Fire Burns and Ice Freeze

The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse

I raised my hands and ice walls on either side of the path raised. Cutting the firebenders off from us. The others look looked at me shocked.

"Way to go Kida." Toph said

"The Fire Nation is falling back." Tyro said

"We're on our way to victory." Bato said

I look up at the sky to see the moon is gradually moving in front of the sun, we continue on. The Fire Nation armies try to shoot and burn my ice wall down but it is as strong as ever. The firebenders that were in the middle of the two wall of ice tried to shoot the Earth Kingdom tanks, but the they are too powerful. The Earth Kingdom soldiers run about and fire boulders to counterattack the Fire Nation. A few earthbenders emerge briefly from within the tanks and hurl boulders toward the enemy. One of the soldiers commanding catapult's to launch smoldering boulders. Several fireballs are launched into the air. One lands forcefully near Sokka and us who are huddled together behind a stationery Earth Kingdom tank, studying a map lying on the ground. Katara and Hakoda walk up to us.

"Dad. You're on your feet again." Sokka said

"Thanks to your sister. I'm in no shape to fight, but maybe there's some way I can help." Hakoda said

"Everything's going smoothly and the eclipses hasn't even kicked in yet. We made great head way once Kida created the walls." Sokka said

"Let's hope our luck holds out. Katara, you seem distracted. I something wrong?" Hakoda asked

"Yeah. Is that...is that Aang?" Katara asked

"What?" Sokka asked shocked

Aang is riding on his glider, dodging several fireballs. He lands in front of us.

"Please tell me you're here because the Fire Lord turned out to be a big whimp and you didn't even need the eclipse to take him down." Sokka said

"He wasn't home. No one was. The entire palace city is abandoned." Aang said

"They knew. Why didn't we think of that. Azuela was in Ba Sing Se. She could have found out about the invasion at any point." I said

We are all sitting down in s circle.

"It's over. The Fire Lord is probably long-gone; far away on some remote island where he'll be safe during the eclipse." Aang said

"No. My instincts tell me he wouldn't go too far. He would have a secret bunker; somewhere he could go and be safe during the siege but still be close enough to lead his nation." Sokka said

"Your right. Iroh said that Azulon built tunnels and rooms underground." I said

"If it's an underground secret bunker we're looking for, I'm just the girl to find it." Toph said

"The mechanist gave me this timing device. It looks like we've got about ten minutes until the full eclipse. Ten minutes to find the Fire Lord." Sokka said

"We can still do this. We can still win this day." Aang said

"Wait. If they knew we were coming it could all be a trap. Maybe we should use the time we have left to make sure we all get out of here safely." Katara said

"Everyone who's here today came prepared to risk everything for this mission. They know what's at stake. If there's still a chance and there's still hope, I think they would want Aang to go for it." Hakoda said

"What do you think? You're the one that has to face the Fire Lord. Whatever you decide, I'm with you." Sokka said

Aang rises up from the group and turns to look towards the captain