99 A.G
Aang could have avoided the rock if he had been alone. It came from Bumi's side of the chamber with enough speed to injure them or worse, spinning through the air straight toward him. He could have stepped aside or jumped over it, but Katara and Sokka were standing behind him, and neither of them had the space to move quickly inside the chamber.
Aang moved quickly, almost without thinking, sweeping his staff to the side and pushing the giant rock with airbending. The rock curved away from them and crashed into the wall with a thunderous sound that echoed through the whole room.
Flopsie jerked up from where it had been resting and gave an angry grunt, its eyes turning toward them menacingly.
"Bumi!" Aang shouted. "Please stop! It's me, your friend!"
Bumi only grinned from the other side of the chamber. "An airbender, so you are indeed the avatar."
"Please, hear me out, I don't want to fight you!"
"If there is no fight in you, then what chance do you have in this world?"
Sokka pointed at the angry goat gorilla. "Aang, what do we do? I really don't want to be here if it decides we are the problem."
Katara raised her waterskin, eyes fixed on Bumi. "Aang, he is not listening."
"Let's discuss this, Bumi." Aang said, facing Bumi again. "Please, we are not your enemy."
Bumi stomped the ground hard with his bare foot, the floor cracked, and a larger boulder rose from beneath the stone with a grinding sound. Bumi then punched hard forward and threw it against them with almost the same speed as before.
Katara and Sokka jumped aside this time. Aang spun his staff and caught the boulder inside a current of air, guiding it around himself before sending it back toward Bumi. The old man laughed, clapped both hands together, and the stone turned to sand before reaching him, passing through him harmlessly.
Bumi's laughter faded into a smile that looked sadder than Aang expected.
"There you are, Aang." Bumi said. "You haven't changed a bit."
Aang lowered his staff slowly. "You were just messing with me?"
"Mostly, my young friend."
"Mostly?"
"I also needed to stretch. I'm old, exercising and dueling is not good for my joints anymore." he joked, laughing again.
Aang was relieved, he didn't want to fight his friend. True, the old king looked so much older, but there was still enough of his old friend in his face that Aang felt the last pieces of doubt fall away.
"Oh, so we are good now? Great, because your pet looked hungry for a second there." Sokka said
"Don't tempt him, he might still want a bite." Bumi said, making Sokka hide behind Aang.
"He is joking, right?"
"I thought I would never see you again, Aang." Bumi said, quieter now, approaching them. "For a long time, I was certain of it. I'm glad to see you."
Aang gave him a smile. "I'm glad to see you as well." He hugged him and he felt how much smaller he was against him now.
"Oh, Aang, you haven't changed a bit, literally." Bumi hugged him back. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you have a very difficult task ahead, some would say impossible even. The world has changed in the hundred years you've been gone. It's the duty of the Avatar to bring balance to the world, but at this time, I think it would bring more misery to the world."
"What do you mean?" Aang asked.
"Yeah, how can bringing balance and defeating the Fire Nation bring more misery? It makes no sense." Sokka said.
"You have probably seen it already. The Fire Nation has changed in the last few years, they are more lax, treating the territories they conquered with respect, and working to make the lives of the common people better. They were just conquering and subduing everything before, which was slowing their progress and creating rebel cells all around their colonies. Someone has convinced them otherwise now, and they have conquered half the world already. Their goal is to end the war as fast as possible. Their technological edge has skyrocketed making them unstoppable for the rest of the free world." Bumi explained.
Katara stepped closer. "Then help him. You have seen how they work, you can help us fight back. Doing nothing is what brings misery."
Bumi looked at her for a long moment. "And what would fighting achieve?"
Katara frowned. "Stopping them."
"The war has been going for a hundred years, young one. The same people you think you are rescuing don't want to keep fighting, they want the war to end. Fighting back now, will only prolong this war, the struggle, the death of thousands." Bumi scratched his chin.
Sokka crossed his arms. "And what if they decide to kill off your people later? What if they decide they no longer want earthbenders to live?"
"I hear more than two hundred earthbenders joined the ranks of the Fire Nation after my duel, I think you are not really aware of their new policies." Bumi retorted.
"What?! How can they betray their own people like that?!" Katara asked, indignantly.
"I'm not saying they did the right thing, but for most people, a career, stable life and being able to come home to their families is enough to live happily. The Fire Nation is offering that at the moment. If you had returned two decades earlier, things might have been very different, but right now, fighting back will just bring more death." Bumi continued.
"So you just want to surrender?! We cannot let them take over the world!" Sokka said.
Bumi sighed and sat back beside Flopsie, who had finally stopped glaring at them. "Once, defeating the Fire Lord might have been enough. Cutting off the head of the enemy, confusing their army, and the war could end by their collapse and infighting to seize power. Maybe it would even give the Earth Kingdom room to breathe even if they don't fight among themselves. That is no longer the world we live in."
Aang gripped his staff. "Why would it not work anymore?"
"The Fire Lord is but one piece of a huge mighty beast.." Bumi looked toward the chamber entrance, where distant footsteps moved somewhere above them. "The Fire Nation is stronger than it has ever been. New administrations have taken over occupied territories. They are no longer only burning and taking. They are building, preserving useful customs, repairing roads, protecting trade when it benefits them, and making ordinary people comfortable enough to think twice before risking everything for a king they barely knew."
Katara frowned harder, clearly getting angrier by the minute. "That does not make what they did right."
"No. It does not. And I'm not defending them, I had fought them for more than fifty years already. But for the majority, you would be advocating to continue the war and suffering by doing that. They would fight back and I don't see them surrendering even if the Fire Lord is gone. In fact, you might even have more enemies as each territory would become its own nation. They won't thank you for it at all." Bumi said.
Aang shook his head, not wanting to accept it. "But they are still occupied."
"Yes, and there will be people who still hate it, and it is not right for someone to take someone else's freedom. But most want to survive the day without being crushed by someone else's grand plan, and right now, the Fire Nation is succeeding in convincing everyone it wouldn't be too bad to accept a new administration."
Sokka looked frustrated. "So we do nothing?"
Bumi's eyes scanned them for a second, before lowering head. "No, I don't believe you can even if you want to."
"Then what do we do?" Aang asked.
"That is something you must learn before throwing yourself at Ozai. I would advise you to bide your time, to learn the elements and be ready to take advantage of the opportunities to come." Bumi leaned forward, all humor gone from his face for once. "I have no doubt that the Fire Nation is on its path to victory soon, but that doesn't mean everything will be made right, but diplomacy can become a new avenue, the Avatar's job is to mediate peace between everyone, I believe you will have more chance of doing that in a world at peace."
Katara shook her head. "You sound like you've given up."
"I fought already, girl." Bumi said. "I lost. If I had continued fighting after that, Omashu would have suffered for my pride."
Aang looked at him carefully. "So you really surrendered as the rumors said."
"I surrendered because that was the better alternative. But I'm still here, making sure my people are well cared for, so far I don't see myself interfering anytime soon."
Bumi reached into his robe and pulled out a small Pai Sho tile marked with a white lotus. He held it out to Aang, and the old playfulness returned in a weaker shape.
"There is a group that could help you in the future. They have been slowing the Fire Nation for decades. They are scattered now as the Fire Nation discovered too much recently. Still, this may open a door if you find the right person."
Aang took the tile. "Who do I look for?"
"Well, you will have to discover that yourself." Bumi said, snorting again.
"That is not very clear."
"Ah, but life rarely is, you have to be prepared to look at it from different angles."
Sokka groaned. "Of course it is a secret society with riddles."
Aang closed his hand around the tile, feeling the smooth edge press into his palm. He had come here hoping to free Bumi, or helping him free Omashu, he wasn't expecting this at all.
"Can't you come with us?" Aang asked.
Bumi's smile faded again. "No. My place is here for now. You must learn the four elements if you want to have a chance at confronting the Fire Nation. Trust in your friends, you are in good hands. Remember to open your brain to the possibilities."
Aang was disappointed but he still smiled at his friends.
"Thank you for your wisdom, Bumi." Aang said.
"There is something that might cheer you up. A small challenge that luckily a small blind earthbender reminded me of. The world's greatest super slide!" Bumi said laughing.
"You are still a mad genius." Aang laughed. "Let's go!"
Bumi led them inside his home through a series of corridors then through many stairs, finally they exited in one of the tallest points of the delivery system.
Aang climbed with Bumi to a chute, and Katara and Sokka into another one in front of them. Using earthbender Bumi moved them into position.
"It sounded fun at first, but now that I'm here…" Katara began saying, but Bumi didn't give them a chance to back away pushing both chutes forward. "I'm starting to have second thoughts!" screamed Katara as they dropped.
Aang laughed as they were sledding down at high speed, the previous bad taste in his mouth gone.
"Wooohooo!"
----0000----
The airfield outside Chin City had a long path of stone that had been leveled by earthbenders for the gliders. It stretched forward in a narrow line, flat enough for the aircraft to roll easily before taking to the air, with storage sheds and supply carts kept away from the center.
Soldiers had gathered around the open space, leaving enough room for the Agni Kai while still crowding close enough for Zuko to feel their attention. He wasn't really intimidated by it, but he still didn't like it, as they were Lin's soldiers, probably rooting for her.
They stood in disciplined rows with city guards, engineers, and a few men from his own crew. Uncle was also there beside him, and although he had already tried to convince him to withdraw the challenge, Zuko refused to meet his eyes now. He had been insulted in front of everyone, and if he backed down after that, the humiliation would follow him for eternity.
Zuko removed his armor and coat, leaving both aside on the ground. The cold air touched his bare chest and arms, but he ignored it and knelt to calm his breathing before the duel. The last time he had been in this position he had to face his father, he couldn't in the end fight him. The memory made his scar feel warmer, and he pushed the thought away before it could shake him.
"Remember your firebending basics, Prince Zuko. They are your greatest weapon." His uncle said.
"I refuse to let her win." Zuko answered, standing up and turning around to face his opponent.
Across the field, General Lin had removed her armor as well, leaving her in a simple black sleeveless undershirt and military trousers, cut off at the thigh level to accommodate her prosthetic limbs free movement. She had turned to kneel in meditation, and now he could see her exposed back. It was an eerie sight.
Zuko had always been curious about her metal limbs, yet seeing them uncovered fully still made him tense. Her arms, usually covered up to the upper arms, were now fully exposed and he could see the metal plates went from shoulder to hand, reinforced at the joints and marked by spikes along the forearms.
The upper part of her back had plating as well, built into her body making her look even more unnatural. Her undershirt had holes that let vents and metal parts exposed, and there was a thin steel line that traveled where her spine should be.
She stood up and turned toward him, facing him with an angry scowl, her arms resting at her sides.
"What a sorry sight of a prince." she commented with disdain. It made his anger rise and he almost snarled back at her.
When the gong sounded, Zuko took his stance and waited for her to do the same. She remained where she was, giving him no sign that she cared for the duel. It felt like another insult to the prince.
She had humiliated him with words in front of soldiers, and now she was doing it again by standing there like he was an inconvenience, she was not taking him seriously at all. Zuko threw the first fireball, letting his anger fuel his firebending.
Lin lifted one metal arm and broke the flames apart, as if slapping the blast away. He followed with another flame from the side, then turned into a wide kick that sent fire across the leveled stone. She dispersed that with her other arm, taking the force without moving from her place, while her expression remained the same.
Zuko attacked again, putting more power and faster movements into his offense. Fire left his fists in quick bursts, aimed at her chest, shoulders, and face. Lin avoided what she had to and scattered the rest with small movements of her arms.
The metal plates took the heat without any sign of damage. He tried to change the rhythm, stepping forward with a kick toward her side, then sending another blast low toward her legs to make her move.
The flames struck her metal limbs and rolled over them, not even scarring them. All the while her attention seemed to be focused just on him. She gave him a disappointed look back. That brief reaction made his face burn with anger.
Zuko pushed harder, throwing fireball after fireball until his breathing started to strain. He could hear some of the soldiers around them, the murmur of voices and he could imagine their mocking laughs as well.
He did not want to hear them, and he tried to suppress their voices by pressing his attack. He wanted Lin to step back, to show effort, to force her to take him seriously at the very least. Once she attacked, he could form a strategy to use it against her.
"Basics, Zuko! Our power comes from our breath!" Iroh said behind him.
He was just tiring himself out at this point, so he chose to hear his council and stopped to catch his breath. That is when she decided she had enough it seemed, for she finally moved. It was too quick for him to react, sadly.
She angled her body forward in a quick fluid motion, and Fire burst from beneath her feet and drove her to him with sudden speed. Zuko tried to bring his arms up, but she crossed the distance too quickly.
Her whole body turned, and her metal leg came around toward him as his eyes widened. The kick struck his side before he could brace properly. He managed to catch part of it with his left arm, but the force still threw him across the ground.
Zuko grunted in agony and he hit the stone hard and rolled once before stopping. Pain ran from his wrist to his shoulder when he tried to push himself up. His left arm would not take his weight, and when he looked at it, the angle was wrong enough to make his stomach turn.
He gritted his teeth and stood up with difficulty, he raised his other arm to attack her back but Lin reached him before the flame formed. Her left hand slapped it away and the fireball went sideways.
Then, his right metal hand closed around his throat, and Zuko on instinct grabbed her wrist with his bad hand making his pain triple in intensity. For a second he tried using fire with it but it just flared uselessly against the plating.
She lifted him, choking him with no visible effort, then drove him down against the stone hard enough that the air left his lungs. His back and chest hurt so much that for a few seconds he could only struggle for breath.
She released him, and Zuko tried to turn away, but his body answered too slowly. A hiss came from somewhere above him. The sound rose into a high whistle as heat built inside the metal. He turned slightly and saw one of her arms raised above her head.
Red and orange light began to glow through the seams of her hand, growing brighter while steam curled around her fingers. Lin was feeding chi into a small ball and he recognized the famous move.
Zuko dug his heels against the stone and tried to drag himself back, but his broken arm and the pain in his ribs made the movement useless. His uncle stepped forward, voice raised over the sound of impending doom.
"General Lin, enough! Please, show mercy."
The soldiers around the field were watching horrified as well, but none of them entered the circle. Zuko was still in daze and all he could do was watch the General's angry face. Lin stood over him with her heated hand ready, and for the first time since the duel began, Zuko understood that he was going to die here.
"General, please reconsider. Don't taint your honor!" Colonel Zhou shouted.
"Interfering in an Agni Kai is treason, gentlemen." Captain Aiku said, threatening to step forward himself to stop them if necessary.
"I was not the one who issued the challenge. I can end it the way I want to." Lin answered for both General Iroh and the good colonel.
"Even if exiled, he is still a prince, general. Please accept your victory." Zhou said.
"As the colonel says, you have already won, please don't take it further. He doesn't deserve death, I beg you." Iroh implored.
"Oh, I won't kill him, General. The nation still needs his prince, and I'm hoping he will be welcomed back someday, and that he can grow to be better, someone more like his sister. But I'll give him a reminder of a lesson he should have learned a long time ago already." Lin said.
She extinguished the fireball that had been charging on her hand and then crouched beside Zuko. With a knee placed above his thigh and her left hand on his shoulder, she held him in place.
"Besides, the duel won't end until one of us burns the other one." Then, Lin extended her now red hot right hand and touched his chest.
The pain came with a burning sting that cut through every thought he had left. Zuko screamed and thrashed against the stone, trying to escape the heat pressed into his skin. The smell of his own burned flesh reached him, and tears came before he could stop them.
When Lin stepped away, he curled around the pain with his wounded arm trapped against him, shaking as he tried to breathe. His uncle quickly reached him next, a concerned look on his face.
"Take him to the field hospital, I'm done here."
Lin left the area without saying another word.