Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Duty Versus Love ❯ Counter Plan ( Chapter 46 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Light-Eco-Sage 
Avatar is owned by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, not me!
Non Anime: Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Fantasy / Martial Arts / Romance / Supernatural / Angst | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 02.02.2013 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.2K | Visits: 654 | Status: Work In Progress
Avatar is owned by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, not me!
Non Anime: Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Fantasy / Martial Arts / Romance / Supernatural / Angst | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 02.02.2013 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.2K | Visits: 654 | Status: Work In Progress
LES: This chapter makes it official. This is the longest story I have ever written!
Chapter XLVI: Counter Plan
Late into the night, Aang and Katara sat up together, putting their heads together to come up with a way to counter Azula.
“I think the most important thing…” Aang began eventually. “Is that Azula has to believe that this plan of hers is working. We can’t give her any indication that we are on to her or that we have repaired our marriage.”
“I agree.” Katara nodded. “If she thinks her plan is failing, she’ll just come after us again, perhaps in a more horrifying way next time.”
Aang nodded thoughtfully. “There’s also the danger factor.” He said. “Azula… well, I don’t have to say how dangerous she is.” As he said this, he gestured to his back, a constant reminder of just how close Azula had come to not only ending Aang’s life, but destroying the Avatar Cycle forever. “And if that’s not bad enough, she has some horribly twisted Soulbender working for her.”
“How did she find a Soulbender?” Katara asked.
“I don’t know.” Aang said. “Perhaps there are other Soulbenders out there, but the Bending art has been forgotten for so long that people just don’t look for the skill anymore. But it doesn’t matter how he came to be… what matters is that he is here, and he’s perhaps an even bigger threat than Azula.”
“How is that possible?” Katara asked.
“I know better than anyone what a Soulbender is capable of.” Aang said. “It’s not just about taking someone’s Bending or reading a person’s soul. It’s like having that person’s very life in your hands. When I overcome another person with Soulbending, I can basically force them to do anything I want. A Soulbender does not have to kill their victims… they can make their victims want to kill themselves. But this Soulbender’s true power is in the fact that it is impossible to beat him.”
“How is that possible?” Katara asked.
“Because emotional weaknesses like fear and doubt are the things that make a soul bendable.” Aang said. “The Soulbender used Soulbending on himself to remove these emotions from himself… but he probably went too far. He removed any trace of emotions and his sense of self. He has no Soul to bend. When I fought against him, even all the strength that is given to me by the Avatar’s Spirit could not prevail against him when there is nothing there to Bend. However that Soulbender is stopped, it can’t be with Soulbending. And we cannot even let him get close enough to touch us, because that would be the instant that you lose.”
“We won’t lose.” Katara insisted. “We have the upper hand. Azula doesn’t know that we are on to her.” They fell silent again.
“Sokka, Toph, The Duke, and I talked on our way here from the Southern Air Temple…” Aang began. “We really think that Azula’s going to try to come after you first.”
“Me?”
“Yes. You are the one who defeated her during Sozin’s Comet.” Aang pointed out. “Do you really think she’s forgotten about that? And she tried to destroy our marriage. Her plan had two effects. The first one was making you leave the Southern Air Temple, and the second was causing me to become depressed. I was no longer a threat, but you still were. She probably would have come after you first, and then killed me at her leisure.”
“That does make sense.” Katara said. She leaned forward in her chair, her elbows on her knees and her hands holding her chin. “Come on… think like Sokka…” She whispered to herself.
“Set a trap.” Aang commented, remembering Sokka talking about hunting years ago. “Let the prey come to you on your own terms.”
Katara smiled. “I think I’ve got it. She’s going to come to me right? So we’ll set a trap here on Kyoshi Island, let Azula come to us, and then…”
“Spring the trap.” Aang finished.
“She’ll certainly be in for one big surprise.” Katara said before she began to outline her plan for Aang.
~~~~~~~~~~
It was approaching dawn when the two finally finished their planning session, and it was time to put the plan into action. Aang and Katara stood at the door, just inside their house, wrapped in a tight embrace.
“I really don’t like this part.” Aang commented, kissing her passionately.
“It has to be done.” Katara said. “Azula could have someone watching the house, and they have to believe that there has been no understanding between us.”
Aang pulled out of her arms slightly. “We probably won’t get a chance to talk again for a while, but I have to ask you…”
“Don’t ask me to stay away from the fight.” Katara said.
“I wasn’t.” Aang said. “In all the time I’ve known you, I’ve learned that you’re never one to back down from a fight. Just, please… keep yourself safe… for your sake… and for our baby’s sake.” Aang said, gently touching her stomach.
Katara kissed him. “That’s a promise I will keep. Now, come on, Aang. We’ve got to do this…”
“At least we know you don’t mean it this time.” Aang said in a half-hearted attempt at humor.
“I love you.” Katara whispered.
“I love you too.” Aang replied.
Suddenly, it was as if a switch had been flipped. One second, they were every bit a loving husband and wife, and then the next, two people feuding.
“Do you really think that begging will make me change my mind?” Katara shouted, forcing the door open and shoving Aang outside. “I told you before; I never want to see you again!”
“Please, Katara! I know I made a mistake!” Aang yelling pleadingly. “I’ve changed, and it won’t happen ever again!”
“Enough with the lies!” Katara shouted. “Once unfaithful, always unfaithful! Everyone knows that!”
Katara turned to go back into the house. “Just go, Aang… before this is more painful for the both of us. If you come back again, I will attack you.” She slammed the door in his face.
“Katara!” Aang gasped. For good measure, he self-triggered the Avatar State and had another emotional collapse outside the house, using pain and hurt felt by his own past lives to make his own anguish seem real.
When he was finally able to get up, he spent a few more minutes standing outside the house as if waiting for Katara to come back out and let him in, but knowing that she would not. It was all part of the plan. To anyone else, it would seem like they had not made up and that Katara was still angry at him, and Aang was still in the middle of an emotional collapse.
After a time, he finally left the house.
A dark pair of eyes watched the whole episode, and then quickly disappeared into the woods to report to their master that the Avatar and his wife were still fighting, as planned.
Aang made his way to Appa, shoving the townspeople out of his way in a fake temper tantrum, and quickly left before anyone could stop him. As he flew Appa away from Kyoshi Island, Aang allowed himself the tiniest little grin.
Your move now, Azula.
~~~~~~~~~~
Aang may have pretended to leave Kyoshi Island, but the reality he did not go far. He flew Appa away from the island, long enough for him to write a letter to Anil, asking for him to gather all his children except for Ammy and Sho to come and provide aid with the trap. Ammy, of course, could not come because she was far too fragile to be close to a battle. And Sho would still be recovering from Aang’s attack.
Once the letter was finished, he took a leaf out of Guru Pathik’s book and attached the note to Appa’s horn. Aang got onto Appa’s head. “Hey, buddy, I need you to continue back to the Southern Air Temple alone. Make sure that Anil gets the letter that is tied to your horn. Can you do that for me?”
Appa let out a small growl in response.
“Thanks buddy.” Aang said, retrieving his staff from the saddle. “Fly fast and take care of yourself.” With that, Aang leapt off Appa, opening the glider in free-fall and beginning to make his own journey back to Kyoshi Island on his glider, which was much stealthier than Appa. With the glider, he would be able to sneak back unnoticed, and it was important to the plan that no one know that he was on Kyoshi Island.
He could only hope that enough time would pass, giving Anil the time to gather his children at the Southern Air Temple, and come in time to give him and Katara some back-up. The whole plan could hinge on it.
~~~~~~~~~~
It took two weeks for something to happen, a very hard two weeks for Katara to not see the man that she loved, and yet knowing that he was so close. Yet, she dared not seek him out. It was all part of the plan. Besides, she didn’t really expect that it would take much longer for Azula to make her move. She had patiently waited to take revenge on Aang and herself for over twenty years. Could she really wait much longer?
She was currently walking home from the market place to her brother’s house, carrying some of her wares on her hip.
However, just as she was thinking that she would give anything for the suspense to end and for the whole situation to be over; a hauntingly familiar voice spoke out from the shadows.
“Well, well, well… what do we have here?” Katara spun around, and saw a woman who was obviously an older Azula standing in one of the shadows of a building. “A poor Water Tribe whore without her spiritual protector. How… convenient for me.”
Katara dropped her basket and turned to face Azula, her hands raised defensively. “Azula!”
“What’s the matter?” Azula asked playfully. It was then that Katara realized that she was surrounded by at least thirty men, but one man in particular sent chills down her spine. His face was blank and emotionless. She realized that this had to be the Soulbender that Aang warned her about. “Surprised to see me?”
This time, Azula was the one who was shocked when another voice answered her question. “Not really.” She turned around, and was shocked to see the Avatar standing behind her, looking perfectly fit and not the emotional mess that her spies led her to believe.
“You! But how…?” Azula began.
“I saw through your little plan, Azula.” Aang said firmly. “You have failed to tear my family apart because the one thing you could never understand is love or the bond between family. The memory of what you did to me under Ba Sing Se has haunted me for far too long. This will end today, even if I have to take away your Bending or turn you into a soulless husk like your pet Soulbender.”
“Oh really?” Azula asked with a laugh. “Because unless I’m counting wrong, the odds are over thirty against two.”
“Not quite.” Aang said. As if on cue, more people stepped out of the woods, all of them led by the eldest among them, Anil. They were all of Aang’s children who were old enough and skilled enough to be in a battle. Anil had managed to bring all of his Bending siblings, even Sho, who had insisted on coming and facing the woman who had tricked him.
After a brief moment of fear, Azula began to laugh again. “Thirty against nine is not much better than thirty against two. The odds are still against you.”
“I’ve beaten the odds before.” Aang said. “And, today, I’ll do it again…” As one, all the children attacked Azula’s foot-soldiers while Aang and Katara rushed at Azula.
The fight had begun.
LES: Cliff hanger! Don’t worry, though, this will likely be updated tomorrow, so you won’t be in that much suspense.
Chapter XLVI: Counter Plan
Late into the night, Aang and Katara sat up together, putting their heads together to come up with a way to counter Azula.
“I think the most important thing…” Aang began eventually. “Is that Azula has to believe that this plan of hers is working. We can’t give her any indication that we are on to her or that we have repaired our marriage.”
“I agree.” Katara nodded. “If she thinks her plan is failing, she’ll just come after us again, perhaps in a more horrifying way next time.”
Aang nodded thoughtfully. “There’s also the danger factor.” He said. “Azula… well, I don’t have to say how dangerous she is.” As he said this, he gestured to his back, a constant reminder of just how close Azula had come to not only ending Aang’s life, but destroying the Avatar Cycle forever. “And if that’s not bad enough, she has some horribly twisted Soulbender working for her.”
“How did she find a Soulbender?” Katara asked.
“I don’t know.” Aang said. “Perhaps there are other Soulbenders out there, but the Bending art has been forgotten for so long that people just don’t look for the skill anymore. But it doesn’t matter how he came to be… what matters is that he is here, and he’s perhaps an even bigger threat than Azula.”
“How is that possible?” Katara asked.
“I know better than anyone what a Soulbender is capable of.” Aang said. “It’s not just about taking someone’s Bending or reading a person’s soul. It’s like having that person’s very life in your hands. When I overcome another person with Soulbending, I can basically force them to do anything I want. A Soulbender does not have to kill their victims… they can make their victims want to kill themselves. But this Soulbender’s true power is in the fact that it is impossible to beat him.”
“How is that possible?” Katara asked.
“Because emotional weaknesses like fear and doubt are the things that make a soul bendable.” Aang said. “The Soulbender used Soulbending on himself to remove these emotions from himself… but he probably went too far. He removed any trace of emotions and his sense of self. He has no Soul to bend. When I fought against him, even all the strength that is given to me by the Avatar’s Spirit could not prevail against him when there is nothing there to Bend. However that Soulbender is stopped, it can’t be with Soulbending. And we cannot even let him get close enough to touch us, because that would be the instant that you lose.”
“We won’t lose.” Katara insisted. “We have the upper hand. Azula doesn’t know that we are on to her.” They fell silent again.
“Sokka, Toph, The Duke, and I talked on our way here from the Southern Air Temple…” Aang began. “We really think that Azula’s going to try to come after you first.”
“Me?”
“Yes. You are the one who defeated her during Sozin’s Comet.” Aang pointed out. “Do you really think she’s forgotten about that? And she tried to destroy our marriage. Her plan had two effects. The first one was making you leave the Southern Air Temple, and the second was causing me to become depressed. I was no longer a threat, but you still were. She probably would have come after you first, and then killed me at her leisure.”
“That does make sense.” Katara said. She leaned forward in her chair, her elbows on her knees and her hands holding her chin. “Come on… think like Sokka…” She whispered to herself.
“Set a trap.” Aang commented, remembering Sokka talking about hunting years ago. “Let the prey come to you on your own terms.”
Katara smiled. “I think I’ve got it. She’s going to come to me right? So we’ll set a trap here on Kyoshi Island, let Azula come to us, and then…”
“Spring the trap.” Aang finished.
“She’ll certainly be in for one big surprise.” Katara said before she began to outline her plan for Aang.
~~~~~~~~~~
It was approaching dawn when the two finally finished their planning session, and it was time to put the plan into action. Aang and Katara stood at the door, just inside their house, wrapped in a tight embrace.
“I really don’t like this part.” Aang commented, kissing her passionately.
“It has to be done.” Katara said. “Azula could have someone watching the house, and they have to believe that there has been no understanding between us.”
Aang pulled out of her arms slightly. “We probably won’t get a chance to talk again for a while, but I have to ask you…”
“Don’t ask me to stay away from the fight.” Katara said.
“I wasn’t.” Aang said. “In all the time I’ve known you, I’ve learned that you’re never one to back down from a fight. Just, please… keep yourself safe… for your sake… and for our baby’s sake.” Aang said, gently touching her stomach.
Katara kissed him. “That’s a promise I will keep. Now, come on, Aang. We’ve got to do this…”
“At least we know you don’t mean it this time.” Aang said in a half-hearted attempt at humor.
“I love you.” Katara whispered.
“I love you too.” Aang replied.
Suddenly, it was as if a switch had been flipped. One second, they were every bit a loving husband and wife, and then the next, two people feuding.
“Do you really think that begging will make me change my mind?” Katara shouted, forcing the door open and shoving Aang outside. “I told you before; I never want to see you again!”
“Please, Katara! I know I made a mistake!” Aang yelling pleadingly. “I’ve changed, and it won’t happen ever again!”
“Enough with the lies!” Katara shouted. “Once unfaithful, always unfaithful! Everyone knows that!”
Katara turned to go back into the house. “Just go, Aang… before this is more painful for the both of us. If you come back again, I will attack you.” She slammed the door in his face.
“Katara!” Aang gasped. For good measure, he self-triggered the Avatar State and had another emotional collapse outside the house, using pain and hurt felt by his own past lives to make his own anguish seem real.
When he was finally able to get up, he spent a few more minutes standing outside the house as if waiting for Katara to come back out and let him in, but knowing that she would not. It was all part of the plan. To anyone else, it would seem like they had not made up and that Katara was still angry at him, and Aang was still in the middle of an emotional collapse.
After a time, he finally left the house.
A dark pair of eyes watched the whole episode, and then quickly disappeared into the woods to report to their master that the Avatar and his wife were still fighting, as planned.
Aang made his way to Appa, shoving the townspeople out of his way in a fake temper tantrum, and quickly left before anyone could stop him. As he flew Appa away from Kyoshi Island, Aang allowed himself the tiniest little grin.
Your move now, Azula.
~~~~~~~~~~
Aang may have pretended to leave Kyoshi Island, but the reality he did not go far. He flew Appa away from the island, long enough for him to write a letter to Anil, asking for him to gather all his children except for Ammy and Sho to come and provide aid with the trap. Ammy, of course, could not come because she was far too fragile to be close to a battle. And Sho would still be recovering from Aang’s attack.
Once the letter was finished, he took a leaf out of Guru Pathik’s book and attached the note to Appa’s horn. Aang got onto Appa’s head. “Hey, buddy, I need you to continue back to the Southern Air Temple alone. Make sure that Anil gets the letter that is tied to your horn. Can you do that for me?”
Appa let out a small growl in response.
“Thanks buddy.” Aang said, retrieving his staff from the saddle. “Fly fast and take care of yourself.” With that, Aang leapt off Appa, opening the glider in free-fall and beginning to make his own journey back to Kyoshi Island on his glider, which was much stealthier than Appa. With the glider, he would be able to sneak back unnoticed, and it was important to the plan that no one know that he was on Kyoshi Island.
He could only hope that enough time would pass, giving Anil the time to gather his children at the Southern Air Temple, and come in time to give him and Katara some back-up. The whole plan could hinge on it.
~~~~~~~~~~
It took two weeks for something to happen, a very hard two weeks for Katara to not see the man that she loved, and yet knowing that he was so close. Yet, she dared not seek him out. It was all part of the plan. Besides, she didn’t really expect that it would take much longer for Azula to make her move. She had patiently waited to take revenge on Aang and herself for over twenty years. Could she really wait much longer?
She was currently walking home from the market place to her brother’s house, carrying some of her wares on her hip.
However, just as she was thinking that she would give anything for the suspense to end and for the whole situation to be over; a hauntingly familiar voice spoke out from the shadows.
“Well, well, well… what do we have here?” Katara spun around, and saw a woman who was obviously an older Azula standing in one of the shadows of a building. “A poor Water Tribe whore without her spiritual protector. How… convenient for me.”
Katara dropped her basket and turned to face Azula, her hands raised defensively. “Azula!”
“What’s the matter?” Azula asked playfully. It was then that Katara realized that she was surrounded by at least thirty men, but one man in particular sent chills down her spine. His face was blank and emotionless. She realized that this had to be the Soulbender that Aang warned her about. “Surprised to see me?”
This time, Azula was the one who was shocked when another voice answered her question. “Not really.” She turned around, and was shocked to see the Avatar standing behind her, looking perfectly fit and not the emotional mess that her spies led her to believe.
“You! But how…?” Azula began.
“I saw through your little plan, Azula.” Aang said firmly. “You have failed to tear my family apart because the one thing you could never understand is love or the bond between family. The memory of what you did to me under Ba Sing Se has haunted me for far too long. This will end today, even if I have to take away your Bending or turn you into a soulless husk like your pet Soulbender.”
“Oh really?” Azula asked with a laugh. “Because unless I’m counting wrong, the odds are over thirty against two.”
“Not quite.” Aang said. As if on cue, more people stepped out of the woods, all of them led by the eldest among them, Anil. They were all of Aang’s children who were old enough and skilled enough to be in a battle. Anil had managed to bring all of his Bending siblings, even Sho, who had insisted on coming and facing the woman who had tricked him.
After a brief moment of fear, Azula began to laugh again. “Thirty against nine is not much better than thirty against two. The odds are still against you.”
“I’ve beaten the odds before.” Aang said. “And, today, I’ll do it again…” As one, all the children attacked Azula’s foot-soldiers while Aang and Katara rushed at Azula.
The fight had begun.
LES: Cliff hanger! Don’t worry, though, this will likely be updated tomorrow, so you won’t be in that much suspense.