62. Crescent Island - Tsu's Rampage

CHAPTER 62: CRESCENT ISLAND – CAPTAIN TSU'S RAMPAGE

As the Sea Serpent, flagship of the Tsu Pirates, drew closer, confusion spread like wildfire among the Earth Kingdom troops and Fire Nation soldiers alike. The sight of Captain Tsu, the most feared pirate captain in the waters, arriving at such a critical juncture was enough to unsettle everyone.

Captain Liang, Sokka, Jet, and the captured Earth Kingdom soldiers watched warily, their hands bound and their fates uncertain. From the deck of the Fire Nation flagship, Lieutenant Tau observed with suspicion, his eyes narrowing as he recognized Captain Tsu.

The pirates' ship slowed to a halt, its dark, ominous figure casting a long shadow over the beleaguered Earth Kingdom vessel. All eyes were on Captain Tsu as he leapt from his ship, landing gracefully amid the Fire Nation soldiers who had secured the deck. The silence was thick with anticipation.

Captain Tsu turned his piercing gaze to Lieutenant Tau, who stood on the deck of the Fire Nation flagship. "Where have you been?" Tau's voice was calm but carried a weight of authority. "My men inform me that Prince Zuko called you an ally."

Tau's eyes flickered with a mix of recognition and caution. "I was an ally of the Prince," Tsu continued, his tone shifting. "The important word being was. I had a change of mind about a few things—or should I say, I had a realization about my past way of thinking. The thinking that got me to be the most powerful waterbender on the planet."

Tau's confusion was palpable. "What exactly do you mean by that?" he asked, his voice edged with suspicion.

Tsu smirked. "This."

With a fluid, almost hypnotic motion, Tsu assumed an ominous stance. Water from the sea surged upward, forming tentacles and whips under his expert control. With a powerful flick of his wrist, the water tentacles lashed out, capturing and throwing every Fire Nation soldier on the deck into the sea. The remaining soldiers barely had time to react before they were swept away by the torrents of water, their cries muffled by the crashing waves.

In a series of precise, controlled movements, Tsu used his waterbending to free the Earth Kingdom soldiers. The ropes binding them were cut with sharp, icy tendrils, and the soldiers gasped in relief as they regained their freedom. The display of Tsu's power was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

Tau's face twisted in fury. He ignited a burst of flames at his feet, propelling himself across the gap between the ships. He landed with a thud on the Earth Kingdom deck, his eyes blazing with anger. "I'll deal with you myself, Tsu."

Tsu's expression remained calm. "You're completely outmatched, Tau. If Zuko cannot defeat me, what chance do you have?"

Tau's lips curled into a sneer. "I have my own strengths and more experience than Zuko. Show me what you've got."

The battle began with a swift clash. Tau lunged forward, his fists engulfed in flames, aiming a powerful strike at Tsu. Tsu dodged with fluid grace, using a tendril of water to deflect the attack. Tau's firebending was fierce, but Tsu's waterbending was a masterclass of precision and power.

Their first encounter was brief but intense. Tau moved with surprising agility, using forms and techniques reminiscent of waterbending. Tsu was momentarily taken aback by the fluidity of Tau's movements, but he quickly adapted.

"Impressive," Tsu remarked, dodging a flaming kick. "But not enough."

The second clash saw Tsu taking the upper hand. He created a massive wave that swept across the deck, forcing Tau to retreat and regroup. Tau retaliated with a barrage of fireballs, but Tsu extinguished them with ease, the steam rising like a shroud around them.

In the third encounter, Tsu unleashed a series of water whips that wrapped around Tau, pulling him off balance. Tau broke free with a burst of flame, but the effort left him winded. Tsu pressed his advantage, sending a spiral of water to encircle Tau, forcing him to defend rather than attack.

The fourth clash was decisive. Tsu formed a ring of ice around Tau, constricting his movements. Tau struggled, using his flames to melt the ice, but Tsu was relentless. He summoned a tidal wave that crashed down on Tau, leaving him drenched and disoriented.

In their final encounter, Tsu's mastery was undeniable. With a swift, decisive motion, he froze the water around Tau, encasing him in a thick layer of ice up to his neck. Tau's eyes blazed with helpless rage as he realized his defeat.

Tsu stood over him, calm and composed. "You're outmatched, Tau."

Tau's furious expression was all he could muster in response, his breath fogging the ice around his face.

The late afternoon sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the deck. The Fire Nation soldiers, witnessing the defeat of their lieutenant, hesitated, unsure of their next move.

Captain Tsu raised his hand, summoning his men on the Sea Serpent. The pirate ship sailed closer, its crew ready to follow their captain's lead. Tsu turned to Sokka, Captain Liang, and the freed Earth Kingdom soldiers, who approached him cautiously.

Sokka's eyes were filled with confusion and gratitude. "Why did you help us, after what you did to General Tamutae?"

Tsu's expression softened slightly. "I have my reasons. The Fire Nation's grip on the world must be broken. Leave the rest of the Fire Nation ships to me and my crew. You need to get the Avatar back to the Earth Kingdom and help him master the four elements. End this war."

---

Below deck, hidden in the bowels of the Earth Kingdom ship, Shatori, a frail-looking young man of twenty-five, moved quietly. He had not yet learned of his captain's betrayal of Prince Zuko. Under the assumption that he was still serving Zuko, Shatori had rescued the unconscious Aang and Katara from the Earthbenders.

The hidden chamber where he had taken refuge was dimly lit, its walls lined with old maps and charts. Aang and Katara lay on a makeshift bed, their breathing steady but unconscious. Shatori paced nervously, trying to devise a plan to get them off the ship and back to Zuko on the island.

The sound of footsteps in the corridor made him pause. He peeked through a crack in the door, noticing an increased number of patrols moving back and forth, searching for the Avatar. The tension among the Earth Kingdom soldiers was palpable.

Two soldiers stopped outside the chamber, their conversation drifting through the door. "Did you hear? The Tsu Pirates have turned against the Fire Nation. They're going to attack them."

Shatori's heart skipped a beat. The realization hit him like a tidal wave. His captain had switched sides, and the chaos above deck was his doing. He looked at the unconscious forms of Aang and Katara, his mind racing.

"We need to get out of here," he muttered to himself. He gathered his courage, knowing that escaping unnoticed would be a challenge. The fate of the Avatar and his companion depended on it.

---

On the deck, Captain Tsu stood victorious over Tau, the sun setting behind him, casting a golden glow on the chaotic scene. The Fire Nation's control was crumbling, and hope flickered anew in the hearts of the Earth Kingdom soldiers.

Tsu's voice rang out with authority. "Prepare to sail! We have a war to end and a world to save."

As the Sea Serpent moved into position, Sokka and the Earth Kingdom soldiers began their preparations to depart. The battle was far from over, but the tide had turned, and with it, the hope for a better future.

---

From the hidden chamber, Shatori strained his ears as snippets of conversation filtered through the narrow door. His heart raced as he overheard that Captain Tsu was on deck. Without a moment's hesitation, he leaped out of the chamber, his movements swift and precise.

The two Earth Kingdom patrols were caught off guard by his sudden appearance. They exchanged bewildered glances but dismissed any suspicions, noting his Earth Kingdom uniform. Shatori wasted no time; he sprinted through the narrow corridors of the ship, his mind racing with the urgency of his mission.

Bursting onto the deck, he was met with the sight of Captain Tsu deep in conversation with the Earth Kingdom captain, Sokka, and Jet. Shatori's breathless entrance drew their attention. "Captain, what is going on?" he demanded, his voice tinged with desperation and confusion.

Tsu's eyes widened in surprise. "Shatori, you're alive! I thought Zhao had killed you."

Shatori shook his head, his expression grave. "I was only knocked unconscious by General Tamutae of the Earth Kingdom after Commander Zhao attacked and killed his own people in a display of his firebending and lightning powers."

Tsu's expression hardened. "I've turned against Prince Zuko. The Tsu Pirates now have their own agenda."

Shatori's eyes widened in shock. "I thought we were still helping Zuko! I took the Avatar and the girl to return them to him."

Sokka stepped forward, urgency in his voice. "Where are they now?"

"They're still on the ship, hidden," Shatori revealed.

Tsu nodded decisively. "Lead the Earth Kingdom soldiers to them."

With a nod, Shatori and a contingent of Earth Kingdom soldiers moved swiftly, with Sokka joining them, their footsteps echoing through the narrow corridors of the ship.

Back on the deck, Tsu turned to the Earth Kingdom captain. "We need to discuss a rendezvous. Meet up in the Hebei Province in a week's time. We should synchronize our efforts to strengthen our positions against the Fire Nation."

The captain nodded, contemplating the details. "Agreed. Let's meet at the northern edge of Hebei Province, near the old Earth Kingdom fortress. It's secluded and well-fortified."

"At dawn," Tsu suggested.

"Dawn it is," the captain confirmed.

After a moment's silence, Tsu asked, "What happened to Prince Zuko? Was he still fighting the General?"

The captain's expression was somber. "The General was most likely defeated and dead by now. Prince Zuko used his bending to sink four of the other ships but collapsed from exhaustion afterward."

Tsu's expression flickered with a hint of sadness but remained composed. "That's good. It will make things easier for us. Now, it's time to deal with the remaining Fire Nation ships."

With a determined leap, Tsu crossed from the Earth Kingdom ship to the deck of his flagship. His first mate, Katori, ran up to him. Katori was a handsome young man in his late twenties, with shoulder-length black hair and an aura of fearlessness. Behind him stood Toru, the ship's navigator, an older man with a bushy beard and small glasses hanging low on his nose.

"What's the plan, Captain?" Katori asked.

Tsu's eyes gleamed with a fierce determination. "We go all out."

He turned to address his entire crew, some five dozen men and women. Their faces were a mix of anticipation and loyalty. "It's been too long since we went all out on an enemy ship. Well, now we have four of them. Go out and plunder, kill, steal, rape. Whatever you want to do to those Fire Nation bastards, you are now free to do. I freed you from the Fire Nation all those years ago. Now it's time to start getting our revenge. I promise, this is only the start of the end of the Fire Nation."

The crew roared with excitement, their loud cheers reverberating through the ship. They sprang into action, readying their weapons—cutlasses, sabers, hooks, and cannons—each preparing for the imminent assault on the Fire Nation ships.

---

Below deck, Shatori led the Earth Kingdom soldiers and Sokka through the winding corridors. The atmosphere was tense, and the air thick with the scent of salt and damp wood. They finally arrived at the hidden chamber where Aang and Katara were hidden. The soldiers spread out, securing the area.

Shatori pushed open the door, revealing the dimly lit room. Aang and Katara lay on the floor, still unconscious. Sokka rushed to his sister's side, relief washing over his face.

"Thank you, Shatori," Sokka said, his voice sincere.

Shatori nodded, glancing around warily. "We need to get them out of here quickly. The patrols are increasing, and it won't be long before they find us."

The soldiers formed a protective circle around Aang and Katara as they prepared to move them. Sokka's eyes met Shatori's, a silent understanding passing between them.

---

On the deck of the flagship, Tsu stood tall, his gaze sweeping over his crew. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the deck, painting the scene in hues of gold and crimson.

Katori, ever the loyal first mate, stood beside him. "The crew is ready, Captain. What are your orders?"

Tsu's voice was clear and commanding. "We attack the Fire Nation ships one by one. Show no mercy. Let's remind them who controls these waters."

As the Sea Serpent sailed closer to the Fire Nation fleet, the crew's anticipation grew. They armed themselves with every weapon available, their resolve steeled by Tsu's words.

With a final glance at the approaching enemy ships, Tsu raised his arm, signaling the attack. The crew surged forward, their battle cries echoing across the sea. The ruthless pirates were ready, their spirits unyielding, prepared to exact their revenge and carve their path to victory.

[A/N: You can read the conclusion already finished on my patreon available right now at patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels ]