25 The Drill

Azira had stopped short in the path, eyes falling on the descending air nomad and avatar. "Didn't you ditch us, like, an hour ago?"

"Yeah, weren't you looking for Appa?" Katara questioned, unease creeping into her tone."I was. But something stopped me." Aang said lowly.

"Something big."

"Show us."

It felt like moments later that they were descending the upper wall, courtesy of Toph and Aang's earthbending skills. Azira had to admit, for the short while that they had been separated, Aang was really starting to flourish in his bending skills.

Her gaze drifted out beyond the walls of Ba Sing Se, on the approaching gigantic metal monstrosity that was swirling towards the wall. "We made it to Ba Sing Se, and we're still not safe," Ying murmured sadly.

Azira didn't have the heart to tell this woman that nowhere was safe. Not ever. Not truly."What are you people doing here?" A new voice had entered the atmosphere. Azira whirled, eyes landing on the Earth Kingdom soldiers approaching them. "Civilians aren't allowed on the wall."

Oh buddy, if only you knew. "Alright, kid do your thing." Azira said, gently pushing Aang forward.Aang took a step forward. "I'm the Avatar. Take me to whoever's in charge."

"It is an honour to welcome you to the Outer Wall, young Avatar. But your help is not needed."

Azira couldn't help the dumbfounded expression that crossed her features. Locking eyes with Sokka, she could tell

that they were both thinking the same thing: What??

"Not needed?" Aang blurted.

"Not needed. I have the situation under control. I'll show you. The General said, leading them towards his boulders

and men. "I assure you, the Fire Nation cannot penetrate this wall."

Just because Iroh didn't do it all of those years ago didn't mean it couldn't be done

"Many have tried to come through it, but none have succeeded." The General continued."What about the Dragon of the West? He got in." Azira honestly could have kissed Toph in that moment because she was thinking the exact same thing.

She could see it caused visible distress for the General. "Well, technically, yes, but he was quickly expunged. And nevertheless, that is why the city is called Ba Sing Se. It's impenetrable."

"You realize their machine is going to break through the rocks, and your rocks are literally not even making a dent?" Azira questioned, gesturing at the giant machine.

"I wouldn't worry about that. I've sent an elite team of Earthbenders called the Terra Team to take it down."

"That's a cool group name! Very catchy!" Sokka exclaimed.Azira's gaze fell on the group below, watching as any earth they bent was just crushed under the metal of the drill.

And then, each Earthbender fell to the ground, unable to bend, courtesy of Ty Lee.

"Oh, we're doomed!"

"Get ahold of yourself, man!" Sokka barked."I suggest you ask for our help now." Azira said stiffly.

"Yes, please,"

Everyone turned and looked at Sokka, causing him to blink a few times. "Why are you all looking at me?" He demanded.

"Well,you're the idea man" Aang pointed out."So I'm the only one who can ever come up with a plan?!" Sokka demanded, eyes wide at them. "Well, no. You're just the one who's smartest about this stuff. Take it as a compliment, tough guy" Azira said,

punching his arm. "But I do have a thought. If we could just figure out how to get inside, we might be able to destroy things from there"

"Az. I could kiss you!"

"Please don't,"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was moments like these that Azira was impressed with Toph Beifong-and the way that she was a force of nature to be reckoned with. She was just a kid, and yet she managed to put every single Eartbender they had seen thus far to shame.

She cut a path straight to the drill, creating a large line of smoke that they could hide in. Stopping just a few feet short of the giant drill, Toph slammed her fists downwards, creating a deep hole in the ground.

"Everyone in!"

Azira had learned that when Toph gave a command, you followed it quickly and without question. Doing just that, she

landed lightly on the ground below, the earth quickly swallowing up the entrance to the hole.

She couldn't help it--she felt panic begin to rise in her with being in a hole like this again. Like being trapped underground. Sokka seemed to know that though, and though it was dark, he took Azira's hand and gave it a squeeze.

"It's so dark in here!" He exclaimed. "l can't see a thing!"His voice and his presence seemed to ground her back into reality. No more ghosts here. No more panicking for today. "Oh no, what a nightmare!" Toph said sarcastically.

"Sorry," Sokka mumbled.

She shoved them forward and up, and the group found themselves in the small space underneath the drill. Azira ran forward and caught onto the bars, pulling herself in. Aang helped the others up, and then they stopped for a second.

"Toph, aren't you coming?" Sokka demanded.

"No way!" Toph exclaimed. "l can't bend in that metal monster! I'l slow it down from out here."

"Toph-" Azira started in worry.

"l can handle it!"

"I know Azira said gently. "I was just going to tell you to be careful. Otherwise, I'll have to come and kick your butt myself."

"Got it, boss lady."With that, they entered the bely of the beast. Literally. Azria found it eerily similar to the feeling she had on the FireNation ships-it was muggy within the metal machine and sombre. "I need the plans of the machine." Sokka said quietly."Some kind of schematics to show what the inside looks like. Then we can find its weak points."

"Where would we get something like that?" Aang questioned.Azira thought for a moment, a thoughtful expression on her face. "We need to break something. They have engineers aboard to fix it. They might have the plans."

"Say no more." Sokka immediately busted a pipe with his boomerang, a proud expression on his face. Steam began to pour out in thick waves and tendrils, nearly filling the room. Everyone ducked behind different pipes and Azira waited for her moment. As soon as the head engineer made an appearance, Azira struck.

Swinging down from the pipe, her legs slammed him into the ground, and her hands pressed forward. lce crept along his chest, and before he could even let out a gasp, he had been frozen to the floor.

She plucked the scroll from his hands and handed it over to Sokka. "Will that work?"Sokka was just staring at her, slightly wide-eyed. "That was..impressive. Yeah, yeah, it'll work. "

"Alright, Mr. Genius, you tell us what to do next." Katara said pointedly. Sokka's eyes poured over the scroll, focusing on the information. "It looks like there are two parts to the machine.

An inner-mechanism, which is where we are now, and the outer shell. They're both connected by braces. If we cut through them, the entire thing will collapse."

"So we divide and conquer. Got it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cutting through one of the beams had taken nearty thirty whole minutes-and that was with the three of them bending against the beam.

It just wasn't going to cut it. Literally.

"Why not just apply Az's chi-blocking lessons?" Aang stopped, turning to face them.

"How do you mean?" Azira questioned.

"Well, if you hit a series of weak points, the enemy will eventually fall over. We don't need to completely take out the beams. We just need to weaken them." Aang pointed out.

"That's... much more doable." Katara breathed out."And then I can get to the top and deliver the final blow." Aang exclaimed excitedly. He sobered after a moment, a frown on his face. "Everyone in the world is counting on us. This is one of the last strongholds."

Azira wanted nothing more than to take the burden from Aang's shoulders. "Hey, just do your best, okay?"

~~~~~~~~

Time went by quickly-and by the time they were on the sixth beam and weakening it through, Azira had a bad feeling.Her senses sharpened just enough to force her to roll forward and doge a fiery blast of blue from Azula.

It singed the ends of her hair, and Azira looked up with wide eyes. Naturally, Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee were here. Azula had no mercy, though blasting at Aang with another fireball.Azira moved faster than anyone could comprehend, ice colliding against the blue fire and shoving Aang to the side.

Azula's sharp gaze focused on her coldly."Wow, Azula, you were right! It is Azira and the Avatar!"

"I shouldn't be surprised you're here. Daddy sent you to do his dirty work?" Azira snapped with a biting tone.

Azula bit back a snarl, hurrying from her spot above to catch them. Azira and the others moved double time, rushing through the hallway and hurrying away from the fight.

"We need to split up!" Aang said as they came to a fork in the hallway.

I'll go with you then!" Azira insisted.

"Then take this!" Katara said, throwing Aang the waterskin."And don't underestimate Mai and Ty Lee!" Azira warned, hurrying the opposite way with Aang. Making it atop the drill was one thing-but defending Aang from Azula was a whole other game that Azira wasn't sure she was prepared for.

"Whatever you're doing, do it quickly!" Azira called, eyes watching the top of the dill for any signs of Azula.

It took a moment, but as soon as the signature red clothing made it to the top, Azira struck. She shoved Aang downwards and then slid below the flame of fire that Azula was sending their way.Azula moved first, sending fire blasting out of her pointer and middle fingers on both hands-Azira mimicked the move and water and mud shoved forward, colliding with the fire.

"Oh, I always hated it when you did that. I guess I understand why now Azula snapped out viciously.

Aang popped up on the side of Azira, sending water slashing towards the Fire Nation Princess. He slapped it at Azula's hands and Azra slid forward, kicking straight into Azula's legs.

Azula took a tumble, colliding harshly with Azira, who immediately flipped off of her. Snarling, Azula kicked to the side

and blue flames licked towards Azira.

Bringing her arms up in front of her, Azura blocked the flames with water. Azula spun, sending fire blasting at Aang.But Aang was ready for her, rocks coming around him to cover him protectively.

Azira couldn't help but smirk at the sight. As Azula dodged the flying rocks, she was getting angrier and angrier. Azira was betting and counting on that-Azula leapt through the air and smashed her foot down at Azira.

She spun to the side slightly, smacking the foot away from her face. The heat nearly brushed up against her face as Azula landed lightly on the drill. There was a controlled exhale, and blue fire went flying out everywhere.

Azira hit the deck harshly, eyes wide as they landed on Aang-colliding with the wall of Ba Sing Se and hitting the top of the drill. He didn't move.

Before Azira could even make another move, Azula had grabbed her by her hair. Azura let out a shriek of pain and spun, roundhouse kicking the princess in the face. Azula blasted at Azira and the girl went tumbling to the ground.

"How does it feel? Getting beat by me?" Azula sneered, hand full of flame.

"Well, at least my mommy loved me."

Azira spat out, then kicked upward. Azula was surprised by the blow, and there was a satisfying crunch that was audibly heard.

"You-you broke my nose!"

"Yeah, I did." Azira spat, suddenly ducking. Aang blasted rocks straight at Azula's stomach, and the girl's eyes went wide. Azula skidded several feet backwards, blood still dripping from her nose.

Before the Firebender could even retaliate, something began to sputter beneath them, and mud splashed up atop the drill. Aang slipped in the mud, flying past Azira. The older girl acted without hesitation, diving for Aang's arm and nearly screaming in pain as she caught hold of him and felt her shoulder pop out of place.

She swung Aang back atop the drill and just laid there for a moment, vision somewhat hazy. "Go! Finish it off!" Azira

commanded.

Watching in amazement and horror, Azira witnessed Aang completely decimate the drill. Mud splattered everywhere and for a moment, Azira could only breathe heavily and watch speechless."Nice work." Azira finally breathed out. "I'm just.I'm just gonna rest now."