A Show of Force

In the woods of Tesero, two Fire Nation troopers wait outside. One is a firebender and another is a swordsman. Birds can be heard flying in the distance and the sun is beaming on a bright day. A loud sound flares and the ground quivers.

Firebender: "What is that?!"

Swordsman: "I don't know, let's get out of here!" A Fire Nation drill rises from the ground below as it knocks dirt, rocks, and grass aside. Alev, Hakon, Ronin, a patched up Gendall, and Cafri exit the drill.

Firebender: "Hey, you guys should tell us about your next scheme."

Alev: "Tell that to your colonel not me."

Hakon: "Ugh, tell that to Bundi, I've been occupied recently."

Alev: "Wow Hakon, you're not being a good role model making excuses."

Hakon: "We all have our role Alev. I let you play your role, so please let me play mine." Alev rolls her eyes. Kedo emerges with his arms crossed and the bow strapped behind him.

Alev looks at Ronin, "Another member of the 31st, why wasn't he with us in the drill?"

Kedo: "Because the drill only can fit so many people and I served as a distraction for your attack. Had help from a couple of other remnant guys and I put my neck on the line so you could be freed from your confinement. What is the next plan? And how'd things go with Eyre?"

Hakon smiles and looks at Kedo, "Wow, we have quite the story to tell you."

Kedo: "Oh, this should be good. I'm listening." Several hours later Alev, Hakon, Ronin, Kedo, Gendall, and Captain Bundi are gathered in a room full of Remnant Troopers.

Hakon announces the plan, "While Eyre gathers his forces, we need our enemies distracted. We should stage an attack away from the capital to give the impression that we will go back to ramping up our attacks on outer Fire Nation territories where they are more isolated from the central forces. We need to ram up our recruitment campaigns as well and network with other remnant forces to make this happen."

Hakon continues, "While that happens, I want a daring attack. Not near Tesero because we don't want this base exposed but at a location more east of this area. I'm thinking the small town Yuderi. We won't attack them with all our allies, that would be too obvious, so I want Ronin and Kedo with me for the next mission. Our goal will be to shake up the local government and give them a gut-wrenching reaction that will detract the focus from the Capital and draw it to the outer cities."

Alev sighs, "Wait so you want me to sit out?! I mean this camp isn't bad, but I only like to have my time off in luxurious environments."

Hakon: "Well decent environments at best will have to do because you're not on the A team anymore. We're the B team, the rebels now."

Alev: "Well, that's why I'd rather go back to incinerating people, it's pretty fun actually. And not to be negative but the food here kinda sucks."

Hakon: "You are a high-profile target Alev, it's better you sit out."

Alev: "But you want their attention don't you."

Hakon: "We both can't risk being on that mission."

Alev smirks, "Then let me go instead. Don't worry, it will be a massive success."

An army trooper comments, "It might work out better if Alev goes, she is impossible to not notice."

Alev: "Thank you! I'd like to have some of my loyalists out there transport my traditional armor. It will be great before I go to battle. I'm also going to need a personal beauty care team to make sure I'm looking right before I destroy our enemies."

Hakon nods in agreement, "Presentation is paramount."

Kedo looks at Ronin, "So is Eyre really himself? I'm still confused about what happened with him."

Ronin responds, "As am I." Within the Remnant Camp, Alev's light brown wavy hair is thoroughly combed by female servants, her nails are painted dark pink, she is given fresh dark pink lipstick, she lashes are freshly done, and Alev puts a moderate amount of makeup on.

Hakon steps in the room, "Are you ready yet?"

Alev raises her hands, signaling the servants to exit. Alev gets up from her seat, "Yes I am."

Hakon: "Remember your goal is to put fear in their hearts, not to seduce them."

Alev: "Fear and awe is my goal. What do you think of my armor?" Hakon looks down and notices Alev's armor. It is black with a mixture of red, orange, purple, dark pink, and gold markings. Alev also has gold gauntlets covering her arms.

Hakon: "It's fashionable."

Alev: "Exactly, now I must go. Once I return, I want to get all the credit I deserve."

Hakon: "Well, let's see if you pull this off first."

Alev laughs, "Ok, colonel." Two days later Alev, Ronin, a 31st swordsman, and a spearman march through a crowd in the Yuderi. This town has a humid climate, yellow-green vegetation, and a beaming royal blue sky. The buildings average around three stories and are light brown in color with dark red paint trimmings around them. Civilians in the crowd wear a mix of red, brown, black, grey, and white clothes.

While Alev wears her official battle armor. However, Ronin, a swordsman, and a spearman wear regular civilian light brown outfits. They are careful to not give away who they actually are. A Fire Nation Lieutenant steps forward and raises his hand. Four Fire Nation army troopers join him. The army troops have bright red armor with dark red markings (the reverse of Ozai's administration style).

Two army troopers have glaives with long metal hilts and extended metal blades. Another army trooper has a mace, and one has a sword. Firebender lieutenant: "Oh, look who it is? Someone trying to make a statement, I guess. I doubt you came here all alone, that's suicide."

Alev beats her chest, "You underestimate my skills. Do you know who I am? I'm Alev, I busted out of the prison you held me in."

Firebender lieutenant: "With help. Yeah, I don't buy it. Civilians, step aside!" Several people run away but three people stay alongside her.

Lieutenant: "Well, I think I found your allies." Alev smirks and Ronin punches two flames into the mace warrior and a glaive trooper.

Alev kicks a beam of fire into the man's stomach, "You were right officer! But you should have done something about it, you idiot." A remnant warrior pulls out his spear and slams it through the chest of an army trooper. The soldier with the glaive swings down vertically at a remnant soldier but the trooper draws a sword and horizontally blocks the blow. The soldier rotates his blade left then rushes forward and slashes his foe's neck.

Two firebenders and a trooper with a long axe rush to engage Alev's team next. Alev lunges forward and pumps two fireballs into the axman and a firebender. The remaining firebender punches a beam of orange fire at Alev. The woman twirls left and pops a brick of fire into her foe.

As this is happening, Kedo climbs up a latter onto a rooftop dressed as a civilian with a remnant swordsman moving beside him. Three assault chariots glide toward the remnant force. Each assault chariot is propelled by two lion-horses who run at 50 miles an hour. The chariots have a driver and a gunner who has a metal arrow launching turret that fires 30 arrows per minute.

The front chariot immediately fires at Alev who raises her hands and launches herself in the air with a gust of light orange and yellow flames. The gunner and rider look up in awe as Alev hurls a ball of fire into the chariot. The ball explodes and pulverizes the men on it. The animals flip over from the explosion and are knocked out.

Alev launches herself further in the sky before blasting a second chariot in two with a beam of fire. The remaining vehicle shoots a barrage of shots into the gut of the remnant spear warrior. Remnant spearman: "No!"

Another barrage of shots flies at Ronin who immediately gives on the ground to avoid being butchered. The swordsman sprints left as he barely avoids the arrows. Alev lands a few feet ahead of her comrades and the chariot makes a second pass for her as it prepares to open fire again. The chariot immediately opens fire and Alev launches herself in the air again to avoid the strike.

An army archer notices Alev and takes aim at her. Kedo promptly rolls behind the man and pushes him off the building. Archer: "Awwwwwwwaaahaaaaa!!" An army swordsman draws his weapon and charges at Kedo with a vertical strike. Kedo twirls right as he narrowly avoids the strike, and the trooper slashes the roof.

The trooper swings at Kedo a second time but Kedo pulls out a short sword and horizontally blocks the attack. Kedo then spins backward, and his fellow remnant trooper stands beside him. Kedo: "Ha, you are outmatched." The army trooper charges at him, but Kedo puts his sword back in his hilt and launches a fiery arrow into the man's stomach. The trooper flips off the rooftop.

As Alev rises in the air the gunner keeps aim at her and shoots another volley of metal arrows in her direction. Alev notices she won't have time to strike back and immediately rotates her hand. The Nyarri noble launches a beam of flames right of her direction which sends her body flying several feet left onto a rooftop across Kedo's position. Alev hits the rooftop hard and tumbles toward the edge of the building but stops right before she falls off. Alev coughs.

The chariot refocuses its aim at the remnant swordsman and the gunner takes aim. Ronin who is still lying on the floor rotates his body and kicks a stream of fire into the right wheel of the chariot. The vehicle flips left before it violently hits the ground. The relieved trooper takes a breath and Ronin gives him a thumbs up.

Kedo look right and notices two army archers take notice at him from a distant rooftop. Kedo pulls an arrow back and uses his firebending to engulf it with explosive orange fire. He promptly launches the arrow between the feet of the archers and the ensuing eruption sends both of them flying in opposite directions off the building. The men scream as they fall to their deaths.

Ronin and the swordsman look ahead as five troopers (two swordsmen, two firebenders, and a spearman) charge at them. Kedo immediately launches an explosive arrow between them which immediately dispatches a firebender, the spearman, and a swordsman. Ronin extends his arms and shoots a brick of flames at the army firebender. The army trooper kicks a fireball into the brick and they both explode.

Ronin rotates his body and shoots a ray of fire into an incoming swordsman. The army firebender pops a rectangle of flames at the remnant corporal but Ronin ducks then pivots his body before punching two flames into the man's knee caps. The Army Firebender hits the dirt, "Auuuuaaaahaaaa!!!"

Ronin and the remnant swordsman advance. As the swordsman runs beside the moaning firebender he kicks him in his face, knocking him into submission. A distant tank takes aim at Ronin and the remnant swordsman. Ronin looks at his friend, "Be ready to spread out." The trooper nods.

The tank shoots a beam of dark orange fire at the duo. The swordsman runs right and Ronin runs left but Ronin isn't running fast enough. Fortunately, a beam of light orange and yellow fire flows from a higher position into the tank shot. A large explosion ensures, emitting lots of smoke. Alev leaps off the rooftop and launches herself back in the air. A rod of flames cracks the tank.

Alev smoothly lands and bushes dust off herself. Alev: "Great now my hair, makeup, and nails are messed up. Someone's going to PAY!"

Another beam of dark orange fire flows at Ronin but from a further position. Ronin dives left and low as he evades the shot. Ronin's body feel hot and starts sweating from the adjacent heat. Another beam flies at the swordsman and obliterates him. A tear flows down Ronin's eye, "You scum!!"

Alev launches herself in the air and shoots two beams of fire into the two tanks. Alev smoothly lands seconds later and looks ahead as she sees remaining army troopers running away. Ronin steps behind Alev, "Now what?"

Alev smiles, "Now the people will know that one squad has clean out an entire Fire Nation city." Civilians watch Alev as they look around and look at the destruction in their town. Alev: "That's right, come out and see what has happened! The Remnant will rise again! Zuko's administration has made our people weak, but we will bring our nation back to its old glory!"

A middle-aged male citizen responds, "Maybe we don't want to reach our 'old glory'. Maybe we like this new system or are at least willing to accept it."

An elderly woman shouts, "Yeah, what is the point of all this needless bloodshed and among our own people no less. In all my days Fire Nation members would never slaughter one another like this. For what, political disagreements?"

Alev: "This is the natural way of life. Only the strongest survive. With that being said, this day will be long remembered. To those who support us, rise up and join the winners. For those of you who are indifferent or don't want to see fighting, get with the times. A wagon emerges and suddenly stops in the middle of the town. A remnant trooper exits and mounts a flag in the middle of the city.

Alev looks back at Ronin, "There is our ride, we must go now."

Ronin: "Do we plan to keep the city?"

Alev: "Of course not, the Army Troops will return with a massive army, and we don't have the resources to hold them off. This was only a gesture at our might and an intentional move to get the Fire Nation to beef up security in these areas. Now let's go." Ronin nods and follows Alev as they embark the wagon. Kedo and the swordsman with him follow into the wagon. The group quickly flees from Yuderi.

New Lives

In the Fire Nation Capital, a white two-story mansion with light brown trimmings. A large yard with light green grass flows in front of the mansions with blue, purple, and yellow flowers scattered around the home. Zyger sits outside as he cleans a wagon and enjoys the beauty outside.

Princess Azula stands outside of a balcony. Macai steps behind her. The Princess has less makeup than she used to, her hair is of a medium length in a casual style, her black straight hair is smooth as silk, wears dark pink lipstick, and she has a light portion of makeup on her face.

Macai: "What's on your mind?"

Azula: "Nothing."

Macai: "Oh come on, you're not known for operating on an empty space."

Azula: "No I mean, I don't know. I just have a weird feeling, that something strange is happening."

Macai: "Maybe you are spiritually sensing something."

Azula: "Perhaps, I never was a very spiritual person, but I'm learning new things every day."

Macai: "Did Zuko and Ty Lee play a role in that? When they redeemed you, they told me they needed to help you reboot your mind."

Azula: "Yes, you are right. But I'm still an infant in that regard. I'm still learning how to see the beauty in life (a butterfly hovers on her right wrist) and how to notice the signs around me."

Macai wraps his arms around her shoulders. Macai: "I've been on this new path a bit longer than you, but I'm still figuring it out. Every day I'm learning to appreciate the process of being good and truly being good. Before I was bad even when I thought I was good." The butterfly hovers off Azula's wrist.

Azula turns around and hugs her husband, "I still can't believe all of this. Sometimes I'm wondering if I'm dreaming. You and I are back together. Zuko and I are close again. Ty Lee and Mai are my friends again. Aang, Suki, Katara, are no longer my enemies. Sometimes I even have lunch with them. Oh, how our lives have changed."

Macai embraces Azula and lightly smiles, "True, so true. Want to get some ginger salad?"

Azula: "I was more in the mood for miso soup."

Macai: "Eh, why not both?"

Azula: "Ok, just let me rest for another five minutes. I used to love punching people's faces in. But you know now, I've learned to appreciate peace. I used to be so insecure that I couldn't stand to be alone. Because if I was alone, I had to confront my fears, pain, anger, and worries."

Macai: "But you're alright now. And just know if anything happens, it's ok. I've got you, but more importantly know that this is greater than you and me. Everything will be ok for the people who live in truth and righteousness. And no one is perfect so even if you slip up a bit, as long as you're breathing it's not too late to come back and do the right thing."