walls, then to take control of most of the city. Lin's position in the north, reinforced by the Red Company and the riflemen, would face the most resistance and heavy fighting as no doubt they had pulled most of their earthbenders to the north.

Still, they would be exhausted after working all night, the odds were heavily in their favor. She expected the city's defenses to collapse within hours. This way they would suffer fewer casualties than they would have suffered in a prolonged siege, and fewer than the city would have endured had the assault stretched into days.

Lin and her company began descending the mountain. Firebenders moved with her down the broken slopes, using controlled bursts to clear paths and keep pace, while the riflemen followed behind them.

The idea was for them to take position above the advancing line of firebenders, spreading out along prepared vantage points carved into the rock during the night. From there, they would have to rely on their aim, but the risk of friendly fire was minimized.

As the ruined edge of the city came into view, Lin raised her arm and released a single fireball into the air, its arc clear against the morning sky. The riflemen responded in unison, the first volley tearing through the haze and into the disorganized defensive line below.

As the noise dwarfed everything around them, Lin could see the confusion spreading as bodies fell to impacts they could not see, only hear and feel.

"Forward! Kill them all!" she screamed.

Earthbenders reacted late, walls rising unevenly as they tried to shield themselves and form a defensive line against the invading forces. Lin closed the distance at once, while her company followed behind her.

With a roar, she punched hard at her closest enemy, fire breaking from her strikes as she shattered newly formed barriers and forced defenders backward. Stone erupted where her attacks landed, fragments scattering across their lines, already layered with rubble.

The Red Company followed her lead, advancing in disciplined formation, cutting down resistance methodically. As they continued to eliminate every threat, more earthbenders tried desperately to kill them, throwing boulders and earth spikes, which were easy to avoid or break.

The defenders struggled to match their pace. They began retreating as the company continued to advance, so far they hadn't suffered any casualties. The riflemen continued to shoot above their heads and Lin was happy their aim was impeccable.

Civilians were absent from the immediate engagement zone, pushed deeper into the city by the night's destruction, and Lin used that to her advantage, closing to engage at full power and letting her chi free to destroy her opponents.

It was all coming down so quickly that by the time Lin looked up, she could see they had already pushed deep enough that the buildings and streets had no rubble from the night before and her riflemen had to advance in order to catch up.

Earth Kingdom forces pulled back toward the city center, abandoning positions as her unit advanced, and through the gaps between collapsing defenses she could see the southern advance pushing inward, Fire Nation banners cresting over the streets.

Finally, she could see civilians escaping or closing the doors of their home as well. The plan was unfolding as intended, and soon the Earth Kingdom would lose their city. Gaoling was ready to fall.

"Captain, set a perimeter, and leave a few of our reserves here, we are not sure if there are defenders hiding inside these buildings, have everyone ready for anything." Lin said to Zhou.

"Yes, ma'am!" he replied.

"Also, let them know that if civilians ask for help, we should help them, so long as it isn't suspicious and they are careful not to fall into a trap." Lin clarified.

"You got it, commander." Zhou said.

"Everyone else, let's move! We continue to push! For the Fire Nation! AK!"
​

---

Azula and her unit exited their hideout in the Beifong manor. The plan was to take control of the manor by using Toph as a hostage. The blind earthbender didn't like to play victim but her parents believed she was very weak, which was very amusing to the princess.

She was about to knock on the door of Toph's room when the blind girl opened the door.

"Hey princess platypus." she said, smirking.

Azula scowled. "I shouldn't have made that joke."

"Relaaax, princess. I'm ready, let's meet the rest of my family and my servants." Toph said.

They navigated the huge manor corridors. They encountered the first state guards and azula put a hand on Toph's shoulders.

"If anyone dares to attack, she dies." Azula said, confident.

She liked the look of anger in their faces as they clenched their fist. She knew they wouldn't risk it. As the unit moved to restrain them with metal shackles the princess smiled. Lin's plan was working perfectly.

Toph's parents were shocked to see Fire Nation soldiers in their house, more so with their daughter and they were begging before they even exchanged any words between them.

Her unit started locking servants in their service rooms and using shackles to restrain the guards. When they were done, they met at the main hall to plan when to join the fighting outside. But at that moment a loud bang echoed through the estate.

"Traitors! You have nowhere to escape! Come out or die." someone shouted outside.

Azula smirked as her heart began beating faster. "It seems… the battle will join us instead. How fun."
​

---

Lin held position near a market street that was now completely destroyed. The stalls were overturned and their stone counters were fractured where they had faced resistance. The smell of dust and smoke was still clinging to the air as her unit secured the surrounding blocks.

Movement came in short bursts now, defenders retreating deeper into the city while her forces consolidated control street by street. She was reviewing the next steps in her head when a corporal runner reached her.

"Commander! An emergency fire hawk just got to us, there is an urgent message from the Intelligence unit. The Beifong estate is under attack! Earthbenders were attempting to force entry shouting accusations of treason." he said.

They must have planted spies on the noble family and discovered their unit, or someone had seen them. Lin hoped they managed to talk them down, or at least, that they weren't enough of them to be a threat. Still, there was still time to catch up from where she was.

"Captain Zhou, lieutenant Toma, you are coming with me, we need to go at full speed and ignore everything else, the intelligence unit and by extension our nation's princess is under attack. The rest of you continue as planned." Lin said.

"Commander, it is dangerous for you three alone to go!" Lieutenant Aiku complained.

"More of us will slow us down, continue the attack as planned, Lieutenant. Let's move!" Lin replied.

Within seconds they were moving, all three of them using firebending in urgent bursts to propel them forward along the broken streets. They would spend all of their chi if they wanted to fly higher, so they used just enough to cut distance rapidly.

Lin navigated without slowing, she was well aware of Gaoling's streets having studied the maps extensively. She anticipated every turn, avoiding every obstruction in her path and her men followed close. They ignored civilians and scattered defenders as they crossed paths, their speed fast enough that no one could stop them.

Lin could hear the sound of fighting, stone and walls rising and falling as earthbenders continued resisting, but she ignored them as well. In only a few minutes they arrived at the periphery of the Beifong estate.

As they entered the outer gardens, the noise became less chaotic than expected. Bodies lay among the hedges and walkways, earthbender guards from the city forces, some with burns, others with boulders on top of them. The manor itself still stood intact.

Lin moved through the entrance without pausing, Zhou and Toma flanking her on guard. As they entered the main hall Lin was hopeful as she saw two members of her intelligence still standing. They looked exhausted but with determination in their eyes. They were facing off against three remaining earthbenders blocking the corridor ahead.

As Lin took the entire picture, she saw a few of her soldiers lay scattered across the polished stone floor, some clearly dead, and a few barely conscious, surrounded by fallen Earth Kingdom soldiers whose numbers far exceeded theirs.

Lin quickly pulled her pistol from her leg and fired once at the nearest earthbender, who collapsed immediately as the shot pierced his skull. She closed the remaining distance without breaking stride, knife already in hand, striking one of the stunned attackers before he could react. Zhou surged past her, fire catching along his arms as he overwhelmed the last defender, landing a killing blow.

Lin turned to the surviving operatives. "Men, give me a report, where is the princess? What happened here?" Lin said.

"Ma'am. Princess Azula and the young Beifong moved deeper in the manor. They were initially defending the hall with us, but we didn't know if more were coming. We suggested for them to hide in case we were overwhelmed. The princess and the young earthbender refused but there were civilians as well, and they were eventually convinced to go with them and act as a last line of defense." one of them said.

"We have a code word just in case. They are not in danger, we didn't let anyone through." the other said.

"Good. Lead the Captain and the Lieutenant to them, then we will make our exit toward our own lines if we need to, I will see if I can help the ones that are still alive here and if someone else comes in I will deal with them." Lin said, already moving to check on the fallen soldiers.

As they moved away, Lin surveyed the hall once more. It had been a tough fight, that much was clear. She saw a slight movement on the corner of her vision and she approached quickly. One of her soldiers lay against a shattered pillar, breathing unevenly, an earth spike driven clean through his abdomen. His armor was torn and blood was pooling beneath him.

She recognized him instantly, he was Sergeant Jiro; one of Captain Aiku's men. Lin knelt beside him, ignoring the noise beginning to return as allied forces had already caught up to the estate and they were fighting against the defenders close by.

She took a look at the fallen sergeant. He was still alive though she knew there was nothing she could do for him anymore. His breathing was shallow, irregular, each breath an effort that pulled a faint sound from his throat. His eyes fluttered open as she reached him.

"Commander… I am… I'm s-scared." he said.

"I know, sergeant. But you have nothing to be afraid of." Lin said, taking his hand with her metal ones gently.

"I'm going to tell you a secret, Jiro. Something I haven't shared with anyone. I know there is nothing to be afraid of, because this is not my first life. I died once already." Lin said.

Jiro's eyes widened and his breathing was still ragged but Lin could see she had his full attention now and that he didn't even doubt what she was saying.

"I used to serve another nation and I did my duty. I fell in battle, I remember the cold of my final moments. I remember the bodies of my fallen comrades all around me. And when I thought life was over for me, I was rewarded with a new purpose. A new beginning."

"Your path doesn't end here, Jiro. Your duty and honor will continue to your next adventure. The spirits will not abandon soldiers who fought until the end. Whatever comes next for you now, Jiro, I'm sure it will be a life full of resolve and honor."

Jiro listened, tears gathering in his eyes, and despite the pain etched across his face, he smiled.

"Thank you… C-commander. I only regret… t-that I won't be there to see you win the war for us… To see you bring v-victory to our nation. I-I… wanted to follow you… until the end."

With visible effort, he lifted his other arm not held by Lin and crossed it over his chest, his breathing slowing further as he held the gesture.

Footsteps echoed behind her as Zhou and Toma returned with the princess and the others in tow, their voices rising briefly until they saw the scene before them. Lin did not turn to them, however, her attention remained fixed on Jiro as tears slid down his temples and he closed his eyes.

"For the Fire Nation." he murmured.

His breath left him, and finally his body relaxed for the last time. Lin remained kneeling for a moment longer, silently mourning the loss. Then she rose to her feet to greet the rest of her unit and the Beifong family.

"I am Commander Lin of the Red Battalion. You have my apologies. We didn't intend to bring death to your doorstep." Lin said, bowing to the Beifong patriarch.

"We will surrender, Commander Lin." he replied.

"There is no need for that, we will-"

As Lin was about to talk about their relationship with their daughter Toph, the doors opened yet again and Captain Aiku, along with more of her men, saluted her.

"We have taken the city, Ma'am, we are moving to mop-up operations." he informed.
​

---

Negotiating with the Beifong family was awkward and Toph's parents put up a lot of resistance, which she had to defuse by demonstrating that she was capable of defending herself in a spar against her.

At first they believed she had been manipulated and brainwashed, something that they discarded when they almost had a heart attack after Toph called the crown princess of the Fire Nation "Princess platypus" without any repercussion.

Lin didn't want the Beifong family as their enemy. Who knew if they had hidden assets they could use to track them down and make problems for them, all because they thought they had kidnapped their daughter.

Once it was clear that Toph was passionate about traveling with them from now on and becoming the best earthbender in the world, and that she was accepted by the Fire Nation as one of their own, her parents relented.

With Gaoling now under their control, Lin allowed herself to relax for a moment. She would give her men a few days to rest and consolidate their presence. Then they could bring military police reserves to preserve the peace in the city and bring her unit back to Chin village and prepare a takeover of Omashu.

War didn't wait for anyone, after all.​

 

[Rotceh]

Well Ang lost his earth Master....sooo..this is bad ( for him )

Good work I love this fic

 

[Lucernello]

Well Ang lost his earth Master....sooo..this is bad ( for him )

Good work I love this fic

Click to shrink...

Hehe, I have already hinted at who will be Aang's master in the future