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Azula pushed open the heavy iron door, her golden eyes scanning the cell. The sight that greeted her made her pause - Mai and Ty Lee were bound with earthen restraints, looking decidedly worse for wear.
"Azula!" Ty Lee's voice cracked with genuine relief, her usually bright eyes now rimmed with exhaustion. "I've never been so happy to see anyone in my life!"
"Clearly," Azula drawled, taking in the thick stone cuffs around their wrists and ankles. Her gaze shifted to Mai, who sat unnaturally still, her expression even blanker than usual - if that was possible.
"I wasn't about to let those peasants keep my personal entertainment," Azula stated, moving into the cell with calculated steps. "The Dai Li are becoming far too presumptuous for their own good."
Ty Lee's face split into a brilliant smile, despite her disheveled appearance. "I knew it! I knew you cared about us! This is just like that time at the carnaval when you-"
"Another word," Azula cut in sharply, raising two fingers crackling with blue electricity, "and I'll leave you here to contemplate the merits of silence."
"You wouldn't," Ty Lee said with absolute certainty, still beaming as Azula directed precise bolts of lightning at her restraints, shattering them. "We're friends - real friends! You're just trying to maintain your scary image, but I can see right through it!"
Azula let out a groan that echoed off the stone walls. "Ty Lee, I swear by Agni himself-"
"Your aura is actually showing hints of pink right now," Ty Lee continued cheerfully, rubbing her freed wrists. "That means you're feeling affectionate!"
"I will put you back in those cuffs myself."
"No, you won't! You came to rescue us!"
Azula turned to Mai's restraints, muttering under her breath about insufferable optimists and the merits of solitary confinement. The stone crumbled under her precise lightning strikes, but Mai remained motionless, her eyes fixed on some distant point.
"Mai?" Azula frowned, studying her usually stoic friend's face. "I know you pride yourself on being a human statue, but this is excessive even for you." She snapped her fingers in front of Mai's face. "Are you dead? Because if you are, I went to all this trouble for nothing."
Ty Lee's expression fell slightly. "They tried to brainwash us both. Their hypnosis technique didn't work on me because my chi is too..." she wiggled her fingers expressively, "flowy. But Mai..."
"They actually managed to hypnotize Mai?" Azula's eyebrows rose with genuine surprise. "I didn't think there was enough personality there to hypnotize."
"Azula!" Ty Lee scolded, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice. "That's mean! And besides, Mai has lots of personality. She just... keeps it very, very, very deep inside. Like, really deep. So deep you need to dig through layers and layers of sighs and eye rolls to find it."
"Fascinating," Azula deadpanned, waving her hand in front of Mai's unchanged expression. "And how exactly do we fix this? I can't have her walking around like a puppet - that's my job."
"Well," Ty Lee began, adopting what Azula recognized as her 'lecture pose', "the Dai Li's technique works by blocking certain chi points in the brain. It's actually quite similar to my chi blocking, except they use earthbending to create tiny pressure points that-"
"Ty Lee."
"Yes?"
"The solution. Now."
"Oh! Right!" Ty Lee bounced on her toes. "I think I can unblock her chi points, but it might take a few tries. And she might be a bit... different for a while."
Azula pinched the bridge of her nose. "Different how?"
"Well, when chi points get unblocked, sometimes people get very... emotional? Like, very emotional. Remember that time at the circus when I accidentally hit that clown's chi point and he spent three hours telling everyone about his pet turtle-duck?"
"Wonderful," Azula muttered. "So we might end up with Mai experiencing actual feelings. That should be horrifying for everyone involved."
Ty Lee moved behind Mai, her fingers hovering over specific points on their friend's neck and head. "It's kind of sweet how worried you are about her."
"I am not worried. I am concerned about the tactical disadvantage of having a teammate who's either catatonic or potentially crying about turtle-ducks."
"Sure, sure," Ty Lee nodded sagely. "That's why your aura is swirling with worried purple right now."
"Ty Lee, I swear by all the spirits-"
"Ready?" Ty Lee interrupted cheerfully. "This might be a bit shocking. And Mai might actually smile."
"Now that would be truly terrifying," Azula commented, watching as Ty Lee's fingers began their precise work. "Though I suppose it couldn't be worse than that time Zuko tried to tell jokes at the royal banquet."
"Oh! I remember that!" Ty Lee giggled, her hands still moving in complex patterns. "Wasn't that when he tried to make a pun about hot leaf juice and your father almost banished him."
"Father actually considered it a worse offense." A small smirk played at the corner of Azula's mouth.
Ty Lee's fingers suddenly pressed hard against several points on Mai's neck and head in rapid succession. For a moment, nothing happened. Then Mai's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.
"If she starts talking about turtle-ducks," Azula warned, "I'm leaving both of you here."
"No, you won't," Ty Lee sang, still focused on Mai. "Because you're our friend and you love us!"
"I am seriously reconsidering my life choices right now."
Mai suddenly blinked rapidly, her usual awareness returning to her eyes. She looked between Azula and Ty Lee, then at the broken restraints around her, and finally said in her characteristic monotone: "I hate everything about this situation."
"Mai!" Ty Lee threw her arms around their friend. "You're back to your wonderfully gloomy self!"
"She sounds exactly the same," Azula observed. "How do we know it worked?"
"Because," Mai said dryly, "I now have the unfortunate awareness that I've been sitting in a grimy cell for hours, my hair is a mess, and I'm being hugged."
Azula's lips twitched. "Well, at least we won't have to deal with any emotional outbursts."
"Speaking of emotional outbursts," Ty Lee released Mai and turned to Azula with a bright smile, "should we talk about how you came to rescue us because we're your best friends in the whole world?"
"I came because finding competent help is irritatingly difficult," Azula corrected smoothly. "Now, if we're done with this touching reunion, we have work to do."
"You love us," Ty Lee insisted as they made their way out of the cell.
"I tolerate you slightly more than most people."
"That's Azula-speak for 'you're my best friends forever!'" Ty Lee translated cheerfully.
Mai sighed heavily. "Can the Dai Li please hypnotize me again?"
The underground prison was a labyrinth of corridors, with green crystal formations providing a glow that cast shadows on the stone walls. The air was thick with moisture, and their footsteps echoed off the curved ceiling as they navigated through the maze-like structure.
"Left, then right, then... wait." Azula paused at an intersection, her eyes narrowing as she studied the pathways. The tunnels all looked identical, with their polished stone walls and perfectly curved archways.
Ty Lee cartwheel-flipped down one corridor, then another, before landing gracefully beside them. "Um, Azula? Is it just me, or is this place weirdly empty?" She glanced around, her braid swinging. "Not that I'm complaining about not fighting anyone, but... where are all the guards?"
"Now that you mention it," Mai drawled, absently checking her sleeve for hidden knives, "I haven't seen a single unconscious body. Usually, when Azula 'clears a path,' there's more... evidence."
A small, unsettling smile curved Azula's lips, her golden eyes gleaming in the crystal light. "Oh, they're quite occupied at the moment. Naruto is making sure of that."
Both Mai and Ty Lee stopped dead in their tracks, exchanging glances. Ty Lee's eyes widened with interest, while Mai's eyebrow raised a fraction of an inch - her equivalent of extreme surprise.
"Naruto?" Ty Lee's voice took on a teasing lilt. "You mean the same Naruto that makes you actually smile? Like, real smiles, not your 'I'm-about-to-destroy-someone's-life' smiles?"
"I do not smile about him," Azula snapped, but there was a slight change in her tone that both her friends caught immediately. "He's simply proving useful as a distraction."
"Your aura gets all sparkly when you talk about him," Ty Lee observed, doing a handstand as they walked. "It's like little fireworks of pink and gold!"
"Ty Lee, I will leave you in the next cell we pass."
Mai interrupted before Ty Lee could continue her aura reading. "Is he working for us now? Because last I checked, he was with the Avatar's group."
"He still is," Azula confirmed, leading them down another corridor. The walls here were lined with empty cells, their doors hanging open. "He's helping the Avatar rescue the Earth King while the Dai Li try unsuccessfully to stop them."
"Unsuccessfully?" Mai's monotone carried a hint of curiosity. "The Dai Li are elite earthbenders."
"And he's..." Azula paused, seeming to search for the right words. "Let's just say he's unique."
"Should we try to capture the Avatar?" Mai asked, her fingers trailing over her hidden weapons. "Or at least attempt to kill him while he's distracted?"
Azula's pace slowed as she considered the suggestion. The strategic part of her mind was clearly weighing the advantages of such an opportunity. However, before she could respond, the entire structure around them shuddered violently.
Dust and small rocks rained down from the ceiling as a tremendous boom echoed through the tunnels. Long cracks began spreading across the ceiling like spider-webs.
"What was that?" Ty Lee asked, flipping back to her feet as another tremor shook the ground.
"That," Azula said with what almost sounded like admiration, "would be Naruto." She watched as larger chunks of rock began falling. "And that's our cue to leave. NOW!"
They sprinted down the corridor as the structure groaned around them. Mai launched several knives at falling debris, deflecting rocks that threatened to hit them. Ty Lee acrobatically dodged between the falling stones, while Azula blasted larger obstacles with precise bolts of blue fire.
"Left here!" Azula commanded, leading them down a wider tunnel. "The main entrance should be- DUCK!"
A massive section of ceiling collapsed just ahead of them. Azula's lightning crackled through the air, shattering the largest pieces into manageable chunks that they could dodge around.
"I thought you said he was helping the Avatar," Mai called out as they ran, "not bringing down the entire underground complex!"
"With him, it's usually both," Azula replied, and there was definitely a note of amusement in her voice now.
Another explosion rocked the tunnel, this one closer and more intense. The shock wave sent them stumbling, and the air filled with dust and debris.
"The entrance is just ahead," Azula shouted over the rumbling. "Through that archway!"
"Great!" Ty Lee called back cheerfully, despite the chaos. "And Azula? When we get out of here, you're definitely telling us more about this Naruto person who makes your aura so pretty!"
"I will personally throw you back into this collapsing tunnel."
"No, you won't! You like us too much!"
"Mai," Azula said as they sprinted toward the exit, "please remind me why I rescued you both?"
"Because we're the only people who put up with you?" Mai suggested dryly, even as she helped Ty Lee dodge a falling crystal formation.
The tunnel behind them was now completely caving in, a cascade of collapse following their path. The entrance was visible ahead - a rectangle of dimming daylight that promised escape from the crumbling underground prison.
"Almost there!" Ty Lee announced unnecessarily, performing a series of handsprings to avoid the debris.
"We can see that," Mai deadpanned, throwing more knives to clear their path of falling rocks.
Just as they reached the entrance, another massive explosion shook the entire complex. The force of it propelled them the last few feet, sending them tumbling out into the open air of Ba Sing Se.
They rolled to their feet immediately, turning to watch as the entrance collapsed behind them in a cloud of dust and debris. The ground continued to shake beneath their feet, and in the distance, they could see flashes of light and hear the sounds of battle.
"Well," Ty Lee said brightly, dusting off her clothes, "that was exciting! And now that we're safe..." She turned to Azula with a mischievous grin. "About Naruto..."
"One more word about him, and I'll tell him about that shrine you made to my brother when we were twelve."
"You wouldn't!"
"Try me."
Mai sighed heavily, watching the ongoing destruction in the distance. "I should have stayed hypnotized."
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across Lake Laogai's surface, its waters unnaturally still despite the chaos that had occurred beneath it. Steam rose from various cracks in the ground where the underground facility had collapsed.
Ty Lee and Mai were bent over, hands on their knees, catching their breath. Azula stood straight-backed, though a slight tremor in her hands betrayed her fatigue - something she'd rather die than admit.
"That was fun!" Ty Lee exclaimed between breaths, her eternal optimism intact. "We should do more prison breaks together!" Her eyes wandered to the peaceful lake, but something in the distance caught her attention. She squinted, tilting her head. "Um... guys? Is the Earth King's palace supposed to look like that?"
Mai and Azula turned toward the direction of her gaze, but the view was partially obscured by the hill above the now-destroyed underground complex.
"I can't see anything from here," Mai said flatly, though there was an undertone of curiosity in her voice.
"Then let's get a better view," Azula decided, already striding toward the hill's base. The ground was still unstable, small pebbles and rocks sliding under their feet as they climbed.
As they reached the summit, the full view of Ba Sing Se spread out before them. The massive outer walls stood, the sprawling city stretched toward the horizon - but the Earth King's palace, the crown jewel of Ba Sing Se, was... different.
"Oh... wow," Ty Lee breathed, her grey eyes wide as saucers.
Mai's usually impassive face showed genuine shock, her mouth slightly open. "That's... unexpected."
Even Azula couldn't hide her astonishment. "Well," she said after a moment, "he certainly has a flair for the dramatic."
The palace, was now partially in ruins. The right wing still stood proudly, its green-tiled roofs glinting in the sunlight, but the left side had been reduced to elaborate rubble. However, that wasn't what had captured their attention.
Rising from the destruction, twisting toward the sky like, was a tree of impossible proportions. Its trunk was wider than the palace towers, its bark a deep rich brown with swirling patterns that seemed to pulse with energy. The branches spread out like a vast canopy.
"Three hundred meters at least," Azula estimated, her tactical mind automatically analyzing what she was seeing. "The trunk alone must be fifty meters in diameter."
"I knew he could do the whole... wood thing," Mai said, gesturing vaguely at the colossal tree, "but this is ridiculous. What was he fighting that required... that?"
"His chakra must be incredible right now!" Ty Lee exclaimed, bouncing on her toes. "I can almost feel it from here! It's like... like..."
"Like a sun decided to take root and grow leaves?" Mai suggested dryly.
"Exactly!"
Azula's eyes narrowed as she studied the distant scene. Small explosions still occasionally lit up around the base of the tree, and she could see what looked like figures moving among the branches. "The Dai Li are still engaging them," she observed. "Though I imagine they're regretting that decision right about now."
"You know," Ty Lee said thoughtfully, "when you mentioned he was 'unique,' I was thinking more along the lines of 'good at fighting' or 'has interesting hair.' Not 'can casually grow trees that make the outer wall look short.'"
"The hair is also interesting," Azula muttered, then immediately regretted it as Ty Lee's face lit up with delight.
"Oh? Do tell us more about his interesting hair, Azula!"
"I will feed you to that tree."
"Can it eat people?" Mai asked, sounding mildly interested. "Because that might actually make this day more entertaining."
Another explosion rocked the distant palace grounds, and they watched as something - or someone - went flying through the air, trailing green robes.
"There goes another Dai Li agent," Mai commented. "I'm counting that as the twelfth one I've seen thrown."
"Thirteen," Azula corrected automatically. "You missed one that went through the third-floor window."
"Are we sure we shouldn't help?" Ty Lee asked, watching as more figures in dark green were sent airborne. "You said you wanted to side with the Dai Li and use them..."
"The Dai Li are tools, and they did capture the two of you," Azula said dismissively, "and currently, they're failing spectacularly at their job. Besides..." A small, almost predatory smile crossed her face. "This is much more entertaining."
As if to emphasize her point, a section of the palace wall suddenly exploded outward, and they could see multiple orange figures.
"How many of them can he take by himself?" Mai wondered aloud, watching the chaos.
"I stopped counting at twenty," Azula replied, then added quickly as Ty Lee opened her mouth, "And no, that does not mean I was watching him specifically."
"Of course not," Ty Lee agreed with a knowing smile. "Just like you're not impressed by his giant tree or his fighting skills or his interesting hair..."
"Mai, how attached are you to Ty Lee's continued existence?"
"Honestly? It varies by the hour."
The massive tree suddenly shuddered, its leaves rustling with a sound like distant thunder. New branches burst forth from its trunk, sweeping across the palace grounds like wooden waves. They could see the tiny figures of Dai Li agents scattering like ants.
"Well," Mai said after a moment, "I suppose this explains why you've been in such a good mood lately, Azula. Having someone who can literally reshape landscapes with a thought on your radar must be exciting."
"I have not been in a good mood," Azula protested, though her eyes remained fixed on the distant battle.
"Please," Ty Lee scoffed. "Your aura hasn't been this bright since... well, ever! Every time someone mentions him, you get all sparkly and-"
"I do not get 'sparkly,'" Azula interrupted, her voice dangerous. "I am the Crown Princess of the Fire Nation. I do not sparkle."
"Oh look," Mai cut in before Ty Lee could respond, "more flying Dai Li agents. I think that last one might have broken the height record."
They watched in silence for a moment as more agents were sent soaring through the air, the giant tree continuing to grow and shift.
"So," Ty Lee said finally, her voice innocent, "when are you going to talk to him?"
"I am not having this conversation."
"Your aura just got brighter!"
"I am leaving both of you here."
"No, you won't," Ty Lee sang. "You like us too much, and besides, who else would help you plan your future dates?"
The temperature around Azula suddenly rose several degrees. "Mai, help me throw her in the lake."
"Sorry," Mai replied, not sounding sorry at all, "I'm too busy watching the show. I think that last branch just spelled out 'surrender' in Earth Kingdom characters."
Later
The setting sun painted Ba Sing Se in shades of amber and gold, casting long shadows across the scarred landscape where the battle had taken place. Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee were perched atop a partially collapsed building, hidden from view but with a perfect vantage point of the unfolding drama below.
They watched as Naruto turned his back on the Avatar's group, his shoulders rigid with tension. The blind earthbender - Toph - hesitated only briefly before hurrying after him, reaching for his hand. Their fingers intertwined naturally.
"Aww, they're cute together," Ty Lee whispered, shooting a sidelong glance at Azula. "Don't you think they're cute together, Azula?"
"I think they're leaving the Avatar vulnerable," Azula replied coldly, though her eyes lingered on the departing couple longer than necessary.
"Mhm," Ty Lee hummed knowingly. "That's definitely what you're focusing on. Not how she's holding his hand, or how he automatically adjusted his pace for her, or how-"
"Ty Lee," Azula cut in, her voice carrying a warning edge, "if you'd like to keep your tongue, I suggest you stop using it."
"The Avatar does look pretty shaken," Mai observed, mercifully changing the subject. "Whatever happened between them must have been serious. He's actually trembling."
Indeed, even from their distance, they could see how the young Avatar's shoulders shook, his staff gripped so tightly his knuckles were white. The Water Tribe siblings flanked him protectively.
"We should strike now," Mai suggested, her fingers already dancing over her hidden weapons. "While they're divided and distracted."
Before Azula could respond, Ty Lee gasped softly. "Wait - look who just showed up."
Two figures emerged from a nearby street. Even in the dying light, the scar on Zuko's face was unmistakable.
"Well, well," Azula murmured. "Dear Uncle and Zuzu have decided to make an appearance."
They watched as Iroh and Zuko approached the Avatar's group. Though too far to hear the conversation, the body language was clear - this wasn't a confrontation but a discussion.
"Should we attack?" Mai asked, her voice carefully neutral at the sight of Zuko. "We might still be able to defeat them."
Azula's golden eyes narrowed as she studied the scene, particularly focusing on her uncle. "No," she said finally. "We're leaving."
"Since when do you back down from a fight?" Mai questioned, surprise bleeding into her usually monotone voice. "Are you afraid of the Avatar?"
Azula whirled on her friend, blue flames briefly dancing at her fingertips. "Afraid? Of that child?" She laughed, but there was no humor in it. "The Avatar is barely worth considering. But Uncle..." She turned back to watch the distant group. "Uncle Iroh is another matter entirely."
"But he's so... jolly," Ty Lee said, confusion evident in her voice. "All he ever does is drink tea and tell jokes."
"That's exactly what he wants people to think," Azula replied, her voice uncharacteristically serious. "The Dragon of the West earned his title long before he became the tea-loving fool he pretends to be. If he decides to show his true strength..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Let's just say I prefer fights I know I can win."
"I've never heard you admit someone might be stronger than you," Mai observed.
"I'm not admitting anything," Azula snapped. "I'm making a tactical decision. Besides..." A small, calculating smile curved her lips. "I have a much more interesting target in mind."
"Oh?" Ty Lee perked up. "Would this target happen to be tall, blonde, and capable of growing forests with a thought?"
"He's alone now," Azula continued, ignoring Ty Lee's knowing grin. "Well, mostly alone. The blind girl might be problematic, but she's not invincible."
"Are we going to fight them?" Mai asked, already checking her weapons.
"No," Azula replied, watching as Naruto and Toph disappeared around a distant corner. "We're going to follow them. I want to know more about what happened with the Avatar, and why they separated."
"Sure, that's the only reason," Ty Lee whispered to Mai, who actually cracked a small smile.
"I can still throw you both off this building," Azula reminded them, already moving to follow her target. "Now come on, before we lose sight of them."
They moved silently across the rooftops, maintaining their distance but keeping the couple in view. Azula's eyes never left Naruto's form, studying his movements, the way he carried himself, the subtle protective stance he took whenever they passed other people.
"His aura's different now," Ty Lee observed quietly. "It's still incredibly bright, but there's something... darker around the edges. Whatever happened with the Avatar really affected him."
"Good," Azula murmured. "That means he might be more... receptive to alternative alliances."
"Is that what we're calling it now?" Mai deadpanned.
"One more word from either of you about this, and I will personally ensure you spend the rest of this mission gagged and bound."
"Kinky," Ty Lee whispered to Mai, just loud enough for Azula to hear.
The temperature around them spiked dangerously, but before Azula could make good on her threats, Naruto and Toph stopped in a small courtyard. The blind earthbender said something that made him chuckle, but the frown on his face remained still - and Azula's fingers tightened on the stone ledge she was gripping.
"Oh, you've got it bad," Ty Lee sang under her breath.
"Mai," Azula said sweetly, "how would you feel about being promoted to my only friend?"
"Sounds like too much responsibility," Mai replied dryly. "Besides, who else would point out when you're obviously jealous?"
"I am not-" Azula started, then caught herself. "We are here for strategic purposes only. That man down there has power that could reshape the entire war. Understanding him is crucial to our success."
"Understanding him, or understanding how his lips might taste?" Ty Lee suggested innocently.
The stone under Azula's hands began to smoke. "I am going to murder both of you in your sleep."
"No, you won't," Mai said confidently. "You need us to help plan your eventual confession of love."
"That's it." Azula stood abruptly. "You two stay here and actually do something useful like gathering intelligence. I'm going to do some... reconnaissance."
"Is that what we're calling stalking now?" Ty Lee called after her retreating form, but quietly enough that only Mai could hear.
The two friends watched as their princess moved silently across the rooftops, following Naruto and Toph with single-minded focus.
"Ten gold pieces says she talks to him before the week is out," Ty Lee offered.
"Twenty says she tries to fight him first," Mai countered.
"Deal."
Fire Nation
The throne room was bathed in an eerie crimson glow, shadows dancing across the ornate pillars as flames rose and fell with Firelord Ozai's steady breathing. The war council knelt before him, maps and tactical scrolls spread across the low table between them.
General Bujing traced a line around Ba Sing Se's outer wall on the map. "If we cut off their supply lines here, here, and here, the city will eventually-"
"Ba Sing Se's agricultural ring is vast enough to feed its population indefinitely," General Shinu interrupted, his weathered face creased with frustration. "We've discussed this strategy before. The city is self-sufficient."
Admiral Chan leaned forward, his gold-trimmed armor gleaming in the firelight. "Perhaps we should focus our attention on the Northern Water Tribe. Their waterbenders still pose a significant threat to our naval operations."
"The comet approaches," another general added. "With its power, we could breach those walls like they were made of paper."
The flames before Ozai's throne flickered dangerously, but he remained silent, watching the discussion with predatory focus.
"The comet is still months away, and that thing will make us stronger only for an hour," General Shinu argued. "And dedicating our forces to a siege of that magnitude would leave our current holdings vulnerable."
"Then we bring more forces from the homeland-"
"And leave our shores undefended? The Water Tribes would-"
Ozai cleared his throat softly. The sound barely carried over the crackling flames, but the effect was immediate. Every voice fell silent, every head bowed lower.
"You speak of armies," Ozai's voice was quiet yet filled the entire chamber, "of sieges and supply lines. But you fail to see the larger picture." He rose smoothly, the flames parting before him as he descended the steps of his throne. "Ba Sing Se draws strength not from its walls or its armies, but from hope."
He reached the war table, looking down at the map with contempt. "The rebels scattered throughout our conquered territories look to Ba Sing Se as a symbol. As long as it stands unconquered, they believe victory is possible." His finger traced the outline of the Earth Kingdom. "If we commit our forces to a prolonged siege, these insurgents will seize the opportunity to reclaim what we've taken."
"Then what do you suggest, my lord?" Admiral Chan asked carefully.
A small, cruel smile curved Ozai's lips. "To break Ba Sing Se, we must break its walls. Not through armies or siege engines, but through a single strike so devastating it shatters not just stone, but hope itself."
General Bujing frowned. "My lord, even with our most powerful siege weapons-"
"We don't need siege weapons," Ozai interrupted. "We don't need armies. We need only one man."
As if on cue, the massive doors of the throne room creaked open. The generals turned, some reaching instinctively for weapons before remembering where they were.
A figure strode into the chamber, his footsteps eerily silent despite his size. He was tall and powerfully built, his bare chest covered in intricate tattoos. Most striking was the massive phoenix design that spread across his torso, its wings stretching from shoulder to shoulder, he had long dark hair. But it was his face that drew their attention - specifically, the glowing tattoo in the center of his forehead. It was similar to the mark of a combustion bender, but different somehow. More complex. More deadly.
"Generals," Ozai's smile widened, "meet Shūnya."
The man bowed deeply, the tattoo on his forehead pulsing with an inner light.
"A combustion bender?" General Shinu asked, unable to hide his skepticism. "We've employed them before, my lord. While powerful, they-"
"Shūnya is something new," Ozai cut him off. "Something... special. Would you care to demonstrate?"
The tattooed man straightened and turned toward one of the massive stone pillars that lined the throne room. His forehead tattoo began to glow brighter, but instead of the familiar high-pitched whine of a combustion bender's attack, there was only a low, deep hum.
The explosion that followed was unlike anything the generals had ever seen. There was no fire, no smoke - just a perfect sphere of pure destructive force that simply erased everything it touched. When it cleared, there wasn't just a hole in the pillar - a perfect sphere of nothingness had replaced a section of the column, its edges impossibly smooth, as if that portion of reality had simply ceased to exist.
"By the spirits," Admiral Chan whispered.
"No ordinary combustion bender," Ozai said with satisfaction. "Shūnya doesn't create explosions - he creates void. His attacks don't just destroy their targets; they erase them from existence."
The generals stared at the pillar in horrified fascination. The stone hadn't been broken or burned - it simply ended in a perfect sphere of nothingness, then continued on the other side.
"One strike," Ozai continued, "at the right point in Ba Sing Se's wall. Not to break it, but to erase a section of it completely. The structural failure would be catastrophic." His eyes gleamed in the firelight. "Imagine the effect on morale when they realize their impenetrable wall wasn't broken - but erased as if it never existed at all."
"The ultimate symbol of their vulnerability," General Bujing breathed, understanding dawning on his face.
"Precisely." Ozai turned back to his throne, the flames rising higher with each step. "Prepare a small, elite team to escort Shūnya to Ba Sing Se. I want this done quickly and quietly." He sat, shadows dancing across his features. "Let them wake one morning to find their greatest defense simply... gone."
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